# Anybody else doing a dry January? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137 "2015-01-06T16:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/21 "2015-01-07T13:10:57Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How does being thirsty make you eat more šŸ˜• Itā€™s part of that ā€œeight glasses of water a dayā€ myth. Most of the water we get in our normal diet is in the food we eat, rather than just plain water. > **[Do You Need Eight Glasses of Water Per Day?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/water-works-2/)** > > Rumor: The average person needs to drink eight glasses of water per day to avoid being 'chronically dehydrated.' ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/22 "2015-01-07T13:15:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Be careful just stopping alcohol if youā€™ve been drinking heavy for awhile. Our morning DJ had a seizure on air after abstaining a few days. Heā€™d been a heavy drinker for years. He eventually went to Betty Ford and seems on the road to recovery now. > > Casual drinkers shouldnā€™t have problems just stopping. I often wait several days or even a week or so to buy more beer. I donā€™t miss it that much and theres no need to rush to the store. > > [Tommy Smith Unplugged](http://www.katv.com/story/13566916/tommy-smith-unplugged) Thanks aceplace57, but though I overdid it over the holidays, Iā€™m nowhere near that point. Itā€™s been a week and Iā€™m fine. The toughest part is weekends- I like to cook elaborate meals on Saturday night, and that habitually goes together with drinking for me- a drink while Iā€™m making dinner, a drink with dinner, an after-dinner drinkā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/23 "2015-01-07T14:24:45Z")
I hate xmas so I have a dry December to avoid all the festivities. Been doing it for over 10 years now. I usually lose about 10 pounds and save about 300 quid. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/24 "2015-01-07T14:31:00Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Cutting out the empty alcohol calories plus eating less/better in general, Iā€™ve already lost between 5 and 10 lbs. šŸ†’ Youā€™ve likely just lost a bunch of water weight, at this point. If you quit drinking, youā€™ll almost certainly consume fewer calories and drop some fat over the long run, but losing 5+ pounds in 6 days after giving up alcohol probably comes from the fact that you arenā€™t retaining as much water. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/25 "2015-01-07T15:09:17Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Youā€™ve likely just lost a bunch of water weight, at this point. If you quit drinking, youā€™ll almost certainly consume fewer calories and drop some fat over the long run, but losing 5+ pounds in 6 days after giving up alcohol probably comes from the fact that you arenā€™t retaining as much water. Thanks LD, but as I said to Ethilrist in post #20, Iā€™m aware i wonā€™t be losing weight that fast for the long haul, but seeing the quick drop is a nice psychological boost, no matter what the reason. Iā€™m already down a belt loop notch as well šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/26 "2015-01-07T15:24:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Thanks LD, but as I said to Ethilrist in post #20, Iā€™m aware i wonā€™t be losing weight that fast for the long haul, but seeing the quick drop is a nice psychological boost, no matter what the reason. Iā€™m already down a belt loop notch as well šŸ™‚ For sure. If nothing else, itā€™s nice to know that at least a few of those pounds will come off quickly and easily, whenever you want them to. It really helps get you going when you start any kind of weight loss regimen. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/27 "2015-01-07T17:29:29Z")
I donā€™t drink alcohol because it doesnā€™t seem to do anything positive for me so itā€™s dry all year round in my house. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/28 "2015-01-07T17:47:31Z")
Iā€™ve thought about it before, but, again, it wonā€™t work with my schedule. Iā€™m going to France the second half of January. Iā€™m pretty sure Iā€™m legally required to drink a couple glasses of wine each day there. I have abstained the past week in anticipation of my yearly physical tomorrow, though. I actually like the idea of taking a week off each month. To me, three months off per year spread out is more appealing than one month all at once. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/29 "2015-01-07T18:49:33Z")
I am now, but not completely by choice. I intended to cut down on my drinking after the holidays were over, but ended up in the hospital the morning after our final family Christmas with atrial fibrillation, likely partially caused by binge drinking the night before. So now Iā€™m not supposed to drink at all, so Iā€™ve quit with no intention of re-starting. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/30 "2015-01-07T19:28:21Z")
Personally, Iā€™m having No Soda January. I was a pretty serious consumer of Diet Coke from about 15 to 35, which didnā€™t seem particularly healthy. Now, after 5 or 6 annual soda-free Januaries, I find it much easier to drink soda in moderation the rest of the year. I typically have 5-6 drinks of alcohol a month, so thereā€™s not much point in intentionally abstaining. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/31 "2015-01-08T07:01:52Z")
