8/26-8/31
10 years. That's how long I've been married. I've spent most of the past 10 years drinking Pepsi; first a little here and there and then at some point it became a regular everyday habit. I started buying it in bottles and cans from the store. I thought I would really want a Pepsi with my anniversary dinner, but it wasn't too difficult to avoid it. I drank water again. I may have had a glass of wine if it wasn't for 3 things; 1. The cheapest glass cost $7.50, 2. I don't really like it & 3. Red wine makes me throw up.
27 days gone by and do I feel any different yet? Well, I've wanted to eat so much more chocolate but other than that I don't think so. The only thing is every day I want 1 more thing I can't have right now! But then I feel happy that I have been able to go without Pepsi for so long. Now that makes me feel good. However, I still have 4 12oz bottles of Pepsi in the garage with my name written on them. Roll on Friday evening...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Day 15-21
8/19-8/25
Okay, so it's been a week since I last updated this blog. I'm also happy to say that it's been another week with not so much as a sip of Pepsi. It's also been a pretty tough week to not drink Pepsi as there were many opportunities to do so. We had Chipotle, which I always drink coke with, but this time I drank water. Then we went out for sushi to an old haunt in Portland with friends, and my 3 companions ALL had a coke. I drank water. The weather has been really hot - perfect Pepsi weather - and I drank water. We spent a lot of time driving over the weekend, which usually means more Pepsi for me. Guess what I drank? Not Pepsi.
21 days. That's a lot for me and I've got to say I'm pretty proud of myself. Our recycling bin is full of beer bottles instead of Pepsi cans (and they are not from me)!
I guess this also means I only have 9 days left of the challenge. While I plan on drinking a Pepsi on day 31, I do not plan on buying boxes of 36 cans, "50% more than a 24 pack!" -duh! I'm also intrigued as to whether or not Pepsi will taste different to me, whether it will be too sweet or feel gross. 9 days and I'll find out.
Oh, and today I came across another reason not to drink Pepsi (or any soda). Apparently the American Heart Association has decided it's time for people to cut back, waaaahay back...
Okay, so it's been a week since I last updated this blog. I'm also happy to say that it's been another week with not so much as a sip of Pepsi. It's also been a pretty tough week to not drink Pepsi as there were many opportunities to do so. We had Chipotle, which I always drink coke with, but this time I drank water. Then we went out for sushi to an old haunt in Portland with friends, and my 3 companions ALL had a coke. I drank water. The weather has been really hot - perfect Pepsi weather - and I drank water. We spent a lot of time driving over the weekend, which usually means more Pepsi for me. Guess what I drank? Not Pepsi.
21 days. That's a lot for me and I've got to say I'm pretty proud of myself. Our recycling bin is full of beer bottles instead of Pepsi cans (and they are not from me)!
I guess this also means I only have 9 days left of the challenge. While I plan on drinking a Pepsi on day 31, I do not plan on buying boxes of 36 cans, "50% more than a 24 pack!" -duh! I'm also intrigued as to whether or not Pepsi will taste different to me, whether it will be too sweet or feel gross. 9 days and I'll find out.
Oh, and today I came across another reason not to drink Pepsi (or any soda). Apparently the American Heart Association has decided it's time for people to cut back, waaaahay back...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Day 12, 13 & 14
8/16, 8/17 & 8/18
It has now been 2 weeks! I can't remember when I last went 2 weeks without so much as a SIP of Pepsi or Coke. No idea. I don't know if I ever have, even as a kid. It wasn't Pepsi then, just generic Soda Stream cola. There may have been times when I was in university, maybe even times since I've been living in the States that I have been this long without Pepsi, but I don't remember, and certainly not in the last 5 years. Man, that's a lot of Pepsi. A lot of sugar. A lot of cavities.
Thanks Pepsi for my dental bills.
This week has been easier. I've been drinking a lot of water as I feel like I've been thirstier since not drinking Pepsi. Strange. I've been pretty preoccupied and busy so it's distracted me from dreaming about Pepsi. Now I'm planning my next 30 days of...
