It’s January 25, 2014. I have not had a glass of wine for 24 days! This is a particularly amazing fact, when I tell you that I had fallen into the bad habit of drinking 2 glasses of wine (sometimes 3) at night which often resulted in 3-4 bottles of white wine consumed a week. That was prior to January 1st when I kicked the habit after drinking all the champagne.
Yes, there is no question the wine was a great calmative at the end of the day. After teaching and giving all my energy to the studio and students, I really looked forward to those very cold glasses of Chardonnay in the evening. I made a switch from red to white wine about 12 months ago, as noticed my body failed to handle the “heaviness” of the red rhone I had previously enjoyed. The reds showed up “all over my face” the next day. Vanity of course ruled the day and the red wine was replaced with a lighter, white wine.
As a result, the lighter the wine, it seems the more I was able to consume. Since I am so active, I never paid attention to the calories while I was drinking. I always filled the glass to top – about 200+ calories per 10 oz glass. Damn! Quite a bit of excess sugar and calories and a big zap to my energy level the next day. I was probably subconsciously reasoning that all the green tea and green juice I was drinking during the day offset the excess I was consuming at night. My face still showed the puffiness – albeit a lighter version of puff.
I became painstakingly aware of a new addictive behavior. I didn’t like the result and I wanted to make the change completely.
There wasn’t much I wanted to give up or “delete” from my life in the new year. I actually wanted to “add” things of value to it. I was aware, however, that the fluid gracefulness I wanted in my body and my movements was being held back and perhaps, the wine was a good thing to delete.
I stood still in the realization of the extra work I was requiring of my body with all the wine consumption. Not to mention the money I was giving to the liquor store to support my “habit.”
The first step to change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.
So after finishing a great bottle of champagne on New Year’s Eve and waking up with a great headache the morning after, I took the second step and 
proclaimed to myself and my students, that wine was being eliminated. Twenty-five days later, I am holding onto the change and drinking fruit and vegetable juices as well as herb-tea infused water, exclusively.
I am thoroughly loving the changes I see in the mirror. More importantly, I am enjoying the feeling I have moving on the floor, on my mat, on the reformer, treadmill and in my body in all my bodywork activities.
How are you doing with those decisions you made for yourself 24 days ago?
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Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.