I gave up alcohol for Lent this year. During that time, I discovered 2 things that has resulted in at least a 90% decrease in the amount of alcohol that I have drank since. One is the beverage hop water - various brands. It gives a beer flavor with no alcohol and no calories and is quite refreshing. The other is a book called This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace. The book makes a bold claim at the beginning that by the end you will have significantly less desire to drink alcohol. I was skeptical. Even while reading it, I found myself thinking that 20% of the book was interesting and 80% was BS. However, by the end of the book, I found myself with SIGNIFICANTLY less desire to drink. Well played, Ms. Grace
I gave it up for 18 months when I was losing menopause weight and am ready to go back to abstaining. There are some sparkling seltzers like Recess that have no alcohol but a touch of hemp and can be relaxing. I highly recommend them! Pretty low calorie too, low in added sugar. https://takearecess.com/shop/collections/shopall
Oh so glad to know about Recess! It seems like the beverage industry is meeting this moment .. where more and more ppl realize the subtle (and not so subtle) downsides of alcohol.. it's great to see other options for us during "NO"Vember ... thanks for joining me!
Kudos to you! I just recently decided to cut back or at least take longer breaks. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND an app I stumbled upon. IT HAS EDUCATED ME and has given me accountability tool that I needed. It’s called “Reframe” (for reference, the app has a blue background with a white “drawing” of a brain. Lol) They have a sober November challenge you can join. It also has a forum where you can connect with others on your journey. I can’t say enough about how this app has helped me stay the course thus far. As I mentioned I was only originally going to use it to log my progress and just cutback. It’s written for people who want to cutback and those who want to completely abstain. I’m on day 15, which doesn’t sound like a lot but that’s 2 weekends and for those of us who like a nice glass of wine on the weekend..,that’s a lot! 😂
If you decide to use the app, look me up in the forum - Ang4 (Joined October 2023).
I love REFRAME! I recommend it regularly to patients who are "sober curious" or who want to stay committed to sobriety and need that extra accountability. It is SO GREAT you have done it, Angie!!! Stay strong!! 🤩
I replaced my end of the week beer and chips with the near beer we have here called Partake and pistachios. Partake is 10 calories and 0% alcohol.
I watch my garmin watch show my HRV and sleep ramp up day after day. The dramatic regression in these if I have a few alcoholic drinks is enough to keep me an occasional light drinker.
Your response makes total sense. Alcohol is such a big part of our culture that sometimes, I believe, the lines can be blurred between social drinking and alcohol abuse.
I love your newsletters and podcast. I appreciate the way you think and treat the whole person. Your advice during the Covid years and recently really helped to lower anxiety.
Thanks for the solidarity, my friend! Maybe there is something else you want to limit in your life? For me it's not just alcohol.. it's time on social media, doomscrolling and lying awake as a result ... that will have to be on December's (NOT) "to do" list 😉
Good point. Scrolling online - especially for "really important things like helping people" - is a challenge for me. I'm finding lots of sanity recently with scroll-free Fridays and Saturdays, and also doing Intermittent Digital Fasting for at least 12 hours a night.
Haha I know what you mean 😆 ... but *not* drinking on Thanksgiving Day is arguably the BEST time to process any complicated family dynamics around you without the help of a glass of wine...? I know .. I know.. wishful thinking.. but maybe try it and see how it goes? NO PRESSURE!!!
I've taken breaks several times in the past. Loving the symbolic "end of the day" a glass of wine represents I found it helpful is to enjoy a glass of San Pellegrino with a wedge of lemon or lime in a wine glass.
By giving up alcohol which for me was 1 or 2 bottles of wine per week, it definitely helped with a loss of about 20 pounds this year. I also reduced other sugar intake which would be tough to add in at this time of the year
Yes, it's amazing how much alcohol adds up in our weight and overall body composition.. limiting it.. or cutting it out truly changes the urge to consume sugar and alcohol itself.. great to hear you have been successful in your sobriety! Keep up the awesome work!!
I gave up alcohol for Lent this year. During that time, I discovered 2 things that has resulted in at least a 90% decrease in the amount of alcohol that I have drank since. One is the beverage hop water - various brands. It gives a beer flavor with no alcohol and no calories and is quite refreshing. The other is a book called This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace. The book makes a bold claim at the beginning that by the end you will have significantly less desire to drink alcohol. I was skeptical. Even while reading it, I found myself thinking that 20% of the book was interesting and 80% was BS. However, by the end of the book, I found myself with SIGNIFICANTLY less desire to drink. Well played, Ms. Grace
I love it. Thanks for sharing this!! I'm going to pick up a copy of that book!
I agree! I listened to Annie Grace’s audiobook and was so amazed at how much it helped me cut back.
I am in for “No”vember! Looking forward to hot ciders around a fire and crisp early morning exercise.
