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.
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).
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Yes, real Mounties folks! |
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, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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