3 weeks soda free, now on to eating healthy and getting active.

carolrosecarwile

Greetings and Salutations.

I've never been the skinny one. I'm the happy shorty with the curves in the right spots. I've never hated my body or felt shamed. As long as I felt good and not sick weight being up or down never seemed to bother me. Pretty much from middle school through high school I was able to stay at about 145-150. College put on the freshman 15 and kept between 160-165 for the longest. Had my daughter and was able to get back down to 165 after gaining about 30 during the pregnancy. I've been working in office settings for almost 17 yrs now and it really can test your will power and ability to say no with all goodies around. All the potlucks, monthly birthday celebrations with cookies and cakes, having 30 min lunch where you are forced to pick convience over health. I've ate more junk in an office than ever working fast food. 7 years ago I met my husband and he loves me for me. We were married a full year before planning to have our son, which also meant I needed to loose some weight. I was up to 215 at that point. I didn't want to risk my health and the baby by being over weight. I was terrified of getting gestational dibetes. So I managed to loose 35 pounds between sept to jan of that year by christmas we were annoucimg our pregnanct. I gained only about 10 pounds and it was all baby. I was able to manage for a while at 175-180, but now 4 years later back up to 210. A few months ago, I started to get bad acid reflux with a percisitant cough. It was really bad after drinking soda or overly acidic food. Soda was so bad that it felt like I was having an allergic reaction about 15-20 mins after drinking. I quick cold turkey. I'm no longer happy with this weight and food/drink choices if I'm going to be sick. I got myself a vivofit as an early Mother's Day present and have been using it since 5/1. The tracker does really help. If I see that I'm only 500 steps away from my goal that pushs me to go back out and get those 500. I'm now looking at calorie tracking, so that is why I'm here now. Looking for advice and friends on this journey. *CarolRose*

NHDaisy2

Sounds like you are on the right track. Your story is similar to mine in so many ways. Good for you for going cold turkey on the soda - I haven't been able to do that yet. I like you also had acid reflux and it was due to my soda habit. At that time that was the only fluid that went into my body besides the melted ice that kept my drink cold.. When I started waking in the middle of the night with the acid reflux is when I decided I needed to at least cut down on my soda intake. So now I start my day off with water until lunch time when I allow myself to switch to soda. My acid reflux is gone now. I do someday hope to cut down even further on the soda - babysteps. Good luck.

ChefTamiCinNC

Congratulations on stopping soda! I also stopped soda cold turkey on April 25th. At least 2 of the 20 oz bottles of Mello Yellow daily. Didn't replace it with diet soda either. It's hard but after 3 weeks my severe reflux is also pretty much gone! I had a doctors appointment on April 22nd. I had blood work drawn the week before. In shock at the results! A1c was 6.1 which is pre-diabetic and very close to diabetic. I listened to the doctor this time. I have follow-up labs on 7-15. I know some weight will come off but my goal right now is reducing the A1c. I also do office work and sit much of my day. I started out at 228 (4-22) and I have lost 6 pounds (I'm 5'6" and 51 years old). Not sure what my "goal" weight is. I just want to feel better so whatever that weight is I will know it when it happens. I'm guessing between 130-150 pounds will be a good goal. No hurry to get there. Thinking about getting a FitBit. I believe I might feel the same way you do when you see that you are 500 steps short of your daily goal! Anything that will help me move! Haven't exercised at all but plan to add that next week. Cutting added sugar/caffeine out has made me pretty tired but feeling much better the last few days. I knew I wouldn't stick to calorie reduction/better eating AND exercise all in one week! Being prepared is my best advice right now! You HAVE to bring your lunch AND snacks EVERY SINGLE DAY! They say eating healthy is expensive. I don't think I'm spending any more money on "good" food than I was spending on "bad" food! Biscuit combo on the way to work daily was usually $4-$5. Lunch out was usually $7-$10 daily. Here to share in your good days and bad days if you need an online partner! Good luck to you!