I Was an Addict

I was 27 and I was an addict. Before 7 a.m., I took my first hit. It was ice-cold and the second it hit my lips, I felt alive. I repeated this several times a day. I was a Diet Pepsi addict. 

My addiction started in my teens. I’d hit the soda machine at school about 11 for a morning pick-me-up. Diet Pepsi got me through my finals in college and by my mid-twenties I knew this was a bad habit. It was the morning hit that made me realize I was in trouble. By this point in my life I also experimenting with a more “crunchy” lifestyle. This is the term I use for those of us who typically shun artificial foods and embrace a more granola-infused regime. I was putting great food in my body, and then washing it down with a can of chemicals. 

I understand why people smoke, do drugs, drink and eat pints of ice cream in one sitting. Habits that lead to addictions are tough to break. I began acknowledging my habit. Just like any good addict, I took the first step one morning when I grabbed a cold can at 6:30 a.m. and said, "I’ve got to stop this." I made the feeble attempts that most addicts do: stopped buying it, cut back, tricked myself with soda water…but I still craved it.

My savior was the stomach flu. During a fever-induced, nasty three days running back and forth to the bathroom, it struck me that I hadn’t touched a Diet Pepsi. I was three days into a cold turkey cessation. I was on my way. For good this time.

That’s how I broke my addiction. Truly, I wasn’t strong enough to do it on my own. The outside forces of the flu propelled me to make the decision. Not a pretty way to quit, but addiction is rarely pretty. 

Poor food choices, that lead to bad habits and eventually food addictions are not to be taken lightly. As a country we’re predominately addicted to sugar and simple carbs. Mine was caffeine in a carbonated chemical solution. Some people are just addicted to food. Eating is one of our favorite drugs of choice. When I coach people on making changes I ask, “Why did you eat it?”  Often I hear, “I just love to eat.”  This is eating for comfort. Even if you think you eat just because, “I like the taste” or “food is so good” the response you’re getting is pleasure. These feelings about food can lead to habits which can turn to addiction.

If you’re not feeling as well as you think you should or the number on the scale isn’t making you happy, start asking yourself “why." Admit the problem. It’s the first step. And if you can’t do it alone then call me at 412-427-1137. I coach individuals one-on-one and we work through your issues together. Accountability is a huge factor when trying to change habits. I’ve been there and I get it. And working with a coach is a whole lot more satisfying than the stomach flu. Be well.

Kathy Gillen is a wellness coach and nutritional instructor.  To learn more about what she does, visit her at www.wellnessroadtrip.com.