Part time fisherman, mountain biker, golfer, tinkerer,road biker, craft beer drinker, Backpacker, hiker, adventure racer, video gamer, rustic and modern camper, urban explorer, snowboarder, cook, house fixer-upper and creator of some furniture and artsy stuff.
General observations after 1.5 years of not drinking alcohol.
1) Restuarants do not cater to you in the drink department. Most resturants do not even list their non alcoholic options on their menu. Servers are not trained in this area very well either. Most trendy resturants will have three pages of alcoholic choices and very limited non alcoholic choices. Get used to coke or coffee when you go out.
2) You can drop weight pretty quickly without changing anything else you do. Most of us probably could lose a pound a week without even trying. I lost 65 pounds in about 6 months when combined with a diet. I did not exercise much during that time either.
3) I am much more rested/refreshed/less stressed. I do not spend time sitting around for hours on end drinking and I do not need to spend much time in the morning recovering from the night before.
4) I have tons more energy than I did 1.5 years ago. I spend my time doing healthy things like playing softball, running and biking which builds my muscles, helps carry more water and I make better eating choices since I am not eating bar/resturant food as much.
5) Physically things are easier to deal with. This goes along with #4 Since I am not pouring poison down my throat all the time. I can run better, bike faster, recover from injury faster since my body fat has decreased and muscle content has increased.
6) My mood is MUCH more positive. Alcohol is a depressant which kills my drive to do many things. I never understood this while I was drinking. In fact, I always stated that i never knew how alcohol was a depressant when it was so damn fun partying. Now I know. It suppresses your natural abilities. Which..... is pretty damn depressing AND becomes a vicious cycle since you want to drink more to bring back that fun stuff. What a shitshow.
7) Get ready to answer many questions everyday like: Why did you quit? How long are you quitting for? Do you miss it? When are you going back? I dont mind if the people asking are open to me being truthful and are looking to learn the benefits but some dont want to hear why. Because it is something they usually do not want to change.
8) There is a huge culture around alcohol which I did not know existed and was involved in until I left it. Many things with people seem to always involve alcohol no matter what the event is. I truly wonder how many people would play golf, pool, darts, bags, horseshoes and other “beer sports” if there was no alcohol involved.
9) There is a general acceptance (or culture) in our society of alcohol because of the craft beer and craft spirits movement and industry growth. This doesnt seem like its going anywhere anytime soon.
10) Alcohol seems to be used in social settings to “cover up” or “take the edge off” a persons true identity or character which is odd because I really think we should be celebrating and learning from our differences rather than hiding them.
11) Amazingly, I set goals and actually achieve them easier without alcohol in my life. Maybe its a clearer mind. Maybe more time. Maybe because I am not sleeping until mid morning on the weekends (which seems so weird now) Maybe its because I am not depressed?
12) Your social life will suffer. Apparently. At least with some people. It is what it is. I wish some of my friends would join me but I know its not probable. Change can be scary and take time to adjust. It took me about 30 days.
13) I am now more likely to try different foods and drinks instead of going after the usual favorite which was a craft beer. Ginger beer (non alcoholic) and Teas are more welcome with me now. This is pretty exciting actually. Plus I can eat cakes, pies and cookies without a huge weight gain now.
14) Holy shit more money in my pocket. A case of cheap beer is close to $20. (Or a 12 pack of craft beer is cloae to that amount also) Knock down four cases a month (or 8 6pks of craft beer) and you have almost half a cheap car payment. Combine that with a lack of a weekly $50-75 a week bar tab and now we are really talking...
15) My general health has improved SO much. Alcohol is linked to so many different health issues. I think we all could use less health issues. Especially since a recent report has stated that “no amount of alcohol is good for your overall health” according to: https://www.npr.org/2018/08/24/641618937/no-amount-of-alcohol-is-good-for-your-health-global-study-claims
While the study's authors acknowledge moderate drinking may protect some people against heart disease, these potential benefits do not outwe
If you would like to chat with me about this I am happy to share my story. I am happy I have influenced a few close friends to change their drinking habits for the better. Their stories have similar outcomes. Reach out to me if need be.
Anything is achievable. I just need to set goals and keep whittling away at them.
Things do not have to always be the same. I can be different. I can learn to live healthier. Its never to late to start that.
Clothes shopping is fun especially when they are smaller sizes.
Running is still for suckas. But it is relaxing and challenging at the same time. Watching my minutes per mile trend faster is kinda neat. If anybody cares I am running short distances at 10:15 per mile. Yes I know I am not fast. I dont care. Its better than how fast I was running five months ago.
My god can I fly on my bike. Usual average speed was 13.5 mph a few months ago and that was tops. Now it’s closer to 16 mph without pushing extremely hard. So I know if I try, I could improve that number as well. Not much to you I know but to me it is a ton. Its nice to see that trend faster as well.
I have more money now. I tend to eat more at home. I tend to eat healthier food. I can eat a metric shit ton of vegetables and still lose weight. Its neat to be open to the idea of trying new foods and drinks instead of the old standby. Except Mushrooms. Those will still kill you. 🤣🤣🤣
It is amazing how many people say nice things like “wow you look great!” Or “did you lose weight?”
That feels great also.
Its amazing how many projects I have completed this summer verses past years. Whether its by me personally or hiring people help me, its a big difference. That also feels great.
150 days ago I challenged myself to stop doing the stupid shit I have been doing to myself and lose weight. So far my total is 37 lbs. I also lost three inches around my waist. I have decreased my body fat from 43.5 percent to 33 percent.
Heres to the next 150 days. I think I can lose an additional 25 lbs. I think I can get into the nine minute mile time in my runs. I think I can average 17 mph on my bike. That would be cool.
Goals: run a 5k. Still get that 100 mile bike ride in this year. Rain or shine. 1000 miles on my bike. Lets do this.
I built an ASD-B from a raspberry Pi. This uses radio frequencies to transmit data to my Ipad pro. Altitude, tail numbers, flight heading and speed are all displayed once I pick them up. Technology is badass.
This summer has been great. I am thankful I have the ability along with a wife who wants to adventure with me. This weekend took us to a state park and the 59th annual Labor Day Bridge Walk across the Mackinaw bridge in Northern Michigan.
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