On another topic … I want to give up Diet Coke. I mean, I don’t really, but I know that I should. My kids give me grief about the habit, which is two a day. I don’t drink coffee so this is my caffeine shot. One at lunch and one at dinner.
Anyone been successful kicking this habit? I am putting this out there as the first step toward accountability. I have done it for short times, such as Lent.
I think it’s wonderful how you allowed yourself to be vulnerable and share where you are right now with your health and how you don’t want to end up like your mother.
Since you work from home would it be feasible to invest in a standing desk. Just standing up and working will have wonderful positive effects as opposed to all the hours of sitting.
Something that clicked with me in the last year was finding movement that brings me joy. That joyful movement each day can vary from riding my stationary bike, doing stretching or yoga, working with free weights at home, or going on a walk. There are so many simple things you can do that do not require a gym. I love sushirtto suggestion of squats. You can also sit down in a chair and stand back up in intervals. I think the key is if you enjoy the movement you chose the more you will chose to move your body.
I also learned that I can’t look for motivation to strike. I just have to start. Some days for me that is moving by body for 15 minutes. I meat myself where I am. Other days moving for longer sounds appealing so I do it. For me a 15 minute workout is just as beneficial as a 30 minute workout. I give my myself a pat on the back no matter what. I also like writing in my calendar every day to move my body and then when it’s done I check it off. It’s empowering. My kick lately is one day I ride the bike, the next a workout geared toward my upper body with weighs, next day the bike, next day lower body weight workout, and then last day the bike again. I’m enjoying the mix of really getting my heart rate up combined with the weights because I love feeling strong.
I also learned through working with a registered dietitian the importance of our meals having a fat, a fiber, and a protein. That combination keeps you satisfied. So many amazing combinations of food you can eat this way. I also learned not to label food as good or bad. It’s just food. I do however chose food that nourishes me because it tastes good and makes me feel good. I do not have any list of foods that are forbidden. Forbidding food will inevitably make you crave it.
The RD would ask me why I was snacking. Was I snacking because I was bored? Was I snacking because I was stressed out? Was I snacking because I was tired? That was very insightful. What started happening was when I needed a snack in between meals I started incorporating the fat, fiber and protein and was completely satisfied until the next meal time.
For the record I didn’t seek the help of a RD to loose weight but rather because I was feeling sluggish and foggy headed and had some vitamin deficiencies I need to deal with.
Congratulations on quitting smoking!
@Youdon_tsay that’s just it though. It can be worth the effort even if only 25 minutes. As someone who used to do distance running and regularly attended hour long classes at the gym in my premenopausal years, I didn’t expect much from a 25 minute video. I assumed I’d eventually work up to a longer video. However, I was actually surprised at the results, not just the weigh loss but my arms and legs are toned again. I had never been overweight prior to menopause so this was the first time I’ve had to overcome more than a few pounds of weight gain.
Ahah! I can get work to pay for a standing desk! They will actually do that!
I am off to write to The Powers That Be. What a great suggestion!
I’ve also reached out to a somewhat close neighbor who might be amenable to being a walk buddy; I can maybe drive to her house, in a flatter area, and start with her.
Thanks guys, keep the exhortations coming 
That is amazing!!! The standing desk alone is going be an amazing game changer for you!! So happy for you.
Congrats also on finding a walking buddy. You are already on your way. Woot woot!
Definitely, it’s not good for you. Lots of chemicals (and sweetener) in each can. I can’t remember, but I gave up Diet Coke, maybe 20-25-30 years ago. I just went “cold turkey.” But that’s how I do things. One day, it was “dead to me.” My weight is fairly consistent and IIRC, I lost a quick 3-4 pounds just by quitting Diet Coke.
Besides a small glass of juice with my eggs in the AM, and my morning cup of coffee, I try to drink about gallon +/- of water every day. Water with lunch and dinner too.
For sure. I used to be a marathon/ultramarathon runner. I have had to tamp down my inner Type A that would keep me going and going. An hour feels good to me, helps those endorphins come out. But as we say on cc, YMMV!
Yeah, I drink lots of water, too. I drink a LOT. I am sure that when I give up the Diet Coke that I will do it cold turkey as well. I’ve been seriously considering it for about a month so I’m guessing I’m about a week or two away from making the commitment.
