I don’t have a lot of vices. I’m not “addicted” to much. But there are two things (emphasis on the word “things”) I can’t live without… chapstick… and Diet Coke.
I’ve always been a fan of Diet Coke. I know! I’m weird! I actually like the taste. Regular Coke is just a bit much for me. So, since I was a teenager, I’ve been a Diet Coke girl. And let me tell ya – I can put. It. away.
But I keep reading about these studies that show the artificial sweetener in my favorite beverage may be messing with my mind and encouraging cravings for more junk food! I’ve read about it in news stories and health magazines, most recently in Women’s Health.
I’ve always just brushed it off – after all, I don’t have many vices! But then I really started thinking about it. And the truth is… I don’t need more encouragement with my junk food cravings. I’m already a junk food junkie. So I’m trying a new experiment (not for Lent btw).
I’m cutting back on the Coke. (Sorry – I’m from Oklahoma, where ALL sodas are coke. That includes Diet Coke.) I’m not drinking it during the week. On weekends, I indulge. But my normal Diet Coke with breakfast habit is getting the boot. I’m in my second week of it actually! So far, so good.
I’m not going into withdrawals. (That’s probably because I’m still getting my caffeine, but that’s a blog for another day!) I don’t feel like I’m missing out. (Could be because the weekend is now here!)
And whether or not you agree with these studies, because there are certainly opposing opinions… let’s be for real. Soda, in regular OR diet form, isn’t good for you. So I just feel like I’m doing something good for myself by getting more water into my system.
It’s tough to say if my new “no coke during the week” routine is helping with my junk food cravings. I’m excited about it for now! So, of course I feel like its helping. But we’ll see if it puts a dent in my junk-foodiness in the long run. I’ve definitely got my fingers crossed!
So I guess that leaves me with just one vice… Chapstick! But I have no plans to cut back on that, because I’m totally addicted.
