[Closed] 31 days without a drink ? Seems a healthy idea !

I’m in and so far so good. Tbh I nearly drank and ate myself to death in December so my bodies telling me in no uncertain terms to stop.

Doing dry Jan with the missus. Didn't drink much over Christmas, about 4 pints in 12 hours on Christmas day and similar New Year.

The weight loss will be a good kick start and I've hit the turbo most nights. Also got Sat and Sun on the MTB. Piled on weight since breaking my spine and it will ease the pain if I shed some extra kgs.

My Mrs is 6 months pregnant, I had a beer advent calendar all through Dec, so that pretty much required me to drink every day as it was a present (wouldn't want to look ungrateful now, would I?)

That and chub club is helping, kg are just dropping off at the moment so I'll persevere.

Strange thing is that not drinking (or maybe that's just hunger) is making me want to smoke.

Unless I encounter too many of the type of people who come on to a thread about packing in drinking to say that they don’t drink anyway

They’d definitely make me want to start drinking very heavily, on general principle

+1

Similar to when people talk about quitting meat and dairy. Cue a phalanx of [s]vegans[/s] militant porkers from the Meat Division clamouring to skewer those self-righteous, idiotic meat-free morons on the barbed tips of their exquisite bacon-jokes. Makes me (eats fish and some dairy) desire to go full on militant vegan if only to be less like those people.

(Slams a carrot juice). 'Set me up another, Bob,...and a rum chaser. Vive la difference!' 😉

I had a beer advent calendar all through Dec

Approved. Just two questions - Screw length? Rawplug size?

On a serious note - I applaud anyone quitting an addiction/changing harmful habits. +2 if doing it for unselfish reasons.

jon1973 - Member
Non-alcoholics enjoying a pretend battle with drink.

I did a dry January last year, and liked the consequences so much that I just carried on not drinking, and have no desire to go back. In my case it was driven by the deep black moods and anger for days after having a drink - I just didn't want to be like that any more (especially around the kids). At first I just substituted fizzy water for beer when I got the craving, but now quite enjoy alcohol-free beer (and even some wine).

I've moved to Erdinger and Nanny State, hoping to keep it up to my Birthday in early March, coinciding with my bike race training and the need to lose a couple of pounds.

I don't have the desire to drink more than one of those a night.

I’m in and so far so good. Tbh I nearly drank and ate myself to death in December so my bodies telling me in no uncertain terms to stop.

plus 1

However the weekend is coming ..... must stay strong 😉

I'm finding this difficult. I don't drink much - a couple of shorts or a red wine in the evening perhaps but I see it as an enjoyable relaxing personal part/escape of my life whereas much else is quite hard work.

Therefore, having taken that away I now have nothing to look forward to this evening, and I'd quite like a beer at Jnr's birthday dinner with the outlaws this weekend also.

On the flip side, its a first world issue and there's many in this world that will never have the opportunity so I should feel grateful to have the choice,although actually I'm pretty downtrodden feeling.

If you’re at a party and fancy a beer, then just have one fella. At the end of the day you’ve decided to give something you enjoy up on an arbitrary date for a randomly specified timescale.

No point beating yourself up about it. It’s not like you’re putting special brew on your cornflakes, is it?

Cheers 😀

randomly specified timescale

Well, it was timed to end on my birthday and coincides with my meed to drop a few pounds before the start if my race season end of Feb... 🙂

To me, having a drink now screams "failed".

I only drink on holiday and Christmas and even then it's only a few pints Max. My kidney seems to ache after drinking alcohol, I've had kidney stones four times and they always seemed to come after drinking alcohol or lots of caffeinated drinks.
So I stick to water (sparkling) and tonic water.

Now smoking that's a hard one to give up.

After 3 months off it, decided I'm gonna do jointuary for the rest for the month*! 😆

*Or till this quarter gets rattled. Interesting side note. My dealer dude does a better service than amzon prime! 😆 free delivery too.

I'm giving up drinking at home. If I'm that desperate for a drink, I'll have to get off my fat arse and waddle down the pub.
I feel this is a sensible compromise.

I'm giving up drinking at home.

Except my daughters football this evening has been cancelled and I was going to nip to the pub while she played. Now at home with a beer.

Errr FAILED, in my defence I’ve had a rubbish day at A&E. But I’m working nights all next week followed by On-Call duties the week after.

I'm discovering that lime and soda makes me wee even more than beer!
Not doing whole January as it's the local winter beer fest on 27th.

binners - Member
It’s not like you’re putting special brew on your cornflakes, is it?

Many years ago I did just that! Dear god it was grim, not put me off drink though.

