Embracing Victories Beyond the Scale: celebrating without alcohol

In a world obsessed with numbers—weight, calories, steps—it’s easy to overlook the many victories that can’t be measured on a scale or tracked in an app. Yet, these non-scale victories (NSVs) are often the true markers of progress on our health and wellness journeys. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of celebrating NSVs, offer alternative ways to acknowledge achievements

What Celebration should look like:

For many people, alcohol has become synonymous with celebration and reward. However, there are countless ways to acknowledge and celebrate NSVs without relying on alcohol. Consider treating yourself to a spa day, indulging in a healthy and delicious meal, or spending quality time with loved ones.

Saving the money that you would have spent on alcohol or nights-out can be a contrete reinforcement of how heavily your actions affect your life, for better or worse.

At a whopping 800 calories a bottle and a hefty price tag the calories you skip and the money saved on drinks. When you drink, you are giving time and resources toward something that is working against your greater goals, mentally pysically and financially. Engaging in activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul can be just as rewarding—if not more so—than reaching for a drink.

While the occasional indulgence in alcohol may seem harmless, it can have detrimental effects on weight loss efforts. Alcohol is high in calories and devoid of essential nutrients, making it easy to consume excess calories without realizing it. Additionally, alcohol consumption can lower inhibitions and lead to poor food choices, sabotaging efforts to maintain a balanced diet. Furthermore, alcohol is metabolized differently than other macronutrients, prioritizing its breakdown over fat, which can slow down the body's ability to burn fat for energy.

Many people looking to lose weight have one or two drinks a night. If 5 days a week you have two glasses of wine, you are adding 2 thousand extra calories a week to your meal plan. This causes many people to choose foods that they normally wouldn't because of an alcohol influenced state of lower vibration. Over the course of a year that seemingly innocent glass or two of wine is approximately an expected weight gain of 1.5 pounds per month from additional calories outside of your meal plan. Alcohol calories are more detrimental that that of most detrimental foods, because they also make it impossible for you to burn your fat stores for about 24 hours after you drink. . You can find even more information about this in the chapter "Booze is making you fat"

Beyond its physical effects, alcohol can also negatively impact mindset and goal achievement. Alcohol consumption can impair cognitive function, judgment, and decision-making abilities, making it harder to stay focused and motivated towards achieving health and wellness goals. Moreover, alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for stress and emotional discomfort, which can derail progress and hinder personal growth.

In our quest for health and wellness, it’s essential to broaden our definition of success beyond the numbers on a scale. NSVs encompass a wide range of achievements, from increased energy levels and improved mood to fitting into clothes more comfortably and sticking to a consistent exercise routine. By recognizing and celebrating these victories, we reinforce positive behaviors and cultivate a deeper sense of self-worth and resilience.

Whether it's feeling more energized, fitting into old jeans, or staying committed to our nutrition and exercise goals, every achievement—big or small—deserves recognition and celebration. By embracing healthier rewards and minimizing alcohol consumption, we can create a supportive environment that fosters sustainable habits and empowers us to thrive on our wellness journey.