So here we are day 2 of the great detox and still on track. And to think some people said it would never last.
I slacked off with work at the weekend resulting in taking Sunday and Monday off completely. We had some social stuff going on, there was an boisterous puppy to be played with (do you think I’ve overdone the puppy exploitation thing yet?) and also I like to hold on to the great old British tradition of chilling on holidays, or bank holidays, as we prefer to call them.
Bank holidays such as Easter, May Day and the last Monday of every August are treated slightly differently in the UK than they are here in the US. The most shocking difference of all, is that people in the UK actually tend to take them off or at the very least get paid over time if they work. Whereas, here in the US it seems that few businesses offer their employees the day off and even fewer pay them more money if they do show up.
This post isn’t going to be a whine about the terrible plight of the workingman and woman, that can wait until a later date because today I’m going to lay down the reasons and guidelines of my 27 days of abstention.
Let me be honest and say the few days prior to midnight on Sunday, I not only drank too much, but also consumed way too much coffee, candy and red meat into the bargain. I was acting like the heavy smoker about to take a long-haul flight thinking if she smokes an entire pack of cigarettes just prior to boarding the withdrawal symptoms wont be so bad.
The weird thing was though, I felt like crap yesterday. I was lethargic, apathetic and generally a bit miserable, which is unlike me these days. I was trying to figure out whether I was just a tad run down or because I had eaten and drank too much, not slept enough and that my body was now rebelling. Not that it matters too much because the net result was the same.
A few people have commented that they think I may have taken too much on at once. I understand that and I would agree that with a great many people there is a risk of being overwhelmed by so many commitments at once. For them it can be helpful to do one at a time.
Having said that, I prefer it when I’m challenged on multiple levels concurrently to reduce the likelihood of my losing interest and getting bored. By attempting multiple tasks I’ll never be short of something to whine and complain about because there are so many different options! Also let’s keep sight of the fact that I’ve only committed to do this until September 27th, so it’s not that big a deal in the great scheme of things.
The reason I am doing this is simply because I can. It’s not because I think I’m bordering on becoming a caffeine-fuelled, carnivorous alcoholic. I merely want to know how I’ll feel when I’ve simultaneously wiped those things from my system. It may be I feel no different at all, in which case it was an interesting experiment and nothing else. On the other hand I may feel brilliant and consider leaving them alone permanently or just for special occasions. Time will tell.
There are two sides to this. There is the food/drink part of it and the other stuff such as meditation and exercise. I have to confess that I already meditate almost every day, so this should be easy for me. Nevertheless, I know that when I’m in a bad mood or tired then meditation and workouts can often be the first things to go by the wayside, so by committing to you now I know I wont use that option.
I frequently talk to clients about gaining leverage in whatever it is they want to achieve and that’s what I am doing here. I had an idea to do this and my initial thought was “Yeh, that’s interesting, but you’ll quit after a day or two” Rather than beat myself up for being such a naughty loser life coach with no will-power, I decided to opt for this method.
The fact is that by committing to you I feel like I have a lot more leverage. I don’t want to feel like I have let anybody down, especially not YOU my lovely and always appreciated reader.
I’ve decided that I’m going to allow myself de-caf coffee for the first week. I know there are small amount of caffeine in de-caf and if this is enough to slow down the withdrawal symptoms, then that’s good enough for me. If on the other hand, I still get the caffeine headache from hell over the next day or two, then the de-caf bites the dust quicker than those McCain/Romney bumper stickers.
I was considering giving myself one opt out and I’d really welcome your opinion on this.
I have been blogging for two years now and only really seriously got into it over the last year or so. My blog means much more to me than I ever thought it would. Not as a money making enterprise because quite frankly it doesn’t make any, but more as something that allows me to communicate with like-minded (and sometimes not like-minded) souls on a daily basis.
It allows me to talk about coaching and hopefully spread the word that it’s an option for anybody that wants to improve the quality of his or her life. It also allows me to have a lot of fun and hopefully that comes across in my writing.
For 3 months I had August 6th marked on my calendar. That was the day when the website 9Rules were accepting applications for joining. I’d missed the previous date by 12 hours and was pissed off quite frankly.
Like many other bloggers I submitted my application and I’m now waiting to see if I made it. I’m confident, but then again why would anybody apply if they weren’t confident? However, in their last round of submissions they did turn down about 85% of the applicants, so I also have to be sensible in managing my expectations.
So here’s my question. I was planning on getting a bottle of champagne and cracking that sucker if I made it in. If I do (and I know I’m tempting fate somewhat, but so what that’s what fate’s there for, right?), should I still do that, or should I put it on ice until next month?
