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^^^ of course it is !
Day 7 for me, was tempted to celebrate getting through the weekend with a cheeky Talisker last night but held firm...actually fell asleep!
Although I'm still not sold on staying completely dry I might need to get through a decent stint initially to reset the bad habits.
Anyway, despite feeling knackered the first few mornings I'm starting to feel much brighter fist thing. Which is nice.
Was down at my parent's over the weekend for my Dad's birthday. We went for a pub meal on Sat evening, but I just had a Peroni 0%, which was fine. I was driving, so wouldn't have had a pint anyway.
Later on back at their house, had a small glass of fizz but had said from the outset I wasn't going to stay completely alc free, for special occasions etc. And it was just one glass.
Hmmm. Saying that, I took 2 bottles of Ghost Ship alc free to drink, which is actually just low alc (0.5%) - but I think that just about still counts.
Still trying to get better sleep by going to bed earlier. Was hoping to get consistent 7 hours to start with & then up that to 7.5 once I'd established a routine. Realistically averaging 6h30 or so, still. So need to focus on that.
Weigh-in tomorrow morning. After a few treats at the weekend I'll be surprised if I've lost anything.
Agree with the fizzy juice volume - no way I could drink the volume of fizzy juice that I can easily drink when it comes to beer. Fizzy juice is usually a good bit fizzier, mind you.
As an aside, when the weather's better? Post-ride cold ice tea is preferable to cold beer.
What a terrible idea, if ever there was a month where a glass of red or a pint of beer was justified, this is it.
Just don’t drink too much, stop after one or two, its not hard.
See also:
Be less depressed you loser..
Just eat less fatty...
Run faster to win the race, slowcoach....
Sigh
DrP
I wouldn't worry about your 0.5% ABV beer unless it's on religious grounds. Lots of normal food and drink is alcoholic due to it having been fermented/proven or having natural yeast and sugars in.
burger rolls – up to 1.28g per 100g (1.28% ABV)
rye bread – up to 0.18g per 100g (0.18% ABV)
banana (ripe) – up to 0.2g per 100g (0.2% ABV)
banana (very ripe with dark bits) – up to 0.4g per 100g (0.4% ABV)
pear (ripe) – up to 0.04g per 100g (0.04% ABV)
cherry yoghurt – up to 0.02g per 100g (0.02% ABV)
Soy sauce - 2% ABV
https://steadydrinker.com/articles/foods-drinks-alcohol/
I've had a headache on a couple of occassions, and not sure if that's the dehydration that they say comes with the detox of getting on the wagon.
Today's headache i'm wondering if it was the red wine gravy I made for sunday lunch. Only had a pint
I have some Erdinger <0.5 % , but not sure if that's borderline cheating, so now looking at variations of fruit cordials to ring the changes from Tonic Water and Tomato Juice
Nearly half way - keep it up everyone 💪💪
Day 15 for me.
Definite weight loss (as evidenced by me trying on a pair of jeans I could barely do up... Now I can do them up!
I'm not missing it. But am thinking ahead as I have a week long bush doof in March and it's "likely" some alcohol will be consumed, purely for hydration purposes. 😀
I wouldn’t worry about your 0.5% ABV beer unless it’s on religious grounds. Lots of normal food and drink is alcoholic due to it having been fermented/proven or having natural yeast and sugars in.
I'm sure the cottage pie my GF made on Saturday was stronger than that, thanks to the 1/4 bottle of nice pinot noir in it.
We had a night away with friend's last weekend at a hotel, and I had 2 glasses of wine with dinner, then last week the missus, who's not doing dry January, opened a bottle of wine that happened to be a gift someone had given me! As it was a very good bottle, I had a glass. Other than that it's been absolutely fine.
I've been diligent with exercise and I'm doing something physical at least once everyday.
Didn't bother with the scales at the start of the month as I tend to get too hung up on the numbers but just before xmas I got a new set of snowboarding bib trousers. I bought them online and when I tried them on, I was struggling to get the front zip closed without feeling like i was wearing a girdle. Tried them on again last night and they now fit comfortably around the stomach and chest. Also tried on another thing the mrs got me for xmas and it was very tight on xmas morning but now fits comfortably.