Our Occ Health nurse at work asked me about my alcohol consumption last month. So I told the truth (something many people fib about) and he almost fell off his chair in shock 😯

I think the words "functioning alcoholic" might have been mentioned 🙁

I like a drink, for sure. But there’s no way I see a completely dry January as a worthwhile exercise. It’s better for me to consciously make an effort to reduce my consumption to within the recommended limits (say, 14-20 units per week) than to completely omit any alcohol whatsoever.

As a result, this week has been a success. I’ve not drunk anything since Sunday and now I’m enjoying a couple of glasses of wine - maybe a bit more, but still within my prescribed limits.

So I’ve both reduced my consumption AND met my goals 😀

Winning at life 😆

Friday and Saturday evenings successfully completed 😀

Nearly into week 2, pretty happy so far. How others doing ?

I'm doing it too, I have done it the last couple of years. Last year a work trip away cut it short by a few days but I am happy just to prove that abstaining for a small time is possible and relatively easy.

This year has been fine so far although I am also trying to eat a lot healthier as well...the combination seems to be creating my own personal wind farm 😳

Ive discovered Nanny State gives me a faux hangover 😐

I'm still at it, I was drinking loads in December so thought it'd be a wrench but after the first couple of days it's turning out OK. Getting through the "I'm home from work, open a beer" habit was the hardest bit.

“Unless I encounter too many of the type of people who come on to a thread about packing in drinking to say that they don’t drink anyway
They’d definitely make me want to start drinking very heavily, on general principle”

I would like to enjoy a drink now and then but I’m forced not to because of frequent migraine. I’ve had an enforced dry 10 years so anyone asking me to sponsor them to do a dry month can bugger off! (Yes, I know the OP isn’t asking to be sponsored, but loads of people do on Facebook).

Another one doing it and not really feeling the benefits due to lingering lurgy. Had a hard day at work Friday and was looking forward to a beer until I remembered. Wasn't too bothered when I got home though. Love a beer but just tired of the downsides so not really missing it. Pub stop after Thursday night rides will be the hardest part but weather has been so crap that might not be too much of an issue

Kryton57 - Member
Ive discovered Nanny State gives me a faux hangover

Nanny State isn't entirely alcohol free though. It's about 0.5% iirc. How many you knocking back? 🙂

Was hard to not have a post ride evening beer last night but having a cold helps I guess.

Been trying a few alcohol free beers, still not found any that are as good as the blue erdinger. Funny how something essentially tasteless(?) is so noticeable when it's not there.

One to avoid - St Peters Without. F#&$**g awful, truly dreadful.

This one:

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Furstenburg alcohol free is good.

I've decided to keep drinking in January but give up Heroine instead. I feel too many people take Heroine and have a dependency on it, but it should be easy for me because I'm better than those people and never do Heroine anyway.
Maybe those who don't drink can quit caffeine for the month instead and join in properly?

That St Peter's stuff with or without alcohol is awful!

Nanny State isn't entirely alcohol free though. It's about 0.5% iirc. How many you knocking back?

Just the two, but I don't get hangovers on Erdinger Alcholfrie

I've decided to keep drinking in January but give up Heroine instead. I feel too many people take Heroine

You could drop a few Es as well.

Struggled for the first time today as I made and ate a full Sunday lunch. Would usually have a couple of beers while in the kitchen then wine with the food. Flavoured water didn’t really hit the spot.

Stick with it, I had a battle on Friday night, went to bed at 8pm! feel spot on now though, lost a bit of weight and got up early on Sunday and did 3 hrs on the push iron, too.

Crap weekend but I didn't give in. Missed the instant relief though.

That St Peter's alcohol free beer is really bad - tastes like diluted, unfermented home brew kit. Erdinger or Becks blue for me (also Innis and None, but can't find that anymore)

After the crap start to the year I'm going to give this a go now - mood swings are getting seriously dark.

As I said I'm cutting down, rather than cutting it out altogether. I was away at the weekend so walked down to the pub Friday night for a couple of pints, went for a long walk Saturday and popped into the pub for a pint and had a couple of gins last night. Won't have anything the rest of the week and my wifes away skiing next week so should be off it for nearly two weeks.

fell off the wagon yesterday with junk food and a few glasses of wine. Not going to use it as an excuse to give up. Back on the healthy wagon today

week 2, underway 🙂

[b]Struggled[/b] for the first time today as I made and ate a full Sunday lunch.

😯

****ed the job friday, whole bottle of gin and 7 pints between us... Always next jan...

I started over xmas and was 16 days in until yesterday. Surrounded by miserable people and couldn't help myself. Hoping to get back on track for rest of week. 1 pint turned into 11. Paying for it now.
Hard time of year to give up.

Going to stick with it, even though it's my birthday this month - decided I'm not going out to celebrate it either. Watching the diet as well.

Lost 3kg already and have been on the bike every day since the 2nd. Last week was 60 miles on Zwift, then 30 miles MTB'ing this weekend.

