60 Before 60 Project: #10 - Stop Drinking for a Month for Dry January

Would you be able to stop drinking alcohol for a month?

That’s what Dry January is all about. This initiative began back in 2012 as a public health initiative from Alcohol Change UK. The idea is to encourage people to abstain from drinking alcohol for the month of January and since it's initial start has since expanded across the globe.

Now I’m not really a big drinker but I do have a few glasses of wine and the odd cocktail here and there. The reason I thought I would give this a try this year is because;

• As we age, our bodies become less able to process alcohol and we may be more susceptible to the negative health effects as a result. Reducing (or eliminating) alcohol may help reduce the risk of liver disease and certain types of cancer. It can also help improve overall physical and mental well-being along with improving our sleep.

• Eating all those cookies and chocolates over the holidays I definitely put on a few pounds. Alcohol is high in calories and if I cut this out, I might be able to drop some of the weight I put on

• Dry January has lasting benefits beyond just January. A recent article published in the Washington Post cited that “…it is long enough that it provides opportunities to form new habits — like turning down alcohol in social settings, which in the long run can be empowering. And taking a break from alcohol can trigger immediate health benefits, like weight loss, better sleep, and a boost to your mood and energy levels, which can reinforce the new habit.”

So, it seems that there are more benefits than risks in giving this a try. I do have a couple of special occasions this month so I might have a couple of challenges but we will see. I’ll let you know at the end of the month how it went.

Update: The month is over!

Well, I made it – 31 days without drinking and I found it really wasn’t that difficult. The only time I felt challenged was during a couple of special occasions over the month when we were having a really nice meal and wine was being offered. As I watched everyone else sip and enjoy their wine, I did feel like I was missing out a little. But other than that, it really wasn't that big of a deal. 

Given the new alcohol guidelines published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, they are suggesting that alcohol levels should be really limited – with no more than 2 drinks a week to avoid risks of cancer, heart disease or stroke So moving forward, I figured I’d continue to just cut back and only drink on what I consider to be special occasions. 

I guess I’m moving from dry January to semi-dry year. 

My 60 Before 60 Lesson: Thinking about what you may be missing can be harder than actually missing it 

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