FEBRUARY FOLLOW-UP TO DRY JANUARY

ELIMINATING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR THE OPENING MONTH OF THE YEAR is an effort many athletes think about making to boost sport or training performance.  An article in outsideonline.com suggests that doing so probably won’t transform an ordinary athlete into an elite one but may help improve other aspects of life: losing weight, saving money, and sleeping better.
 
Whether or not you spent January sober, the question arises as to how alcohol drinking might be handled in February.  If abstinence left you eagerly awaiting the opportunity to loosen up once the calendar date permits but falling back into old habits doesn’t seem to be a healthy course of action, Lauren Bravo has an alternative: commit to limiting yourself to just one drink. Her article, “How to Become a One Drink Wonder”, for Refinery29.com, outlines and explains 10 steps toward accomplishing this goal.
 
Bravo’s tips are creative and practical; you’ll need to read the article itself because to outline them secondhand here would be unfair to her. However, I will share the one tip Bravo explained that I thought would be most helpful to me. It’s No.6, “Eating Isn’t Cheating”, which suggests enjoying a drink before eating but not continuing through dinner. 
 
Those who have tried to hold to a predetermined budget at a pricey restaurant will be familiar with this tactic.  Savoring a single cocktail or glass of wine over the entire meal experience is a sure way contain cost. Bravo’s setting the time for stopping when the meal arrives is a terrific idea for those of us who appreciate a clear boundary.
 
Alcoholic beverages aren’t true health drinks but the social gatherings in which we have an opportunity to safely enjoy them might contribute to a healthy life. If teetotalling isn’t an objective, limiting drinks to one per day fits with health experts guidelines and seems do-able long-term.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
https://www.outsideonline.com/2147006/can-dry-january-make-you-better-athlete
 
https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/alcohol-moderation-tips
 
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm