Approximately two years ago, I stopped drinking pop. However, before that, I used to drink it in unhealthy quantities. In particular, I used to drink two or three Coca-Colas a day, almost every day. As many of us know, pop is extremely unhealthy for us, as one single 12 fluid ounce can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar and 45 milligrams of sodium.
It is suggested by the American Heart Association that women only have 25 grams of added, or unnatural, sugars a day. In other words, by drinking just one can of Coke you have already exceeded your recommended limit for that day.
As I mentioned, I used to drink about three Coca-Colas a day, meaning that I consumed about 117 grams of added sugar through pop alone. Adding on unnatural sugars from the rest of the day, I probably consumed around 150 grams of sugar, six times the recommended serving amount.
Not only was this unhealthy from a clinical point of view, but I used to physically feel the effects from my unhealthy habit. I would get shaky and unfocused if I waited too long between drinks and I also felt very bloated most of the time.
I would have sugar highs after having a can, but then would crash and feel terrible until I had another. I would hardly drink anything other than Coca-Cola because it's honestly all I wanted to drink.
However, two years ago I sat down and decided I wanted to start kicking out bad habits of mine. I wanted to live a healthier life and feel physically better in general. I had researched how unhealthy pop was in the past, so I knew it was time to say goodbye to my sugary companion.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to slowly wean it out of my life by lowering the amount I had a day because I knew myself well enough to know I would give into my habits. So, I pretty much stopped cold turkey.
That being said, it was not quite that simple, nor was it quite that easy. I stopped drinking pop at the home cold turkey, but I allowed myself to drink it during special occasions, such as when I went to the movies or out to dinner with my family.
Even though this seems like a small step, it was critical to me. It took my body a while to adjust to the lower amount of Coke I was drinking. I used to get splitting headaches and intense cravings during this period.
In order to combat that, I began to replace Coke with other, healthier options that gave me the desired boost of caffeine or flavor. When I felt shaky or had caffeine withdrawal headaches, I would make myself a cup of black coffee or tea. I initially hated the taste of both, as I thought they were too bitter.
However, I made sure to never add sugar or cream to them, as it defeated the purpose I was going for. Over time, I have come to really enjoy the natural taste of both drinks! As for sweet cravings, I began to substitute pop for juice or lemonade. While juice and lemonade both have higher sugar levels than tea or water, they are still healthier than pop.
I have not had a sip of pop for over two years now and I have never felt better. Since quitting, I have noticed my metabolism speeding up and I have felt significantly less bloated. My skin has cleared up quite a bit and I don't have the intense sugar or caffeine cravings that I used to. I also feel as if I have so much more energy than I used to and that I have the ability to focus more on my tasks without feeling hindered by sugar crashes.
If you ever make the decision to cut pop out of your life, then I hope my experience helps you along the way! It definitely is not easy, but it is possible with perseverance and dedication. You can do it!
