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?

Oh actually the rawsons retreat AF Prosecco isn't too horrendous. It's not like the real thing though.

Beers I've tried the Budweiser one, brewdog nanny state and raspberry sour, and a few lager type ones, but have found them so bad I've just poured them out and drank tea.

I've got so much lovely booze in the house atm, we have a whole cocktail cabinet so I can't even move it to the shed. MIL bought me a rhubarb and ginger gin for Xmas that is gorgeous, I might have to tell DP to hide it somewhere because it's the thing tempting me the most.

I find tonic water good if you like a G and T - sometimes add a dash of elderflower cordial.
Or nice cordials, especially lime with sparkling water
And lots of herbal tea - i’ve Stocked up on some nice flavours so that they feel like a treat

Finally my first AF day. Last night took a turn for the worse and I ended up sinking a whole bottle of wine.

Have a bit of a cold today so have been mostly sleeping and then drinking Lemsip.
Back to work on Mon so hoping that I won't be tempted again until Fri night....

So pleased that so many of you are doing so well though.

Hang in there name each day is a new opportunity

I took my ASD 8 yo to buy school shoes this afternoon. If I have ever needed a drink, it was at 3 p.m. today, when the lady told us she didn't have the shoes he liked in his size and the subsequent having to drag him out of the shop in his stocking feet, as he was intent on remaining in the shop until she MAGICKED THE SHOES HE LIKED IN HIS SIZE out of THIN BASTARD AIR.

I'm finding it really interesting how some people like to pretend they're drinking booze, while that makes it worse for others! I think I'm in the former camp. I've just been to Aldi for some of the AF fizz that someone on here said was quite nice and dry, as I no longer trust the M&S stuff after my experience with their AF sauv blanc last night! For now I've got a tall glass with ice, elderflower cordial and soda water, garnished with lime and some coriander leaves (which for some reason I really like in a G&T). It's very nearly hitting the spot, to be fair.

I'm in too, anyone else struggling tonight? Not helped by the fact I haven't been sleeping properly since I've stopped. Day 5 nearly over at least.

I'm sleeping like shit too without at least 3 glasses of wine to knock me out! I thought I'd be waking up fresh and hopping out of bed like a perky little disney character, but nope.

Did tick off number 4 on the DJ app though. Feeling a strange combination of smug but jealous watching DP drink a lovely ice cold Belgian beer. It's bubbling beautifully and the glass is all condensationy.... 😤

I think (hope) that my first drink in February will be like the last scene in Ice Cold in Alex. Can’t post a picture as it’s too tempting

I was struggling early evening. I thought I was going to give in and have a bottle of red but after eating dinner and drinking Vimto, & then chocolate, I feel stuffed and satisfied.
Now watching a movie.
I find Nytol or Kalms Nights (both herbal - Valerian root) help with falling asleep & staying asleep.

Well done, everyone. Keep going! I haven't found tonight too bad, helped the kids make dinner, so obviously that took a lot longer than normal and was quite distracting. DH is out tonight, which is good in a way as he would have been drinking in the house otherwise. I drank an Australian fizzy water with watermelon, mint and cucumber flavours (with the sparkling water in Sainsbury's), which did taste pretty synthetic but was still quite nice with a slice of lime. Then I had a mug of Yorkshire Tea bedtime brew which I swear has just knocked me out!

I don't mind some of the NA lagers, it's obviously not the real thing, but you get to play at having a beer. I haven't tried a NA wine I liked yet, but am open to recommendations!

Having to drink decaf tea in the evenings as normal tea kept us up for ages.

Tired now, so hoping for another good nights sleep.

Day 5 for me. Finding it fairly easy so far. My trigger is hunger and late afternoon mayhem of starting tea and wrangling my tired dd's but if I eat tea really early I lose the itch.
The boards are so useful. I've seen how there's a group of people who bargain with themselves to drink guilt free just like me. Rationalise that they're allowed a vice cos they're thin and don't smoke. Even thinking having a regular period is a sign our bodies aren't too screwed by gin. It makes me feel a bit less like a lost cause and hopeful I can get it in check once and for all.

Finished day 5 and found it easy today. I hit the biscuit tin more than I should but I didn’t miss the alcohol.

Ok I’m managing well avoiding the wine witch. But I just can’t sleep!!!

Just woke up in a panic because I knew we had a party this weekend and couldn't remember getting home, which means I've forgotten some of the evening. Start of a day of paranoia about whether I embarrassed myself.....

No need to worry anymore, because it can't happen if I don't drink. (Party is this afternoon, I'm just sleep befuddled).

Morning all!

I had the Aldi fizz last night, it was a bit fruity in places but really surprisingly good - I reckon as close to wine as you're going to get, in all fairness.

Enjoy your party this afternoon, SQ - will it be easy to avoid booze?

Morning all.

The party was fine, as soon as I walked in I was asked which wine did I want, I just said I was doing DJ so a coke or lemonade would be lovely, no questions after that.

I had fish and chips later and a cup of tea then watched Rampage, great Saturday night !

Day 5 for me... I started NYD but it was my birthday on friday so I had wine then. But for me to go 4 whole nights without a glass is ...well I can't remember when that last happened.
I'm struggling with sleep a bit but I expected that.. two large glasses have been my sleep aid for a long time now.
I'm just drinking tonic water in the evening as I genuinely like it (except Aldis... it was awful)
I am not making any big promises to myself... just one day at a time, and every non drink is a good thing!

Oh well done mountain, that sounds like a result.

Fetchez, it should be fairly easy, party starts at 2.30, out for a meal in a town 20 minutes away, so at least 50% of people will be driving.

I've actually turned down a get together where I know everyone will be drinking, I just couldn't face it. I've rescheduled for Feb instead. (When we will be cracking the Moët that's still in my fridge).

Absolutely Medusa, any day alcohol free is good, too much pressure isn't helpful is it.

I was 10 days AF then yesterday we stupidly hosted a drinks party. I started on AF fizz then moved to prosecco reasoning that I was already 5 days ahead of DJ and so could use a day! I feel awful today and my day planned of bundling the kids in the car and heading for a blustery beach walk have gone down the pan!

Have managed well so far by avoiding socialising. Not sure how sustainable that is.

On a slightly brighter note it has served to confirm for me that I really don't want to drink AND I have lost 2pounds.

It's the start of day 5 for me and I am finaly starting to feel good about this. Like I can actually do it. I'm back to work tomorrow though, so that might change the way I feel!

Scream have a good time at the party.