Dry January...anyone else going alcohol free?

LZMiner

This is quite a big step...spouse and I are regular drinkers...6-7 days a week, and with the holidays, we've really indulged. Apparently, going alcohol free in January is fairly common in the U.K...who knew...and there are lots of articles about it...both good and bad. Anyone else want to give it a whirl...or if you've done it...care to share how it went? Looking for camaraderie for what I think is going to be several tough weeks!

jessieescobar

Hey! Kudos for committing to cutting out booze. I, myself, am attempting at least limiting alcohol to the weekends only for the new year. Oh yes- wine and beer are my only real vices and that's been the reason I haven't given them up. But moderation is what I need to focus in to be healthier. Moderation in ALL aspects of my life. If I end up not drinking at all this month, then awesome but I don't want to set myself up for failure either. I wish u and your spouse all the best of luck this month!! I hope I can hold out too.

b79366

I will join dry January with you. I also am a regular drinker and quit smoking in September. So changing to a healthier lifestyle one step at a time. I am using an app Easy Quit Stop Drinking as it encourages me with the health benefits and the money I am saving. I used something similar for smoking and it helped me.

I am also hoping the weight I have gained since I quit smoking will come off not drinking :-)

swiftiesbuddies

Hi Im quitting the booze as well for Dry January, and again hoping to drop 3 stone between now and june (£100 in bets against me that i dont lol) Sleep pattern is the first thing that has suffered, Still struggling to get a good nights sleep, and minor headaches too but I think this is the bodily withdrawl symptoms, Trying to stick to 1800 calories per day and excersise 180 mins per week(recommended is 150 mins) anyone suffering any other symtoms Cheers Marcus

LZMiner

b79366 wrote: »

I will join dry January with you. I am using an app Easy Quit Stop Drinking as it encourages me with the health benefits and the money I am saving. I used something similar for smoking and it helped me.

Ooh....I will look into the app. I smoked in my early 20s....A pack a day. Quitting was one of the hardest things I ever did....good for you! Good health is priceless. Here's to Day 4 being "dry!"

teetzelk

Agreed @swiftiesbuddies Sleep pattern is totally messed up for me as well. I'll definitely limit but not sure I can completely cut it out of my "diet". Still, I'm sure this will help me tremendously lose my weight. Maybe not so much the beer/wine as the bad decisions that follow: "Pizza sounds really good now!"

thesnackmonster

Hi folks, I am also trying to cut down the booze, I have drunk so much Prosecco over the holidays!! If I can manage to quit for January that would be amazing but I agree with Jessieescobar that it may be setting myself up to fail.

fupin

Wow I didn't realize so many people were there with me trying to quit the booze ! We can do it one day at a time

Anya_000

I'm in, but will take one night off for my birthday dinner. Otherwise, going dry. I've been having a glass+ of wine every night after work to relax, then beer on weekends with fries, my weight is going up, sleep is off, and I'm tired. It'll be interesting to see what dry feels like.

sjharrit

Yep I am doing it - only started yesterday though as we were away and knew it would not happen then. Also it is my other's half birthday on 28th Jan so will start again then but the plan is to have 3 weeks off and maybe train myself not to drink in the week and reduce my intake on the weeken - I am a bottle of wine a night kinda girl. Hopefully I can succeed and see some weight falling off too.

LZMiner

Ha! I'm a bottle of wine a night kinda girl too, although I generally split with spouse. I'm nervous about the weekend....that will be the hardest part. Luckily, we have kid stuff going on...soccer tournament. If we were going to an adult party, it would be really, really tough. Luckily, don't have one of those until 1/21.

elizabeppes

I'm going "juiceless January" as well. I am hoping that I reset my habits and understand how many calories I take in via alcohol. I really want to loose this 25 to 30 lbs.

baviddowie

Hi all! I'm going to do a dry month starting in mid-January. I, too, am a regular drinker- 3-4 nights per week sometimes. I'll be cutting that down to about 1-2 nights per week until going completely dry until mid-Feb. Cheers! (just kidding)

Stella3838

My friends and I usually do Sober in October, but this year it's January. I have one day this month I have plans and will allow it. Not gonna be easy, but I'd like to try to do it.

sjharrit

Other Half has spent the afternoon in the pub today as he is not back at work till Monday he is currently sat with a beer on the sofa whilst I drink my green tea

roseannapratt1983

I'm going dry as well

LZMiner

Well, apparently someone set up a group for Dry January----I can't find it though, and sent her a message. Hopefully we can all get added. There's a bunch of MFPers going DRY. So far the only issue I'm having is sleeping....I'm waking up during the night :-( . Odd, because I always thought alcohol interfered with sleep! Hopefully this will go away soon. Cheers!

Anya_000

I couldn't find that group either, please let us know if you do.

Aud66

I plan on having a dry January, used to drink most days but cut it down to weekends only. But now I have lost most of the weight, drinking is holding me back from my final goal. Plus I Always eat more when I drink and choice of food, not always good, plus alcohol puts a stop on your body burning fat and it's so full of calories.

Justjayde1984

Dry January here we come!

canadian_vegan

yep so far so good for me!!!!! cant' find the group either though

elizabeppes

Obaxzuboy- I think this is the group. Gonna be tough this weekend cause there will be "snow" in Georgia and my entire neighborhood goes to the pub. Lots of hot tea for me this weekend. We can do this!

LZMiner

The last time I DIDN'T have a drink on a Friday was over 13 years ago. Just saying.

Stella3838

LZMiner wrote: »

The last time I DIDN'T have a drink on a Friday was over 13 years ago. Just saying.

Well here's to today being day one in 13 years! (toasting with a nice sparkling water with fruit)

MrPow377

I gave up for 22 days prior to new year. Had one beer on NYE. Now doing dry January too! Gets easier once in the routine!

Aud66

So far so good but tomo evening is my danger zone.

Savagedistraction

Totally. Oh wait I don't drink

Anya_000

Egads! It's been years since I haven't had a drink on the weekend. I think once we get this first weekend down, it will get easier. I hope I drop some weight.

iluvnufoods

I will be limiting my alcohol intake considerably. I won't be completely dry, but I want to go from 10 drinks/week (2 bottles of wine) to just 2 or 3 drinks on the weekends (half a bottle of wine.

We can do this!

SymbolismNZ

I've never been a big drinker, just a social drinker, but as part of a challenge to myself I'm going to go as long as I can without any added/processed sugars, including alcohol. I don't actually think it'll be that hard.

Tnahpilo

First off the hardest part is deciding to cut out alcohol. I had been toying with the idea for months and then I joined a weight loss challenge that required it. Aside from my journey to better health I've been looking to be better all around so in October on my birthday weekend, I had my last drink which I did not enjoy and have not craved or desired it since. The best advice I can lend is take it one day at a time, limit your time around regular drinkers and believe you can do it. Good luck!