Well it's that time of the year. Everyone is talking about resolutions, some are making resolutions and a few are already breaking resolutions. I don't make New Year's Resolutions - I haven't in years. The last successful New Years Resolution I made was in 1986, I was a sophomore in college and I resolved to stop smoking pot. The catch was... I didn't really smoke pot, my boyfriend did and all his skeevy friends did. So, instead of always having to say "no thanks" I made a big production of this "It was going to be tough...but I could do it" crazy resolution. Then when the situation arose... problem solved. My momma didn't raise no stupid girl! :o)
But about a week ago, a resolution came to me... I've been toying with it, but it's a BIG one! I think it's a good one, but it will be TOUGH and honestly I'm not sure I even WANT to do it. So, do I tell people and then feel like everyone is watching me? Is it added incentive to succeed? Or more proof of my inadequacey? Or do I keep it a secret - thereby pretty much insuring that I'll quit about halfway in??? Hmm..... decisions, decisions... So, I'm telling...
I have decided for 2010 that I am going to give up (attempt to give up).... artificial sweetener, caffeine and SODA!!! I know... Bat shit Crazy!!
Here's my reasoning and if anyone sees a flaw - shout it out!! I am more and more concerned about the amount of artifical sweetener I consume in coffee, soda etc... So that is the main driving force, I'd like to give that up. Here's the catch... if I give up artificial sweetener - then that means no more diet soda (I could never drink a regular soda again) it also means no more coffee. I only drink one cup of coffee a day, but the main reason I drink coffee is because it's a vehicle to get the sweetener and creamer into my body. Once when my brother-in-law saw me making a cup of coffee he said... "Julie, are you drinking coffee or making cookies!?" So if I'm not drinking coffee or soda, then really I've given up caffeine as well. I could drink decaf coffee, but I can't use my sweetener... so no go. The three are really interconnected, give up one and you give up them all. Damn... Now again if anyone can show me an article or a study that proves I don't have to worry about the artificial sweetener and that it's really good for me.... Please for the love of God show it to me and save me from myself!
Now all this being said, I'm not stupid! I'm doing any of this cold turkey... I am a firm believer in the wean yourself gradually off things, because as soon as you tell me I can't have something, then by God that's the first thing I want! Physically, I more worried about caffeine withdrawl and headaches, but psychologically I'm worried about soda. I love me my soda!!!! I heart soda!!!
So, Step #1 in my gradual weaning off is
#1 - once my Diet Mountain Dew runs out, I'm not buying any more. I have one lone can left in the refrigerator... it's been alone in there for 2 days now. Sometimes I just go out there and touch it and look at it. Once it's gone, it's gone.... that's sad....
#2 - I have converted over to Caffeine Free Diet Coke.
I'm still drinking my one cup of coffee in the morning, but I feel like I'm on my way to being caffeine free. Another week and I will eliminate the coffee and then I'll tackle the soda issue.
But before I can give up the soda completely I need to figure out... what I am going to drink???
I HATE water... HATE water... HATE water... everything else has calories.... I'm sure I'll be adding some juices...hitting the grocery store tomorrow, so I guess I'll look for some alternatives.
So, for the first time in 24 years I'm making a resolution...here's hoping it's as successful as 1986!
but you love soda.
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ReplyDeleteOh, egads, shoot me before I give up my diet soda. I *know* logically that all that sweetener isn't good for me, that it actually can cause weight GAIN, that my kidneys are probably shutting down, and that my spine will turn to dust when I'm older because of the calcium leaching .... but I don't care. Honestly, I don't. I drink, on average, five or six a day. Caffeine free, diet DP. Of course when I'm out in public I can't necessarily get caffeine free, but that's what I buy for home. Like you, I cannot stomach regular soda ... so in a crunch I'll go to Diet Coke, but my beverage of choice is CFDDP.
ReplyDeleteSo here's what I tell myself, to justify my addiction: I don't smoke cigarettes. I don't drink coffee. I don't drink alcohol (I'm not opposed to drinking alcohol, I just do it so rarely, probably less than once ever two or three years, that I consider it nothing) I don't do illegal drugs, I don't smoke pot, I don't do crack or crank or ecstacy or whatever else those crazy kids are doing these days. I don't take any painkiller stronger than tylenol. I am not on anti-depressents, I don't gamble, and I'm not addicted to online porn. Dear Lord above, am I not allowed ONE single solitary vice????
Don't want the calories in juices .... when I cut back on my soda I wind up drinking a ton of skim milk, but since I put nes-quick in it, I've got the calories from the sugar. The only perk to giving up diet soda for any length of time (ie, pregnancy) is that I wind up a little dehydrated by the end of the day and water (MUST be chilled, MUST be served over crushed ice, MUST be in a styrofoam cup, MUST be drank through a straw) winds up tasting good ..... other than that, forget it. I have no use for water.
Plus, if you DO choose to drink water, and you drink it from the tap, everyone says how it has so many bad minerals and sedmiment in it. But if you buy it bottled, you are killing the environment and not getting the flouride you need.
Let's face it --- no matter WHAT you do, you are wrecking your body. Why not wreck it with diet soda and at least enjoy the flipping ride???
I LOVE you Kristie....
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