Rebuilding Rob

A lot of people drink coffee to get their caffeine fix throughout the workday.

I am not one of those people.

It’s not for a lack of effort. I’ve tried coffee. I’ve added milk, I’ve added creamer – not both at the same time because that would be weird. I’ve even tried adding flavoring to my coffee. It has just never stuck for me. I suppose coffee, like beer, is an acquired taste. I’ve just never gotten it. It probably doesn’t help that I don’t like many hot beverages.

Me, I’ve always gotten my caffeine and sugar fixes from soda.

Yes, I know, soda is not great for me. It’s bad for my stomach. I too have seen the video of the guy who puts a penny into a glass of Diet Coke, only to see the Diet Coke completely remove the copper off of the coin. It’s bad for my teeth, and it’s packed with way,way too many calories, particularly because of the sugar.

I know all this, and yet it is my primary source of caffeine. My gut is living proof of that. Lately, I’ve been finding as much as I go to the gym and even exercise, my weight loss is practically nonexistent. I’m already a picky eater, but I know that has to make some changes in my diet if I want to see some actual weight loss.

Without planning to do so, I woke up on Saturday and by about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I realize that I hadn’t had a single soda that day. I ultimately had one Pepsi on Saturday. I followed that up with just one Pepsi on Sunday. Today, going back to work I allowed myself one Pepsi. Even when I drink it now, I’m finding that I’m having a tough time finishing off a single can.

I’m not ready to say I’m swearing off soda forever yet. but I was kind of impressed with myself that I made it through my workday having just one Pepsi.

This year, I’m sharing my classroom with another teacher. I told her about my near cold turkey dropping of soda and she said “you’re a guy. You’ll end up losing 20 pounds because of it”. I know she was saying that half-jokingly. But my hope is that I can actually lose some weight by reducing my soda intake.

The other thing that I’m hoping will happen is that I can get myself back into going to the gym on a more consistent basis. 10 years ago, when I first went through my divorce and moved back to Michigan, I was going to the gym, five, sometimes six days each week. Once I got into the swing of it, I couldn’t bring myself to finish a 12 ounce soda while dining. My goal would be to get back to that point.

I don’t know if I can do this. Soda really is my one vice in life. I’ll drink, socially, but not to a point where I’m getting myself drunk. I don’t even eat a lot of junk food anymore, but I do probably eat too much processed food for sure. But I’m very encouraged by my success so far.

As I said, the top of this post, this has been a very tumultuous relationship that I have had with soda throughout my life. When you’re a little kid, you’re invincible. Nothing will hurt you and nothing will stop you. But years of drinking, this stuff is taking its toll on my anatomy. And the truth is, I don’t want to end up being diabetic, like The Old Man was later in his life.

So maybe this love affair is coming to an end. I’m realizing that this partner has done me more harm than good. Am I ready for the break up to be permanent at this time? I’m not really sure. This is a toxic relationship, one that gotten out of and back into more than once.

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, 👍 comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related (and perhaps, not-so-related) posts:

• Acknowledge Me: The Simple Art of Being Seen
• Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984) – The Movie That Scaled to Eleven
• A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
• The Supporting Cast: Navigating the Eras of Male Friendship
• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision

AI art created with Google Gemini

The article “my tumultuous love affair with soda“ first appeared on Rebuilding Rob