I'm not giving up on giving up

@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
March 6, 2016 11:53am CST
In January this year I gave up alcohol. Actually we went without for 5 weeks as the month ended on a Sunday and we didn't start again until the following weekend. It was good whilst it lasted and we'll continue to do this every year. Then in February, we gave up Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Our consumption was really getting out of control. It was a lot harder than the alcohol and the first few days were really quite rough. I felt hungover, despite having drunk nothing for weeks. But I got that out of my system and - so far - I've chosen to keep on avoiding it. My reliance on Diet Coke was something I didn't think I'd be able to break but after a few days, and after a lot of fizzy water, I broke that behaviour and I'm reluctant to start again. So what's it to be for March? I've stopped eating chocolate. That's quite hard given that I'm surrounded by it at work, but again, I've done it before. Like the alcohol, it's a temporary thing. I do like to prove to myself on a regular basis that I can live without my treats/ Now I'm wondering what to stop for April. After the success of the Diet Coke month, I'm nearly ready to take on another BIG challenge - potato crisps (or as the Americans call them potato chips).
10 people like this
7 responses
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Mar 16
Giving up coke would be difficult because of the fact that it is drunk at regular times of day and not just when you go out. Crisps would present a similar problem I should imagine.
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Mar 16
@boiboing They have always been poor value when we consider the amount of potato compared to the cost, but these days the comparison is worse than ever. Nowadays we pay around 65 pence for an inflated bag that collapses as soon as we let the air out.
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
@Asylum Ah yes, but go down the aisles of any UK supermarket and they're practically giving away the multipacks and mega-big packs on promotion.
1 person likes this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
I've a terrible weakness for crisps.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (35690)
• Canada
6 Mar 16
You have a lot of self discipline. The only thing I could use less of is sugar but I don't plan on giving it up. I think what would benefit me a lot is more exercise.
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
I have had a Fitbit since August. That really helps me a lot.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (35690)
• Canada
6 Mar 16
@boiboing Yes, I can see how that might motivate me. I joined a walking group and that is helping; but it is not frequent enough. I have to work at it
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (48437)
• Canada
6 Mar 16
You're doing quite well in giving up the stuff that we all love but that isn't the greatest for us. Are you replacing these items with healthier choices?
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
I replaced the diet coke with fizzy water with a little bit of cordial or lemon juice. The others are just cut out and do without.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Mar 16
I need to add, exercise, myself. I know I need to do this, have yet to find the get up and go to get up and do
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
I find it easier to give up than to take up - if you know what I mean.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Mar 16
Which ones do you feel are best for your health?
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
It's well documented that even light drinkers - like us - benefit from a detox month. But the thing I'm most proud of is the diet coke. I don't think it's BAD for me exactly, but I do think that I had become dependent on it.
Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
6 Mar 16
I like the exercise in self control you practice. I have found processed foods have slipped back into my diet and I feel so much better without them. I could use some of your self discipline!
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
6 Mar 16
I don't buy a lot of ready meals and stuff like that but I do find that if you could up a batch of stuff and freeze a few portions for when you need them, that definitely helps. I also think in the USA, it's harder than most places to eat healthily when so much bad food is so cheap.
Elizabeth
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
7 Mar 16
By the time Christmas rolls around you'll be surviving on the 'air and water' diet!