Dry January 2024..

Had a few cravings but so far so good. Worst was Friday night after 5-a-side when everyone has a can and then goes to the pub. Think that will be the next big test this Friday when I’ll have had a 5 day week instead of a 2 day week, so that Friday feeling will be stronger than last week.

Snacking marginally more in the evenings. Home booze has been replaced by copious amounts of mint tea. Making a big pot and then getting through 3-4 cups an evening.

Kind-of fancied a beer last night after a stressful PM at work, but not difficult to resist.

I recognise that thing about ignoring the booze aisle in the supermarket too – shopping will be cheaper this month 😀

finding it pretty easy, the house is, as usual, full of booze, but not been tempted, and as other half doesn’t drink that makes it simpler.

Snacking is beginning to tail off, though not before time as have put on best part of 2kg in 10 days…

I haven’t lost any weight, despite riding or running every day since Boxing Day – still too much sugar in the house I think – but I’m sleeping so, so much better. I’ve struggled with sleep for a long time, hadn’t slept through once since September, often only a few hours a night, but done it two times this week so far. The other time I woke up, went for a pee and fell back asleep. Revelation. 

I’m enjoying sleep so much that I’m starting to think that I might only drink in the house on a daytime, which means a glass or two with Sunday lunch not a beer with daytime tv, or when I’m out the house for an event (dinner/work/drinks with friends)  

To encourage people I listened to a report about the health risks of alcohol on France Info. The evidence presented says that the French paradox is bollocks and that the best amount of alcohol for a long healthy life is zero. Even the French government’s recommended limits of 10 units a week and 2 a day wil increase cancer risk by 10% among other ills. I used to be an occasional social drinker until a doctor suggested zero would be better in my case. The doc was right in terms of health but being a non-drinker in some social situations ain’t easy. Being the only sober, non-druggy member of a band was untenable.

An interesting reply from the France Info doc was about the beneficial anti-oxidants in wine – the amount of wine you’d need to drink to get those benefits isn’t drinkable.

More of a frequent drinker than a binge drinker, glass or two of red on a week night or maybe a beer if there’s anything in. Bit more on weekends.

I’m not in for the whole dry Jan thing but curious to see how/if a period of improved habits might improve fitness on the bike via sleep and recovery etc.

So after clearing the last of the Christmas beer from the house I’m staying dry during the week and keeping a lid on it at weekends.

Only two nights in, went to bed a little earlier and think I slept reasonably well but both mornings I’ve woken up feeling knackered – is this normal?!

Only two nights in, went to bed a little earlier and think I slept reasonably well but both mornings I’ve woken up feeling knackered – is this normal?!

I had a few nights of very restless sleep (habitual big drinker) and mad dreams – the dreams come with stopping smoking also. Almost a week in and I started sleeping better, but the odd morning felt like I’d been drinking the night before. All part of the detox I think. I always get bad complexion for a few day as well as all the crap comes out

Sleeping well and fresh as a daisy now – energy levels are definitely well improved

I’ve still not had a drink, but my Wife came home from Tesco with one of those small bottles of wine. I’m a bit disappointed that she didn’t persevere to be honest, as we’re only 10 days in. But, I wasn’t gonna make too much of a fuss about it.

Down at my parents for the weekend this coming weekend & I’ll be having a couple of drinks. I said right from the start that I wasn’t going to cut booze out of ‘special occasions’.

I lost 2lbs in the first week & feel like I’m still losing weight. Just getting used to not stuffing my face at the first sign of hunger, which is what I seemed to do for most of last year.
Sleep is better, but not great, as I tend to go to bed too late. My alarm goes off at 5:45 so I really need to be in bed around 10pm, but it’s normally nearer 11, or sometimes even later.

Day 13 for me. Suffering from a cold and a turgid day yesterday so was very tempted, most I have been so far. Even got some af beers out of the beer fridge in the garage. Funnily enough didn’t break, and even drinking 0.5 percent beer felt like breaking so didn’t and just had tonic instead. have been hit by food cravings though, and smashed a curry last night. Hopefully just a blip with my cold and weight loss will resume 

I don’t really have any interest in going dry but I do have periods where I want to drink less.

I’d like to see more low alcohol products available, say 2.5% and 3% beers.  I’d also like for them to not cost the same or more than 4.5% – 5% beers.

15 days done and I think the thing I am enjoying most is not getting up for a wee in the night then struggling to get back to sleep.  I wake up feeling fresh and cheery.  I bet my work colleagues can see a difference in my pre-10am attitude.

