We were talking about things in our diet that we don’t need. She was shocked at the amount of soda she’d had lately. So we decided we would create a bet to see who could go the longest without soda. But, strong-willed people that we are, we decided that wasn’t nearly difficult enough. This is when Molly and I decided that we will not drink soda or eat cheese for two years.

Why are we doing this? Because soda and cheese are two things with almost zero nutritional benefit and plenty of nutritional detriment that are a daily part of most of our lives. Soda is sugar and bubbles; cheese is sodium and saturated fat. The only argument in favor of either is that they’re good for the soul. I understand this, but if it’s hurting my body more than helping my soul, I’d rather find other ways to find joy.

Neither of us has any weight or personal appearance goals we’re trying to meet, though we are a bit curious what the end result will be.

Oh, and there are exceptions. We get two freebies a month for accidental or intentional slip-ups. Major holidays are exempt and other exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Like when I meet my girlfriend’s family and eat her mother’s world-famous Italian food.

So far this hasn’t sucked too bad. It’s actually kind of fun to get creative, especially when I go out to eat. And it puts me in a healthier mentality generally speaking. I went to Subway yesterday and, because I couldn’t get soda, I opted out of the “meal deal” entirely and didn’t end up scarfing down some greasy chips with my cheese-free sandwich.

Anyone want to try this out with us? It’s a fun test of will power and hey, after two years, maybe your long-term desire for cheese and soda will be diminished forever, leaving you to be a healthier person.

Oh, and I should mention that the wager is that, if either of us breaks the rules, the rule-breaker has to get a tattoo of the other person’s choosing. Ba-zing!

Bonus question: should I do some quick math to see how much I spend on cheese and soda in a year and donate that amount to a hunger relief organization? Just a thought.