For reasons unknown to mankind I decided to ‘do’ Dry July this year. It’s one of those things I’ve always planned to do – like FebFast etc – but never got motivated enough to officially start.
Although I had no fundraising target and HATE (ie. absolutely HATE) asking people for stuff, let alone money, I went onto the Dry July website and signed up and put a half-hearted call out on Facebook for donations.
I realise the money isn’t for me and it’s for a very worthy cause, but I’m just not wired to ‘sell’ stuff. I can schmooze but not put the hard word on people. On top of that I’ve been very slack in donating any money to causes during my period of unemployment so don’t feel I can ask people to support me (or the cause I’m supporting) when I haven’t supported them.
Anyhoo… that aside, I put something on Facebook mainly so I was kept accountable and that certainly worked.
I am pretty sure I would have caved very early on if I hadn’t declared to the world that I was going alcohol-free for July.
It was a struggle initially. I’ve often talked about my evenings and my personal ‘witching’ hour – between about 5pm – 8pm. It was hard enough when I worked in the city as I’d only get home part-way through that time but when I’m not working it means I’ve had all day to mull over the meaning of life and then the night extends that.
And I know, I could take myself off to the movies or do something. Perhaps not every night, but enough to break the boredom but I figured I just needed to endure the torture.
Which it was initially. I only drink water (well now with diluted juice since my surgery as I can’t drink plain water), diet coke and wine. I’m not a fan of hot drinks. I don’t allow myself to drink diet coke from about 2pm onwards usually as I’m enough of an insomniac as it is. So… the lack of drinking options was problematic for me.
It gave me the opportunity to look at why I desire my evening wine so much. Some of those reasons are – of course – personal; but also cos I (we) simply feel like we deserve a treat at the end of the day; and I realise it’s also partially just a habit.
You’ll be relieved to know that – despite some moaning – I actually got to a point that I coped without my evening beverage and it didn’t seem to be a blight on my otherwise contented existence. (And yes, that was sarcasm!)
However, there was almost always a time – mid afternoon – when I’d start to feel slightly depressed, knowing there was ‘nothing to look forward to’ that night. Thankfully I quickly started eating popcorn again and made more of an effort with my dinners.
I’d like to say that not drinking made me feel healthier or that I lost weight. But I’m sad to say it didn’t.
I mean, I assume my body appreciated the break, but I still woke tired and cloudy-headed and required diet coke to get through the day. I didn’t suddenly feel energised and sadly my skin didn’t magically improve in that month.
Those who follow me on Facebook will know I took advantage of the ‘Golden Ticket’ – ie. a night ‘off’ Dry July. For a $25 donation you’re able to have some drinks guilt-free. Kinda. I’d been at my mother’s supervising her kitchen refurbishment and was heading home when I told my mum that I’d planned to donate the $25 to myself – which would help me reach my (pitiful $50) fundraising goal and buy a bottle of wine to consume in the bath. I was tired and sore and felt like a treat.
My kind mum – who said she’d intended to donate but doesn’t do the online thing – gave me the money (which I duly transferred over) and called in at the local bottle shop for a bottle of red wine. It seemed ridiculous as it was only five days before the ‘challenge’ ended. But I mulled over it and went with it anyway.
So, where to from here?
I’d been making myself have several alcohol-free nights in recent months anyway. As I’ve been a bit ‘down’ cos of the whole being-unemployed thing I’ve not wanted to tempt myself to drown or even moisturise my sorrows. Instead I’ve tried to mostly partake when out and about with others or socialising.
I realise sometimes it’s the ‘idea’ of drinking more than drinking. I see others sitting about on a weekend with glasses of champagne and want to be one of them. And I guess I can be again.
The biggest (non-alcoholic obvs!) takeaway for me after this month is knowing that I’ve got more willpower than I give myself credit for. And… things we assume to be virtuous / healthier etc aren’t necessarily, or at least don’t offer the bang from our buck we expect.
And finally, I’m still not convinced I’m a moderation kinda of girl – rather all / nothing – which is worrying. In general.
Did you do / have you ever done Dry July? Or quit / done something you knew was only going to be a brief change of behaviour?
Joining up with the Lovin’ Life gang again.
August 1, 2019
Well I say congratulations you gave more will power than me. I have never done Dry in July although do manage a few days each week where no alcohol is consumed.
August 4, 2019
It was hard to break the habit initially…. I was at a bit of a loss, like, “What else do I do instead?” Towards the end of the month that feeling had lessened though.
