Day 2 – calories and start of trivia quiz

It is early evening and all is well. Still on track with my abstinence from alcohol. It is probably too early to report any obvious benefits at this stage, There have been no cravings but it has necessitated a shift in my thinking and in how I organise my time, as noted in my introductory Dry January post on New Year’s Eve. It really is about changing habits, both behaviourally and cognitively. I try to keep in mind that I am not depriving myself of something (although that is how it might feel at times), but rather I am exploring new ways to experience life. That sounds very noble, but really it isn’t! I’m a bit like Charlie Brown – he couldn’t play baseball but he could talk a good game.

One of the anticipated benefits of not drinking alcohol is being able to lose a bit of weight. Let’s take a quick look at the calories involved in drinking. A gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. This is a more than carbohydrates (approx 4 calories per gram) and a little less than fat (9 calories per gram).

We know from yesterday’s post (what, you didn’t read it?!) that a unit of alcohol contains 8 grams of alcohol, which is 56 calories. The calories in the units you drink will be the minimum you consume – you have to take account of the other ingredients contained in the drink, mostly in the form of carbohydrates, and in anything you mix with your drink. Not to mention any snacks you have with the drink, or any appetite stimulation you might experience as a result of the drinking. And we all know what happens to the calories that are not burnt off with activity – yes, they are stored for future energy use in the form of fat.

Alcohol Trivia Quiz
It is only Day 2 and already I have introduced a new feature! My Alcohol Trivia Quiz. Each day I will post two or three questions for your amusement and edification. The answers will be in the following day’s post. Sadly, there will be no prizes.

1. From what language does the word “alcohol “derive?
2. What is samogon?
3. When was the first corkscrew patented?

That’s it for today! Keep safe and well.