15 days done and I think the thing I am enjoying most is not getting up for a wee in the night then struggling to get back to sleep.

Hang on, I’m still doing that.

🙁

Hang on, I’m still doing that.

So am I, but then I’m still drinking a lot of liquid

I’m into probably my longest dry streak for years. All 11 days of it.

Felt like bollocks for most of it, though. Wife caught Covid at a NYD party (probably). My dose kicked in last weekend.

I’m doing *At least* dry January. I have drunk arguably quite a bit too much since I discovered that, during first lockdown when pubs are closed, I could just buy beer and drink it in the house. Never been a “problem” drinker i.e. getting belligerent or blacking out etc, but especially if you like fancy Belgian beers the fun hobby begins to turn into a bit of a habit. I was finidng myself having a couple strong beers alone of a weekend towards the middle of last year, and was starting to look forward to it too much. Before covid I used to look forward to going out on my bike!

I’m actually nearly 3 weeks in (ill over Christmas so didn’t want any rich food or booze) and I may be imagining it, but I can feel my serotonin levels normalising a bit. I am spending less time on my phone on the couch and I have a considerable amount more motivation, appreciation, and concentration. I am getting less bored and frustrated with things too. Many times in the past couple years I’ve gone out riding and wanted to sack it off halfway through but I have enjoyed every ride so far this year like a child. Who knows what forsaken other hobbies I might pick up again.

Weight is noticeably coming off too. My nice Rab hardshell jacket was becoming too tight before November when I last dared to try it on. Now it is starting to fit again with a fleece underneath!

I’ve not found it particularly hard, I think because I can feel some tangible benefit, which in turn is helping me to choose better food choices too. I’m not saying that I will not ever drink again (I do like a pint or two at a wedding for example) but who knows – maybe exploring my relationship with alcohol is actually not scary but really interesting and beneficial. Conclusion thus far is that I am seemingly happier without and I don’t think I am in denial!

Great post elray.

The people who say “meh, no point” should read that and ponder it.

Thanks bud! Just my experience so far after a very short time indeed. I think a lot of it is a mindset thing – I’ve tried to sack it off for a break a couple times but it feels like it has a bit more weight behind it this time for whatever reason.

Yeah that’s a great post elray.

I had a good dry period of about 6 weeks last year and can recognise a lot of the benefits you are talking about.

Unfortunately I fell back into some bad habits, but still fairly restrained. ( did not go back to being as bad as I have sometimes been).

Wasn’t going to do a dry January but you have kind of made me want to do it again (well it might be half a dry January but then carry on after)

I even had a Guinness 0% after the ride last night instead of the usual double Charnwood Vixen as per normal.

Just poured a can of it – finding it quite palatable and not really missing the bit that makes you pissed – yet!

Can feel my resolve weakening and a cider inbound:(

This is going to be quite an important Dry January for me. I turned 40 November just gone and set myself a goal for the next 10 years to get super healthy.

To say booze got me into some scrapes in my late teens and 20s is an understatement. Didn’t really start drinking until I was nearly 18 as I was a late bloomer socially. I never, ever used to drink midweek but did follow the classic binge drink pattern at weekends then laying off the booze for a couple of months at a time after a particularly nasty hangover. Rinse and repeat for nearly a decade.

I had completely rowed it back to once every couple of months when I hit 30 but a prolonged period of unemployment and subsequent depression saw me getting into midweek / day drinking. Finally landing a job as an assistant manager of a wine shop didn’t help and for around 3 years of my life I was low-level drinking (half a bottle of wine or a couple of pints) Thursday – Sunday.

The last 5 years I’ve barely drunk at all. I just don’t really enjoy the feeling of being inebriated any more although I do love the taste of decent beer / wine. Did Dry January back in 2021 but extended it until the end of March so 3 months in total. I was amazed by the mental clarity I had. The aim this year is to get that feeling back.

Still dry here and it has not really bothered me too much. Defo lost some weight and my resting heart rate is lower so all good.

What are the symptoms of quinine overdose?

Stick with the program tcomc, you’ll not regret it

“What are the symptoms of quinine overdose?”

Erectile dysfunction and halitosis

still trucking here, bit bored of an evening like and as above sleep a bit fitful and struggling to get up but definitely clearer thinking and better concentration once awake

“What are the symptoms of quinine overdose?”

Erectile dysfunction and halitosis

still trucking here, bit bored of an evening like and as above sleep a bit fitful and struggling to get up but definitely clearer thinking and better concentration once awake

Eveyone still on the train? Friday night can be a difficult one.

