I’m happy to report that I successfully stuck to my Lent sacrifice of 40 days and 40 nights with no Diet Pepsi! I’m such a good little non-Catholic!
Back in February, I vowed to give up my biggest vice, which is drinking way too much diet soda. And honestly, I didn’t think I’d really do it 100%. I just thought it would make a good blog post! But much to my delight – I did it – and I didn’t cheat once!
It really wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. The first week was almost a piece of cake. But then I went to Cabo San Lucas with my girlfriends in the second weekend and I was practically foaming at the mouth to drink an ice cold Diet Pepsi as I nursed a hangover in the hot sun. From that point on though, it was pretty easy.
Quiting diet soda does not = weight loss!
At first I was thinking if I didn’t drink Diet Pepsi my only other option was water. I even went to the movies that first weekend and had a big tub of buttery, salty popcorn and washed it down with a bottle of water! GA-ROSS! I mean, water so doesn’t compliment movie popcorn – not in the least! I realized quickly though that I had other options besides just water 24/7. I could drink lemonade, iced tea (sweetened), green tea (sweetened), and when I really needed caffeine – Mountain Dew (hey, it’s not diet!). Of course with these other options come added calories! I’ve heard people say you will lose weight when you stop drinking diet soda. That’s horse shit. I guess if you stick with nothing but water you can, but c’mon, that’s such a bland life to lead!
Today after church and Easter brunch, Jeff and I decided we’d have a movie day and make popcorn at home. Suddenly, it popped into my head – I can drink Diet Pepsi today! LENT IS OFFICIALLY O-V-E-R! As I poured my first glass of Diet Pepsi I almost felt guilty. Like, maybe I should just never start up again. But where I’d usually have like two or three on a Sunday afternoon lounging around the house, I only had that one glass.
So I’m not giving up diet soda for good. But if anything, this Lent sacrifice has taught me that if I put my mind to something – I can do it. If I cheated during these past 40 days, I’d only be cheating myself. After all, I already know Jesus loves me no matter what!!
So how about you guys? How did you do with your Lent sacrifices or pledges to be a better person? If you stuck to it, then share your success story! If you didn’t, then consider this your Catholic confessional, and tell me your sins… I’ll forgive you!
I have never given up anything for Lent, but the closest I have come to identifying with that is giving up carbs for the Atkins diet. It really made me realize how much I overindulged in disgusting carbs like processed foods, chips, pasta, etc. When you have to cook lean meats and veggies it’s a much more healhful diet. After I went off of it, I think it changed how I ate, even though I did start eating carbs again. I just became kind of grossed out with the processed stuff and started actually going to the grocery store to buy fresh foods. Sounds like you kinda had the same experience with the DP. You can have too much of a good thing, and it should be more of a treat!
Oh gawd – I’m so bad. I eat SOOO much processed food. I need to eat better, such as whole foods. I started to make this part of my Lent promise last year; to eat less processed foods, but it didn’t work so well! I did give up chocolate though!
whoa whoa whoa!! diet pop is bad for you and can make you gain weight???? I never knew!!!!
Well I’ve heard people say that you tend to eat more when you have a soda in your hand — like you want something salty to snack on. Whereas, if you were drinking water you may not crave a snack with it. Plus, the carbonation can make you bloated!
lmao cool story dude.