Sleeping better, feeling more energetic in the main (felt on the verge of manflu for about 3 weeks) weight isn't an issue for me.
Went to our local yesterday, I did actually quite enjoy sitting in there and having a none alcoholic beer.
The range of alcohol free beers available now is superb and they're widely available in any decent pub. I'm old enough to remember when Kaliber was the only thing available and even now almost 30 years later I still shudder at the thought of the taste.
The 0% Guinness in particular is absolutely fantastic
Ok to join halfway through ?
Need to change some poor habits round snacking and alcohol. Haven’t drunk huge amount since NYD, but would like to sack off alcohol consumption for a good few months.
The more the merrier. But not in the drunken sense of the word.
Kind of unsettling observation:
My average resting heart rate has dropped from 57-60bpm in the days around Christmas, to a weekly average just updated to 49bpm this morning. Slight pinch of salt as only from a Garmin Fenix watch, but a very clear trend downwards. I did not think that would happen in 3 and a half weeks.
I guess processing all that salt and fattiness in the Christmas fayre would have spiked it a bit but still.
Still no real cravings - although I realise it is actually a bit more boring than I thought watching TV on a Friday night.
I normally do 100 days at the start of the year. I definitely have a sometimes problematic relationship with alcohol. It doesn't cost me jobs, or friends or relationships, but once I start I tend to drink until I'm drunk, and always have a drink if I'm hungover = problematic spiral.
This year I've got three big races - Manchester Marathon - April (3hour ish goal), Second time at Lakeland 50 in July (sub 11 goal), Cheviot Goat in December (goal to finish), so I'm seriously considering no booze all year. The training I'm doing now for Manchester simply wouldn't be happening if I was drinking, and I intend to keep this level up all year. you just feel better, happier, more productive, fitter, but i know I love a drink, so never say never...
Ok to join halfway through ?
Need to change some poor habits round snacking and alcohol.
I dont see why not. I love a drink in the right situation but can (and do) easily go a month without a drink, almost by accident, if we dont have any partiess or events to go.
Snacking, however...For me, that is a far, far bigger challenge, and will have a far greater effect than stopping the alcohol!
Trying my best to behave and avoid the lunchtime greggs for January is having a marked effect.
I seem to have joined in
Trying to manage my Long Covid with the aid of my Garmin watch. Ever since getting LC I've felt a bit crap after just a couple of pints, so I generally keep it down to one drink, once or twice a week. But I've started watching that on the 'stress' levels on the watch. A couple of weeks ago I drank a 3.2% table beer (500ml), watched the body stress levels double almost immediately (and last for about 3 hours) and felt slightly ropey all evening. That was a bit of a one-off, it's not always that clear cut. But I've figured for now it's not really worth it, and am back on the alcohol frees for a while (special occasions excepted!)
Lot of the shops jumping on the dry Jan thing have 0% beers at reduced prices.
Just got myself 4 pack of Edinger 0%, 4 quid in Asda. I really like the Edigner, the head is wild!
Aldi had a variety, got some San Miguel again 4 quid. And 4 cans of Free Dam 3 quid!
my fave on the zero alcohol ones has to be from the ranges by Infinite Session - have been buying them for the past year or so. Also, as a treat as a 'low alcohol' one, Small Beer Co do small cans of different varieties at around 2.1%, so a cheat but only a wee cheat 🙂 - only available online tho I think.
Struggling, ngl. Did DJ once about 5 years ago and struggled then too. Trouble is it just seems right to have a glass of red wine while sitting in front of the fire. I'm determined to stick it out (quiz night tomorrow night could be tricky) as I'll be vexed if I cave, but it's a lesson in willpower.
