Dry January Anyone?

[adauria]

This is my 4th consecutive year of taking a complete hiatus from any kind of alcohol consumption for the entire month of January. It provides a good opportunity for me to re-assess and get a deeper control over my relationship with the devil's nectar. It is not super easy, overall, but by forcing myself to experience the desire for drink without succumbing to it, I gain discipline and mastering that will help me exercise moderation for the rest of the year.

Another discovery - Last night (Sunday), after dinner with my wife but with time to kill before having to pick up our daughter from cheer practice, I was struck by how easy it would have been to kill at an hour loitering at any one of the open bars in the area (mostly attached to restaurants or breweries), and how absolutely difficult it was to kill time out of the house on a Sunday evening if not drinking.

Anyone else have any insights gained through temporary teetotaling?

-Andrew

[sweetandsour]

My wife and I did the "Whole 30" last January, and it really made a difference. No alcohol, no bread, no lots-of-stuff. Really great but not realistically sustainable for us. Now I try to stay as close to the regimen as possible. WRT solely alcohol, sometimes I go months without, and without even thinking about it. (Usually in the spring).

[Goose55]

Haven't had any rain here since the 1/4 inch we had way back in early November.

[arank87]

I’m actually doing 90 days without alcohol. It’s mostly to avoid empty calories but in all honesty since I’ve been working from home for almost year it’s just way too easy to drink to kill boredom. I found myself drinking constantly especially over the holidays. I love booze and don’t plan on quitting all together but just need a break.

[AnungUnRama]

I've lost close to 20lb as a result! I weigh less now than. I have for a very long time. I used alcohol to help get to sleep and use 100mg of melatonin now.

There were some health things coming up that may have been alcohol related. I was experiencing wacky blood sugar among other things. Thay was scary.

I've not given it up 100% but quite a bit. My wallet is heavier and my belly is lighter. It is good.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Del]

My wife and I did the "Whole 30" last January, and it really made a difference. No alcohol, no bread, no lots-of-stuff. Really great but not realistically sustainable for us. Now I try to stay as close to the regimen as possible. WRT solely alcohol, sometimes I go months without, and without even thinking about it. (Usually in the spring).

I have cut way down on my alcohol too.... in the same absent-minded way.

I blame covid. My smeller and taster are still impaired, and nothing much tastes interesting. I hardly smoke my pipe too, which I miss more acutely.

[Jocose]

My wife is doing dry January and I've been dry for 20 months now.

[ReverendThom]

I haven't had alcohol ever BECAUSE I'M A CHRISTIAN

kidding I'm drunk right now

Kidding

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

[ChildOfGod]

Hidden Content

This board requires you to be registered and logged-in to view hidden content.

[Jake]

I had never heard of Dry January until I saw this comic earlier today:


I am being dry, cutting carbs, on South Beach Phase One. Black coffee, tea, ice-water. No whiskey, no wine... and no sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, corn or rice. I am ten days in, about 5 pounds lighter, and pretty sure I'll stay in Phase One for all of January. I have an opened bottle of Chardonnay in my fridge. I put one of those suck-the-air-out-of-the-bottle kinds of corks in there, and hope it'll keep all right.

[adauria]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your stories guys.

A common thread I see is weight loss as either incidental or a goal of dietary and drinking changes. I've actually be intermittent fasting for a few months and dropped nearly 20 lbs from that skipping breakfasts and occasionally lunches too, but I had plateaued. Now that I'm dry for the last 2 weeks, I've dropped another few lbs without any other changes (if anything, I'm eating lunch more often).

I too know the trap of drinking due to boredom. And it TOTALLY works for that, but maybe not the best way to deal with it. I am reading a lot more lately anyway.

I've also found having a good substitute for the drinking habit can help. Many nights I've been making myself a large cup of mint tea (no tea, all mint) instead of the whiskey I would often enjoy. After January, I might continue this substitution, at least some nights.

-Andrew

[Adam Z]

I haven't had any alcohol in 3 or 4 days. Going to do something about that tonight!

[Jester]

I usually drink one beer a night. I might go for dry February.

[JimVH]

I usually drink one beer a night. I might go for dry February.

I made it to dry through the 14th.