I hit rock bottom recently and had to confront my addiction. It's been going on since I was 14 years old. It is worse than my daily need for heroin. It was destroying my life and the lives of everyone around me. I was hooked on the Diet Coke. Not inferior Pepsi or inferior Pepsi related products. Diet Coke. Only for the hardcore.
My original plan was to stop drinking Diet Coke completely. I had good intentions. The desire to quit had been building for some time. I heard the science. But I'm not a scientist. I'm a singer and a dancer so what did it matter to me? Jeezus whispered it's sins in my ear one night during an erotic dream (Not with Jeezus mind you...with Judas. Jeezus just likes to watch). But Jeezus is long dead and from a different time; so why do I care what he thinks? But then I read an internet post. It was compelling. I found out it was really bad for me; that it's made of substances not found in the natural world and that it can be used to clean battery terminals and clear clogged drains. Who knew? Jeezus didn't mention any of that.
So my choice was clear and I began preparations to quit by slowing my intake. I stopped buying 2 liters. A 2 liter might last me about 2 days. Then I stopped buying cans; even if they were on sale. I usually had a can in the morning and at random in the afternoon or with dinner (on top of the 2 liter and huge 44oz fountain bucket) I preferred the cans to the plastic bottles because they were always much colder. And being a connoisseur of the cold beverage, I can tell you a few degrees makes a huge difference. Then I was slowly down to the 44 oz fountain soda. 1-2 a day. Then, Tuesday November 14 2006 I stopped buying my fo'ty. I just knew I would feel instantly better, want to workout more and maybe I would finally take up jogging or sign up for that glass blowing class at JU.
By day 5, I noticed no change. No real cravings. I felt the same way as before. I had just quadrupled my water intake is all. Was that my triumph? To be soggy? What a let down. So for Sunday lunch brunch, I had 3 glasses of diet soda to retaliate against my body for not providing a new high to replace my diet cola intake. The sodas hit the spot but I didn't feel the expected need to run out and buy the 2 liter. And today, I bought my beloved Bucket O'DCoke. Just for fun. It was like hugging and old friend that I never wanted to see again.
So it seems I can take it or leave it. I feel randomly indifferent to it which is no where near as interesting as having an addiction. So now I'm going to compile a list of 12 massively distributed products that cost under $2 and pick a new one. I'm thinking Now'n'Laters.
Comments