Giving up alcohol for vanity?

[VanityWitch]

So, I'm thinking of going teetotal, yes, for my health, but mainly because I am terribly vain and my skin is crap at the moment and my sleep quality is also crap. I don't drink much, as in, I tend to only drink at weekends plus one week night, so Friday, Saturday and Sunday or Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, for example. Usually one or two glasses of wine. Not bucketfuls, but not thimbles either! So I guess that is a bottle of wine a week?

I'm sure by MN standards this makes me either a raging alcoholic or a puritanical stick in the mud, but you know.

Anyway, I'm planning to quit as an experiment, to see if I glow!

Is anyone thinking of doing similar? Would anyone like to join me on here to document our journey to glowage?

Yesterday was my first 'fuck it' day since starting, just felt so low, lockdown etc etc Really wanted a drink but managed to steer clear. I'm reading 'the sober diaries' and even though she was MUCH more of a heavy drinker than me, a lot of what she says still rings true, it's quite fascinating learning about why we drink and why we find it so difficult to stop. I haven't lost anymore weight since the original 2 pounds but I measured myself and I've lost 12 inches all over, five from my waist!

@friendlyflicka

Thanks for sharing. I understand.

@Fiftysixthnamechange

5 inches from your waist is unreal! I love how much easier weight management is when not drinking. I was in my 20s before I realised alcohol had calories!

Day 21, and I have lost 4lb! Not quite enough to trim the flab above the waist of some new jeans I bought and would like to keep as the hips and bum fit beautifully, but the waist is still snug. No serious cravings, except boredom-induced. Keep going everyone.

Amazing weight loss everyone!

I really liked The Sober Diaries Fiftysixth. I am slightly wondering why I’m not gambolling around with joy yet, as people who quit seem to in sober autobiographies. Possibly the grind of lockdown, but I’m generally feeling a bit grumpy and dissatisfied and have been for a while. I might start keeping a gratitude diary, see if that perks me up. I’m not usually such a miserable bastard, honestly!

Bomblette I'm not gambolling around with joy either! I feel grumpy and flat - but I'm also thinking it's because of this whole lockdown/homeschooling thing and that it would take a minor miracle to have me gambolling. I'm still not sleeping very well either, which is disappointing. I'm definitely feeling positive effects though - I'm less tired, less anxious and feel sort of calmer. . And you wouldn't believe how beautiful I look!
Well done everyone - the end is very nearly in sight now!

@Bomblette no gamboling around with joy here either , quite the opposite. Feeling fat and depressed this morning. I've put on four pounds as I seem to be replacing alcohol with sweet things. I'm really craving sugar although I wasn't a midweek drinker the sugar cravings are still there midweek. I need to manage this so along with alcohol I now have decided to give up the sugar alongside it. I guess I have a really addictive personality. Any advice for long evenings in front of the tv where I seem to have many moments of weakness and cravings? Anyone else getting really bad sugar cravings even this far into it ?

@Readingandrighting thanks for your thanks. I hope you are pleased that you have got through a weekend safely. Know I am.

And as to frolicking with joy, yes, anyone who is doing that through January in a pandemic with nothing nice to do, definitely deserves incredulity and amazement. I find I have big bursts of it when I am outside walking or riding. Rest of the time, getting on with as best I can.

collywobble I've previously found that drinking mint tea helps as there are no snacks that compliment it.

Good point flicka. Interestingly, despite all the people that have told me I’m insane for quitting drinking, right now, in a pandemic, the Try Dry app says their stats suggest most people who started dry Jan are still at it. It feels nice to know there are people still slogging along with us.

Collywobble would nuts help? I know they’re not low fat, but it sounds like you need to wean yourself off sugar.

Also, hot tip for anyone still struggling with sleep. 11 yo DS has a weird habit of watching Bob Ross videos on YouTube before bed. I watched one and my Fitbit reports my best night’s sleep for weeks. So soothing!

@Bomblette yes definitely worth a try to get me through the evening munchies and would give me a bit of an energy boost for some exercise I reckon too . Thank you for suggesting it . Today has been much easier as I've been so busy with work and I've avoided the night in front of the tv with a relaxing bath instead. It's all the little habits we pick up I guess.

Yes, back on a new week and it is stressful for a number of reasons. Had a good cry last night when I think I normally would have turned to the bottle. I wasn't nearly as tempted as at the weekend, and I just allowed myself so self-pity away from the children and then climbed into comfiest bed and realised life was quite cosy sometimes.

I think changing your routine in the evening can help a bit with cravings both for food and alcohol. Even just being in a different room from normal or doing another activity. I find reading a book I am absorbed in is the best thing for me. TV and the internet make me a bit more distracted.

And for anyone who is not losing weight and feeling disappointed, I would recommend leaving a certain distance before your next weigh in. Results can be up and down (especially if you are pre-menopause) and progress may be slow, but if you are managing to cut out alcohol from your life and not replace it with too much sugar and rubbish, you will find over time that your weight comes down, I am sure.

Again, looking a lot less grey and deflated.

Starting to feel much more positive here. Work has eased off somewhat and I think a lot of my gloom had to do with that. I know it’s not strictly face related but I’m generally enjoying stuff more and not just counting down to wine o clock.

I think I’m making better decisions. My weight has gone back up as DH got sent a week’s worth of lardy food from work, but I’ve decided to stop the negative self talk when I look in the mirror. Instead of thinking ‘Christ I look old / fat,’ I’m making myself think, ‘damn I put together a good outfit’. It’s kind of cringey, but it’s working. The weight will level off, it’s inevitable.

@Bomblette
I know exactly what you mean: I get up in the morning and am horrible to my reflection. Really really rude. I try to make myself be a bit nicer

I weighed myself this morning. Have been sober since 1 January with a couple of slips which I righted quickly. I have been careful what I eat, but not as careful as I am when I was in the cycle I was trying to break of binging when drinking regularly. I have lost 6 lbs. Feel very pleased. Have another 6 to go.

That’s awesome friendly - we’ll done!

‘well’ !

Thanks. Hope everyone else is doing well. I suppose anyone on Dry January will be reaching the end of the road...

Made it to the end of January. No real benefits felt and have not lost a pound! Going to keep going in Feb tho.

Also going to keep going. Am less puffy but would like to lose some proper weight so considering the 100 day challenge.

@itsme7 Me too. Just completed Dry January (totally amazing - longest I've gone without wine for years).

I'm carrying on to try to complete 100 days.

Bit disappointed with any noticeable improvements, apart from eyes less puffy. I'm hoping for a weight loss to kick in soon! I wish I'd taken photos and weighed in at the start but didn't hold out much hope of completing then.

Completed 25 days of DJ, but fell off the wagon as we sent DS back to university. Now resuming dry weekdays from today. I'd like to get below 60kg for the summer.

Well done @Hepzibar! Take measurements today and I bet you’ll see a big difference by 100 days. I’m just going to keep going until there’s something worth celebrating - don’t even want to tempt fate by mentioning end of lockdown or vaccination! Shall we use this thread or start a new one? I’m usually a lurker rather than a poster but the support is really helping!

ooh, wish I'd found this thread earlier. Just finished dry january and I really can see a difference in my skin and eyes (which look much brighter). Wasn't aiming to lose weight (and haven't) but I've slept better and felt less anxious generally. It's been a pretty tough month generally so I'm pleased that I weathered it without booze. Thinking of moving, in Feb, to just a glass of wine on a Friday and possibly Saturday but I do know how moderation tends not to work for a lot of people. Interested to see what others are doing.

Did anyone else try This Naked Mind's alcohol experiment during January?