Dry January 2016
Discussion
Are any of you partaking in Dry January for 2016? I'm contemplating whether to take part and have a few questions:
Have you done it before and is it hard?
Have any of you tried to do it and quit?
Did it help you to cut down on the booze in general?
How much weight did you lose?
What did you find yourself doing during the times you'd be drinking? For example did you take up new hobbies?
I haven't gone more than 2 weeks off the booze in the last 8 years, therefore I think it's either too much of a challenge or maybe a good idea, to prove to myself it's not that difficult. One of my aims next year is to drink less by having alcohol free days regularly during weekdays. I wonder whether this is a good way to kick start the habit, or whether I'll end up drinking more than usual in February, to make up for the lack of booze in Jan!
My husband is quite happy to join me, which would help make it easier.
Thoughts and experiences from anyone that has done this would be greatly appreciated.
Have you done it before and is it hard?
Have any of you tried to do it and quit?
Did it help you to cut down on the booze in general?
How much weight did you lose?
What did you find yourself doing during the times you'd be drinking? For example did you take up new hobbies?
I haven't gone more than 2 weeks off the booze in the last 8 years, therefore I think it's either too much of a challenge or maybe a good idea, to prove to myself it's not that difficult. One of my aims next year is to drink less by having alcohol free days regularly during weekdays. I wonder whether this is a good way to kick start the habit, or whether I'll end up drinking more than usual in February, to make up for the lack of booze in Jan!
My husband is quite happy to join me, which would help make it easier.
Thoughts and experiences from anyone that has done this would be greatly appreciated.
Did it a couple of years ago, both mine and the wife's birthday is in Jan and on the 1st we were invited out for lunch.
At the time I generally only drank at the weekend, so the first weekend was hard but once that was out of the way it pretty easy and I didn't waver once; not even a cheeky swig in the kitchen and I also had a half opened bottle of JD from Christmas that I didn't touch.
I didn't lose any weight but I slept alot better and I felt a lot better generally too.
I haven't cut my drinking down generally though, I'm just back to drinking as I was before.
I've been thinking of a dry January again though for 2016.
Alot of people say the hardest thing is finding an alternative to drink, I'm quite lucky in that I drink alot of water and I don't have a sweet tooth so in that respect I didn't struggle for an alternative; plain old water was fine for me.
Do it, it's only a month.
At the time I generally only drank at the weekend, so the first weekend was hard but once that was out of the way it pretty easy and I didn't waver once; not even a cheeky swig in the kitchen and I also had a half opened bottle of JD from Christmas that I didn't touch.
I didn't lose any weight but I slept alot better and I felt a lot better generally too.
I haven't cut my drinking down generally though, I'm just back to drinking as I was before.
I've been thinking of a dry January again though for 2016.
Alot of people say the hardest thing is finding an alternative to drink, I'm quite lucky in that I drink alot of water and I don't have a sweet tooth so in that respect I didn't struggle for an alternative; plain old water was fine for me.
Do it, it's only a month.
Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 10th December 12:43
Unintentionally did it last year. Got put on medication for anxiety which advised not to drink whilst taking it (I was unwell / being tested for cancer, turned out be be something else, long story) so spent most if not all of January with no booze. Didn't have much over the festive period either what with being on various antibiotics. I was quite surprised by how I didn't really miss it and it definitely helped me through a difficult time from a health point of view. Lost loads of weight with many people commenting on how thin I looked. Like you was a regular drinker up until that point, never really went a weekend with no booze in 20+ years.
Back on it now though and no intention to repeat the exercise this January though I have cut down a bit. Two young children helps with that, can't cope with feeling rough in the morning + them two bouncing all over me.
Back on it now though and no intention to repeat the exercise this January though I have cut down a bit. Two young children helps with that, can't cope with feeling rough in the morning + them two bouncing all over me.
I'll do dry January! (+Feb, Mar, Apr...)
I randomly set myself the challenge of giving up booze in September 2014. I haven't had a drop since! I've lost a load of body fat and I've taken up running (slowly) to give me my happy hormones. My Wife keeps commenting how well my skin looks now too.
It's quite empowering knowing that I have total control over alcohol. I think more people have a bigger issue with alcohol than they would ever admit to themselves. A lot of people would even struggle having a full month off.
I randomly set myself the challenge of giving up booze in September 2014. I haven't had a drop since! I've lost a load of body fat and I've taken up running (slowly) to give me my happy hormones. My Wife keeps commenting how well my skin looks now too.
It's quite empowering knowing that I have total control over alcohol. I think more people have a bigger issue with alcohol than they would ever admit to themselves. A lot of people would even struggle having a full month off.
Rather than doing a dry January, its better to have about 3 days a week off it, all year rather than going completely without for just a month.
Or go full hog and do a full year without- I am 10 months in, and, to be honest I don't miss it at all and will probably stay off it for longer.
I did this initially because when I was suffering from severe anxiety , I was drinking too much making things much worse.
I also now do a lot of fitness/strength training and have so much more energy and enthusiasm for it, now I am not drinking at all.
It also helps you keep lean as booze has a lot of sugar/ calories.
Or go full hog and do a full year without- I am 10 months in, and, to be honest I don't miss it at all and will probably stay off it for longer.
I did this initially because when I was suffering from severe anxiety , I was drinking too much making things much worse.
I also now do a lot of fitness/strength training and have so much more energy and enthusiasm for it, now I am not drinking at all.
It also helps you keep lean as booze has a lot of sugar/ calories.
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