Dry January...anyone else going alcohol free?

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Replies

  • dngallimore
    dngallimore Posts: 20 Member
    Bluwaves1 wrote: »
    No, but I plan to cut down..... after football season is over it will be a lot easier....

    I was just thinking that .... hard to say no to alcohol, wings, and ooey-gooey dips and chips.
  • dngallimore
    dngallimore Posts: 20 Member
    Don't know if anyone's mentioned this already but there's a dry January app. It helps a bit with motivation and calculates money/ calories saved :)

    What is it called?
  • secrets424
    secrets424 Posts: 17 Member
    I know it's half way through January, but I also have cut out alcohol to limit my caloric intake. I also was a bottle of wine a night type of girl. I haven't had a drink since January 2nd. At first I had a minor headache that lasted for a week or so, but now it's gone. The great news is, I've lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks. Hopefully, I'll continue losing, since a bottle of wine has 600-700 calories. That's the only thing I have really changed, and the fat is melting away. Losing the weight is more important to me now, then having those drinks. Fingers crossed!! Good luck to all of us!!
  • dngallimore
    dngallimore Posts: 20 Member
    secrets424 wrote: »
    I know it's half way through January, but I also have cut out alcohol to limit my caloric intake. I also was a bottle of wine a night type of girl. I haven't had a drink since January 2nd. At first I had a minor headache that lasted for a week or so, but now it's gone. The great news is, I've lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks. Hopefully, I'll continue losing, since a bottle of wine has 600-700 calories. That's the only thing I have really changed, and the fat is melting away. Losing the weight is more important to me now, then having those drinks. Fingers crossed!! Good luck to all of us!!

    That's wonderful! I didn't think i could go there yet, but reading these posts inspired me to throw my hat in the ring .... yesterday was my 1st day without wine. I'm going to see how far i can take this. My job almost REQUIRES alcohol to survive!
  • shanahz
    shanahz Posts: 261 Member
    I am getting to the point where I am consuming a bottle almost night and slowly creeping up on every night. It is certainly not helping with my anxiety/depression and has aided in my 60lb weight gain in the last year. Every time I say enough, I last a few days and then cave again. I am glad I found this thread and it is nice to know I am not alone in this.
  • FuriousFurian
    FuriousFurian Posts: 51 Member
    I am doing dry January for the second year running. It's surprisingly easy once you commit to it.
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    How's everyone doing? I've noticed it's gotten a little less chatty in this thread and wanted to offer up some encouragement. If you've slipped, just get back on the horse and see it through.

    (I haven't spoken up before because I'm going dry this month to support my husband, but I only have a couple of drinks per week anyway. I am appreciating that it's freed up some calories though!)
  • BW__NOT
    BW__NOT Posts: 807 Member
    I would absolutely support anyone with this effort. I wont be joining you but I will support you.
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    Doing ok here in Georgia. Not as hard as I thought it would be. I usually have at least two glasses of wine every evening or more. The calories saved is a huge motivator. Now if only my scale would budge down...
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    About to enter our third weekend "dry!" Almost in the home stretch. It's definitely different. Instead of my normal two glasses of wine a night during the week, I've been drinking Sleepytime tea. It actually puts me to sleep...LOL!
  • lizzymcg
    lizzymcg Posts: 47 Member
    LZMiner wrote: »
    About to enter our third weekend "dry!" Almost in the home stretch. It's definitely different. Instead of my normal two glasses of wine a night during the week, I've been drinking Sleepytime tea. It actually puts me to sleep...LOL!

    I've been drinking sleepy time tea TOO! It really helps me to be drinking something before bed, because it's a ritual.
  • Pooshka2
    Pooshka2 Posts: 208 Member
    Cutting down, not out. Two beers per weekend night (except special occasions)
  • MissMaggieMuffin
    MissMaggieMuffin Posts: 444 Member
    It's been an alcohol-free January so far. Had been in a habit of 2-3 glasses of wine per night. Hoping the scales start to reflect that - for sure, I feel better.
  • amarillopotter
    amarillopotter Posts: 4 Member
    I haven't cut alcohol completely out but am seriously restricting it. I used to have a drink every evening and now I only allow myself one shot of liquor on Friday and Saturday nights. I find telling myself I am not having any of something I like makes me want it even more so I give myself permission to indulge just a little. I am not much for sweets so this is my occasional treat rather than a dessert.
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    We are doing great ! Down to the home stretch!
  • secrets424
    secrets424 Posts: 17 Member
    Giving up drinking has not been that hard, and I drank a bottle of wine per night. You can do it too. I've replaced wine with tea. It worked well.. I think it's because of the tannins. So I drink several mugs of tea per night. The best part is that I've lost 10Lbs in 3 weeks. If I keep losing weight, I might quit drinking for good.

