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'm in, I've been trying to cut down for a while now. Hopefully this will help me to find healthier ways to manage my stress. @Doingitforhim I'm so sorry for your loss

@Doingitforhim

Just to echo everyone else. Sorry to hear about your loss.

Do what you need to do and take care

I'm in too. Managed 42 consecutive dry days last year and then went back to once a week drinking which then became Fri and Sat and then Fri, Sat and Sunday and then a few glasses on Thursday too. You get the gist.

I seem to really struggle with moderation so abstinence it is!!

Need to kick start my weightloss as well so DJ is a good starting point.

@Doingitforhim I am so sorry .

My DH has gone out to see friends for a drink and I have stayed home . I dont know if I will manage the whole month but I am going to try !
It worries me how scared I am about this. Booze is just such a big part of our every day life now.

Sorry for your loss doingitforhim - it's amazing for you to have this attitude at such a tough time

Doingitforhim sorry for your loss.

I actually don't mind just drinking water. As I'm trying to lose weight my plan is to get some healthy snacks in.

First night here and have no wine in. Wine is the only drink I really like but drink way to much of.

So this is definitely my weak time of day-in the kitchen prepping and chopping for dinner and as DH has been off he would pop in and make G&Ts or I'd have a glass of wine while cooking.

It becomes part of the routine doesn't it?

It really does just become routine. I am going to make a cuppa before I start dinner. Once I have eaten I know I wont be bothered , it is the prep and hungry stage.

We finished the last of the wine & prosecco last night, so can’t be tempted with it being in the house.

If I’m being complete honest, I feel so rubbish with the amount I’ve been drinking lately that I’m not wanting a drink today. That would be different if we had any in though.

I’m in too, hello all.

I'm in! I have given up alcohol for lent in previous years, but since having my second son in April 2027 my relationship with alcohol (especially lager) has increasingly got worse. Don't get me wrong I can go without, if it isn't in the house or my other half isn't around to go to the shop, but if it's the house or he is around to pop to the shop my willpower is awful. I want to improve my mood, it suffers so badly and also hoping a few on lbs will also come off and start me off on my weight loss journey aswell!

I'm in, I feel like death today, I know that I drink far too much and I feel like a massive big blimp. So no alcohol and no carbs for me, I'm excited about it and I know I will feel so much better, I have terrible sleep due to menopause and I'm certain alcohol doesn't help.
Day 1 successfully under my belt

Well done those that have gotten through today however hard it may have been. Dinner time for me has passed so I'm usually okay after that.
And for those that ended up having a drink then don't give up, the seed has been set. Just start tomorrow.

I had an early dinner with a large glass of ginger cordial with fizzy water. Put it in my favourite gin glass and made the same effort I would with a gin. Ice and lime. It was delicious.

I'm now on day 4 under my belt and i feel so much better.

Long warm candlit baths after dinner are helping break the routine. Both of drinking and over eating.
Well done and good luck for another day tomorrow

I have major anxiety about going back to work tomorrow, first day since 20th. My email inboxes will be stretching out like the dead sea scrolls . I would normally reach for the wine if I felt like this

It’s the witching hour here and despite feeling fuzzy I still find myself clock watching. For a massive chunk of 2019 I didn’t drink mon-Fri and that slipped badly in November and December. After January I must get back to that - absolutely must. I know when we’ve counted this down before, and worked out % of the month down and so on that really helps. But I’d like it more than anything just not to be an issue if that makes any sense. I’d like not to need ‘support’ to not drink and I’d like to have a healthy relationship. I’d like not to be thinking about it right now.

Today also just feels hugely flat. Slightly hungover. Starting to take Xmas stuff down and that always feels drab and it frankly feels like 5 minutes ago we were putting it all up with such excitement and anticipation and just like that it’s all over already. The DC are bickering. And DH is away with work next week - jetting off to the Caribbean and staying in a 5* hotel. I know it’s work and so on but the green eyed monster is out and feeling very grumpy.

Think I’ll have a long bath and an early night 😤

Gave up on the roast idea because none of the teenagers were home. Dd1 and I are just about to tucking onto pasta bake instead. Occupied myself with sorting through paperwork whilst cooking so I didn’t miss the stemmed glass too much between stirs. It oldies so easily become the routine, pour the glass and cook.

Tiredness is catching up with me so I think it’ll be a bath and bed with a book soon

I need to join.
Doesn't help that I'm drinking now.
I've done it before. Most years. Quite easily. Relatively easily. But I only last until my birthday on the 26th.

Can I join? I did dj last year. Will hopefully help with planned jan weight loss.

Currently sitting drinking a camomile tea. I've made a list of all the things I could be doing instead of drinking.

We can do this.

Sending all my love to @Doingitforhim. I am so sorry. There are no words.

I'm joining. I always find January a miserable and grim month, and I'm sure I'll cope better sober.

I am in this year too. Had the least drunken NYE for years (still had plenty to drink. It stopped before I was silly drunk and in bed for 11.30 so well enough rested). So no hangover wobbles today.

Had a long walk and nice steak for dinner. I am drinking sparking water (we have a soda stream which is really fabulous for non stop bubbles). Either on its own or with belvoir raspberry and lemon cordial or homemade grapefruit cordial. I am also partial to Kombucha which has a good tang to it so replaces the wine quite nicely.

It’s DH birthday on 3 Feb and will probably go out for dinner on the Saturday so a solid month for me. I want to wake up on Saturday with energy and break the bad habits that have been creeping in. It would be nice to lose some weight but I’m. Not holding my breathe! I always start the diet properly on 1 Feb rather than Jan as Jan is depressing enough!

Thanks for starting this thread @ParanoidGynodroid.

I'll definitely join in. This is my third dry Jan. Did one Sober October too a couple of years ago but failed at that badly last year, so looking forward to having a break from booze this month. Would love to also give it up for Lent and Sober October too this year so the dry months of the year start adding up.

I've never lost weight on it. But this year I'm doing no processed sugar either in Jan which might help, as no booze often gives me a sweet tooth.

Today was easy after last night's champagne! Just tea and water.

I’m in. Actually am feeling nervous about it, which speaks volumes in itself.

I'm in. This will be my 6th DJ. The first was hard but every year has got easier. Contemplating doing 60 days if I can. Love how much more productive I am at weekends (don't really drink in the week). The DC have started commenting on my drinking this year so desperately need to reset my habits!.

Hi I'm planning on doing it very nervous. I have issues with drinking everyday which has lead to chronic anxiety and depression. I've also lost a lot of weight. It's starting to affect my relationships at home. All the messages are very supportive wish me luck. Today is my first day without and I'm dreading g going to bed even though I'm exhausted just can't face lying there ruminating and catastrophic thoughts all night. I am struggling to deal with my mums illness so I'm worried I will just lay there all night imagining the worst.

Good luck everyone