How I Gave Up the Diet Soda Habit [New Year, New You]

I drank Diet Coke for over 20 years!

One of my favorite things to do used to be to go down to the convenience store and get a 44 oz Diet Coke and drink it during the day, or crack a fresh can from the fridge.

So, when I joined April Kennedy’s Body-Mind-Spirit Challenge, there were guidelines for what you could eat and drink – and diet soda was on the big NO list.

Here’s what happened:

The first week, I had a huge headache all week and I really missed it. But I was determined to stick to the rules of the challenge and I powered through.

I had to remove the Diet Coke from the house and make sure I had a nice water bottle with ice water in it handy all the time to help me satisfy that craving.

At the end of the challenge I was down 15 pounds and I found I wasn’t craving Diet Coke anymore.

They’re great every now and then, but it was good for me to break the habit.

Every once in a while, I still enjoy a cold, dirty Diet Coke with chips and salsa or a Mexican meal – it’s like a treat now, not an everyday (or every hour) occurrence.

I discovered that substituting water for my Diet Coke was a good thing – and that staying hydrated was what my body really craved.

I had to find ways to trick myself into drinking enough water during the day. I tried Crystal Light, but its ingredients aren’t much better than Diet Coke and it made me feel a little ill.

So I looked for something that was tasty, healthy and easy to do. My friend suggested one drop of essential oil in my water bottle – and I like the pure, subtle taste.

My favorite flavors right now are orange, lemon and grapefruit. (No sweet flavors for me!)

When I have them, I also like to cut fresh citrus slices and mint leaves and put them in my water bottle, too!

PS: I’m not saying Diet Coke is bad, necessarily — just that for me, drinking more water has helped me feel more healthy and has helped with my weight loss. Check with your health care professional.

Have you ever tried to give up a food or drink you loved? How did you do it?

Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

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