I made it!

Just so you all know. I made it the 30 days without soda. I have will power.
I didn’t make it til midnight the last night and down my first Coke when all the hands of the clock were pointed straight up. I didn’t wake up and rush to the waiting bottles. I waited, and when I finally sat down to enjoy my first soda in over 30 days…It was disgusting.
Not the reaction you were looking for. ME EITHER!! Turns out I had been given some bad Coke. Not like a bad batch or anything, just really old, stale and flat. It was like Caro Corn Syrup coating my tongue. When I looked at the imprinted date I discovered that it was over two years past the expiration. Needless to say I was destroyed, disappointed, and devastated. A new triple D.
It took awhile, but deliciousness was finally achieved. It all came flooding back with a splash. I will remember that first good Coke for the rest of my life. Then came the sugar rush. I had a great high for about an hour after when I was just basking in the carbonation and laughing at everything on TV.
I learned that I can control my vice when I really want to. I also learned to make sure to check an expiration date before putting a food product anywhere near my mouth. I also learned that everyone that says you’ll lose weight just by cutting soda out of your diet is lying. I didn’t lose a single pound. Not one and the only thing that I changed was staying away from the soda pop. So don’t believe the hype. It takes work and effort to lose weight, not just staying away from sugar syrup water.
Just like that…What I thought was going to be one of the most difficult is off the list.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Well I am in the last hours of this challenge…last day of depriving myself of Coke or any other soda that I feel like downing. Today I’m feeling extremely proud that I was able to make it to the end. There were times that I didn’t know if I could.

Last night for example…Fam and I went to a local greasy spoon for dinner. Nothing goes better with a burger and fries that a ice- cold Coca-Cola. I was saved by a summer time favorite on the menu though. Arnold Palmer, that crusty old golfer has a delicious and refreshing beverage named after him. The half iced tea- half lemonade is one of my standards when the weather gets hot. It also makes for a nice change of pace to break the summer heat, and can be make for a lot cheaper than downing soda all the time. In a ironic twist my Arnold was brought to me in one of the biggest Coca-Cola glasses that I have ever seen.

A great substitute for your favorite soda, but they didn't have to put it in that tempting glass.

So I have a few more hours to go and no celebratory plan yet. I’m sure at midnight I could pop open a Coke and have that smile they are always talking about, but it seems anti-climactic at this point. All the suffering and temptations that I survived will all be brought to an end when that first sip surfs across my taste buds. I’m anticipating it being great, and am proud that I was able to deprive myself for 30 days, but it feels like there should be a greater reward. Such as last year when we celebrated with Salumi after our vegetarian experience.

The one thing that I can say that I’ve learned about myself with these two months of “suffering” is that I can control urges, even if it takes a bit of groaning and complaining. I feel that I can put a challenge out there and accomplish it. That’s a pretty awesome realization. It also is eye-opening that I don’t call upon that will power that I’ve now proven that I have to do some of the things in life that I would like to do, such as dropping a few lbs.

Well, I’ve still got a few hours to go so I haven’t accomplished anything yet. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally, I just hope it’s not a train coming.

Over half way there…

I WANT A COKE!!

Had to get that out of my system. It’s been over two weeks since I tasted the High Fructose Corn Syrup and bubbles race across my tongue. I hate to admit it, but I’ve had a couple dreams about what i would do for one.
This challenge isn’t nearly as bad as the vegetarian one from 2010, but it isn’t easy. Last year was a constant yearning for some flesh in between my chompers, this year my cravings come like ambushes. Out of nowhere with fierce violence!
I have had my temptations also, Ed poured one right into a glass of the happiest ice I’ve ever seen about two inches from my face during the Auburn/Oregon football game. I’ve had to suffer through pizza, hot wings, burgers and other meals that would have benefited from that bronzed nectar of the gods.
Like the title said, I’m over half way there. I just have to pray I can make it another couple of weeks.
Now if I can just get this damn song out of my head.
“I’d like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company!”

I would punch this freaky little elf right in the mouth and step on him as I chugged his Coke. I might have something wrong with me.