It has now been 2 weeks! I can't remember when I last went 2 weeks without so much as a SIP of Pepsi or Coke. No idea. I don't know if I ever have, even as a kid. It wasn't Pepsi then, just generic Soda Stream cola. There may have been times when I was in university, maybe even times since I've been living in the States that I have been this long without Pepsi, but I don't remember, and certainly not in the last 5 years. Man, that's a lot of Pepsi. A lot of sugar. A lot of cavities.
Thanks Pepsi for my dental bills.
This week has been easier. I've been drinking a lot of water as I feel like I've been thirstier since not drinking Pepsi. Strange. I've been pretty preoccupied and busy so it's distracted me from dreaming about Pepsi. Now I'm planning my next 30 days of...
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Day 9, 10 &11
8/13, 8/14 & 8/15/09
So with all the negative effects of Pepsi and sodas, I started to wonder about the other side of the spectrum. The benefits of Pepsi. I found a couple of answers.
1. It tastes good.
2. The PepsiCo benefits package when you work for them. I guess it's just good for the company's growth?
I know from experience that if you put a dull penny in Pepsi overnight, the next day it will be shiny. Bonus! Other than that I couldn't really find anything about the positive effects of actually drinking Pepsi.
It's been 11 days. I still really want a glass of Pepsi, but because of this blog I am resisting. It's been good for me to know that I don't need it to function. Woo-hoo!
So with all the negative effects of Pepsi and sodas, I started to wonder about the other side of the spectrum. The benefits of Pepsi. I found a couple of answers.
1. It tastes good.
2. The PepsiCo benefits package when you work for them. I guess it's just good for the company's growth?
I know from experience that if you put a dull penny in Pepsi overnight, the next day it will be shiny. Bonus! Other than that I couldn't really find anything about the positive effects of actually drinking Pepsi.
It's been 11 days. I still really want a glass of Pepsi, but because of this blog I am resisting. It's been good for me to know that I don't need it to function. Woo-hoo!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Day 8
8/12/09
So now it's been 8 days. I've been trying to figure out if I feel any different, better or worse, since going cold turkey off Pepsi. Generally I feel just the same. I may be sleepier than usual, but if I am it's marginal. I'm not really grumpier than usual, although I do feel a little pissed that I suddenly just stopped without much planning or forethought because I happened to run out of Pepsi. I feel a little sad every time I want to drink it, like I'm mourning the loss of someone I barely even knew a long time ago (that is to say, not really very sad). One thing I have noticed is that the tooth that I think has a cavity doesn't hurt that much any more. I think I may still have a cavity but the constant sensitivity isn't there.
According to studies, the general consensus of what hurts your teeth in sodas is not really blamed on the sugar, but on the acidity eroding the enamel. The pH of Pepsi is 2.530. The pH of tap water is 7.67, which is actually on the alkali side of the pH scale. Fresh milk has a pH of about 6.7, so Pepsi is pretty acidic. Battery acid has a pH of 1. Whether or not people agree or disagree with the findings, the fact is my teeth hurt when I drink Pepsi. Like I said before, I'm mostly sticking to Milk and tap water right now.
As for weight loss... yeah, that's not too big of an issue. The baby weight is falling off me at a pretty quick rate but I can't really attribute any of that to not drinking Pepsi. If anything, I would have to say drinking Pepsi has prevented me being underweight in the past.
So now it's been 8 days. I've been trying to figure out if I feel any different, better or worse, since going cold turkey off Pepsi. Generally I feel just the same. I may be sleepier than usual, but if I am it's marginal. I'm not really grumpier than usual, although I do feel a little pissed that I suddenly just stopped without much planning or forethought because I happened to run out of Pepsi. I feel a little sad every time I want to drink it, like I'm mourning the loss of someone I barely even knew a long time ago (that is to say, not really very sad). One thing I have noticed is that the tooth that I think has a cavity doesn't hurt that much any more. I think I may still have a cavity but the constant sensitivity isn't there.
According to studies, the general consensus of what hurts your teeth in sodas is not really blamed on the sugar, but on the acidity eroding the enamel. The pH of Pepsi is 2.530. The pH of tap water is 7.67, which is actually on the alkali side of the pH scale. Fresh milk has a pH of about 6.7, so Pepsi is pretty acidic. Battery acid has a pH of 1. Whether or not people agree or disagree with the findings, the fact is my teeth hurt when I drink Pepsi. Like I said before, I'm mostly sticking to Milk and tap water right now.
