You see, most years I set myself a challenge. Be it an ultra walk, an abseil, a dry month, going veggie, moving abroad, getting married (LOL). I decided on a biggie to celebrate my 50th birthday. I decided to go #TeetotalFor2022
I've successfully completed #DryJan numerous time over the last 12 years and I have even slotted in the odd #DryNov too. But since moving to Spain, I have found these month-long challenges harder. When the sun is out 360+ days a year, the booze is uber cheap and there are more opportunities to be social, it's REALLY hard. When I finalised the decision to give this challenge a try, I put it out on Facebook and made as many people know as possible. Knowing my personality, I needed to be accountable. I knew this was the right move for me. Overall the reaction I got was really positive and supportive, not only did I have some great encouragement and words of wisdom, I found that several friends offered to do #DryJan to help me through the first month, and to my delight a couple of other friends said they would attempt the whole year with me. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only mad one!
Traditionally I would be starting a dry month knowing it was a temporary break from alcohol, and I'd already be looking forward to the end of the month for an ice-cold glass of white, or a warm red that had sat breathing by our open fire. This time, I started with my head in a different place. With confidence and feeling more in control. There was an air of excitement to see how my experiment would go. Was this a challenge too far? My last dry month was in November. I struggled. I struggled a lot. That's never happened to me before, and alarm bells started ringing. In December, I drank because there was a party, a dinner, Christmas, my birthday weekend away, the sun was out, or it was cold outside. I used any excuse because I knew I would be stopping on New Year's Eve. Like a child, I overindulged on a daily basis. A bottle of vino most days and a large glass of Baileys. By Jan 1st I was actually glad I was giving my body a break. It needed it.
My immediate aim for the first month was to drink more water and trying to eat and drink as nutritiously as I could. But why is it so easy and quick to drink a bottle of vino, yet water is that much more difficult?!
Alcohol affects every organ of the body, but most of the impact is on your liver. Alcohol raises Bilirubin levels, which can give some nasty symptoms for us with Gilbert's Syndrome. I wanted to address this and get my liver working properly for me.
I am thrilled to read in my Facebook group and personal messages of the progress the members are making in the AF journey. There are stories of people not drinking during really special personal events, where normally the champagne is popped. There are reports of stressful days being endured AF when the wine would be opened almost as the first steps are taken over the threshold after a difficult day at work. Even some of their partners have curbed their enthusiasm for drinking as much.
One day is 86,400 seconds. In the whole of January that's 2,678,400 times I didn't drink, when I could have. I am proud of that. I am proud of everyone else who achieved that. And I'm going to keep on going! I am just as excited as when I began January.
I'm now in unchartered waters, and I'm really interested to see how another month without drinking alcohol feels. This month, I am also focusing on my protein intake. I am a pescatarian and know that I need to be careful. By logging my food I am ensuring that I get a min. of 60g a day, but because I walk so much, I realise that needs to increase. So, with not drinking and by upping my protein, I am hoping that this will help with my body recovery, and my energy levels.
Some may see this as obsessive, some unnecessarily "life is too short" bla bla... but I love taking control of something that is actually within my control, for a better healthier life.
Facebook INTERMITTENT TEETOTAL group = 29 MEMBERS
Well, I have done it. In the past I have completed many 'Dry Months' and even two in one year (spread out) So doing 2 months back to back, and entering a third month is unknown for me.. I am really proud of myself. I still haven't seen a change physically, as much as I would have hoped. But I'm sleeping deeper, and I am starting to feel a little more refreshed, but again, I thought this would be much more obvious by now. Maybe I need another month for this constant tiredness to go, or maybe this is my norm and I need to look at other lifestyle changes? I managed to go back to the UK for a family visit and not been tempted at the airport to steady my pre-flight nerves, and I was suprised how much support I received there. I was offered non-alcoholic wine, and when I saw on the back that it was 1.5% vol I refused this. I was at risk of upsetting the person who went out of their way to purchase it, and there would have been a time I would have drunk it to please them, and prevent them from feeling awkward. Something has changed, something has shifted inside me. I think my confidence is growing at the same rate as my need for wine is shrinking. I like this feeling!
APRIL - 4 months of no alcohol
This is the month that I changed the name of my Facebook group to THE INTERMITTENT TEETOAL. This is because I didn't want to restrict the page members to just those who were giving up alcohol for the year. I asked my members for suggestions of a name change, then put it to the vote. I think that the new name is idea!
