Add sobriety to your workout!

W teaches an indoor cycling class each Monday and Wednesday for our good friend Annie at the Fitness Playground in Mebane. Since I typically attend ballet on Mondays, I missed out on the night we decided to go cold turkey. W, Annie & Sarah were bemoaning the extra empty calories, loss of wallet control and general Sunday stupor that seemed to accompany each of our nights out in Mebane. Brilliant minds stunted by an hour of riding a bike to nowhere came up with a plan for them to be alcohol-free until our attendance at the Blue Ridge Wine Festival. That's basically one solid month in the liquor-free zone. A sucker for supporting anyone's efforts at sobriety and looking to speed up my running times, I decided to join the group.

Three weeks later and almost 6 pounds lighter, I have spent less time numbing my brain in front of the TV, spoken to my husband more and run faster than I ever have. Of course, the 18 beers and 3 bottles of wine in the fridge keep talking to me like those snarky vegetables from the Muppet Show every time the interior light goes on. And holidays with the family take on an entirely new light when sober. I have never been one for drinking to excess but I do enjoy a glass of wine or a nice Belgian brew a couple of nights per week. With work ever increasing, perhaps more than a couple nights per week. So this has been an interesting challenge.....not difficult, just interesting.

The sobriety has made me do odd things, like finally sign up for a bootcamp session with Annie and get up for a 6:30 track workout with some Mebane Running Club pals. But the heavier wallet, lighter me and better relationship status have made it all worthwhile.

Maybe this will be a new annual event? (Although the lack of tolerance may make for an ugly Wine Festival....9 more days and we'll see!)