As for weight loss... yeah, that's not too big of an issue. The baby weight is falling off me at a pretty quick rate but I can't really attribute any of that to not drinking Pepsi. If anything, I would have to say drinking Pepsi has prevented me being underweight in the past.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Day 6 & 7
8/10 & 8/11
It's been a whole week and I still haven't broken yet, despite wanting Pepsi really badly. I think I'm getting over the 'hump'! I've pretty much resigned myself to completing the challenge, at least with Pepsi. Does it count if I drink Coke? Because to me they taste quite different and I don't like Coke that much, but I would drink it if there is no Pepsi available. I think that would be cheating though :(
Nick made an interesting point the other day. I used to drink Orange High Juice or Ribena all the time back when I lived in England. When I moved here I couldn't get the same product, so I had people who visited me bring it over. Then I would make it last until I knew I would be able to get more. Eventually I stopped wanting it, stopped drinking it and forgot about it. I'm hoping this is what will happen with sodas, especially Pepsi as that's really the only fizzy drink I drink. I think I just have to find another alternative. Pepsi was my alternative to the high juice. Boo.
23 days left...
It's been a whole week and I still haven't broken yet, despite wanting Pepsi really badly. I think I'm getting over the 'hump'! I've pretty much resigned myself to completing the challenge, at least with Pepsi. Does it count if I drink Coke? Because to me they taste quite different and I don't like Coke that much, but I would drink it if there is no Pepsi available. I think that would be cheating though :(
Nick made an interesting point the other day. I used to drink Orange High Juice or Ribena all the time back when I lived in England. When I moved here I couldn't get the same product, so I had people who visited me bring it over. Then I would make it last until I knew I would be able to get more. Eventually I stopped wanting it, stopped drinking it and forgot about it. I'm hoping this is what will happen with sodas, especially Pepsi as that's really the only fizzy drink I drink. I think I just have to find another alternative. Pepsi was my alternative to the high juice. Boo.
23 days left...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Day 5
8/9/09
How about 5 days without Pepsi? Would that be a decent challenge? Maybe I can have a Pepsi say, once or twice a week?
FINE. I'll try and stick to the 30 days.
Today was another day. I need to start going to bed earlier so there are less hours to be tempted. My stomach is sloshing about with all that water and milk I've been drinking, and I'm gonna run out of my See's chocolate really soon at this rate. Luckily I will be near a See's candy shop in a couple of weeks, however, maybe I will have quit quitting Pepsi by then. Ugh.
How about 5 days without Pepsi? Would that be a decent challenge? Maybe I can have a Pepsi say, once or twice a week?
FINE. I'll try and stick to the 30 days.
Today was another day. I need to start going to bed earlier so there are less hours to be tempted. My stomach is sloshing about with all that water and milk I've been drinking, and I'm gonna run out of my See's chocolate really soon at this rate. Luckily I will be near a See's candy shop in a couple of weeks, however, maybe I will have quit quitting Pepsi by then. Ugh.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Day 4
8/8/09
Today I felt like I was about to break. The kids were driving me nuts today as this is the 6th day straight I've had them all to myself. For some reason Pepsi usually just gives me that boost I need. It makes me happy drinking it. I'm hoping that after 7 days without I won't want it any more, but right now I'm thinking that when these 30 days are over I'm having a big glass. Maybe a Big Gulp. Doesn't that sound great? Hopefully I'll only be an occasional Pepsi drinker instead of a compulsive Pepsi drinker when these 30 days are done.
I did eat a spoon of sugar straight out of the sugar jar. I figure that when I was drinking 2 cans of Pepsi a day I was getting 14 spoons, so 1 is really not that bad. Right now I'll do anything to avoid caving in and running to the garage to my emergency bottles. Actually, I would walk. Running still hurts my leg too much.
So far I have saved about $2.20 with this challenge. 4 days of Pepsi is about 8 cans, so that's also 8 less cans I had to pay a 5 cent deposit on. Yay me!
