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!

Day 1 was fine but between hangover and a cold, I really didn’t feel like drinking. I think it will be tougher in a couple of days.

Day 1 done, but, like others it was easy as I was hungover and slept most of the day . Let’s see what happens today. Also stopped smoking.

Google calories in alcoholic drinks- always helps me. Good luck.

Day 1 done and was fine, it'll be Friday where I'll fancy it and will feel deprived for missing out. I'll push through though!

Thank you all for your kind wishes. As for dry January I haven’t done quite so well. My son and his partner came to stay overnight, and I had packed up all the drink in the house to get them to take it home with them, but I didn’t tell them why. So then, of course, being Scottish they wanted to raise a toast, and it would have been mean to refuse, I think.

So we had one and began reminiscing, and someone topped up my glass and ... you get the picture,I’m sure. Became quite a session, with stories, and even some smiles. So I think it was cathartic, and I’m not beating myself up about it. I’ll start again today.

You are all doing well, be kind to yourselves and your loved ones and be strong. X

I'd like to join you all.
We have drunk every day since before Christmas and it's not been even hitting the sides my tolerance is so high.

It's also so expensive, 3 bottles of wine a week and 6 beers between is £143 a month and some weeks it was more....

My belly is huge and I need to fit into my clothes!

I don't sleep well and it makes my hot flushes worse. I'm also training for a half marathon too.

I'll download the App.

However both DP and I know we won't do it with alcohol in the house (we have done this before) so we have to finish off the wine and a few beers and start on Monday.

Looking forward to early nights with my kindle and the mutual support.

Doingitforhim

I'm glad you aren't beating yourself up about it, you needed time with your Son & Partner. It must be very hard.

I'll do it but....
Can I start after the weekend as I've got a night out penned in for Saturday and I can't imagine I'll have the willpower to stay teetotal for that.
Joking aside I do want to try dry January. I've been really greedy with both food and booze over the festive period and now I feel like my body is crying out for a bit of nutrition and exercise. I lost a lot of weight earlier in the year and have piled it all back on so after my final night out I plan to get back on it and cutting out alcohol will definitely help with that.

Night outs will always be there! Just saying

@Doingitforhim
I think that sounds exactly what you needed, to spend time chatting about your husband with those close to you.
And I am also glad you are not beating yourself up. Good to see you back here again.

@Disillusioneddaisy
The way I get through the night out scenarios is the knowledgr I have choices.

1. I can go and go full out and start (again) after.
2. I can go and only have one or two and at least its a way in the right direction. And start again after.
3. I can go and not drink
4. I can miss this one night out.

There will always be others.

When I'm at the beginning and my willpower isn't so strong then I avoid my triggers. I was invited to a big party at New Year but it was full of my old drinking buddies and as much as I would loved to have seen them I know I would have gone all out.

I have been able to go a couple of years ago when I was in the swing of not drinking and I had a ball regardless of being completely sober. But I knew I wouldn't have been able to do that this year. So I stayed away. Which was fine.

No judgement on whichever you choose of course (in case that doesn't come across) Sometimes its just good to see the choices written down.

Can I join in? Looking forward to not feeling like shit as still feeling hungover from NYE want to get fit and healthy for 2020.

@Breathmiller very good advice, like you I find it better to avoid my triggers because once I'm out I have very little self control and tend to lose track of what I'm drinking. That's when I get silly drunk and end up with a horrendous hangover the next day. If I could get out of it I wouldn't go on Saturday. I've totally had enough of booze and hangovers. But it's not really something I can fob off so I'll just go and hope for the best lol x

I found myself wondering about this weekend and whether I'd last

But I've reminded myself to take it one day at a time. So am going to focus on today. I'd like to get another tick in the box.

Doingitforhim i also think you needed an evening just talking about your memories with your family. Be good to yourself.

Day 2 I already feel a lot better. I drank so much over Xmas and New Year that I have developed a high tolerance.

I also put on a stone since early December when I last weighed myself and my clothes are a bit tight. I already look and feel less bloated. Hope to shed the excess weight over the next month.

Hi everyone, I'm in - was hoping there would be a thread for this. So sorry doingitforhim

I've been drinking almost every night for a good few years now and desperately want to reset (or stop, but not thinking further than January at the moment). This is my first attempt at stopping for more than a few days so will be glad of the support of this thread! Had a lot to drink Hogmanay so am relieved to be having a break. Also started new 30 day yoga with Adrienne this morning so feeling great so far.

Good luck everyone!

Witching twitching time. I can do 4 days during the week (but it takes conscious thought) but weirdly after a spell of drinking daily (holidays, Xmas etc) I find it really hard. Pure habit. And not a good one.

Not even sure if I genuinely fancy a drink, or if I want one purely because I can’t have one or because until Monday I’m still ‘on holiday’ and connect the two and feel deprived in some way.

Trying to get there one day at a time but I’m already suspecting Friday and Saturday will not be so easy.

I know I’ll be okay Monday-Thursday just the hump in the road until then.

I'm not back at work until Monday either, nomorewineever and agree the next few days will be tough as still technically on holiday. Going for peppermint tea right now instead of wine or gin

Day 2. Back at the office and managed a gym class at lunch time. I am STARVING all day long though and now have a banging headache. Just inhaled a discounted bag of Percy pigs and lying up on my bed while the kids have their tea (they are being supervised). Early bath and bed by nine tonight I think. Might even go for a run tomorrow... not too tough at the moment (as I normally don’t drink Sunday to Wednesday and it feels like Monday today) but Saturday night will be a bit more testing. And I have a couple of work social events which. Forgotten about...

If anyone is having trouble getting over to sleep, then a half dose of night nurse can help to take the edge off. Only for one or two nights as it can be addictive. But useful when you are used to a little help from Le Booze

Got through a stressful lunch with my DF and DM today without caving so am feeling pleased with myself - I am determined to get through this!

Day 2 and I’ve made it through my tricky time - dinner prep & cooking with not too much struggle. One day at a time - we can do this!!

Day 2, also back in work today, and although most of today has been fairly horrible and stressful catching up after the break, I'm still finding not drinking fairly easy so far. Like PP said, it feels like a Monday so no real urge to drink out of habit either. Saturday and Sunday will be the real tests.

Hey I’m a bit ill!
Never before have I been pleased about this, but it means I’m fancying booze much less. Hot lemon and ginger for me tonight.

Stay strong everyone else. Let us know how you’re all doing. And if you fall overboard you can always climb back on. No one’s judging.

Welcome to newcomers, too.

Day 2 nearly done. Once I am past the witching hours between 5 and 7 I seem to be ok but it is tricky.

I have not gone more than 2 days without a drink for a very long time .

@Paranoid I love the silver lining of being ill.

I hope you feel well again soon, OP

Day 2 done here too. I say 'done' because I'm having a cup of tea, and never feel like a glass of wine after it.

Thank you paranoidgynodroid. I had to pick my daughter up so I managed not to buy any. Now my husband is home unwell so that's stopped me. Anxiety is really up there though. Can't stop thinking about the next few days with it being the weekend when I'm in my own a lot.

I hope you're doing well your support means a huge amount.

Just finding it impossible to relax. Definitely need to get something for my anxiety the calms aren't helping at all.

Good luck everyone