Fasting

[Comte Flaneur]

Today marks the 24th day of my fast, which I intended for the whole month of February. I started on Monday January 29 and intend to break it a week today (February 28th) when I am attending a Northern Rhône dinner I am organising. Before dinner I hope to drop into taste a few 2015 Bordeaux, so I might break myself in the night before with a half bottle of red burgundy. The following day we have a Lafite vertical dinner but that seems to be falling apart as I write this.

The last time I did this was exactly seven years ago, in February 2011, when I was living in CT. I broke the fast in style with Jacques and his buddy Pierre, when we drank a Pape Clement Blanc 1996, a Haut-Brion 1998, Margaux 1996, a Mouton 1986 and an Yquem 2003. That fast was really tough. It was self-inflicted misery. I had to get people to sponsor me. This time it has been a walk in the park. Piece of cake. I just spent ten days in Singapore, which helped.

I think this time my body really needed a rest, because I overdid it during the holiday period. I feel a lot better for it, and I think this has been a good platform from which to tone things down a bit going forward. Then I read Jim’s thread just now about life being too short. Yikes! One of my friends died from pancreatic cancer in 2012. If you contract it your survival chances are about 3%. The risk of contracting it increases with drinking.

But for people like us, it is surely not logical to either stop or cut down drastically just because of this and associated risks. The answer surely is to temper it, to moderate one’s consumption. I think if I end up on a 3/4 days off, 3/4 days on routine I will end up enjoying my wine even more than I do now. Some folks are blessed with a strong constitution, others are not so fortunate.

But we don’t want to be like the 103 year old vegetarian (substitute in teetotaller) who said it just wasn’t worth it.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/heal ... 1027103301

Thoughts?

Happy days:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FWpDmlpybpt7XM9k2

[AlexR]

Thoughts?

I tend to side with Mussolini who famously said "Better to live a day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep".
Seriously though, moderation is the golden mean, the Holy Grail.
But I am incapable of it.
On the other hand, I know well enough not to go too far....

I admire your self-abnegation, and it is unquestionably good to flush out the system from time to time.
Was your experience spiritual (no irony intended)?

I love my pleasures too much to punish myself - even if it is good for me!
And I get the terrible feeling that when I become really old that good food and wine will be a rarity.

So, Ian, you have my admiration, but I don't have the inclination or the willpower to emulate you.

All the best,
ALex

[jal]

Happy days indeed. That was a great evening, seven years? Really?
I believe in moderation but I am lying to myself (and to my doctor), the fact is that we're drinking too much in Florida. Cocktails with sunset, wine with dinner every evening. I sleep much worse after drinking, and the pancreatic cancer correlation is scary, my uncle died of pancreatic cancer.
I don't know if a month of fasting is the answer, though Ian, it sounds like punishment, not a lifestyle change. I think I'll have to do at least two and maybe three days of alcohol abstaining a week.
That Daily Mash satire is hilarious!

[JimHow]

Yeah, I don’t generally drink much during the week but unfortunately I make up for it on Thursdays/Fridays.
It was an attack of pancreatitis that put my 90 year old father in the hospital before he died.

[William P]

I too am on a February Fast. I began mine of February 4th and intend to stay alcohol free for 4 weeks. Sounds like you have an excellent plan to end your fast.

Bill

[DavidG]

I didn't fast but I altered my diet and cut way back on wine before my neck fusion, losing 17 lbs in the process. Hard for the first 2 weeks, then my body seemed to adjust to the new norm and I've held steady without too much effort.

Until we came down to Sarasota 2 weeks ago. Back to old habits of eating too much. Don't know if it's vacation mode, the beach, the sun or the proximity to Javques that's that's causing it. Dinner tomorrow with Jacques, Jill and Jim. Guess getting back on the wagon will have to wait until we get home.

[William P]

Sorry to hear of your neck fusion David. Tell us when you get back to the Bay Area and we'll get another BWE dinner going.

Bill

[Nicklasss]

I'm not fasting, but since the beginning of 2018, I reduced my wine consumption. The problem is that I replaced it by milk and a few pops. So I have 3-5 more pounds, even if I go to the gym 2-3 times a week + crosscountry skiing on the weekend.

I admire those who can quit for a month. Too tough for me, but I guess that if i would stop entirely for a week or 2, i could go to 4.

Wine is a pleasure, but in my case always a routine habit since the last 23 years. But i consumme lower quantity and i'm happy with that.

Nic

[JimHow]

Yes that is what I deal with, when I fast for a month I tend to eat more and actually put on weight.

[Comte Flaneur]

William - how is your fast going?

When I fasted in 2011 I reckon I lost up to half a stone but I put probably put it back on by the end of March. This time I haven’t lost any weight probably, maybe because I cycle less in the winter and am not as heavy as I was seven years ago.

February is a good month to fast. It is the shortest month of the year (:)) and January is ruled out because we have the burgundy en primeur tastings in the second week of that month.

[William P]

Morning Ian, the fast is going well. I've lost 8lbs since it began, but I'm closely watching what I eat and, of course, I am not drinking. The toughest day was when I smoked a brisket on Monday for a block party. That cooking process is usually alcohol heavy, but I had no problems staying the course. Even at the party, I was OK. Although, nobody on my block drinks Bordeaux.

Bill

[RPCV]

I fast every January as a cleanse and some years, go into February for a bit. I find it helps me refocus on my love of fine wine as my sense of smell and taste improves immensely over the 30 or so days. We love the holidays and entertain a lot so my body needs a break.

[tiesface]

Great to hear. I fasted all of January and dropped 14 lbs.

I'm continuing the plan (no grains, no sugar, no dairy, no legumes, no processed foods, no alcohol) for the foreseeable future, and taking breaks 1-2/meals a wk for dining and bordeaux. We'll see how it continues, but I'm feeling great.

[JimHow]

Well done tiesface.
My weight is all stress related.
I lost 15 pounds once during a two-week double manslaughter trial.
Usually the stress of trial practice causes me to pursue an unhealthy diet and, thus, put on weight.
Thus the goal to try to slow things down a bit moving forward!

[AlexR]

Jim,

Did those accused of manslaughter lose weight too?

Alex

[JimHow]

She was an 18 year old girl in a double vehicular manslaughter, an epic case, epically stressful.
The victims' parents were members of the Hell's Angels, including one under investigation for a murder out in Arizona. We had 12 armed guards surrounding us during the trial, my associate and I were escorted to and from the courthouse by four armed officers. I lost significant weight during the trial!

[tiesface]

Well done tiesface.
My weight is all stress related.
I lost 15 pounds once during a two-week double manslaughter trial.
Usually the stress of trial practice causes me to pursue an unhealthy diet and, thus, put on weight.
Thus the goal to try to slow things down a bit moving forward!

Thanks, Jim. Your decision to slow down and enjoy life seems like a prudent one.

ditto on the stress - my recent healthy changes were a direct reaction to a terrible end to 2017. Started an executive MBA program in the fall (I'm young) while working pretty full workload in a leadership role. No manslaughter trials or national cases for me, but first time stress has impacted my health - trying to adjust now and find the balance.