For those of us in our forties and older, we can remember a time when water was cheaper than soft drinks at the store. Or when we went out to eat, you actually paid for a refill of soda.
At fast food restaurants, the pop machine was behind the counter and the only way to get a refill was to buy another drink. Not coincidently, there wasn’t an obesity problem in this country, but somewhere along the way all of that changed.
The health fitness craze of the late eighties and early nineties brought with it a demand for readily available drinking water, and with it came exotic names and fancy bottles of what was essentially tap water. As such, profits for major distributors skyrocketed.
As the prices of drinking water soared, the prices of soft drinks plummeted. Suddenly, you were able to buy a 2-liter soft drink for less than a 20-ounce one. The pop machines in restaurants were moved to the lobby, free refills became the norm.
Stores such as 7-Eleven launched their Big Gulp concept and sadly, we would never be the same.
There was a time believe it or not, when as a kid you were lucky to get one swallow of pop in week. In my home for instance, Mom made one pitcher of Kool-Aid at dinner and if you got a second cup of it you were doing good. Mind you, those were 8-ounce cups! Now, an entire generation of kids drink at a minimum, a 2-liter of pop per day!
Can you see how we got here? Gobs upon gobs of sugar which combined with video games, the internet, computers and other unfit habits, has devastated our once svelte society.
Whereas before, because of their rarity, overweight people got picked on. Now, slim people get picked on!
If you are ready to begin your personal journey of getting your body back, the first step is to swear off the enemy; sugar. We can talk about cookies, cakes and ice cream later, but for now I am speaking purely about soft drinks.
No, diet pops are not okay, for they lead to other unfit eating habits. Yes I know they technically have no calories but that whole thing is a farce.
Certainly not all, but the vast majority of people who drink diet soda are overweight. Scientists cannot explain it but it is a statistical fact.
I believe it is about a lifestyle change, pure and simple. When you can say no to pop, you have empowered yourself to become the you, you have always wanted to be.
If you are truly serious, just say no. Not all at once because let’s be honest, it is hard to do. I know, I have been there.
At first, go without a pop at lunch, then dinner. It may take a week or two or even a month but soon you will be able to go an entire day without it. If you can go without a pop for one day, you are well on your way!
Try it, I promise you the discipline and commitment required to take control of what goes into your body, is the first step towards a new you.
3 Comments
NOT POP!! (By the way, you grew up in the Midwest)
I don’t have a problem – I only have one mid / late morning, followed by one more early lunch. The post lunch one is a freebie and then I restrict myself to one late to early afternoon. If there are free ones available at work those also don’t count. If I get it in a glass for lunch that is really something altogether different. At night I really restrict myself to show a good example to the children.
By the way, the kids must really be hitting those cans because that return bin sure fills fast…….Okay, I take the pledge, I am with you (though it will take some time). Mark (is my hand shaking already???)
Personally I never touch the stuff. But I thought it was interesting that recently I was walking in a wooded area I own and came upon some trash that had been left there many years ago. I found two old Coke bottles which I estimate to be 40-50 years old. One was 6 ounces and the other 6 1/2 ounces. As you pointed out things, have changed a lot in the last 50 years.
When I was in middle school I pretty much had free access to soda (we didn’t have “pop” in New York) throughout the day. Most of it was diet and/or caffeine free (as was popular in the 80′s). At some point I realized that all of that artificial sweetener could not be good for you and I didn’t really need the sugar calories. I started drinking water throughout high school and never went back. If I taste pop now, it is downright disgusting. I guess it is all what you are used to. The only issue I have now is convincing people that I really just prefer tap water. Good luck with your pledge!