My poisons of choice now, H20 and OJ

A quarter of the way through and I’m feeling like a real big man.

If you have just stopped by the first time let me first welcome you and explain that you have stumbled upon my self-imposed challenge of avoiding my beloved Diet Coca-Cola for the entire month of February. No small feat considering it is primarily the only drink I’ve drunk for the last 20 years. Then again, I’m not exactly giving up alcohol or hard drugs so perhaps any triumphalism should be rather muted. I hope this challenge will prove that will power is effective when applied purposefully and perhaps discover whether my health will improve without the caffeine and carbon dioxide of carbonated drinks.

So I have survived my first week of the challenge and find myself looking ahead to the next week a bit more relaxed and comfortable than I was when this started. Though believe me, I am giving every calendar the evil eye. I am going to so thoroughly enjoy having that first glass of coke in 21 days time.

It hasn’t been all easy this week. The amount of opportunities and places where I could get a sneaky can or bottle of coke are mind-boggling. My fiancé and parents have encouraged me and bought in a dozen cartons of orange juice (though I’m drinking mostly water with a touch of orange as too much orange leaves me feeling bloated).  That first day on the way to the school I teach history at seemed like I was being blatantly teased by the gods. A Coca-Cola truck drove under the footbridge I crossed, the Tesco Petrol Station was advertising its coke offers and students had red Coca-Cola gym bags! I was tempted to pop in to Tesco and buy a bottle to drink in the school’s staff room. However something steeled me and I walked on by. The next day I was left home alone with three 2 litre bottles of Diet Coke and I pondered how I could drink a bottle and buy a replacement from the corner shop before anyone noticed. Instead I drank a carton of orange juice. Fast. And suffered for it. On the Wednesday, I was going positively stir crazy and told my colleagues what I was doing (much to their bemusement). One colleague said I could probably get sick leave from the council to deal with my coke issues. I bought a bacon and sausage butty for lunch and felt shortchanged by the lack of Diet Coke. And it hit me;

This doesn’t affect just me. Think of the small shops and cafe’s I usually frequent, missing out on the variable 90p-£1.20 price of a bottle of my refreshing liquid lift.

Then I was informed that my parents were getting divorced.

Dont worry, I didn’t touch the Coke. I stayed strong and passed out the week with each day seeming a little better. Headaches probably from lack of caffeine or dehydration are just about gone and I feel able to walk up to the fizzy bottle in the kitchen, even touch it, and know I won’t drink a drop. So far, so good.

Did you know Coca-Cola advertise their drinks in the US as being healthy energy boosts? In a clear example of a marketing strategy to cut off people thinking of taking on more fruity still waters or energy drinks they have labelled their boxes and bottles with messages informing the prospective purchaser that Coca-Cola can hydrate you – its made of water you know! And that its caffeine kick can compare with other energy drinks. So buy me now! Almost as odd as McDonald’s re-branding itself green and healthy. Every time I ever drank coca-cola and did sports I’d blow up. Not my first choice for rehydration then, just for enjoyment.

I guess this week I have looked inside the mind of the alcoholic and gambler, seen how easy it is for an addict to find ways of continuing to get their fix without those whose opinion they care about learning of it.

If you are giving something up and want help, or want questions answered to better understand a friend who is fighting an addiction the following charities give free information and/or counselling;

In the UK – Talk to FRANK for Drink/Drugs and for gambling theres Gamblers Anonymous.

If you are abroad and know the website address for your help agencies please post them in the comments along with the country it works in. Until next week, you can follow my progress at #xcoke28 on twitter and share your own struggles trivial and serious.