Thursday, August 30, 2012

Kicking The Habit. Again.

I have given up Diet Coke. This is important for you to know.

I tend to give up diet coke once a year for a period of time. And then after doing well for a while, I decide to have one every now and then which ultimately leads to me buying cases and cases and keeping them in every room to relieve the don't-ever-leave-me-again-diet-coke anxiety.

In foster training over the weekend, I was talking to this lady who sits next to me. I was telling her how I was kicking the Diet Coke habit and she said she had done the same thing recently. She went on to tell me that she would always pour her diet Coke out in the yard when she got out of her car and it started killing the grass.

IT WAS KILLING THE GRASS.

(Thank you, foster care buddy, for confirming my decision.)

So.

Yesterday I was trying to talk myself out of caving and opening a can to help ward off what was surely a caffeine starved headache, and I stayed strong. Walk away, I told myself, just walk away.

I literally paced in front of the fridge for a minute and debated over what to do. Which proves that I'm clearly not as busy as you might think.

I decided to make a cup of coffee at 3pm to give me that little energy boost I was looking for. So I grabbed the coffee maker and began to move it to a different part of the counter, in which the pot slid out of the machine and shattered.

IT SHATTERED RIGHT AT MY CAFFEINE DEPRIVED FEET.

After I fell to my knees and asked the good Lord why He would take away the only opportunity I had for caffeine (<--- I may be embellishing that a bit), I pulled myself together and decided to get myself a nice big glass of ice water. It was the choice I was supposed to be making in the first place, afterall.

By this point, I was cursing every article that has proven my Diet Coke to be bad. Under my breath, of course.

So I sat and let the tears flow as I drank my water.

Not really, but I might have of cried if the kids wouldn't have been around.

I'm only on day 3. And now I have no coffee machine. If you see me soon in the grocery store carrying 20 cases of pop to my car, just look the other way. Pretend you don't see it. Act as if I haven't given in.

And hug me, and then take me out for a carbonated beverage :).

13 comments:

Marcella{The Life After "Trust Me"} said...

Don't do it, stay strong and hugs to you!!

Jenn said...

I gave up coke, but replaced it with black tea.

I still get the caffeine and sugar, but it's progress, right?

Romberg Family said...

You can do it! I did it too! Its been months since i have had a diet coke! I have just read to many bad things about aspartame. Plus did you know that you can poor coke on anything to remove rust!!!

victoria said...

Stay strong, if it is what you want right now....I can't drink coffee because of old ulcers (teaching alternative HS took away coffee!) so I am a chai drinker, and chocolate tea is pretty yummy too. Do what works....plus I know that depending on your coffee preference that some of the International Foods instant ones a pretty good (though how much real coffee they have I am not sure as I can have those sometimes), and either Foldgers or Maxwell house makes a single brew pack kind of like a tea bag.....those all would just require hot water not a new pot. Though it is still back to school time so things like coffee makers are included in sales....college kids you know. Be strong and don't cry too much when you find the one last piece of glass from your coffee pot in your caffeine free foot.

Thoughts for the day said...

What also works, especially in the morning, is cold lemon water, with a quarter teaspoon of sugar. I have an old lemon press and use a half lemon juice and pulp to 6 oz of water. It is good for your liver and good for your cells to wake up to.
Diet coke is the worst and yes it can be an addiction. Just like anything else. You can do it ...be strong and as a fun suggestion with every dollar you save by not buying the soda put it in a box in your 'master bedroom' and after a season of time you will have enough to go out for a wonderful dinner or even away for over night alone. Isn't that a great incentive? Your husband will love you for it and you will be healthier too.

Anonymous said...

I too, am slightly addicted to coffee and diet coke. You have given me some things to think about. (Sometimes I think it's better to be naïve lol)

Sarah said...

If you'd like to exchange one addiction for another, I recommend iced green tea. I limit myself to one glass a day though. Otherwise I wouldn't drink water! :)

wonderchris said...

The documentary Sweet Misery is a pretty good watch to help with the weaning process.

What I really got from this post is that you need to hit Target for a new coffee maker (immediately!).

:D

The Skinny Turtle said...

I can't believe you didn't RUN to Target (or Starbucks, and then Target) the moment your coffee carafe broke!

I rarely drink pop, and I see all these articles about how bad it is, but darn if it isn't refreshing!!

Good luck to you, sister! Soon enough it will be fall and we can indulge in salted caramel hot chocolate instead. ;-)

Clever Blonde -Donna G said...

Kate if you come to my store I'll give you a hug. Good on you for being strong and not opening that fridge. I remember thise days. I've been Coke free for 7 mths - well free of Coke addiction. I had a Coke few wks ago and decided I didn't want to go there again. I feel so good without, I feel proud. I am saving heaps of money for the family. But the best bit is to be 'free of addiction'. Will pray...

Ruth said...

I would have fallen to the ground and bawled my eyes out -- full-blow meltdown style -- if my coffee pot shattered! And then made a special, emergency trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond for a new one! After stopping at Starbucks for a ready-made cup of caffeine of course...

jenny from mommin' it up said...

You crack me up! I can so relate (Mountain Dew, OY!) and I WOULD'VE cried after the coffee pot incident!

Unknown said...

kate,
i gave up all caffine and pop in may. but i have started drinking Polar seltzer water (raspberry/lime is great.) It is cold, bubbly yet calorie, caffine and sodium free. It's a bit of an *acquired* taste. I actually take them with me out to eat so that I have something bubbly to drink. Just a little FYI. PS, I like your new look!
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