Today I felt like I was about to break. The kids were driving me nuts today as this is the 6th day straight I've had them all to myself. For some reason Pepsi usually just gives me that boost I need. It makes me happy drinking it. I'm hoping that after 7 days without I won't want it any more, but right now I'm thinking that when these 30 days are over I'm having a big glass. Maybe a Big Gulp. Doesn't that sound great? Hopefully I'll only be an occasional Pepsi drinker instead of a compulsive Pepsi drinker when these 30 days are done.
I did eat a spoon of sugar straight out of the sugar jar. I figure that when I was drinking 2 cans of Pepsi a day I was getting 14 spoons, so 1 is really not that bad. Right now I'll do anything to avoid caving in and running to the garage to my emergency bottles. Actually, I would walk. Running still hurts my leg too much.
So far I have saved about $2.20 with this challenge. 4 days of Pepsi is about 8 cans, so that's also 8 less cans I had to pay a 5 cent deposit on. Yay me!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 3
8/7/09
Another day! This is getting crazy. I don't have time to write much tonight because I'm so sleepy from the lack of caffeine and sugar. For those of you who don't know, I don't drink coffee and despite the fact that I'm British, I also don't drink tea. Pepsi was my coffee, my wake-me-up. These last 3 days I have been drinking milk and water only. I still think about drinking Pepsi maybe 60 times an hour, but I think that's better than I was yesterday.
Another day! This is getting crazy. I don't have time to write much tonight because I'm so sleepy from the lack of caffeine and sugar. For those of you who don't know, I don't drink coffee and despite the fact that I'm British, I also don't drink tea. Pepsi was my coffee, my wake-me-up. These last 3 days I have been drinking milk and water only. I still think about drinking Pepsi maybe 60 times an hour, but I think that's better than I was yesterday.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 2
8/6/09
I feel like a drug addict. However, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, headaches, poor concentration, depression, social isolation, sweating, racing heart, palpitations, muscle tension, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tremor, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are all symptoms I'm not experiencing. The only one I'm really feeling is craving, and that's not even on the list. I guess I'm cured. I haven't really been any crankier than usual.
This is going to be easier than I expected I think. It's a habit and don't they say 30 days doing something makes it a habit? Yeah. This shouldn't be too tough.
I did go out to a brew pub tonight for a burger. (Next up: 30 days vegetarian.) Usually I would get myself a cola to sip between bites of the delicious burger, but I resisted. Aside from saving $2, it also meant a second full day in a row with no soda. Wow! Of course, does it really count when you order a pint of the Blonde Bombshell in it's place? Trading one harmless addiction for another more serious one is not really my plan...
(Just for the record, I didn't drink anything but water at the pub. Blonde Bombshell - not a good sub.)
I feel like a drug addict. However, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, headaches, poor concentration, depression, social isolation, sweating, racing heart, palpitations, muscle tension, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tremor, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are all symptoms I'm not experiencing. The only one I'm really feeling is craving, and that's not even on the list. I guess I'm cured. I haven't really been any crankier than usual.
This is going to be easier than I expected I think. It's a habit and don't they say 30 days doing something makes it a habit? Yeah. This shouldn't be too tough.
I did go out to a brew pub tonight for a burger. (Next up: 30 days vegetarian.) Usually I would get myself a cola to sip between bites of the delicious burger, but I resisted. Aside from saving $2, it also meant a second full day in a row with no soda. Wow! Of course, does it really count when you order a pint of the Blonde Bombshell in it's place? Trading one harmless addiction for another more serious one is not really my plan...
(Just for the record, I didn't drink anything but water at the pub. Blonde Bombshell - not a good sub.)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 1
August 5, 2009
Phew. Today's nearly over and it will be the first day in a really long time that I didn't drink at least one can of the sweet sauce. It has been tough for me, but I think I can do this. Damn Pepsi.
Every 5 minutes or so I feel like I need a sip. Just one sip to curb the sweetness craving. The empty box is still sitting on the kitchen counter next to a few empty cans with dried Pepsi juice on the lip of the can. Don't think I haven't thought about licking it off, but not only would that be gross but I doing that would make me barf. I have also had a headache most of the day that I'm going to attribute to lack of Pepsi plus I have been so sleepy. However, my 2 hour nap this afternoon helped with that one.
