No Alcohol Challenge 3/1/2021

I WAS RAISED A CATHOLIC AND ALL MY LIFE I ALWAYS GIVE UP SOMETHING DURING LENT. EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT PRACTICE CATHOLICISM ANY LONGER, I DO ENJOY BEING CHALLENGED. LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, I GAVE UP SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE 40 DAYS OF LENT. THIS YEAR I CHOSE TO ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL. I DO NOT DRINK EXCESSIVELY (MAYBE EVERYONE ENJOYS THE SPIRITS, SAYS THIS) BUT I DO LIKE TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE HERE AND THERE AND MY WHISKY WHEN IT GETS MORE SOCIAL. HOWEVER, I HAVE GAINED SO MUCH WEIGHT OVER THE YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT MORE CONSISTENTLY AND WANTED TO DETOX MY BODY OF ANY ALCOHOL TO GIVE IT A BOOST. I AM SLOWLY SEEING CHANGES TO MY BODY BUT I AM ENJOYING THE FEELING FIRST. MEANING, I CAN FEEL MY BODY STRONGER AND I WANT TO ALSO FEEL HEALTHIER. SO I AM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS TRADITIONAL/RELIGIOUS SACRIFICE TO BOOST MY BODY AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I FEEL CHANGES. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR THOSE WHO DRINK DAILY OR EVERY WEEKEND THAT STOP DRINKING. IF I ONLY DRINK SOCIALLY, AND I FEEL THE BENEFITS OF NO ALCOHOL, THIS COULD ONLY MEAN THAT ALCOHOL IS THAT DAMAGING. I AM MORE LUCID, MORE AWARE, MORE RELAXED ACTUALLY WITHOUT IT. IT IS ACTUALLY A REALITY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE. I HAVE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES WITH ALCOHOL AND I KNOW HOW PLEASANT IT CAN BE TO DRINK SOCIALLY. HOWEVER, I AM STARTING TO SEE HOW CRIPPLING IT CAN ACTUALLY BE. IT IS KIND OF SCARY TO THINK OF HOW CONTROLLING A SUBSTANCE AS SUCH CAN BE WITH YOU ARE THE ONE CONSUMING IT BY CHOICE.  SO LET ME TELL YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO NOT DRINK EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN 2 WEEKS. IT IS NOT THAT I AM AN ALCOHOLIC OF ANY SORT LOL EVEN THOUGH A NICE GLASS OF RED WINE WITH MY DINNER, ESPECIALLY A NICE JUICY STEAK, REALLY PAIRS WELL… IT’S THE NO IN THE ALCOHOL THAT I CANNOT CONSUME THAT IS BOTHERSOME. TELL SOMEONE THEY CANNOT DO SOMETHING, AND THEY WANT TO DO IT MORE THAN EVER. IT IS ALL ABOUT DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL WHICH APPARENTLY MANY PEOPLE LACK. DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL ARE NOT TO BE WRECKED WITH. 
THE MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS ARE WHEN YOU ARE IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DOING WHAT YOU CAN NO LONGER DO NORMALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, I WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH MY FRIENDS LAST WEEK AND I WAS REALLY TEMPTED TO ORDER A DRINK AND  “START OVER” WITH MY CHALLENGE BUT I FELT REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR STICKING TO MY PLAN AND DRIVING HOME SAFETY WITHOUT ANY WONDER IF THAT “DRINK” WOULD INFLUENCE MY DRIVING. I WAS HAPPY TO SEE MY GIRLS. I WAS HAPPY TO MAINTAIN MY SELF CONTROL AND NOT STRESS OVER IT AS IF I HAD AN ACTUAL PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WE LET SOCIETY DICTATE WHAT WE DO BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT BUT I LOVE BEING TOTALLY AWARE AND COMFORTABLE. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A GLASS OF WINE WITH MY STEAK IN APRIL… 
I AM ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEXT CHALLENGE WHEN I COMPLETE THIS ONE:  NO CARBS (YIKES) LOL…  ​

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