4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Happiness is a big factor in long living.

One of the reasons. Diet coming first, followed by exercise, movement, and reducing stress.

While both happiness and diet contribute to longevity, research suggests happiness may be more impactful than diet alone, especially when considering the broader lifestyle and physiological effects.

Happiness is strongly linked to longer life, with studies showing that happier individuals have a significantly lower risk of death—up to 35% lower risk in some analyses—even after accounting for health and lifestyle factors. This connection stems from positive emotions promoting healthier behaviors (like exercise, better sleep, and balanced eating), reducing stress, and strengthening the immune system. For example, a 2011 study found that the least happy older adults died at nearly twice the rate of the happiest over five years.

Diet plays a crucial role in health and longevity, particularly through nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. However, the way you eat—such as sharing meals with others, eating mindfully, and avoiding processed foods—may matter as much as what you eat. Harvard experts emphasize that social connection during meals is a key driver of happiness and long life, suggesting that the emotional context of eating enhances its benefits.

In summary, while a healthy diet is essential, happiness appears to be a more powerful predictor of longevity, likely because it influences multiple health-promoting behaviors and biological processes

5 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The longer I'm here, the more I miss there, including the wine bargains. I always liked Beaujolais, although inexpensive and not long lasting. Have had almost no wine here, but did when I visited my daughter in November in Texas.

I buy my wines from the likes of "Wine Pro" and also a company called "Vinum Lector", as well as from "Vines to Vino" and all of them do deliver!! So I am never short of a good bottle to enjoy!

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

While both happiness and diet contribute to longevity, research suggests happiness may be more impactful than diet alone, especially when considering the broader lifestyle and physiological effects.

Happiness is strongly linked to longer life, with studies showing that happier individuals have a significantly lower risk of death—up to 35% lower risk in some analyses—even after accounting for health and lifestyle factors. This connection stems from positive emotions promoting healthier behaviors (like exercise, better sleep, and balanced eating), reducing stress, and strengthening the immune system. For example, a 2011 study found that the least happy older adults died at nearly twice the rate of the happiest over five years.

Diet plays a crucial role in health and longevity, particularly through nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. However, the way you eat—such as sharing meals with others, eating mindfully, and avoiding processed foods—may matter as much as what you eat. Harvard experts emphasize that social connection during meals is a key driver of happiness and long life, suggesting that the emotional context of eating enhances its benefits.

In summary, while a healthy diet is essential, happiness appears to be a more powerful predictor of longevity, likely because it influences multiple health-promoting behaviors and biological processes

People are happy, mindful and close to families all over the world, including here where families eat together daily, yet don't live any longer than the averages of countries. but the Blue Zones have people living longer than anywhere else, and diet is the main reason, along with movement and reducing stress. You can be happy, exercise but if you don't follow that diet approach, it isn't going to work. Millions exercise and eat healthy, yet those Blue Zones still reign above, and it's the food .

14 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

People are happy, mindful and close to families all over the world, including here where families eat together daily, yet don't live any longer than the averages of countries. but the Blue Zones have people living longer than anywhere else, and diet is the main reason, along with movement and reducing stress. You can be happy, exercise but if you don't follow that diet approach, it isn't going to work. Millions exercise and eat healthy, yet those Blue Zones still reign above, and it's the food .

Charlie Monger 97 junk food diet. Happy guy. I think food is overrated. Hong Kong people eat a high fat high salt diet and live the longest.

That whole blue zone thing is so vague.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Charlie Monger 97 junk food diet. Happy guy. I think food is overrated. Hong Kong people eat a high fat high salt diet and live the longest.

That whole blue zone thing is so vague.

People who live in the Blue Zones have been living longer than anywhere else for a long time. Some Asians live long and many don't, as a high fat and salt diet isn't a healthy one. Diabetes is high in Asia because of the rice and adopted western food. People in the Mediterranean are one of the Blue Zones, along with Okinawa, Costa Rica and an area in California, Loma Linda. Not vague, as Ikaria Island in Greece and Sardinia lead the other countries in the Mediterranean. Some, a few, eat crapola, drink whiskey and smoke cigars and live to 100, but they're a minority.

I've never had a really serious drinking problem, my problem is more that when I drink I drink far too much, or I used to, I seem to have gotten that under control in the last few years, though most amateur drinkers and particularly American women will say I have a problem because I dont have one small beer and stop, I like to get buzzed as well as have something I enjoy drinking just from a beverage point of view. That seems to constitute having a drinking problem in most of the US.

Anyway, as far as quitting drinking my guess is that if you are always drinking everyday and for years that becomes normalized for you and you don't remember anything different. I would say, cultivate better hobbies and to do that well you need to do things that you enjoy with your free time well otherwise they are not rewarding enough to stick with or enjoy much. If you are hung over or buzzed, you just will not have the presence of mind to say learn to play a musical instrument well enough or to acquire knowledge and insight in a particular extracurricular subject so that it becomes fun and easy enough for you to do.

