mane, mane--omne explicare possum!

I have decided that it is time to quit my soda habit. This goes in stark contrast to my previous mention of becoming a "soda connoiseur," but if you think about it, most other sorts of connoiseurs don't have a daily "I have to drink this or suffer the consequences" view about their hobby. I hate the fact that not having it is a migraine trigger, but the only way for me to quit is going to be cold turkey (luckily this coincides with my surgery-vacation).

Recent reading has led me to the point that drinking diet soda will actually lead you to eat more because of the false insulin response it generates. I agree, as I usually crash a little while after drinking one (not so much after a regular soda, mind you). Then I have to eat something to stay awake, basically--not to mention the number it does on your tooth enamel.

This seems to be putting a damper on my whole scheme to get into shape--which has been fairly successful this summer, all things considered. Lifting weights consistently has made me noticeably stronger and swapped out some of the fat I put on this last year for muscle. The necessary lifestyle changes in terms of food are what I continue to fubar regularly. So yes, after I finish that last Diet Dr Pepper in the fridge at work (which will be... now?) and the twelve-pack of Diet Coke Limes I've got chilling at home, I am done with diet soda and that habit altogether. It's green tea and water from here on out.

I want to go swimming--you know, hardcore lap swimming working on my breaststroke and freestyle, which were my best strokes. I haven't been since December, and it's been torture being out of the water this long. There are just no good pools around here that aren't A) full of non-english speakers or B) full of pooping children. I pine for Asbury's pool and the scent of chlorine lingering in my pores for hours afterwards.