Could you give up your favourite tipple for a month? Loads of people are going Sober for October in order to raise money for Macmillian Cancer Support. It's only 31 days, but with a in a recent study showing that 9% of 25-64 year olds drink every day and with alcohol playing a large part in our social lives, it might be harder than some of us first thought.
With this in mind, we've come up with 6 awesome reasons why banishing the booze for October could be brilliant (for both your body and your bank account!)
1. You'll save money
With the average pint costing £3.31 and a bottle of wine pushing you into double figures, there's no denying that regular nights out drinking can take their toll on your wallet. Put aside the cash you would normally spend on after work drinks, nights out with the girls/lads and cozy bottles of wine in front of the TV and treat yourself to something lovely at the end of the month - an extra incentive to keep you going!
2. You'll always feel fresh for your workout
Ever tried HIIT training with a hangover? Take it from us - it's hideous.
Although there's no denying there's something to be said for "sweating it out" to help get rid of your sore head, you have to be careful and take it easier than usual. The flipside of your body working super hard to process all the alcohol you've consumed is that it's unable to focus on recovering your muscles after a workout (including your heart) so in short, no booze = a much more effective workout.
Let's face it, life's too short to spend time half-arsing your workouts, so by skipping Saturday night drinking, you'll always be able to give maximum effort for maximum reward.
3. You might lose a bit of weight
Going temporarily tee-total is an easy way to shift a few unwanted pounds. Simply put, alcohol is 'empty' calories (even your 3am dirty doner will have fractionally more in terms of nutritional goodness than your pints of Peroni) and reduces the amount of fat your body is able to burn. With some wines containing up to 1000 calories a bottle, it's easy to see how the extra glass here and there quickly adds up.
4. You'll find other ways to relax
It's easy to become reliant on that Friday evening drink to help signal that work's over for the week and it's time to relax. Going alcohol free can force you to find other (healthier) ways to clear your head. Try a bubble bath and a good book, cooking a delicious Friday night dinner or even a yoga class. Even better, working out is a great way to help relieve stress and to wind down for the weekend due to it's mood boosting endorphins.
5. You can get creative with date night
Do night's out with your other half always revolve around alcohol? Then it's time to start thinking outside the box! Check out what's on at the cinema, go for a posh dinner with the extra money you'd normally spend on drinks, try a couples workout or get competitive with a spot of tennis or squash!
6. You won't get hangovers
Enough said.
