What I Have Learned From a Month Without Alcohol

“So why did you give up alcohol?” The answers varied:

• To be healthier
• To lower my tolerance
• To be more effective at work and using weekends to unwind will help that
• To reassure my ability to socialize without liquid courage
• To prove I’m not alcoholic

Okay so the last one, maybe not quite the case. But with college a fading mirage behind me as I waltz down the path to adulthood, grueling hangovers were ringing as a constant reminder that it was time I grew up a bit. It’s a harsh reality to accept, being that I turn 24 next month, but one that is full-heartedly embraced. I am fortunate to have the willpower to abstain from something I do truly enjoy, in my mission to unlock a greater purpose. Here are the main lessons to take away from the dry month of February:

1. Take off the mask. You don’t need that one glass of pinot to loosen up before a date or networking function. You are so much more than that liquored-down version of yourself. Have a little faith that people will see the value and beauty in who you.
2. Sober dates aren’t that bad. Sometimes all you need just something in your hand – a tea or coffee – to keep your fumbling hands busy. Or just a better date.
3. Not everyone will be supportive. Weird. If I was giving up smokes or soda, I’m sure the common response would be, “good for you, keep it up!” I don’t know whether I unleashed other’s insecurities, but this was an unfortunate discovery. Taunts to give in to temptation, being told to my face that I wasn’t as fun as when I’m drunk – it’s a little concerning. Also mind opening. This time allowed me to turn the dictionary to page defining “friendship” because I don’t need that negativity in my life and neither do you.
4. You can still party. Won’t lie and pretend I didn’t have a coffee before hitting the bars, but my dance moves were just as fabulous, if not more coordinated, than ever.
5. Mondays aren’t so bad. The only reasons for dreading a Monday the past couple of months was due to the consecutive massive snowstorms that locked me in my tiny apartment. Otherwise, I looked forward to starting the week with a clear head and a clean to-do list.
6. Alcohol feeds your sugar addiction. You might not realize when downing numerous ciders and margaritas, but I found myself literally crawling to get my sugar fix. My candy consumption skyrocketed and I blame it all on you, rum and coke.
7. No gym excuses. Get your ass to the gym. Seriously, what else do you have to do today? Clean your fish tank? (Shoot…probably should do that this weekend).
8. There’s more than drinking to pass the time. Join a book club. Discover an unearthed hobby. Explore new boroughs. Pick up the sport you played in high school that you’ve missed. Just a few of the things I tapped into February, as examples.
9. Get to know yourself again. Your ten year old wierdo self that was innocent, naive and honest. The one who collected beanie babies or Pokemon cards. The one who sang in the choir and thought that “Cotten Eye Joe” was ever cool*. Same one that didn’t think a night at home watching movies with the parents meant you’re lame. That person didn’t need to drink to define fun.

*PS – Did you know a Swedish band, called Rednex, introduced that hot sixth grade dance bit? Actually, for even more of a laugh, go Google the 1939 folk version of “Cotton Eye Joe” and imagine getting down to that at your friend’s bat mitzvah.

Basil Strawberry Watermelon

Today’s smoothie ingredients:

• 1.5 (12 oz.) coconut water
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 cups frozen watermelon
• 3 leaves of fresh basil (more for a stronger taste)

Benefits:

• Coconut Water: contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes
• Strawberries: a low glycemic food also high in fiber, which helps to regulate blood sugar and keep it stable;
• Watermelon: a natural electrolyte that helps regulate the action of nerves and muscles in our body;
• Basil: contains antibacterial capabilities. It has been shown to stop growth of many bacteria, even some that had grown resistant to other antibiotics.

Nutritional information:

Calories: 243

Carbs: 61

Fat: 0

Protein: 3

Sodium: 45

Sugar: 44

I Need a Break: April – Alcohol

For the month of April, I made the decision to give up hard alcohol. I allowed myself to indulge in a glass of wine or a cool, cider every now and then, but as a college grad, I think my liver could stand a month without shooting back shots or slugging around a Redbull vodka at the bar.

At first, it was difficult to engage in public, having to hold back my instinct to order a spiked club soda, especially since the wine made me sleepy by the time everyone wanted to leave for the bars. But by the end of the month, I was not at all thinking about the lack of Tito’s or Don Q in my life.

I did find that I began craving a lot of sugar though, being that the drinks that once satisfied my sweet tooth no longer were there to comfort me. This of course, didn’t help during Easter time when peeps and chocolate bunnies were popping up all over my apartment, which brings me to May…

I see you, Corporate America

Photo by Brent Hofacker

America, I applaud you. In 2013, the U.S. of A is no longer the fattest kid on the international playground. This summer, a report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization found that Mexico has surpassed the U.S. as the world’s fattest nation, beating our rate of adult obesity (31.8 percent) with a 32.8 percent.

Not saying we are in any place to start showing off our macho muscles, but with Americans paying closer attention to what they’re eating and drinking, food and beverage companies are quickly learning that certain unfamiliar additives on their packaging is inviting criticism from the public. Thanks to the web, people are shouting their concerns to the world. As a result, companies are quietly reformulating popular snacks to remove suspicious componenets.

Want an example? PepsiCo Inc. this year claimed it would stop useing brominated vegetable oil (huh? I was drinking what?) in Gatorade and find another more natural way to distribute the color in their sports drink.

With the Internet acting as a loud speaker, it is great to see people taking a stand for what goes into their bodies. My only concern is does this invite companies to become sneakier? They are already being devious by removing these additives in a way that seems like – POOF – they were never really there! My hopes are that while corporations are showing a genuine interest in the putting better ingredients in their products, we all colletively choose that apple or baby carrots instead of that unfortunate bag of baked potato lays (I mean really. Baked? You might as well at least enjoy your unhealthy snack by picking the Cheetos for goodness sake).