Chris's Journey #25 Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Entry 25: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

First, I wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone for sticking around for 25 issues of my journey. For me it is an exciting time of growth, and I am happy to share it with all of you. I cannot wait to see what happens to me over the course of the next 25! Now on to this week’s issue.

I had a difficult break up yesterday. Since yesterday I have been a little restless, had a headache and ached to get back together. I miss it so much. I have been so wrapped up with my thoughts and completely consumed. We had an amazing time together, but as I was growing and continued to get healthier, I knew it was time to make some hard choices. So with a heavy heart, I had my last soda last night.

Yes, you read that last sentence right, I said soda. I broke up with carbonated soft drinks last night. No more soda for me. I was a large soda drinker for a majority of my life. Drinking a coke with a meal or a snack was a normal thing to me. When asked what I would like to drink, I always said a coke. Coke was my water. As a teenager, besides sweet tea, I do not remember drinking anything else. Then about 6 or 7 years ago, I stopped drinking sugared sodas and switched to diet sodas. I LOVED Coke Zero. I drank so many Coke Zeros over the course of the last few years; I am surprised I did not drown in it. And when it was not Coke Zero it was diet orange soda or Diet Mountain Dew. I did drink water, but my preferred beverage was a good diet soda.

Today has been rough, I will not lie. But the roughness is all because of me. I have so many bad habits that I have to literally decide to go with the new habit every minute of the day. For example, today I ordered a Coke Zero and did not think about it. It was order food, order drink, consume mass quantities. So today was difficult stopping myself. I did not drink the Coke Zero I bought and I opted for a non-soda decision. I also made sure that I have had plenty of water around me. I ended up using the rest room several times today due to the water I drank. Headaches are here because of no caffeine. That will be tough too, but this needs to happen. I need to drink more water. I need to give up soda. It is not a friend of mine, and I do not need that influence in my life any longer. Will this be tough? Absolutely, but this is also the right thing for me. I am not saying that this is the right thing for everyone, but it is for me, and my doctor approves.

This is a lot harder job than I thought it would be, when I made this decision. Following through with a decision is always harder than to just decide to do something. I also know that to end this relationship that I need to be focused when I eat and choosing what I order (or not order). Home is easy for me. I got rid of all my sodas last night. I have PowerAde drops that are helping water taste less boring. I am sure I will be tired for a few days and the headaches will be rough. I know with the walking journey that through determination, I can make this happen. I know just like the walking that I can and will get through this. So if you see me out there, ask me how many sodas I had that day. With some hard work it will zero.

I will keep everyone updated on how this my newest journey goes at being healthy. In the comments section, tell me what your hardest food or addiction break ups have been? I would love any help that can be given.

Sincerely, Chris