green fuzzy feelings & a cholesterol con?
Posted on Aug 6th, 2008
by 
boydie
boydie
Well, in another week it'll be 4 months without a drink. My weight is pretty constant now at the moment, but I've lost over 10 kilos and I've dropped 2 clothing sizes. I expect when summer hits (or as things warm up) I'll continue to lose more. At the moment my choice not to drink is permanent.
The downside of losing weight is having to buy new clothes (yes, really). To be more eco friendly I spent $ 400 to get 5 garments resized by a tailor. I'm sure with my pants that buying new ones may have been cheaper but it did give me a green, fuzzy feeling inside.
I'm currently reading "the Great Cholesterol Con" (by Malcolm Kendrick), which has been one of the most informative, interesting and humourous books I've read for a long time. I'll reserve any judgement until I've finished the book. It wouldn't be like pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of people...would it???
peace, love & mung beans
Brendan
The downside of losing weight is having to buy new clothes (yes, really). To be more eco friendly I spent $ 400 to get 5 garments resized by a tailor. I'm sure with my pants that buying new ones may have been cheaper but it did give me a green, fuzzy feeling inside.
I'm currently reading "the Great Cholesterol Con" (by Malcolm Kendrick), which has been one of the most informative, interesting and humourous books I've read for a long time. I'll reserve any judgement until I've finished the book. It wouldn't be like pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of people...would it???
peace, love & mung beans
Brendan
Access: Publiclong white clouds & 3 months on...
Posted on Jul 18th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
It's been 3 months (and a few days) since I've had alcohol and I have now lost over 10 kilos and am continuing to enjoy the benefits of my improved wellbeing.
My girlfriend and I have just spent 10days in New Zealand (land of the long white cloud), embracing the elements. Blue sky, huge mountains and invigorating fresh air.
One of the hostels we stayed at had an amazing view of the ocean and the mountains. (Kaikoura-South Island). It made me think about what we sometimes consider success to be. Often society thinks that success is achieved by wearing suits and working in concrete buildings. For me, I thought the manager of the hostel was successful, being greeted by this view everyday.
There's new dreams to be had.
Peace, love & mung beans
2 months on
Posted on Jun 15th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
Wow! 2 months and 1 day-no alcohol.
People are noticing the weight-loss. I'm feeling more balanced, more in tune & much more energised.
I cycled 100km (60 miles) the other day, up the coast. I feel as if I'm now able to push my body to do things I haven't done for a long time.
With giving up drinking I've also been able to make clearer choices about my health, especially about the types of food I've been consuming, which has also contributed to my weight loss.
Herbal Tea and a more vegetarian based diet have been very beneficial. When someone asks me if I want a drink I just say "no" without a sense of shame or having to justify why I'm not drinking.
I've also started thinking more consciously about goal setting and what I want out of life. I certainly feel like there's a shift and I'm starting to manifest a more positive & focussed life.
Creatively I also find myself stretching in to new areas.
I'm very excited to see what happens in the next month.
Peace, love & mung beans
progress
Posted on Jun 4th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
weight 84 kilos
belly 99 cm (yay!)
There's nothing more rewarding than feeling that sense of satisfaction when hard work pays off. It can be a long, (sometimes) slow process.
On the latest Daniel Lanois doco, Brian Eno says "...beautiful things can come out of shit. And if people realise this they can lead a different life."
My decision to stop drinking came out of an unfortunate event and some medical advise. And from out of a negative experience and the negative space I was in I now feel something positive has come out of it. It reconnected me with my spiritual side, I've lost weight, have improved my wellbeing, I now have some very positive goals and have been more present for other people. Spiritual experiences have also popped up in the most unlikely places.
Something I read the other day made the very interesting observation that a person who gives up drinking doesn't just give up once, they have to keep giving up . Hmmm, an interesting thought to ponder.
Peace, love & mung beans
"..i am the voice left from drinking...."
Posted on May 21st, 2008
by boydie
boydie
this line is from an Australian song called Barbados (by the Models).
Well, it's been 5 weeks without a drink. Apart from the odd craving it's going well.
Weight has plateaued, that's fine, I reckon a big cycle on the weekend will help to shift things.
I've swapped alcohol for herbal tea (and ginger beer) and I've been reading some spiritual brainfood to help me stay on track.
I've been reading some interesting blogs about people who have been going through changes (some quite amazing) and have been discarding the past and inventing a new future. There's some really inspirational people on here.
Thanks to those who have popped by and dropped a supportive line (or 2).
I've just read Nigel Marsh's "Observations of a very short man". He talks (openly) about his relationship with drinking and how he felt he never had a drinking problem because he could stop anytime he wanted to. Eventually he realised he'd been fooling himself. It's hit a nerve with me, and I wonder if I could have a healthy relationship with drinking or if I'd fall back into the same ol' trap (even if it takes years). Big decisions ahead...
ciao
"fragments" & i3
Posted on May 15th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
Every 6 months we have an exhibition here that raises money for a local homeless shelter & soup kitchen. It takes 3 of us months to bring the exhibition together and to co-ordinate the 30+ artists involved.
