The best detox

Nope, an alcohol break isn’t like a smoke break. An alcohol break is when we do more work and stop drinking for a month, not do less work and spend ten minutes toxing those beautiful pink lungs. Speaking of toxing, alcohol is one of them, so taking a break from it is the Just Feel Good Program’s idea of a detox. A real detox means to stop ingesting the toxins in the first place.  That doesn’t mean just alcohol— but also cigarettes, drugs, twitter, deep fried Twinkies, stress, gossipy friends, insufferable family members, etc.. But let’s just stick to one of the bigger ones here: alcohol. I don’t mean quit drinking forever if you’re one of the lucky ones who can actually drink in moderation. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a girl that finds a once-in-a-while, refreshing Moscow Mule quite nourishing for the soul. If you’re one of the unlucky ones who finds yourself in the dating pool then christ, drinking on first dates are a damn requirement.

This is about taking a break, not stopping forever. How long you ask? I recommend at least two weeks, but in my practice I’ve noticed that if you want a little weight loss to accompany you on your alcohol-free journey, then you need to give it at least a month. If you can do two or three months, then hell, EVEN BETTER. No pain, no gain, right bitches? Let’s just average that out to a nice clean month, that way you can name your month something clever. We’ve seen Dryuary, which works for both January and February, Dryruary, which leaves February all alone, as well as Sober-tober and Oct-Sober for October. Whatever the name may be, the point is to pick a month and don’t drink during it.

Which month should you choose?

Exactly which month you pick matters. January and February can be very cold months for a big part of the world (and most people reading this) and there will be no hot toddy to keep you warm (unless you have a sexy significant other named Todd of course). October gives you lots of wordplay and is good because it’s not insanely cold and your body is only one month into vitamin D deficiency, not four or five. Plus, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hasn’t set in yet.  Also, following a busy summer of socializing and vacationing, which no doubt involved lots of alcohol, may leave you primed to take a bit of a break. Maybe a nice spring cleaning perhaps, or maybe you think coming into summer would be a good time, because things are warming up and there’s enough fun to be had without a drink. Spring forward (on the wagon) and Fall back (off the wagon). Hell, who cares if it’s witty named month or too cold— just pick a month, any month and do it! If you go for it and decide it’s not working for you, by all means stop, but also start again when you think it might be better for you.

A word on Sober October

I have to say this: COME ON Joe Rogan!  Sober October is the best you and your comedian friends could come up with in terms of a title?!  I will say however, that Rogan and friends not only stopped drinking but stopped smoking for all of October AND also added a fitness challenge. Aside from Rogan’s obvious over-training and dehydration issues it seemed to be a mostly healthy month (especially for his friends who are much more out of shape than him). 

What’s the why on this alcohol detox stuff?

A few years ago, I recommended a complete month off of alcohol to a couple of very reluctant clients I was working with; they took me up on the challenge. There’s good news and there’s bad news. The good is that they lost weight, the bad is that they lost their cool (sorta) at me (for a few reasons). One was that they felt abstaining from alcohol ran counter to what the Just Feel Good Program is all about: no extremes and making lifestyle changes (e.g.: drinking less, not none!). They also felt that any weight loss that they got from it may come back on when they go back to drinking (possible, but not necessarily). Finally, they also just felt like doggy doo doo. On this last point, they did it in February, and my guess is that February is a hard month overall, drinking or not.

Regardless of when you do it, I really suggest doing it. But why? The main reason to take a break is that it will most likely change your tolerance and have you drinking less in general after you go back to it (especially if you have an intention to).This means when you go out and drink, you will either have to drink less or run the risk of barfing on yourself or someone else. For many of my clients a sober month has helped them make a lifestyle change where they eat healthier, work out more and drink less! If you find your break doesn’t help you this way, and you end up drinking even more than before, then perhaps it’s time to look into getting a bit of help.

Now, go grab your calendar and figure out which month or months work best for you. Feeling bad is no bueno, it’s time to just feel good! Oh, and if you’re interested in finding out more about my program in a private in-person meeting please fill out a health history form here.