Abstaining from Social Situations aka 'Dry Jan part 2'

Week 2 – Abstaining from Social situations

OK so let me put this forward, I don’t drink very often (or so I believe) but like anything if you try to give it up, reduce or cut-down, it becomes the only thing you can think of.

Yes, real Mounties folks!

I've experienced this first hand after having lived in Italy for a number of years and suddenly having an overwhelming desire for pie. As in none exciting meat and potato pie (please note: I am not a fan of pastry sweet or savory). However, it seems to be that things traditionally British become quintessential cravings. My first weird craving of Angel Delight was back in 2009 when I experienced my first year away from good ol' Blighty and spent a year chasing after cowboys, Mounties and lumberjacks (proud to say I got a photograph of myself with each one).

This week, was the first week back at work after the holidays. And as those who teach know, a very stressful period of reorganising and sorting out schedules. I craved a good old 2% birra con chinotto (an Italian flavoured beer) or a cold glass of Fragolino (strawberry fizzy wine). Frankly, I am always busy. And sometimes when I get in late, all I want is something refreshing and fruity. Just writing the words refreshing and fruity makes me want to head to the nearest bar and down a fruit cider (cider doesn’t exist here ☹).

However, hello water. I have never been a fan of water. The most water I’ve ever drank in my life was in my three weeks around Asia and then instead of visiting the toilet I realised I sweated it out terribly. But this week I carried on drinking more water, carrying it around with me at work and making it visible at all times, on my desk etc. to remind me to drink.

However, this week I chose not to venture out in social situations. Like a diet, the first week is easy but in the second it becomes a lot easier to fall off the wagon. In fact, I learnt just how easy it is to escape such social situations and found myself enjoying a bit of self-indulgent me time. Well hello, Netflix.

So, as I take out my chilled bottle of water from the fridge and add a few squirts of my sugar free Vimto to jazz it up, let me tell you a few health benefits I encountered this week.

1. Drinking water = weight loss. Since, ditching the alcohol, sugary fruit juices and the odd bottle of fizzy pop, I have naturally lost a few pounds.
2. Clear head and sharp focus. Maybe it’s the water or maybe the lack of the poisonous substance called alcohol that I like so very much but this week my focus and attention improved and I felt more in the moment.
3. Fresh faced and flatter stomach. One thing I have genuinely noticed is my face is less puffy and so is my stomach. I look younger and my skin is less dry. However, this could also be a product of drinking more water.