So, the way I see it, you have to create a situation for yourself where you really dislike being buzzed or hungover because it interferes with your abilty and presence of mind to be able to do something you enjoy doing. But everyone's different, some people, or so it appears to me, seem to just power through all kinds of things well enough blasted on something or recovering from that. That is rather a disadvantage it would seem, not a strength as it might appear at first, because you might have trouble developing a reason you shouldn't drink.

So, any more than a once a week drinking session and I am unhappy about how little quality time I am left with to persue reading with maximum focus, meditation, creative writing and musical pursuits. I am already spread hopelessly thin with all of those, too many interests, and I have others that are back burner, its impossible, I almost never get anywhere with anything anyway, but enough so that I enjoy doing what I do though most people give me an exasperated eye roll say about my songs and ideas about say poetry. Drinking? I really enjoy it but more than once a week and it soon loses its appeal. I feel blessed that it is that way for me, but I think it can be for many, be an escape hatch from daily heavy drinking, you just have to put the time in to get good at a rewarding pursuit and you can likely greatly reduce drinking or perhaps even stop altogether. Good luck!

10 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

People who live in the Blue Zones have been living longer than anywhere else for a long time. Some Asians live long and many don't, as a high fat and salt diet isn't a healthy one. Diabetes is high in Asia because of the rice and adopted western food. People in the Mediterranean are one of the Blue Zones, along with Okinawa, Costa Rica and an area in California, Loma Linda. Not vague, as Ikaria Island in Greece and Sardinia lead the other countries in the Mediterranean. Some, a few, eat crapola, drink whiskey and smoke cigars and live to 100, but they're a minority.

Greece ranks among the top countries globally in life expectancy, currently placed around 33rd in the world (2024 ranking).

Only 33rd. Aussies live longer. They rank 10th. The Aussie diet is nothing special. Lots of beef, chicken and loads of sugar and salt.

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Greece ranks among the top countries globally in life expectancy, currently placed around 33rd in the world (2024 ranking).

Only 33rd. Aussies live longer. They rank 10th. The Aussie diet is nothing special. Lots of beef, chicken and loads of sugar and salt.

Not Greece, Ikaria Island in Greece. Just like Loma Linda in California but not all of California and Okinawa prefecture and not all of Japan. And Sardinia but not all of Italy, although Italians do have a good longevity, in the top 10 worldwide, because of the Mediterranean diet.

13 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Not Greece, Ikaria Island in Greece. Just like Loma Linda in California but not all of California and Okinawa prefecture and not all of Japan. And Sardinia but not all of Italy, although Italians do have a good longevity, in the top 10 worldwide, because of the Mediterranean diet.

Less stressful places. People would be more relaxed.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Less stressful places. People would be more relaxed

There's a lot of crime in Italy, and stress is impossible to avoid. How you handle stress is what helps.

Meat, vitamins, minerals and less stress. No special diet that works. The diet books are selling snake oil.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Happiness is a big factor in long living.

So if drinking makes you happy that's good then? In a rental house in Aus I used to borrow a lawnmower from the neighbour on occasion. I was always a little tipsy (or more) mowing my lawn. She would sit there chugging the beer down and making sure I was doing the same. She was also a fan of the cigs. She was 86. Not sure how old she was when she died because I moved house. I was especially "happy" mowing the lawns when the cricket was on. She was a lovely old girl and a bucket of knowledge. This was some 40 years ago.

I've almost totally given up alcohol. Never drink except when I'm at a party to be sociable, then just a couple of drinks, wine or beer. Stopped drinking because I think it was causing acid reflux. Don't really miss it.

Why is that so hard to understand? Since written history, "little people" had a hard life. Pure "survival" the ultimate goal.

No wonder that an "escape" from a cruel reality was desirable. If only for a few hours.

The Mayas smoked mushrooms, todays youth using crack. The older generation is fixed on alcohol.

A temporary "escape" for people living in a harsh, unforgiving world, "reality" a curse.

The Mayas smoking mushrooms, the crack smokers, the managers snorting cocaine as of today.

All sighns of "escapism" as the modern world and it's reality becomes "unbearable" by a large segment of the population.

I’ve been retired for 16 years; I never really gave it up but I definitely lost the desire that I had with I was young.

15 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Yeah about 8 years ago or so lol

So Doctors said it 8 years ago.

Tried once and it was the longest three hours of my life 🤣🤣🍻

14 hours ago, Shaunduhpostman said:

I've never had a really serious drinking problem, my problem is more that when I drink I drink far too much, or I used to, I seem to have gotten that under control in the last few years, though most amateur drinkers and particularly American women will say I have a problem because I dont have one small beer and stop, I like to get buzzed as well as have something I enjoy drinking just from a beverage point of view. That seems to constitute having a drinking problem in most of the US.

