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Original poster

Old habits DRY hard! It's DRY JANUARY thread #2... newcomers always welcome!

938 replies

HPLikecraft · 11/01/2023 07:38

Here we are, a shiny new thread to help us stay dry.

Thread one has been great and supportive; and thread two will take us through further challenges and milestones. Hop aboard; you're all doing brilliantly!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 11/01/2023 07:40

Thanks @HPLikecraft for the new thread and for all of your input.

Have a good day everyone Smile

KatieBenz · 11/01/2023 07:44

Wahoo! Thread 2! Thanks @HPLikecraft.
Another lurker here. Day 9 for me. No slip ups yet as have discovered Eisberg no alcoholic sparking wine. It seems to hit the spot even though I’m normally a red wine drinker. 4lbs lost. Still not sleeping very well and look bloody haggard this morning - no idea why 🙄. Still waiting for the health benefits to kick in….

FlightDeckBuckarooo · 11/01/2023 07:45

Thanks for the new thread @HPLikecraft

Joining the last thread was a bit of a spur of the moment thing because although I was hoping to cut down, I wasn’t planning on doing DJ. So glad I joined. Thank you everyone.

WordtoYoMumma · 11/01/2023 07:55

Oh hey, new to the thread 🙂 I am doing Dry Veganuary here so a double challenge!

I've been fine so far but I have a lunch out on Saturday with a group of friends and... well let's just say our WhatsApp group is called The Vodka Sisters 🙈 so I think that will be my first real challenge!

DH is an alcoholic in recovery so we don't have booze in the house which makes it easier, but I do like a drink with friends and it has always been a sort of escape to do so. DH is fine with me drinking, it's not a problem or a trigger for him, I guess I just associate being with friends as when I have a drink. DH is sober over a year and is looking amazing, he has lost weight and his skin looks great, he looks so healthy and I am a gross blob next to him so I keep thinking maybe if I give up the booze too...?!

Els1e · 11/01/2023 07:56

Thanks for the new thread. Another good nights sleep. I’m really getting to like this feeling of being well rested and no sluggishness in the mornings.

Findyourneutralspace · 11/01/2023 07:58

Hello all! I have SLEPT!!! 8 hours solid, thank the lord. Did a circuits class this morning and feeling on top of the world.

Day 12 here and find this part of the week easy. It’s the weekends I struggle with so I’m starting to formulate a plan for Friday teatime to distract my way through it…

OneFrenchEgg · 11/01/2023 07:59

Thanks! Sort of getting into it. Managed so far, think this weekend might be a challenge as it's a long month.

fruitpastille · 11/01/2023 08:13

Delurking... I was thinking I would just have a dry week but I've got to go out in the car the next 3 evenings so I am thinking I will do another week and then see. For me it's easier to think in the short term! I have been wrestling with it a bit as I don't drink that much - rarely more than half a bottle of wine - but it's become more habitual and over the two weeks Christmas holiday I had some kind of drink every day even if it was just a small baileys. I find it hard as I don't feel the benefit and I find myself thinking 'what's the point' as the amount of alcohol i drink doesn't have a noticeably negative effect on me. But then I do often go over the recommended weekly units so surely that is not good. Arggghhh!! I should stop overthinking.

Greatly · 11/01/2023 08:13

Morning all! I managed to stagger downstairs and make an almond milk coffee - legs and hips very tight but not - agony...yet. @lemonsaretheonlyfruit I also slept super badly for the first time - a real surprise after sleeping so well for days.

Driving dd2 back to uni today - she's only an hour and a bit away so the drive is not punishing but I will miss her 😭😭

B: I am having a fried egg on a couple of tablespoons of greek yogurt with salt and chili oil - I think Turkish?? Anyway it's really good!

L and D - undecided as have to shop first.

Original poster
HPLikecraft · 11/01/2023 08:25

We have officially passed the 1/3 mark now! Well done everyone. No new trophy yet, but that's a big bite taken out of DJ2023.

@WordtoYoMumma I'm also doing Dry Veganuary. I'm a dairy free vegetarian anyway, so it's not too demanding, but I am badly missing eggs for some reason!
I have already failed in my quest to have a crisps-free January, but hey, there's only so much I can deny myself at once!

OP posts:
1000yardstare · 11/01/2023 08:32

@HPLikecraft thanks for the new thread. Hi to lurkers and posters alike.

againmaeve · 11/01/2023 08:32

Day 6 here and all going okay. Feeling less anxious which is great. Really want to use this as a springboard to better habits as had got into the habit of having a glass or two of wine nearly every day and more at weekends

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 08:35

We have officially passed the 1/3 mark now! Well done everyone. No new trophy yet, but that's a big bite taken out of DJ2023.

What a fantastic achievement, thanks OP. Given how much I was drinking previously, I never thought I would have the mental strength or the willpower to get this far.

