Today is the first day of 2019–and the launch date of Veganuary, my month-long  commitment to abstain from all alcohol, meat and refined sugar.

It’s my second go-around with Veganuary. I didn’t plan to repeat the pledge after successfully staying the course in 2016. I got bored with a diet devoid of meat and fish of any kind. I missed wine. And although I don’t have a sweet tooth, I chaffed at denying myself an occasional chocolate.

So why am I doing Veganuary II? Because I need to cleanse and recalibrate after months of eating and drinking too much. I want to lose weight. I want to be more productive. And I believe it’s healthy to challenge ourselves to do better.

The first time around was a personal test.

This time, it’s something I need to do so that I can be my healthiest, most authentic self.

The concept of Veganuary was born in Britain, where animal rights activists encourage carnivores to go meatless for a month in hopes they will lay down their steak knives for good. I upped the ante by adding alcohol and sugar to the challenge. It’s not enough to forgo pork chops. Let’s go whole hog!

I’m looking forward to Veganuary. Really, I am. The wine is in the rack and the gin is tucked away in the liquor cabinet, where they will stay until February. I stashed the bacon and a few Christmas cookies in the freezer and added faro and lentils to my shopping list. I will even give tofu another try.

On New Year’s Eve, I enjoyed a dinner party with shrimp, chicken, free-flowing wine and a lemon drop martini. Tonight’s repast: eggplant parm, with a tall glass of H2O.

One day down. Thirty to go. Happy Veganuary.