August 1, 2019
Congratulations. I have to say I feel pretty lousy because I coulda shoulda woulda bought you a golden ticket and never got my act into gear. You’re a far better person than I am. I did dryer than usual July & didn’t drink Monday-Thursday, which was a big thing for me. My real witching hour is just before dinner when I log off work. Last time I did Feb Fast nothing happened – I didn’t sleep better, I didn’t lose weight, my eyes looked just as bleary and I felt seriously ripped off.
August 4, 2019
I know… I did think I might lose weight cos I was having earlier nights so less tempted to eat junk. But then I started having early dinner and popcorn later as a way of keeping me entertained.
But yes, I was disappointed there was no distinguishable difference. I wish I was better at the moderation thing though.
August 1, 2019
Well done on completing Dry July, Deb! I don’t have the willpower at this time of the year…
SSG xxx
August 4, 2019
I’ve always thought I’d be better in January or February when I’d just had excess of everything – food, wine and celebrations (over Xmas etc) but I decided to do this at the last minute and my fear of letting others down or ‘doing the wrong thing’ (once I’d publicly declared it) meant I COULDN’T then cheat! Of course if I was saner I’d be better at being accountable (only) to myself, but… meh.
August 1, 2019
Congratulations, Deb! You can break a habit when you want to. #lovin’lifelinky
August 4, 2019
Thanks. I think I cut alcohol out for 3mths at one point (probably mostly for weight loss purposes) but would prefer to get better at moderation (on all things – food, alcohol, worry, stress….).
August 2, 2019
I’m no good at ‘selling stuff’ either. I don’t like to put pressure on people. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Well done to you though for completing Dry July! Without sounding smug – going a month without alcohol would be easy for me because I barely drink anymore anyway. There was a day though where I had some wine every night! #TeamLovinLife
August 4, 2019
I’ve kind-of envied those people who are allergic to alcohol or don’t like it. I didn’t start drinking until I was 19 and it became a real ‘thing’ for me when I was living at a college at Uni. Everyone tried to get me to drink but I was resolute. I moved out with some girlfriends (still my besties to this day) and drank champagne on the first night in our flat!
August 2, 2019
I did my own ‘dry July’ years ago but cut refined sugar instead of alcohol – that wasn’t too bad. The next year, I did FebFast and quit alcohol and sugar. Biggest. Mistake. Ever. I wasn’t a huge drinker but I did like my end of week glass of wine and not having that or sugar almost drove me crazy! It didn’t help it was summer – beer weather. PMS was awful. All I can say is I was glad it was 28 days. I can’t do the whole give up things completely – I binge after I notice. I am more of a everything in moderation kinda person. I don’t crave something if I know I can have it when I want but I do if I put limits and rules. It’s why stupid restrictive diets don’t work for me either. Good on you though for doing it!
August 4, 2019
When I did the Michelle Bridges 12WBT thing in 2011 I quit junk food, diet coke and alcohol at all once. I figured if I was going to be grumpy I might as well go the whole way. Obviously all snuck back into my diet at some point.
August 4, 2019
Oh wow! That’s impressive. See what I liked about 12wbt was I didn’t have to really cut out anything completely! It’s why I was able to stick with it even after
August 5, 2019
Typically I was strict on it, so no chocolate etc… And initially no alcohol. The no diet coke was more because I wondered if it made me feel hungrier or affected my blood sugar levels!
August 3, 2019
Congrats on your efforts to be dry! I definitely am not a ‘seller’, either–not even a little bit!
My Corner of the World
August 4, 2019
I actually remember hating it – as a kid – when we had school fundraisers and had to go around the neighbourhood to get sponsored for spellathons/readathons or similar. Not to mention the fact we had so many kids from the same school in our neighbourhood I’m sure everyone hated us knocking on their doors!
August 4, 2019
Congrats on finishing your challenge, Deb! Did you know that I kicked my Pepsi Max addiction in January? It was hard, but now I mostly drink non-caffeinated soft drinks.
Selling IS hard. I’m now experimenting with selling my servcies in Fiverr. The good thing about it is that you define your gig yourself and then people can buy it or not. You don’t need to make any calls or send emails.
August 5, 2019
I should try Fiverr. I did try something else someone suggested but was refused. I think my hourly rate was too high. Or I just had / have no marketable skills!
Well done on the Pepsi Max!!!