Forum search & shortcuts

Dry January ?
 

[Closed] Dry January ?

Posts: 17449
Full Member
Topic starter
 
[#7558933]

A few folk at work are doing this for charity. I don't really get the charity bit TBH, for something that isn't too much of a challenge..?

I am doing it, but only for myself as a bit of a detox after Christmas festivities and I tend to do same most years.

Seems a big thing nowadays though ?


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:22 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It's absolutely not a challenge which is why I'll never do it or sponsor anyone else to.


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:25 pm
Posts: 17449
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Yeah, but I think it's a challenge for some of them, going by the chat around it...


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:27 pm
Posts: 18596
Free Member
 

If you drink enough regularly enough for it to be a challenge then it's probably quite a big challenge.


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:29 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Haha, perhaps for some it is, or maybe they're just seeking attention to get more sponsorship!


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:30 pm
Posts: 13595
Full Member
 

Can be a challenge depending on your current lifestyle and choices but not sure where the charity bit comes in. Just give the charity some money.

There was a bloke where I worked a few years back who went on charity holidays a couple of times a year. It got tedious 'I am walking the Great Wall of China for charity' 'I am climbing a mountain for charity' Etc. They were holidays where he had to give the charity £X,xxx to go and if he got you to pay that then so much the better.


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:33 pm
Posts: 17449
Full Member
Topic starter
 

philjunior - tagged you on FB, you riding tomorrow evening ?


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:35 pm
Posts: 23340
Free Member
 

I thought you meant it might stop raining...


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:37 pm
Posts: 17449
Full Member
Topic starter
 

^^ 🙂


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:37 pm
Posts: 14808
Full Member
 

Stopping drinking is a challenge indeed for many people, myself included - done it a couple of times. However, after the first few days, it becomes easy with the right mindset - unlike stopping smoking.

Anyway, January is officially the most depressing month - sod stopping in January!


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:38 pm
Posts: 8909
Free Member
 

If you can easily go for a month without drinking then I would suggest your body doesn't actually need to detox.


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:42 pm
Posts: 57422
Full Member
 

Why the * would you pack in drinking in January? Unless you're some kind of masochist? Seriously... Think about it!

It's not stopped raining for weeks. It's dark, cold, wet, and absolutely shit, generally. Stop drinking? * that!

Pack in drinking in July and you'd barely notice. You'd have to have a post ride coke instead of a pint! After a day's riding dry dusty trails under blue skies and sunshine. Well boo hoo!

Deprive yourself of a nice glass of red? While it's bucketing down outside and it went dark at 3.30? In fact it never really got light ... because of some arbitrary date on a calendar?

And you want me to sponsor you for this stupidity?

**** off!


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It's not easy, I've been trying to hide all the leftover Christmas booze to keep it out of mind....


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:44 pm
Posts: 691
Free Member
 

Finding out that the World Health Org. has classified alcohol as a class 1 carcinogenic has kind of put me off a bit!


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:48 pm
Posts: 6682
Free Member
 

[s]If you can easily go for a month without drinking then[/s] I would suggest your body doesn't actually need to detox.


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:53 pm
Posts: 50252
Free Member
 

Does anyone want to sponsor me to bake cakes to raise money to run a marathon in Barbados to raise money to swim with dolphins in Malaysia so I can pay to ride across California? For charidee?


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:55 pm
Posts: 460
Free Member
 

It's not the drinking it's the eating, i've been on salads and reduced intake the last few days, well FIVE DAYS NOT THAT I AM COUNTING and that T Towel looks bloody delicious....


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 10:57 pm
Posts: 919
Free Member
 

Oh, I thought this was a weather forecast thread.

*disappointed*


 
Posted : 05/01/2016 11:29 pm
Posts: 17449
Full Member
Topic starter
 

yep, I'm not sponsoring them, but I guess it's health beneficial so can't be a bad thing !


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 10:08 am
Posts: 7368
Free Member
 

What Binners said. Was going to write more but he seems to have most points covered.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 10:33 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

They say you are better top have 2-3 dry days per week rather than just taking January off.

If you want to take a month off anything, do February, its the shortest month, (saying that its 29 days this year)


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 10:36 am
Posts: 3449
Free Member
 

There's something about 'solutions' or approaches to changing things based on absolutes (like totally cutting out or only eating certain things, stopping drinking for a whole month etc.) that always seem a bit daft to me. Just seems like setting yourself up to fail for most people.
The odd pint or glass of wine doesn't do you any harm so what's the point, especially if it's going to be business as usual on first of Feb?


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 10:55 am
Posts: 13595
Full Member
Posts: 5860
Full Member
 

With my wife's birthday on the 4th, mine on the 8th and a ski trip planned on the 23rd why, oh why would I want to do January dry, cheers, mines a pint.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 11:19 am
Posts: 8950
Free Member
 

Well I'm ****ing doing it so **** all of you and and stab you in the ****ing eye with a ****ing icepick you ****s. Jesus ****ing christ I need a ****ing drink. I've noticed some effect on my mood already.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 11:36 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Been dry for months, best thing i ever did, saving loads of cash, feel better, lost weight and were described as buff again the other day, which hits the bloody spot when your the wrong side of 50, chuffin, brilliant.
To be honest 12 months ago i would never have imagined a life without my beloved real ale, but life is sweeter without it.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 11:37 am
Posts: 3449
Free Member
 

To be honest 12 months ago i would never have imagined a life without my beloved real ale, but life is sweeter without it.

How much were you drinking before, if you don't mind my asking?


