I seem to be in a “writing about boozing” phase lately, what with virgin drinks, hangovers and hangover supplements. However, that’s because drinking — or lack thereof – - has been a topic on my mind recently. This New Year’s, I decided to stop boozing until my March birthday. While it’s going to be difficult to not drink in a city where hanging out at bars is the norm, I have several good reasons for cutting back on the spirits.
1. Appearance. While they say a glass of red wine a day is good for you, knocking one back while sitting on the couch isn’t the best way to lose weight. Instead I’m going to try and drink water every night I settle in from work; it may not be as relaxing, but it’s certainly healthier. And let’s mention the cocktail after beer after cocktail that goes down my gullet some weekends; thanks to them, my cute stomach pooch is slowly morphing into an icky beer belly. Lastly, I’m also crossing my fingers that lack of alcohol will lead to better skin. Can anyone (please) confirm this?
2. Socializing. When I go to a bar, it’s easy for just “one drink” to turn into three, and by the end of the night I can be sloppy and unsophisticated. That’s not the best plan of action in a new city where I’m trying to meet people! So boozing at bars is going out the window altogether, and I’ll just stick to grenadine and Diet Coke. Hopefully I’ll be able to make a better public impression. Additionally, I want to step up my socializing game and and be able to meet friends without the easy filter alcohol provides.
3. Money. Between stocking the cabinet at home and going out, I probably spent close to $40 on drinking last week (granted, it was the holidays). My love of clothing and of booze cannot coexist, and I know I’d rather own a killer dress for years than a bottle of whiskey for two weeks. Maybe if I stick to my resolution, I’ll put some money away for a New Orleans vacation this summer!
4. Getting rid of “ick” factors. While I didn’t spend every 2011 weekend nursing hangovers, I had more than I liked. I don’t need to tell you that being hungover can just annihilate your day and productivity. There were two Sundays where I just didn’t get out of bed, and when the weekend is your only time off that’s a foolish way to waste half of it. Plus there’s the overall discomfort of being drunk, like the dreaded spins. Check out this video for the truly interesting science behind them:
While I claim to be waiting for my birthday to drink again, I’m also not against just quitting for good. It’s just easier to have a deadline in sight, just in case. We’ll see what March brings for me!
Do you any of you Lovelies resolve to cut back on drinking in 2012? Do you have any tips for those who want to?
daisy / 501 posts
Alcohol and I are frenemies.
rose / 834 posts
You’re not really quitting if you’re planning on starting again at some point. Best of luck to you. I hope that you like not drinking enough to continue for longer than planned!
sunflower / 321 posts
Girl, I did the same thing a few years back. I quit when I moved to Austin and not only did my belly recover, now I’m a cheap date! A drink is a treat to me, and hangovers are just plain not worth it.
guest
I’m eliminating drinking anytime I’m feeling sad or angry. I was doing that so much in the last year, especially in the last month. I can find better ways to deal with unpleasant thoughts.
orchid / 184 posts
Honestly, you sound like an alcoholic. That’s not to say that everyone who drinks is—– I say that because I was doing it too much for my liking in 2010. Best of luck, and please get some help.
rose / 937 posts
I stopped drinking because I realized how embarrassing it was to be drunk in public. I’ve been drunk in public a number of times (in high school… sigh) and when I’d be the sober person with people getting drunk and/or high, it just made me think “wtf, I can’t believe I’ve acted like that in public.” And there was that time I blacked out in 10th grade at a party after 3 classes of vodka – didn’t help that I basically downed the last one as though it was a giant shot. But after I graduated, I just lost the taste for it, along with getting baked and smoking cigarettes. Probably because some of my friendships changed and due to stuff I experienced that I’ll not discuss.
