Number 30 on my list was to drink nothing but water for 30 days. This may seem simple to some but for me seemed impossible. You see, I loved Diet Coke. Prior to completing number 30 I could drink more than 32 ounces of Diet Coke a day. Healthy people, please don't comment how bad it is for me; I've read all the research and know how bad it it is. When you love something and are addicted to it you don't care how bad it may be; you just have to have it. To be completely honest, I loved Diet Coke so much that I still had one glass a day when I was pregnant with my boys. I know many of you are silently judging me, but I'm just trying to give some perspective on how deep my Diet Coke addition was. I use words like loved and was, past tense words, because I no longer feel this way. I know all of the healthy people are now silently nodding their heads with small smiles on their faces.
The first two days I started drinking only water, I was in bed with headaches. It was so miserable; I was so miserable. My coworkers were so glad I began on a Saturday. Since I'm being honest I can tell you that some of my closest coworkers were scared to see how I would be because they had seen me drink so much Diet Coke and other caffeinated beverages. However, by the time Monday rolled around, my headaches were gone and I decided to spice up my water a little bit by putting fresh lemon, lime or fruit in it with a fruit infusing water bottle and you know what, I loved it. Not only did I love the way it tasted, but I I loved the way it made me feel.
I never thought I would be one of those annoying people (sorry healthy people) who went on and on about the benefits of water or not drinking caffeine, but I experienced it first hand. My energy levels were up. It was easier to lose weight. I could focus and concentrate more. I actually handled stress a lot better. My PMS symptoms were a million times better (My husband may not agree with this one, but I know how I felt.). Now it helped that I was also completing numbers 33 and 34 by exercising and eating better too, but drinking water changed my life.
Once again I can see the healthy people nodding their heads with a big, "I told you so." However, I feel this post is more for the people who are in the same shoes I was before my journey. Those who think it is impossible to change your unhealthy habits. The same people who think that when people talk about how great they feel when they eat right and exercise are annoyed. Not because those people are annoying, but because they don't know how to change and break the bad habits. They don't know where to start. I'm here to tell you it's not impossible. It is possible and can be enjoyable.
I felt so good drinking water that when the 30 days were up I still drank only water. At least for a few more days. Now, I drink other drinks once in a while, but I prefer water. When I don't drink enough water, I feel the difference. I never thought I would ever write a post like this, a post a healthy person would write, but I am hoping to encourage those that don't know where to start. Try drinking nothing but water; it really changed my life and I'm sure it can change your life, too.