At the start of January it seemed like time was really dragging, but it feels like the days are starting to tick along quicker now.

I had a good night's sleep but feel a little tired this morning. I still feel a million dollars compared to how I would have done if I'd been drinking the night before though!

I've got my sights set on reaching the halfway point now - I just hope I can get there without giving in. Here's to day 11.

Findyourneutralspace · 11/01/2023 08:38

Sorry to hear about the crap sleep @Greatly. That was me on Monday. Totally threw me.

Well done on the downstairs stagger though! Our gym is on the first floor with the pool downstairs, and I often wonder whether anyone has fallen down the stairs after a hefty legs session. I’m John Wayning it a bit today too. Epsom salts is what you need.

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 08:39

I've also saved £160 so far from not drinking. That is huge!

Mushroo · 11/01/2023 08:40

Checking in for the new thread! Made it to the gym this morning!

WheelofLife · 11/01/2023 08:45

Thanks for the new thread @HPLikecraft

I had a rough night too.Very disturbing dreams. It’s night time for me now, so an early one with a book I think.

Had a hot and stressful day at work and really wanted to come home and have a drink. I was fine once I actually did get home and had my lemon and ginger tea. Here endeth Day 10.

1/3 of the way there!

FlyingPandas · 11/01/2023 09:06

Thank you for the shiny new thread @HPLikecraft!

I also slept badly but have realised why-I had a slice of Christmas cake and a Diet Coke rather too late in the evening and the combination of sugar and caffeine was not good. Need to stick to a glass of milk or a hot chocolate (for some reason the sugar in the hot chocolate doesn’t seem to disturb sleep in the same way!) in the evenings and not be tempted to snack on the Christmas leftovers!

Day 11! Well done everyone, let’s keep going.

RedxRobin · 11/01/2023 09:13

Another lurker here but have been finding this thread so useful to keep going. Day 9 for me & it’s going ok - I find doing my cross stitch in the evening helps as it stops me mindlessly drinking in front of the tv.

The other posts about children noticing/feeling the effects of our drinking has given me serious pause for thought. I think I have been hungover & grumpy generally on weekends far too many times & it is not fair to my DCs to not get the best of me. I need to do some serious thinking about next steps after DJ but at the moment that feels a bit overwhelming. I feel if I manage DJ that is the first step in the right direction.

pointythings · 11/01/2023 09:30

Good morning, everyone! Am feeling energised after a truly great night's sleep so I'm going to have a massive house cleaning day and feel really virtuous.

Stickywhitelovepiss · 11/01/2023 09:33

Well done all those who are upping the exercise. I'm a regular exerciser who has cut back a bit for DJ to more gentle formats (swimming / walking - only cause I know my usual MO is to hit the exercise hard and reward myself with a big glass of wine after.

Champagneforeveryone · 11/01/2023 10:04

Morning all!

Another solid nights sleep thanks to the tablets. DS is taking the train back to London in a bit so I'm being stoically cheerful, but will miss him terribly. He's been home nearly a month and this is his first year at uni so it's been lovely (if noisy) to have him around again.

DH was in a steaming huff about DJ yesterday, we ended the night with a long talk about finances in particular and he's shocked at how much of our regular income goes on booze. I always knew he had less idea than me but had no idea that he was so clueless 🙄

Fundays12 · 11/01/2023 10:06

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 08:39

I've also saved £160 so far from not drinking. That is huge!

Wow that's amazing well done. Hope your going to treat yourself to something lovely.

After my weekend blip I went right back on track. I am praying ds1 stays calm this weekend as I know that's what details me because his meltdowns leave me exhausted and feeling like I am worthless. I know he doesn't mean it when he is being horrible and he has a nuerological condition but it's still painful to be called stupid repeatedly or sworn at. I think our lack of family help has really been an eye opener as the sad reality is if we had girls DH mother would have been hammering the door down to help. Though I try remember that it's not actually helpful as MIL is very controlling and manipulative of the girls in his family (DH words not mine). Anyway I realised by today I would have drunk 3 more bottles of wine in the last 12 days then I have so a saving of £24 which I used towards a large pot of paint for the livingroom and kitchen.

fruitpastille · 11/01/2023 10:23

The exercise really helps me as I can't have a glass of wine if I need to drive to my gym class and afterwards I am thirsty so don't really want wine anyway!

paulmccartneysbagel · 11/01/2023 10:36

HPLikecraft · 11/01/2023 08:25

We have officially passed the 1/3 mark now! Well done everyone. No new trophy yet, but that's a big bite taken out of DJ2023.

@WordtoYoMumma I'm also doing Dry Veganuary. I'm a dairy free vegetarian anyway, so it's not too demanding, but I am badly missing eggs for some reason!
I have already failed in my quest to have a crisps-free January, but hey, there's only so much I can deny myself at once!

I used to eat eggs almost every day when I was vegetarian. Been vegan for almost two years and still miss them sometimes!