No Soda for One Year

ByMissy Rakes
**I’m not sure if this ad is fake or not, 
but it’s shocking none the less. 
 
Guess what? My husband and I have decided to give up soda (and sweet tea) for one year. This will probably sound either boring or crazy to you depending on your own soda drinking habits, but I’ve been trying to quit for awhile now and I’ve always ended up giving in to temptation.
 
You see, I love Dr. Pepper. There’s just something about the sweetness, the fizziness and the “23 flavors” that makes it so good! I probably drink 3-4 per week on average, which isn’t too shocking, but my real issue with soda is one of the heart. I’ve had guilt for “needing” my Dr. Pepper for awhile and I know that it has become an idol in my life. The bible says, 
 
“Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgement on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
-Romans 14:22-23
 
I’m not saying drinking soda is a sin, but what I am saying is drinking soda for me personally has become sin because I can’t say with full faith that it’s okay. The reason I feel guilt is because soda has become a bigger part of my life than God has intended. I depend on it too much, I think I deserve it after a hard day, and I look too it for comfort. This is not right. I should be depending on God and looking to HIM for my comfort, not soda. 
 
 It’s been 10 days so far and I haven’t struggled too much yet, but I know that it will get harder. I am praying that I have the strength to do this! 
 
*My husband doesn’t feel the same way about this issue, but is joining me purely for support. He is wonderful.
 
What are your thoughts on soda drinking?
 

 No Soda for One Year – One Month Update

No Soda for One Year – Four Month Update

No Soda for One Year – Twelve Month Update

 

Similar Posts

28 Comments

  3. I am doing the same thing. No soda. I used to be addicted to Diet Coke. Gave that up over a year ago and simply switched to Mountain Dew. Now I am giving up ALL soda. I am three weeks into it and while it is difficult, I am happy to have made it this far!

    On the poster with the baby drinking 7UP, that doesn't seem so far fetched to me. Growing up, we NEVER drank soda. Unless we had a stomach bug, then we were allowed to sip 7UP. Not sure what it was supposed to do, but that was the only time we were allowed soda. Granted, we weren't babies, but I have given my daughter 7UP or Ginger Ale when she has had a stomach bug and she just turned three. Maybe there was an old wives tale about 7UP?
    Reply
  4. One of my goals for 2012 was to not drink any soda. It was definitely a challenge, but I'm so glad I did! It really helps to have someone do it with you to keep you accountable. It's awesome that your husband is doing it for your support.

    And... the best thing about it is that it forced me to drink more water, which I realized I needed. Soda is so unhealthy and water is a wonderfully refreshing and healthy alternative, and it's always available. ;)

    Blessings on your year of no soda!
    Reply
  5. I think it's awesome! I am addicted to soda and have tried to quit countless times. Your thoughts on it being a comfort and taking away from God are interesting. The same could be said on days I have a rough day and binge on ice cream.
    Reply
  6. What a great goal! I've never been one to drink soda, never fond of the fizzy-ness. How nice of your husband to join you. You are planting wonderful seeds for your son, soda isn't healthy for any of us but especially little ones. :) YAY for you!
    Reply
    1. I know. I want to kick the habit before he's old enough to understand. I definitely don't want to be drinking it in front of him all the time!
      Reply
  7. Good for you! I grew up with no coke (as we call pretty much any fizzy drink in the south :) in the house so I've never drunk it. My husband on the other hand, grew up drinking tons of it. When we got married it was one thing we never put on the grocery list because of our limited budget. My hubby still drinks it once in a while when we go to his parents, but he's never complained about not having it in our home.
    Reply
  8. Great job! I stopped drinking caffeine before I got pregnant and only drank it once in a blue moon while breastfeeding. Now that I have finally weaned, I may drink it more often but I don't miss it one bit! I can't believe that ad-crazy!!!
    Reply
  9. I quit soda about three months ago. I mainly quit because I read that the artificial sweetener in diet soda is not good for you, and I also know that regular soda is not good for you. I think you will see a difference in how you feel.
    Reply
  10. I work at Chick-fil-A, and it drives me nuts when moms come in with their little kids, not even two yet, and order a diet coke or a root beer. Their poor little bodies are too young to handle all the chemicals!
    But maybe that's just me. :)
    Reply
  12. I used to think diet coke was so much better than drinking regular. In my reading lately I've found the opposite is true. (Not that reg. is good either.) My husband and I have determined to do without it for the year, too. Looks like we're not alone!
    Reply
  13. Working on ousting diet cokes from my life, in baby steps. Tomorrow is day one with no caffeine, then three days later... Bye bye cokes! Nice to know I am not alone. Praying for your journey as well.
    Reply
  14. I quit drinking soda 6 years ago. Every once in a while I crave a Coke, which is ironic since my drink of choice would be Pepsi, but it really hasn't been that bad. My next step is stop drinking sweet tea since there are benefits to tea I'm going to switch to unsweetened.
    Reply
  15. It's an awful habit! When we lived in Hawaii I lived about 5 houses down from the 7 11. I would go get a big gulp everyday and it seemed okay especially with the hot weather. Soon I grew a tolerance to that Big Gulp and found myself wanting to BUY another one!!! How crazy is that? So I made myself not buy any and my body would get the shakes from wanting the sugar and caffiene. So sad. I love soda but have recently stopped drinking it and I don't like to keep it in the house. I allow myself one occasionally. One thing that has helped me and is changing my tastebuds is that I have a small glass of orange pineapple banana juice every morning. My taste buds are slowly changing and I'm glad for that.

    http://cottagesweetcottage.blogspot.com/
    Reply
  17. That ad is probably real - there are all sorts of old Coca Cola ads that boast about how giving a baby Coke in the bottle will help them be happier or sleep better at night. Crazy what people use to think, huh?

    I gave up pop for a year and a half after I needed a root canal. It was a challenge. What surprised me most is that after a while, the kinds of pop I craved weren't the flavors I normally drank. How weird is that?!
    Reply
  18. What a sweet hubby to join with you! I drink pop about once or twice a week. It's hard on my stomach so I limit it. But I understand about the looking forward to it or "deserving" it.

    I have found that I really enjoy the taste of flavored carbonated water. I don't have the same feelings towards it as soda though. I don't look forward to it or anything, but it does taste good and I do like it as an alternative!
    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.