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?

I‘m on day 7 now and the headaches have stopped! I do think that I generally feel sort of calmer and my skin does look more even-toned/clearer. I‘m awaiting delivery of some new tinted lip balms, which I‘m hoping will brighten my face a little. I love a bright lipstick, but have started to feel that it‘s a bit much, especially when I’m only leaving the house to go running/walking/cycling.

I am having problems nodding off to sleep and then can't get up in the morning.....

Other than that, feeling good. Skin is noticably better.

I might weigh myself tomorrow, it will have been 10 days so maybe long enough to have lost a pound or so.

I became teetotal nearly 4 years ago and feel great! Happy with my skin / general appearance and have lots of energy. Go for it op

Day 44, huge improvement with my skin. My double chin has reduced drastically, as has my wine belly.
Keep at it ladies 😃 it only gets better.

I needed to hear that Belinda. I need to push through Friday night trigger time. It’s been a hell of a day and DH is happily tucking into wine, the rotter.

Still, I’ve found a lovely alcohol free beer (Hoegaarden) and I’ll feel smug tomorrow.

I am doing Dry January and my skin definitely looks loads better.

Am planning to weigh myself over the weekend and will report back if I have lost anything, which I should have really as I am one of those who snacks when she drinks

@Bomblette it’s just the “try dry” app - meant for dry January but you can set different goals for longer periods, it’s free so nothing fancy but it’s mildly satisfying clicking that you didn’t drink....however struggling at the moment tho , would absolutely devour some wine right now - don’t have any in the house thankfully.

Ah thanks poopyface, I’ll check it out. (I do feel quite odd calling you that )

Stay strong. Think how pleased you’ll feel with yourself tomorrow!

I’ve lost 1.5lb in a week which isn’t great but I have been craving sugar and helping myself to the leftover Xmas chocs. My face definitely isn’t as puffy though x

@Backtoblack1 I’d be chuffed with 1.5 lb I’m gonna await another week at least before weighing, don’t want to be disappointed if no change. I’ve been craving sugar - ate so many haribo yesterday.

Thanks poopyface!!! Got to curb the carbs next week. Tackling one thing at a time x

I have been complimented on my looks today and asked if I had been on holiday or else what products I was using. I was socially distanced so that might have caused rosy coloured perfection from afar!

I do definitely think I look a whole lot better and much much happier as well

I hope am not the only vain teetotaller!

Skin much better and I have lost 2lbs and that is while being quite relaxed about my diet

friendly, how long did it take for you to see some results (ps, I am also vain and this is my main motivation)

I think about 5 days. But I had been knocking it back quite hard over Christmas so it was bound to be a dramatic difference. Really, sorry because this is on s&b, my most dramatic difference was my mood lifting.

I am usually quite good at staying off it all week, but I thought I would join this to do a longer period of abstinence and see how that felt and looked.

Is the OP @VanityWitch still on this thread?

I am going to jump on here as I am driven by vanity too. I am usually consuming a bottle of wine a day easily. This is the first time I’ve done dry Jan and I am waking up refreshed on day 10 for the first time. The headache has lifted. Scales down 2 lbs which is mildly disappointing considering how much I was drinking. Taking face pics and I definitely look less haggard already. I took a side face pic and day 1 and was horrified at my neck/chin ( blurred into one!) I am going to focus on diet this week now the week long hangover has lifted. I need to lose 2 stone.

I'd like to join this one too - I had a mega flare up of acne over the Xmas holidays and I suspect alcohol might be the cause. I think I'm going to stay dry for a month or so to see if it helps.

Agree with @bluebeck re: sleep - I'm having the same problem. Mind racing in the evening and then can't drag myself out of bed in the morning

I've cut right down , started in August last year. I've lost 3 stone, my skin and hair look loads better and I sleep really well.
I rarely want to drink now, I did over Xmas and it didn't do me any favours and wasn't all that much fun. My finances are also much healthier. A win all round!

Hello, just caught this thread can I just say what a lovely, positive thread!

I'm just towards the end of week three after giving up (proper way over the recommended limits drinking) and have never felt better.

The 6 month wait comment towards the beginning has really helped me because I have inevitably turned to sugary substitutes, but to think this will just be a temporary few months before I can enjoy my "new and improved self" is really motivating.

Well done to everyone else who has quit the demon!

I’ve lost 0.8 of a pound, which is a bit annoying, given that the Try Dry app (thanks poopyface!) says I’ve saved about 4,000 calories at this point. And I’ve exercised pretty much every day!

Bah. Even though weight loss wasn’t really my goal, I would have enjoyed being smug about how the weight was just falling away.

That said, my under chin area is definitely less puffy and I feel more cheerful and level, so I am sticking with it.

Nice to see so many new joiners!

Oh interesting, Gncq. Off to look up the 6 month wait comment. Well done for getting to 3 weeks!

@darksideofthemooncup

I've cut right down , started in August last year. I've lost 3 stone, my skin and hair look loads better and I sleep really well. I rarely want to drink now, I did over Xmas and it didn't do me any favours and wasn't all that much fun. My finances are also much healthier. A win all round!

That’s brilliant! What other changes did you make to lose the weight? And do the jowly bits disappear with that long off the booze?

I gave up months ago and can affirm it makes a MASSIVE difference to your appearance.

Looking at photos from that time, I can see my face is puffy, I kinda look tired and my skin was a bit ashy. Now Ive given up Ive lost about a stone, my face has slimmed down (I actually have cheekbones!), skin glows and shiny hair.

Of course people will deny that alcohol affects their appearance because thats just cognitive dissonance and not wanting to accept that the thing they enjoy is actually not great for them. DO it- you wont regret it. Take pics before and after to encourage yourself too.