Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time

Alcohol really ages you. After years of drinking, I noticed my face was becoming puffier and skin was splotchy. Over the last two months, I think my skin looks so much smoother and no red tones at all. Today, I am the grim reaper of bad news and alcohol. LOL I'll lighten up soon, I promise.


A new research study indicates that alcohol even ages you biologically at the cellular level, putting you at higher risk for age-related illnesses like diabetes and dementia — and the more you drink, the more your cells age. This revelation appears to contradict previous research that indicated moderate drinking might reduce the risk for these conditions.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that alcohol is hepatotoxic — damaging to the liver, which inhibits the cells that detoxify our bodies. This affects our skin. Also, because alcohol is fermented, it contains chemical substances called congeners that are the main cause of hangovers, and the reason why we look bad the morning after drinking.

So, if drinking ages us at multiple levels, how exactly do these effects manifest?

Here are six ways alcohol ages you:

Depletion of vitamin A and other healthy nutrients – Alcohol can impact your nutrition levels by depleting healthy nutrients that help carry oxygen throughout your body. Alcohol depletes vitamin A levels in particular, and this vitamin is a crucial antioxidant for your skin and body as it aids in the formation of new cells. Vitamin A is also crucial for the production of collagen — a depletion of which can result in premature wrinkles.

Loss of collagen and face fullness – Reduced levels of collagen lead to a loss of elasticity and fullness in your skin, which are essential to keep it looking young and supple. Less collagen equals less tautness and tone. If you drink too much or too frequently, you speed up the aging process by accelerating collagen loss. Skin is already delicate and vulnerable to the elements — wind, smog, smoke and the sun. When you drink, you are hastening the aged, weathered look of your skin.

Dehydration – Alcohol is very dehydrating because it acts like a diuretic. The more you drink, the more dehydrated you will be. This means your skin will appear less plump and fresh the morning after and, over time, will appear dry and wrinkly. (It is a good idea to drink lots of water in between alcoholic beverages to hydrate yourself and help avoid a hangover.)

Redness, puffiness and swelling – Alcohol works as a vasodilator, widening the blood vessels that bring blood to your face. This leads to puffiness or swelling and redness. If you consume a lot of alcohol over time, the blood vessels will steadily enlarge, leading to permanent redness and blotchiness like rosacea. The blotchiness can be compounded by broken capillaries or vessels that burst under the skin’s surface, typically around the nose and eyes. The excess sugars in beer and wine are most likely to cause these effects.

Weight gain – A few extra pounds around the middle and through the jowls can add years to your appearance. Alcohol can cause you to pack on an extra 10 pounds or so. Because alcohol is a sugar source, it raises insulin and triggers fat storage by increasing fatty deposits in the liver, leading to fat storage around the stomach, manifesting as a “muffin top” or “beer belly.”

Sleep disruption – It’s no secret that dark circles or puffy bags under your eyes make you look old and tired. Because alcohol messes up your sleep cycles, drinking before bed makes it more likely that you’ll wake up during the night and get less deep sleep. Even if alcohol makes you doze off quickly, you’re still likely to wake later in the night. You need those deep stages of sleep for healthy, restorative rest to help you look good and also to maintain good cognitive function, say experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

kcn2bluesky wrote: »

Good morning! I've rarely posted this month, but I'm still here reading this thread daily! The January thread kicked me into gear and gave me the support to cut back on drinking alcohol. The February thread has sustained me to where I am now: 50 continuous days free of alcohol. I never would have believed I could do this, nor that I would want to

Life is good! I'm happier, more relaxed, eating more, sleeping more, engaged with my family more, doing more!

I'm like an energizer bunny, finishing projects (sewing, knitting, quilting, and home improvement) that have languished for years.

I've kept a personal blog here on MFP since those early days in January, and it has helped tremendously with my awareness and self-reflection.

I'm tracking on the Dry January app and love seeing the little teacups! I also like seeing the Report Card, with my $$ and calories saved.

I still can't figure out why now, though. Why was I able to stop now, when I couldn't (wouldn't) a year ago or 5-10-15- years ago? What is it about this time around that made everything click? Reading The Naked Mind most definitely helped me, but I was already committed to change before I started reading it. I would love some insight into what it is that made this time work for others on the thread.

Hope you all have a wonderful day today! Hope this thread continues into March.

Karen

Wonderful to hear~ your reflection is very motivating! Keep it up!
Yes, I'll be sure to post a March thread ; it has helped me too so much. Without it, I dont think I would have lasted this long AF. Love the January App, too!

I don't know why it has clicked for me this time, just like you, and not over the years. I have found that I need a goal, a concrete plan. Just like dieting, since I've actively been on the MFP app since the end of October, I've lost over 10 pounds. The dieting thing has clicked too.

I think what I am striving for is creating equilibrium in my vibration. I think that when we get in alignment with our vibration, we attract others like us. Hence, this thread popped up for me in October. It was run by a wonderful lady. She could'nt continue the thread in December, so I volunteered. And then found ALL of you wonderful , inspiring people. The Law of Attraction...
I don't know if I am saying this right. But overall, it is clicking because we are aligning ourselves with our intention.

The other thing that made it click for me was READING lots of alcohol related information, books, blogs, videos. Immersing myself in my goal of going AF.