It’s December and my wife and I just completed a kettlebell workout, it was a short one, as I think we’re both less motivated with the weather being not so great in Spain at the moment. We did 5 single-arm swings (sport style), 5 half snatches, and 5 clean and jerk on each side followed by 5 push-ups, we only did 5 rounds.

Tomorrow has been looming, it’s a day that comes around each year. I’m thankful that it does, but on the flip side, it’s just another day. I tried to forget about it, but I might as well stop trying to forget that tomorrow will be my forty-something year of an awesome life (birthday). I’m drinking my firewater with coke zero as I’m writing, and feeling compelled to write about my love-hate —hate might be a bit too strong of a word— relationship with alcohol.

My biological father was a junkie and an alcoholic who killed himself by overdosing when I was seven years old, luckily I now have a wonderful (adopted) dad who started caring for me at age 18. I always said to myself that I would never be like my biological father to my son, and I can say I kept that promise, even so, I do drink, and I want to write about it—again.

This is me today, what you see are the effects of kettlebell resistance training, bodyweight resistance training—some CrossFit—and moderate consumption of alcohol in the form of wine or beer.

I know that I could be so much better, I could have a six-pack instead of a pulled-in beer belly that slightly shows the underlying six-pack that is waiting to be proudly put on display to the world.

Why do I drink Alcohol?

• Sometimes there just isn’t anything better to quench the thirst, but I can only use that excuse for the first one
• Sometimes it’s to be able to connect better, to be more free, relaxed and have a laugh, it’s not called giggle water for nothing
• Sometimes I’m bored

What are the Ramifications of Drinking Alcohol?

• Feeling bad in the morning, regret
• Feeling agitated, not having patience
• Not getting the ultimate results
• Tired due to not getting a proper sleep
• Slower recovery
• Sometimes doing stupid things that make you go “Really? Did I do that?!”

Drinking alcohol is pretty much one of the last bad things I do to myself, I’m too lazy to give it up, too lazy to seek elsewhere for entertainment or work harder to fit in. I eat healthily, I don’t smoke, I work out regularly, and try to keep mentally active as well, that’s my excuse.

Why am I writing this? Many reasons

• Of course, there is some boasting, some pride in what I know takes hard work
• A good reminder for myself later in life when I ask myself “Why wasn’t I bigger”
• Maybe midlife crisis, or did I pass that already?

What are your guilty pleasures?

post below or on our Facebook.

Update in 2023 (7 years later):

• I no longer drink Coca Cola
• My adopted father has passed
• My body still looks the same with some added padding around the belly
• I don’t participate in CrossFit anymore
• I still try to forget my birthday and almost succeeded this year
• I still drink alcohol but in moderation and with lots of dry periods
• We now live in Greece and have lived in Italy, Tanzania, and Albania since then
• I still workout with kettlebells but include more mobility work