Dry January 2024..

 Afterwards, dunno but certainly off it midweek and only on weekends if there’s a legitimate reason.

That’s roughly what I’m thinking too.

In my fourth week now (no booze, no take aways, avoiding breads/pastas/rice dishes).

I’m not missing booze but I have a busy couple of months ahead, including my birthday, a huuuuuuuge Bob Marley festival (43rd year running), The Streets concert annnnnnnd a week long bush doof called “Blazing Swan” Perth’s equivalent to Burning Man. I suspect a few shandy’s might be consumed but I’d have no prolem going back to no booze after all that (probably for the best!)

If only there were some other intoxicant suitable for consumption at a Bob Marley festival.

Likewise for the rave thing.

😉

If one was to partake in substances other than alcohol during January, does it still count as dry?  Asking for a friend.

If one was to partake in substances other than alcohol during January, does it still count as dry? Asking for a friend.

Depends on your reason for doing it, so completely subjective. But if you want some form of validation, then go for it, as I hear these substances aren’t wet.

If one was to partake in substances other than alcohol during January, does it still count as dry?

Dunno, but Aphex would be doing Off-Your Face February anyway.

So what are people planning to do when Jan ends?

Dry February

Then dry March

Then we’ll see after that

Still dry here, still not missing it although on Metronidazole now for an infection so not really much choice. 

Not sure what I’ll do after Jan to be honest, probably slip back into a glass or two on a Friday and Saturday night if I want one, and when cooking Sunday lunch after a ride. 

I’m a really bad sleeper, and I’ve had the best month’s sleep that I can remember.  I don’t want to give that up anywhere near as much as I do fancy a nice glass of something. 

I’m a really bad sleeper, and I’ve had the best month’s sleep that I can remember.

I’m a moderate-to-good sleeper normally, but yes – this month has been bloody amazing for shuteye.

Still dry here – helped by also being at the tail end of some other virus again, although I seem to have swerved COVID, which our youngest has just shaken off..

Plan is to finish off the left over Xmas surplus over the upcoming Feb weekends, trying to avoid a lapse back into regular week day tipples.

chakaping

So what are people planning to do when Jan ends?

Not sure yet. Initial plan was to stay away from booze until I had lost my target 1 stone. However, that might take longer than planned – will see which way it’s going tomorrow morning at weigh-in 😁
I don’t really drink that much, but I have been enjoying feeling less wooly in the mornings.

I think perhaps I’ll try to stick to soft drinks/non-alc in the week & then treat myself at the weekend.

Today I’ve been to a funeral where there were loads of family I haven’t seen for years, social anxiety got the better of me and I had 3 pints 🫤

Had forgotten about this until I came across it again in the supermarket today.

I really like it

Still dry here too. Honestly didn’t think I’d find it very easy, but I haven’t struggled at all. A few non-alcoholic gin variants have helped, and now feeling like I could try Dry Feb too… we’ll see!

[chakaping]

chakaping

Free Member

Dunno, but Aphex would be doing Off-Your Face February anyway.

I mean, if it’s not a thing then I’m all for advocating for it. Although it’s been a good 25 years since I was that naughty.

Dunno, but Aphex would be doing Off-Your Face February anyway.

Went to the pub on the weekend – BOTH nights. Observations:

Still had a decent enough time with my OH and mates

Did start to get quite bored and wanted to go home earlier than the others

Guinness 0.0 is pretty nice but it would be nice if more people had it on draft.

Apart from the people I was with – the other rowdy folk in the place really started to annoy me. I was really trying hard not to be self righteous as they’re just having fun and I’ve been there a million times but secretly harboured annoyance and smugness.

Not sure what I will do when January ends. I never set out to never drink again and I have a weekend in Torridon at the start of Feb for some climbing. But I really feel much better.

Did start to get quite bored and wanted to go home earlier than the others

Apart from the people I was with – the other rowdy folk in the place really started to annoy me. I was really trying hard not to be self righteous as they’re just having fun and I’ve been there a million times but secretly harboured annoyance and smugness.

This is how I find it. Even the people I’m with start to grate if they are too pissed

Will be a year dry in March. Feel pretty good on it. Lost a bunch of weight, sleep really well and have much improved mental clarity.

There are times though I just want to get off my tits.

Did start to get quite bored and wanted to go home earlier than the others

Apart from the people I was with – the other rowdy folk in the place really started to annoy me. I was really trying hard not to be self righteous as they’re just having fun and I’ve been there a million times but secretly harboured annoyance and smugness.

I can relate to this, I also find pissed people repeat themselves a lot. I really hope I am not like that when I’ve had a few. That and one mates wife who insists on being 3 inches from my face during a conversation, never noticed it when she is sober.

My memory was I did this a couple of years ago.

It appears it was actually eight years ago 🙂 https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/alcohol-dreams/

Most of what I wrote then seems to have held over to this time round except:
– being older, weight loss seems to take longer

– definitely feel more drive to make a significant longer term change. Last time out my plans didn’t really stand the first contact with a beer!

