Diet Coke

Dear Lisa,
I am addicted to Diet Coke! Seriously I need a 12 step program. The stuff is poison. I know that. It is nothing more than chemicals going into your body and that can't be good. But, alas - I LOVE it - I do. And I am not ashamed (well maybe a little bit ashamed) to admit it.

I stopped drinking Diet Coke in March. I gave up all soda. I decided that Diet Coke was not helping, only hindering my weight lose efforts. The chemicals make me crave sugar, they make me retain water and they make me foggy in the brain. (Well maybe Diet Coke isn't to blame for all of my foggy headed-ness, but it was a contributing factor.) I know you have heard that Coke will eat through anything - even the battery acid on your car. Well, it is true - several years ago - pre Hyundai - I was driving a mini van. Alright that is enough - I can hear you forming opinions about me - groaning saying she was one of those. But logistically - I had to drive a mini van. I don't care what anyone says - with 3 boys all playing hockey. It was just a matter of needing to fit everyone and everything in the vehicle at one time. How would I choose who to leave behind? But I digress - back to the Diet Coke. My battery had an explosion of gunk and would not start one day - so being the handy gal that I am - I lifted the hood. I saw all of this gunk and decided it might be a problem so I grabbed the nearest 2 liter bottle and dumped it on the battery - and guess what - my battery connections shined like a new penny! No telling what Diet Coke was doing to my digestive system.

When I first removed it from my daily intake of liquids, I had a head ache for days. Now some might say it was the caffeine that I was missing, they would be wrong. I replaced my Diet Coke addiction with coffee and tea. So I was getting plenty of caffeine. The head ache was my body's withdrawal from what ever it is in Diet Coke that make me love it so much. The headache lasted abut a week, maybe 5 days but that is enough of the week to count. Unfortunately - I didn't and still have not lost any weight.

But today, maybe it is because I am losing my job in 18 days, maybe because it was a beautiful day, maybe it was because of the extra large soda for only 0.99 they advertised this morning. I went through the drive through and had my first Diet Coke in months. And let me tell you, IT WAS GOOD! (This is why I need a 12 step program, I might not be able to get back on that wagon I just fell off of) No one has a better Diet Coke than McDonald's. Seriously, I have said that for years and they are now starting to advertise the fact. There is just something about a fountain Diet Coke that beats the heck out of a can or bottle. That initial burn I get in my throat as that cold deliciousness fills my stomach. Nothing can beat that. And McDonald's has the best mix of carbonation to syrup. I will say that Qudoba runs a close second, but McDonald's they are, hands down, the best.

Now the fact that they were 0.89 last year did make me wonder if perhaps we need to get the Oval office involved. A 10% increase in price year over year seems hefty to me. The cost of living increase to minimum wage was less than 5% in most places and that was over 3-5 years- how are the folk working at McDonald's ever going to be able to afford a Diet Coke.
Addicted always,
Lisa

Dear Lisa
Ever notice how you have to have a carbonated beverage with fast food? Seriously. Burgers, pizza, deli sandwiches ... they all call for carbonation and chips. I can't eat a sandwhich without chips and bubbles.

I only do diet when I can't afford another 200 calories but usually I just drink regular because I can't handle the aspertane. I feel like a laboratory rat.
Here's a refreshing low cal non chemically drink. Mix 1 part lite cranberry juice with 2 parts perrier, mendotta or any kind of sparkling water. It's a delightful thirst quencher!!

Kevin always said he'd heard that diet drinks make you crave carbs so I guess it's true. Although, I don't need diet coke to crave carbs. I crave them when I drive by Quik Trips.
Quenching my thirst,
Lisa