In my mid 20’s, I slowly withdrew from the peer pressure and convenience of going through a fast food drive thru for lunch, dinner, or a "munchies" crisis.  I went as far as giving up all types of soda, along with my favorite past time love, cheese popcorn.  To this day, my brothers are willing to testify that my hand only touched the bag twice before the popcorn was all gone.   In retrospect, the tradeoff was having more time to do more worthwhile things, such as working out, emailing my friends and running errands.

There were days where I wanted soda like an addict needed a 'pick me up.'  It usually hit about an hour after eating lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  I didn't cope very well with the 2:00 to 2:04pm blank stare at the excel spreadsheet, wondering which cell I should update next.  Should I put in a formula or box around it first?  Does it need a box? Why didn't I highlight the column and apply the format settings to all the cells in that column at the same time? 

These were all valid questions that went through my head and I couldn't come up with answers quick enough until I had a soda. I did not NEED a soda, but it would help pep me up enough to get through the afternoon.  The thought of walking over to the vending machine gave me a "pre-pick me up" jolt. 

I think your mind plays a little trick on you when you're giving up fast food and soda.   Once you make the conscious decision to stop, you can't think of anything healthy to eat, or you think it's too expensive to buy healthy food, or it will take a great deal of time to maintain that kind of eating habit.  However, after a few weeks of only cheating a few times, my body gave me signs that I was feeling healthier.  My cravings for soda were replaced with raisins and carrots.   Sometimes I would walk to the vending machine only to walk back empty handed.  

When I thought I could handle a soda pop as an occasional treat, it turned into a three times a week habit.  I loved the "pick me up" but my energy would go down just as fast.  I starting drinking more water and tea and recommitted to not drinking any soda, period.  

I have been soda free for seven years.  I have been fast food free for five years, with the exception of my favorite occasional chicken fast food joint that closes on Sundays and local sub shop.  After watching Food, Inc., an incredible documentary by Robert Kenner that sources our food from "seed to supermarket", I am no longer interested in eating any fast food.