Back in the day, the serious drinkers I knew would, from time to time, simply ā€œdry outā€ for a few weeks - I could discern no schedule, but, when the group hit the local dive, one of the group would order a non-alcoholic drink. He/she would always explain that he/she was ā€œtaking a breakā€. I wonder if the current generation of bar-crawlers does this? (2 of the group are dead - heart attack (overweight, bending elbow only exercise) and liver failure from the chemo for his cancer. Iā€™ve stopped looking up old acquaintancesā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/32 "2015-01-08T09:47:30Z")
This is the first Iā€™ve heard of it as a thing. I wonā€™t be joining. The holiday season doesnā€™t typically see a lot of alcohol for me since thereā€™s a lot of travel. I drink lightly to moderately most of the time. Why ruin the perfect weather to enjoy many of my favorite beer styles (darker and higher ABV.) ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/33 "2015-01-08T21:49:19Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Back in the day, the serious drinkers I knew would, from time to time, simply ā€œdry outā€ for a few weeks - I could discern no schedule, but, when the group hit the local dive, one of the group would order a non-alcoholic drink. He/she would always explain that he/she was ā€œtaking a breakā€. > > I wonder if the current generation of bar-crawlers does this? > > (2 of the group are dead - heart attack (overweight, bending elbow only exercise) and liver failure from the chemo for his cancer. > > Iā€™ve stopped looking up old acquaintancesā€¦ I donā€™t know about a few weeks at a time, but among my friends and I (mostly 25-35 year old imbibers of alcohol) itā€™s not uncommon for someone to abstain for an arbitrary amount time. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/34 "2015-01-09T00:06:32Z")
I didnā€™t start out that way but I may end up joining you. I imbibed too much at the end of last year so had already decided to quit drinking on weeknights. Thatā€™s tough when I first walk in the door - I _love_ making that first cocktail or opening a bottle of wine to enjoy while I start to cook dinner. It just signals the end of the day for me and puts me into a relaxed mood. Itā€™s really not that been very difficult to say no, and the plus side is that Iā€™m sleeping sounder and waking up more refreshed than Iā€™ve felt in a few months. What are you drinking instead? I donā€™t like sweet sodas at all, and tea is good but just doesnā€™t have the same cocktail like complexity that I enjoy. Club soda mixed with lime juice and a dash of angostura bitters is decent but Iā€™ll probably grow bored with that soon. Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/35 "2015-01-09T10:23:05Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > ā€¦What are you drinking instead? I donā€™t like sweet sodas at all, and tea is good but just doesnā€™t have the same cocktail like complexity that I enjoy. Club soda mixed with lime juice and a dash of angostura bitters is decent but Iā€™ll probably grow bored with that soon. Anything else? Iā€™ve just been drinking a lot of plain water for this past week, since Iā€™m trying to lose weight too. Now that the weekend is here, I like your soda water/lime juice/bitters idea for a no-cal cocktail substitute. Iā€™ve done soda water and lime juice before, but not with bitters- will have to try that! Sorry I donā€™t have any more ideas for you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/36 "2015-01-09T18:54:19Z")
One of my roommates goes dry every January. He is a four drink a day guy, over the whole day otherwise. He does it to see if he can and lose some weight. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/37 "2015-01-09T21:41:06Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Iā€™ve just been drinking a lot of plain water for this past week, since Iā€™m trying to lose weight too. Now that the weekend is here, I like your soda water/lime juice/bitters idea for a no-cal cocktail substitute. Iā€™ve done soda water and lime juice before, but not with bitters- will have to try that! Sorry I donā€™t have any more ideas for you. I find that putting out some cheese, crackers, fruit, and nuts to munch on while getting dinner ready is every bit as relaxing as having a drink. Like you Iā€™m trying to reel in some of those calories - I was drinking a bottle of wine a day so expect to see some pretty big savings. My cheese plate looks more like a fruit plate but the cheese is what makes it awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/38 "2015-01-09T23:49:38Z")
I _ **love** _ beer. Iā€™m even a homebrewer. And I havenā€™t had a beer (or any alcohol) since 9-Nov-14. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/39 "2015-01-10T02:07:38Z")
Every January is dry for me. Also every Feb, Mar, Apr, etc. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137/40 "2015-01-11T14:04:34Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > I find that putting out some cheese, crackers, fruit, and nuts to munch on while getting dinner ready is every bit as relaxing as having a drink. Like you Iā€™m trying to reel in some of those calories - I was drinking a bottle of wine a day so expect to see some pretty big savings. My cheese plate looks more like a fruit plate but the cheese is what makes it awesome. Been watching carbs, so I have been eating more cheese and nuts- trying to go for snacks with nutrient density. I picked up a bottle of angostura bitters and some limes and I was drinking soda/lime juice/bitters drinks all weekend. The bitters did make for some nice complexity. Thanks for that idea, frazzled! I also added some stevia for a little sweetness. Stevia has a licorice-like aftertaste that some people donā€™t like, but I like anise flavor, and I think it added another complementory flavor note to the drink. Will probably be even better with a splash of vodka when Januaryā€™s over šŸ˜‰ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-doing-a-dry-january/709137.md?page=3)