Alternatives to soda

I stopped drinking diet soda years ago.

For four years we didn't have a washer/dryer. Every Sunday we would take all our laundry and go to my in-laws house to do it. That made for some loong days. Even worse if we missed a week.

Mom and dad always has soda in the fridge. I'd drink a couple of diet soda's there because you know, it's better for me. HA! I never bought any for home. I don't drink enough of it and we didn't have the space. The next day or sometimes even that night, my arm would start to ache. I thought maybe it was because I was lifting those clothes. There were a few times when we visited on holidays when I wasn't doing laundry but my arm would start to ache anyway. I had to think about it for a bit and finally put it together. Their house was the only place I ever drank diet soda.

I stopped drinking the diet and my arm ache didn't reappear.

I can't drink full on soda regularly because of insulin resistance, which my mom is convinced is now diabetes... NOT! I don't think I'd be getting along too well if it was full blown now. I totally avoid artificial sweetner because I tried the new stuff, got a rash on my arm, tried the old stuff, ended up with aches and decided it just was easier to avoid than to decide what caused the new symptom.

I also don't drink caffeine right now because of high blood pressure.

What the freak is left? Right?

I am exploring herbal teas and some decaffeinated teas. Lemonade isn't too bad when I need a little zing.  I still miss the fizz of the carbonation. I bought some club soda and mixed it with orange juice at the beginning. Lovely, lovely fizz that makes my brain think I'm drinking something naughty. Sometimes I'll just drink it straight. I haven't tried it with an herbal tea yet. It's a thought I just had so I might give it a go sometime.