Lent Update

For lent this year I gave up drinking fizzy drinks as a day to day thing. I started this over a month ago and it'll be over in a few weeks and I can't wait! When I have done lent for the last two years giving up something has always been of a benefit to me, this time I only think it has made me want fizzy drinks more.

In 2010 I gave up crisps, and it worked really well. I went from eating crisps a couple of times a day (I maintain a healthy weight FYI) to eating them once or twice a week. Having a 40 day break from crisps totally changed my eating habits of crisps. In 2011 I imposed rules on my facebook use, I would only go on facebook to check my notifications, send or post something. This also worked really well. In 2012 I was too busy with my dissertation to think about giving anything up, so this year I went big and gave up my favorite drinks. It was a hard choice between fizzy drinks and Easter chocolates, but I decided 9 out of 12 months I give up Easter chocolates there was no reason to add more pain.

However, all I can think about is that when lent ends I am going to get a 2L bottle of diet coke and strawpedo the hell out of it. I will post about the joys of that when the times comes. I really hoped that having a break from fizzy drinks would curve my cravings and unfortunately I can conclude it hasn't. I will wait for the 40 days to be up, but I can really say this is the most difficult lent I have done.

Lent Pt II

A couple of days I decided to give up branded fizzy drinks for lent, full post. It has been three days since I decided about giving up fizzy drinks and I have done well since, only having a can of diet coke. Today in Sainsbury's I decided to give their own brand 'Cola Zero' ago.

After one glass I am not very impressed, I wasn't expecting it to taste so much like Diet Coke that I wouldn't notice the difference but this sugar free substitute tastes full of sugar and makes my teeth feel like they are in sleeping bags. However this is only after one glass and it cost a fraction of the price so I am willing to have ago.

Over the next few weeks I will try some different branded fizzy drinks and see if I find a replacement.

Lent 13/02-30/03

Even though I am three days late with having an idea of what to give up for Lent I think I will excuse myself on this occasion.
Some of my close friends will probably know that I have a slight addiction with fizzy drinks, mostly of the diet sort and produced by Coca Cola or Pepsi. I am more likely to go out and boy a bottle of coke or pepsi rather than just have a glass of water. In a sleepless night I decided that water is the bee's knee's and something I have overlooked for a long time. Even though it might make for a boring blog post I have decided to give up drinking fizzy drinks as an everyday occurrence and mundane expectation and change it into a treat.

To encourage myself to do this properly I have decided that I will find some serious benefits of drinking water, and keep fizzy drinks as a real treat.

6 Benefits of Drinking Tap Water;
1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids -
The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

2. Water Can Help Control Calories -
can't really say no to that.

3. Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue

4. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss

5. Water Helps Your Kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells

6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.

I would say these are six excellent reasons to drink more water rather than fizzy drinks, however from being a well experienced soft drinker i've noticed that the first ingredient is carbonated water. So can all the added tasteyness be all that bad, i hear you ask? That is something I plan to look into, even though the benefits of drinking water is widespread are fizzy drinks that bad?

A few facts and ficition from the Daily Mail.

Q: Can fizzy drinks give me cancer?
A: There is no strong evidence to prove this.

Q: Can fizzy drinks rot my teeth?
A: Fizzy drinks can cause both tooth decay and erosion. If you want to limit the damage to your teeth, choose sugar-free fizzy drinks (or diet drinks) because they do not cause tooth decay. They can, however, still erode your teeth by wearing away the hard tissue or enamel.

Q: Can fizzy drinks make me fat?

A: Yes, if drinking a lot of full fat drinks, diet versions and a balanced diet can help prevent this.

Nothing major and scarey but i think it'll be worthwhile, i'll keep you posted with my fascinating lent.