Giving up the Booze - the early effects

So, 5 days into the #dryforjuly challenge and i’m feeling good.

I had some idea, obviously, about what might happen and I guess if I was doing this properly I’d have taken Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and various other measurements before I started to see if the month made a difference. But even without out that there are some things I noticed straight away (which I hadn’t prepared for):

1. I’m very hungry. I worked out I’ve cut somewhere in the region of 500-750 calories a day from my previous intake – I’m trying to ensure I don’t replace all this and that what I do replace is better for me
2. I’m very thirsty (certainly of an evening) – at least two pints of liquid a day has gone from my liquid intake – I’m trying to make sure its not all replaced with caffeine based drinks.
3. I still feel like shit in a morning, at least first thing. I thought I was sleeping well before but I’m sleeping deeper and less fitfully and the slumber is taking a while to kick out of. (never been a morning person)

The calorie calculation:

Two pints of Stella = 500 calories 

Add to this, I might also occasionally indulge in crisps and/or nuts and two pints is my low end calc in terms of averages, so 500 – 750 is probably conservative.

The other things I’m expecting to happen;

• I’ll lose some weight (see above, so long as I don’t replace all)
• I’ll save some money (at least £75 per week)
• My BP will have improved (but I won’t know for sure)

All good stuff, my main aim though is to permanently reshape my relationship with alcohol. I like a drink and have no desire to give it up for good, but I think a change is probably overdue.

Only another 26 days to go ......