Blog: Dry January – Lee

Over the coming weeks, we’re issuing people’s views and experiences about their Dry January 2016 challenge.

Today, Lee (scripted Thursday 7 January):-

I decided to do Dry January this year, mainly to help me lose weight, as it always seems easier to eat less if you have got to worry about missing out food calories to leave room for the alcoholic drink calories. I use an app called “My Fitness Pal” on my phone, and it’s surprising how many calories there are in a beer for example.

I joined my sister, at her suggestion, last year to do Dry January, and as I generally drink two times a week normally, I didn’t think eight times missing out would be too much of an ordeal. I succeeded last year without too much problem, so thought I would give it another go.

I don’t think I drink to excess, but I do find breaking the habit during January makes me think more about not turning to alcohol as a default response to having a drink with dinner. Finding something nice to drink can be a challenge if, like me, you enjoy a glass of wine or beer. But I drink mostly lime squash, diet coke or coffee. This can get a bit boring sometimes, so I find if I want something different, tomato juice with tabasco makes a spicy change.

Overall I don’t find physically that not drinking makes any difference to how I feel, but mentally I feel a bit sharper. For me it’s really exercise, even modest exercise, that makes me feel better, so I like a good excuse to go out on my Mountain bike whenever I can….. if only it would stop raining.

Wishing everyone who is going dry with me the very best with the challenge.

Lee