Back on the Wagon
Oh, the misery of it!!
Inspired somewhat by Melissa’s gallant efforts over in Colorado to go the whole hog with a detox and, closer to home my brother’s quite remarkable capacity to refrain from his gut rotting red wine for days on end I’ve decided to do the right thing and give up the few remaining pleasures I have in this world for a while.
Yes, it’s day five of an alcohol and now caffeine free lifestyle for me and I have to say that so far the only difference I feel is a significant increase in my lack of energy!!!
I am now sleeping longer and find it harder to wake up sans vino then I did when I knocked back a glass of the cold stuff before bedtime.
So what has replaced the cold, crisp sauvignon? Nettle tea! Now I’ve read all about the health benefits of drinking a glass of ’stinger’ but I recently met a man at the gym in his late forties who drank nettle tea and swore by it as an effective natural supplement for weight training and fat loss. I must say he looked pretty good on it so hence the reason I’m ‘necking’ it every day. I have, I must confess resorted to nettle tea bags rather than going off to pick my own. Frankly I can’t be bothered but I have done in the past and I can’t remember it being any less or more pleasant.
To relieve the boredom that is all things a sober life offers I’ve decided to mix it up a bit with the tea flavourings throughout the day. Green tea in the morning, Gingseng at midday, nettle or a particularly fine ‘detox’ blend in the afternoon, jasmine after dinner and a soothing chamomille before bed. Hell, I sound eighty five!!
I’ll report back on my progress in a day or two but I will say that I have a business dinner and a few stressful nights ahead of me which I don’t think a boiled nettle is going to help with!
Cheers!
Gosh, Miles — and right when I’m whipping up a nice little filet mignon and czar braised short ribs, gratin of gold and sweet potatoes, and Swiss chard dripping with unsalted European-style cultured butter. Paired with a nice Chalone pinot noir and topped off with a Valrhona chocolate pie with mixed berries and hand-crafted vanilla ice cream.
Cleanse? What cleanse?
Enjoy your nettle tea.
:-)
April 13, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
Melissa,
Thank you very much indeed-some inspiration you are
Miles
April 14, 2009 @ 7:28 am
Miles
welcome to the abstemious lifestyle !
If you succeed with your trials and tests over the next month Grasshopper than I shall save a place for you in the Monatery I’m going to build for those of us pursuing a new monastic life !
Rod
PS. No wine for table 5
April 14, 2009 @ 7:40 am
Miles,
You don’t sound 85… you sound like an expert perfumer gathering together all his top notes
All this leaves me with two questions…. namely would a cup of ordinary black tea with the addition of a few fresh jasmine flowers in it be the same as the stuff we buy? … and second, I’ve decided to give up Colin Firth… can you recommend a tea substitute?
Cid
April 14, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Oh, but Cid, Colin Firth is a perfect match for you. So erudite — and that wavy hair.
Miles, I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist as you almost sounded like you had a self-diagnosed man-flu of sorts. This time from the white grape strain.
I’m wondering if you’re still using that protein powder when you work out?
Melissa
P.S. I’m going to ease off my cleanse tomorrow, but I’m feeling really good. I always wonder why I don’t just live like this all the time. I suppose it has to do with a nice pinot noir, a bite of grass fed buffalo, a warm cup of coffee with coconut milk, a big chunk of dark chocolate. Mmmm…
April 14, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
Melissa,
Will you stop with the erudite and wavy hair thing… I’m having enough trouble as it is
…. said she drinking a cup of spring lemon balm leaf tea to calm her nerves.
Cid
April 14, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Just your type, Cid. Why fight it?!
:-)
Melissa
April 14, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
Miles,
Yep I can personally vouch for the health benefits of a glass of ‘Stinger.’
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/481225483_71af08580a.jpg?v=0
Oh…..
GDave
PS. Cid, If you’re after Colin Firth you’re gonna have to go through my eldest sister.
(she’s a short-arse, my money’s on you!)
April 14, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Rod,
It’s not been easy tonight after a busy dinner service
Miles
April 14, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
Cid,
Green tea would be better methinks, buy jasmine tea from a Chinese supermarket-far nicer.
Miles
April 14, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
Melissa,
Yes I do drink it. Whey protein usually blended with a banana and some red fruits.
Just necked one
Miles
April 14, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
GDave,
Damm you!! You’ve no idea how much I could just sink one of those right now
Miles
April 14, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
You poor fool. I gave up alcohol once - it was the worst hour of my life. Good Luck.
April 14, 2009 @ 11:26 pm
GDave,
Sounds like your sister and I would have plenty to talk about….. bet we even take the same size shoes
With such dynamic male company on this blog, who needs Colin anyway?
Cid
April 15, 2009 @ 8:13 am
Dave,
……:(
Know what you’re saying. I could have strangled a beer last night but no! I stuck to my guns
Miles
April 15, 2009 @ 8:33 am
Miles,
I’m not sure what “just necked one” means, but this is a topic that might be worthy of a whole post (I might do that). Protein powders and energy drinks. Hmmm?
Have you ever tried hemp protein?
I know — it’s none of my business, but that’s never stopped me before.
:-)
What is your goal by not drinking? (Oops, again, none of my business.)
Melissa
April 15, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
Melissa,
‘Neck one’ means to drink something and drink it quickly because you’re either thirsty or just plain desperate!
I drink whey protein every day, never heard of hemp protein before.
No real goals to be honest, I’m not a big drinker and it has been many years since I was drunk-I don’t like the feeling to be honest. I’m bored of alcohol to be honest plus I do train very hard at the gym and it’s a waste of time if I’m drinking empty calories every night.
Miles
April 15, 2009 @ 3:17 pm