"Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." ~Lao-Tze
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If you are a new reader, you may not know that just over 1 year ago, Eric decided to eliminate pop from his diet.
Since he was a young boy, he was hooked on pop, specifically Coke. During university, he often drank up to 6 cans a day as a way to stay awake during late nights. He cut back after university, but he still drank 2-3 cans of Coke during the work day to give him a boost.
Back in 2008, Eric wanted nothing more than to have his picture taken beside this retro Coke truck in Istanbul!
![Istanbul7 Istanbul7](/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Istanbul7.jpg)
If you would have asked him back then if he would ever give up pop, he would have laughed in your face!
But he suffered from constant sugar cravings, migraines, fatigue, cavities, and more which he believed were mostly due to the large amount of pop he consumed each day. He knew that something needed to change, but he didn’t quite know how to make the change. Or if he could succeed.
When we vacationed to Florida last March, Eric decided to drink pure fruit juice to satisfy his cravings instead of relying on pop. The sunny, warm weather and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables made it relatively easy for him to focus on drinking natural juices and smoothies while on vacation. It was also during this time that he decided to give up his favourite cereal that contained High Fructose Corn Syrup, instead opting for an organic cereal by Nature’s Path. It took a couple bowls to get used to, but after he did, he said it was a really easy switch. Now he eats Nature’s Path Spelt cereal and sprinkles some raisins and chia seeds on top. I never thought I would see the day!
He also discovered that he really loves drinking juice and smoothies and felt more energized than ever.
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This vacation was truly worth its weight in GOLD health!
Inspired by how great he felt while away, he decided to stick with his new eating plan. He drank 100% pure juice, tea, or smoothies when he craved pop and he also kept buying organic cereals free of HFCS.
And then he said something that I never thought I would hear come out of his mouth…
‘Ange, I have decided to completely cut out pop from my diet….for good.’
I was so proud of him at that moment because I know how difficult it would be for him. I could tell that he was a bit scared, but he was also very proud of his accomplishments, now 2 weeks without pop. With each day, he gained momentum, but the road wasn’t always a smooth one!
When Eric told some coworkers that he was cutting out pop from his diet, he got a lot of flack and teasing for it (in addition to his healthier eating in general) and this made it difficult for him, but the resistance from others actually made him want to stick to his guns even more! He was more convinced than ever that this choice was the right one for him. Whenever someone scoffed at him for passing up pop or junk food, it only made him more determined to stick with it. And he has also become very well versed with comebacks. ;)
Today, we celebrate Eric being 100% free of ALL POP for 1 year! Congrats Eric!
I asked Eric to comment on his journey over the past year, so you can hear it straight from the man himself.
We did a little Q & A together last night…
How did you do it?
Cold Turkey. :) With lots of support from Ange.
Did you ever feel tempted to cheat, if so how did you overcome it?
Not really tempted to “cheat”, but there were times after doing work outside (in the yard) when I craved a Coke. I usually would try to get my fix through something else. Originally, I thought it was the caffeine that I craved, so I would try to drink Tea, but then I realized that didn’t really help much. I figured out that it is the sugar that I craved so I would drink a juice instead. While juices aren’t much better in terms of sugar, I would make sure there was no HFCS/glucose fructose in it, and at least this way I’m having a more natural sugar source. I also realized that it is very difficult to find juice without HFCS/glucose fructose hiding in it. Sometimes, the restaurant or café I go to for lunch doesn’t have any options at all. I tend to look for 100% pure apple juice and I can find it at places like Subway. I would guess that 98% of the juices for sale have HFCS/glucose fructose in them.
Was it as difficult as you thought to kick your pop habit?
I actually didn’t think it would be that hard, but it was fairly difficult. Mostly from peer pressure. Co-workers constantly try to give me pop and they place them on my desk in front of me. Sometimes they would hide cans of Coke in our house too. Most of my co-workers don’t see the need to eat healthy so it is difficult on me when I am the only one out of the group who wants to eat better.
Do you think you will ever go back to drinking pop?
No. I’m tempted to get a rum/coke sometimes for a drink when we go out as I used to have it as an alternative to beer every once in a while, but I feel like I would be cheating so I don’t even do that.
How do you feel now?
It took quite a while to feel any difference. While drinking coke I would get the 2 or 3pm slump, but to get over it I used to drink even more coke (it’s a vicious cycle). After a few months of not drinking coke (and I think it took at least 3 months to feel this way), the 2 or 3pm slump wasn’t nearly as bad. Sure, every once in a while I’m tired in the afternoon, but nothing even close to what I was back then. I also don’t drink juice as much as I did when I first quit drinking coke, so now I’m probably a little lower in sugar intake. I don’t get the highs and lows as much as I used to. The juice was a good substitute initially, but I find I don’t ‘need’ it as much anymore. I also lost about 10 pounds which was an added bonus.
