The un-resolution

I know the turning of the new year is a time for resolutions, but that's something I usually don't do. It's hard enough to break bad habits or create new good habits without adding the artificial obligation of the calendar. So I don't do it.

Not that I'm a lazy slob or anything. I did give up all soda in August, and not even on a Monday, but on a regular old Wednesday. Only recently have I realized just how good a thing that was. I never thought caffeine affected me because I could drink all the soda I wanted and it never kept me awake or acted as the pick-me-up that other people seem to get out of it. It was only after I quit that I realized how addicted to caffeine I really was. My head hurt for a solid week without it. But after that the difference was clear. I have had very few headaches in the last four-plus months, and the ones I've had have been sinus pressure related. This may not sound like a big deal, but those who know me well realize it is HUGE. It follows years of having at least one headache a week, usually more.

It's hard to imagine any physical difference greater than losing the frequent headaches. But I didn't just kick the caffeine*, I also kicked a huge amount of sugar. Well, high fructose corn syrup, which isn't sugar--it's worse. I haven't noticed a big change in my weight (and frankly, I wouldn't want to notice one), but I have notice a big change in how I feel. Before, I would feel horrible because I "didn't eat soon enough." Now a haphazard eating schedule doesn't bother me nearly as much and I realize it's because I've gotten off the sugar roller coaster. No more highs and crashes. This probably contributed as much to my headaches as the caffeine.

*I haven't given up caffeine entirely. I still drink Starbucks chai latte, which has some caffeine in it. One grande has about 30% more caffeine than a Coca-Cola Classic, but I don't drink 3-4 of those a day. I don't even drink 1 a day, and I can go for a long time without one and feel no physical effects.

Anyhow, back to resolutions. I didn't intend to write about giving up soda. Instead, I was going to write about the idea I had to blog daily. This thought has entered my mind a few times that last couple of days, but it's just silly. There's no way that I'd do it. No way. Of course, that's what I said about soda. The reason I could never give up soda for good is simple. I always knew I could give it up for a day, but "forever" seemed impossible. Now I realize you don't give anything up forever. You might make that big commitment, but in reality, you give it up every day. 134 days later, I realize you can't get to "forever" without adding up a lot of every days.

So, see you tomorrow. Probably.

Comments

[Karen]

Oh yay! I love your posts, so I hope you do post every day. :)

I am still in awe of the giving up soda. I should do that, but I haven't gotten up the willpower to start yet.

[onepinktee]

Karen - thanks! As for the soda, believe me when I say that sometimes it's the awe that keeps me going. I NEVER believed I could do it. Really.