I’m going to go with the majority on this one so look for lots of never seen before commenter’s with no blog links saying things like “Go for it Tim!” and “I’d make it two bottles if I were you” and “Don’t forget that whiskey chaser!”
The list in full:
- No alcohol (except maybe….)
- No red meat (white meat no more than twice per week)
- No caffeine (except what ever is in de-caf for first week)
- No soda (that’s a newly added one)
- No cakes or candy
- No white flour (including in pasta – wholegrain pasta is ok)
- Meditate daily for no less than 20 minutes
- Exercise 4 times per week for no less than 45 minutes
I’ll be reporting back at the end of the week with an update on how things are going.
No Champagne Tim.
Celebrate by sticking a long stemmed rose along the crack of your ass and dancing naked in the street. But don’t drink the bubbly!
Oh, and take the thorns of the rose first.
I agree with Dave – don’t do this to your body – if you detox, then detox. It IS possible to celebrate without alcohol. Although I might try a different method than what was suggested by Dave.
Good luck!
I think it’s awesome that you’re taking so much on at once. That’s how Writer Dad does it. Good on you.
I’ll drink the champagne for you. Just call me and I let you listen in on my gulps.
You should not drink the champagne. I have no reason, I just thought I would vote no because I am feeling feisty. I don’t think I will settle down until I get my new McCain/Palin bumper sticker firmly attached to my car window!
You should wait to drink the champagne. There is always time to celebrate and you can celebrate doubly if your application is accepted and you make it, and it wouldn’t feel the same if you cheated.
@ Dave – Obviously I was going to do THAT anyway, just thought I’d have a glass too.
@ Vered – The consensus seems to be ‘no’ and I’m ok with that and you’re right they’re other ways to celebrate. Let me know what they are will you ;-)
@ Writer Dad – Thanks and glad to hear you work that way too.
@ Laurie – You’re not having my champagne, get your own. I’m going to look a right muppet whne I get overlooked now!
@ Chris – Yeh you too. I hate all these comments making so much damn sense. What’s wrong with the world?
I would drink the champagne. But then again, I wouldn’t be doing the detox in the first place, because I’m so distracted these days that I’d never remember I was doing it anyway.
You promised yourself champagne, and a glass of bubbly isn’t going to kill you.
Cheers! :)
I’m with Carole of course…drink the champagne!
You only get to live once. Health is about moderation and happiness. It is about bottles and bottles of champagne that never satisfy, not one little ice cold victory glass of bubbly. Good luck. I am sure you will get in!
the bottles and bottles of champagne being the problem of course…
i didn’t respond when you asked us to. but i quit smoking. i wrote a future post and set it to debut three weeks from now about the whole thing.
so if you drink the bubbly…..i get to smoke.
how ’bout that?
there are other ways to celebrate. for me? it might be a massage or a new pair of shoes. (ha)
forgo the bubbly through the detox period. keep your commitment to yourself.
that’s my vote.
all the best!
deb
I though my suggestion was great! Vered probably had something more flamboyant in mind? I wonder what?
Ways that Tim could celebrate….? Hmmmm?…. I’ll give it some more thought.
Keep the bubbly in the bottle. It’ll taste so much better at the end of the detox. Plus it’ll be a double celebration!
Be a man of your word. Don’t let me down. I’ve invested time in you – and my value system will crumble of you go back on your word.
Deb has the right idea. Treat yourself to a nice pair of Manolo Blahniks
Since you’re only doing a detox for a month, I’d hold off on the champagne. If, however, you were cutting it all out on a more or less permanent basis, then I’d say drink the champagne because nothing should be done in an extreme way unless you have severe health issues related to a certain type of food.
Why are you negotiating with the readers? Surely this is your decision to make?
Just a thought.
@ Carol & Doc Nicole – You two are a pair of temptress’s, but I think I’ve decided to forgo. Anyway, this may all be moot and I may even be sucking on a piece of coal if I don’t make it.
@ Deb – You stick with and together we’ll conquer the world, or something like that. I’d hate to think I was the guy that caused you to crumble.
@ Value system? What value system. BTW, I have yet to congratulate you on your newly launched blog at http://www.teachmychildrenwell.com – Well done!
@ Alex – The die is cast, or should it be caste? Anyway, it’s one, if not both of those things. No alcohol now actually means no alcohol until St Louis. I think I’ll write a song in a Beastie Boy stylee called “No alcohol until St Louis” Maybe not.
