Even if you didn’t over-indulge over the Christmas and New Year period, cutting out alcohol for a month can really help with weight loss. Dry January has been running for quite a few years now an each year more people decide to give it a go. If you’re interested in giving Dry January a go, then there is an App which can help you track your progress and keep you motivated. It’s called Try Dry and you can find out more information here: Try Dry: the app to track your time off drinking | Alcohol Change UK
So what are the benefits of Dry January? Firstly, you will find it easier to lose weight. Alcohol contains lots of calories. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is about 135 calories. A pint of beer (5%), about 240 calories. A single measure of spirits (25ml) around 47 calories. This might not seem a lot, but most of us don’t measure our drinks when we pour them out, so that glass of wine is likely to be over 200ml. Spirits are often double or even triple measures, when poured at home.
Alcohol calories are also known as empty calories, because they have no nutritional benefit. There are also some other downsides, which I’ll cover in another post.
When I’m teaching a kettlebells class, I burn off about 10 calories a minute. That means, as a 14-stone man, with a fair bit of muscle, it takes nearly half an hour of vigorous exercise, for me to burn off one pint of beer, or five minutes for every single shot of whisky. So you can see how quickly a few extra drinks in the week can lead to weight gain.
A couple of other benefits – you’ll save money, which considering most of us find January a bit tough on the finances, is a good thing! Alcohol is a depressant and can make you feel tired and sluggish, so Dry January can help you feel energised and happier. You may also find that you have clearer skin and you feel less bloated.
Last year I not only did Dry January, I actually kept it going into late February. I did the same in September, managing 55 days without Alcohol. Both times I lost about 7lbs in weight (3.2kg) and felt a lot better for it. All I can say is give it a go, you’ll probably feel much better for doing it
