[Closed] Dry January ?

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!

[s]If you can easily go for a month without drinking then[/s] 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://singletrackmag.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 ****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.

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.

[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.

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 🙂

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

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

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.

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.

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'

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.

Well I'm doing it. I need to break the cycle that I've slipped into. Every night. Glass of wine. Maybe another. Oh, I've drunk the lot. Maybe will just have another small glass out of that other bottle..............

I'm also using it as the springboard to lay off the bread. And the cheese. And run 3 times a week. And eat more veg.

Believe me, it's a challenge. Still, 6 days in.

Sponsor me to make a positive change on my lifestyle, my health and my bank balance? No, don't think so.

Not consciously restricting this to January either. We will see.

i'm doing it - not for charity or any bollox like that - just because i've been caning it for years and its time to give the liver a chance to recuperate

30 days and it'll back up to fighting fitness 🙂

Not going for a dry January this year, but will be trying not to exceed government recommendations. I don't usually drink Mon-Thur anyway (outside of festive season), just need to cut down a bit at weekends. Why? Health, money, lose those 2kg I've put on over xmas...

crankygirl is doing it not sponsored or anything just having a break from alcohol for a month so i am doing it by default without making any promises.
It seems a very odd thing to get sponsored for.

So, it's Saturday night, anyone fell off the wagon yet? 😆

Not on the wagon 😆

Last night was a cracking pint of proper Hampshire ale, just the one mind.
Tonight, large Vodka n Tonic.

Thats it for the week so far, for me thats pretty good as occasionally I'll have a whiskey double on a Weds too but this week I just didn't as I was out watching Star Wars again.

Celebration weekend next weekend and I dare say a couple of bottles of sparkles with be popped..

No alcohol has passed my lips since the 1st, gave up crisps too. I've lost 3lb in weight! 😯

Nobeerinthefridge - Member
So, it's Saturday night, anyone fell off the wagon yet? 😀

Nope !! Going to keep it going till my big birthday 4 weeks today 🙂

I'm doing it - I've been knocking back a bottle of red a night and that needs to change. It has been easy so far because I realise I want to make a change.

I'm sleeping better and feeling better. Good luck to all out there who are doing Dry January with me.

I'm not doing the dry month per se, but I probably won't have a drink as I've decided to stop drinking at home, only socially from now on. Makes more sense to me, sustainable but at the same time I'll drink a hell of a lot less.
I don't go out much, but I'll look forward to it now.

Too easy for a couple of glasses of wine to lead into a few ales fri, sat and sun for me. Lose weight, save money, but most importantly - feel fresh for biking in the morning!.

Sorry MrSalmon, bit of a late reply, i was going out three nights a week and usually drinking 2-3 pints and the odd beer at home.
A bloody lightweight compared to some on here, the reason i stopped was because i wanted six pack abs and consuming 200 calories for every pint it was never going to happen.
Gotta go, off up the gym to destroy blokes half my age on the pull up bar. 😉

I had crept up to the same as Cranberry, sinking between half and a full bottle of red pretty much every night.
I'm not intending to give up drinking completely, but I do need to stop drinking quite so much. It's as much about the weight gain for me as anything else. Recently getting out n the road more has meant digging out the Lycra instead of baggies and it was a bit shocking seeing what my side profile has become. Not quite as many flat bits as there used to be.
Had a few glasses of wine last night, which was the first since last weekend. Will probably not drink again until end f next week, when we go away for a week for my wife's 40th.

I used to drink heavily..
Only socially at the pub but daily and minimum 7 or 8 pints per sitting..

I stopped completely when the kids came along, but the last 18 months I have been in a new relationship and my partner drinks wine at home in the evening to wind down..
I've joined her in this and it's surprisingly habit forming..

Gonna have a crack at changing the ritual this year although I won't be doing it in this regimented fashion

For me it's financial in the main, but I'm also very averse to being at the mercy of any habitual behaviour

7 days in, isn't reality scary 😉

I agreed to this whilst drunk on New Years Eve. When I told my wife, she reminded me that this weekend was my sister's 40th birth celebrations; next weekend we are skiing; and at the end of the month, we're going to a Burn's Night dinner which means whisky... She also told me I was an idiot.

