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On the list of things I find hard to resist, a good cocktail is pretty high up there, as is a nice glass of red wine on an evening, and delicious champagne – whether I’m celebrating or not! I wouldn’t say I binge drink, my first hear at university had its hazy moments but these days I like to remember my nights out, however alcohol is certainly a big part of my social life.
I have decided that for this month’s Making 2009 Sparkle challenge, I am going teetotal. This is for several reasons:
* Hangovers nowadays are far worse than they used to be (I must be getting old or something) and I sometimes get a few of the signs the morning after only a couple of drinks. I’m fed up of waking up sluggish and headachey.
* I’d like to allow my body to de-tox for a bit!
* It must be having an effect on my health, there are weeks where I easily drink more than the recommended amounts.
* There are a tremendous amount of calories in a lot of alcoholic drinks! I will measure the success of this partly by whether or not I lose weight!
Once again, if any of you wish to join in I’d love to follow your progress, so let me know!
This also ties in nicely with Gala‘s 2009 iCiNG Transformation Challenge, so if you’re participating in that this month, I’d love to hear about it! I’m following all the daily tips and inspirational quotes in an attempt to live a much healthier lifestyle this month!
I actually gave up alcohol after uni – about 7 months ago now. I don’t miss it and my bank balance loves it too!! I think it makes it easier to maintain a lower weight because I’m drinking fewer calories and eating less due to drunk-eating!! I feel (usually!) a lot healthier. I have had a few drinks since giving up but I didn’t hugely enjoy it, didn’t make a big difference and the longer I go without, the better I feel.
That said, other people loosen up a lot more with alcohol so I don’t want to stop other people drinking!!!!
Great minds think alike.
I actually drank way too much Friday night…so much, in fact, that my friend felt the need to have a sit-down with me. So I’m cutting back for awhile too.
I rarely drink, only because the opportunity doesn’t really present itself, but I’ve been thinking about trying out veganism for a short while. Perhaps this month…
I gave up “drinking” I think during my final year of college… When I say that I refer to the student version of alcohol consumption which I believe turns into the 20-something version for most people anyways… it was a dismal world, all vodka and alcopops and fortified wine made by monks drank from mugs in student apartments and phosphorescent Fat Frogs drank from plastic cups in total scum holes. Since I was never drinking to get drunk, as it were, I eventually found that really, I was paying hideous money purely for the pleasure of looking like I was 45 years old the next morning. My skin hated the stuff.
Then last August I was in Switzerland for a week, in the Italian part where it’s wine every day with dinner and it was lovely! Didn’t look 45 the next day. None of the usual things I associate with alcohol, like puking girls or groping boys. So now I don’t do the pub thing at all, but will have the occasional glass of wine at dinner as long as I’m not driving, and as I understand it that stuff has major health benefits too.
good idea!
after my year abroad I was almost unable to drink (as I do believe I drank enough in that year to last a normal persons lifetime!), and since then I have cut down dramatically….although it wasn’t so much a choice as it was that I just couldn’t stomach it!
And i’m the same – the thought of even the slightest hang-over turns me off over-drinking!
My new thing for 2009 was heading back to the gym, and i’ve surprisingly managed to stay on track so far!:)
goodluck with it xxx
Good luck to you!
What a great idea. My experience with drinking is pretty much the same as yours. I rarely go over the top any nights, but I do love a glass of red wine with dinner etc. and I feel I do it too often. I have been thinking about doing this at some point. I will be interested to hear your conclusions!
Good luck with your challenge! It can be super hard to break a habit that is so social, so I hope your friends help and support you with it.
I’m tagging along on the ITC but haven’t really found a focus. Just trying to be a better me I guess
Good luck! I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor. I’m still in college so it would be unrealistic for me to stop drinking (since I enjoy it, and it’s a big part of partying, etc), but I have been cutting back a bit & drinking more moderately.
i’m doing the same challenge, for 4 weeks i’ll give up “drinking”…gala helped me in taking the decision… :.)
Best of luck, Vixel
Keep up the good work!
@ Claire – that’s the only drawback to this for me, I definitely loosen up after a couple, so I shall see what effect it has on my social life!
Best of luck with all your challenges! xx
sparkleandglitter.co.uk – cool sitename man)))
Yes! I’m trying to limit myself to 1-2 drinks/evening *if* I have any. And, I’ve found I can order ginger ale or Sprite (or Shirley Temple’s – but they’re super sugary) and nobody notices I’m not boozing it up! Haha. A good wine is hard to pass up, though.