psichiboy

I wasn't worried about aspartame and it causing cancer, I was thinking more along the lines that the artificial sweetners and tricking the body into releasing insulin because it thinks it really is sugar. And I know that increased insulin causes the body to retain weight. And I can not drink soda for a few months, but I always find myself going back to it.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and I will make sure to try each and every one of them. I just know that I drank WAY too much diet soda and need to cut back on it. So far I haven't had any caffeine withdrawals so that's a good thing. Again, thank you everyone for the fantastic suggestions!

It's just been a routine of mine to have soda with me while I work (I work from home). It's just something I've done for 15+ years. I know that I should really not drink it, and I've made excuses in the past for it as my only vice. I don't smoke, do drugs and have maybe 1 beer a month. I don't mind drinking water. I decided to give up the diet soda and was making Crystal Lite pitchers, but they're loaded with the same artificial sweeteners found in diet soda. I'm trying fruit dumped in water for some extra flavor. I have maybe an iced coffee twice a week, usually brewed in my own home. I appreciate the input!

Hello everyone, I have an addiction to drinking diet soda. And I mean, it's bad. Like 2 2-Liters of diet soda a day bad. I've tried stopping before and have no problem drinking water, but I can never truly shake that diet soda monkey on my back. I've been drinking Crystal Lite mixes and adding them to 2 quarts of water, but these Crystal Lite packets contain aspartame, the same artificial sweetner found in diet soda. So wouldn't think make the Crystal Lite just as bad for you as the diet soda? Just looking for some ideas in kicking this monkey's arse once and for all. Thanks Nerds in advance! Psichiboy

Hey flyerdj -- would love to buddy up with you. I'm currently doing DDP Yoga and loving every minute of it. i also supplement my yoga with doing the strength exercises of P90X. Love that program but it's hard dedicating 90 minutes every day to it.

Hey Jackirenee13 --- I'm game... injured buddies unite!

Since I can't run (knee surgery), I do yoga and P90X strength exercises....anyone want to buddy up?

Hail Rangers! This is my first time partaking in a NF challenge, however, I have been reading NF since close the beginning. A little about myself I'm a 38 year old, recently married with 2 kids and another little one due in the fall, so needless to say my days are always busy. I've worked out for a number of years doing various workout routines -- P90X, Insanity, running half marathons, yoga, Tough Mudders and Spartan Races in addition to playing competitive soccer on the weekends....not to mention coaching soccer and baseball for my kids. I've recently had knee surgery to repair this old body from the wear and tear I've put on it and my healing has been slower than I had hoped. On top of all this I have a full time job working around 50 hours a week plus I have my own consulting business that I do at nights. Since I'm very busy it's very easy for me and my wife to pick poor eating choices since time is of a minimum. I've gained weight and am now at the heaviest I have ever been (263 lbs!!!!). I know what I need to do and I'm doing this challenge to make myself accountable not only to myself but my wife, kids and unborn son. TIME FOR THE EXCUSES TO STOP So what am I expecting by taking part in this challenge? I'm hoping to find that spark that I used to have when it came to my fitness - both physically and mentally. I'm looking to make myself a better husband and father - someone they can be proud of. My goals I'm looking to increase my overall fitness and build "functional strength" and not just show muscles. Being able to do a set of 30 second pushups (10 secs on the decline, hold for 10 and up for 10) -- that to me is a real measure of core, functional strength. I would love to get back into running and was absolutely loving it when I trained for my half marathon, but since my knee surgery recovery is still going slowly, this isn't an option for me right now. Do yoga 3x a week and weight lift 2x a week -- I've recently started doing a yoga dvd program that I'm absolutely digging. Its focus is more on creating that functional strength that I'm looking for. I have all the gym equipment that I need at the house....I just need to use it.Prepare home cooked meals 6x a week --- since my time is usually always booked, we've fallen prey to looking for the quick and easy when it comes to cooking/eating out. In order to achieve this goal, I will prepare a menu on Sundays and make sure we have the ingredients in the house already. That way it's very easy to know what we're having and we don't have the "what's for dinner" conversation that we normally do.At the end of this challenge, I want to give up soda for good. I LOVE my diet soda as it's my only vice (I don't smoke and have alcohol about 2x a month). I do drink about 80-100 ounces of water a day.....but I should give up the soda as it's not really doing anything from a nutrition standpoint. I will have lost 20 lbs by the end of the challenge....and then I will push myself to lose another 10 after that.I've started doing some housework in preparation for the baby in the fall. So in order to do this, I'm replacing all of the interior doors in my house. I've done 2 with about 10 more to go. I know it seems trivial, but it's something that I really want to see myself follow through with.There's a Spartan Race that I'm signed up for the end of July...hopefully byI hope this gives you a little insight into the challenge that I'm giving to myself. I look forward to working with the Rangers this challenge and reading the success stories of my fellow Rangers! Hoo-rah!