So I gave up drinking on Friday, 19 November. I finally realized that it was becoming a bigger problem and that continuing down that road would not lead to anything good. So I put down the booze and picked up my training. The result was my biggest training week, volume wise since the week of June 7th. I managed to ride 75 miles, including a 47 miler today, and run 19 miles, including a 10 miler on Saturday. I certainly feel a lot better (especially in the mornings!) and I seem to recover from workouts faster as well.
As far as quitting goes, only the first two days seemed difficult in the least. I didn’t feel any sense of deprivation over Thanksgiving and haven’t really felt any strong urges to drink. I suppose it helps that there isn’t really anything to drink in the house, at least nothing that I would really want to drink.
Next week is going to be a true test as it will be a full work week and a school week as well. In order to counter the inevitable stress of both environments, I’m going to try to go back to two-a-day workouts. I’m not sure if I can make early morning workouts, but I should be able to run at work during lunch. When I get home I’m planning on “pressing play” on P90X.
I have no idea if this is going to work, but I’m willing to give it a shot.