Thursday, March 1, 2012

A Great Leap - P52 Week Nine

A Great Leap for me is that I have given up soda pop for Lent. More specifically I am giving up Aspartame for good. Aspartame is the artificial sweetener in many diet sodas and "0" calorie drinks. It has been linked to many health related issues. I was inspired to give it up after my yoga instructor gave her "diet soda" talk about all the negative health issues related to Aspartame.


Lent was fast approaching so I thought it would be a good time to try giving up my Diet Cherry Coke. Last year I gave up meat for Lent and that went really well. The nice thing about Lent is that it is a specific period of time, and that makes it easier to give up something when you know you only have to do it for 40 days. Even though last year I went back to eating meat after Lent was over, although I still don't eat a lot of meat, I highly doubt that I will go back to drinking anything with Aspartame in it even after Lent is over this year.

The challenge has been to find flavorful, healthy alternatives. I can drink plain water, but I do prefer something with flavor. So here are some of the alternatives I have found so far:


I had some natural lemonade up in Marquette last week and I really liked that. I couldn't find the exact same brand that I had up there, but I did find this one at the grocery store. Since it only has four ingredients and nothing artificial I figured it was a winner, and it tastes just like fresh squeezed lemonade.


I have always liked Cranberry Juice, and this is a new one with a hint of Lime.


Lifewater comes highly recommended by my yoga instructor. I haven't tried it yet, but she hasn't steered me wrong yet.



Good thing back in Week One of this P52 Photo Challenge my Resolution was to Drink More Tea. I have been drinking a lot more tea, I am on my fourth cup right now. I love trying different flavors, loose leaf, and boxed. The best part is that they all go great with my Dad's honey! And just so you know all honey is not created equal, I had some at the hotel last week, not even close to my Dad's. 











17 comments:

  1. Me too! I gave it up about 1 month ago! Yuck! It is so bad for us! It is in everything!

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  2. That's great that you gave up soda! I love Pepsi so much, but I try to drink it once or twice a week. I don't buy any for home or I'd be drinking it all of the time!

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  3. I had thought about giving up popcorn, but I couldn't do it last night when I was home alone after the kids were in bed. It was calling my name! I haven't been able to give up Diet Coke since I was pregnant--even though it tastes different here in Seoul! Good job!

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  4. I'm giving up soda drinks too.. am trying my best not to indulge in it but Green teas instead.

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  5. I've been gradually reducing my diet coke/pepsi consumption as well this year. Hoping by the end of the summer that I no longer will be drinking pop. Have to wean myself off the stuff since I've been drinking quite a bit of it for 27 years.

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  6. Good for you. You are making a great leap towards health. Great composition on the photos.

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  7. I'm working on giving up diet soda too! Good luck!

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  8. I gave up the Crystal Lite a while back as well, and have been drinking water with lemon or lime wedges in it. I like the tartness of it without any sweetner now so will keep that up. Good luck on kicking the Aspertame!!

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  9. I like your coke photo, hate aspartame. Good for you!

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  10. Great photos! While I am not giving up diet sodas, I have decreased my consumption immensely. You have given me hope & encouragement though & I know what's next --giving them up completely. Good luck!!

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  11. Good for you! Sodas are so much a treat for me. I don't drink them much, but when I do it is a treat. Enjoy your new bevvies!

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  12. Good for you! We have given up soda for Lent too. And I added Starbucks to my list. Too much coffee and too much extra money!

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  13. Great choice to give up for Lent, tea would be choice of beverage.

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  14. Great photos. I don't do artificial sweeteners,they are so bad for you. I love Life Water and I love tea. Tea is so good for you. I didn't give up anything for Lent this year.

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  15. I like your pictures! Nice use of depth of field.

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  16. Good for you! I was addicted to Cherry Coke Zero, and I feel so much better now that I have kicked that habit!

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