#prayfordoor
The co-op were selling off old stock of 8 cans of poodog punk for £3.60 and 4 cans of vocation life and death for £2.17. I now have 16 cans burning a laser beam of temptation into my mind, but, well you can’t turn that down, like, eh? Will definitely resist but the 1st of February may well be a damp day
Started on Jan 2. My polar sleep stats have shown better sleep everyday since. While boozing over xmas my sleep was showing as pretty poor.
Feeling more motivated in the mornings, and that is a good place to be for work etc
Also my heart rate while sleeping is lower, and my heart rate variability is better too. Haven't been able to get on the turbo enough, but when i have it feels easier to hold harder efforts.
Not yet really losing weight, but hoping that may start to go down.
18 days in and annoyingly I seem to be gaining weight!
3 days in hospital on IV meds and being unable to eat anything more challenging than soup has added a real short term boost to the weightless with another 2kg this last week
I seem to have finally shifted the cold I've had for the last two weeks so hoping to start feeling the benefits of no booze. It has made not drinking easier though as I've not been well enough to fancy a pint.
The first weekend I thought a lot about having a beer, but resisted. Last weekend was easier, helped by having the odd Guinness 0.0
I think I'm less tired, but not totally convinced. My sleep is no better, and crazy dreams!
I had put on 4kg, and two of those have gone now, so definitely going to keep it up at least till the end of January. Stay strong
The weight thing is interesting!
I've lost just over 5kg... I think a lot of that is just not being "peckish" with the sugar highs and lows booze gives!
Honestly, I've very little appetite...
Not even fancying a drink in the slightest TBH..
Me and the OH (who's doing dry WEEKDAY Jan...) have really thought about our drinking..
She's SOOOO not a morning person. I'm massively annoying at all times..but moreso in the morning... NOT being hungover makes me more tolerable!
DrP
I've ended up aiming for a Damp January, rather than a 100% Dry one. Quite pleased with how it's going, too - I've been limiting myself to 3 decent beers a night at the weekend, and 100% dry during the week, which is what I'd like to drink year round. Here's hoping the January Reset actually works!
Erdinger Alkoholfrei last night after training, I have some 0% Guinness in the fridge which i'm saving for 'emergencies' 😀
Only 10 days for me but surprisingly I'm not missing it, although I haven't been properly challenged yet - we're out for a family meal on Saturday but I've decided to drive as I want to be up early on Sunday for a reliability.
Weight wise as I wasn't drinking loads anyway and my diet is reasonably okay, I have however noticed a slight downward trend of about a kilo but I've also knocked back some of the mid-morning snacking which is likely helping.
All positive so far 👍
Also, as a treat as a ‘low alcohol’ one, Small Beer Co do small cans of different varieties at around 2.1%, so a cheat but only a wee cheat 🙂
Whereas some people say they don't see the point in 0% beer - I don't see the point in this.
If I'm having a drink, I'm having a drink - this seems like the worst of both worlds and to me (I can't speak for anyone else) is pointless.
19 days in and sleeping SO much better.
Weight hasn't altered yet, but I don't struggle with my weight anyway, even when drinking.
Big plus for me is that I'm far more pro-active with things that need doing. When I'm drinking, I procrastinate
Picked up 4 bottles of Brooklyn Special Effects in Tesco last night for £4.50 as a treat.
Easily the best non-alc beer I've tried. Must give the Guinness a go at some point though.
Thats a really good weight lose @DrP ! I weighed myself yesterday and I'm only down 6lb/2.7kg 🙁
Thats by religiously sticking to below 2200 cal/day. No snacking, sensible breakfast/lunch+dinner. Nothing in between, apart from maybe a banana before exercise ( I did bonk twice in 1 night a few nights ago, pre run and then pre bootcamp, and required emergency energy bar!). I have a painful challenge this week - 2hrs of plank in 6 days! Ouch. Am 65mins into it, by breaking up a day into 4x5min planks.