    Good luck everybody!!
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    Ok today big playoff game in the ATL! I will be cheering the Dirty Birds on with sparkling water and an occasional hot tea. Rise Up Falcons! And this month has been so good for me so far. Learning that I have willpower to loose weight and get my runs ( even if I have to cut short because of storms) in no matter what.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I would LOVE to. It's what is making it difficult for me to get into a deficit. After I broke up with my boyfriend last April, I started dating again and the dates always include drinks...and honestly, I WANT them too. I don't like coffee dates. Anyway, a few glasses of wine, a bad date...I come home to ice cream. Blah.
  • yalva009
    yalva009 Posts: 6 Member
    How's everyone doing in dry January?!?! A little over a week left!
  • Isolde1953
    Isolde1953 Posts: 7 Member
    Quit drinking August 26, 2015. Fav drink was gin n tonic or beer, or wine
  • Tabbycat00
    Tabbycat00 Posts: 146 Member
    I'm so late to this party, but my New Year's goal was to not drink for 1 year. I'm trying to get cut as opposed to losing weight. So far I haven't slipped. It's been a lot easier than I thought but I have a young child at home and don't really go out, so I assume that's part of it.
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    Wow! Just made it through ANOTHER week alcohol-free! Downhill stretch...
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    Yea and made it through a playoff game with my team winning! WTG LZMiner!
  • moniqueallen180
    moniqueallen180 Posts: 3 Member
    I love to drink, but I have learned that I love feeling better physically and mentally more. I got depressed and was drinking a fifth of vodka or whiskey and a six pack of beer every 2 to 3 days for a couple of years. I put on a bunch of weight without even noticing it, one day I actually looked at a picture of myself and cried. I have not drank since November 2015. I focused on a better diet, exercise, and rebuilding a relationship with my teenage boys and husband. It was not hard, I just made up my mind that I didn't want it anymore. Loosing weight became easier, the first few days I felt terrible, but then the cravings were gone. With the right motivation any of you can do anything you set your mind too, I hope the rest of the month flies by smoothly for you all.
  • Dvader1
    Dvader1 Posts: 4 Member
    Apart from the isolated craving its not been too bad and the weight is falling off. The question is do i go back on it in Feb and lose all hope of losing weight or keep being dry ? I know what i should do, but......
  • iofred
    iofred Posts: 488 Member
    lol, have been "dry" for over 30 years, so maybe I should start a "drunk" Feb
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    edited January 2017
    LZMiner wrote: »
    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!

    Almost there! 5 more days well 4 if you don't count today- So glad you posted this. After Wednesday Feb 1st I am going to keep it up except for a drink or some wine on Saturdays until after my 1/2 Marathon in March & until I loose the weight I've put on the past two years. LZMiner you rock! This helped me break my evening ritual of a bottle of wine while we cooked dinner. I will be much more intentional and Hot tea is my new friend. Again a thank you LZMiner
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    One more day! I'm hosting a girls night tomorrow, so I will officially end my alcohol free stint! Can't believe I lasted a month! So glad I stuck it out! I never realized how dependent I was on alcohol to relax...no more!
  • elizabeppes
    elizabeppes Posts: 46 Member
    LZMiner wrote: »
    One more day! I'm hosting a girls night tomorrow, so I will officially end my alcohol free stint! Can't believe I lasted a month! So glad I stuck it out! I never realized how dependent I was on alcohol to relax...no more!

    Im so glad I stuck it out too LZMiner - this month taught me a lot. I leave on a business trip for the rest of the week and am looking forward to getting home on Saturday and enjoying a glass of wine with my husband! Have a great girls night and GREAT JOB!!! WTG!
  • MissMaggieMuffin
    MissMaggieMuffin Posts: 444 Member
    Reached the end of the month alcohol-free. Discovered I didn't miss it a bit and that it was more of a habit than anything else. At this point, I expect to continue on into February alcohol-free; open to enjoying a glass of wine with a special dinner or a girls' night out but not in any rush to pick up that habit again. And my wallet is quite thankful! Didn't really think about how much I spend on beverages.