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 11:46 am
Posts: 1988
Free Member
 

With all the stories at this time of year, I'm under the impression that stopping drinking completely is the only way to lose weight, save cash and sleep better. As per Mr Salmon, how much were those claiming to have all these great benefits drinking previously? I no longer suffer from my insomnia, have more disposable income than ever, and am 15kg lighter than 2 years ago. I still drink.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 11:52 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I thought the charity angle was you donated some of the cash you'd saved by staying off the pop. Why would I sponsor someone not to drink seems a bit daft?


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 12:04 pm
Posts: 14134
Full Member
 

Been dry for months, best thing i ever did, saving loads of cash, feel better, lost weight and were described as buff again the other day, which hits the bloody spot when your the wrong side of 50, chuffin, brilliant.
To be honest 12 months ago i would never have imagined a life without my beloved real ale, but life is sweeter without it.

I'm hoping for this kind of result. I've decided to pack in all togther. At 47 I could seem myself slipping into older age spread and I don't want that.

I'm not a massive drinker by some comparisons, but it was 10/12 pints and 4 whiskys over a Friday and Sat night. Didn't drink Sun > Thur.

My problem is I can't have 1 bottle of beer - it always leads to more.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 12:14 pm
 Spin
Posts: 7809
Free Member
 

t's absolutely not a challenge which is why I'll never do it or sponsor anyone else to.

Hardly any of the stuff people ask you to sponsor them for is a bona fide challenge. I give based on whether I've already given something that month and whether I like the charity's aims / ethos.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 12:17 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Nothing better than supping a Pint of Real Ale from my favorite Pub in the whole world, so no.. I'm not doing Dry January nor February, nor March... etc.etc.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 12:49 pm
Posts: 13595
Full Member
 

[i]As per Mr Salmon, how much were those claiming to have all these great benefits drinking previously? I no longer suffer from my insomnia, have more disposable income than ever, and am 15kg lighter than 2 years ago. I still drink.[/i]

I agree with most of that. I am cutting back specifically to lose weight and skipping 15,000 - 20,000 calories a week does have an impact in that. Sleeping is no better now, worse if anything, and money just gets spent on other stuff.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 1:08 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I'm just cutting down.

Imagine cooking a delicious Italian meal and not having a lovely glass of wine to accompany it.

The issue is thinking you have to drink in all situations to make it more fun or better in some way. I have been guilty of this for years.

I like a glass of red, I like real beer and I love a little single malt in winter, I'll still enjoy these things but in a more measured manner, which I imagine will make me love them more.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 1:19 pm
Posts: 9
Free Member
 

Just don't drink. How hard can that really be...

And if it is hard, get a grip.

And if it's beyond that, then some professional help should be sought.

Imagine cooking a delicious Italian meal and not having a lovely glass of wine to accompany it.

🙄


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 1:31 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

theres drinking and theres drinking, ill probably not spend any days consuming the amounts i did some days over xmas, but im not gonna deprive myself of the small pleasures like a nice glass of red with my tea, the post ride pint or the gin & tonic on the train home after a long week away. f that


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 1:41 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I'm doing dry January, but then I often don't drink for months at a time anyway.. so it is by default rather than conscious effort.
I had a few drinks NYE, but can't remember the last time I had a drink before then - might have been October sometime?

I generally only drink if i'm away with work and it is going on the corporate card ;o)


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 1:41 pm
Posts: 1014
Free Member
 

the challenge for me is not completing the month. but a challenge to behaviours/ habits.

It's nice to abstain from something to see if it makes any difference/ makes you appreciate it a bit more.

Last lent i gave up drinking at home - it meant i socialised a bit more - and had better beer when i did.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 3:31 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Yup, roll those eyes oh enlightened one, or lighten up.

A glass of wine with a nice meal is no more harming to me than a high sugar content soft drink, it can also enhance the taste and dining experience, nothing too outrageous about that.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 4:15 pm
 dazh
Posts: 13399
Full Member
 

I'm doing this January challenge instead. Never thought to ask for sponsorship though 🙂

[img] http://static1.squarespace.com/static/549ddc7fe4b0b2b297f7fe3e/t/56702c84a12f444bda8d7863/1450192006129/?format=500w [/img]


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 4:23 pm
Posts: 1
Free Member
 

Anyone want to donate to my "Don't openly masturbate on trains" February?


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 5:15 pm
Posts: 1746
Full Member
 

Well, I was going to give it a go, but after the shit couple of weeks we've had I'm setting myself up to fail.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 6:00 pm
Posts: 8424
Free Member
 

Danny79 - Member
I thought the charity angle was you donated some of the cash you'd saved by staying off the pop. Why would I sponsor someone not to drink seems a bit daft?

This is the way I understood it, as well. Save £20 a week by not drinking? Give it to charity.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 6:00 pm
Posts: 1442
Free Member
 

theres drinking and theres drinking, ill probably not spend any days consuming the amounts i did some days over xmas, but im not gonna deprive myself of the small pleasures like a nice glass of red with my tea, the post ride pint or the gin & tonic on the train home after a long week away. f that

that’s sensible drinking of which i’m an advocate. if people drank sensibly then there would be no need to have a dry january. all you need to do is not binge on alcohol just because it’s the ‘festive season'


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 6:31 pm
Posts: 33988
Full Member
 

I don't drink that much, I might get some beers in and have one in the evening, but I really enjoy the couple of pints I have with a mate in my local, on a Friday and Saturday evening, and the pint I often have in a handy pub after a Sunday afternoon walk, and I'll be damned if I'll give it up just because some hand-wringing, finger-wagging nanny-state know-it-all tells me what's good for me. They can sod off. I'm possibly drinking a bit more now than a year or two ago, and I'm now able to wear jeans I bought thirty-five years ago, a 30" waist, and my usual 32" jeans are really pretty loose.


 
Posted : 06/01/2016 6:47 pm
Page 1 / 4