One Month Without Diet Coke, Guardian, April 2007

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G2: Wellbeing: One month: Without Diet Coke

Dave Turner. The Guardian. London (UK):Apr 24, 2007. p. 17

Abstract (Summary)

 

At work I am grumpy, or let's make that grumpier. I have my sausage

sandwich with an orange juice, but it isn't the same. No bubbles, no

fizz, no tingle at the back of the throat. The day drags on, my

cravings increase as my mood declines, and my colleagues wait for the

temper tantrum or the collapse of will. It doesn't help that my

next-door colleague, smug that she kicked the Diet Coke habit, sips

Sprite Zero all day with innocent relish.

Full Text (330 words)

(Copyright, Guardian Newspapers Limited, Apr 24, 2007)

 

I was a three-litre-a-day-plus man, mainlining aspartame from morning

'til night in an orgy of caffeine and E numbers. So this was going to

be tough, especially as I was weaned on Irn-Bru; carbonated drinks

are in my DNA, and my first born will have Diet Coke in his veins and

recycled aluminium for skin. I am a dietcokeaholic and this is my story.

 

The first morning of a brave new world, and it hurts. I cycle to the

station, my head throbbing, my throat desiccated. I order water from

Mike in the burger van. He looks perplexed.

 

" I'm giving up all fizzy drinks for a month, " I say, and he shakes

his head in bemusement. My first hurdle cleared.

 

At work I am grumpy, or let's make that grumpier. I have my sausage

sandwich with an orange juice, but it isn't the same. No bubbles, no

fizz, no tingle at the back of the throat. The day drags on, my

cravings increase as my mood declines, and my colleagues wait for the

temper tantrum or the collapse of will. It doesn't help that my

next-door colleague, smug that she kicked the Diet Coke habit, sips

Sprite Zero all day with innocent relish.

 

One week in and the headaches subside; another week gone and the

cravings ebb, and I'm sleeping like a baby. I drink water and orange

juice by the litre, and soon I am as spotty as a 14-year-old. After

that, I reduce my orange intake, and my skin recovers.

 

And then came the big test: Paris, a Rugby International and several

thousand hairy Scotsmen in skirts. My resolve failed at a Metro

station. I had a hangover from Hades; the Coke machine was alight

with the promise of fizzy, ephemeral, comfort. I had one long glug

but something was wrong. It tasted false, impure, and I binned the rest.

 

So, only one indiscretion, and now, weeks later, how do I feel? Make

mine a water.

[illustration]

Caption: article-DTdietcoke.1

 

Indexing (document details)

Author(s): Dave Turner

Section: Guardian Features Pages

Publication title: The Guardian. London (UK): Apr 24, 2007. pg. 17

Source type: Newspaper

ISSN: 02613077