Resolution Update

How is my year without soda pop going so far?  Not bad I tell ya, not bad.

January 1 - There were still two cold Coca-Colas in the fridge.  That was very tempting.  But I started the day strong with a big glass of water.  By afternoon I was dying for something non-water to drink.  So Allison & I headed to the store with the specific mission to find non-water, non-soda pop beverages.  We started the trip with a stop at Starbucks for an iced caramel macchiato.  I'm not normally a coffee drinker but I needed caffeine.  I came home with... raspberry lemonade, chocolate milk, capri sun, and Izze.  Here I ran into my first test.

What constitutes soda pop?  Is it the carbonation?  It can't be that alone or Perrier would be out and clearly that is not soda.  Is it the caffeine?  Again, not alone because coffee isn't soda.  I decided it was the combination of carbonation & high fructose cornsyrup & (usually) caffeine - usually because drinks like 7-up are generally considered soda but don't have caffeine.  So Jones soda made with cane sugar is out.  But Izze - which has no HFCS - only carbonated water and fruit juice is in.

I do realize that my subsitute drinks aren't exactly stellar choices nutritionally.  But that wasn't my challenge.  My challenge (and it is a challenge for me) is no soda pop.

January 2 - Day 2 was a bit easier.  Mr. Brown drank one of the remaining Cokes (at my request) so I have a little less temptation.  I'm hoping he'll finish the other one off quickly.  I already had drink options in the house so I was able to satisfy cravings for something sweet with those.  The hardest moment was when we went in the car.  I would normally grab a pop for the drive.  With that off limits I settled for a bottle of water.  No caffeine today and so far no caffeine headaches.  I did indulge in a cherry Icee today when I ran out to pick up Allison's prescription.

You have to understand a little more about what makes this hard for me.  Not just the soda pop addiction (although that's real) - it's the trouble I have with water.  I love water.  I used to drink buckets of it.  But ever since I've been sick, water has been a real trouble spot for me.  That sounds crazy I'm sure that water could make you sick.  But it's true.  I can't just grab a big glass and chug.  That will send me straight for the bathroom.  I have to carefully time my water consumption to ensure that my food is well digested.  And I have to drink it in small amounts.  The carbonation doesn't have the same upsetting effect on my digestive system.  That's part of the reason I've gotten so hooked in the first place.