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The Soda Challenge

Skinny Ms. has heard so many of you mention personal struggles with soda addiction.  We know it isn’t easy to simply quit. For one month Skinny Ms. challenges you to eliminate soda from your life. This means no soda or diet soda!

Not sure you’re ready to give up soda?  Check out these two posts to learn more:  Soda’s Side Effects, More Reasons to Cut Out Soda and Battling Soda Addiction.

This challenge will be done on a “good-faith” basis. Do this challenge for yourself and we will help motivate you and provide support along the way. We want you to participate because you want to, not because you have to. There are no contracts involved. It is simply a deal you make with yourself.

Even if you don’t have a problem with consuming too much soda, you can still benefit from this challenge! Most sodas contain empty calories, refined sugar and/or and artificial sweeteners…so if you drink it, why not challenge yourself to cut it out for just one month and see if you notice any health benefits? What could it hurt?

If you’re wondering how you will get by without soda, you aren’t alone. We gotcha covered, try these Skinny Ms. Natural Soda Alternatives or other Skinny Ms. Drinks to help fill the void soda leaves behind. More on the effects of soda here.

GUIDELINES

NO sodas allowed - Diet or regular.  See Q’s & A’s below for tips!

Start a Soda Bowl – Grab a bowl and each day add the money you would typcially spend on sodas to the bowl.  If you normally buy a case, six pack or 2-liters when grocery shopping…add that amount of money to the bowl.  Anytime you find yourself craving a soda, add the money it would cost to purchase one, to the Soda Bowl.  You can’t spend this money for the entire month of August.  Buy yourself something special with your Soda Bowl money.  You will deserve it!  Let us know how much money you’ve collected for the duration of the challenge.

Stock up – If tap water isn’t your thing, buy several gallons of distilled water and drink it in place of sodas.  You can usually find distilled water on sale for about .79 cents per gallon. We have other tips for making naturally flavored water right here at Skinny Ms..

Check in Daily - Take a minute each day or every few days, to leave a comment below and tell us about your progress.  If you are struggling, let us know and ask for tips.

Try having a cup of peppermint tea or make an entire pitcher.  If peppermint tea isn’t your thing, have another kind of herbal tea, the possibilities are endless.  If you must sweeten your tea, be sure to add a touch of honey or maple syrup rather than refined sugar or artificial sweeteners.

The possibilities are only as limited as your local grocery store, orchard or garden.  Remember that fresh fruit is a great way of naturally sweetening water without the empty calories. This also helps with getting the sugar you might be craving and will help make your challenge successful.

DURATION

The challenge goes for one month from the day you start. If you can’t start with us now, start when you can and cut soda out for thirty days from your starting point.

Questions & Answers:

Q:  I’ve tried so many times to kick the soda habit, but I get a terrible headache that lasts for several days. Any suggestions?
A: If you think headaches will be a problem, start lessening the amount of soda you drink each day…starting today!  Here’s how it works:

For example, if you normally drink 3 sodas a day begin to reduce your intake by doing the following:
Day 1 – Drink 2 3/4 sodas
Day 2 – Drink 2 1/2 sodas
Day 3 – Drink 2 1/4 sodas
Day 4 – Drink 2 sodas
You get the idea. Continue with this pattern until you’re down to zero sodas…then on with the challenge.

Q:  My grandmother drank a six pack of sodas everyday since I can remember.  She lived to be 96.  Come on, do you really believe sodas are all that bad?
A:  We’ve heard similar arguments.  There are exceptions to every rule, including living to be 100 and eating unhealthy on a daily basis. Or, maybe your grandfather smoked a pack of cigaretts every day for 50 years and lived to be 90. These are the exceptions. We focus on eating healthy as a way of life, not as a temporary fix.

Q:  If I slip up and have a soda does that mean I’m out of the challenge?
A:  Of course not!  Slip ups are just that and we want you to continue with the challenge regardless.

Q:  Haven’t you heard that anything in moderation is okay?
A:  True, a lot of things in moderation are okay. On the other hand, many things in moderation are not okay. Can you think of any? We’re not opposed to drinking a soda on occasion. We decided to make August the ‘No Soda Challenge’ month because of the overwhelming requests from so many of you to go forward with this challenge.  Addiction of any kind is typically unhealthy.

Q:  I drink sodas because I like them…they’re refreshing, especially when the weather is so hot. Why should I do this challenge?
A: You should do this challenge only if you want to. We’re inviting you to take this challenge if you have a difficult time going one day–or even two days–without having a soda.  This challenge is for those who want to incorporate more healthy alternatives into their diets but have a difficult time doing so.

Q:  I drink about 2 – 3 diet sodas a day.  I have to be honest, I don’t think there’s a thing wrong with drinking sodas.  Why should I take this challenge?
A:  If for no other reason than to prove you can do it.  What do you have to lose?  Maybe you’ll save a little money along the way and feel the benefits.

AFTER THE CHALLENGE

The goal of this challenge is to break the soda addiction. This is not to say, “never have a soda again, ever”!  Having a soda ever now and again, is not the same as having to have 3 and 4 sodas each day. We want to help you get through the first month so you have the motivation to continue on your own, if you choose too. Whether or not you decide to continue living soda-free after the challenge is completely up to you. So what do you say?  Will you join us?

GET SUPPORT!

Skinny Ms. will serve as a source of motivation and support.  You can interact with us on our Facebook page or leave a comment below. Feel free to ask questions throughout the challenge. You can also find recipes for drink alternatives here, and we’ll keep updating them throughout the month. Put your best effort in and we promise, it will be worth it.  Get started with us and beat the soda addiction!!   Are you in?

NOTE: Skinny Ms. does not make any health claims about drinking soda one way or the other. We personally do not drink soda and have not for several years. We recommend you do the research and decide for yourself.  Here are 7 reasons you might consider giving up soda once and for all.





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