Nice, Susie!!! 🥳
I gave it up for 18 months when I was losing menopause weight and am ready to go back to abstaining. There are some sparkling seltzers like Recess that have no alcohol but a touch of hemp and can be relaxing. I highly recommend them! Pretty low calorie too, low in added sugar. https://takearecess.com/shop/collections/shopall
Oh so glad to know about Recess! It seems like the beverage industry is meeting this moment .. where more and more ppl realize the subtle (and not so subtle) downsides of alcohol.. it's great to see other options for us during "NO"Vember ... thanks for joining me!
Kudos to you! I just recently decided to cut back or at least take longer breaks. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND an app I stumbled upon. IT HAS EDUCATED ME and has given me accountability tool that I needed. It’s called “Reframe” (for reference, the app has a blue background with a white “drawing” of a brain. Lol) They have a sober November challenge you can join. It also has a forum where you can connect with others on your journey. I can’t say enough about how this app has helped me stay the course thus far. As I mentioned I was only originally going to use it to log my progress and just cutback. It’s written for people who want to cutback and those who want to completely abstain. I’m on day 15, which doesn’t sound like a lot but that’s 2 weekends and for those of us who like a nice glass of wine on the weekend..,that’s a lot! 😂
If you decide to use the app, look me up in the forum - Ang4 (Joined October 2023).
I love REFRAME! I recommend it regularly to patients who are "sober curious" or who want to stay committed to sobriety and need that extra accountability. It is SO GREAT you have done it, Angie!!! Stay strong!! 🤩
Count me in. Looking forward to 5:00p as no big deal.
NICE!!! Love it!
I’m in!
YAHOO!!! Fist bump! 👊
Good for you Dr. McBride.
Thanks! It REALLY helps to *say it aloud* to stay accountable... right? It is so hard to be our own coach, even when we know what to do!
I replaced my end of the week beer and chips with the near beer we have here called Partake and pistachios. Partake is 10 calories and 0% alcohol.
I watch my garmin watch show my HRV and sleep ramp up day after day. The dramatic regression in these if I have a few alcoholic drinks is enough to keep me an occasional light drinker.
SO great!!
Dr. McBride,
Your response makes total sense. Alcohol is such a big part of our culture that sometimes, I believe, the lines can be blurred between social drinking and alcohol abuse.
I love your newsletters and podcast. I appreciate the way you think and treat the whole person. Your advice during the Covid years and recently really helped to lower anxiety.
Keep sharing your brilliance!
Be well😊
awww.. thank you ❤️
I’m in but unfortunately it’s not much of a challenge for me. Don’t know why but the smell of pretty much all alcoholic beverages make me nauseous.
Thanks for the solidarity, my friend! Maybe there is something else you want to limit in your life? For me it's not just alcohol.. it's time on social media, doomscrolling and lying awake as a result ... that will have to be on December's (NOT) "to do" list 😉
Good point. Scrolling online - especially for "really important things like helping people" - is a challenge for me. I'm finding lots of sanity recently with scroll-free Fridays and Saturdays, and also doing Intermittent Digital Fasting for at least 12 hours a night.
Will you join me in December?
(I actually first learned about IDG on Substack, here: https://beyondproductivity.substack.com/p/how-to-limit-screen-time-to-90-minutes)
Ah, but I've already had to give up that "pamplemousse" LaCroix. (Statins, you know.) Sigh.
You can have PAMPLEMOUSSE seltzer... even the real grapefruit... just not every day while on statins 😉
Even on Thanksgiving? My relatives are easier to easier to take when they’re fuzzy around the edges. ;)
Haha I know what you mean 😆 ... but *not* drinking on Thanksgiving Day is arguably the BEST time to process any complicated family dynamics around you without the help of a glass of wine...? I know .. I know.. wishful thinking.. but maybe try it and see how it goes? NO PRESSURE!!!
I'm in! As I age, I have found it affects my sleep more. I need good sleep! So I'm all in!
Awesome, Kelly!!! Let's do it!
Update: I have been alcohol-free ever since, except for the one Kiltlifter I had at a ball game last weekend. My brother was in town. 😊
NICE!
I've taken breaks several times in the past. Loving the symbolic "end of the day" a glass of wine represents I found it helpful is to enjoy a glass of San Pellegrino with a wedge of lemon or lime in a wine glass.
I'm in!
Yay, Ginger!! Let's go!
By giving up alcohol which for me was 1 or 2 bottles of wine per week, it definitely helped with a loss of about 20 pounds this year. I also reduced other sugar intake which would be tough to add in at this time of the year
Yes, it's amazing how much alcohol adds up in our weight and overall body composition.. limiting it.. or cutting it out truly changes the urge to consume sugar and alcohol itself.. great to hear you have been successful in your sobriety! Keep up the awesome work!!
My husband and I were planning on giving up alcohol in November. I was inspired by the last newsletter you wrote going alcohol free!
Great, Caroline!!! So glad you and your husb will join me! It takes a village to change a habit ❤️