Y'all, I'm so vain!

Y'all, I'm so vain! (Yes, I'm bringing out the southern drawl). I'm not proud of my vanity, but the truth will set me free.

Yesterday, I did something that I thought I'd never, ever be able to do. . . I've tried before. . . several times, but failed miserably. I never thought I'd be writing this because I can't believe it myself, that I've done this.

A moment of silence, please. . .

I gave up soda, Coca Cola to be exact. Cold turkey!!! That is major for me; a major lifestyle change.Y'all just don't know how major this is! All in the name of vanity.

Let me back up for a minute, take a breather, and give y'all a little history. That way you'll appreciate this moment more and share in my joy and accomplishment. Okay, I've always been petite, okay skinny. I guess I'm one of those rare individuals who can eat anything and not have to worry about exercising or gaining weight (I'll tell you some stories later of what I used to do to try to gain weight back in the day, drinking a milk shake a day, drinking supplements, etc).

Anyhow, the one and only vice I have ever had is the consumation of Cola Coca. I'm squeaky clean, the geek of geeks, when it comes to everything and anything else. I can honestly say that I've never smoked a cigarette, of any kind. I will even suffer from a headache because I hate taking pills of any kind.

My one vice is drinking sodas, at least three cans a day. And that's after cutting back from my six a day that I used to drink. I was purchasing cases of soda like most people purchase six packs or twelve packs of beer. My friends kidded that I should have Coca Cola stock.

This has gone on for years and years with me not having the willpower to stop. I know the caffeine and sugar isn't good for me, but hey, I just couldn't give them up. Just the image of an ice cold, Coca Cola (not Pepsi, there is a difference), hearing the pop and hiss of the tab being popped, sent me running for one over ice with my special straw.

I tried a few times over the years to stop drinking them and I'd go into instant withdrawal symptons: nervousness, shaky hands, irritability, headache and absolutely no energy. So, I eventually compromised by decreasing the amount of my consumption.

So, you ask, what happened? What made me quit cold turkey? Well, I will tell you. . . I stepped out of the shower one evening, checked myself out in the mirror and noticed a small pooch, that was my stomach (LOL). From what I have observed, small pooches can turn into larger ones. And that is just not happening, not now, not ever!

After my horror, I made a decision based out of total vanity that water is my new drink of choice. It doesn't matter that I absolutely hate the taste of, or lack of taste, of water. But, you know what? It doesn't matter, I will do what I have to do. When I weighed my choices: soda and pooch or water and no pooch, the decison was quite easy. A couple of hours later, I savored the taste of the last Coke I will EVER consume. It was a memorable moment. I think a tear or two rolled down my cheek.

It's now Day 2 and I see Coke's everywhere, ads on TV, sales in grocery stores, the Coke men at the vending machines, even in my dreams. . . Today, I had to do one of the hardest things ever. I order a Chik Fil A #1 and had to substitue WATER for my Coca Cola. I almost cried. You just don't know how badly I wanted that Coke.

However, I know I will survive because I'm a survivor. And I don't want a damn pooch!

P.S. I'll keep you posted. I have to get through the weekend!