Any final words to those people out there who want to kick a bad habit?
Definitely go for it! You may think it is such a small change and it may take time to notice anything, but it will make a huge difference in your life. I found that by making this healthy change in my life, I was inspired to make other changes in my life that I never expected. One healthy change gives you momentum for other healthy changes. When I eliminated pop my coworkers stopped drinking it as frequently too. While my coworkers would argue that it had nothing to do with me, I think healthy changes rub off on other people overtime, even without asking anyone to change.
We made one of his favourite smoothie combos to celebrate. :)
![IMG_3227 IMG_3227](/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_3227.jpg)
Strawberry Banana Chai Smoothie
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 frozen bananas
- 3/4 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 cups non-dairy milk
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 scoop Vega Vanilla Chai protein powder
Serving Suggestion: Close your eyes, sit in front of a space heater, and pretend you are in Florida. ;)
Have you ever made a healthy change in your lifestyle? If so, what was it and how did you do it? Did you have any peer pressure or resistance from other people?
Or are there any changes that you want to make in your lifestyle this Spring?
Eric’s 1 year anniversary has encouraged me to question what positive change I could make in my own life this Spring. Yesterday, I decided to bring out my juicer and start juicing a few times a week again. We juiced a lot last summer and felt amazing, so I would really like to start this up again. Spring is always a great time to make a new change!
My husband stopped drinking soda (regularly, anyway. He still has one once in a great while) a few years ago and he commented recently how much better he feels throughout the day now. It’s remarkable the difference it can make!
My girlfriend and I were just talking this weekend about me giving up my daily coke…I told her I could never do it…. well, this article certainly made me reconsider….hmmm…great job Eric….
congrats to eric I love chai and have some amazing grass chai ill have to try this shake!
I really want to get my husband to stop drinking soda. He was addicted to Mountain dew (of all the sodas that has the most sugar) and I switched him over to sprite. I still wish he would drink more water and fruit juice but that is the next step. Congrats to your husband for making this change!
Good for Eric! I quit SMOKING and now I can’t believe I ever liked it. Smoke free since Halloween of 2010. :)
Congratulations Eric! Breaking a bad habit is never easy.
Just what I was going to say. Bad (and old) habits die HARD.
I’ve never been a pop person but sometimes a good Cream Soda from back in the day is nice…with a little rum ;)
Funny – the only time I’ve ever been South was when I WANTED the pop! I found ginger-ale and coke was the only thing that would quench and satisfy my thirst from the heat! Left me feeling quite bloated in my bikini though. Blech.
I gave up pop in November of ’09. I never consumed more than a can a day but it is still something I am proud of! Now I just see it as POISON and am never tempted to have any. I find other things to mix my booze with :) ha!
Pea Daddy gave up soda for Lent…he usually drinks maybe 2 Diet Pepsis a week? Anyway, he promptly bought a 20 oz. bottle to take on the plane on Wednesday—and then spilled it all over himself. He called it karma. He hasn’t ordered one since :)
haha love that story
Congrats to Eric for kicking his soda habit! And I love how you call it pop. I grew up in Minnesota and I think in MN, Wisconsin, NDakota, SDakota, everyone calls it pop :)
But that’s awesome that he kicked his habit and stuck with it! The fact that he lost 10 lbs, rubbed off on his coworkers, and doesnt even have coke with his rum….just shows his dedication! Glad he has stuck with it and glad he had you, Ange, to help him :)
I don’t drink fizzy drinks any more (love it that they call it Pop in canada!)
I read an article about how the stuff that makes it fizzy actually depleated the calcium and minerals from your bones, and so the thought of that puts me off more than anything. As other work colleagues often had a diet coke on a friday lunch, then this went to every lunch- the caffeine and sweeteners made me feel bad (after the initial rush) so it was not hard to give up.Now I just have water even if I go out- it’s what I like!
I’m loving this post today! I too was addicted to pop at one point [I always drank a Coca Cola Zero while smoking a cigarette]. I woke up one day and enough was enough. I quit smoking and drinking pop in the same go. That was… 2 years ago. I replaced pop with mineral water and juice [I loved the fizziness of pop] and instead of smoking I did breathing exercises to help with my stress. It’s challenging, but totally worth it!
