They say it takes a month to break a habit….
I have always had an addiction to Coca-Cola, as a child it was all that I would drink and at University I practically lived on it, while limiting my food intake. I had no health complaints, I was not over weight nor did I think that it was doing me any harm. I stopped drinking it a few times over the years and slowly started again, but opted for the diet version as it was zero calories and like many others I actually believed that it wasnt that bad for me. I completely appreciate that there are worse addictions to have and so I am not complaining about my life in the slightest, I am just sharing my experience.
After a trip to the dentist in 2016, I decided that I would cut out all forms of coca cola including diet. It has been over 18 months now and I am pleased to stay that I have stuck to it completely. I cannot believe that it took me 26 years to break this silly addition. I have not even had one when I have been on a night out or on holiday for the fear that I would get addicted again. It is hard as cola is such a good mixer for many drinks and I feel that this does kind of stop me drinking as much now which I am not complaining about. I know that I can have a choice of cocktails which makes up for it.
Cutting it out completely was probably the hardest thing that I have done, I had a constant headache for about a week solid where my body was adapting to not having the sugar and it was hard. The working day was such a struggle for a couple of months but I have done it, I no longer have the headaches and I feel so much better for it. I did consider not stopping completely and just reducing to say one glass a day however, this would not have been realistic for me and would have made the whole process harder.
I actually drink my water at night out of a diet coca-cola cup that I got for Christmas a few years ago and I love it. I find it sort of ironic! I personally don’t think that I could physically drink cola now without throwing up and that shows me how far I have come in 18 months.
When I have eventually have my own children, I think that I will be carefully as to what food and drink I expose them too at a young age. I know that this is difficult but I would not want my children becoming so addicted to cola.
It did take me a while to realise the benefits of not having cola on a daily basis and I am so glad that I only drink water now with the daily coffee and occasional lemonade. What benefits have I felt in the last 18 months:
- Improved concentration especially at work
- I am fully hydrated – I read that although cola gives your taste buds the sensation of dealing with your thirst, it doesn’t and you end up thirstier
- Fewer headaches
- My skin has cleared up
- I now that any teeth issues is not caused by the excessive amounts of sugar etc. but rather the lack of milk in my diet which I am working on
- I have more energy
- I generally feel happier in myself
- I am no longer embarrassed at the amount of cola that I drink. I use to have a sense of feeling ashamed that I was so addicted to it and this has now been taken from me.
Love, Minnie x
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah i love diet coke!! I can literally have it all day long but i know how bad it is for health but ugh.. these things are just so hard to give up!! 😦
-Maleeha
https://inyourfacebymaleeha.wordpress.com/
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I use to drink it constantly as it is so addictive! I think I have kind of swapped it for coffee though which isn’t great but thats the next demon to battle… x
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This is a great post, and I am so happy you were able to conquer that addiction. I grew up eating a lot of chocolate, it was just a very common treat in our household. I began to use it as a “comfort” food, and now that I have been living on my own and going to college, I have found it difficult to not buy some every now and then.
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Thank you. I don’t think we really realise how addictive these treats can be. Every now and again is fine though for most foods x
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For sure!
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