I’ve drank like a b%$tard for a lot of 2018, going to do my first complete dry January as of tomorrow. Join me?

[Exisonfire]

As it says in the title.

2018 hasn’t been kind to me, and the drink has been relied upon far too much.

I’m fed up of moping, and want to kick start a better year with my first ever complete dry January tomorrow.

Who’s in?

I have events that I associate with drinking, when I feel particularly tempted - cooking dinner for example, always makes me think of a glass of wine - I need to build enough days where I don't drink while cooking, change my story, so I stop making the association between drinking and cooking - I love to do both!

This is so true. I feel like I have had it pretty easy so far because I have been off work, so lots of my daily habits are out of the way anyway (then again, I would usually drink on any day off work). Do you think it is about trying to replace bad habits with good ones, or trying to get out of habits at all?

Yes, leave, during the week that's when I open the bottle, as I'm cooking supper, and you're right, it is a habit we just need to break.
One week down, feeling like I can do this!
However the big boss is back today, so work could get more stressful....

I think it's associations - it was the same when I gave up smoking - which was the hardest bloody thing I have even done - I thought about smoking 24/7 there was never a time when I didn't miss it in the beginning - it was all consuming. As the weeks passed I noticed that I only started to think about it at certain key moments during the day - for a while I used a nicotine pen as a substitute and that helped (but low alcohol subs really don't, not at home anyway - maybe in a pub I don't know) and it took a while for my brain not to remind me that it was time for a smoke - I stopped 23 years ago, I still look back and think I loved smoking but I'm not tempted - for many dull health, monetary and social reasons, I don't crave it and I always think I am one cigarette away from being a smoker again and I couldn't face giving up again.
I just need to really take this seriously this time - and figure out can I break the associations or do I just have to quit once and for all and like smoking, I like the habit too much.

Habit - that explains it for me
I would come home from work, cook dinner and have a glass of wine. Not because I wanted it, but because that's what I did. That turned into a full bottle every night and then a bit extra at weekends, because it was the weekend. Breaking the habit is the hard part.
Had a slight wobble yesterday as I had a bit of an afternoon at work and really wanted a glass of wine. However I didn't get the wine in the end and went home and had a hot chocolate instead, which I enjoyed more because it was pretty cold here last night.

Just trying to keep going without as best I can

Yep, habit and associations are the two big things for me.

DCs in bed on a Friday - pour an enormous gin. Roast dinner on a Sunday - accompanied by a bottle of white.
Home after a long walk at the weekend - crack open the fizz.

🙄

It’s day 8 for me today and been ok so far. Went out last night to a show but the bars here seem to have decent supplies of AF beer and cider. I found the ‘cider’ a bit sweet though so ended up on sparking water
Not sleeping any better but quite high anxiety at the moment so not sure if that’s the reason

I’m an all or nothing drinker when i’m Out - i’ve Worked hard in resetting my home alone drinking but still have massive social binges as a stress release.

I think I could get on board with the alcohol free options while at the pub during dry Jan I just can't see myself doing that any other time of the year, I don't mind the taste of water - we have soda stream at home and it makes a pretty good sparkling water and occasionally we will add orange bitters for the aroma - there is no taste. But just having a glass of water to hand in the evening is often all the substitution I need - it's the habit of drinking something, anything I've just got into the habit of making it wine every night.

Day 7! I don't think I've done 7 days without wine since I was last pregnant. I'm still Day, tired and low on energy though

That should say I'm still fat not that I'm still Day!

I’m Day 8 today, there’s been a few tougher moments but generally speaking it’s going well.

Anyone watched Patrick Melrose, its a very good drama about someones drug and alcohol addictions. The one thing that stood out for me was when he wanted to give up doing drugs and someone said, what are you going to do instead?
So you need to do something else. I find reading helps, baths, but not found anything that sticks yet.
Go swimming, knitting, colouring , crafting?

I like drinking wine while in the bath

I'm twitching a bit tonight - it's been a long, frantic day and Tuesday is a wine night! But I will feel better if I don't. So I won't!

People need to stop talking about all the lovely places, situations and days of the week to drink wine, you're making me too tempted!

First day back at work today and I would love a glass. Sadbuttrue, you're right - need to think of something else to do instead. All I can think at the moment is to have a bath and go to bed, but that doesn't seem very sustainable.

7 days is definitely the longest I have gone without a drink since pregnancy 9 years ago. I don't feel good yet, but I do feel quite pleased I am doing it.

Has anyone noticed any positive effects yet? If so, what?

erm I feel terrific! I was a heavy drinker , bottle of wine a night or a fuck load of Bombay Sapphire.

I’m sleeping very soundly.
My face seems less puffy.
I’ve got a spring in my step and mentally I feel ‘lighter’, an odd word maybe but that’s how I feel.

I’ve also found that I’m weeing more, I think because I’m not dehydrated anymore through alcohol my body isn’t holding onto fluid. That might be absolute bollocks but it makes sense to me, I’m also not snoring anymore and not restless in bed.

7 days in and I still look like shit. Tired, bloated and pale.

I think it's going to take longer for me to look less haggard!

I have had a cold since Boxing Day, so feeling better is only going to happen when my cold fucks off. I feel smug though - is that better?

Well I still just feel the main thing is not having a hangover...I would love more but I’m not sure it’s going to happen - esp weight loss as I’m eating more too!

Ghost - me too 😫

Yes, I look terrible. Very red-faced with dark eyes, a bit like this

I'm feeling good, less sleep last night, but still loads more than I would normally get, my rest heart rate continues to come down and I feel more able to cope with stresses.

Keep going everyone, this is doing us the world of good.

I went clothes shopping tonight, usually would have stopped of for a glass of something half way through, but I really didn't feel the need tonight. Hopefully I'm beginning to break the habit....

I’m sleeping like a log on my alcohol free nights - a hot bath and straight to bed and I’m out like a light. It’s such a difference compared with my usual situation (waking up at 4am with a banging headache, feeling sick and mind racing with anxiety).

I found yesterday very difficult without the wine but I’m doing better today - I have a work crisis tonight with a deadline of tomorrow, so I couldn’t be on the booze even if I wanted to. I’m finding this thread is really helping.

Good luck everyone

Gah, I'm not getting the euphoric sober feeling yet.

I'm still a tired grumbly bloated hag.

Grumble grumble grumble.