For most of our marriage, we didn't really buy soda. Sometimes, if there was a great sale, I'd pick up a 12-pack and it would last for a long time. We have so few other vices (no alcohol, no coffee, no drugs, etc...) that a diet soda in the afternoon felt like a relatively harmless treat. Over the years, we started buying (and drinking, obviously) more and more. Then, a few months ago, I realized that we were going through an average of 3-4 12-packs of soda each week. Eddie will readily admit that he drank the lion's share-- starting with Mountain Dew mixed with his orange juice at breakfast, and often slugged down 10 cans of Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper while watching college football on Saturdays. I rationed myself, and drank a single soda each day, ice cold, with a magazine, just after I put Maren down for a nap (one less person to share with).
After our air conditioner broke last week and we were left with a huge bill, Eddie suggested that we could tighten our belts by dropping out the soda habit. I was thrilled-- I've been wanting to break him of this vice of his for months. We ran out of soda on Friday, and when I went shopping on Saturday, I didn't buy any more. We've now been soda-free for four days. He's fine-- going merrily about his days drinking water and Crystal Light. I, on the other hand, am a mess. I've been substituting chocolate cake for Diet Coke, which is never a good idea, and really miss my early afternoon break from reality. Guess that just goes to show who the real addict is.
you forgot that subsitution principle eh?
ReplyDeleteAs the shopper in our family, I really should stop supporting my dh's habit. But I just don't know what I would do without my "one-a-day" either!
ReplyDeleteHi Shelah. I have to agree on the needing-a-vice thing. Come on, everything else is forbidden, can't I enjoy my dr. pepper each day? My hubby hates soda & that I'm a soda drinker, but I have to have some sort of break from reality, and that is the way I chose to do it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your soda-free existence. I know I should, but I can't see it happening any time soon.
BTW, I read your post on fem mormon housewives. It was really good. I didn't know you'd taught college english; one day when I grow up I want to have that as my profession.
I think it may be the fact that it's connected to your downtime--I always hold tight to my naptime rituals!!
ReplyDeleteI love Diet Coke and actually it's one of those things I just can't keep in the house.
ReplyDeletewe are trying to kick the soda habit too. It got really bad when I was pregnant, and Im having a super hard time now that I cant drink milk either. I cant convince my body what my mind knows- exactly how horrid it is for the body.
ReplyDeleteI had serious withdrawals when we sold the restaurant (no more free sodas every afternoon). But honestly, I feel so much better now. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTell me again, why exactly is one soda a day bad?
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad. I just know that if I start buying it again, we'll quickly return to our four-packs a week habit. If I could keep him to drinking one a day, then I wouldn't have to break myself of it.
ReplyDeleteI stopped drinking soda in high school when I ran cross country. Since then I have never been able to drink more than a sip here or there. It just feels too sweet and syrupy. If you give it a few weeks maybe the urge will go away - I like chocolate cake better anyway.
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