Remember when I told you that “New Year’s resolutions suck”? Yeah, well I still believe that. But I don’t think making goals sucks.
I do hate publicly stating my goals and failing at them, however. (See here, here and here. ::hangs head in shame::) So on January 1, 2010, I set out to accomplish one very immediate, very doable thing today. I decided I would drink nothing but good not horrible stuff. While it was a simple, short-term goal, I decided not to tell anyone about it until I knew it’d be accomplished.
A few things to explain: my motivation was mostly health. I have a bet with a coworker and I need to lose some weight pretty quickly (think 20 pounds in 3 months…doable, but still). Anyone who has ever been on any type of weight loss program knows that Americans consume far too many liquid calories. I also have fear about what a lifetime of drinking soda has done or will do to me. I’ve dramatically cut back in recent years but when going out, I often indulge. Cutting it out certainly won’t harm me.
I had a hard time figuring out exactly what counted as “not horrible” because the primary issue is calories, but I believe strongly in drinking milk (I am 31 years old and have already been diagnosed with arthritis in my neck!). Because I wasn’t sure what I was counting and what I wasn’t, I had one non-alcoholic beer and two glasses of tomato juice early in the month.
But since then, I’ve had nothing but water, milk, coffee and tea. Absolutely nothing.
I still find myself craving something with flavor in the afternoon or early evening so I’ve got to figure out a good long-term solution. Perhaps I can figure out a juice spritzer type thing with real juice but not a lot of it. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them. I definitely don’t want to go back to having a Diet Coke every afternoon but after February 1st, if I have a craving for one I may just give in.
What this exercise taught me is that a month is not a long time even if those first few days seem impossible. And that it’s easier to accomplish your goals with help. (OK, so I didn’t announce it publicly but I did have some help from my friends.)
So now I’m thinking about figuring out something to do or give up every month this year. I’m not sure what that thing will be for February, but I’m looking for suggestions on that too.
If you set a New Year’s Resolution, how is it going? Do you need suggestions to make it easier to stick to? Perhaps we can help each other out a bit.
Em, I never really announced it either, but I stopped drinking soda last July. Sometimes i miss it but most of the time, I don’t even think about it.
I haven’t had a glass of wine since December. And I don’t miss it. but don’t tell anyone. It kinda ruins my street cred.
;0)
MISS- YOU STOPPED DRINKING SODA?!
I pretty much only drink water & milk. I’ve never liked coffee. In 1991 I stopped drinking soda. It never was supposed to be a permanent thing but when I drank it again it tasted nasty to me – too sweet & syrupy. So giving up soda did become a permanent thing. And I don’t crave it at all.
A few years ago, a friend posted about HFCS.
Ever since then, I have almost-never bought soda [pop]. ;p
I buy club soda, or sometimes sparkling water, and juice without corn syrup. Langer’s and a few other brands use real sugar, for things like pomegranate, cranberry, blueberry… and grapefruit juice is readily available without corn syrup.
If you’re willing to do splenda, there are even more options.
Nice thing about club soda etc is you can mix to your own specifics about how much or little juice you use.
A bit tougher at work, maybe, but I bet you can figure it out! ;p
Maybe you could add something to benefit you instead of cutting something out each month. Like some kind of you time (this could be exercise, like a walk or sitting reading a book) for 30 minutes each month. I have kids, so I try to do that, but it often has to be in blocks of 10 mins. But it’s important for self preservation.
I gave up all caffeine when pregnant w/my 1st. I didn’t withdraw & after I couldn’t see the point in going back. With my 2nd pregnancy I had problems w/low blood pressure & the doctor told me to drink at least a cup of coffee or equivalent every day. I gave up soda w/my 1st pregnancy, but picked it back up during the 2nd. I drink Diet Dr. Pepper. (Chemicals, not carbs I guess.) Anyway, I gave it back up after. But now, w/my back problems I will get migraines & keep the soda around to help stop them before they get too bad. Because my back as been bad, I’ve been drinking 1 almost every afternoon the last couple weeks.
I recommend squeezing lemon juice into ice cube trays & then putting those in your water. YUMMY!
this is more of an acomplishment than you may think. Maybe I’ll jump on the wagon and give up something for February with you. As you know I haven’t drank any alcohol in Jan. Maybe I’ll do sugar, like in all forms. Although my family may not like be very much.
