Long pauser talking

Finally (permanently) got below the 87-88kg limit, which seemed an impenetrable barrier (for a very) long time, I lost 10kg in the first 2 months of 2022 and now weigh 77-78kg.

I feel a lot better physically and I also suffer less from my joints, et cetera. The result: fewer injuries.

Due to the weight loss, the need for me to sleep with an apnea device is no longer present, so it is now in the closet and the snoring is almost a thing of the past according to my wife.

I am diabetic (type 2) and will remain so, but my medication (metformin) has already been halved and the GP expects that if my weight remains consistently at this level, I may be able to go without medication altogether.

I sleep better and when I wake up, I am awake well. I simply function better (especially on Monday mornings).

My diet has become healthier, much more raw vegetables (candy tomatoes and peppers instead of fatty snacks) and with hot meals more vegetables and less potatoes.

I eat smaller amounts, which means that my stomach has become somewhat smaller and rather sends the 'full signal' to the brain (previously sometimes the tendency to want to create a 'bottom' for an evening with alcohol consumption)

I have learned to appreciate other flavors and am still experimenting with them.

Because I don't spend money on alcoholic drinks (and not on all those French cheeses 🙂 I save quite a lot of money (I can use that for buying those new clothes of 1 – 2 sizes smaller).

You feel 'In Control'. Previously I could very quickly find an 'excuse' to drink something ('difficult day at work', 'one must be possible', 'it's almost the weekend' – I tried to limit drinking to the weekend). Because I can now say no (to myself), it feels like having more self-control.

My memory also works better, I remember more, which in turn fits in with better functioning, I am more clear in discussions and activities.

You look for a replacement for wine/beer/whiskey but with a strong taste, then you quickly end up with sweet drinks that are bad for another reason, even if they sometimes contain sugar substitutes. I'm still experimenting with it.

You have to change your clothes. I myself have decreased by 1 or 2 clothing sizes in terms of pants and shirts, so to remain a bit presentable you have to replace all your clothes, I am now doing that step by step.

If you spend a lot of time in groups in which alcohol consumption 'just belongs', you may get the feeling that you 'have to explain something'. It doesn't bother me that much myself, but if people insist on that beer or wine, I just list a few advantages of not doing it.

Ook al ben je niet verslaafd aan alcohol, ook al ben je slechts een gewoontedrinker, het verlangen naar verdwijnt nooit helemaal (ben 37 jaar geleden gestopt met roken toen mijn vrouw zwanger werd van onze eerste, maar de ’trek in een sigaret’ werd pas vele, vele jaren later minder) dus terugval in oude gewoontes is altijd dichtbij.

Some dishes on restaurant menus pair better with wine than other non-alcoholic drinks. I often left it up to the waiter/waiter/sommelier to choose which wine would go best with the dish, but they often don't know what to advise if it shouldn't be wine.

Although I do meet more and more people who have put their alcohol consumption on hold, temporarily or otherwise, you often continue to feel like an exception, you have to be able to handle that and if you can't handle it well, you have to "arm yourself up a bit". ” before going into such a company.