I’d like to think that my new year’s resolution was met, although I ended my not-drinking streak on Fri evening instead of this morning.
I can give you a lot of reasons (excuses?) as to why the early ending: My car engine computer got stolen. I had a friend visiting from out of town who wanted to do happy hours. And pretty much all my plans for last weekend went awry.
But most importantly: The point of the resolution was to prove I could go without drinking, and if I can go for 11 days, I can go for 14 — It’s a matter of choice, not addiction, in my opinion.
That said: Sez the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), “It is likely that your current drinking patterns are hazardous or harmful to your health and well being.”
Apparently, “More than 96.5% of the general adult American population and 99% of women consume fewer drinks per week than you reported consuming.”
Dude, that means I’m in the top 1% of female drinkers. It makes me feel unhealthy and a lil lonely. Then again, I think: In a crowd of 200 people, there’s gonna be a gal who drinks as much as I do. Hello friend!
The stat also makes me think most women just don’t drink enough.
The thing is, clearly I’m not debilitated by my drinking habit. Going dry wasn’t v. hard. I had no major side effects. It was a change in my routine, but not a debilitating physical or psychological ordeal.
In fact, the experience has made me realize that I blame WAY TOO MUCH on my drinking habit. I thought that if I didn’t drink, I’d be more positive, more energetic, more productive, more motivated, more together, more on-time, more patient, more studious, more engaged. None of those things are true.
I thought that, at the very least, I’d sleep less (I sleep 9-10 hrs a night). Even that wasn’t true. All not drinking did was shift my sleeping hours a couple hours earlier. On one dry night, I miraculously got into bed by 11:30 pm. I woke up at 9:30 am — an hour considered late by the working stiffs. You might say that’s an improvement from my usual waking time between 10:30 – noon. But I don’t see how it’s an improvement if I’m awake for the same # of hours, and if there’s no tangible reason for me to get up before noon.
Disagree? Lemme know why. I do think that paying attention to my liver — for the long haul — is a good idea. To that end, I found and joined a cute lil web-based 6-week program called Down Your Drink. From what I can tell, it’s a non-judgemental program put together by some nice folks in the UK as an effort toward exploring what web-based, non-judgemental programs can offer the alcohol-concerned. The site could be better designed, but one week into the program, I like it so far.
In the meantime, I’m gonna stop worrying about the drinking issue so much, and work on addressing what I want to change about my life head on — instead of assuming that drinking less will automatically resolve these other issues.
“The stat also makes me think most women just don’t drink enough.”
You crack me up. :) And don’t worry…I’m in the top 1% too and I’m a yoga instructor. Yes I could probably benefit from cutting back a bit but I’m happy. I live very active lifestyle and eat healthy (for the most part). I say if it’s not interfering with your work or school and you don’t drink and drive (made easier when your motivated to take public transportation and/or carpool) then do what makes you happy.
Cheers! :P
Comment by Kristen — January 15, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I am also on a no-alchol detox, but only for a week. I like to have a drink, but don’t binge very often. Turns out I am in the top 3%, but I’m a writer and I think that means you automatically drink more than others! (I would say I’m in the top 50%- maybe- of people in my MFA program when it comes to drinking). I back Kristin up- do what makes you happy as long as you’re safe doing it.
Comment by Starre — January 15, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
I kinda think that audit is bull. I’m in the top 4%!
Good reflection on the resolution dude, sounds like it was a good experience. I’m with Kristin and Starre, do what makes you happy and keeps you safe – so you can keep making us happy with your blog ;)
Comment by Summer — January 15, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
You’re classic. I, too, think the overall lesson to be learned in all this is that women don’t drink enough.
Comment by BB — January 15, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
that place you “often” frequent for drinks,
do they have organic or fair trade drinks?
should be fairly easy to get hold of the ingredients for an organic/fair trade planters punsch :-)
btw
i have seen many news lately regarding one (or two) glass(es) of red wine a day being good to cure or prevent all sorts of ailments …
i think you noted before that it is difficult to find organic wine in LA but not impossible i hope?
Comment by Johan — January 16, 2007 @ 5:38 am
“Hello friend!” Yes, indeed.
I went through a similar self-evaluation recently. I was the same person either way – generally happy, friendly, productive and engaged. :)
Comment by Kathy — January 16, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Johan – It’s actually not just red wine, but all alcohol. It’s the alcohol itself that provides the heart-healthy circulation boost. Red wine has some anti-oxidents that offer additional health benefit, but overall, you’re way better of with a good beer which, in addition to all the benefits of red wine, also has protein and a full does of vitamin B – which helps prevent hangovers! I’m not making it up. Check out my book on the subject. It’s called Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World. My blog is here: http:beeractivist.wordpress.com.
Cheers!
Chris
Comment by Chris 'Beer Activist' O'Brien — January 16, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
During the last few months of last year I started drinking regularly for the first time in my life — at least a glass of wine most days. In early Jan., on the way back from family vacay accidentally stopped. Wasn’t planned — just wasn’t in the context to drink for a couple of days. The withdrawal symptoms kicked in almost immediately. It took me a little while to realize what was going on. I was sort of freaked out until my mom told me about caffine withdrawal symptoms that were just as bad. Anyhoo, if I were to go completely dry and judge life improvement, I think I’d need to wait until the withdrawal was over, which could take as much as a couple of months. But my constitution is annoyingly delicate.
Comment by Kyeann — January 18, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Hey Kristen and Kathy — I was hoping others’d join me in the 1% category :) Yay!
Starre — How did detox week go? I too am in a writing program (PhD in lit and creative writing) at USC, so my habits are not terribly unusual.
Chris — Did you take the AUDIT test? Please report back. :P
Kyeann — Your constitution is indeed quite delicate! I’m more bothered by other things — i.e. any amount of moving dust will have me sneezing for a while, and if a cat has even stepped foot in a place within the last month, I’ll get allergies there. Slight exagerration on that last one, but not really. Wine good, cats bad (but cute in pictures).
Hey Johan — Luckily, quite a few of the restaurants I like have organic wine (Real Food Daily, Tender Greens, etc.). Many many places carry Bonny Doon’s Big House Red, which has been making great strides in organic / biodynamic viticultural practices. You do, however, often need to know the popular wines that’re out there, as many bartenders will not know which ones are organic offhand. To that end, here’s my list of Cali organic wines.
In fact, it is not at all difficult to get organic wine in LA, as long as you look for it. If you go to “conventional” supermarkets, however, your choices are likely going to be limited to Bonterra wines.
Yes — Many studies have said that all alcohol is good for you in moderate amounts (define moderate how you will) — though I’m still biased toward thinking that red wine’s the healthiest of all (though as of now, I have no scientific basis for this gut feeling). One bad thing about red wine: It’s supposed to give you worse hangovers. However, I don’t find this to be true for me — vodka martinis and tequila shots seem much more debilitating the morning after…
Comment by Siel — January 18, 2007 @ 6:11 pm