Brace yourself for the shock of your life:
I only had two diet cokes both yesterday and Saturday each. TWO. That is about 5 less than my average day, and 7 or 8 less than some days. TWO. I only had one cup of coffee both mornings as well. I’m cutting back on caffeine until after my marathon. And let me tell you: My body now hates me. I have started getting tired around 5pm every night because my body is so used to having a constant supply of caffeine running through the bloodstream. I always say that caffeine doesn’t affect me because I can drink coffee before bed, no problem. However, I think it affects me in terms of constant exposure, because I can tell a huge difference in my energy level now that I don’t have it. I’m hoping my body will adjust and I’ll be able to stay up past 6pm tonight, but the outlook is not good.
(Dear Diet Coke: I still love you! This is only temporary and it’s good for both of us. Maybe we will appreciate each other more in the future. I love you.)
I’m also eliminating alcohol except for a few upcoming special occasions. This is probably good timing considering a week without kids inspired me to drink beer at every meal (Shiner Bock and Eggs is the BEST BREAKFAST EVER.) (Kidding.) (Maybe.) while I was in Texas. Since I usually only drink a few beers on the weekends, the week of non-stop beer kinda did a number on my system. I’m actually happy to give that up for awhile.
Other things I’m tossing out of the diet the next six weeks: Fried Foods (no biggie, I don’t eat many as it is.), Crack, Heroin, Prostitutes, and Cannibalism. It’s tough to prep for a marathon, you know.
wow…you gotta have a will power of stone!! I have to go on a low sodium, low cal, low fat diet. I don’t know if I can give up diet coke for that!!
I have been slowly reducing my caffinee intake and replacing it with water, and I have to say while the first 2 or three weeks were a little tough, I feel MUCH better now. I did a slow gradual cut back though, in hopes that it would hurt me less. I’m now down to two mugs of coffee in the morning (and they are even normal mugs, not ginormous ones!) and a glass of sweet tea around 4, and water or juice the rest of the day and I honestly think I have more energy now than I did when I was ingesting a pot of coffee a day as well as at least three sodas and a few cups of iced tea.
Good for you Zoot! Oh yeah, and I don’t know if you’ve ever had it, but you live close to NOLA (where I had it first) so I would guess you’ve at least heard of it, but Abita beer and eggs (and some gravy and biscuts) is truly THE BEST breakfast! I’m goign to have to look into this Shiner bock, now.
A couple weeks I did the same thing in trying to cut back. I too was drinking up near 4 or 5 cans a day. And for about five days, I swear, I had less energy, but then by the 5th day I was feeling like I had more energy. My body felt better too. Less bloated.
Good luck!
Whenever my husband tries to cut back on his eleventy billion cans of Mountain Dew a day he gets awful headaches. Excedrin always seems to help because its got caffeine. Just so ya know.
Good luck.
Yeah, as my mini-marathon training/wedding dress fitting-into preparations this spring I cut out fast food, fried food, and am only drinking maybe once a week if that. The alcohol was just killing me.
Oh, except for this weekend for St. Pat’s, I ate my weight in fried food and drank from 9AM to midnight both Friday and Saturday. My body is ANGRY at me right now. Well, it’s Monday, and I’m back on the wagon!!
Wow. Good for you! I personally don’t do caffeine at all, because my stomach cannot handle it. At all.
That’s awesome! Good for you. I’m a Diet Coke addict myself and I have a serious question for you. What did you do when you were pregnant? My super healthy sister didn’t have anything but water when she was pregnant and is trying to impose the same school of thought on me, all while looking down her nose as I reach for my Drink Of Choice. We’re trying to conceive and all I can think about is having to give up the Diet Coke! Will someone PLEASE tell me that one a day won’t hurt my kid?
Shiner and Eggs is the breakfast of champions!!
I’m really surprised you’re not having wicked headaches! I only drink caffeine in the morning – my coffee – but if I don’t get it I feel like I’m going to die.
Good Luck!
Damn.
Pocklock – you’re supposed to be able to have two cups of coffee/coke a day when you’re preggo. I’m 5 months right now, and I have to say that I don’t really stick that rule. I’m not sure if I could survive without coffee (probably not!).
Good luck on the quitting with the crap, Zoot. You’re a stronger woman than I am!
No crack AND no heroin? Man, you are dedicated!
I gave up the hard stuff (Coca-Cola) 7 months ago – I MISS IT EVERY DANG DAY!! But my health, my teeth and so much other stuff has been better for it. The most I can do is a straw-full of soda… after that, it’s got this funny taste to it. BUT I STILL MISS IT!
Wow. That is impressive! And a marathon? Even more impressive!
you are so virtuous.
Caffeine withdrawl is the worst. I had awful headaches when I trimmed my consumption from 7-8 cups a day to 1 1/2. But, once your body adjusts you will feel great.
So what is the shocking part? That you are cutting it out or that you normally drink that many Diet Coke in a day? Holy crap…both are shocking!!
And also, good for you. Your body will eventually thank you!!
Why not just drink caffeine free diet coke?
Zoot – I feel like I should know this as I read you every darn day… which marathon will you be running??? (My first marathon is San Diego on June 3)