I gave myself a big high five this month. Not drinking alcholo was the challenge I gave myself for this year, but I found myself also agreeing to, and completing a 40mile walk for charity. At the end of Day 1 I resisted the urge to join in with the evening drinks as we eat well, before hiting the hay...I did have to explain myself a fair bit, but I didn't mind that. I chose to skip the celebrations totally at the end of Day 2. Celebrations usually went hand in hand with bubble, and as I knew it would be harder to resist. I immediately got in the car and went home. Another milestone in my sober journey.
This is also the month we had to unexpectedly move. We'd only been in the new rental 9 months into our 3 year contract when we were told the landlady wanted to sell and gave us notice. So, it was time to pack again and find a new home in a shrinking pool of rentals, and increasing fees. Sometimes life likes to throw a few curve balls your way, without warning, and when least expected. Stress can be a trigger to reach for a bottle of your favourite tipple. You know, to help relax through it. To help you sleep. Or to blot the feelings out. This is the month I was collecting milestones!
Quote of the month - You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.
Facebook INTERMITTENT TEETOTAL group = 53 MEMBERS
Oh Oh. It's the start of BBQ weather! I hosted a BBQ for friends to say thank you for helping us move. It was a very enjoyable day. As a pescatarian it was assumed I wouldn't be cooking at the BBQ (that and being female) ...but why not? I also served alcohol and didn't drink a drop. Now, admittedly that was harder. It is possible not to partake in something, yet be around others that do. I'm not saying that it's easy, I am saying that its possible. In fact, If I shrink away & hide from those situations, it just make my journey worse. I have found that the more I put myself in those situations, the more I'm out of my comfort zone, the stronger I get. Do you feel the same way about your journey? Let me know in the comments below.
Before giving up alcohol, I always thought it was the culprit for my poor memory. It would appear not. I have no excuse LOL. So this months quote is an appropriate one.
Quote of the month- Alcohol is not the answer, it just makes you forget the question.
Facebook INTERMITTENT TEETOTAL group = 54 MEMBERS
Here goes...
Quote of the month -
Facebook INTERMITTENT TEETOTAL group = __ MEMBERS
| Height = 5ft 11 | MY ideal (as per app) |
START | End Jan |
End Feb |
End Mar |
End Apr |
End May |
End Jun |
End Jul |
End Aug |
End Sep |
End Oct |
End Nov |
END | Total Loss or Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 129 to 157 lb | 168.2lb | 166 | 165.2 | 164.8 | 164 | |||||||||
| BMI | 19 to 25 | 24.1 | 23.8 | 23.6 | 23.6 | 23.6 | |||||||||
| Body Fat | 21 to 35 % | 32.9 | 32.5 | 32.2 | 32.1 | 32.1 | |||||||||
| Body Water | 45 to 60 % | 47.9% | 48.2 | 48.4 | 48.5 | 48.5 | |||||||||
| Bone Mass | 6.2 + | 6.4lb | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | |||||||||
| BMR | 158 | 1260 | 1252 | 1248 | 1246 | 1247 | |||||||||
| Muscle Mass | 81 to 93 lb | 106.4lb | 105.6 | 105.6 | 105.4 | 105.4 | |||||||||
| Protein | 16 to 20% | 11.6% | 11.6 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 11.6 | |||||||||
| Visceral Fat | under 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | |||||||||
| Skeletal Muscle Rate | 49 to 59 % | 36.4% | 36.6 | 36.8 | 36.8 | 36.8 | |||||||||
| Subcutaneous Fat | 19 to 26 % | 29.8% | 29.6 | 29.3 | 29.1 | 29.1 | y | ||||||||
| Fat Free Body | - | 112.8lb | 112 | 112 | 111.8 | 112 | |||||||||
| Body Score | - | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 |
BMI = Body Mass Index
Body Fat = Body composition fat tissue ratio
Body Water = Water weight, which includes the blood, lymph, extracellular fluid etc
Bone Mass = The weight of bone tissue in the human body
BMR = Basal metabolic rate. The minimum energy consumption required by all the organs
Muscle Mass = The total muscle weight of the body
Protein = The important components of all cells and tissues in the human body
Visceral Fat = Fats distributed in the internal organs and abdominal cavity of the human body
Skeletal Muscle Rate = The ratio of muscle of the human body
Subcutaneous Fat = The ratio of fat stored in your skin to your body weight
Fat Free Body = The weight of the human body that is fat-free
Body Score = Index of physical health as per the app
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