feeling like it's lent, only I'm not catholic.

In an effort to get a bit more healthy and lose weight (part of my goals in 2010) I've had to give up a few things. The first biggest hurdle for me is soda. Not all soda mind you but one type in particular... Coca Cola Classic. This bubbly drink and I have had a love affair for as long as I can remember. He's been there through good times and bad as well as many times I don't remember. Trust me when CC and Captain Morgan get together it's a wild ride sometimes. I couldn't tell you the first Coca Cola that I ever had I'm sure I was young - maybe not as young as Brittany's kids, I can't recall drinking CC out of a sippy cup, then again I don't think my parents ever owned sippy cups I was too hard core for that baby shit.  Needless to say I know the CC and I go back far enough to remember getting a CC in a can and an orange every year before Christmas from my bus driver, Mrs. Hobbes. Yes I remember her name, she rocked. I bet it was at least kindergarten that I got my first CC from her. To this day nothing beats the flavor of CC and fresh orange together - my teeth love me for this by the way!

Since my teens I've scaled back my CC usage. Literally I drank that stuff like water all through HS. I will state that it is my drug of choice. Forget alcohol, forget weed, forget narcotics I'm all about Coca Cola Classic! I fiend for this stuff. I wish I was lying, but I digress. Like I said I've scaled back. I drink mostly water all day long, and usually drink a CC when I get fast food (lovely combo again) or sometimes a CC will replace my weekend coffee. I will say to date I probably have about 4 CC's max a week.

I'm not sure how I will drop this habit of mine. I really don't see how it can be that bad... 4 a week.. seriously I know people that drink 20 Mountain Dews a week or more and they are skinnier than I could be. I can't drink CC as much as I used to - and most times I don't even finish a can. For the record it's 100 times better out of a can than in a plastic bottle. It's 100 times better in a glass bottle than in a can. I've studied this stuff people - I have a PhD in CC!

In order to stick to less soda I've switched all other sodas I occasionally drink to diet choices. I can't tell you how much I HATE diet soda, especially Diet Coke, she's such a posser! Don't get me started on Coke Zero, he needs to get a clue he doesn't taste anywhere near as good as CC. CC is King in my book! And Pepsi, ZOMG - so f-ing sick! Seriously while home a few weeks ago I went to a bar and ordered a Captain & Diet. They fixed it with Diet Pepsi and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong with my drink. I re-ordered it 3 times - making all my friends sip it. We were all convinced that the Morgan had gone skunky. We being the 3 drunken sailors that swear by Captain Morgan. We have a 4th member to our crew but she's smitten with José and won't drink dark liquor. We make her swab the deck on a regular basis.  I didn't figure out the issue with my drink until I got my bill... there it was plain as day... DIET PEPSI! WTF? What kind of bar is this? It's not called a Rum and Pepsi it's a RUM AND COKE!!! Mystery solved - I lived to fight another day because I switched to Mich Ultra to cleanse my palette.  Lesson here - I will not drink Pepsi.

Pepsi and I have never gotten along - unless you count Pepsi Wild Cherry - now THAT was some good soda. If I'm ever asked what I'd like to drink and I say "Coke" the waitress will say "Is Pepsi OK?" you will always hear my say "No. Do you have Dr. Pepper?" (In my mind I'm actually saying "HELL NO ARE YOU INSANE!!!").  My love runs deep, what can I say.

In an effort to shed some pounds, and feel better in general I have started only to order diet options of soda or water at fast food joints or places I go to eat in general. Usually water wins out. I like it way better than any diet soda. I often will go for the unsweetened tea option as well - I'm a yankee after all and that's how we drink it. I won't lie... sweet tea is my bitch lover sometimes. Mix her with some lemonade and you've got a full rocking party in my mouth! I can usually stand diet soda when I'm eating. You don't taste the artificial sweetener as badly. Truth be told I don't usually take my left over soda with me, OR refill my cup. I usually toss it - unless I'm feeling tired and need some caffeine to get me through the day.

Add to this I've started mixing my mixed drinks with diet soda. I've done well all together with this and truth be told I don't need to drink as much to feel a buzz. I've read that alcohol enters your system quicker with diet sodas since there are no calories and little for your body to metabolize other than the alcohol itself.

Most of this is little changes - I've told myself I can have one CC a week for a treat and the only other thing I can have them for is headaches. Call me crazy but nothing cures my headache quicker than sipping on a CC and taking some medicine for my headache/migraines.  It's probably just a mind over matter thing but I figure if it works why break a good thing.

In the meantime I've done OK with this. If I had tried this years ago it would have NEVER worked. I've given up Coffee in my past but NEVER CC.

Add to this I'm also trying to give up making my cup of coffee with straight sugar. For years I've been a three scoop of sugar, 2 scoop of creamer kind of girl. Basically I should just drink Hot Chocolate! I would love to be a black coffee drinker or a person that just uses a little sweetener, but that's doubtful.  This morning I mixed my coffee up with 2 scoops of creamer (and by scoops I mean spoons) and three packets of Splenda Hazelnut - and I must say while it isn't my cavity inducing regular coffee it isn't half bad.

I'm trying to be realistic with all my changes in this coming year. Eat less, eat better, drink better. Learn balance and portion control as well.

I've always gotten lots of water in my diet, I thank my mother for always insisting I drink either milk or water at dinner - she was a smart cookie! To this day I drink milk with odd things and would prefer water to other drinks at dinner. I can tell physically when I haven't had enough water as well. So it's a good thing.

I guess my main issue with my diet is the mass amounts of sugar, corn syrup etc. I want to lesson that. And eventually I'd like to be done with soda all together. There's no nutritional value in it what so ever. If I can treat it as more of a treat, and less of a crutch I'll be good to go.

For the record I can stomach Diet Sprite, Diet Dr. Pepper, and sometimes Diet Coke, but these skinny bitches will never be my Coca Cola Classic.

CC - I love you. You know this but it's time to make a change. I know many Americans still love you and will drink you on a regular basis but for now we'll have to keep our relationship on the DL.

One step closer to feeling better about me and making my body a healthier place inside and out!

What's your vice? What monkey can't you shake no matter how hard you try?