With quitting drinking, there is the AA mentality that any type of alcohol cannot ever at all be consumed, and there is the other mentality that moderation is okay. Meaning a drink once a month or on special occasions is okay when the person is able to control how much they drink and not feel the desire to fall back into old habits. I think that if someone feels comfortable with the latter, then that’s fine. I think it’s actually healthier than the AA method, just like with diet and cutting out junk food. You cut it all out forever and you are more likely to find yourself one day falling back on old habits and then it would be hard to recover again.
guest
I would love to give up drinking. Or at least cut down a lot. Good luck to you
daffodil / 1525 posts
I drink only if I’m visiting my boyfriend (approximately once every three months now) and on rare occasions at home/with friends, like once during that three month break. Lol.
guest
How did Lovelish get that photo of me? O_O
I’ve had the most sober couple of months ever…it definitely helps if you’re broke.
rose / 980 posts
I don’t get drunk in public because I tend to like to get naked and dance on tables. Naw, just kidding (well maybe). I set a limit for myself when drinking… 1) I don’t ever want to kill another person if I’ve been drinking and reflexes aren’t what they should be while driving. 2) I hate the feeling of being buzzed (my fingers tingle). 3) I hate hang-overs!
Find what you really hate about drinking and remind yourself of that. Plus, like someone mentioned above watch drunk people and see how silly they look and how others look at them. Good luck! (I once went over six years without drinking and now rarely drink.)
rose / 791 posts
I was on anti-depressants in 2011 and went about ten months without alcohol because I couldn’t drink on them at all. I felt a LOT better without it, honestly – healthier, happier, and I enjoyed my “days after” a lot more. I drink on the odd occasion now (birthdays, NYE), but I only have a maximum of three drinks, and I always make sure I have something non-alcoholic inbetween each one.
guest
I don’t feel the need to quit drinking because I’m responsible about it. I do go out to the club just about every weekend, but I go for the dancing, not the drinking, and keep it to two drinks or less. Maybe three if I am feeling really crazy! I almost never drink during the week – maybe one beer from Sunday – Thursday. It’s been working for me.
I drank a lot when I was a freshman in college and of course I gained the dreaded Freshman 15 over the course of the year despite pretty much no changes in diet or exercise. When I went home for the summer, I stopped drinking completely and lost a lot of the weight almost immediately. By the end of the summer, I was back to my pre-college weight (without even trying). You will probably notice changes plenty of positive changes in your body by March.
Good luck! And maybe when you do start drinking again in March, you can still drink less than you do now.
orchid / 176 posts
Some of my friends that have quit drinking get soda waters with extra limes when we go to bars, or even something like non-alcoholic beer like O’Douls to still ‘feel’ like they’re socializing the way everybody else is; it’s something they said was really hard when they quit drinking! Good luck to you!
guest
I am not quitting drinking, but I AM going to quit going home and eating my weight in junk food after a night of drinking. I get the munchies like NONE other. I go out drinking about once a week, and it wouldn’t be such a problem except that whenever I get home I stuff my face with either Taco Bell, frozen pizza, Ben & Jerry’s, or perhaps a little bit of each of the above. That and the lack of sleep causes more problems for me than if I were to just go out for a few drinks, come home and go to bed.
guest
Kudos right now to anyone out there who is quitting drinking.
You and your life, will change in ways you never even thought possible.
Don’t give up! <3
guest
I too shall quit. Then celebrate by drinking.
guest
i started drinking heavily after my husband died in may. i’ve put on about 10 pounds and am not happy about that or the way i’ve been living. i’m also a vegan and mostly raw and prior to my husband dying was in super good shape and went to the gym daily. i was very health conscious. i’ve traded in the alcohol for a gym membership again. feeling better already! i still plan to have the occasional glass of wine or beer with friends, but i’m not going to keep it stocked in my house or anything.
guest
If I was in a place where drinking is the norm, What kind of place am I at? If I REALLY want to stop drinking, then I’ll do whatever to accomplish it. You’re doin’ none. Good luck to you lyin’ to yourself.
guest
I’ve never been a big drinker. My tip is to not stock any in your house. If you’re in Austin, like me (are all of the Lovelyish writers in ATX?) then you won’t be able to get hard liquor except at a liquor store, so just don’t go in.
If you still want to drink moderately sometimes, my tip is to find what gets you to your “sweet spot”, or a light buzz, not drunkeness. When I go out with the intention of drinking, one shot of good tequila followed by one beer that I nurse for a while is what I drink.