Weight loss weekly is a weekly “column” posted every Monday and is a collaboration between me and other bloggers who are trying to lose weight. Giyen from bacon is my enemy used to blog with us but is taking a break, so now it’s me, Sunny and Joie de vivre. Another blogger might join us later on. Stay tuned.

This week Sunny asks: a lot of people drink diet sodas or drinks with artificial sweeteners when they are trying to lose weight. Do you drink these kind of things? What are some of your favorite things to drink when you’re watching your weight?

Joie de vivre says: I don’t drink sodas period. But it was extremely difficult breaking the sugar cycle. Read more at Joie de vivre: An amateur gourmet’s guide.

Sunny says: Last time I dieted I bought a big pack of Diet Dr. Pepper to “help” with my sugar cravings.  I thought it would help but it did NOT!! Keep reading at That Extra 20 pounds

Nurit: I used to be addicted to Coke. I had to have my 2 cans a day. I can’t even remember how many hundreds of junk calories it has. I was thin then (size eight) but I quit nonetheless because I was pregnant and I thought: 1) it’s not healthy, and 2) I need to quit because I don’t want my kid/s to drink this stuff (because it’s unhealthy). That was 6 years ago. I did it!

A few months ago we were on a flight, the four of us, and I had this terrible craving for Coke. I wanted to ask the flight attendant for a cup of coke, but my little boy was sitting next to me. I knew that if I will have it, he would want one too. So, I asked for orange juice instead. I really should have asked for water, but you know, it’s a flight, a vacation… It’s time to loosen up a bit.

But there is something about being a parent that motivates me to be healthy and take good care of myself because my sweet kids need  a healthy and strong mom. Also, I would like to be a good role model for them and teach them to choose what’s good for them.

On the other hand, I don’t believe in deprivation. When i was a kid, my favorite drink was strawberry soda. Oh, how I loved it. And I think that you get the opposite result than the desired one when you deprive yourself, or someone else, from something they want so bad. You know, sort of the forbidden fruit thing?! So I drink juice I’d say once a month, and maybe even a coke once a year, and I let my son have some too when we eat in a restaurant (if he ate his food well) or if he is at a birthday party and the other kids are drinking juice or soda. But I usually don’t buy it for our home. Only on Friday nights when we have our end-of-the-week-special dinner, he can have one glass of juice and we have a glass of wine.

I have avoided talking about numbers so far because i think every person’s body is different. But here goes… I used to be an 8 size, then after the first pregnancy was up to 14, got down to 12, now I’m a 10, working on getting back to 8 size. I never “officially” dieted. What helped me lose the weight before?

I find that as I get older and wiser most food and drinks that come in plastic, nylon, or metal packages don’t tempt me one bit. I am looking for real food and stay away from the fake and processed ones.

So these days I drink water (from the tap), good coffee (sweetened with 1/2 teaspoon of raw sugar), wine or beer in summer, and rarely fresh fruit juice.

As for my kids, it’s water and milk/smoothie (but not more then I’d say 15 oz./2 cups of organic milk a day. I don’t think kids should gulp milk all day long), and once a week juice (but not for the baby, of course).

Since January I lost 4 pounds so far. Yes, it’s slow, but I don’t feel like I am on a diet. Mainly it’s trying to eat and drink less of the good stuff.

Cheers.

Categories : Weight Loss/Diet