DRY JANUARY 2021! This way please... all welcome

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again... the late Christmas present to our livers!

You may be thinking of doing Dry January to:

*detox a little after seasonal overindulgence, or
*help you cut down a bit generally, or
*help you start to get out of a harmful alcohol habit, or
*just be a bit healthier for a month...

It’s good for all of those things!

I find the MN DJ threads excellent for support, encouragement, sharing info,‘we’re in this together’ camaraderie, suggestions for grown up drinks, aversion techniques and just fun.

This is my fourth year of DJ and I swear it has made all the difference to me; it was so hard first time, but having succeeded I did dry June and October after that, and do so every year. It has broken my habit, banished the craving and reset my relationship with booze.

I won’t be finding DJ too difficult this year, but some will. Hopefully this thread will help.

Come climb aboard the wagon! 🙂☕️🧃

[quote Labobo]@Salacia - I just subbed red wine in a recipe with Merlot grape juice. I tasted it. A bit sweeter but it has that earthy roundness to it.[/quote]
I’ve read about using dark chocolate which might be something to experiment with! Thanks for the tip, trying to avoid going to the shop/maximise what we already have in but definitely something to pick up next time. I think I should be ok, I’m really not a big red wine drinker (I often think it tastes a bit like liver...) - plus my husband isn’t doing DJ so sure I can trust him to get rid of the leftovers!

Hello! Delurking to join in if that is okay. Day six here. Drinking had really got out of hand since the first lockdown, all too easy to have a few beers in the evening if you WFH and don't have to drive in the morning. Had a last drink and last cigarette on New Years Eve. It hasn't been too bad really but I've hit day six and I could definitely sink a beer or two tonight. This thread has been a lifeline though, it's really motivating me to keep going. Witching hour(s) for me and DH are between 4-6pm, so just got a couple of hours to get through and it will be okay. I've ordered some Yorkshire Tea Bedtime Brew, it's arriving with the shopping tomorrow, looking forward to having that before bedtime tomorrow. Has anyone tried it? I've been sleeping quite well, I've been having vivid dreams but then again I always have had vivid dreams anyway. Good luck everyone keep going!

Day god knows what here. No seriously it's day 5 I think, no alarming withdrawal now and now urge to have wine. I think that might be at the weekend but I am determined to stay strong.
I appear to have replaced alcohol with sugar but then I'm not too worried because I would rather eliminate the alcohol and get that under control.

Hi MyCatTibby, that's my usual time for having a drink too, 5-7pm. I'm nearly buzzing from caffeine at this stage but no major cravings for a drink yet.

Plodding on here. Dishwasher is not playing ball despite the advice of many You Tube videos of how to unblock it ( who even makes those things). One last desperate effort this evening with DH involves pulling the whole thing out.

It's a whole new hobby

Sorry @CrystalE 'its a whole new hobby' really made me laugh.

My dishwasher plumbing is held together with a decent amount good of gorilla tape. Tried 3 times to buy the right parts from men who kept telling me I needed something else until I eventually gave up and in a fit of temper ended up using gorilla tape. 3 years on it's still holding out.

I wish you all the luck when you pull it out, you never know the movement might just fix it....

So that was night #5 of night sweats. A tiny bit less though I think. Really ready for this phase to be over. Tired of sleeping in a damp bed 🤢 Pretry sure it's DJ related not peri menopause as the start time is just too coincidental

Day 3 here. Feel truly awful but had my first Covid jab yesterday so I'm hoping its just that. Just in from work and normally would have a wine on the go while DH gets tea on the table. Not today 😁

Day 6! Amazing. I'm definitely getting the odd craving but the more days I do, the more I want to make it to the end. Nearly a whole week gone, can't believe it.

Just scoffed a portion of Magnum white chocolate ice cream, but to be fair that was in celebration of Georgia (I have family in the US and some of them are Trump fans) so no regrets. Day from Hell at work, didn't manage to finish the online job application - fortunately I have time tomorrow to work on it, and am allowed to do it on work time.

