4,152 Calories and 1,038 grams of sugar.
I have been doing a little experiment over the last several weeks with myself. I have been logging the cans/bottles of Mountain Dew and Coke that I have been drinking - primarily to gain an understanding about the amount of soda I consume regularly.
In the last seven (7) days, I have consumed: 240 fluid ounces of Mt. Dew and 32 fluid ounces of Coke.
That equals: 4,152 Calories and 1,038 grams of Sugar.
That is a pretty large consumption of Calories that ultimately equals zero nutritional value. So the question should be asked, Why do you drink all that soda? It is a question that I actually get asked in different ways at times. The most common way is more of a statement, "I can't believe you drink that much soda and run all those miles!" I never know if people are thinking I run so that I can drink the soda or if they assume I would be the-picture-of-all-healthiness because I workout?
I have talked about this habit before (here, here and here), but the main reason that I drink soda is out of emotional need and boredom. I'm tired - I grab a Mountain Dew. I'm bored - I find a coke, etc. It is a habit that weighs on my guilt too. Some people say that I shouldn't worry about it because I don't gain any weight, but there seems to be something intuitively unhealthy about it. Maybe I'm just ultra-sensitive to the subject because of the diabetes that my step-father and brother have?
Whatever the reason, whatever the motivation - I would like to make another serious attempt at breaking this habit. One thing that I might do to support this attempt is to read the book, "Mindless Eating: Why we eat more than we think." I saw this book awhile back, but Ironclm did a review of it recently that peaked my interest again. (The link of the book is to her review.)
Sometimes it is good to review my old thoughts on this subject and in January of 2006 it looks like I had some similar thoughts. They actually were not bad (IMO), check them out: "Thoughtful decisions vs. Decisions made without thought".
Maybe everyone here can help me out with this very difficult change in behavior?
In the last seven (7) days, I have consumed: 240 fluid ounces of Mt. Dew and 32 fluid ounces of Coke.
That equals: 4,152 Calories and 1,038 grams of Sugar.
That is a pretty large consumption of Calories that ultimately equals zero nutritional value. So the question should be asked, Why do you drink all that soda? It is a question that I actually get asked in different ways at times. The most common way is more of a statement, "I can't believe you drink that much soda and run all those miles!" I never know if people are thinking I run so that I can drink the soda or if they assume I would be the-picture-of-all-healthiness because I workout?
I have talked about this habit before (here, here and here), but the main reason that I drink soda is out of emotional need and boredom. I'm tired - I grab a Mountain Dew. I'm bored - I find a coke, etc. It is a habit that weighs on my guilt too. Some people say that I shouldn't worry about it because I don't gain any weight, but there seems to be something intuitively unhealthy about it. Maybe I'm just ultra-sensitive to the subject because of the diabetes that my step-father and brother have?
Whatever the reason, whatever the motivation - I would like to make another serious attempt at breaking this habit. One thing that I might do to support this attempt is to read the book, "Mindless Eating: Why we eat more than we think." I saw this book awhile back, but Ironclm did a review of it recently that peaked my interest again. (The link of the book is to her review.)
Sometimes it is good to review my old thoughts on this subject and in January of 2006 it looks like I had some similar thoughts. They actually were not bad (IMO), check them out: "Thoughtful decisions vs. Decisions made without thought".
Maybe everyone here can help me out with this very difficult change in behavior?
Labels: behaviors change, habits, nutrition, soda
posted by gary at 5:00 PM
4 Comments:
You've actually taken the first step by documenting and analyzing what you're drinking and why. Maybe that book will provide insight into how to cut down and eventually cut out those carbs.
I psyche myself up by associating something gross with a particularly attractive food. It works sometimes but not all.
Whenever I road bike with my friend who is a pro rider, he pounds coke (Diesel, not diet) during the ride. I was pretty shocked to see him drink it instead of gatoraid- I guess he just wants the calories. So, not all coke is bad!
I've heard that cutting out soda helps clear up your skin, too... not to imply you had bad skin before! :)
anne - I do think that acceptance is the first step, sort of like some addiction program. But I'm not into scaring myself straight.
skirough - One thing that I'm thinking about is still allowing myself to use it during trainging rides (long) and races. If you look at my race report last year (Runovia 140.6) you'll see that my Ale-8 was a saving grace. I actually used coke during the run at pretty much every other aid station.
If it does help out my skin, then it might motivate me more too. I don't have much of a problem, but vanity is a good motivator!
i think you should quit drinking soda and start smoking, chewing, littering, stealing, or tipping less than 10%.
i think its your running obsession. i ran that mile this morning. my first ever. i don't drink soda as you know, and all i wanted after the run was to eat a double quarter pounder, fries and a coke. i went to wendys got a a bacon cheeseburger, fries, frosty, and 2 dr peppers. what? i don't eat fried food or soda? all i could think about was that i have always laughed as we sit down to a table of polar oposite foods sometimes, and i'm the fat ass and your the health nut. it started to make sense. i saw something on the news awhile back where it had an older guy who was on a super strict diet because he thought it would make him live past 100. he didn't have any health problems, but he also didn't have enough energy to mow his own yard or clean his house. i think i'll take my healthy gut.
www.thetreedoctor.biz
hah i've officially raided your blog for self promotion!!!!!!!!!!!
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