My dry January

I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of food restriction challenges. Hearing about the Whole 30, 21-day "cleanse" or Keto diet sends me over the edge. Giving things up for Lent is about as close as I would come to being that restrictive with my diet. In fact, I have given up, "giving up" things for Lent over the years. But for some reason, I decided to try "Dry January" and see how I'd feel being alcohol-free for a month. While I don't drink in excess, I was drinking more frequently over the holidays than I'd prefer. Here's what I noticed.

1. Socializing almost always involves some form of alcohol. Dinner with friends, book club, happy hour with co-workers. It's difficult to get away from. My book club friends didn't even notice I wasn't drinking except when a toast to the New Year was made. I raised my glass of seltzer, mentioned my dry intentions once and moved on.
2. My sleep improved. I enjoy cocktails on the weekend for the most part when I can sleep in. I've found that the older I get, the less tolerance for alcohol I have. I woke up with more energy than I usually have.
3. My skin looked brighter and didn't break out as much. Alcohol is known to exacerbate rosacea. You'd think being 50+ would reduce my chance for breakouts, but alas, I have not been that lucky. Alcohol makes my face red, puffy and bumpy.
4. I lost a few pounds. This was not my goal, though post-holiday, I was a fluffier version of myself. I noticed that my mid-section was a wee bit smaller. Alcohol makes our body store more fat and it's typically around the middle.
5. My mood got better. Most people don't realize that alcohol is a depressant. Though we drink to "feel better", celebrate, unwind, fill in the blank. While I would enjoy alcohol while I drank it, I would almost always be sulky and bitchy the next day. No fun.
6. My memory improved. This is probably one of the most significant improvements in my overall health to me. My mother developed dementia at a fairly early age (mid 60's) and I live in fear of losing my memory. I noticed I could recall names, places and things more easily than I had been.

Will I stop drinking forever? Maybe. To be honest, I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would. I enjoyed knowing I won't wake up feeling foggy and tired. I like feeling a little lighter in my clothes. I'm not worried about what people will think while I drink seltzer water. Giving up coffee is another story. And I just won't go there.