Eveyone still on the train? Friday night can be a difficult one.

Yep. And I’ve been in a pub every night this week.

Gonna have a coffee and get ready to ride my bike

I’m still on the wagon and finding it quite easy going. I’m also trying to eat better which is pretty easy going after I scoffed the entire Xmas cake in 3 days. Nett result is I’ve lost 1kg in about 8 days and certainly sleeping better. I feel brighter in the morning and don’t have any brain fog in the morning.

Had a rough week with two eye migraines which may be due to changes in my sleep patterns without the booze. Still finding it easy enough but did have some pangs for a pub visit this week, and was fantasizing about beers and bbqs come the summer! 

Yes, still not had a drink. Even stayed strong after a midweek group ride, choose to have a Erdinger Alkoholfrei in the pub after🍻 Weirdly tasted better in a pub than at home.

The never ending rollercoaster of colds and illnesses means I’ve been able to stay dry since new years having previously been dry from mid November to boxing day. I’ve lost 4kg in that time when in a normal year you woukd expect some weight gain so I’m  very happy with that.

If I can lose another 4kg through carrying this on for another 2 or 3 months then that would be ideal

Yep, 2 weeks in and going well. Too many evening snacks still, so about 3lb on so far but cutting them out now and expecting to see some decent weight loss over the next few weeks.

Slightly stronger beer urge last night, but still easily manageable.

Keep forgetting to weigh myself but don’t expect to have lost any weight.

Run speed getting slightly quicker.

The never ending rollercoaster of colds and illnesses means I’ve been able to stay dry since new years having previously been dry from mid November to boxing day. I’ve lost 4kg in that time when in a normal year you woukd expect some weight gain so I’m very happy with that

You are me and I claim my £5!!!

My “fighting weight” has ALWAYS been 70kg…

For the past few years it’s been 72, then 74…

Over the last 2 weeks I’ve dropped below the 70mark!

Being I’ll has helped, but I fear some of it is muscle mass too as I’ve been unable to exercise.. just coughing and wanting to sleep all the time!

Feeling fresh and calm in the mornings..

My OH iss having the odd glass of wine, but isn’t drinking mid week..

We’ve been chatting and realize my approach to alcohol, like everything in my life, is sadly “all or nothing”… I’ll guzzle wine/spirits to the hilt..or nothing at all!

If I do go back to booze, I’ll DEFINITELY be reflecting on my ability to have just one or two…

DrP

Still off the booze. Only a week and a bit for me as I stopped drinking on the Thursday last week.

Been a couple of points where I’ve fancied a drink, all when cooking as I’d usually have a beer or wine thenl. But the urge is becoming less strong, so I’m clearly retraining my brain.

Evenings are a bit boring without booze but I can deal with that.

Also trying to eat more healthily so not sure if that will have an effect. Have found I’ve got a real sweet tooth ATM. Assume my body is craving the sugar from booze. So trying to satisfy it with fruit but I could have murdered for a packet of digestives with a brew yesterday.

Sleep is normally fine, apart from last night where I randomly woke up between 3-5am!

One thing I am struggling with is getting up in the morning. Never been my strongest point but I’ve found I’ll lie in until about 5 minutes before I start working, from home! So need to get that sorted. Hopefully the lighter morning will help sort that out. Or my OH will kill me as I know it gets on her goat.

Away with work for a couple of days next week seeing customers. Good bunch and I expect beer will be involved, no set plan for that so will play it by ear. If it’s all fosters I won’t be bothered but some nice beers and I may be tempted.

Oh also weighted myself the other day as a reference point, will be interesting to see what happens on that front. BMI is 24 so not massively overweight, but carrying a lot of chub it’s fair to say 😀

Yes, still going strong. Had to fight another middle-aged bloke for the last four-pack of Brooklyn Brewery’s Special Effects in Waitrose though. 

It’s confirmed my triggers for drinking: work stress, boredom in the evenings and habit (I always have a glass when cooking and I always cook). So I can adapt to cope without alcohol by managing stress, doing something with my evenings etc.

Final post is a FYI – the Liver Trust offers free scans at their roadshow: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/love-your-liver/free-liver-scan/

Dates and locations for 2024 tbc.

Damp January is where it’s at. Not dry, but not full on sloshed. 

It’s confirmed my triggers for drinking: work stress, boredom in the evenings and habit

They are my triggers too. Although the frustration of kids bed time triggers me more than.

2.4kg lost so far although I’m also cutting down to snacks which helps just as much. And when not drinking the snacking urge is reduced.