Are You a Sober Curious Athlete?
This is a guest post written by Rachel Olson, one of our GrĂĽvi Ambassadors and an American based professional triathlete. You can learn more about Rachel through her Facebook or Instagram pages.
I'm sure that for most of you, like me, the holidays have always been seen as a time of indulgence and "letting go" of your normal eating and drinking habits, no? But as I’ve gotten older (and maybe wiser?), this idea doesn’t exactly align with how I’m thinking these days.
Specifically, my job as a professional athlete means that I do need to pay more attention to detail when it comes to what I’m putting in my body, knowing very well how it will react negatively for my performance or training. Now that the holidays are in the rearview and resolutions in full swing, maybe you are also thinking about cutting out some alcohol.
And I’m sure you might have the same questions as me: curious as to what that sober looks like, how it would make you feel, and how do you even start?? (Especially when trying to shake the holiday habits.) Maybe you don’t even want to be fully sober, but cut down on your alcohol intake while also feeling as if you’re indulging or just want to still enjoy the taste of a good beer. I’m no expert, but here are a couple of my tips as you look into a world of non-alcoholic options.
Dismiss the notion that choosing not to drink is “lame”
I’d like to think that as adults in the modern age, making a choice to benefit yourself and your health should not be the concern of others and certainly not something to be poked fun at. Not drinking is never lame!
Give yourself options
If you know you want to have a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, stock both in the fridge so you’re not reaching for a full alcohol beer instead of just a plain old water. This is where I love Grüvi’s options: I can pick an NA beer or even a Prosecco or Rosé. Pour it in a glass to feel a bit more fancy if you like, and enjoy the taste sans hangover.
Remember WHY you are making these changes
For me, it’s because I want to be better at maintaining a healthy, strong body, inside and out. Honestly, no one wants to feel awful after a night of bad drinking (I’m knocking on the door to 30, but wow do those hangovers hit differently these days). It will make it much easier to wake up early to hit your daily run or at-home workout! I personally enjoy the taste of a good beer or a nice glass of bubbly, and GrĂĽvi gives me that without the negatives.Â
I hope you’ve enjoyed my rambling about my curiosities of sober-living and hopefully this helps you if you’re thinking of making a change! Join me on Instagram (@raceolson) to finish out Dry January and extend it into February—I’ll help you stay on track to hit your goals!