11 hours Ago By Vita Molyneux
I am a relentless creature of habit. I enjoy doing the same things at the same time every day without fail and one of things is that at 10am sharp I enjoy a crisp Coke Zero, preferably from a glass with ice. If I’m on the move, I can cope with a can but it’s not my favourite, and god forbid it be warm.
Never Diet Coke, and only full fat Coca-Cola if I’ve had a heavy night beforehand. There are some subtle variations to the theme, but in the last four years, not a day has gone by where I haven’t abided by this self-made law. Casting my mind back to the last day I went without, and realising I couldn’t remember it, I felt a sense of shame and decided enough was enough.
This week was the week where I would kick the habit by going cold turkey. On Day 0, the night before I changed my habits, I popped into the supermarket, grabbed a bottle of Coke, and got all the way to the register before realising that I wasn’t doing that. It reminded me of the autopilot I entered in supermarkets during the first week of Dry January where I would drift towards a cider without even thinking about it.
Unsettled, my resolve hardened. I could do this. 10am the first day came and went, and I was borderline climbing the walls.
I had been expecting headaches, but luckily they didn’t come. What did come however was a craving so strong I could feel it on my very bones. I wanted that Coke Zero and I wanted it desperately.
I had a Ribena instead and sighed deeply at the idea of four more days. One thing I didn’t expect was that not drinking Coke did affect my sleep: I had thought I would sleep better with less caffeine in my system but in fact the opposite was true. This whole week I slept awfully.
It took me longer to wind down, it was harder to get comfortable and I woke more frequently during the night. Whether that was the Coke Zero or not, I don’t know - but it was certainly a weird coincidence and one I’m not keen to repeat. However, the lack of sleep was thankfully the only physical symptom I noticed.
I had heard horror stories of people experiencing withdrawal symptoms after cutting out Coke, but I was completely fine. I think because I was still drinking my morning coffee, I didn’t get headaches or mood swings that I noticed. The only thing that changed was that I had stripped an element of joy from my life.
I know it’s not the healthiest habit in the world, but after going without it for a week, I have no intention of continuing to kick it. As soon as this article is published, I am going right back to my Coke Zero drinking ways because honestly, life is hard enough. Why make it harder?.
