The Effects Of Alcohol

Before getting into my 30-day experiment, I want to delve a little deeper into why I decided to go booze-free. First off, I was eager to minimise some of the negative effects of alcohol that I definitely still experience. According to registered dietitian Jenny Champion, even casual drinking can cause sugar cravings, excess calorie consumption, dehydrated skin, fuzzy concentration, and crummy moods. Snacking less, feeling peppier, and having healthier skin certainly all appealed to me. Another motivator was that I'd started eating a plant-based diet about six months before, and much of the vegan community is also sober. It goes hand in hand with the clean-eating mentality. The vegans I know who don't drink seem extraordinarily vibrant and healthy, and I was curious to see if giving up alcohol would do the same for me.

I was also intrigued by stories from friends who'd gone long periods without drinking before. My boyfriend went sober for 30 days once, and the effects were impressive. He lost weight, his rosacea and eczema subsided, and by the end, he seemed like an overall happier, more productive person. He told me that the first week was tough, but after that, you don't even miss alcohol anymore. You don't even remember why you liked it.Lastly, when I thought hard about it, it just seemed plain eerie to me that something as simple as a beverage could have such mind-altering, life-changing effects on human beings. Alcohol seems to have cast this spell over us. We tip our glasses for so many reasons: as a reward, as a medication, as a social lubrication, as an escape. When something good happens, we drink. When something bad happens, we drink. Sometimes we drink for no reason at all. I decided I didn't want to be under that spell anymore.

I'm going to say something that will disappoint you, but not nearly as much as it disappointed me: I gained weight during my month without alcohol. About 1.3 kilos, to be exact. I think the main reason is that I found myself eating out at restaurants a lot during those 30 days—indulging in rich Thai curries and oily pastas three or four nights a week. I told myself I was saving so many calories by not drinking that I could pretty much eat whatever I wanted. This logic did not serve me well. Sure, the meals were plant-based and accompanied by sparkling water instead of wine, but consuming those hefty restaurant portions was enough to tip the scale. (As a note, I don't actually own a scale and never weigh myself; I just did so for the sake of this experiment.)Speaking of eating out, my social life didn't seem to suffer from my sobriety, like I worried it might. When making plans with friends, we simply opted to grab a bite to eat instead of a drink at a bar. (This probably contributed to my increased intake of restaurant calories.) I got home at a decent hour every time, never woke up hungover, and everyone still had fun.

A faded patch of eczema and an extra 30 minutes of sleep are valuable takeaways, no doubt. But the most noteworthy thing that I discovered from my 30 days without alcohol—the thing that made it all worth doing—is that it taught me exactly what purpose alcohol serves in my life.There were two occasions during the month when I missed alcohol the most. The first was after walking in the door at the end of a long workday, when all I wanted was to put my feet up and have a glass of wine. The other was during social outings, when I was in a big group, and everyone else was drinking but me. Everybody uses alcohol for different reasons, and apparently these are mine: I use alcohol as a small, private reward to myself and as a way to bond in large social settings. I didn't crave a cocktail when something bad or frustrating happened. I didn't miss it on date night with my boyfriend or during unfamiliar social situations when I felt uncomfortable and needed to relax. These aren't the roles alcohol plays in my life. And I'm fascinated to have learned that. Going a month without alcohol also teaches you about your drinking pattern.

This is useful information if you want to try cutting down on alcohol again in the future. Personally, I discovered that I do drink often, as in three or four nights a week, but I only tend to have a glass or two when I do. On those occasions when I go past two glasses, that's when alcohol starts to be a problem for me. So, since my 30-day experiment, I have put myself on a strict two-drink maximum. Considering my individual drinking pattern, this has been a much easier way for me to make sure I'm drinking in moderation.After all, according to experts, it is possible to lead a healthy lifestyle as a moderate drinker (as long as you're not struggling with an addiction or drinking problem, that is). "If you're living an active and healthy lifestyle that includes a nutrient-rich diet, the occasional drink shouldn't be a problem," assures John Ford, a personal trainer at Find Your Trainer. The trick is to identify what purpose alcohol serves in your life and to address any unhealthy habits. That's exactly what going sober for a month helped me do.In the end, my 30 days without drinking didn't lead me to lose 10 years off my face or 10 pounds off my body. But it allowed me to learn more about my personality, my behaviour, and my health. As far as I'm concerned, that's something worth cheersing to.