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?

Dh tried Brew Dog's Raspberry Blitz last night and was quite impressed. Hoping our mixed case of alcohol free beers arrives today.

@Calphurnia You were asking about dry listening - I have just bought a kindle book This Naked mind about how to control you alcohol intake it's available as an audiobook.

Argh it's Friday. I have been dreading this all week, which is so stupid, especially as I am now thinking 'what difference would it actually make to anything if I drink tonight?', which is true and also not true.

We've got this!

Those who are planning on having a drink, enjoy, savour, and don't feel guilty, this is a choice that you are actively making, no guilt involved, you are still in control.

Those of us continuing to abstain, keep busy and remind yourself how much good this is doing for your health and your wallet.

We're off for dinner in an hour or so, I know other diners will be drinking, but DH and I will be on soft drinks together.

It'll be nice to have a sober meal together - how bad is that!

Getting out and about this weekend (we hid away last weekend), out for brunch with friends tomorrow, then family over on Sunday for lunch, we've told them that we're doing dry January and luckily they're supportive and have all said they'll abstain as well.

Good luck all

I am having the Friday feeling too as is DH. He has gone to the gym so hopefully he will have gone off the notion when he gets back. I won't be tempted if he isn't.

Omg this is tough. Had such a horrible day. So stressed.
Need to keep distracting myself...

So distractions, what do we all do?

I love cooking (but that can add to the craving because I usually have a glass of wine whilst I cook).
A good book, cup of tea and bar of chocolate is always welcome, particularly when it's cold (which it is here tonight).
I started a cross stitch about 2 years ago, it would be good to finally get that finished.
Pamper session, nails, facepack etc can take an hour or so.
If all else fails walking the dogs is a great distraction.
(I could clean the house - but it only gets untidy again).

What does everyone else do to distract them?

Am having a glass of wine and I don't feel at all guilty. I'm having a wobbly day. Something happened earlier and I just needed my brother. I can't bear it

Back on it on Sunday. Well done to all of you. You're doing so well

namechangedyetagain enjoy the wine.

I am struggling for the first time tonight, I’m just so tempted and I am clearly not the only one......trying to resist but I’m just not sure how to distract myself. Might just have to have a very early bath and early night.

I need a distracting plan too. On a Friday DH and i would usually have a lovey dinner with loads of wine and listen to music. It doesn't seem so appealing sober somehow. We need things to do together which are not just watching TV. DH has suggested doing the tax returns.

Hope you're ok @namechanged, be kind to yourself.

Thanks for the encouragement @Screamqueenz, I am going to drive out somewhere as I don't drink anything if I drive, by the time I get home hopefully the feeling will have passed!

We've got this!

Those who are planning on having a drink, enjoy, savour, and don't feel guilty, this is a choice that you are actively making, no guilt involved, you are still in control.

Those of us continuing to abstain, keep busy and remind yourself how much good this is doing for your health and your wallet.

Bloody well said, @Screamqueenz! Hope you and DH have a lovely dinner - if nothing else, the bill will be a whole lot less than usual! :)

Well I’ve had a fucking shit day at work and it’s the first time I’m waivering. Send help.

erm12345 I am also wavering. I am right on the edge! I have a bottle of champagne (ok, 2 but I'm confident I would only drink 1) and I can't stop thinking about it. 6 minutes my arse!

We have got through it. Had dinner with a bottle of elderflower and pomegranate presse. It was lovely and the notion for wine has passed.

To the waiverers ..focus on how good you’ll feel in the morning..no kicking yourself, probably get up easier and you will be 35% of the way there

I am literally tense all over and usually red wine eases the tension but I'm off for another walk with my dog, then will eat & read - but having to change book as they're all p*ss heads in my current book!
What I really want to say is everyone who is wobbling come to mine for cheese n wine! But no, I'm going to do my best to distract myself.
Good luck all x

Focus, erm! Think of the dance mummies and the hangover you WON'T have tomorrow.

Aww you lot! Thank you for the support.

The dance mums Fatchez 😂

I do want to pop rounds for cheese and wine Toto.

Ah wouldn't wine and cheese be great!

I read a really great thing from Adrian Chiles about cutting down drinking. He said he wanted to cut down now, so that he could still enjoy those great drinks in the future. So in a way, we might be sacrificing tonight for our future wine and cheese evening at Totoro's 😀

I am fed up tonight though

I’m drinking the kids’ orange cordial.

I’m focusing on tomorrow and how shit I don’t want to feel. That grim feeling.

Back from walk, definitely less tense!

Yes I do hope that one day soon I can easily just drink once a week & not because of stress.

We'll put the cheese n wine on hold

I’ve found ZeropointZero and Fizzero, I’ll stick to lime and soda in future or Nanny State ale because the fizzy stuff is utterly shite!

I love waking up fresh and not feeling like a slug , that’s keeping me focused and off the grog!

I do look better too , no doubt about it.

Keep going ladies, you can do this.
I feel I've let you down being here (as I'm on my 3rd glass of wine). But honestly I've been in tears since about 4.15 and no amount of dry ness is going to take away the haggard way I've aged since the end of June not mentioning the 3 house moves last year.
I KNOW I'm awful for drinking more than recommended and it's not the answer but sometimes I wonder how I still breathe every day....

Thank you @Leaveby10. I've got that on my Kindle

Very nearly twitched earlier, being as it's Friday AND I was on the wrong end of a stroppy 5 year old. I told myself "I am choosing to keep that in the fridge and have something else". Fizzy guava or lychee or something.

My mood is stabilising I think. I'm sleeping better. Still hard to get up in the morning. I'm still shouty Mum with the aforementioned stroppy 5 year old more than I'd like. I'm not paranoid about my breath.

to you @Namechangeyetagain