"I've decided that perhaps I'm bulimic and just keep forgetting to purge."

-- Paula Poundstone

Thursday, March 4, 2010

My dirty little (not-so) secret

Hi, I’m Misty, and I’m a Diet Coke-aholic.

(“Hi, Misty!”)

If you’ve read enough of this blog, you know I’m painfully honest … warts and all.

So, while I am doing surprisingly well so far on the food and exercise, I’ll admit I’m still unable to completely give up a big crutch of mine: Diet Coke.

And Diet Dr. Pepper. And Diet Dr. M, which is the store brand we buy when Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper aren’t on sale.

Hey, we’re frugal addicts.

So, I just got off the treadmill (another 1.1 miles in 22 minutes on the books), and I’m enjoying a nice cold Diet Dr. M.

(Side note: It was brutal getting out of bed this morning. My teething son woke up at 11:45 p.m., 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. When my alarm started going off at 5 a.m., I fought with the bitchy lady in my head for a while, but once again she won. And like always, I feel a ton better now that I did it.)

Anyway, the top picture is the mountain of diet pop cans in our garage, waiting to be redeemed (in Michigan, we pay a deposit on cans, bottles, etc.). Granted, that’s several weeks’ worth, but it’s still pretty embarrassing.

I’d say on average, I was drinking at least 8-10 cans a day.

I know.

Yes, it’s diet, and no, there are no calories. But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that even diet colas are no good for you.

So, slowly, I am changing that. Take a look at the bottom picture. That is the 32-ounce bottle I now keep full of water at work.

I cut up my own lemons and put them in baggies to take to work every day, just like I do the vegetables.

The lemons help tremendously. Seriously. Plain water is pretty gaggy.

But with the lemons, I’m able to chug 5 of those bottles a day at work, for a whopping 160 ounces of water a day.

That’s up from zero.

So, I’ve cut my Diet Coke-Diet Dr. Pepper-Diet Dr. M consumption down to about 4 cans a day.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

What’s your crutch?

3 comments:

  1. I love all things shinyMarch 4, 2010 at 3:00 AM

    My crutch is coffee with 1/2 and 1/2. I've heard that eating an apple in the morning will give the same burst of energy - and is better for me - but I LOVE coffee. Love love love. I mostly drink it in the morning and drink water the rest of the day, so that's OK, right?

    It's weird not hearing the "k-chhhhh" of you opening can after can of Diet Dr. whatever throughout the day. Go go, Misty!

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  2. I'm with you misty... I gave it up like a good girl when I was preggers and told myself I wouldn't go back, but I fell off the wagon, for me it's all about the carbonation!

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  3. Wow... all those bags (and all that money!). The picture shocked me, but Misty, I'm so happy for you and love reading your blog (I've got it bookmarked in google reader). Keep up the good work!
    Shannon Murphy

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