Do you think you want the Diet Coke for the caffeine or for the beverage/drinking process?? Don’t slap me but would like a square of dark chocolate do the trick?? (along with some hot tea or something)
Also +1 to the journal idea for a new routine as @Picklenut6 mentioned. Again, what works for you? Buying a cute notebook and writing it down? Writing any exercise on a kitchen calendar? Posting here when you do something? An app on your phone? Or a devise like a Fitbit or an Apple Watch?
What is motivating for you?
Recovering Diet Coke (and Tab) addict here. I like my caffeine cold. I drank at least 2 glasses a day for probably 35 years. We were on vacation several years ago and the hotel only had Diet Pepsi (an inferior product). We had a full day planned so I didn’t have time to search the area for my DC. I went cold turkey that day. I don’t like coffee, so the next day, I substituted iced tea, plain with a little stevia and continue to do so. My last DC was June 2016. You can do this!
I love everything about my cold Diet Coke. I love how when I’m really thirsty and it’s cold it almost hurts going down my throat. I’m sure I like the caffeine boost, though I’m a morning person and naturally pretty energetic it so I don’t know whether I “need” the caffeine. (I have a friend who sometimes spends the night with us when she’s in town, and she is a BEAR in the morning without her coffee. I’m not like that.)
Basically, I think it feels like a treat. I could do something like a flavored fizzy water, but don’t those have artificial sweeteners, too? Or unsweetened tea, but I use Sweet n Low so six of one, right? Hmmmm, I guess I like the artificial sweeteners!
ETA: I also use DC when I am sick. The caffeine reduces inflammation around my nasal passages. I thought I was imagining that my DC made me feel better, but then my doctor explained how the caffeine helps. Also, my doc said that two DCs a day is fine. That didn’t help!!!
I drink a caffeine free Diet Coke a day. I don’t have other vices but I guess I refuse to give up this one.
I just got a soda stream terra that I got for 50% off. It just puts CO2 into water which makes it fizzy. I find sparkling water more tolerable than plain water.
I also find that there is a lot of difference in sparkling water if it takes some of the Diet Coke habit away (it does for me) Topo Chico is my favorite, somehow it’s extra fizzy but it’s not always available. I like plain San Pellegrino better. I dislike Dasani sparking water, blech! I will put a slice of lemon or lime in for a little flavor but I’m used to plain water now.
Love Topo Chico! Maybe I’ll sub one of those.
I used to be a caffeine free Diet Coke addict, to the extent that I accumulated enough points in their “reward” system for two free admissions to World of Coke or whatever it’s called in Atlanta. Plus several items before they changed their rewards to digital stuff.
When I made my lifestyle changes after Weight Loss for Dummies inspired me, I essentially went cold turkey. That was eight years ago and I still seldom drink any sodas. I thought I would miss it, but didn’t really. I do have two cups of coffee every morning, but otherwise water is my beverage of choice. That, and Mai Tais 
.
I rarely drink soda but love Diet Coke when I do. @Mansfield is correct: Diet Pepsi is an inferior product.
Now I’ve gotten into the habit of Mio tea in a liter of water, usually two, during work. One cup of half-caff coffee in the morning (a latte, with heavy whipping cream & SF vanilla syrup, that I make myself - heaven, and I don’t care, I’ll quit breathing before I give that up).
I used to do diet pepsi (with lime) most days at lunch, along with yogurt and/or lean cuisine. Nowadays I drink a lot of water but will still drink a diet soda (or regular) as a treat when we picnic or sometimes when out to eat. One thing you could try @Youdon_tsay is the smaller sized cans, which is what i usually buy now. Yea, it is more costly … especially per ounce. But that is my compromise. Or maybe you could do what my uncle used to love… 50/50 mix with milk.
Walking is a great idea, even if you do need to drive to a flat route.
I like this 9 minute arm workout. You could use water bottles instead of weights. Or do like I did and just start without any weights. Once you have been through it you can mute and watch netflix or listen to radio - https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/tank-top-arms
<— my reaction to milk
I also like redoing videos and not having to pay as close attention. I listen to podcasts or something.
Yes absolutely. This is actually a great start. I am a big believer in doing the activity you enjoy because that is the one (or ones) you will stick with.