LIVE LIFE WELL
Alcohol May Not Be Your Best Friend
Consider becoming AF for a certain period of time. Or forever. Some of you need to do the latter. Incidentally, AF = Alcohol Free.
I have gone AF for long periods of time in the last few years. And interestingly, each time I have thoughts about never going back to it again. And then I do. But! I discovered life really is fine without it.
I have lived my adult life with and without it. As teenagers, Husband and I both loved and abused alcohol. For a number of reasons when we were 21-years old Husband and I became total teetotalers (that means not even one drop, in case you want to challenge me on my knowledge of the meaning of teetotaler). We stopped drinking any alcohol for about 20 years. Although we still went to the liquor store and bought those little bottles of whiskey to rub on our teething babies gums. Because that is what my mom did for me and my 3 little sisters. Anyway…
So we didn't miss alcohol at all. I remember thinking, "We don't need alcohol to have fun. We get high on life." Seriously. Pretty sappy. But that was what I felt. (Oh! and the money we saved and the things we accomplished without it!)
Fast forward. Then in our early 40's, for a number of reasons, we slowly started drinking alcohol again. Fast forward again. We progressed to wine connoisseurs, and a party without it would seem dull. Fast forward yet again, and I found my normal became 2 drinks each day. After 4:59 p.m., of course.
In the last few years, I have done a lot of thinking about drinking alcohol. This topic is actually vast and a whole book could be written about it, but I will limit it to a few choice points and share several conclusions.
Teetotaling is an option, but not necessarily necessary. However, it may be your safest choice.
Alcohol is very addictive and has sadly been the ruin of many. It should be used moderately and judiciously, or not at all.
Alcohol can adversely affect your health in a variety of ways.
God made it; it can make the heart glad, and it can be something to enjoy. Alcohol can have a place in one's life for some.
Some need to strictly avoid it for various reasons.
Others may want to avoid it, also for various reasons.
A fine life is possible without its daily consumption and/or even being AF, aeb (as evidenced by) many famous people who have become AF like Ringo Starr, Bradley Cooper, Shania Twain, Elton John, Russell Brand, Rob Lowe…I could go on and on. Noteworthy ——» And they have events that come up all of the time. So one should not use events as an excuse to imbibe.
Alcohol Affects Health in a Number of Ways, such as:
It is a neurotoxin, thus can damage or kill precious brain cells.
It disrupts sleep because it lowers melatonin, increases cortisol, alters REM & deep sleep cycles.
It makes weight loss difficult or impossible because it shuts down fat burning because your body metabolizes alcohol calories before anything else.
It also can cause you to eat more because it can stimulate your appetite.
It decreases testosterone and messes with important hormone metabolism like estrogen and progesterone.
It can cause or worsen depression and anxiety.
It taxes the liver and the kidneys.
It can cause or worsen acid reflux (GERD).
It can cause heart arrhythmias and damage cardiac cells.
It can worsen hot flashes.
It can cause leaky gut.
It lowers inhibitions so you may do stupid things that harm your health and threaten your safety.
Plus a whole lot more.
Strategies to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption:
Draw a line and don't cross it after considering where your line should be.
Surf the urge. They come and go in waves. (I first heard this from Dr. Jade Teta, a naturopathic physician.)
Repeat as needed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13.
Use some sort of distraction like going for a walk, working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing some ping pong, or performing some stretches.
Make a list of your WHY and refer to it often.
Pray.
Give yourself a replacement. For instance, I love to drink Gerolsteiner Natural Sparkling Mineral water; it's my favorite sparkling water, comes in a glass bottle. It feels special and like a treat.
Try a non-alcoholic drink, like RECESS Ginger Lime Mule, so you can hold a can in your hand at parties.
Change your routine.
Buy one of these book's on finding freedom from alcohol: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace or Stop Drinking Now by Allen Carr. There are many other books dealing with alcohol too, but those are 2 that I have read and think have useful information, but be forewarned they both take a total abstentionist view.
Check out these 2 other articles I wrote in 2015 here and here, especially the 2nd one which gives alcohol advice and opinions from a number of health experts.
A few last thoughts about being AF
I am currently doing this again to improve health & lose a few pounds.
The first few days are always the hardest for me (sometimes I make Husband have his drink in a coffee cup so that I wouldn't feel as deprived!)
I sleep better when AF.
I have more energy in the evenings.
My moods are better overall.
I remind myself often of my WHY’s.
It is an important topic to consider, one that is dear to me because there have been many precious people in my life who have had a problem with alcohol.
I am glad there are no parties or events to go to. Oh wait, I forgot about THAT one. Oh well. If Ringo can do it, so can I.
So anyway, some things to think about. Bottom line, is alcohol your friend or foe? And what should your relationship with it be?
It may be worth having a crucial conversation with yourself.
Just provoking thoughts,
~Vanessa
www.vanessamarsden.com
