cold turkey

everyone's got their quick fix. for some, it's nicotine - for others, it may be shopping. personally? i don't smoke or gamble, and my drinking and shopping (for myself anyway) seem to be somewhat limited since alexandra was born. yep, i've led a pretty clean existence, free from addiction...except for diet coke.

my introduction into the world of diet soda came compliments of my mom, circa early 1980's, in the form of a glass bottle with pretty pink packaging. do not try to tell me you don't remember tab!! i've never been into coffee, tea, or any other caffeinated energy drinks, but diet coke has been a vice of mine for a very long time. i would drink it at all times of the day, even at breakfast (ryan has told me before that he has been awakened by the sound of a pop top being opened). i could easily drink 3 or so a day - i don't even want to think of how many i've consumed in a lifetime, but i think it's safe to say that it's a miracle my blood doesn't run brown with the artificially colored sweetness of diet coke.

i'm not quite sure what came over me recently - whether the quest for a cleaner lifestyle, or possibly in an effort to lose a few extra pounds - but i quit diet coke yesterday, cold turkey. after i unloaded the groceries from the suv following the weekly trip to kroger, ryan looked at me and asked where my diet cokes were. when i responded that i was quitting, ryan looked at me in disbelief, and then noted that nobody could cut that habit cold turkey and that i would need to wean myself off of it. there it was - the challenge had been issued, and stubborn arse that i am, i decided right then and there that i'd prove this sentiment wrong and kick the ugly diet coke habit to the curb.

well....that was 24 long hours ago. 24 hours that included a monday morning, a teething toddler and a sick husband. not quite sure i picked a good week to quit caffeine! by 2pm this afternoon, my head was pounding and i quickly realized this was from caffeine withdrawal. part of me wanted to make a mad dash to the vending machines on the 3rd floor and down a 20 ouncer in five minutes flat, but it hit me like a ton of bricks that i don't want to consume anything that can make me feel that way.

so, diet coke, i bid you a fond adieu. we've had a good run - you've gotten me through hot summer days. your fountain drinks at mcd's got me through many a hangover in college, and helped me get through the late night hours of studying for law school finals and then the bar exam. you've been a trusty sidekick over the years but i'm moving on to greener and non-caffeinated pastures. please don't take this personally - it's not you, it's me.

hoping to keep this up - one tiring day at a time!