Anyway, as far as quitting drinking my guess is that if you are always drinking everyday and for years that becomes normalized for you and you don't remember anything different. I would say, cultivate better hobbies and to do that well you need to do things that you enjoy with your free time well otherwise they are not rewarding enough to stick with or enjoy much. If you are hung over or buzzed, you just will not have the presence of mind to say learn to play a musical instrument well enough or to acquire knowledge and insight in a particular extracurricular subject so that it becomes fun and easy enough for you to do.

So, the way I see it, you have to create a situation for yourself where you really dislike being buzzed or hungover because it interferes with your abilty and presence of mind to be able to do something you enjoy doing. But everyone's different, some people, or so it appears to me, seem to just power through all kinds of things well enough blasted on something or recovering from that. That is rather a disadvantage it would seem, not a strength as it might appear at first, because you might have trouble developing a reason you shouldn't drink.

So, any more than a once a week drinking session and I am unhappy about how little quality time I am left with to persue reading with maximum focus, meditation, creative writing and musical pursuits. I am already spread hopelessly thin with all of those, too many interests, and I have others that are back burner, its impossible, I almost never get anywhere with anything anyway, but enough so that I enjoy doing what I do though most people give me an exasperated eye roll say about my songs and ideas about say poetry. Drinking? I really enjoy it but more than once a week and it soon loses its appeal. I feel blessed that it is that way for me, but I think it can be for many, be an escape hatch from daily heavy drinking, you just have to put the time in to get good at a rewarding pursuit and you can likely greatly reduce drinking or perhaps even stop altogether. Good luck!

"I've never had a serious drinking problem. My problem is that when I drink I drink far too much...."

This is why the D-word that rhymes with a river is a problem for a lot of drinkers.

When I was actively quitting, I was a member of a support group. During one session, a gent who had recently started attending decided that he wanted to share his story.

He began by giving his background. He had a lucrative career, a loving wife, kids, nice home, etc. The works. He described himself as not a "typical alcoholic." He said that he had been clever about hiding his drinking, being discrete, etc. Tragically, he said that one night when he thought he was OK to drive, he got into a major accident and the other driver did not survive. He was at the meeting as part of his court-ordered punishment, etc.

The man was genuinely remorseful. He struggled with his composure. He stumbled with words. He said if he could take it all back he would. He repeated more than once that he wasnt a typical alcoholic.

At the end, people were supportive (as is the norm in a support group) but there was one feisty participant who didn't follow the speak from the I rule. This participant said plainly, "You got drunk, got behind the wheel of a car, and killed somebody. You sound like a typical alcoholic to me."

The room fell silent for a moment and the moderator had to swoop in, but everyone knew that what the feisty guy said was true.

14 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Meat, vitamins, minerals and less stress. No special diet that works. The diet books are selling snake oil.

I would think that the Blue Zone, Mediterranean diet, which has proven to be the healthiest around, is a better choice than Meat, minerals and Vitamins. Long term research, not withstanding the new food pyramid, which is just the old one upside down, has shown all we need to know.

Eat a variety of healthy food, more from the earth and un processed, less beef and chicken, more fish, grains, seeds and nuts, veggies and fruits, is always the best choice as it gives you all needed nutrients with enough for energy and tissue repair.

Diet books are not the answer but a lifestyle, as a radical diet leaves things necessary out, and although some can have you lose weight fast, aren't a long term solution.

It's my new years resolution this year. LOL. With oysters in the half shell or a steak, I'll have to have wine, meanwhile rejuvenating my liver.

21 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

The longer I'm here, the more I miss there, including the wine bargains. I always liked Beaujolais, although inexpensive and not long lasting. Have had almost no wine here, but did when I visited my daughter in November in Texas.

You mentioning Beaujolais wine has triggered a memory for me – – a supermarket in my hometown back in 1970 had a wine sale on and I bought a Beaujolais Cru wine and was very surprised when they were quite delightful and different to the other Beaujolais wines I had tasted previously.

So I did a bit of research and it appears that given a little bit of bottle age (more than the average Beaujolais) these Cru wines take on characteristics similar to a burgundy, so I went back to the store and bought every bottle they had and was never disappointed.

1 minute ago, xylophone said:

You mentioning Beaujolais wine has triggered a memory for me – – a supermarket in my hometown back in 1970 had a wine sale on and I bought a Beaujolais Cru wine and was very surprised when they were quite delightful and different to the other Beaujolais wines I had tasted previously.

So I did a bit of research and it appears that given a little bit of bottle age (more than the average Beaujolais) these Cru wines take on characteristics similar to a burgundy, so I went back to the store and bought every bottle they had and was never disappointed.

