Hey, all. I’m back. Sorry for the delay. I explain why in this episode.
I meant to post this on Monday, but my schedule got slammed and I dropped the ball. On the plus side, I’ve already got tomorrow’s episode recorded and ready to go!
In this episode I talk about being addicted to food, and even more, diet soda, and trying to kick it.
Coming tomorrow, I answer a listener question about politics in fiction.
Listen below:
Or right click and save to download:
As always, thank you for listening,
dave
David W. Wright 
I’m excited about Crash and Threshold. Hearing so much about them so often has made it so intriguing. So… you get the point. LOL 😉 And, yes, kick your soda habit by just using water. Simple and straight to it. But here’s a handy trick: Dilute your soda with water, slowly increasing it until you rather just have water, ’cause the soda tastes like crap! 😀
Thanks. Glad you’re interested in the books. I can’t wait to finally get them out. As for the water and soda, thanks. I’ll probably NOT dilute, though, as it was taste like crap immediately. So I’ll need to go cold turkey. Maybe some shock therapy, too.
I’ve read both. They are both great stories.
I do have to say Crash was my favorite though. I think it’s gonna blow people away!
Thanks, Carl!
That’s exciting and encouraging. Glad to hear it. And thanks for letting me know 🙂 I’m definitely going to read both.
Though I’m not commenting on all the shows, Dave, just wanted to let you know I’ve been listening to all of them and I’m really enjoying these little glimpses into your life and thoughts. I find myself relating on many topics. Keep up the walking and the good work, mate.
Thanks, Colin. I appreciate it. I’m thinking the podcasts don’t actually lend well to conversation in the comments, anyway. Unless people listen on the website, they’re probably listening to it later and aren’t going to come back to comment unless they’re moved. So it’s all good. Thank you for letting me know you’re listening, though. Appreciate the support.
You’re doing a fine job. Will it ever be on iTunes? Just wondering as I use the iPad’s podcast app to stay up to date with the various shows I listen to.
Yeah, I’ll get it done this week. One of those things that keeps slipping through the cracks schedule-wise. Thanks, Colin!
I vote for iTunes too!
I went cold turkey on regular Pepsi several months ago. I just substituted the Pepsi for water. It took about a week before the craving went away. In two weeks I was feeling noticeably better. I never realized how bloated the Pepsi made me feel. I don’t mean losing weight either. I mean being bloated across the mid-section. These days I don’t even think about Pepsi anymore.
Congrat on Z2136’s release!
Thanks! Two weeks? Why can’t results be instantaneous? 🙂
Yay, new podcast! 🙂
Anyway, as I’m sure people will have remarked before, there are a lot worse things to be addicted to than diet soda. I’m wondering if maybe kicking this particular habit would be an idea after making a good go of eating more healthily and losing weight? At least it’s not going to add calories. One step at a time, etc…
(Says the girl with the big chocolate covered praline & marzipan Easter egg in her handbag, Why? because I woke up sad, that’s why.)
Thanks, H. 🙂 Did you say PRALINE Easter egg?!?! I WANT THAT!!
Yes, praline. But I’m afraid it’s gone now 🙂
Aw yeah, still walkin’, keep it up dude!
Maybe as a baby-step to begin, try not drinking diet soda for a few hours after you wake up (or a few hours before bed). Maybe focus on tasks during that time that don’t require a lot of concentration so the withdrawals don’t affect your work.
Also, are you aware of how many teas are out there? I could rattle of a list of teas so long and diverse it would make Bubba Gump blush. But I guess water is pretty kick ass, too.
Dan, Thanks. I liked tea when I was a kid, but once I tried soda, BOOM, I hated the taste of tea. Perhaps after I cut out soda, I can give tea another try. Though, if I CAN give up soda, I just might decide to stick with water so as not to trade one habit for another.
I would ageee with the other listeners here… Take baby steps — keep up the walking and eating better first. The withdrawl from the soda would be best tackled then. I went through it once when I was staying in Germany with a family (as a teen) for part of a summer and I had the shakes for about 2 weeks… Glad you are back with the podcasts…
Thanks, Heather. Soda will be the last part of my habit building plans. Walk, eat better, get rid of soda. On my way to the first two.
I’v been listening to all of the episodes man and they are great. This episode inspired me to create my own vlog/podcast called The Walking Rob and I talk about my marijuana addiction in the first two episodes I uploaded.
Awesome, Rob. Good luck!
Dave, I’m dealing with a lot of the same eating problems. Seems like there’s always a 2-liter sitting around, whether I bought it or not. Makes it really hard to stay away. The fact that you’re drinking from cans might make it a little easier for you, if you can limit yourself to a specific number per day and slowly lower that number each week.
I find myself wandering around the house sometimes, looking for something to eat. It’s subconscious. If I stop and ask myself, “Why am I doing this, when I didn’t miss lunch?” then I realize I’m just acting on habit and not desire. That lets me cut out some of the junk.
I read the book “Focus” by Daniel Goleman specifically to see if I could learn anything that would help me deal with distractions when I’m writing, but there’s actually a bit about willpower in there. He divides the brain into upper an lower parts, with the upper being the logical, planning, restraining, focusing part, and the lower being the emotional, intuitive, processing, wandering, habitual part. According to Goleman, willpower is the struggle of the upper part to exert control over the lower part, and this ability can be depleted over the course of the day. Your brain is made of cells, and once they burn off their glucose they get “tired” and slow down.
The application is this: when you do something that requires precise, controlled, directed thought, you’re working your upper brain. Once it tires, you’ll have more trouble exerting willpower. Taking a mental break will allow your brain to replenish its nutrients and your willpower. It also means that when you stand up from the computer to take a break, that’s probably the point where your willpower is weakest, and is also the most convenient time to go grab a diet soda. Maybe a routine where you do something relaxing first of all would help. Anything that lets you zone out completely is supposed to be good for resting your upper brain.
Hope that’s helpful, and sorry it’s so long.
Thanks, Jim. That goes in line with something I read in Habit (I think), and definitely makes sense. I’m working on getting a routine together which is easier to follow than the randomness that is my life. Being obsessive compulsive, routines are tricky with me. Once I get on one, I become rather prickly when someone knocks me off, so I found it easier to just kind of go with the flow where it takes me so I can deal with other people without being prickly. I’m going to start meditating soon, which should help on these fronts.
That’s good. Meditation is supposed to be a good way to build willpower and focus.
I recently gave up basically all sugar (some natural sugars have remained, such as fruit and honey)
It’s been rough. I have a soda and red bull addiction. My headaches (and temper) have been something to avoid. It’s getting better though. It’s like any habit. It can be broken.
I believe in you buddy!
Thanks, Carl! And let me know once the cravings go. I don’t want to cross you while you’re on the dark side 🙂
Really nice work, Dave. This is such a great idea and so easy to do. I applaud you and hope you reach your health goals. You inspired me to start my own walking podcast, too. I love the SPP podcast, too. You, Johnny, Sean and Dave are monopolizing my time lately. 🙂
Thanks, Michael! Glad to see other writers doing this.