Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I said goodbye on Monday to my biggest vice...

Vice: –noun
a fault, defect, or shortcoming

You might think it's not a big deal, but to me it is. I drank on AVERAGE over 2 liters a day. Yes, I said on average, some days I drank a whole lot more than that!

Years ago I drank regular coke and the day I switched to diet I almost could feel the weight fall off me. What was I thinking drinking all those calories?!

Well, now I find myself in my 30s questioning how good these artificial sweetners and all of these chemicals are for me. Remember, I am trying to live a balanced life here. Something is not right when the first thing that pops in my head in the morning is having a diet coke. It is seriously what motivates myself to roll out of bed in the morning for.

Here is what I spend on average for my diet coke each day...
$1.08 morning stop at McDonalds for a 32 oz. diet coke
$1.25 mid morning bottle of diet coke from machine at the office
$1.50 avg cost of diet coke for lunch
$.75 1/2 of a 2 litter of diet coke at home in the evening
Daily average= $4.58
Yearly= $1,672 (Wow, what will I do with that extra money!?! Spend it on something else I'm sure.)

Today is the end of my 2nd day without diet coke. I am soooooo tired! But other than that am doing remarkably well. I've been drinking water at the times I usually drink coke (not quite as motivating to wake up to the in the morning!)

Anyone else out there addicted to diet coke??

10 comments:

Wendy said...

Good for you! Amazing when you break down the cost and how much extra money you'll save each week! When we switched to decaf coffee we got terrible headaches! Motrin became my best friend :)

Laura said...

Hi Amy, I have just found your blog, and I totally hear you!! I started drinking diet coke when I was breastfeeding as water just didnt quench my thirst. I would have around 4 cans a day, and did so for years, but then it started taking its toll; on my teeth. I was so shocked that the acid wears the enamel. This made me quite; for a while. I went down to two cans a week and it was hard. Unfortunately it has crept back up to one bottle of 360mls a day; not great.. But you are doing fantastic!! well done, keep at it, you will feel so much better for it after about a week!
Laura Curriexx
my summerhouse

Susan said...

Oh Amy, I'm SO glad to read you stopped drinking the diet soda. An oncologist of my late brother-in-law told him to stop drinking diet drinks IMMEDIATELY. He was a big diet soda drinker and he lost his battle with cancer.

Water with lemon slices over ice is fabulous....and healthy. Good for you! Susan

Unknown said...

Well done Amy! What a huge change for you! Substituting the diet coke for water is a much healthier option and think of all that extra money for you to spend! xx

Marti said...

Good for you! I kick the Pepsi habit, do really well for awhile, and then it slowly creeps back until I too can drink a whole 2 liter a day. And I KNOW I feel better without all that sugar.

Magic(k)al Melissa said...

Lady, I WISH I were addicted to Diet Coke. As it is, I am go all out for the good stuff: regular Coke--not the effects of it, but the taste. Gaaar.

Best of luck to you; I look forward to watching your success!

Kateyed said...

I was about fifteen years ago. i probably had six 44 ounce cups a day...never the bottle, always fountain. I knew it wasn't good for me. I quit cold turkey and had major migraines for several weeks.

Then, I became addicted to coffee...fifteen of the largest cups of coffee I could find. I worked in schools and had a cup on me all the time.

The cigarettes...quit twice...finally was done when I was pregnant with my daughter...thank God.

This fall, my doctor asked me to decaffeinate because of pain issues. It just about killed me but I did it. I still have decaf and caffeine free diet coke...but only about two a week. It was miserable but I feel better, I sleep better, and I wake early.

Talk about a monkey on my back! I really would like to get rid of the caffence free diet coke. I am convinced they are poison!

Andrea said...

Good for you! I need to kick the coffee habit that I switched my diet coke for! :o)

Christy said...

Oh, I want to be there so badly, but I love that stuff so much. I've given it up for lent before, and it was torture....I keep telling myself to cut back at least!! Good luck, let me know if you find that 'magic' 0 calorie drink that taste as good, but does less damage on the body and pocket book!

jill said...

I was addicted and got the stomach flu in October 2007. I went a good week without pop [diet coke] and decided to see how long I could go...I haven't had one since. I feel great. That's not to say that I don't crave one every now and again--I just decided not to drink pop anymore.