Dry January ?

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 ?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I thought you meant it might stop raining…

^^ 🙂

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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?

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….

Oh, I thought this was a weather forecast thread.

*disappointed*

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

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

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)

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?

A similar thread : http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/any-tips-for-going-teetotal/page/3#post-7415129

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

🙄

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

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)

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.

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.

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