Alcohol Free Wine and Beer

I decided to reward myself last night with a bottle of alcohol free chardonnay.  I have stayed away from the AF wine and beer for the most part, worrying that it might be a trigger of sorts. I found an AF beer that I really like but I know from past experience that AF wine can taste downright nasty.

I had the AF beer last Friday out to dinner for Mexican food and it was good, hit the spot.

Last night, however, I would classify the AF wine as punishment, not reward.  It was not the most enjoyable way to end my 30 day celebration.  I won't name the brand because some may like it and it may not affect everyone the same way....but my body did not adapt well.....

On the other hand, I may have found the cure for the errr......movement issues...that come with quitting alcohol.  In fact, I think this drink should be marketed right up there with metamucil, miralax and castor oil for that purpose.

It started out as a lovely evening.  Husband got home early and son was at sports.  We sat outside and I thought it really would be nice to have a glass of a wine-like substance in hand.  I was a little tired of my normal go-to drinks.  I wasn't having a craving, interestingly enough, I just wanted to participate in my old habit.

I digress for a moment...since switching from splenda to stevia, my taste buds have readjusted.  I used to not like tea with sugar anymore because I was so used to the extra sweet of splenda.  Now that I have been using stevia I've lost some of that sweet need.  I tried tea with regular sugar recently and it tasted sweet again.

I figured that my taste buds were normalizing also from not drinking and maybe the alcohol free wine would taste different now.

So....In great anticipation I poured myself a glass.  It looked nice, a pretty golden color.  Just the thing! I headed outside. I took my first sip.  It wasn't horrible, let's put it that way.  Sort of like a Riesling even though it was labeled Chardonnay.  Not exactly my thing but I've drunk those before.  Maybe sort of like a "slightly turned" Riesling.  I certainly haven't been above drinking wine that might taste a little off if the wine was there.

I believe my hubby used the term "pickled applejuice".  Okay, maybe.  But it still felt more grown up than sparking water.

Interestingly enough I kept pouring this stuff.  It's as if my old drinking habits kicked in.  After two glasses I had to go pick up my son.  I actually caught myself wondering if I was okay to drive after two glasses....wow....time warp.  I chuckled with an "oh right" it didn't have alcohol.  (It tasted so bad that I guess that's why my mind went there...)

When I got back I had another glass before dinner.  (Again, no idea why..)

We had burgers for dinner and, while I would like to blame them for what happened, given that the other two diners were not affected.....I don't think it was the beef.

Let me just suffice to say that right near the end of dinner I had flash backs to preparing for a next day colonoscopy.  (If you haven't had one, you don't want to know..)  This morning all systems were again "at go mode".

On the positive side, I start Day 31 about 2 pounds lighter.......now I will keep some of this wonderful, tantalizing, AF chardonnay on hand for days when I "need it" or for unsuspecting guests toward which I am not feeling charitable.  "Oh my dear, do try this wonderful Riesling I found and see what you think!! It's from a wonderful new winery I found...."

I have to get my kicks where I can......And now I head off to my day feeling so much lighter!!

HD