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  • BLOG
  • PROJECTS
    • ONE HOUR PROJECTS
    • RECIPES
    • SEASONS
    • REPURPOSE IDEAS
    • TIPS
  • MEET LAURA
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    • SHOP ETSY
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You are here: Home / Archives for HEALTH

5 STRATEGIES TO KICK THE SODA HABIT

January 7, 2021

5 strategies to kick the soda habit

My first diet soda was Tab. I think I was in eighth grade and I thought it signaled I ready for high school.

Nevermind that it tasted like carbonated motor oil.

And, then Diet Pepsi became my go-to caffeinated drink in college. I can’t begin to add up the gallons of Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper I consumed over multiple decades. strategies-to-kick-the-soda-habit

When I made the decision to train for this I decided to cut out the soda. I was drinking more water and the contrast between water and soda was my “aha moment.”

It was the hardest habit to break because I associated soda as fuel to power through the days filled with endless carpools and late-night real estate contracts.
It turns out, soda has the opposite effect.

There was a lot of soda between college and just a few years ago.

And now?

I have not had a diet soda in three years. Here are the strategies that helped me kick the soda habit.

STRATEGIES TO KICK THE SODA HABIT

Many of these steps and strategies happened concurrently.

1. Review the number of soft drinks you drink per day.

What time(s) of day do you crave a diet soda? Do you order soft drinks thru the drive-thru or do you have a case in your fridge? Do you have a diet soda roadie for errands? Pay attention to your habits.

We all have them.

how-to-kick-the-soda-habit

2. Introduce a non-sugar caffeine drink like tea or coffee.

For me, I switched to iced tea. It was served cold with ice and contained caffeine. how-to-kick-the-soda-habit

I typically only drink coffee first thing so iced tea was my replacement beverage for those mid-day energy drops.

how-to-kick-the-soda-habit

In the beginning, I allowed myself to order (and pay $3.00) for an iced tea in a drive-thru. Because part of the habit was the mid-day drive-thru order to power thru the second half of the day.

3. Replace the full size 12 oz cans with the smaller cans.

Yes, the smaller soda cans cost twice as much but trust the process. And here is the key; start using a smaller glass. The visual makes a huge difference.
The smaller glass means you will not use the entire 8 oz can when you pour. There will be a second pour (and still not have the full 12 oz can).

4. Find a substitution for the carbonation.

Over time, I realized what I loved about the soda was the carbonation. I began buying and trying carbonated waters and realized it was the tiny bubbles I loved.

5. Add limes or lemons to water

I added sliced limes or lemons to dress up my water. If I had an orange or raspberries I would toss those into the mix too. Some days the bottom of my glass looked like a fruit salad.

Just something to make it feel like a bigger deal until the soda craving passed. here was something about adding a lime that made me feel like it was a fancy drink.

To this day I keep limes in my refrigerator!

I also added a splash of cranberry juice to add a little pink to the bubbles.

 

For most of my adult life, I associated Diet Pepsi with either a crazy schedule or something to grab at the end of the day or a drink to order poolside or at the base of a mountain after a day of skiing.

strategies-to-kick-the-soda-habit

Isn’t it funny how our routines and memories are sometimes the stronger pull than the actual habit we try to quit?

Now? I start and end my days with a glass of water (with ice). And add the bubbles around noon.

strategies-to-kick-the-soda-habit

 

It took more than a year to finally quit and kick my soda habit. Now, the taste reminds me of carbonated motor oil.

Before you go would you pin this, please? Or follow me on Pinterest for more ideas, hacks and strategies for everyday edits in our lives.

strategies-to-kick-the-soda-habit

Thank you for stopping by today. If you have a tip to kick the soda habit please leave it in the comments!

laura

2 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, TIPS
Tagged: Hacks, HEALTH, SODA, WELLNESS

Free Online Workout Nobody Knows About

December 31, 2020

this free online workout site helps to mix up workout routines and ruts

Right about now we are making our new year resolutions. Raise your hand if getting in shape, working out or some resolution to tighten the jiggle is on your list. Even our dogs have weight loss goals this time of year. But today is about a free online workout that I found a few years ago.

It is hard to believe a few years ago I ran my first 1/2 marathon with my brother. We had so much fun training until he had a complete freak out the day before the race. I had to ignore all of his calls and texts and just stick to our plan to pick him up at 5:30 the next morning.

running-playlist-for-hills

My strategy worked! He was ready to go and when we got to the starting area we felt good. Until we saw a small group warming up with a jog and we looked at each other and I said, “show-offs.” It broke the rising anxiety amongst us. Here we are minutes before we were in our corral.

free-online-workout

We did not run together, because one of us had trained a little harder. And she may have underplayed her training so as not to freak out her younger brother.

free-online-workout

FREE ONLINE WORKOUT

And, then after two years of running another 1/2 and a few 10k’s and 5 k’s, my body started to break down. It was beyond shin splints and plantar fasciitis.

And I had to find another way to work out that did not involve a bike or a treadmill. I was miserable. I ate too much I sat on the couch to “ice.” And, complained to everyone in my family.

And, then on a random Tuesday in January, I Googled “Kelly Ripa’s trainer” and her trainer had posted this free arm workout video on a free, online site called PopSugar.

And, that was my first introduction to PopSugar fitness videos.

I loved the variety of workouts and instructors. My friends were all joining boutique fitness clubs and I thought I could be done with my workout in my travel time to workout “with friends and strangers.”

FAVORITE ONLINE WORKOUTS FOR FREE

I made my boys and husband do the arm workout by AKT which my husband renamed to a$$ kicking trainer.

That arm workout is still in my rotation and on my Pinterest Board.

free-online-workout-feature

In the beginning, I started with ten-minute workouts like this one and this one.

After a week I added a second ten-minute workout. I added my favorite stretching/cool down workout. I bought a new workout tank and a pair of weights.

Now, a few years later I am back to light running and more walking. And, I still use PopSugar to find stretching and arm workouts. I start most Mondays with this ab workout to get my core fired up. These days, I pay more attention to form and often take the intensity down a notch.

What are your fitness goals for 2021? After the Covid-Diet I am ready to get back on track! Care to join me! Let’s go!

free-online-workout-new-year-resolutions

My favorite workouts are pinned to this board. If you have trouble navigating the site email me at laura@everydayedits.co

Some of their newer content is under a subscription, but they add free content under “fitness videos” almost weekly.

free-online-workout-nobody-knows-about

Here’s my running playlist for hills to pin to your new fitness board. ;0)

running-playlist-for-hills

2 Comments / Filed In: DIY PROJECTS, TIPS
Tagged: FITNESS, HEALTH, NEW YEAR, WELLNESS, WORKOUT

MEET LAURA

Hi there! I am Laura the coffee-fueled creator behind Everyday Edits. This is a creative outlet for my Realtor life & my passion to re-imagine spaces on a budget.  Read more …

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