Soda

It's officially been a year since I stopped ordering Cokes. In fact, with the exception of a little Moxie here and there, I haven't purchased a soda since 1/3/09. There have been a few sodas purchased for me over the year and I dutifully returned them to the gifters.

Now, did I notice a difference?

No. Not really.

But I feel good. I feel good because I know I can simply walk away from something that, while it tasted so good when it hits your lips, isn't necessary in my diet.

Soda

A Mexican Coke was presented to me this morning. Oh the beauty of natural cane sugar in a carbonated beverage. After careful deliberation, I returned my gift to the gifter, thanked him and went about my way. It's been quite some time...6 months since my last Coke. Do I feel different? No. Have I lost weight? No.

But I'm not contemplating giving up high fructose corn syrup. Still not sure why but it doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Colon Cleanse - Day Eight

Not too much new to report on this one. My happenings are very regular and very interesting. While I haven't seen anything quite like what they showed on their website, the happenings are definitely different from anything I have experienced in the past.

We fly to NYC on Thursday. If I have a happening on the flight, it should be...interesting.

A new experiment - Colon Cleanse

I have, for a while, been considering doing a cleanse of my system. Friends here at Yeti have done them with varying results but all felt quite a bit better afterward. I did some quick research and with the recommendation of a good friend, settled on this program. If you have the time, the wherewithall and the inclination, read the testimonials and peruse the photo gallery.

I'm planning on keeping this blog updated with what I will deem "happenings". Little brother Jeff maintains a Poo Log, perhaps I should get one....

Cheeseburgers and sushi

My personal experiment of dropping soda has been successful. I have not had a soda since the beginning of January.

However, Jeffy showed up with four cases of Moxie. I have decided Moxie does not qualify as soda, it is medicine. So while my meager supply lasts, I'll allow myself to have a Moxie now and again. Otherwise, still no soda pop for me.

One other thing...Miss Mayhem owes me a sushi dinner. We haven't had time to meet for a sushi dinner but she owes it to me nonetheless.

Sushi!

I win...Miss Molly owes me a sushi dinner.

And the pact starts anew....

Cheeseburgers and Sushi

Still no soda...still no sushi.

Cheeseburgers and Sushi

Just a quick note. I am on day 15 and still no soda. And I have still not earned (nor given away) a sushi dinner.

Cheeseburgers, Part Quatre

Fibby's comment brings to light one of the ongoing internal conversations I have been having.

"What are suitable alternatives to the soda?"

1. My favorite - Fresh water in an old 20 oz Coke container (label still is on)...makes me feel like I am drinking a clear version of Coke. If you hold your tongue just right, it even tastes like Coke. I swear.
2. Hot cocoa
3. Water in other containers
4. Iced tea (yes, just as much sugar, maybe even more but it's not soda)
5. Occasional sports drinks after reffing (Vitamin Water tends to be the drink of choice)
6. Lemonade (for when I'm at bars and want something a little harder than water)
7. Chocolate milk
8. White milk
9. OJ

Anyone care to add to my list of suitable alternatives?

Sushi

Disclaimer: My mother reads this blog occasionally and I want to assure her that prior to this, I was not using my cell phone in an unsafe manner. That said, she believes any use of a cell phone in a car is unsafe but that would be an argument best suited for another day.

I fully expect to be eating sushi within the next two weeks or so.

Molly and I have entered into the pact. We have made an agreement to no longer text message from our cars (read, write or send). The car must be stationary for us to use our phone in this manner (common sense, right?).

Terms of the agreement are as follows. We are holding ourselves to the honor system. If one of us violates our pact, we must confess. The person in violation will be treating the other to a nice sushi dinner.

I'm getting a bit hungry....

Cheeseburgers, Part Trois

Picked up a breakfast burrito this morning. Looked longingly at the Hanson's Natural Soda on display at the little yellow trailer.

Left without a beverage and drank water and hot cocoa at the office.

12 days and counting.

By the way...if I have a late night Jr's game tonight (9:30 puck drop)...is a Monster energy drink wrong? I don't think it would violate the terms of this experiment should I need to open up a can of whoop ass before the game starts.

I'm off the cheeseburgers

So I'm going to try a little test of will. It's been discussed in the past but never really played out to fruition. But I'm writing about it now to put it in front of my friends who read this and to see what my will power (or pride) can accomplish.

The last soda I had was on January 3rd at Malone's.

I'd like to see how far I can go without dumping another soda down the hatch. Now, this would not be so hard if it was not for all the reffing. Reffing means I'm out late at night, often at bars or restaurants driving a few cheeseburgers into my cheeseburger locker. All (save one) of my friends drink beer when we are out. Not drinking soda means I will be relegated to water which may be tough to palate on a late evening.

We'll see how it goes and I promise to post the moment I break my pledge of no soda. We are at 5 days and counting....

As an aside: is Moxie considered soda? Can we reclassify it as a locally sourced, carbonated health elixir? I can't even get it here in Colorado, I have to have my brother truck it in across state lines from Maine. Ooooo, I've got an itch....

1/2" Hollow

Ah, the 1/2" hollow. I've been using this grind for the past eight years and it has treated me well.

But I am off and into a new experiment. Last night, I had Hoog do my skates with a 3/8" grind. Even flatter! I'm looking to get less bite and more glide out of my skates.

Tonight is the test. I'm off to a CHL game and this will be the first time I have skated on skates this flat. We'll see what happens....

If it works out well, does this mean I have to change the title of this blog?

A New Stone - Part Deux

So...the first test is complete. I managed 36.2 mpg in the Saturn. I filled up at 361.5 miles and had a little less than a quarter tank remaining. Less than what I was anticipating. However, I must note that we had to use the little car on the highway quite a bit over the weekend.

A trip to the Pepsi Center on Thursday.

One run to Hope's Master's Class on Saturday and one run to the car pool pickup for the same on Sunday.

Highway miles seem to kill this experiment. I refuse to drive slowly on the highway or to limit my acceleration and risk getting rearended.

Thus we have agreed to try and limit the highway miles in the Saturn to help us complete the quest to 500 miles on one tank.

A new stone

I am prevailing upon myself to turn over a new stone while driving. As many know, I have traded cars with Hope (quite willingly) so that Emi always rides in the Volvo. Somehow, having the baby riding in the plastic car doesn't leave me with incredibly safe feelings.

That said, as happy as I am in being able to give my daughter one of the safest cars in the world to travel in, the Saturn leaves me quite grumpy as I drive the little beater around town. Compound this with my predilection for speed (yup...another speeding ticket in the Volvo last weekend) and I have realized the need to change something.

So...I have decided to see just how far I can drive the little Saturn on one tank of gas. Hope has said that the furthest she ever made it was 400 miles. I'm aiming for 500.

I have not yet taken off the roof rack. I have not yet aired the tires to maximum capacity. I have not yet done a tune up on the engine or replaced the engine oil with a lower viscosity. I have not yet replaced the air filter.

I have taken to shifting between 2 and 2.5 grand. I have taken to driving right at the speed limit. I have taken to coasting down inclines in neutral...sometimes with the engine off (depends on the traffic and other road conditions).

I will not draft. I will not run red lights or stop signs. I will not run below the speed limit. I will not try some of the nerdy stuff I have read that hypermilers do.

We'll have to see what is under this new stone....