Yay Eric!!! That’s definitely something to be proud of! My husband has TRULY decreased his pop consumption…maybe a couple cans a month. He’s learned to love carrot juice, fresh strawberry juice, and water (yay water). I personally stopped drinking pop almost 7 years ago–I was never addicted, but it was just a bad habit.. .there is ZERO benefit to drinking it. I not only never crave it, but a few years back when I took a sip after years of not drinking it… I said to myself “gross…”… it’s just weird! Aside from fresh veggie juice and blended fruits on occasion… I truly LOVE water. :) It feels good.
yayyyyy! :) Yeahh~I think i’ve made a lotttttt of changes throughout the last few years! They’ve been rather gradual. I somehow really didn’t want pop anymore either about 5 years ago! 0_o (wow has it been that long?) and don’t drink it b/c it doesn’t taste good or make me feel healthy. It also gives weird aftertaste haha. Also, I try not to eat too many refined sugars (aside from pastries here and there) and eat a lot of veggies/fruits, and whole grains. And raw bars! Also, I started seriously working out about 3 years ago and I’ve never felt better mentally and physically! We’re truly connected in every way–thoughts, emotions, and body. ps: get this, I used to eat chili cheese fries EVERY nutrition break in high school for at least ONE whole year! No wonder I didn’t feel right. Once in a while isn’t bad nor do I judge b/c I eat many things in moderation! But i’m sure it’s not wise if it’s everyday. have a great day!
Question about the smoothie and smoothies in general I suppose. I notice you and a lot of other bloggers use frozen bananas. Are these bananas overripe then frozen or do you just throw them in the freezer when you get home from the grocery store?? Do you peel and chop them first?? I really want to jump on the smoothie train and your smoothie above looks like the perfect and easiest place to start! Thanks!
Lauren
I use both overly ripe (spotty, brown) and yellow ripe bananas for freezing! :) I peel them and then chop them into 1 inch chunks and put them in tupperware in the freezer. They are great for smoothies- the riper the better!
For Banana Soft Serve however, I find that yellow ripe (not brown) bananas work best and get the creamiest in the food processor, whereas overly brown bananas tend to crystallize in the freezer.
Go Eric! Giving up soda was awesome for my body. I recently became vegan and am absolutely loving everything it has done for my body and my mind. I feel great and have so much energy! The only thing I am having a hard time dealing with is judgement from other people. After making the decision to go vegan, I put something up on my facebook profile because I was so excited and within minutes I was attacked by people questioning my decisions. People said things like “They are just animals, they are made to be food” or “give it a week and you’ll change your mind”. It really hurts the way people judge you simply based on what you eat. It makes me scared to tell anyone or even talk about veganism. How do you deal?
What we eat and how we live our lives is such a sensitive topic for many people. It can be really difficult being on the ‘outside’ (or not the norm) and I have had a lot of resistance from people in my life too (but thankfully also lots of support!). I find that many people assume that because I’m a vegan I judge how THEY eat, but that isn’t the case at all and I always try to make a point of expressing that so people feel more comfortable discussing it. Open communication is key…and people can always agree to disagree too! Of course, there will always be the negative comments that you can’t do anything about, but in my experience it is just best to forget about it and surround yourself with people who will be a positive influence in your life!
Thank you so much for your response. It really helped some of the ways I have been feeling. I just need to keep reminding myself that the awesome improvements to my body are so worth any of the criticism! Your blog is great, and I am trying out the chocolate torte tonight!
I agree with the way people can be sometimes. I don’t even understand why people get so defensive about something like that. Is it hurting them that you switched to veganism. What do they care? I don’t understand it. I’m not 100% vegan, but I have cut way down my intake of animal products, and when I mention this to people or suggest that maybe they’d feel better if they did the same, they get all defensive. It’s very bizarre. I’ve just learned to ignore what they say. I know that I feel much better since I’ve changed the way I eat, and no matter what they say, they’re not going to change that.
congrats! i was never one for soda, but i’m a sucker for ginger ale. I get my satisfaction with ginger kombucha instead!
Smoothie looks so smooth and creamy!
This spring im making a big change in my health- gaining to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. I also want to experiment with my diet, and try mroe and more new things.
Great job, Eric!
Hello!
Such an awesome story. Just wondering on what kind of juicer that you have – I am in the market for one!
Thanks! :)
I have a Breville Fountain Plus I think it is called!
I have a Breville also, and I really like it. I juice almost daily – it feels great to drink fresh made juice like that :0)
Thanks! :)
I would like to slowly remove dairy from my diet. I’m not sure how its going to be while I’m living abroad, but I am going to begin seeking economical alternatives to milk, especially for breakfast in the morning–I love oatmeal! I’m just beginning the process, and I don’t expect I will be able to quit cold turkey, purely for financial and health reasons, but I’m on my way!