A woman is ditching luxury dates and going 'boy sober' - cutting out men and relationships from her life after 16 years of dating.<br /><br />Carly Galluzzo, 28, called time on her dating life after discovering that her dating patterns were becoming "toxic."<br /><br />Last year she went on four dates a month - going on luxury New York City dinner dates and even a private jet trip to the Bahamas on a third date.<br /><br />But Carly realised that her need for a boyfriend "wasn't a need for the person but out of fear".<br /><br />She eventually made a decision to go 'boy sober' - cutting out dating and relationships from her life completely.<br /><br />And Carly says she has no plans to return to her love life, and even says she would turn down her dream man at the moment.<br /><br />Carly, a law student from Long Island, New York, said: "I think I was dating because all of my friends have been pairing up for so long and that was driving me to find a partner, but I don't think that was a good motivation. <br /><br />"I felt that I had to keep dating. <br /><br />"It didn't matter whether the men were good or not. At the end of the day my outlook on it was also not good. <br /><br />"It was just something that I feared that if I didn't pursue something straight away I'd miss out on something.<br /><br />"But it finally clicked in January. I haven't really been single and happy ever.<br /><br />"I've been dating my whole life and seriously dating since I was 16. I'd either become anxiously attached or avoidantly attached.<br /><br />"I found myself planning weddings after knowing someone for a week.<br /><br />"I was attaching these feelings and personalities but it wasn't fair on either one of us."<br /><br />Since going 'boy sober' at the beginning of this year, Carly says she's "never felt happier."<br /><br />She said: "I've never been happier than now. <br /><br />"The weight that has been lifted feels like it was 1,000lbs.<br /><br />"I feel content and I feel like I've never been younger.<br /><br />"The only conversations I'd have with college girlfriends was about boyfriends and finding a partner. <br /><br />"Getting ready for dates also takes so long and my confidence was always shot. <br /><br />"Also dating in NYC, the guys were dating models so I'd question how I could make myself more attractive."<br /><br />Carly admitted she was using dating as a form of validation and her journey with materialism also played a part in who she chose to date.<br /><br />She said: "My journey with materialism has also been involved in this journey of being boy sober. <br /><br />"The quickest way to money is dating a wealthy guy which of course can be amazing but I know what's important now, real happiness and not just these monetary things. <br /><br />"My ex-boyfriend was very wealthy and took me to a lot of great places and that validation from my peers felt good. <br /><br />"But I can say now I've lived that life crying my eyes out on a yacht in the South of France. <br /><br />"I was so miserable and I was willing to give up my happiness for that."<br /><br />But not everyone understands Carly's decision, with some of her colleagues saying she should be aware of her biological clock.<br /><br />She said: "I feel like not everyone understands it. <br /><br />"People say I'm 28 and they think more of the biological clock of it all. <br /><br />"But the only person I really care about is my mum and her opinion and she was so on board with me. <br /><br />"I'm not putting it out for the future, but for today I don't want a partner and I don't want to think about it."<br /><br />And whilst she's allowing herself to let genuine connections happen, she feels that she looks at life differently now.<br /><br />Carly added: "I genuinely think I look at life differently.<br /><br />"I don't care what I look like if I see some eligible man in the grocery store.<br /><br />"I'm not dating now. I'm not going out and expecting to be approached by a guy. <br /><br />"I've broken up with 'situationships' and people that ask me out now, I say no. <br /><br />"I feel like I have a lot of power in that.<br /><br />"My dream man if he comes up to me right now, I truly think I'd have to think about it and it's just crazy to think like that.<br /><br />"What I'm feeling right now, I could do this forever and be happy.<br /><br />"I know I can take care of myself financially.<br /><br />"I can see myself in 10 years from now still being this happy but I can also see myself in a regular relationship."
