Dry January 2020. A new relationship with alcohol. Who’s joining me?

[ParanoidGynodroid]

It’s that time again!
I did my first dry January around 5 years ago, having seen it on here. It was a great thing to do: really helped my get control of my drinking. Since then I’ve done it every year, along with at least one or two other dry months.

DJ may help you:
Lose weight. ...
Get better skin. ...
Make healthier food choices. ...
Save money. ...
Sleep better. ...
Have more energy. ...
Improve your mood. ...
Improve your general health

and make you feel virtuous!

It’s not necessarily easy though, so it’s good to have support; especially if you’re feeling week and like you may give up. We can support each other here.

Join me!

Joining you: started on 2 Jan so only on day two. I've done DJ for the last two years and the first days are always the toughest. Last year I kept going until the 17 Feb when we flew to Hong Kong for a holiday. As with all of you, it creeps back up if you don't watch it over the year.

As with most of you, the hardest time is around 5pm to 8pm, especially on a Friday and Saturday. Last year I really got into skin care, prompted by one of the threads on Style and Beauty. I will use the hours from 5pm to put on a face pack and then massage some face oil in and generally pamper.

I have been dieting in the lead up to Christmas but a boozy ten days added 5lbs so determined to lose them and more.

Doing it for the first time. Will have my first real test of it at the weekend as we're having a games night and I always drink at games night.

I’m happy to disclose.

At the start of 2019 I was drinking 20 units a week and having 4 clean days.

Prior to that, easily 6 units a day weekdays and 10 units fri/sat/sun (so probably 50-60 units per week) and apart from pregnancies I did that for years. Decades.

And it sounds horrendous but that really is convincing myself it’s just ‘a couple’ during/before evening meal and one more at the weekends. Rarely felt drunk/hungover/blanking but clearly it’s enough to start the damage (see my post above!)

@imamearcat
I drink pretty much every day. Thankfully I dont drink to oblivion but I I definitely drink far too much. On a weekday I will have 2 wine and sodas or 3 vodka and diet cokes and then on a weekend it would be 3 beers and then the vodka on top.
It has become such a bad habit and I have been worried about it for a while. This feels like a reset button for me . I still want to meet friends and have a drink or two or celebrate with a couple of drinks but the mindless drinking needs to stop.
@Nomorewineever that is scary ! Hopefully doing this will reverse at least some of the damage I must have already caused.

I'm in! Feeling very positive about being dry for the month after a horrendous hangover on NYD.

I have other ambitions to do a little bit more walking, yoga and to have fresh juices for breakfast rather than white toast.

Hi everyone count me in! I've posted on a couple of threads but the more support the better I guess.
I've been drinking every night for months, sometimes I'd have the odd night off but not often. I'll easily drink a bottle of wine or 4 cans of lager. I work weekends and am up at 5 but will still drink Friday and Saturday nights (and Sunday).
I'm sick of feeling shit and sluggish on a morning and tired all the time.
I last had a drink on New Year's Eve so have had 2 days alcohol free so far which is good for me, I've had a headache on and off the last couple of days though I'm sure it's due to the lack of alcohol.
Tonight will be the real test as it's Friday and that's usually my excuse to drink (along with every other weekday) although I worked all day yesterday on overtime and didn't call into the shop on my way home for wine like I usually do that's an achievement for me.
I'm trying to lose weight and am planing on going back to slimming world too.
My sleeps improved over the last couple of days too.
Looking forward to updating and supporting each other

Day 3 (actual 6) for me and for those just in , hang on in there. It does get easier. Like the @sofedupofeverything said the first few days are the hardest.
And every year it gets easier too. And it does definitely help the rest of the year whether that means resetting or cutting down or stopping.

The first year I didn't make it to the end of January. The 2nd year I did and then added in another month later on. The 3rd I was drinking so much less generally and had a better hold on my drinking. Then a couple of years ago I just kept the 'one day at a time' thought process going until I hadn't had a drink for a year and a half. Then I started again but it was much more controlled and balanced. Only at weekends. So I'm doing this as a reset as it had crept up again.

For those who are struggling with the idea of never having a drink again, or worrying about the lengths of January then don't look at the bigger picture. You just need to focus on today. And if that even makes you feel anxious ("how will i manage 5 oclock?" " this evening worries me") then just focus on now. Right now. Focus on your breath. Or on your connection with the floor.

@anonengland
I suffer from anxiety and when a day ahead seems overwhelming I just break it down to 3 things that I need to do that day. In my hardest days in the past that has been - get out of bed, get dressed, do my teeth. Other days the goals are bigger. Well done for getting out with your dogs. Nature and animals are a great boost.

We can do this today everyone. Here's to a clear headed Saturday morning.

Day 2 went smoothly. Drinking some weird and wonderful loose leaf teas I got for Christmas, in place of wine in the evenings. Goes well with a bit of Christmas cake 😊

Terrible, terrible sleep last night. Quite stormy here and I just lay awake worrying about stuff that I have no control over. I feel worse today than I did yesterday.

But I really want to reclaim my weekends again. After weeks of socialising (even when I really didn't fancy it which is madness) I want to remember how to relax without a glass of wine in my hand. I'm chubby, perennially tired, lazy and becoming a pretty grumpy middle aged woman - and I put a lot of that down to my style of relaxing!

Was also quite worried about the fatty liver issues amongst other health related things.

I’m late to this thread but I’m in too. I haven’t had a drink since the double bourbon I poured to toast in the new year.

I drink too much so I need to have a reset. I started not drinking at all in the week for a month or so before Christmas but obviously over the last couple of weeks that’s gone out the window.

