Top tips if you want to have a dry spell
in April 2017. Then I officially left in July to go full-time.
“My evenings and weekends were taken up with that, so I was filling up my life with something else.
“I was running a conference in April and I knew there would be a big party at my house afterwards. It would be a big test as I knew I’d want to let my hair down – could I do that without alcohol?
“It went great. I partied till 4am and the company was good, the banter was flying and some people were drinking and some people were not.”
These days, Suzy can’t imagine going back to her old ways. She has lost weight, her skin looks and feels better and her energy and positivity levels are through the roof.
But despite completing her challenge and recommending it to others, Suzy doesn’t use the words “never again”. She said: “The idea of saying I’ll never drink again is too big, because one day I might think that I do fancy a drink. But I am happier and healthier than I have ever been in my 43 years. That’s not just down to alcohol but it’s a big factor. Life is so much more simple.” Suzy’s next Change Your World conference is at the Smithton Church Auditorium Inverness, April 6, www.changeyour world.me WHETHER you want to try 365 days without booze, a 28-day challenge or even a dry January, here are some tips from One Year No Beer co-founder Andy Ramage. You are about to fight years of social and psychological conditioning and you need to be prepared or old habits will take over. Alcohol-free alternatives, such as AF beer, are excellent. People leave you alone once they see something that looks alcoholic. If there are no alcohol-free options, be prepared to have a back-up. NOTE DOWN ALL YOUR REASONS WHY YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK Ask yourself why are you taking on this alcohol-free adventure? What has led you to this point? Keep these close for extra motivation. TAKE OUT THE RINGLEADERS Before you meet that “mate” in the bar - you know, the one who can make your life a misery with their witty repertoire, take them out in advance and tell them all the reasons why you are on this alcohol-free adventure. USE YOUR EXCUSE Alcohol is the only drug in the world that people berate you for giving up. So use your challenge excuse – I am doing Dry Jan and I love it. BAD HABITS NEED REPLACING, NOT TELLING OFF Once you know what triggers your drinking habit, it could be to de-stress, replace the “drinking routine” with a healthy one that produces the same reward – to de-stress. Possibly swap the alcoholic beer for an alcohol-free beer or replace the drinking routine entirely with a spin class. You keep the same trigger, 6pm, and reward to de-stress but you swap the drinking for a healthy one. ● Sign up to a 28-day alcohol-free challenge. The best way to make sure you take on dry Jan and win is to take a 28-day challenge. I will be with you every step of the way. Find out more at oneyearnobeer.com