h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No, really, I am.


I recently read one of many articles out there advocating the health benefits of whisky. It purportedly has similar heart benefits to wine. More importantly, it's low in carbohydrates and that is a problem I have to deal with. I am a fat bastard, there's no denying it. I wasn't always. I was quite thin until my later years of college. I developed the typical beer belly and it just kept getting bigger. I became more sedentary as well, and that just exacerbated the problem.

Anyway, after reading that article and maybe another, I thought "why not? Let's switch from beer to Scotch." Well, a major consideration was how well I could handle it. I'm obviously not accustomed to drinking liquor, so I might easily get drunker faster than I expect.

So, I thought I should test myself. Thursday, I started with a few beers, but then switched to Scotch when I got to my local pub. By the end of the night I felt much more clear headed than normal. Tonight I've had nothing but Scotch and again, I had no trouble maintaining some semblance of coherency.

I'm also currently testing out something I heard on Science Friday on NPR several weeks ago. I've (mostly) stopped eating in the evenings. The story was about an experiment performed on mice where they restricted their eating to 12 hour periods per day. For the mice, they were only allowed to eat at night, as they're nocturnal, but for me I only allow myself to eat between 7:00a-7:00p. The mice in the study, whether they ate the same total amount each day or less, lost weight and had many other health benefits like lowered incidence of diabetes. Fasting for half the day apparently has many benefits, not just to our caloric intake but also for hour hormonal rhythms like our circadian cycle.

So, I have noticed that I have lost about 5-10 lbs. since adopting this 12 hour window for eating. Considering my starting weight, 260, I can't draw any significant conclusions yet, but I'm hopeful. I think cutting out the outrageous amount of carbs I normally get from all the beer I typically drink should have a more noticeable effect sooner.

And if things go as I suspect, I might even be able to get off of my cholesterol medicine. The doctor has said several times my problem has more to do with my triglycerides rather than fats.


As an added bonus, I'll have a huge weight savings in the trailer I pull behind my motorcycle when I go for our annual mandatory motorcycle run next month. A bottle or two of whisky weighs so much less than several cases of beer.

OK. its a sacrifice I'm willing to make in the name of science. I'll join you on the experiment! actually.... believe it or not.... I really don't think I could even stomach the idea of a beer anymore for the time being!

Cool old Guy running smooth
"I discovered the benefits of many moons ago.

Trying to mix a I only do not get the brick to fit in

Incidentally over the last years I followed more or less the fasting half a day regime (starting with the supper and if required some late night snack). My body appreciates it, I do not move a finger but keep my own weight. "

I can definitely go along with this, and for other reasons too.

There was a time when I stopped drinking beer when we all went to the pub of an evening, and drank whisky instead. It was a bit tough drinking it as slowly as a pint (so that I didn't finish it before it was time for someone to get the next round in) but at the end of the night I didn't feel so , and in the morning I had no

Result

I must admit, I wasn't aware of the health benefits, aside from the lack of carbohydrates obviously, but if that's the case I may well increase my whisky to beer ratio from now on.

One other benefit: if it's getting towards bedtime and I fancy a little something, whisk(e)y is a far better alternative to beer, because after a certain hour I know that a beer will just mean a trip to the khazi in the middle of the night and a couple of hours tossing and turning trying to get back to sleep. Not a though.

Another result

And let's face it, whisky is just plain

Oh, and one other benefit - you can't make a mint julep with beer.

I'm so tempted to pop nextdoor..... and see if they've got any half-decent single malt right now maybe soemthing nice and smiple for the palette.... a livit perhaps I'm not entirely convinced I could handle teh depths of some of my previous indulgencencies with some of the gorgeous peetier ones Hmmm.... actually, given the affect coffee had on me this morning.... nearly I'm not entirely convinced whisky is a good idea... but.... in the mname of science and insanity... I'll do most things.... a couple of times at least before being convinced they're a bad idea damn. your all just trying to get me in trubble ain't you? ,silly>

Oh no no no no no.

Yes

I can just say you made me do it!

You can try to blame us, but we'll just blame you as usual.


I think one of the reasons pacing went well last night is that my pacing for beer is so poor considering the ABV inflation of late. I've seen some 5%-6% beers referred to as "session" beers.

Heh... I just did a quick search on the Beer Adcocate app for "session" and I looked at 14 beers before I found one under 4%.

Cool old Guy in an
"It takes you
to find one .

Thought you started the s ? "

I was at Off Beat in Crewe on Friday night, she brews some very nice beers below 4.0% although most are between 4 - 5% with some heavier.
https://offbeatbrewery.wordpress.com/core-beers/
I particularly like Wild Blackberry Mild 3.8% in the range of seasonal beers.

No use to you in the states but very nice over here.

So... what constitutes a session whisk(e)y?

Easy... an affordable price.

Last time I was at the liquor store the assistant, who has become an acquaintance and advisor over the years, steered me towards a cheap one called Very Old Barton. You can tell straight away that it's toward the lower end of the spectrum, but it's perfectly acceptable as long as you bear that in mind.

I'll keep an eye out for it next time I'm at Spec's.

I'm actually considering going totally tea total soon. givingv up all alcohol. just. becasue.... it'd be such a strange stupid weird thing for me to do.... obviously I'll wait until the time has passed taht it would have been properly sensible for me to stop... and so do it at the point in time when I could... and would quite like to drink more beer, etc. but... its just a tempting idea except.... it is the Cambridge beer fesavil soon....

Life's too short for abstinence, especially as you get older

I second that emotion.

RESULT!

I just had my annual blood test (to renew my prescription for statins) and my Dr. said "everything looks fine". Considering that he specifically mentioned my previously high triglycerides, I have to conclude that my switch to Scotch worked.