For the last two years, I’ve been a 3-martini kind of gal. Every. Single. Day. Regardless of when I returned home from operational duties, it would be martini time. Sure, sometimes the count ended at one. Sometimes with none, rather replaced with wine. But, during each 24-hour period, the ritual stood strong. And for the last year, I’ve had food with it, too. Obviously creating my present high levels of Chub-A-Roni.
This week was different. An anomaly, perhaps?
I only drank three martinis. On Wednesday night.
Not drinking. Rather eating items that are completely foreign to my prior food systems, items like this…
And this.
And this.
Why does my body not crave the alcohol?
Does it have something to do with my Raw with Benefits diet?
Whatever is the reason, I feel fabulous!
And I’m saving a ton of calories. ;)
Remember my Vegan Luau Chicken Salad and its super heavy Thai Peanut Dressing? Well, little miss “I walk dogs all day and can afford this dressing” clearly was wrong. And I don’t mean “afford” in the monetary value. I mean with the hips.
So now we have the Raw Version! With fresh lemon juice as dressing!
Even Gwendolyn was intrigued at the change!
Lickin’ those chops!
Tried to fake me with a smile, begging for carrots!
And then she got bossy, like her mommy. Ha ha!
Wow, I saved a ton of calories this week!!!!!!!!!
My body feels light, nourished, and it’s looking fabulous again! ;)
A perfect entrance into my next year on Earth.
How does alcohol affect your body?
© Nicole Marie Story Enterprises, LLC and nicoleandgwendolyn.com, 2011 – 2013.
I think it’s awesome that you took my advice!
Nice to know you can listen to something other than the sound of your own voice, good job Nikki!
good luck on your diet.
I did not take your advice. I listened to my body. Thank you for reading. ;)
Em, you are very annoying. Not only do you take credit for Nicole’s decision, you also call her by a nickname she doesn’t care for. I take great offense at people who refuse to call me by my full name (certain relatives excluded). I find you to be very offensive.
Hear ye! Hear ye! :)
Alcohol makes me sleepy. A mere 3 oz. of wine drunk diluted with 8 oz. of club soda and consumed over a 4-5 hour time period makes me feel heavy and droopy:). Perhaps that radical effect has something to do with the lack of food? Ha ha ha…story of my life I guess. Oh we’ll, at least the alcohol bill is small.
LOL! Oh, JEG! I remember our first meeting… you mentioned falling asleep with wine (or champagne) on the table. I remember asking myself, “What the F*ck? Who in tarnation leaves wine on the table?!” Now I get it. Wine does absolutely make me feel heavier, too. Gin is light and sprite-like, so long as food is not involved. I don’t want to set any “rules,” but I forecast that gin shall be a twice weekly occurrence, with wine being one. Mwah!
Love my wine once or twice a week so I’m no judge to those who know their limit to the alcohol consumption.
However those brazil nuts I’d be consuming limitlessly. And those would affect my body unfavorably.
I’m glad you are making better choices for your body and mind.
I hope tomorrow you won’t have an alcohol free day, however ;)
Ha ha ha!
You read my mind about tomorrow!
It shall absolutely include the wine and or spirits. :)
Some Days are meant to fete!
Or better triumph :)
Or better, OWN.
:D
PS: your comment is a pressie. Thank you for it:)
Nicolette. Of course you know I love this post of yours! I don’t drink any alcohol, for ethical reasons, and have not in my whole life (not even beer) except for trying wine once when I was 7 years old. Yes, I am in the minority, but I love to be. So I love that you have not had the envy of alcohol as much this week. Yes, I know you’ll be having wine today, but hey, I can still rejoice!
Love you!
Francoise
Françoise! I must ask! Your “for ethical reasons” statement has mystified me all day long! Please tell me what that means. What is not ethical about drinking alcohol? I love you, and I thank you for rejoicing in my spirits! ;)
xoxoxo
Nicolette! I just saw your comment! For me, I perceive alcohol as a soft drug which changes one’s behavior at least temporarily. Alcohol is totally accepted socially, and most people do drink it, at different degrees. But I do not, and I don’t understand that I would need to have alcohol to reach a certain, artificial level of peace and calmness, happiness, or euphoria. These qualities that I just described don’t require artificial means.
Now I work in a business environment in which it is customary to find ourselves relaxing at a bar after a meeting with partners. I have no problem being around people who drink, but I did notice that it’s often the other way around, and that fact of course is what makes me uncomfortable at the end. :(
I understand that there is pleasure in drinking and it makes one feel good. But I chose (a long time ago, as little girl) to reject anything that makes my joy artificial. Yes, it is sometimes VERY challenging, but that’s how I feel the most true to my identity. Do I feel lonely and isolated sometimes? Oh, yes, yes, yes, but that does not deter me from continuing in my ideal vision. In fact the anorexia itself in a way was a research for purity…. OK, I hope you won’t categorize me as a loony crazy French girl now. Just trying to find my Truth! I am curious to see your answer, and I do love you and our differences!
Francoise
I love Brazil nuts, too, but apparently one can get too much selenium from eating lots of them. I haven’t researched this in depth, but what little I’ve read has forced me to limit myself to 4 Brazil nuts per day.