Yes, most drink Beaujolais early, as they aren't really meant to improve over time, but they do change a bit with time like you mentioned. I do love Burgundy wines, both red and white, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Romanee Conti, Gevrey Chambertin, Meursault and Montrachet. Actually waiting for the time I'm back in the states and can re-start my interest with wines, seeing how much positive I hear about the Blue Zones enjoying them .

17 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Yes, most drink Beaujolais early, as they aren't really meant to improve over time, but they do change a bit with time like you mentioned. I do love Burgundy wines, both red and white, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Romanee Conti, Gevrey Chambertin, Meursault and Montrachet. Actually waiting for the time I'm back in the states and can re-start my interest with wines, seeing how much positive I hear about the Blue Zones enjoying them .

As I mentioned earlier, I am a red wine drinker only, apart from the Tokay, and the Pinot Noir wines here are extortionate, so I don't buy them.

Jumping around a little, @spidermike007 mentioned that Chateauneuf de Pape was one of his favourite wines and they were one of mine, especially the older varieties, and one that I forgot to mention because I was hooked on it for quite a while, was red wine from Cote Rotie, which when it garnered more favour, increased in price somewhat.

I have found a couple of very good wines from one of the "outlets" I mentioned previously and if you would like me to recommend them to you, I can send you a Private Message via this medium!

6 hours ago, SeeAyOh said:

"I've never had a serious drinking problem. My problem is that when I drink I drink far too much...."

This is why the D-word that rhymes with a river is a problem for a lot of drinkers.

When I was actively quitting, I was a member of a support group. During one session, a gent who had recently started attending decided that he wanted to share his story.

He began by giving his background. He had a lucrative career, a loving wife, kids, nice home, etc. The works. He described himself as not a "typical alcoholic." He said that he had been clever about hiding his drinking, being discrete, etc. Tragically, he said that one night when he thought he was OK to drive, he got into a major accident and the other driver did not survive. He was at the meeting as part of his court-ordered punishment, etc.

The man was genuinely remorseful. He struggled with his composure. He stumbled with words. He said if he could take it all back he would. He repeated more than once that he wasnt a typical alcoholic.

At the end, people were supportive (as is the norm in a support group) but there was one feisty participant who didn't follow the speak from the I rule. This participant said plainly, "You got drunk, got behind the wheel of a car, and killed somebody. You sound like a typical alcoholic to me."

The room fell silent for a moment and the moderator had to swoop in, but everyone knew that what the feisty guy said was true.

I got stuck at the D word & river.

Perfect time to call a MBT to bring another pack.🙃🙃

2 minutes ago, xylophone said:

As I mentioned earlier, I am a red wine drinker only, apart from the Tokay, and the Pinot Noir wines here are extortionate, so I don't buy them.

Jumping around a little, @spidermike007 mentioned that Chateauneuf de Pape was one of his favourite wines and they were one of mine, especially the older varieties, and one that I forgot to mention because I was hooked on it for quite a while, was red wine from Cote Rotie, which when it garnered more favour, increased in price somewhat.

I have found a couple of very good wines from one of the "outlets" I mentioned previously and if you would like me to recommend them to you, I can send you a Private Message via this medium!

I'm not too close to any wine stores besides Tops in Central in Ubon. I would like to try a few before we move from here, as it's been a long time. I've only have beer here occasionally as it's not my number one choice but something I'll drink when I'm with my girlfriend and or her government friends who have get togethers here. If they are good wines and reasonable I would like to try them. I see the prices here for wine and many aren't worth the bother.

The companies I mentioned will deliver Thailand wide, so I will send you a Private Message.

On 2/7/2026 at 7:13 AM, Harrisfan said:

Have you done it or tried it? I stopped for 1 to 2 months a few times. Got a bit bored. Going whole fitness thing really isnt that exciting. Seems normal to drink.

I gave up for three months 30 years ago. I had an operation coming up so it made sense. I was overweight too. I felt no different (OK, less hangovers) and I didn't lose any weight by not drinking beer any more.

8 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

not withstanding the new food pyramid, which is just the old one upside down, has shown all we need to know.

Is ketchup still a vegetable?

23 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Meat, vitamins, minerals and less stress. No special diet that works. The diet books are selling snake oil.

There's a snake oil diet? 😜

I did the Keto diet once for a few months. It worked for me at first. Then I kind of fell off the wagon. Not sure why. Boredom & lack of willpower I suppose.

My point is it's not all snake oil. If you were as overweight as I was and had been for as long as I was, likely you'd got there by having an unbalanced diet for years (as had I). Keto made sense to me, was easy to prepare meals for and worked (for the first months). I'd argue that it's the failure to undo years of bad eating habits which is a large cause of failure of special diets.

If I hadn't drunk so much beer, followed by the pizza and Indian restaurant visits in my 20s I may have got away with eating a balanced diet. The "no special diet" you allude to.