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!

Happy to be on day five.

Interesting article in the Sunday Times this morning echoing some of the comments in posts above. Basically women have progressed in terms of equality but are drinking more. Really striking how normalised drinking is - Mummy Needs Wine/Wine o’clock and all that.

I feel duped into thinking that in some way I needed to drink to be successful, sophisticated, social. Time to normalise not drinking as mainstream.

First weekend in years without any kind of drink. Ate a bit too much last night (Chinese takeaway) so will need to curb that to sensible portions going forward. Not convinced I would have managed a party though. I think I need to reread the Unexpected Joy of Being Sober (something I read last year then ignored!!).
Went to bed later than I should have - but the return to normality next week should put pay to that.
Slept poorly again and feel very tired. My dreams have also been vivid and action packed!
But it is great to wake up on a Sunday morning and crack on with chores.

The sudden sugar cravings began last night. I wanted to eat every last Christmas chocolate in the house. Need to find a way to curb that one a sI also want to lose weight. Any suggestions?

Wish the promised good sleep would kick in. Still feeling groggy and sluggish and that’s without alcohol. Need to see some benefits soon....

@milliefiori me too. I’m afraid I’m just controlled but last night I selected 3 quality street. I ate one at 7, one at 8 and one at 9.

Now why can’t I be that controlled with wine??!

This morning has lasted foooooooreveeeeeerrrrrr. Kids are grumpy (could have done without the grandparents this weekend). I have batched cooked up a storm. Would really like to get out of the house but DH has made Plans. Which cannot be changed .

So it’s a day of wrangling grumpy children and offended grandparents. Oh well. Day off tomorrow. Kids and husband at school/work. And peace for me!

Really enjoying this thread, lots of helpful suggestions and advice. I've got some of those books on my reading list for the month ahead, would like more podcast recommendations on the subject if anyone comes across any/knows of.

Fatty liver is hitting home for me especially.

I've had to put off my DJ plans until now as I've had a really busy weekend that did involve a lot of alcohol.

I'm feeling suitably motivated now though. I'm also rejoining slimming world this week so im spending the day batch cooking. Am definitely in the right mind frame to make some positive changes. Well done to everyone who has abstained so far.

Last night was harder than I expected considering Friday night was easy. Was hosting a sleepover and the girls were still wide awake at midnight and the urge for a drink to calm me down was very strong! I still have a bottle of port and two bottles of wine in the cupboard leftover from Christmas so had to actively resist opening one but I did (glad I was smart enough to freeze the leftover open wine from NYE, for cooking purposes, instead of leaving it in the bottle because an open bottle would have been much harder to resist)

Thought I'd join! Started NYE as strong antibiotics intervened and I was warned not to drink any alcohol as it would make me violently ill. I have drunk a LOT over the last 18 years or so and it has got to the point where I would think nothing of drinking a bottle of wine and then starting another. Time to take control..... I have 2 days left on the tablets and then its down to my mindset.

I have struggled with sleeping waking up after 4 hours but last night I slept like a baby notching up 8 hours and then off to the gym really early it and it felt fantastic! Also have been struggling with the sugar cravings but they have completely subsided today so for me night 5/day 6 has been a turning point.
As Kate Moss once infamously said 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels', my motto is 'nothing tastes as good as sober feels!'
We can do this guys....

Just caught up with everyone's posts and so much resonates!

Day 11 here for me and for those who asked about sleep, from day 6ish mad a huge difference- 8-9 hours solid!

I will also keep mentioning fatty liver. Because I was diagnosed with NAFLD a while ago. I was so horrified by the thought of giving up wine though I just tried to cut down. Then various stresses drive it up and tbh I was drinking at least a bottle of wine 4 x week and rarely going for more the 1 AF day at a time

I have been a heavy drinker from 16ish so over 30 years, apart from pregnancies. Agree with other posters that witching hour post a crap day at work whilst cooking is a really strong craving

So far been drinking various posh cordials and soda, tonic, ginger ale and AF lager & Nosecco. How we can put human being into space and split atoms yet cannot make a decent AF wine is beyond me though - so wish there was a good one

Keep going everyone

Day 5 for me. Still sleeping badly but hoping that will improve soon. It was good to hear the pp say that improves after day 6 ish. Went out to friends and took a couple of bottles of alcohol free presseco type drink. One called Noughties and one called Bees Knees. Both quite pleasant and not too sweet.

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is currently only £3 in the Audible sale

I've just come across this thread. We had a dinner party on New Years Day which involved wine. But we started a day late on January 2nd. Aiming for 3 dry months but we'll take it day by day.
We were having wine (usually) most days. Already I feel so much better without it (exercise is easier and I'm less argumentative!) Although it feels weird to have a Friday/Saturday night on the sofa without a glass of wine.
They say it takes 14 (?) days to form new habits though.

The unexpected joy of being sober is only 99p as a kindle download. Seems to be a no brainer...

Oh, the vivid dreams! Anyone else?

YES! I don’t even drink every night normally but never dream like this. Very vivid, and odd.

BettyJean Thanks, I am keeping well hydrated with water & decaf tea.

I’ve finally transferred birthdays/appointments onto the new 2020 calendar & according to last January I attempted DJ but failed and drank on 2 separate occasions. Which, actually is pretty good. Hope to make the whole month this time.

Can I just say....

Eisberg 0% sauv blanc....

🤮🤮🤮

Other than the little snap/crack as you turn the lid, the glug, and the glass itself, the similarity is zero.

Eh it’s the last of the Christmas festivities where I live (here the Epiphany is a BIG DEAL) so I’m coming off the wagon to have a couple of glasses of wine with Epiphany dinner. I’ll tack on an extra day at the end of DJ to make up for it I think. Still drinking less than I usually would at Epiphany dinner though so I shouldn’t have a hangover tomorrow. A bit annoyed with myself, but at the same time I wouldn’t expect myself to be dry for Christmas dinner so...

I'm on day five and the wine witch is really calling right now! So far I've barely had any cravings for a glass so was feeling pretty good. How're you all finding it so far?

Went to see a play today in a theatre with a really nice bar - but only had soft drinks so feel that’s a milestone passed! Usually I’d have wine before, during and after so I’m happy to have a clear head.

I've been having vivid dreams too but quite like them! Back at work tomorrow so glad I'm a few days into this already as I'm sure I'd be tempted after work if not. I've bought myself a nice new journal and signed up to a 3 week writing challenge starting tomorrow so I have something different to do in the evenings. it's called Write Your Journey and is free if anyone is interested.

squeakycheese this is the worst time of night for cravings - I could kill a drink right now. I find peppermint tea helps (a bit) and once I've had a meal the cravings go.

Swerved party 3 today and spent it out in the fresh air at DC sport event. Feeling so good that Sunday pre back to school feels manageable and can flip in front of Call the Midwife and Christine Keeler before bed.

Vivid dreams here too - rat attached to my finger by its teeth and snogging a work mate

I’m making a roast beef. I’d normally have a glass of wine, but have resisted. I’m back UK work tomorrow 👎🏻 and I’m not looking forward to it. Not sleeping properly still, but I wake with a clear head at least.

I’m back in work tomorrow too so I think the test time for me will be this weekend (or possibly earlier, given the shit storm I think I might be walking into tomorrow ).

I have plans for each night though, all of which should motivate me - starting a new yoga class with a former teacher who has been away travelling, swim and steam with a friend, slimming world etc. I also have a stash of my favourite non alcoholic drinks chilling in the fridge.