Oh! You have so intrigued me with your comment!!! Who the fuck knew that too much selenium could be a bad thing? Btw, most people, if they are like moi, are wondering, WTF is selenium? Ha ha! First, allow me to state that my client left these nuts for me (she reads my blog and knows about my new raw lifestyle – how fabulous is that to create such accommodation on such short notice?! It’s not even been a week, yet I have a refrigerator and pantry full of fabulous raw items!… This is a client for whom I have a one-week commission; overnights, etcetera). That said, I would never go out of my way to buy Brazil Nuts because they are totally “eat the entire carton” worthy… but it was certainly a nice bit of nourishment on these past few days.
According to ABC News (I know, totally liberal, whatever)… “Selenium, a mineral found in fish, meat, eggs, grains and certain nuts, helps boost antioxidant activity in the body to potentially ward off chronic diseases. But too much selenium can cause selenosis, a condition marked by hair and nail loss, garlic breath, fatigue and nerve damage.”
I’m okay with the hair loss because I have so much of it. Perhaps I’ll save money on electrolysis, laser, waxing, and kerastase… nerve damage? Eh, try me, selenium. But really, my great grandfather was a Brazilian. I don’t eat tropical fruit (besides bananas) because I read from Alicia Silverstone that fruits grown in other climates are not good for the opposing climate inhabitants. So although I wasn’t born in Brazil, because my great grandfather is Brazilian, perhaps I have a tolerance for it? ;) Ha ha. Who cares. I’m drinking a martini, hence this streamline of thought!
Thanks for making me think and for teaching me something new! At the next cocktail party where I find Brazil nuts gorgeously displayed in a crystal glass, I shall remark about the selenium factor, presenting myself as a sophisticated, intelligent socialite. ;) xo
MMM look at dem sprouts!! That Raw Rev bar is delicious, that is one of my all time favorite brand of bars. I cannot hang with the alcohol. It fucks with me more mentally these days. All I see are liquid calories that I would much rather save for a cookie. Plus the alcohol itself scares my liver and my brain..so..I don’t drink. If I do, it’s vodka and enough shots to help me see sparkles in the wall. Love the new version of the salad..I would totally nosh down on that!
I love that you are 100% like my baby sister.
100%.
xoxoxo
It is a good decision to stop/slow the alcohol consumption. Three martinis in three hours places your blood alcohol at .265% which classifies you at extremely impaired* according to the law in your state. Achieving this level of inebriation every day will significantly damage your body, primarily liver function.
*Extremely Impaired – BAC over .20% – Confusion and Disorientation – May need help to stand or walk; if you hurt yourself, you probably won’t realize it because the alcohol has numbed your pain and your judgement is so impaired you might not do anything about it; nausea and vomiting common, getting very dangerous because gag reflex is impaired, so you could choke if you do throw up (especially if you black out).
Who cares?
PS: time for some gorgeous martinisssssssss! :D xo
I have tried to read all of these comments and simultaneously comprehend all of the information/judgmental statements made regarding alcohol. But, my glass of wine number two is making it diffucult to care about most of it. Drink what you like, eat what you like. One has to know what their own limits are, and what is good for their own body. I know for damn sure that three glasses of wine are better for me than the damned anti-anxiety meds my psychiatrist would have me choke down. I raise a glass to Nicole and her martinis. Keep em’ dirty my lady!
Amen! Love this post!
Classic denial and enabling. Equating alcohol consumption as a substitute for anxiety medication says that you are self medicating. Being disconnected and reliant on substances is not anything to brag about.
By all means support your pharmaceutical company.
Those offshore corporate digs don’t pay for themselves!
Cheers ladies !
Not Fiona,
I feel I should add clarity to my comment. Anti-anxiety meds relieve only my physical anxiety symptoms and give me a “I don’t give a fuck” feeling. I ended up feeling like a lazy ass that deserved to die because “I don’t give a fuck”. I then had an extra glass of wine one night, which relieved my anxiety enough to eat again. I will admit I am somewhat dependent on alcohol to be relaxed enough to consume the calories to maintain a weight within normal BMI limits. I am aware that excessive drinking is not good for your body. I am educated and intelligent. But, tell me what a BMI of 14.5 and dropping does to your liver? and the rest of your body? I have chosen my medicine of choice and I don’t plan on maintaining this level of consumption for the rest of my life. In the meantime, alcohol keeps me from starving myself to death in the short-term. I should apologize for appearing to encourage excessive drinking. But, like I had stated previously, drink what you like, eat what you like. Everyone has to decide what is best for their own self. One can’t presume to know what is best for another person without the whole story. Thank you for your reply.
I’m happy to hear you feel so good without alcohol! I’ve stopped drinking wine at night a while ago, I feel much better now and don’t feel like drinking. Now I only drink on occasion (like, when going out with friends or at my wedding day, when there was sparkling wine served across the whole day), and I feel that my body has fallen out of the “used to it” mode. A few sips already go into my head directly, and the taste is so intense, so I rather water it down.
Your foods look delicious (although I wouldn’t handle so much salad ;) ). Go you! :)
This post is misleading. The only days you abstained from alcohol are Monday and Tuesday. All other days include photos or references to drinking alcohol, and drinking heavily.
Two days is better than none, is it not, Not Fiona? ;) xoxoxo