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!

I seem to be floored by exhaustion and can't sleep enough. Generally, not drinking has been easy, I had one really tough day with a 24 hour headache but got through it. I'm thinking when I finish this that I will keep to the recommended units, perhaps with an alcohol free week every other week or once a month like that 8/24 fast (or whatever it's called).

I was tired. stressed out and in pain after work yesterday and realised these are my triggers. However, I got through it without alcohol. Got the kids to bed then went out for 20 minutes to get some exercise, fresh air and headspace. Making a mental note to not automatically reach for the wine in future when I have a day like that! Really hoping I’ve changed my mindset about alcohol by February.

I just googled and read that detoxing an over worked liver can lead to tiredness and that takes 3 months to work through or heal. Maybe I need to go through March...

Few days since I've posted but day 21 for me (I started early as DH's bday at end of Jan!)
Have lost a little bit of weight but only 3lb
Hope my fatty liver is seeing a bit of benefit

Sleeping has been so much better but last might was just not restful at all - thinking about my redundancy/finding a job

Am finding I am going through various supermarkets for .com shopping just so I have varied AF drinks!

Day 0 again for me. Did Dry Jan from 1-13th but yesterday we had some seriously good news and celebrated with champagne. Back on wagon today. Well done to everyone who has stuck to it every night.

My head’s telling new I’ve seen no improvements in 15 days so I might as well drink.
Just writing it down here so I can stay on track. This is the hard bit for me, I knew it would happen. I’m so tired, pmt has dragged on far beyond its allotted time my skin’s still dry and pale and I’ve lost no weight. But I will! Aarghghghgh!

@nibdedibble I feel a bit like that, I don't really feel much different although I have lost some weight as I've also been on a diet. I'm hoping it's doing me good internally and that I'm resetting my habits for the rest of the year. I'm really glad I'm doing it anyway, I think it's overall been a positive thing for me to do.

millefiori that’s the way it should be (well I think so) - celebrating proper good news and not just it’s your hamsters 7 month birthday or something equally random.

That’s where I want to get to, able to enjoy a glass or 2 for a proper celebration - birthday, good news or over a nice meal because it’s date night & we have a babysitter. Not reaching for a bottle every day because it’s what I was used to.

I am proper exhausted but so proud of myself to have made it half way. Weekends are harder than the week days and it’s my daughters birthday next week and we are having a house full of 5&6yr olds for a party next weekend so trying to decide now if I will allow myself a day off to have a glass or 2 of wine after that or not. Either way I won’t see it as a fail as it’s planned and thought about and I think I’m strong enough now to be able to have 1 day and not let it slip back to every day. But I’d love to not have a drink if I can help it until Friday 31st of January not counting down at all

Woohooo!! Lost 4lbs since
i weighed myself at the weekend. Such a relief. I wasn't liking the fact that i didnt see much change on the scales. (Although to be fair i hadn't weighed myself for a long time before the weekend because i was too scared so it may have been more) Over Christmas I ate and ate and ate. And drank a million calories too.

I think the drop is partly because of me not eating so much yesterday and the day before due to running around, partly due to me finally finishing my period, partly not eating quite so much crap and partly (hopefully) just natural "effortless" (ha!) weghtloss due to cutting out booze and dairy.

That's great breathmiller.

I weighed myself this morning and have finally lost 3lbs. I have been trying not to snack and to low carb so I'm glad it's made a difference.

We also got a soda stream this week which is fab. I've frozen lots of chopped up citrus fruits to put on fizzy water. Still loving the rose cordial too. Just wish I could stop thinking about wine. Hopefully soon.

@jackstini

Redundancy and job hunting are stressful and I’m not surprised it’s keeping you awake at night. We are in a very good market for job seekers though, so I hope you find something.

I’m twitchy tonight. I know I won’t but I wish the twitch would bugger right off.

I had some work ‘news’ late in the day. No big drama but something to fill my head and sometimes when you’re having those worky ‘conversations in your own head’ you just want them to stop. That would be a classic excuse to have a glass or several of wine. Instead I’m running a salty lavender bath and down to the last two chapters of my book and persuading myself that these thing will stop the whirr and that wine wouldn’t.

And it’s only Wednesday.

Good Omens starts on BBC tonight. It’s supposed to be very good, for those that want a distraction.

I’m ok with not drinking, I can’t stop eating chocolate though. I’m going to address my eating from this weekend - do a healthy shop, meal plan and prep.

Good Omens is great. We watched it on Prime when it came out and have watched it twice now. Definitely a great distraction.

Well I have felt thoroughly ghastly all bloody day. So bad it may be something else and not me slipping off last night. It's certainly put me off for a while though.

Raging headache, thirst that won't quench and complete exhaustion. Thank goodness I've been working from home today.

Who would have thought an innocuous looking clear liquid could cause me body to react in this way.

I'm going for the long haul.

Love the comment about celebrating the hamsters 7 month birthday!

Going to catch up on Cold Feet tonight and have an early bedtime. Really busy and potentially stressful day at work tomorrow.

When we fill this post can someone put a link to the new one please. I need this thread!!

Fistbumps to all having an ever so slightly wobbly day. Think livers! (eeeew)

I feel really run down, maybe a combination of period/liver getting floppy/wee bit of home stress. Early night with my audiobook, I think.

Good Omens is great fun, even if you’re a non-Pratchett type like me (I like him but I feel I missed the window when I was younger). It’s well worth watching.

Another one here who fell off the wagon last night and just like myhandsarecold had the worlds worse hangover today (luckily a day off work).

Have done nothing all day except feel a bit rubbish so will call it a learning experience and get back on track.

I could do with submerging myself in that waterfall. Have been incredibly thirsty all day and am now slurping mango and apple squash like it's going out of fashion.

Day 15, nothing to report, just plodding along and not drinking. Half way point tomorrow

I’m so tired I actually locked my door at work and lay on the floor and had full on nap ! Is this to do with not drinking ???
I’m enjoying just remembering ‘I’m not drinking and have not had a drink for longer than a decade’. Even without any weight loss or anything else it refreshing to have regular positive thoughts. Support all.

I mean have been af free longer than I have been for at least a decade ! Only 11 days here !!

21 days sober for me. It’s easier than I thought it would be. I’m wondering if the desire to drink is going to bite me on the bum though, it can’t always be this easy!

Heading for bed at 9pm with an Earl Grey Rooibos tea. This makes my life so easy, why didn't I do it years ago? I'm still insanely tired, though.

Well done everyone!! Nearly filled this thread full of a whole lot of bloody loveliness and support. That in itself is heartwarming. What a fab bunch you all are.

I too am headed for bed with Earl Grey tea. Day 14 for me, I started a day late. Feeling ok, have bought a bottle of af fizz for the weekend, it will probably be horrible but I'll give it a go!

Ginger beer, knitting, and good omens here.