The new chair is in and gorgeous. DD2 is processing definitely not doing A-levels this year - fortunately her grades have been going up this school year now that she has her health issues mostly under control, so she should get the grades she needs for her chosen course.

Am going to get an early night, am knackered.

Day 4 done and dusted. Feeling fine.

Good luck, everyone.

@InTheseUncertainTimes - I salute you. Your story of dishwasher perseverance inspired me to try again and, lo, it worked.

I didn't even pull it out.

No champagne to celebrate. Just a (Clean) glass of water and another episode of The Crown.

Thanks to other dishwasher club members as well. May your powerballs be ever powerful

Had a couple of gins. Sorry.

Will try again tomorrow as I feel I've spoiled my good work.
No excuse but combination of bereavement stuff coming back, work/ uni stuff and general life stresses. Like I say no excuse.

Well done everyone and there are some good weight losses too! @namechangedyetagain I hope you're ok, if gin gets you through that's what you have to do.
This is day 6 for me and I slept so well last night and feel really good today. I was in such a mood yesterday and had a headache for days. Hopefully I've turned a corner.
I still have the habit of sitting down with a wine glass to watch evening TV but it's still only filled with tonic water and I'm really enjoying it!
Well done and let's keep going!

Day 6 almost done... shattered from an 8 hour day face to face teaching student nurses! Ive ordered the 3 spirits botanical elixirs, supposed to give a bit of a buzz due to various herb combinations. Might be a load of crap but I'll give it a go. Not going to have social elixir as pointless... No one to socialise with! So am trying the nightcap... With my usual sleep spray sleep rescue remedy combo..

@namechangedyetagain

Had a couple of gins. Sorry. Will try again tomorrow as I feel I've spoiled my good work. No excuse but combination of bereavement stuff coming back, work/ uni stuff and general life stresses. Like I say no excuse.

Just get back on it tomorrow and change the goal to 6th Feb, which is a Saturday

Going to bed. Need tonight to be a decent nights sleep

Day 5 down. Lots of herbal tea happening here. Not a struggle so far.
I really REALLY need to lose some weight and for me at least that battle is won or lost depending on whether I put down the wine glass. For now, it’s down!

@namechangedyetagain - keep going. It's just one blip and Better to get back on track for the rest of the month than feeling like you've spoiled your good work.

Evening all

Day 6 here and approx 2711 wine calories less in this body.

Feeling much better in general compared to yesterday. I also managed 30mins on my indoor bike once home schooling was completed.

Tonight it was herbal teas and a small bunch grapes to help with my sugar cravings.

I know how awful lack of decent sleep is and hope those struggling have their turnaround soon.

Keep going everyone.

Feck. So tired. But so restless. I have a hunch that the wine is usually used as a damper to regular restlessness

Day 5 - hoping not to wake early hours feeling wide awake and restless

Just a brief goodnight from me.
Well done if you got through tonight. If not, do try again, it's so worth it. Will catch up with all your "news" tomorrow.
Of course, I have to give you a percentage update.
At the end of today, we will be 19.35% through! By the time we get up in the morning we'll have gone past the 20% mark! Yay! (it falls at a little after 4am). A good chunk under our increasingly loose belts!
Please check in tomorrow to collect your gold star! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Day 6 done

I haven't had 6 consecutive AF days since my littlest son was born in 2017

Super proud of myself but I think because everything is all upside down I've not really felt a change in the days and last weekend didn't really feel like a weekend.

I think the real challenge will be this coming weekend! Got some nice but easy meals planned to avoid time standing round cooking when I'd usually start working through a nice bottle of wine and a TV series binge night planned with biggest DS. Might suggest a living room sleepover but we'll see how the rest of home school this week goes first - I might need my bed!

My skin is really dreadful and I think it's rosacea - one of the triggers is alcohol so let's see if any improvement...

Got through another day. Sugar free cranberry and soda - lovely. Sugar free elderflower and soda - revolting. Managed to steer away from bread, crackers, crisps and sugar so a good day today and we are 19% of the way through already!