It’s October, and I’m nearing the end of a year in which I’ve been determined to improve my health.

I’ve been to more doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologist appointments than I can count by now. My lab work frequency has kicked up from once annually to, I think, I’m approaching blood draw No. 3 soon.

But this isn’t all for nothing. I’ve had to confront how habits that harmless when I was younger but now really impact my health. In my teens and twenties, I used to drink beer to stay hydrated. At 37, it’s packing pounds onto my waist and driving up my blood pressure, glucose, and bad cholesterol numbers.

So after a recent doctor visit, where my physician recommended Wegovy, I decided on one last Hail Mary throw to improve my health: Sobriety.

I quit drinking on Saturday, August 29, and I honestly think this time it’s for good. My psychiatrist just prescribed me a drug called Naltrexone last Friday. Between my own willpower, which got me over a month, and this drug to reduce cravings in social situations, I think I’ll overcome what my psychiatrist called Alcohol Use Disorder.

What’s interesting is I in no way feel I’m a full-on boozer and alcoholic by any means. When I was young, I would drink until I blacked out. As I’ve gotten older, I feel like those days are behind me. But I’m more aware that there's still something not right with my alcohol use.

I simply can’t have one drink and be done. I’ve never been able to.

Naltrexone 50 mg. is supposed to remove my brain’s reward response to alcohol, kinda making it pointless to have more than one. I’m in the clear to have one drink, but don’t see a reason to and feel like it’s helping with my weight loss.

We’re now more than a month into sobriety. My scale shows my weight at 218 lbs. Which was 222 lbs. In my September 17 blog post.

My blood pressure readings have been consistently good. This morning, I had back-to-back readings of 117/80 and 119/76.

My therapist has described one strategy to cope with sobriety while socializing: I should grieve the life I once lived. The former beer-blogger version of myself and Disney EPCOT drinking-around-the-world frequent flyer.

Now, I’m a dad. A dad who wants to be healthy and present for a daughter who's got me wrapped around her finger. This morning, my wife and I were rushed to get her out the door and to preschool.

My wife texted, saying she left my daughter’s library card at the house. I had filled out the paperwork during her new school orientation a few months ago, and the thought of her feeling left out while the other kids checked out books killed me.

My mission this morning was to get her that library card before I went to the office. This doesn’t have much to do with sobriety, but to me it has everything to do with why I’m choosing to stay sober.

Mishaps will happen. Days will be stressful. Life won’t get easier. But a sober mind and healthy body will help me focus and stay strong when the going gets tough.

Cheers to sobriety. I guess Cheers with a Trip magnesium drink…