I found out about NoFizzUSA on Twitter. I saw a few people retweeting this “NoFizzUSA” thing and it was kind of a clever name, so I thought, you know, what’s that all about? So, I looked into it, and I saw a big health and wellness guy in town and a few people I really respect were saying some things about it. That’s really how I found out about that, and yourself, and the whole thing that encompasses it.

I have only had one soda since [the start of the challenge] – I won’t lie. Coming from my background, I’ve been in the health and wellness industry for quite some time now, so I’m really keen on my own health, I’m really up on that. I wasn’t drinking a ton of sodas, but what I noticed through the challenge that in the few times I do drink sodas, there was often an unhealthy meal accompanying it. So, since I cut out the soda part of the equation, there’s nothing there – you’ve got no meal if you’ve got no soda, so therefore, you’re challenging yourself to only eat healthy, which is what I saw as the biggest part of that.

If you’re starting the challenge tomorrow, stick with it. It might be tough for some people at first, you will probably go through a little detox phase. There might be some headaches from the lack of caffeine, but stick with it, and find other fluids to replace with it, whether it’s an electrolyte replenisher, or just a ton of water. Focus on your own health, because the studies NoFizz America showed us about soda, and all the unhealthy factors of high fructose corn syrup and all the sugars in there, those are the number one causes to your health and obesity.

The research challenges you every day to see something new, and just think about not having that one soda. Growing up, I grew up with my dad and brother, so we grew up on soda, pizzas, and chips – we are a bunch of boys! It seems, when you grow up like that, you’re always craving junk food. So when I saw those facts that NoFizz America showed me, it reminds me that I didn’t need that soda, because of what it was going to do to my body – my insides, or my bones, or my brains, or whatever it is!

My alternative drink of choice was typically water. I also drink a lot of electrolyte replenishers, like Ultima – it’s kind of like a natural Gatorade. I find that helps with natural hydration as well, and gives me that sweet flavor I am looking for.

[When asked about the next challenge to avoid soda] Another 30-day challenge? I’m in, man. Let’s do it!