The (short- or long-term) Teetotallers thread

I think you’re right ShadowsDad   there was a BBC series on Netflix a few years ago called Addicted To Pleasure. Had episode on each of whisky, tobacco, opium and sugar and the worst of the lot on humans is sugar.

Our bodies will actually expend more energy to digest and absorb less energy than it gets from the sugar it processes. Yeah, I'd call that a major addiction.

And I don't blame the plants. There were animals with a "flaw" that could be exploited and the plants that mutated to put sweets or starch in their seeds/tubers were eaten and got spread and so were more successful and got spread around. (Explain hot peppers. I can't. Maybe cave men were hot heads too? Maybe they took a bite and threw it away spreading the seeds? Or maybe birds spread them? Birds are immune to capsaicin but mammals feel the burn. )

Bananas... did you know that bananas are 100% dependent on us for their survival? Or so I read or heard somewhere. Myth? IDK. I have never seen a banana seed. Has anyone? Every other plant I have eaten has had a seed or eye, some seeds don't show up until the second year, but they show up.

Oh well, things to contemplate on long drives or other meaningless tasks that happen on subconscious autopilot.

My own diet strategy (really a lifestyle adjustment) came about after I spent some time thinking about the requirements of my current lifestyle.

If I make the assumption that one of the primary functions of food is to serve as fuel for my body and metabolism, then the amount of need for fuel is what should determine when and how much I eat, rather than some set schedule imposed by social mores.

So I eat pretty much whatever I want (I prefer my food to be as unprocessed as possible), but I manage when I eat fairly strictly. I will generally not eat unless I have several hours of moderate activity planned after that meal. My breakfast is also usually had after I've been active for a couple of hours at least. Most days, I have breakfast and one other main meal.

I don't feel like I am denying myself anything, so it's pretty easy to stick to.

If I have a long ride or a hike planned in the morning, then I will carb/protein load the night before, but unless that's the case I will not eat a late meal.

Of course, the social aspect of meals is not ignored. I will sit down with the family, but will only eat a tiny portion to be companionable.
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This works for me because of my lifestyle: I am very active outside of work and my work is pretty physically demanding too. There's some desk work, but I try to keep that to the mornings and will usually eat after my computer work is done. I'm not sure if this strategy will be applicable to anyone else.

good thread, yohannrjm. I never was a big drinker myself (my Dad was an alcoholic), though I did dive more into it a few years ago. I rarely drink now, maybe 1 or 2 beers a month, at most, but I can go months without drinking even a sip of beer and I'm fine.

May 8, 2011 sobriety date
June 2, 2005 nicotine

For me, it is about accountability. I have internet "friends" who I text daily. Still. Roll call. I don't have to quit forever, just today. And today is all my mutts require, and all I can commit to. I will be clean and sober today, that's it.

Had a couple fingers of Wild Turkey last night before I remembered this but I'll commit to the rest of Feb now and go from there. Apologies for it slipping my mind. My father was an alcoholic that recovered with sobriety for many years before passing away Oct of 2020. I've never had a problem with drinking but trying to slim down a little has me willing to add this to my more careful selection in my eating. Not a diet but better choices so this is another good thing to add to that focus.

May 8, 2011 sobriety date
June 2, 2005 nicotine

For me, it is about accountability. I have internet "friends" who I text daily.  Still. Roll call.  I don't have to quit forever, just today. And today is all my mutts require, and all I can commit to.  I will be clean and sober today, that's it.

BIG congratulations on both fronts !!

Had a couple fingers of Wild Turkey last night before I remembered this but I'll commit to the rest of Feb now and go from there. Apologies for it slipping my mind. My father was an alcoholic that recovered with sobriety for many years before passing away Oct of 2020. I've never had a problem with drinking but trying to slim down a little has me willing to add this to my more careful selection in my eating. Not a diet but better choices so this is another good thing to add to that focus.

Everything in moderation, even moderation.

But yes, alcohol has oodles of calories so if one is trying to cut back to lose weight alcohol should be off the "food" list. No redeeming value to it's calories.

For those in ketosis it won't throw us out of ketosis since it isn't carbs, but the alcohol is processed by the liver first, then after it's been handled the liver gets back to making ketone for fuel. Can't burn stored fat and consume alcohol at the same time if that's the goal.

I do enjoy a beer or two weekly with a ball game or as Marko mentioned earlier in the day after some yard work. Weekly or bi weekly I do enjoy a small glass of a pricy spirit but most definitely I have been disappointed with myself more than a few times over the course of this pandemic. A very good thread ides with some real thoughtful posts.

A little over nine years myself, though I do drink NA beer occasionally. It's been great that that market has started to get so much better. Guinness 0, Heineken 0, Sam Adams Just the Haze IPA, Brooklyn Brewing, Well Being Brewery, etc. Many of them you wouldn't be able to tell that they're NA without the labels.