I’ve not done DJ before so I’m looking forward to the challenge. My DP is also doing it with me. Hoping I can lose a few pounds as well.

I'll try posting a Friday teaser.

Before I did my reset in 2015 I was on about 50 units a week. Horrendous to think about looking back! What made me change was getting an awful summer cold, one of those where you can't breathe or taste anything. And I still poured myself a glass of wine at the end of my first day back at work, then realised 'hang on, I can't even taste this!'. That made me think I might be alcohol dependent so I did my first dry June. And it was a piece of cake. I felt so much better, I lost weight, I slept well. So ever since that time I've done two dry months a year and drink well under recommended limits the rest of the time.

It also helped that I was watching my husband drink himself to death - he couldn't reset, he just got worse. He died in 2018 while we were mid divorce. Then my dad died, which sent my mum down the path of alcohol addiction, and she died in May. I have very good reasons to not drink excessively.

My DDs are 17 and 19 and they don't drink at all.

I managed to do a shopping order and not order wine! Must be a first.

I still have a lot of booze in the house from Xmas. Friday night I normally drink wine and watch TV. Tonight I won't drink and might try out a PS4 game I got for Xmas. Also need to study and work on my side job which I can't do if I drink.

This is also my third day of doing an 18 hour fast each day which is the only way I can lose weight Don't feel hungry and have a lot of energy.

It's very encouraging reading posts from those that have done DJ before. Thank you.

Wolff - I've just done a supermarket shop without booze - it's a lot cheaper isn't it!!

Morning all I managed to get back to sleep for a bit this morning and I have been out to the gym as well. I am doing a mile a day challenge which is helping.
I read somewhere that aerobic exercise is the only way to get back all those grey cells we have killed off with the booze. I am starting an OU course soon so my grey cells need all the help they can get.

Will have a look at the teaser as well later . I need things to keep me occupied .

I also have to de-Christmas the house today , but of course I am here faffing about instead.

I’m 3 days in and feeling really good, full
of energy, clear headed, managing to go to the gym and be super productive. I’m a bit worried actually and waiting for the other shoe to drop, I’m sure it’s going to get more difficult as time goes on...

Thank you to the poster about alcohol fatty liver disease- it was an eye opener.

Not sure how the weekend is going to go - but reading all these posts is helping motivate me.
Thinking of those who are struggling a bit more - it’s can’t be easy.

Every time you resist is a win in so many ways. It’s the withdrawal from alcohol that’s making the anxiety worse - take it as a sign your body is starting to recover. I know that doesn’t make it easier - just trying to reframe the problem.

Thank you for starting this - I think it’s really going to help me. X

Yes, agreed about the post about the fatty liver being frightening enough to keep me on the straight and narrow. I think I'll screenshot it now actually.
And my grocery shopping was €10-€15 cheaper this morning too.

I didn’t intend to scare anyone but it’s unfortunately true. If you do want to read up more on it the both the liver trust and alcohol concern websites have useful information.

What I would say is that it’s conflicting in terms of removing it. My consultant said my alcohol consumption was habitual not addiction (I agree). Some websites say you can START to reverse the fat in 2 weeks. My consultant said it’s more like 6 weeks. Also interestingly new habits tend to take about 6 weeks to form and override old ones. So sticking to a minimum of 5 alcohol free days a week after January is over is critical for me.

Also, fatty liver from alcohol is one thing but being overweight gives you a different kind of fatty liver too. The two together aren’t something you want.

He also said that liver function blood tests are to be taken with a pinch of salt - he has seen almost normal results in people with livers who are badly damaged - because your poor old liver limps along until it literally can’t any more. Liver damage can only really be seen on ultrasounds or HIDA scans or specialist blood tests. Also fatty liver gives no symptoms for the main - although if you’ve got a lot you can get a dull pain under your ribs which most people mistake for a gallbladder issue.

Anyway....enough medicals. Let’s get through tonight and fight another fight tomorrow.

I’m hoping my inner Pollyanna comes back tomorrow when I wake up bright and clear!

I’m worried about seeing the weekend through AF but I too have a small gain to share which is making me happy... my eyes look clear and sparkly. Well done everyone for even giving this a go.

For anyone struggling with sleep and anxiety I urge you to struggle on. It takes a while but in previous dry spells I have found a huge benefit for both in the long term.

When drinking I sometimes carry on when really tired as post drink guilt makes me feel like I need to compensate for time "wasted" drinking. Once you take it out of the equation it becomes easier to recognise when you really are tired and not feel so bad about just having a rest or telling your family you are too tired to do something.

It took me a few weeks to realise this two years ago but I felt miles better for it.

Plus you do sleep better - no waking at 3am or multiple trips to the loo.

The fatty liver thing is very scary. I dread to think what state mine is in. It's something I've worried about before as I've been drinking far too much since my late teens (late 30s now). I have spend a lot of that time drinking a bottle of wine a night. I'm disgusted with myself. Does this feeling go away?

Going well here but the weekend will be the real test. I feel like I will be ok but I think it will get harder as the month goes on. Planning to eat something nice.

@nomorewineever

Thanks that’s very interesting. My father died from alcoholism though a cardiac arrest got him just before the cirrhosis.

I thought I was OK because I have liver and kidney function blood tests quite often due to taking high blood pressure meds (Lisonopril).

Your post Is a wake up call, many thanks.

I've been sick this week so I've not wanted a drink anyway. Really hoping I can keep it up when I'm feeling better, that will be the big test. I'm hoping that having a good few alcohol free days under my belt will motivate me to keep going as I don't want to start at Day 1 again, here's hoping.