TJ Holmes' Excessive Alcohol Consumption Before Dry January: A Mind-Blowing Account
TJ Holmes and Amy Robach open up about their alcohol consumption and participation in Dry January, shedding light on their personal journeys with alcohol
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T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are getting honest about their drinking in hopes of helping others reexamine their relationships with alcohol.
In the January 11 episode of the "Amy and T.J." podcast, Holmes, 46, and Robach, 50, provided an update on their Dry January journey, reflecting on their decision to abstain from alcohol for the month. Recalling the events of the past year, Robach expressed shock at the amount she had been drinking, likening 2023 to her personal "pandemic" in the aftermath of her affair with Holmes. (The two had been photographed together outside of the office in late 2022 while still married to other individuals, and had previously worked together on GMA3.)
"I found myself without a job to go to and far from many friends and family. In response, I turned to drinking a lot," Robach admitted on Thursday. "More than I ever had before. I don't believe I've ever gone an entire day without having a drink, and that was my experience in 2023."
She elaborated: "It wasn't about getting drunk or wasted. It was about maintaining a constant buzz throughout the day, or keeping myself in a heightened state of mind during a very anxious year."
Holmes reassured Robach that she is not alone, emphasizing the need to reevaluate his own relationship with alcohol. He acknowledged the importance of honesty in addressing the issue and pledged to be transparent about his alcohol consumption, motivations, and plans for change.
In a later part of the episode, Holmes disclosed that he could consume up to 18 drinks in a day, defining what he considered to be one drink according to official guidelines.
Holmes shared that he and Robach are avid runners, and mentioned that his girlfriend recently introduced him to a new approach to running. He explained, "I typically do my runs in the morning, but now she's got me doing a 'run to fun.' After finishing a run, we head to the bar." He continued, "We'll go for a run at 8 or 9 in the morning, and when I get back we'll have a beer. I'll put two beers in the freezer to chill, and that's our reward. I have one, and end up with two. So there we are, at 10 in the morning, already two drinks in. It's that easy." Additionally, Holmes mentioned that the couple often has a "two drink minimum" at lunch.
"If we're at home for the day, I can have a drink in my hand from the afternoon until nine at night," he said. "If you do the math, that's a drink an hour for eight more hours, or even less. But that's eight more hours of having a drink in hand, in addition to the four I had during the day."
Robach added, "You're not actually pouring 18 drinks. You're counting the liquor you pour into it."
After examining their drinking habits, the pair delved into their monthly alcohol expenses and were shocked by the results. Robach felt embarrassed at having spent $2,869 in December 2023, while Holmes anticipated an even higher figure.
"In December, we tallied up our alcohol expenses for the month by reviewing our receipts and using Drizly," he shared with listeners. "This doesn't even account for the occasional trips to the liquor store, just purchases from Drizly and going out."
Robach made it clear that they did not consume all of the alcohol, as they had visitors over throughout the month. Their Dry January is just one of the personal topics they have discussed on their podcast, marking their public return since their affair scandal, which they addressed when they broke their silence in November 2023.
Holmes, in the show’s debut episode, stated, “The best way to sum us up, Amy and T.J., is that we’re the folks who lost the jobs we love because we love each other. I’m in love with this woman and she’s in love with me and we are planning a life together.”
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Robach also expressed admiration for Holmes, saying, "Relationships can be tough, they're complicated, and they're not flawless. We've worked hard for love, and I can honestly say I've never been happier. I'm with my closest friend."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for confidential and free assistance anytime, day or night.
