Goal Weight: 195 lbs.
This morning’s weight: 199 lbs.
I ran 5.31 miles this morning. The weather was PERFECT — what a great run! My legs were very tired (I am exhausted) but I wouldn’t have traded the sunrise I saw for anything.
If I had my way, I’d stick a straw in a tanker truck full of soda and drink until I burped to death. I’m totally addicted to sugar. Last year, I was relying on that sugary addiction to give me the energy I needed to get through my day. Did I mention I love sodas?
Because I haven’t had one since January. Why you ask? Sodas didn’t love me.
I was drinking up to six a day.
Do the math calorie-wise and grams of sugar-wise and it’s a miracle I didn’t weigh 300 lbs. When I pushed 250 lbs, I decided that enough was enough.
I went cold turkey.
I switched to unsweetened green and black tea. And water (of course.) For about four days, I had a monster sugar withdrawal. (I felt like I had a cold and I was depressed.) For two more weeks, I craved one and every time I went past a vending machine, I twitched.
But then the cravings died down. I haven’t wanted one since.
I tell you this because I get how bad too much soda can be for you. But I’m not wild about the New York Mayor’s limit on soda size. I guess because I still believe in the concept of personal responsibility. I managed to do what the Mayor is trying to do on my own. I didn’t need the Government telling me it was bad. My tight pants, fear of diabetes and chest pains let me know loud and clear that I needed to cut back.
If you like a soft drink occasionally, good for you. If you like to drink a Big Gulp every meal and in between, well, you might want to rethink your strategy. (Trust me, water will make you feel much better in the long run. ) I was speaking to Patrick House (winner of Biggest Loser Season 10) yesterday. He said that before he started the show, he gave up sodas. In 10 days, he lost 21 lbs. (He was over 400 lbs, but still — you get the point.)
For me, sodas weren’t the bad guy. My inability to control my cravings for them was. Moderation was the key. And I couldn’t seem to handle that. So I’ve gone a more drastic route.