Written by Well, here I am wrapping up the end of the second week of my no-beer in September challenge, and so far so good. While I still have not had a drop of beer since the beginning of September, this week provided my greatest difficulties so far.
As I mentioned in the initial post (linked to above) I have in mind several Fall seasonal beers that I want to buy as a reward for myself once September is over. DFH Punkin’, the Sam Adams Fall seasonal variety pack, and if I can find it, Autumn Maple from The Bruery are what await me in October!
So while I’ve been able to resist, I had an incident this past weekend where I found myself heading toward my local Total Wine to ‘see what new beers were in stock’. I was telling myself I’d just look, not buy any beers of course, but just look. Then I thought, “What’s the harm in buying a four pack of DFH Punkin’ and the Sam Adams variety pack now? I’ll just put them in the basement, I won’t open them.” Ah yes, I found myself being convinced that buying the beer and storing it in the basement was a good idea. “What if its all gone by October? Punkin’ is a popular beer!”
Well, guess what happened? My kick-ass logical side finally stepped up and shut down the beer-whore part of my brain right quick. I literally drove past the Total Wine without pulling into the lot, and I was impressed with myself and even grinned a bit having successfully resisted myself.
The other challenge this week was from a visit from my Wife’s friend Samantha who, if you recall, is something of a drinking buddy and has a (mostly) impressive taste in beer. Well, Sam is great company, a lot of fun, and a good person to share a beer or two and some stories with. Well, wouldn’t you know, Sam had just come back from a few weeks in Italy and had lots to talk about! Thankfully, Sam didn’t bring any beer this time or I would have been in a really tough spot. We still had fun catching up, but something was still missing without a couple of good beers!
Weight wise, I’m right where I was last week at 209.2. I don’t think its going to be possible to get to 200 as I wanted to, but on the other hand, so far I’m thinking that my normal beer consumption is not affecting my weight in one way or the other. If I get to the end of September at the same weight as at the beginning, then its something else I’ll need to look at, but not beer! 
Halfway home! I’ve never associated beer with my adult weight, which can fluctuate six pounds in one week depending on level of activity, overall calories consumed, and fluids in general. I’m not thrilled that I weigh 20 pounds more than I did two years ago, but attribute that to middle age and that it’s supposed to be more difficult to lose weight as one ages.
@Lee – True. It seems easier to put on and harder to take off. So far, my experiment is showing that my personal beer consumption has no bearing on my weight in either a good or bad way. This actually makes me happy because now I know that a beer a day isn’t what’s keeping me over 200, its something else. Still, I’m going to ride it out to the end – maybe something else will happen in 2 more weeks.
You have to have some solid will power to drive past Total Wines without stopping.
@Nate – You aren’t kidding. It was like the car was on auto-pilot or something!
Yes I think the hardest part of being a beer whore is the temptation to drop into any store ‘just to check’. It comes 2nd nature to me too. It used to be Wine for me now its ‘Beer’. Though in Australia its a lot easier to not find anything so less temptation to check all the time. Keep going till October, definitely weight fluctuates during older age.
@Sol – Thanks for the support! Its too bad the beer scene isn’t better for you. Maybe there will be a beer renaissance there too!
Just spent a week off myself from beer. Had a baby and sleep was much more important than staying up to drink a beer! Had Trappistes Rochefort 10 last night and it was incredible! It probably would have been a great beer anyway but it makes you appreciate it so much more. Have you figured out what your first beer will be yet?
@Anthony – Congrats on the baby. I have a soon-to-be 6 month old, so I know what you’re talking about! (Good beer choice BTW!)
Well, I found myself a bottle of The Bruery’s Autumn Maple. Its something I’ve been looking for since 2009, and my Wife found it just tonight @ Whole Foods. That’s what’s on tap come October 1!
Scott, Keep up the good work! I have a four pack of DFH Punk on hold for our second annual Pumpkin tasting. However, I plan to break one open on Oct 1 (My birthday) and have one in your honor. Keep going! Your carrying the whole team here!
@Mike – Thanks for the support! I’ still going strong here in the last week. I actually picked up a 4 pack of Punk as well – (still sealed mind you). I’ll have one on your honor come October 1st! Hoping you have a happy birthday!
Let us know when the Pumpkin tasting results are in too!