63 days into 90 day AF challenge. Underwhelmed.
I'm 48-year-old male in UK. I've never been alcohol dependent, but am periodic binge drinker. I've drunk fairly heavily on and off throughout my life, but my usage over past decade is a 'session' twice a month, 25-30 units over a night. I regularly (at least 4X a year ) complete a 30 day AF challenge, no sweat. Over the past 18 months, I lost 4 stone fairly easily and quit (heavy) smoking/toking 11 years ago after protracted quits/relapses. My testosterone and thyroid are sluggish but within normal parameters last time I was tested, not that I can afford to get private tests done every few months. Certainly, I wouldn't qualify for NHS treatment for either. I do feel middle-aged tho' in terms of mood, libido, diminishment of faculties (eyesight, hairloss), despite keeping up a moderate-to-intense fitness regime the past decade and making the changes listed above. I've always suffered from low mood, but over past few years there's an insidious and constant depression over my lost youth, I must admit. I was hoping cutting back on alcohol might help attenuate this.
So I've decided to up my AF game and see if 90 days is this transformative threshold in terms of health, hormones and mood, as so many AF influencers evangelise it is online. So far I'm not feeling it : subtle improvements regards my fitness, yes; skin improved,yes. But nothing that stands out from a fortnight or 30 days clean. And tho' I'm determined to see out the 90 days, I imagine I'll have a drink afterwards if I don't feel I've got much more to lose than from a 30-day challenge. Can anyone tell me what's realistic to expect from 90 days over 30, especially if you're not daily drinker? Cheers, would really appreciate some feedback.