– Changes that feel doable: No midweek drinking except after a ride, no beer at home once back from that ride (this is what kills me the next day), in fact just don’t drink on your own (my wife barely drinks at all)

– “Hardest” non beer time is defo after riding. Way easier at home although have drunk quite a lot of AF beers. Seem to be addicted to Erdinger Grapefruit 🙂

– I do feel a lot better. Sleeping well (still wake up tho), still getting knackered end of the day (but you know mid 50s, gonna happen!). Not sure my riding has benefited except the no hangover at the start of the ride is something to be cherished. Have been running a lot (from a zero base) and that’s definitely negatively affected riding MTBS.

– On hols 29/1. Not going to go to end of month when sitting in a bar in 22 deg sunshine overlooking a lovely coastline. But going to see if I can actually do the have a beer and then stop thing.

I can relate to this, I also find pissed people repeat themselves a lot

Try spending time sober with coke heads. Thats another level of tedium

I generally try to avoid alcohol-free beers when I am doing a detox as 1. I don’t find them particularly enjoyable and 2. I definitely get a bit of a placebo effect and I can loose that clear-headedness which is one of the biggest benefits of a booze break for me.

However, I saw some of that Guinness 0.0 in a shop yesterday and bought a couple of cans. Wow, tastes like the real thing. Easily the best 0.0 I have tried.

Seem to be addicted to Erdinger Grapefruit

Didn’t know this was a thing!

Didn’t know this was a thing!

We took a punt at our local discount store with a few boxes due to ‘go out of date end March 24’ .

We ended up buying about 30 bottles and I fully expected to be giving them away/hiding them at the back of the cupboard way before then.

Nope. Been back for another 30 🙂 Everyone I’ve offered one too has left the house with a box of 4. I’ve always liked Erdinger after a turbo session or a run, but this version is like human cat nip!

I really hope I am not like that when I’ve had a few. 

I think we all know the answer to that one…!DrP

I’ll be looking out for it, love Erdinger and happily the Alkohofrei one is a great alternative when I’m behaving myself.

Pedant alert: Isn’t that Erdinger grapefruit stuff technically about 2.5% abv? I mean still chump change but not an AF beer.

https://uk.erdinger.de/beer/alkoholfrei-grapefruit.html

Less than 0.3% according to this link

Pedant alert: Isn’t that Erdinger grapefruit stuff technically about 2.5% abv? I mean still chump change but not an AF beer.

Not the ones we bought- same as link below.

https://www.carlsbergmarstons.co.uk/products/erdinger/erdinger-alkoholfrei-grapefruit/

Oh man – I am geting mixed up with the orange cans of Schofferhofer. I gotta find some of that Erdinger!

January is a long month…

I’ve just bought the Brew Dog AF variety pack. Hazy Jane, Elvis Juice, Nanny State, Punk.  They’re all terrible.

The best tasting one so far has been Brooklyn Special Effects.  Moretti, Peroni, Rivington Mash Gang and Heineken Zero have been okay.

Erdinger was a little sweet with a crazy head.  I can only manage one or two, then I’m done.  Looking forward to trying the Grapefruit ones though.

Guiness Zero out of a can wasn’t great but normal Guiness is the same, I’m hoping on draught it’s better.

My mates recommend Beevertown Lazer Crush but I’ve not seen any in the shops.

I really like the 0% pilsner from Aldi. It’s only 2.99 for 6 bottles which is really good value.

Works for me as the placebo effect of having a beer does the job most the time and much prefer that to other fizzy drinks.

Also amazing to see the number of alcohol free beers available in pubs now – seems to be a real social shift going on at the moment and will be interesting to see how things develop.

4 weeks done.  There’s a little voice in the back of my head saying “what would be the worst that could happen if you never had another beer?”

I really like the 0% pilsner from Aldi. It’s only 2.99 for 6 bottles 

The Lidl one is excellent too. I have those and Special Effects in the fridge ATM.

I’ve just bought the Brew Dog AF variety pack. Hazy Jane, Elvis Juice, Nanny State, Punk.  They’re all terrible.

Dunno why but that made me do an actual LOL.

The Infinite Session alcohol free ones remain my favourite, though I have yet to try the grapefruit one mentioned earlier.  Quite like the Guiness zero but couldn’t do more than one can.

Still staying alc free here. I need to try some of these alc-free beers. Plenty of suggestions above 👍

Still trying to lose weight. Weigh-in yesterday showed a 1 lb loss, which I was expecting but equally a bit disappointed about – was sub-consciously hoping for more.
12lbs more to lose to get to my target, although historically I know the last 4 or 5lbs are a real struggle!

I asked for an alcohol free beer at the pub this evening, the only thing they had was small bottle of Peroni 0.0.

FIVE POUNDS!

I’m considering drinking again just to save money!

Enjoying the better sleep and clear-headedness, and not feeling too many cravings. Just thinking that come Feb I want to maintain that feel good factor – but stupidly – w no Dry Feb to aim for will i let it go and feel obliged to have a couple of beers on the 1st and then all downhill.

but thinking that actually staying dry could be a thing. Have been guilty of being too boozy for too long and staying dry through Feb as well will be the real change I need.

If you’re in Manchester, Balance have an amazing 0.5% Mosaic hopped barrel brew on. Also, Track have free Citra hopped water in their tap room, if you’re in there with friends who aren’t abstaining.

That’s good to know. I shall be in Manchester at the start of March and I know my colleagues will be keen to go to Track as we did last year.