I started going back to the gym two weeks ago. It is something that I am getting more used to doing as part of my daily routine when I can. It might have been that it is now warmer weather and that I now make it part of my daily routine that allows me to see that it isn’t as bad as it seems, plus it gets me out of the house, now it is making me see that I need to work to make better choices in other realms of my lifestyle.

By going to the gym and seeing the little bit of progress that I am making brings joy to myself and I am starting to realize that I need to change other habits of my lifestyle. One of those habits is my issues with soda. I am beginning to realize that it is doing harm to me and that other beverages, such as water, need to me more of my friend than something that is desired out of an act of addiction or habit.

I know that I made a big step eight months ago, that I stopped having caffeine and that a year ago, I quit having sweet tea. I have realized the difference of my behavior but there is a reality that most of the soda I do drink does have calories because of the accessibility of the caffeine-free soda. But I also know that there are benefits to better beverages, such as water and that it can be a good thing if I allow myself to focus my energy on it instead of unhealthy beverages.

For many decades I have heard the dangers of soda but I have been very reluctant to make a change because I was unable to see a reason why, but as time has passed, I am beginning to see that there are many better choices than soda and that I need to do more of what is needed to meet my needs such as when I am thirsty by drinking water instead of wanting to reach for soda or other detrimental beverages.

Putting in the work that I do at the gym or walking for exercise makes me realize that if I do more of the right things in addition to exercise that there will be better progress by making better beverage choices and not allowing myself to fall into things that are not good for me. I have all the skills and tools that I need to make the changes for the better, it is just that I must put those things into action.

Making changes is never easy to do, especially for a person that has the challenges that I do. But I also know that I am more capable of things than I allow myself to think. If I want something bad enough, I will do what is necessary to make the change happen. Changes are never easy, but if I allow myself the patience to see the progress, there may be more of a desire that will ignite within myself to continue to make better choices.