Whereas some people say they don’t see the point in 0% beer – I don’t see the point in this.
because a lot of the low alcohol beers, especially the lagers, taste a bit like fizzy water (which a lot of people think lager is in it's full fat format at the best of times!). the small beer at 2% tastes noticeably better than the 0.5% low alcohol offerings and your are still getting very little 'booze' and less calories - bit pricey though
there's also a nice enough 3% lager called Gen!us which is brewed in Scotland and can be order on amazon - 1 unit of booze / 89 calories per can.
i'm doing damp January to severely cut down on drinking. in the week i'll tend to have a couple of nights where i have an M&S Czech lager at 0.5% (by far the best low alcohol lager ive tried), and then if that doesn't satisfy the 'craving', have a bottle of the small beer at 2%. at the weekend i'll have a few of the 3% Gen!us beers.
whilst doing this isn't really to the spirit of dry January, it means I'm drinking about the equivalent of 4 pints across the week - which would of previously been a "quick pint after work" or "a couple of beers before we go to the pub" . Doesn't lead to any meaningful weight loss though
Whereas some people say they don’t see the point in 0% beer – I don’t see the point in this.
If I’m having a drink, I’m having a drink – this seems like the worst of both worlds and to me (I can’t speak for anyone else) is pointless.
the Small beer to me tastes like beer, smells like beer, just has much less alcohol. I have had a supply of it for the past year or so, and it's my goto beer out with Dry January. A couple of cans on a Friday or Saturday night are very rewarding with none of the after effects, so for me it's a win win. Taste wise I prefer it to many of the regular strength canned beers.
I have it on repeat order and have just received a notification that there is a case on it's way to me .. 🙂
the small beer at 2% tastes noticeably better than the 0.5% low alcohol offerings
aye, this - Beavertown Nanobot is my current favourite. IMO most of the 0.5's taste like a beer substitute (some better than others!). But I can have a 2.8% beer and it really does scratch that itch.
Beavertown Nanobot is my current favourite
sad news, i think they've stopped brewing it. used to be a favourite of mine too but looks like it been replaced by 'Satellite' as a 2.8% IPA - not tried it yet
Apart from a small glass of fizz on my Dad's birthday last weekend, I've still staying alc free.
Not really been fussed by replacing with non-alc beers. I've had a couple so far, and am actually tempted to get a couple tonight.
Main struggle for me has been weight - I'm trying to lose a stone. First week I lost 2 lbs. 2nd week nothing. Next weigh-in is Tues morning. I feel like I'm making slow progress, so will see what the scales say.
I had got into the habit of snacking a lot - I think working from home 2 days a week hasn't helped. I'm now finding it pretty hard to cut all that out. Much harder than the alcohol.
Glad to hear that people aer managing to stay on the wagon by various means.
My sleep has been better as I don't wake up at 4am with tummy ache after too many beers, and I'm not hungover in the morning. I'm still only getting about 7 hours a night, but its better quality and I feel better in the morning.
I still hanker after snacks, but nowhere near as badly as when I'm on the beer.
I have refrained from AF beer this year, because despite it being cheaper, I was still spending more money on something I didn't need, was consuming excess calories, and I still got a bloated feeling at the end of the night. I'm having 2 cups of Peppermint or Chamomile tea on a night instead.
We have a get together with some frieds on the 4th of February, and we'll definitely be drinking then, but intend to do another month off the sauce until the 6th of March (the wife at least).
For too long I've needed to break my 'no stop button' approach to chugging beers, and I'm enjoying it. Its at this stage I wonder what I'm actually missing.
I drunk a massive two bottles every evening from about a week before Christmas up until I'd run out, on the 3rd or 4th of January, and for that reason decided to give dry January a go. **** me, is it February yet!?
Had just noticed that I felt I needed a drink more frequently than I have in the past, even if it was mostly just one or two bottles. This January I really miss getting to the weekend and not having a couple of bottles of ale.
19 days in and all fine, better sleep, probably better mood. Weight went up a bit first few weeks and now back to where it was on 1st.
Oddly feeling I could really go a large GnT right now, but resisting… May have a can of 0.5% beer with dinner shortly tho !
Tried a few new ones last week. Really liked Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout.
Also got a bottle of Pentire Coastal Spritz. Didn't do it for me, maybe on a summer evening, or mixed with gin.