I don't think it is the caffeine I miss, but the sugar and the taste of Pepsi. I can't stand diet sodas and I don't really like Coke much, so they don't even tempt me. Do they put something in Pepsi to make you crave it? I sometimes wonder. Crap. I feel like I want to throw up. Does that happen when you stop drinking Pepsi cold-turkey? To me it does.
Now I have tomorrow to look forward to without Pepsi. Let me just say I'm very happy to have a 2lb box of chocolate sitting in my fridge.
Phew. Today's nearly over and it will be the first day in a really long time that I didn't drink at least one can of the sweet sauce. It has been tough for me, but I think I can do this. Damn Pepsi.
Every 5 minutes or so I feel like I need a sip. Just one sip to curb the sweetness craving. The empty box is still sitting on the kitchen counter next to a few empty cans with dried Pepsi juice on the lip of the can. Don't think I haven't thought about licking it off, but not only would that be gross but I doing that would make me barf. I have also had a headache most of the day that I'm going to attribute to lack of Pepsi plus I have been so sleepy. However, my 2 hour nap this afternoon helped with that one.
I don't think it is the caffeine I miss, but the sugar and the taste of Pepsi. I can't stand diet sodas and I don't really like Coke much, so they don't even tempt me. Do they put something in Pepsi to make you crave it? I sometimes wonder. Crap. I feel like I want to throw up. Does that happen when you stop drinking Pepsi cold-turkey? To me it does.
Now I have tomorrow to look forward to without Pepsi. Let me just say I'm very happy to have a 2lb box of chocolate sitting in my fridge.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Night Before the First Day
I don't watch The Oprah Winfrey Show as a rule. I established this rule while working on ads for her show 4 years ago. I have broken this rule maybe just a handful of times since then because I happened to turn the TV on and the topic was something that caught my attention. The other day this happened to me and I ended up watching the last 10 minutes of the show. This show had something to do with obesity and a kind of rehab clinic for obese people. The 'I-can't-even-get-myself-to-the-toilet' kind of obesity. The kind of obesity you don't usually see because the person cannot leave the house. The investigator lady, Ruby, then said something that actually inspired me to do what I am going to do. She said that food is an addiction, just like alcohol. Eating huge amounts becomes a habit you can't stop and that is why there is a rehab for the obese. Only one mind you.
Whether or not I agree with that statement is neither here nor there, but it did get me thinking as I drank my second can of Pepsi of the day. Today I wasn't enjoying it. Today it wasn't tasting good to me. It's killing my teeth and makes my stomach feel airy. Why do I drink it then? Habit. Because it's there. Because I love the sweet. Because the can is so pretty and shiny.
It just so happens I was also drinking the last can in the pantry, which I think is going to be key in my challenge to quit Pepsi for 30 days. If it's not there I can't be tempted, right? So that's my challenge at the moment, and that is what I'm going to be blogging about right now. I am going to go 30 days without Pepsi. None. Not even a sip. 1 can of Pepsi contains 41g of sugars. That is something like 7 teaspoons of sugar. 7 TEASPOONS! Now, the reason I am going to be doing this isn't for weight loss, but to save my teeth, the teeth of my children and a little money. Maybe it will even make me eat more fruit and feel more energetic. Maybe after 30 days off it I won't crave that pretty blue can that contains the liquid sugar. Maybe.
Whether or not I agree with that statement is neither here nor there, but it did get me thinking as I drank my second can of Pepsi of the day. Today I wasn't enjoying it. Today it wasn't tasting good to me. It's killing my teeth and makes my stomach feel airy. Why do I drink it then? Habit. Because it's there. Because I love the sweet. Because the can is so pretty and shiny.
It just so happens I was also drinking the last can in the pantry, which I think is going to be key in my challenge to quit Pepsi for 30 days. If it's not there I can't be tempted, right? So that's my challenge at the moment, and that is what I'm going to be blogging about right now. I am going to go 30 days without Pepsi. None. Not even a sip. 1 can of Pepsi contains 41g of sugars. That is something like 7 teaspoons of sugar. 7 TEASPOONS! Now, the reason I am going to be doing this isn't for weight loss, but to save my teeth, the teeth of my children and a little money. Maybe it will even make me eat more fruit and feel more energetic. Maybe after 30 days off it I won't crave that pretty blue can that contains the liquid sugar. Maybe.
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