I’ve always been a water girl, except for my morning coffee and occasional glass of wine in the evening. But sometimes in the afternoon I like a cup of tea with vanilla soy milk and a little agave sweetener. Some of my friends drink that flavored sparkly water to satisfy the craving for a flavor. Hmmm, something to give up for Feb. Well, if you decide on alcohol I’ll have a nonalcoholic beer with you when we visit!
it’s been a pleasure helping you and listening. and you’re really inpsiring me. love you tons girl
!!!!
Congrats to you, and good job.
I hope you are able to take the weight off.
As for some alternatives, do you like Crystal Light? I like them and they are an alternative to just plain water. Also, lemonade is good.
I don’t drink soda and haven’t in a few years. I actually gave it up the first time I decided to lose weight and after hearing things about it in the nutrition class I took (like even diet soda is bad for you, as it can inhibit or slow weight-loss). Now I am not saying I don’t have one every now and again because I have but I usually can’t stand to drink them because they are so sweet. I drink 80 oz of water a day. I drink milk (strong believer in it, too, also 24 in 24 for weight loss) and I drink lots of 100% fruit juices.
I am so very proud of you Em.
I’m honored to have you as my friend and supporting you comes naturally!! I like the idea of tackling goals a month at a time. Whatever you decide for February, I know you’ll kick ass!
xoxo
I’m a huge fan of club soda with a *splash* of lemonade. It satisfies the craving for a soda, but isn’t too sweet. Deeeeelish.
@Miss I had no idea! I used to drink a lot of soda, but thankfully my parents instilled a love of milk in me at a young age. Problem is I could easily drink 500 calories of milk a day too.
@AMomTwoBoys glad you felt comfortable that outing your non-wine-drinking self on my blog and not fear anyone would find out.
It definitely would ruin your street cred.
@drlori71 If I could figure out a way to get decent iced tea in our office I bet I could survive just off of that. Bottled teas scare me almost as much as soda does, though. Maybe I’ll just make a giant batch of ice tea at home and bring it into the office once a week.
@al_pal I think I might try the club soda and real fruit juice. I just don’t want to consume hecka calories via juice but I’m not a fan of all the artificial stuff. So that might be a good call!
@mamaspeak I switched from Diet Coke to Caffeine Free Coca Cola during my pregnancies. ::rolls eyes:: You know, because that’s so much healthier to a baby. LOL! I’m a fan of Diet Dr. Pepper as well. Actually I kind of like the flavor better than Diet Coke but it’s less available (though we usually have it in the fridge at work). I love the ice cube idea. Maybe I’ll do that and get some tonic water. Also, I love the idea of adding something good. So far I’ve thought about exercise, stretching (which I suck at doing for someone who is as active as I am), or writing a letter to someone.
@mel You rock. I don’t think I could give up all carbs but I could definitely do something like whole grain carbs only (so brown rice, good, white rice bad). I’m trying to be all strategic about February to pick something really hard since it’s the shortest month of the year. LAME!
@deborah I haven’t had a glass of wine either. Nothing! Might stick that part out too…now that I’m over the hard part seems silly to go back to it. But then again, a glass of Tsing Tao while celebrating Chinese New Year may be in order. We’ll see.
@Becky You rock! Wish you weren’t so damn Charlotte-like so I could return the favor, Little Ms. Perfect.
(just kidding!!!)
@Kel I don’t really like Crystal Light though we have some in the office. I totally agree on the diet soda thing, though. I really like iced tea…if I got some tonic water and some ice tea and froze some 100% real juice in ice cub trays (like Al_Pal and mamaspeak suggested above) I could have variety as well! Love these ideas.
@Chantel I might have to drag you along with me into Feb, girl…you were my rock those first few days. Who knew I’d complain so much? LOL.
@Beth ok, so now I’m going to have to ask a dumb question. What is the difference between club soda and tonic water? I think I just used them interchangably but I assume they’re different. Anyway, I love that idea…might try that.
Good for you!! I wish liquid calories were my problem! I have only drank water almost my whole life. I don’t like soda really, esp since I am hyper sensitive to caffeine. I gave up Mcdonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, and most fast food this year. Its been an adventure. I have only lost about 3 lbs since New Years, but I feel way better!