Our most recent exhibition opened last week and raised $ 3500 from our charity auction. Needless to say we're pretty happy with the result.
I'm also working on a new book called "fragments" a collection of spiritual, reflective stories by variety of artists and writers. I plan to have it out in the next few months.
The journey to lose weight and not drink alcohol is continuing and I'm finding myself more empowered and have noticed that the Universe is bringing up spiritual opportunities in the most unlikely places. The other benefit/change has been adapting a more vegetarian diet, which I'm really enjoying.
ciao
Brendan
Tagged with: journey, goal setting
on track
Posted on May 4th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
weight: 85.5 kilos
belly: 102
So far losing weight & losing mass is going well.
I've adopted a more vegetarian diet, have been drinking more herbal tea and
actually been eating less.
I've noticed my energies have increased, especially with cycling.
The first saturday of the month, I get together with a group of like minded artists. As we always meet at a pub, it was a slightly surreal, but rewarding experience to come home sober. Social situations are the challenging times, but so far so good.
Losing nearly 7 kilos in under 2 months was something I would have thought not possible a few months back...
"stay focused grasshopper"
ciao
Goji berry tea & autumnal reflections
Posted on Apr 27th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
Weight: 87 kilos
Belly: 103 cm
Wow. What a surprise to measure my waist and find I've lost 3cm's (just over 1 inch), in just over a week
Not drinking alcohol, eating smaller servings and eating less red meat is certainly making a difference.
Since deciding to give up alcohol I've been more conscious about what I've been putting into my body.
Yesterday I discovered "white tea" & "goji (berry) tea". They both claim to improve the immune system as well as additional benefits such as improving stamina & improving memory. So I've replaced alcohol with something far more healthier & beneficial.
Today I was in the Adelaide Hills, surrounded by beautiful autumnal colours: red, oranges & browns. I purchased a small table made from a recycled Singer sewing machine (the legs) and the sowing machine top has been replaced by a deep red wooden desktop. I also bought a hemp beanie made with 50% hemp & 50% reclaimed wool. I also bumped into an old work-colleague who had set up a stall with natural cleaning products.
It was great to be in environment surrounded by people who had stuff that was recycled & eco-friendly.
After a long hot, dry summer, it was nice to see the rain (and hail) and lots of it and a substantial drop in temperature. Enough to warrant having to dig out a warm top & scarf.
I've just read Shaun Tan's beautiful new book, The Arrival, a graphic novel with new words. It's set in a surreal landscape and is influenced by the experiences of his own family migrating to Australia as well as many others who travelled to Australia and to New York. It's a lovely story & beautifully illustrated.
Haven't craved a drink (maybe I've been too busy).
I recorded 2 songs yesterday, including one that has a Michael Brooks sound (not disimliar to his Live at the Aquarium album) , I've also been inspired by the new Danlel Lanois CD & documentary "Here is what it is".
Here's a quote from Brian Eno from the documentary, he's talking about music but it can apply to so many other things
"...you can create something beautiful out of nothing"
Tagged with: beauty, creativity
downsize me - end of week 1
Posted on Apr 24th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
Well here I am at the end of week
lounging in the hammock last week I felt the odd craving for a drink, but so far so good.
Have been cycling to work (around 26km round trip a day), feeling better and the cycling is getting easier.
Trying to reduce my meat consumption as well.
My quote of the week comes from Moebius (french writer & comic book artist/illustrator, check out his illustrations for The Alchemist).
" .... when you plan for the future, you will build it.
When you speak about the future, you build a small line into the future that you can use to pull yourself to the point you wish to reach."
Ark Magazine (issue 29)
Downsize Me...Does no alcohol = less weight?
Posted on Apr 17th, 2008
by boydie
boydie
Current Weight: 88 kilos
* (approx 194 pounds)
I'm feeling a bit Morgan Spurlock here,... in my previous blog I committed to no alcohol for the next 3 months, so I thought I'd keep a journal to notice how my body, thoughts & life changes over the next 3 months.
As it's changing to Autumn here, it's probably a really good time to go within and reflect and make subtle changes
So far it's been easy and I've also been eating a more vegetarian-friendly diet (I'm an ex-vegetarian). Hopefully this will also help to reduce my quite high cholesterol, as apart from alcohol there's not a lot that I consume that I feel would have such a dramatic impact.
I've been reading some interesting blogs about nutrition and vegetarianism & I'm feeling quite inspired.
(see Michael's 30 Day Vegan trial).
Not drinking could make me a bit of a social outcast, but we'll see.
Anyway, that's it for now
Peace, love & mung beans
Brendan
* 1 kilo = 2.204 pounds
sober
August 2008 