I put on over 10kgs after I broke my spine, and my daily cycle commute of 30 miles went out of the window. It's been a battle to get pain under control last two years, but I've found a ride then shed loads of pain killers after helps, and I'm OK for the next day. Even been riding this week with a bad cough - found being 'out' helped more than sitting on the couch.

Got a large MTB ride planned for Sunday, and sticking with 45 minutes of Zwift each night.

Managed to switch start times around at work so I start and finish early (avoids the worst of traffic as it was killing my back in the car), and as I get home, I can get a turbo session in before the evening meal. Turbo after food isn't pleasant.

Long term plan is no drinking through the week, or the night before a big ride.

Stick at it folks, even if only for the weight loss.

Stick at it folks, even if only for the weight loss

Bibs have definitely felt easier to get into this week, need to weigh myself to see if I'm just imagining it! 🙂

Assuming the scales I used on NYD are accurate, I need to shift at least 5KG (preferably 7) to get back to a reasonable weight. Been easy so far, waiting for my "temptation" moment 🙂

It's the regular 'temptation' that's the issue. It's all empty calories.

I need to both increase my cycling and reduce weight as my mates are killing me out on the trails, pre-accident I was faster ! Beer/wine is my biggest downfall and lack of cycling recently.

newrobdob - Member

[b]Struggled[/b] for the first time today as I made and ate a full Sunday lunch.

😯

As in missed the ritual of having a couple of beers whilst cooking followed by a nice, cold bottle of white with the chicken. I enjoy good wine with good food.

Fine again now and looking forward to getting up early on Sunday for a ride.

Cracked on Friday as we were at the in-laws and I didn't want to deal with the awkward 'I'm the only one not drinking' thing. Made it through Saturday and Sunday dry though, now looking ahead to the birthday weekend & two job interviews lined up for Friday - temptation ahead.

I need to shift at least 5KG (preferably 7) to get back to a reasonable weight.

same here, I was 75.5kg after the festive excess so need to lose around 6kg. Lost 1kg over the past week but should lose more with no alcohol over the next 2 weeks, and eating breakfast/lunch/dinner with no snacking in between.

I need to build up my alcohol tolerance, meeting up with some old friends in London at the end of the month for an afternoon session, don't want to disgrace myself too early in the proceedings!

After 9 days the feeling of routine that had built up through December has now gone, which is nice. Away with work next week so will need to beware, but will be in company of at least one other who is doing similar so should be ok. Not losing any weight but definitely sleeping more soundly at night.

3 weeks in. 1 forced week over Christmas with man flu.

Not intending to lose weight (good job as substituting alcohol with walnut whips and shortbread) but sleeping a bit better.

Agree with above posters... It's not really that I struggle to give it up, it's more breaking the routine. Usual couple bug glasses of rijoka and maybe a beer three nights of the week to relax after a hard day at work (or dealing with the monotony of recent stw threads). Easily over the recommended guidelines and probably considered to be in problem drinking teritory by medical professionals (or boring tee totalers*)

*if you don't drink / drink a thimble of beer a month then well done but probably best to move on to a thread you understand 🙂

I'd forgotten how good the taste of Erdingher alcohol free is. As above, getting into a nice routine now.

weekend no. 2 is looming, how we all getting on ? Been fine here really. Very much missed the habit I guess in first couple of days, not really thought 'I'd love a beer/wine/gin'.. much since, which is reassuring 🙂

It's the 12th of January. Since the 1st, I've had one night where I drank too much wine (last Friday), and then on Monday I had a small glass of red in the pub. I'm pretty chuffed with that!

Have drunk literally gallons of tea though. I've worked out that I'm definitely a boredom eater & drinker. Not that I'm ever bored, but they are just distractions and something to do alongside working, looking at the internet or watching the TV. Not sure how to break that.

weekend no. 2 is looming, how we all getting on ? Been fine here really. Very much missed the habit I guess in first couple of days, not really thought 'I'd love a beer/wine/gin'.. much since, which is reassuring

Be okay until I'm in the pub tonight sipping my diet coke.... 😯

Fine here, no grog at all and don't really notice the triggers anymore. On the flip side we're getting through plenty of milk, Ribenna and Horlicks!!

Fine here too, though I did go to the pub on Wednesday and the beer my mates were drinking smelt really good (Salopian Kashmir). Stayed firm though, bottle of blue erdinger and a can of posh orangeade (San pellegrino) saw me through.

Weight loss not so great yet, maybe 2lbs but I'm not convinced of the accuracy of my parents scales!

Feeling much less grumpy though which is a bit of a revelation, and is very welcome to those I live with!

