My name is Susan, and I’m a recovering Diet Coke addict. It’s been 100 days since my last sip of that delicious nectar of the Gods. I started drinking Diet Coke right after it launched in 1982 and I never stopped. At my worst, right before I quit, I was drinking 4-6 cans a day, and if I happened by a QuikTrip, I’d get a Big Q fountain DC as well. I would easily go through two twelve-packs a week. Y’all, I estimate I spent at least $400 a year in Diet Coke.
I’m not stupid, I know how bad DC is for you…chock full of nasty stuff. But I couldn’t resist the feel of an ice cold fountain Diet Coke sliding down my throat. Heaven. I’ve quit Diet Coke too many times to count, never lasting more than two weeks, probably caved we went out for Mexican food. I had to have a Diet Coke with Mexican food. It would be un-American not to. It’s refreshing deliciousness called me back time and again. Then, I started Rachel Hollis’s #Last90Days Challenge in October. She challenged us to do 5 small daily things, what she called 5 to Thrive:
- Get up an hour earlier and use the time for yourself
- Workout or physical activity for at least 30 minutes
- Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day
- Give up one food category you KNOW you shouldn’t be eating
- Write down 10 things you’re grateful for every single day
For the first two weeks, I kind of/sort of did each of them every now and then, except #4 – I never did that. I knew I should, but no way was I giving up my DC. (Way to jump in there Susan and really give the last 90 days all you’ve got!) Then, Rachel did a re-boot when it was 75 days left. Challenging those of us who didn’t really do anything to get back on track. And, something inside me said…give it up SUSAN! Quit being so wishy-washy and do something hard. So, on October 15, 2018, I quit. Cold turkey. After 35 years, I gave it up. I haven’t cheated once. Thankfully, I didn’t have withdrawal symptoms. Likely because I still drink coffee, so got my caffeine fix there! Oh yeah! But, truth be told, even after 100 days, I still get sudden urges to stop at QT and grab a DC. But I don’t. That’s not who I am anymore. I’m not a Diet Coke drinker. I’m one of those water drinkers now. Go figure.
But even better than quitting DC, that one single win has given me the confidence to tackle other challenges. Because of this little (BIG) win of giving up Diet Coke, it has now been 25 days since I have eaten white sugar AND white flour. (I’m totally eating cake on my birthday though!) I also drink my daily water, keep a daily gratitude journal, get up at 5:00 am (on weekdays, I’m not insane guys!) to focus on my dreams and workout. I’m nothing special. I’m a regular girl. I have started and stopped daily habits like Atlanta rush hour traffic. But something seems different this time. I have an accountability partner, and we don’t let each other off the hook for our daily habit commitments. And, when you have one win, you want more. The wins and the challenges become the addiction. I can think of worse things to be addicted to.
If you had to give up one thing you are eating or doing that you KNOW is bad for you, what would it be? And what would it take for you to give it up? Comment here and let me know. I’d love to cheer you on to a little (big) win!
