Since starting "Minisize me" five days ago I have not been out for fast food. I have had pizza, which in moderation is not bad for you. In moderation.

I also have not had any sugared soda. I never said anything about beer - I have had a couple of those!

So how is it going so far? One of the things that has struck me is how often my thoughts default to fast food. I'll ask my wife what we should have for dinner, and immediately I think about the Good Times teriyaki chicken sandwich, or the Carl's Jr Santa Fe chicken (both better choices than their burgers, but when you add the fries and the coke, that's where you pay the price!). So we have been cooking dinner rather than going for the McDinner and have actually eaten all of the left overs, which we seldom do. So far, so good.

Where I've faced the bigger challenge is in the cravings department. Even though I had cut back to one soda per day, that one soda has a hold on me. At about two or three in the afternoon I start jonesing for a can of coke. I've tried drinking some diet sodas but they all taste like ass, and not in the good lets-try-something-new way. The only one I've found palatable is diet 7Up, but even that doesn't feed the beast. Monday at work I found myself wandering by the vending machines against my will, shaking and scratching at an imagined itch on the inside of my elbow, thinking "I could buy one and only drink half. That's still good, right?" I held out though...primarily because I didn't have enough cash and walking to the ATM seemed too desperate, like sneaking out to see my dealer or something. And I also have a horrible sweet tooth. After dinner each night I get the urge for anything sweet, preferably chocolate cake. Sugar free jello with a squirt of canned whipped cream (total calories: 80!) seems to do the trick on this one. And an apple is always a good sweet treat.

Anyhow, I'm still fast food and soda-free after five days and have been getting reacquainted with a couple of old friends called fruits and vegetables.

More to come...