Stephanie Pedersen: Giving up something for one year

About this time last year, I made myself a promise to eat healthier and take better care of my body than I did the previous five years.

You may have made the same goal.

One goal that I've nearly achieved this year is to not drink soda. With just a couple of weeks left, I'm going to make that goal.

I've found with general goals like "eat healthier" you need to be specific with yourself. Will you eat more greens? Incorporate a smarter breakfast? Quit eating fast food twice a week? Specifics help.

I know it sounds petty to think giving up sodas was a major goal, but I challenge you to give up something for an entire year that is now part of your daily routine. It's hard.

I would guess I drank a Coke pretty much every day for 20 years. A few years ago, I gave up soda for a couple of months, just to see if I could do it.

Of course I could.

But an entire year?

There were times I badly wanted to get a Route 44 Coke from Sonic on the way to a baseball game. The worst times most certainly are during birthday parties and get-togethers where everyone has a soda in their hand.

And the sound a Coke makes when you pop the top of a can Can you tell I miss it?

You would think nearly 365 days into this it would be easier. A few days ago I started reflecting on this year and how I've physically felt without that in my body. You don't realize the change until you take the time to remember what it did.

I remember feeling bloated and extremely uncomfortable when I would have one or two Cokes a day, but I kept drinking them. I was jittery and nauseous. But I kept drinking them.

And drinking them and drinking them.

One thing I noticed during the few times I've given up sodas is that I'm able to lose a little bit of weight without doing anything else and it stays off.

Ever since high school, my weight has fluctuated about 10 pounds here or there. Of course that was a bit higher after having two kids. This year, I've been able to maintain my weight loss since giving up sodas.

One reason is because outside of coffee, I'm not drinking my calories.

I also never drank enough water before I gave up my Coke. I relied on the drink to keep me hydrated and it filled a "hunger." What I've learned now is that it wasn't a hunger. It was a thirst.

I was dehydrated and have been for many years.

You would think drinking 60-100 fluid ounces of water a day would make you feel bloated. It doesn't. Your body needs it, and you'll feel better. I promise.

So, I challenge you -- if losing weight and physically feeling better is one of your goals for 2016 -- to try giving up sodas and see how you feel.

I could give you the nutritional facts of what sodas and diet sodas do to your body. But you probably already know.

If you make this one change and don't even add exercise or eating right, you'll still see a difference.

Stephanie Pedersen, senior editor, spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Stephanie Pedersen: Giving up something for one year ."