I Kicked the habit!

[MiRaja]

You've done what I'm in the middle of TRYING to do. I've been addicted to Diet Coke/Coke Zero for about 15 years now and I've gone weeks without Coke sometimes but then I slip back into my old habbits because the craving of sweetners have become too much. But good on you for finally taking the step towards a healthier and better lifestyle! Hopefully I'm on my way to doing the same...

It was really hard for me to knowingly quit in the past too, I dunno why it was a little easier this time. But I wish you all the luck in your own efforts!

Just keep in mind that the lemonaid at restaurants is no better than soda.  It still comes in giant boxes of syrup ( it's high fructose corn syrup with NO actual lemon in it ) and is hooked up to the machine just like the soda, only it's non-carbonated. 

I don't drink soda either but for a little sierra mist or the Mexican coke because it's made with cane sugar and not HFCS which is seriously bad.  Sugar is bad all on its own, but going to take the lesser of two evils and least go with the one minimally processed. 

Also: Tea is a great caffeine replacement for me.  I have a coffee issue and have just recently relapsed, but dark teas like Earl Grey and Orange Pekoe are delicious.  If you have a need for sweet, pick up some honey from a local or farmers market.  The honey sold in grocery stores is largely NOT honey, is either pasteurized, or diluted with more dreaded HFCS. 

I have a divine Tulip Poplar honey that I put in Earl Grey and it is just. . . omg. . .  delicious and a perfect treat.  Way better than soda. . .  I only need soda for booze.  << >> 

Yeah I guess that's true about the lemonaid, but I dunno i usually wouldn't have any other option at a restaurant anyway, I tend to not like the water most of the time. Honestly Id be happy bringing my own drink xD but that wouldn't be allowed most of the time. But those machines give me the heebie jeebies, Iv heard they're hard to clean and have a lot of places for bacteria to collect and grow, it didn't help that my bf worked for a restaurant, had to clean it one day and just  found tons of mold in it... I tend not to drink there anymore. >.<

Iv been trying to get into tea drinking, I have yet to find anything that really appeals to me at all, but I'm still determined to try more flavors and someday find some that i like. xD Ill have to try the Orange Pekoe, as iv never heard of that one and who knows! I might love it. :p And we have so many beekeeper and tree tapping friends, I think it would be a sin on our friendship if we ever bought honey or maple syrup at a store haha.

Tazo makes a couple different good herbal/fruit teas.  I have this blackberry iced tea by them that is divine. . .  There's also a passion fruit herbal tea made by Tazo that's very nice.  Mint teas are good too.  And sounds like it's awesome that you have friends who do beekeeping!  You know you're getting the real thing now!

And YES, the soda machines are nasty.  Awful.  Horrible.  I'm a server.  Most servers don't bother to clean them, I do, and it's just. . .ugh, nasty.  I won't drink anything out of the machines myself.  I do tea ( I currently live in the south so, Unsweet Tea and Sweet Tea are easily found ) or coffee which I throw over ice with some half&half. 

[Gloomygirl777]

Just keep in mind that the lemonaid at restaurants is no better than soda.  It still comes in giant boxes of syrup ( it's high fructose corn syrup with NO actual lemon in it ) and is hooked up to the machine just like the soda, only it's non-carbonated. 

I don't drink soda either but for a little sierra mist or the Mexican coke because it's made with cane sugar and not HFCS which is seriously bad.  Sugar is bad all on its own, but going to take the lesser of two evils and least go with the one minimally processed. 

Also: Tea is a great caffeine replacement for me.  I have a coffee issue and have just recently relapsed, but dark teas like Earl Grey and Orange Pekoe are delicious.  If you have a need for sweet, pick up some honey from a local or farmers market.  The honey sold in grocery stores is largely NOT honey, is either pasteurized, or diluted with more dreaded HFCS. 

I have a divine Tulip Poplar honey that I put in Earl Grey and it is just. . . omg. . .  delicious and a perfect treat.  Way better than soda. . .  I only need soda for booze.  << >>

Except for at Chik-fil-A.....I used to work there and I used to have to make the lemonade. It was squeezed everyday....it used to take forever...like the whole morning. Just thought I would throw that out there But definitely good for you on the healthy new habits... I was doing really good for a while but here recently I have been slipping and eating junk and over eating. I am about to go on a health kick real soon. Maybe tomorrow......maybe.

Oh and I just recently quit drinking diet coke...I don't know if it had anything to do with it but not long ago I had a super bad panic attack after drinking one and I decided that if I have a soda it is going to be a regular one. Not giving up my coffee though.

[achab1984]

Its hard to do change in out lives, but when we do for the better its so good!

I also don't drink pop, maybe one or two a month and I do a lot more walking. I have to get back to my exercises though! Called need to get my butt off the computer! LOL

Congrats and keep up the great work!

[DartBurd]

Congrats to you! I love yoga, I've been going to an hr long yoga class every week day for a few months now and WOW, I feel so much different, good different.  I can really tell if I'm not doing my stretching and poses everyday, I can feel my back tensing up if I don't go.  I have a sit down desk job, and I had the worst back spasms, my hips were bad too, still kinda are but I'm working on that.  Keep with it. I was able to do crow pose, something I never thought I'd even attempt.
I try really hard to only drink soda when we go out somewhere.  Treat a treat like a treat.

[FantasticFirefly]

Congrats!  You should be very, very proud! I've seen many family and friends struggle to quit soda over the years. One friend lost about 30lbs in a month from that one change, but then got into soda drinking again.

My Dad finally kicked the habit, a 30+ year coca cola habit. As for tea, he found making his own iced tea (brewed, not from sugary powder) helped. However, he was a very heavy soda drinker and didn't realize that drinking too much black tea could give you kidney stones! Found out that the hard way. Now he's switched to my summer drink of choice, iced green tea. I brew in a glass jug, brewed too strong a little over half full once cooled a little and then I add cold filtered water to the correct strength and simply add the ice in my glass when I drink it. If your tap water tastes icky, a filter (like a brita) might also help as well.

[True]

Thats a good idea, I know iv tried green teas in the past that I kinda liked, enough that I think I could get used to them, but they were bottled and Id rather try and make something, at least I know whats in it that way haha. We have a well for water but I usually buy big jugs of spring water for drinking.