Holding my own

I'm down another two pounds.

I haven't had a latte of any kind since before June first and I only had that one macchiato on June 26th when we road tripped to visit my uncle's grave.

I've made some other poor choices since then (that carb filled lunch with friends!) but I'm actually feeling pretty good about the changes I'm making. Even though I tend to focus on the poor choices, I've actually made more smart choices than poor ones and that's what matters. I'm still learning. Still figuring it all out. Still trying to shake a lifetime of bad habits. But I'm getting there.

My hardest habit to break is my Coke habit.  I had gotten really bad there for a while before my diagnosis. I was drinking as many as four Cokes a week...which, I know, isn't as bad as some folks who drink a Coke a day or more but still, it felt excessive to me. But there's just something so soothing to me about drinking a Coke. The crisp fizz when it's really icy cold. The texture of it on my tongue. The satisfying sweetness of it. It's very psychological for me. I crave it and the comfort I get from it. More so even than most foods, Coke is comforting to me. And delicious.

I think I narrowed down why it's so hard for me to give up Coke when I found it so easy to give up the lattes...I quickly discovered a healthier alternative to the lattes. One that both satisfies the social aspect of it as well as the "need" for it. Just a plain iced coffee with half and half. Turns out I like it a lot more than I ever thought I would and I'm THRILLED that I've cut that sugar out of my life. I've even managed to find healthier  but just as tasty alternatives to my Saturday breakfasts which have been a routine for nearly 12 or 13 years. I've successfully been able to find healthier things to cook at  home that provide tasty leftovers for lunch so that I'm not so tempted to go out to eat as often...and I'm learning to say no to the social aspect of eating out when I don't want to/can't afford to. Heck, I've even managed to curtail the "after church on Sunday lunch treat" that I'd gotten into the habit of in the past couple of years. And I'm happy with those changes.

But I can't find an alternative for Coke. I LOATH diet Coke. Coke Zero tastes only marginally better than diet Coke so I still can't stand it.  There just isn't anything I've found that can substitute for that icy, sweet, carbonization. And that's why I fail so often at giving it up. I'm still working at it. Still doing my best to push those cravings aside and drop that habit but it's hard. I've even pretty much given up SWEET TEA but can't shake my love for Coke.

Someday I'll look back on this post and think how silly I was to ever be that pathetic about cola because by that point they won't even taste good to me anymore, right?

My best friend since childhood gave up Coke 12 years ago and she says she doesn't miss it. That's what I'm clinging to. If Wanda can do it and stick to it for 12 years, so can I!

But boy, an icy cold Coke sure would taste good right about now. lol