Have a good weekend everyone 🙂

I've decided to keep drinking in January but give up Heroine instead. I feel too many people take Heroine

You could drop a few Es as well.

or maybe his wife's his hero (but also a slapper)

weekend no. 2 is looming, how we all getting on ?

I'm only a short termer, had last drink of alcohol on the 7th. Wife away skiing tomorrow and I need to drop her off at 6:30am so nothing tonight and won't have any booze while she's away.

I don't drink much really but will be nice not to have a malt whiskey fug tomorrow morning 🙂 Looking forward to a decent ride on the cx bike too. Also been very good in terms of snacking this week and had virtually nothing bar breakfast/lunch dinner and down to 74kg, should be down to 72 by the end of the month once I start riding properly again.

^^^ I must make a point of avoiding the racing snake Gary on the A77 for a while then 🙂 I am still sporting my Christmas gut !

🙂 If I ever get back on the A77 Iain, the ice is holding me back a bit! Set off yesterday morning and ended up heading home for the car as was sheet ice once I reached Fenwick.

Aye, there's been more icy roads in the shire this year than normal, went for a run on monday at lunchtime, lovely sunny day, black ice was nuts, completely unexpected!.

New favourite AFB, it's really tasty 🙂

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I managed 17 days without a drop until earlier this week, when the return to a stressful job/listening to others moaning/general low mood meant I've been on two fairly heavy drinking sessions since, as well as bingeing on food.
I think I have to improve my reaction to stress if I'm going to be able to cut down the booze in the long term.

I made two days, I'm too weak willed to bother with stuff like this when there is no real need

Found it surprisingly easy so far...13th day without - last drop was early hours of NYD.

We had friends round earlier and I must admit It was hard pouring our large GnTs and wine for others and diluting juice for me, but I can be content in the knowledge that I’ll go to bed in an hour and wake up fresh for my Sunday morning ride 8)

Late to the party but 11 days dry here after a ludicrous amount of alcohol last year. Not missing it in the slightest. I even went to the pub after last Thursdays night ride with the lads and drank 2 pints of orange.

Sleeping incredibly well and feeling great during the day.

Well done Dave!.

Had a wee Prosecco and chambord on saturday night, only my 4th drink since the last weekend in October, a gin on xmas eve and a beer on each of xmas day and boxing day.

Iain - Ice cold Soda water is your friend, well it's mine anyway, can quite easily neck a couple of pint glasses of it on a saturday evening, and the upside is that I'm pretty hydrated for sunday too for a change!.

16 days for me, as i didn't drink on NYE.

been ill for 14 of those days, so yet to reap the rewards.

I'm looking at extending it anyway. was alcohol free for 2 months before Christmas and i felt great. looking to do 6 months alcohol free this year.

Been on't wagon since January 2nd. Been ill for ages too so it's not been that easy to tell what's normal feeling.

Really wanted a beer after my Saturday ride but resisted.
Hopefully keep it up and see some benefits soon. 🙂

Been listening to The Cranberries and thinking of when I worked in Stockholm. The Pripps Blå Lättöl was nowhere as good as this, and it's 0.5%
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Dry here, not missing it, was a 10 minute period on Sat night where I'd have decked a pint if I had access. Apart from that, lost 6lbs, more motivated (work excepted) but not sleeping any better, maybe worse dunno what that's all about but poor sleep and no hangover beats marginally better sleep and a hangover so far.

Back home after 3 nights away with work. Managed to avoid the pub and resisted temptation !

How everyone else doing ?

If this was a 'normal' Thursday night I'd have had a few real ales at home. I'm off back to visit family in South Wales this weekend where I'd normally have beers with the old man - I'll see him and won't have beers which will be weird. 3rd weekend in - only 13 days to go now and I won't buckle. No biggie but surprised I've not come close to giving in 🙂

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As above. This is the most palatable low-alcohol hooch on the market in my experience.

Bought a box set of 12 different low-alcohol wheat beers last summer and this compared favourably. Also has the advantage of being readily available in Sainsbury's.

I'm off out for a regular lads night tomorrow.

I'm having issues at work - mainly my sales target gone up 33% and I'm at the conclusion that life's is miserable enough without having to hold back on the things we enjoy. I am limiting it though, I'll just have a couple of pints and move on to water, and will probably then have a glass of Prosecco with the Mrs on Vals day then a couple of beers again during my birthday meal out in March.

I've mainly concluded I hate the foggy mornings an it doesn't take many drinks for me to get there these days, at the same time taking my bike training and weight a bit more seriously. Therefore the above seems an adequate compromise - a coupe of drinks on treat days, no regular drinking.

Still going here and stopped really thinking about it, especially during the week.

Also late to the party but day 19 here and finding it surprisingly easy. Giving up coke (the liquid variety) is a lot harder.

Biggest challenge so far was going to a gig on my own and not being able to nurse a drink to look slightly less socially awkward.