@ Anja – Cuz I love my readers and respect their opinions and wondered what they thought. On the other hand may be I was looking to gib, cop out, collapse, buckle, choke or just find an excuse ;-)
There is alcohol free bubbly if you want to put something sparkly in your fun glass.
Stick to your committments. It builds self esteem. Good luck!
OK – So you’re looking for a way out already!!! As if a weekend in St Louis is not enough!!!
There is also sparkling water that can be used to celebrate when you get accepted by 9RULES!!!!!
I take it you are planning to drink the bottle of champagne yourself, otherwise you are corrupting me, as well as yourself!!!
Come on Brownson, let the browness shine, you’re bigger than this!!!!
@ Wendi – Yeh, you’re right I was about to backslide by default.
@ Skippy – You’re about to the second person ever to be banned from my site. Don’t make me do it! I will you know, my finger is hovering over the delete as spam button.
I’d buy some sparkling juice. Sparkling juice is the best, and I like it better than some types of the bubbly. I really hope you’re taking vitamins if you’re going so sparingly on the meat.
And anyone that reads this, Tim and I had a quick chat about a schoolmate of mine that was hit by a car a few weeks ago. Mason has some brain damage and is in a coma, but is breathing on his own and responding to pain and sounds.
Good Ol Tim said I could post the link to the website. I’d appreciate it if everyone could put in a good word with their higher power and tell the Barker family to hang in there as Mason recovers. He is a very strong athelete (he was riding his bike training for a triathalon when he was hit) and an all around amazing person, and I know he’ll pull through, but his family needs all the encouragement they can get to be the best cheer section they can. Thanks!!!! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/masonbarker
@ Melissa – I’m definitely doing the vitamins! BTW, I also mentioned Mason’s story in a post I’m about to publish.
I don’t need a website to be on your back remember, so go ahead- delete- it will not make any difference – we are in this for the long run, even if it kills you!!
I agree with the others who’ve said no to the champagne … not because I’m mean (OK, I am) but because I suspect you’ll feel like you’ve “cheated” or broken your committment if you do drink it. In my experience of giving up alcohol for a set time, saying “none at all” is MUCH easier than saying “only on really special occasions.”
And it’ll seem all the more reward if you wait till after the 27th!
I have decided I’m not going to drink the champagne because I’m too busy eating the egg that is on my chin.
Ritual humiliation time because I never made it on to 9Rules. I’m off to live in a cave for 8 years, not 9 years you notice, but 8. In fact I will never use the number 9 again apart from just there.
BTW I had an excellent opening 8 on my round this afternoon. The back 8 not so good mind you and lost 2 balls.
If you go live in a cave you better have the internet with you. If not, I will come find you and drag you out by your armpits, then I will create a sweatshop and make you write blog after blog in very humid uncomfortable conditions! (and there will be a full bar sitting just beyond your reach because you will be chained to your chair!!!)
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! oh… sorry…
@ Melissa – That sounds fun, I’ll be in Cave 112b
*dies laughing*
LMAO @ Melissa’s
“MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!”
Also laughing at the armpit dragging. Hehehe
I aim to please.
*is still pondering the egg on chin remark*
@ Melissa – The egg on the chin comment was because I felt a tad foolish for talking about getting on 9rules and then getting turned down. I should have maybe kept quiet, although I was confident so maybe I was right to have the courage of my convictions and shout my mouth off.
If you shut your mouth off, I’d be devistated. (okay, so you don’t actually “speak” to me, and would still be able to type, but you know what I mean!!!
Besides, you had no reason to believe that you’d be turned down!
Pah! 9Rules! Frankly I could take them or ‘leaves’ them.
Aaaaaaahahahahahaha hahahaha aaaaa
I’m just too funny.
Sorry to hear that Tim. Will you go for it again?
Anyway I think you were right to speak about it publically. It’s good that you lead by example.
- LEAVES – hahahahaha
Sorry that i didn’t post in time to tell you, “No, Don’t Drink It”. But that would have been my post. That and something about giving up before getting started, etc.
LEAVES – hehehheheh
Greg,
I’m re-leaved that you got my joke.
LMAO.
You have to pop the champagne if you get into 9Rules! Wait a month? That’s making some process more important than celebrating life, .and I think that’s always a mistake.
As for your list, you certainly do like a challenge so good luck. I think you might need it. Or maybe that would just be me…
Looking forward to hearing more about your progress.
Kelly
@ Melissa – They’ll never shut me up.
@ Greg – Thanks for the advice and please don’t encourage Dave, he really doesn’t need it.
@ Kelly – Ok, I’ll say it again just for some more added ritual humiliation. I DIDN’T MAKE IT!
Point taken though about postponing life, even if it is a moot one.