Celebrating Nine Months Without...

... Soda/Diet Coke! I cannot believe I have made it nine months without soda/Diet Coke.

I am an admitted Diet Coke addict. I can't even remember when I first tried a Diet Coke, but I assume it was starting at a young age as my whole family is a Diet Coke crew (well Tab back in the day, but then when that was phased out it moved to Diet Coke). The addiction generally grew worse over the years. I would have at least 2 20 oz Diet Coke bottles a day, if not more. Especially when I started working the hours I do now, I needed it to stay awake.

But, around the time in 2009 when I made the decision to start Weight Watchers, I had a realization that I needed to put the Diet Coke down. I know it is 0 pts, but there really isn't any health benefits to it. (Note: At no time did WW tell me I neede to give it up - it was all my decision)

I also read an article that scared the living you know what out of me about what Diet Coke did to you body. So from that point on November 2, 2009 - I put the Diet Coke down and stepped away. I went cold turkey - drank one Medium Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Iced Coffee (with skim milk & 3 equal) a day and water. This obviously doesn't have any relevance to the adult beverage portion of my life. :)

I made it four months before I succumbed to the seductiveness of Diet Coke. At first, I just had one can a day, but gradually the intake increased to more and more a day. I drank it throughout 2010 until I started feeling bloated all the time. I was plateauing with my weight loss. And generally just got fed up with it. So on December 7, 2010, I started again.

Since then, I have felt the cravings, but they have passed thankfully. I usually get the craving then pound a glass of water and the craving goes away.

I feel healthier, lighter and overall better without the soda. I am not one of those people that can completely get off the caffeine, but I feel in control with my one coffee in the morning and water the rest of the day. People have been suggesting I add something to my water to get over the "ugh all i drink is water" feeling I sometimes get. So I might give Mio or Crystal Light a try. If I do, I will be sure to let you all know!

So, I raise my glass of H2O and cheers myself - "Happy Nine Months"! :)