Out of pure curiosity, I grabbed a 12-pack of A&W Ice Cream Sundae Zero Sugar soda at the store.
Saturday night, after dinner, I cracked one open while working on the grocery list.
And you know what? I actually enjoyed it.
The flavor was more chocolate-y than “ice cream sundae,” but between the sweet taste and the carbonation, it satisfied my craving... and it kept me from raiding the pantry for something sugary.
Bonus: no caffeine, so I wasn’t up all night staring at the ceiling.
Speaking of the grocery list, here’s my system:
- I use the List Maker app so my wife can add things to the list from her phone too (teamwork for the win).
- We aim to shop just once a week.
- I put everything in order on the app based on how the store is laid out. That way, I stick to the plan instead of wandering down the cookie aisle and convincing myself I “need” cookies or chips.
That little ritual not only keeps us stocked up, but it helps us make smarter choices before we even walk in the store.
Pair that with a fizzy zero-sugar drink instead of dessert, and suddenly Saturday night grocery duty feels like a win.
Now, I know some influencers out there act like diet soda is the devil and claim they will keep you overweight or my favorite... supposedly make you gain weight.
According to them, one Diet Coke and you’re done for.
Reality check: an occasional diet soda isn’t going to make you fat.
During my 115-pound weight loss journey, I enjoyed Diet Dr. Pepper and zero sugar energy drinks.
Still do.
My current favorites?
- Ghost’s Welch’s Grape (takes me back to 5th grade birthday parties lol)
- Ghost’s Bubblicious Strawberry Splash. (Yes, it does
remind me of Bubblicious bubble gum!)
The point is, it’s not about perfection.
It’s about balance and swaps that keep you moving forward.
If a little fizz keeps you from inhaling a pack of
Oreos ...
... that’s what I call strategy.
Later tater,
Mike