Coke Is Out

It was only a matter of time before I blogged on my life time favorite.....Coca Cola! Not Diet Coke... the fully leaded Coca Cola. I seriously could live on Coke every day.

A favorite childhood memory is visiting my Grandma H who kept Coke in her house as a regular food group. Coke was more than an every day refresher with my Grandma... it was medicinal. She would go to the local pharmacy in her little Utah town where Coke Syrup was dispensed in the brown pharmacy bottles just like cough syrup. As a child, I knew that Coke could cure most any tummy ache or pain (duh-it just eats everything inside away!) I still find myself using Coke as a remedy.

And then there is the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, Georgia! My dad got us hooked on this as one of my favorite tourist spots. The movie, the memorabilia, the samples.... it is just all so feel-good and refreshing!

Now for my new Coke reality. Yesterday, after my Doctor showed me the kidney stones developing, I decided that Coke had to leave my life. The Kidney Stones have nothing to do with the Gall Stones(I don't have a Gall Bladder) found on an x-ray a few weeks ago. Being the all or nothing person I am, I know Coke has to be completely off limits for me. All sodas not just Coke have to leave my life. I have gone without Mc Donalds french fries for 7 years now, I know I can do the same with Coke. last year before Curt's wedding, I went 5 months without any soda, so I know I can do this. I decided to blog about this so I can report my progress from time to time. My friend, Cindy Roker, gave a presentation last week regarding her strategy in giving up bad habits. She said she takes her que from the bible and commits to give up bad habits for 40 days. Leaving a bad habit behind for 40 days, she says, has given her the strength and courage to completely give up the bad habit and never look back. I like her perspective.

My son, Jeffrey, gave up all soda 2 years ago and has not waivered. He was managing a Mc Donalds at the time and felt he was out of control in the soda department. I admire his discipline and the fact that he has remained soda-free.

I know there are only benefits to this choice, the feeling better, the weight loss, the added coins to my pockets, the showing my daughters a better way to eat, etc.

Here I go... it has been 24 hours already.Coke is still it, just not it for me. When I leave the beach today, the stop at 7-11 will be for an Ice Cold water!