Anyway, I lasted until the night of the 8th. Oh well.

We had our night ride group Crimbo night out last night so the no drink went out the window as the venue is a CAMRA award winner this year 🙂

Tell you what though, a week off the booze soon turns you into a lightweight 😮
4 pints & I was very merry.

I'm still on the wagon- no alcohol since 30th December for me.
This is the longest I've gone without it for years, and definitely feeling better and sleeping better.
Good luck to all who are sticking with it.

over 2 weeks in so far 🙂

how y'all getting on with it ?

Fine, not touched a drop since NYE.
Mind you, I often go months without drinking anyway, so 'Dry January' is more like 'ordinary January' for me.

I'm missing the crisps + Chocolate though!!

Fine here too, nothing since new year, just fizzy mineral water and coffee.

Having the lurgy for over a week may have helped though!

still sticking to not agreeing i am doing it but not drinking either but i have agreed to a works social on the 29th so no way i will do the whole month.

sleeping heavier and wife says i am thinner.

Still dry, was going perfectly but had the thought after my cheeky 'use the hols up' ride today of a celebratory pint and bag of crisps. DENIED! 🙁

not drank since New Years eve, and yes it is hard! Not so much the week days, but the beer on a friday night after work is sorely missed. For those doing Dryathlon, you are allowed a drink apparently - you just have to donate 20 quid for the privilege!

aye, Friday night routine of home and a couple of G'n'T's and a few glasses of wine is quite hard to forget about !

As people say, its not just the bevvies its the crap you eat while drinking, crisps, nuts, bombay mix etc.

I have still not had a drink in Jan, was 12.8 on Jan 1st now 12.1.

Im 6ft and was not over weight to start with, done on ave 15 hrs a week on the bike for the last 3 weeks as well which is up about 4-5 hrs than normal.

Feel better for it and my power to weight is obv a lot better.

Still fancy a beer badly though 🙂

Still doing okay here, no alcohol since nye, which was challenging as we were away in France last weekend, where aperos, wine and digestives are the norm. Sleeping much better.

I'm keeping on keeping on - sleeping very well, going to bed early getting up at 6 like it isn't the middle of the night and getting into an out of work nice and early.

As a bonus, shopping is much cheaper when you're not buying wine and the munchies to go with it.

Still dry also - nearly succumbed on Wednesday after a shitty day at work - but all good

Not noticed any benefits yet mind...

well I have managed to take just over a minute off my 1.5k swim time, but that aside no other noticeable differences 🙂

Burns nite at friends house this Friday, so that will be a challenge.....

Still going here, finding it easy tbh

Mrs B and I hadn't really started this as a conscious thing but other than a medicinal drop* in a single hot toddy for my man flu the other night we haven't touched a drop.

*I don't care whether you think that counts or not. I'm not counting it 😀

Day 18. Smashed my previous world record of 12 consecutive days without drink, the longest since I was about 17yo. Finding it easy. But I feel no fitter/better, was already skinny. Pointless, really

I am settling for a 'damp' January. No more than 3 nights a week and a lot less on those nights

Day 19.... Still dry but feel I could break really easily. Not sure why as normally when I'm off the booze, weight falls off me... I'm currently remaining the same which is really vexing! Have found I miss the idea of drinking... Ie a cheeky lunchtime pint....which I then thought hard about tasting it, I didn't fancy it.
Wondering if the shitty weather is trying to make my body hibernate and hang on to my body mass. Am eating healthily ( Mrs has me on no fish or meat) cycling 5 -10 miles a day and no booze. Why arnt I losing my Christmas podge!!!?

Still going here apart from one small glass of red on Sunday evening, I felt rotten the next day
Not deliberately doing dry January and will roll it over into Feb, March etc as I felt I really had to cut right back