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! 🙂☕️🧃

Has anyone suffered from headaches that didn't start til a few days after stopping drinking? I felt pretty fine for the first few days but for two days now I've had a headache that just won't shift, even with painkillers.

Thankfully, I'm not having any particular cravings but what I've noticed is just how bored I am without it. I need to find something to occupy my evenings other than mindlessly watching tv. I think the wine seemed to make the time pass quicker.

@BrightSideRightSide

I wonder if it's sugar withdrawal? Depends how often you drank I guess.

Yes I had headaches for a few days and I wouldn't normally get them. They've gone now thankfully but i still have days were I'm really grumpy and that's not normally me so it's been sheer grit and determination not to open a bottle on those days!
I realise how much of a habit reaching for alcohol is but now I'm drinking low calorie soft drinks, still out if a wine glass though.
I think my skin is better especially round the eyes and I no longer have that bleary eyed feeling in the mornings which had become the norm.

I'm getting headaches in the morning and feeling a bit groggy, but this feeling goes away shortly after my feet touch the floor. Day 10 for me and yes I;m still eating more sugar than usual, I just devoured a box of maltesers and shortly going to be baking brownies

Hi all, I didn't check in yesterday as I felt like death - waiting for Covid result amd pretty sure I have it as have exactly same symptoms as plague-ridden DH had a few days ago. But it has meant I have had no interest in booze so day 10 of DJ for me!

Day 10 here. Got on the scales this morning and was gutted that I've not lost any weight at all. Though with the Christmas chocolates, milky drinks & jelly babies in the evenings I shouldn't be surprised.

Don't want to alarm you but headache Weds PM was one of the reasons I took a covid test thursday, which came back positive friday. Thankfully I don't feel too bad, but def not 100% right. Given I am a carer to my DF since my mum passed 2 weeks ago, I have been scrupulous & careful, so no idea where on earth I could have picked-it-up from.

Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly now too Larry. Hope you don't get too poorly with it, and you & your DH feel better soon.

Well done everyone still abstaining. It's def getting harder for me, esp as I can't go out for a lovely walk & clear my head. Keep strong this evening!

Day 10. The first week or so was really bad (headaches, fatigue etc), then a couple of days kind of neutral, and today I feel like something approaching good. I'm feeling much more interested in other stuff, far less lethargic, and I've sorted out a few things that have been on my job list. I've got an audible subscription and I've downloaded some new books (NOT quit lit for once! ) to listen to on my daily walks.

Today is quite a milestone for me, as I have never got beyond day 9 on DJ before . I think this online support has made all the difference .

Still not sleeping great, so I've ordered a sleep mask that has headphones built into it (yes, it's a thing!) so that I can block out any light and DH's terrible snoring at the same time!

Last night we had a lovely seafood supper and I had some drinking thoughts, as in "a glass or three of dry white would be so nice with this". Anyway, I had a couple of my AF Chardonnay spritzers with lots of ice and very fizzy water, and it hit the spot, and I was fine. DH quaffed a bottle of rosé that we had left over from Christmas, but I wasn't bothered.

Virtual hugs to those of you who are feeling unwell and/or have covid - look after yourselves .

Bastard addictive poison!

Thanks @buzzofthebumblebee. Yep, I have had a cracking headache most days this week, at first thought it was DJ/diet related but now I realise it was probably covid. Hope you feel better soon too.

Last night we had a lovely seafood supper

Sounds lovely and would probably be a trigger for me.

I haven't read the whole thread, so don't know if it's been mentioned but the groggy, irritable feelings may be a vitamin B deficiency. It won't hurt to take a vitamin B complex in January (and maybe longer) to help your body repair itself.

Alcohol depletes vitamin B levels.

Day 8 done. Had some Fever-Tree tonic water.

Good luck, everyone.

Day 10 done. Sparkling apple juice with my roast dinner. Surprisingly haven't missed having wine at all today.
I want to stay dry for the month whereas my DH just wants to drink less. He is saying he's looking forward to a drink next weekend, that's when it will get tricky for me.

Bollox. Tonight I just cannot cope with DJ AND my low carb diet. DJ 1 LC 0

Day 10! A third of the way there. I feel like I've been productive this weekend which is great, and I had the energy and enthusiasm for a silly dance with the kids yesterday, which isn't like me. All in all feeling pretty good tonight!

Sipping the shloer tonight.
Raising a glass to you all.

Mucked out foster son's room today (he's at uni, got back before lockdown and now is stuck down there, but he's happy and learning). He's the messiest creature under the sun, but the room is once again sparkling and I am feeling virtuous.

Must admit I've had a fair bit of junk food this weekend but if it keeps me off the alcohol, then I'm fine with that.

All junk food is now gone and we have fridge, freezer and cupboards full of healthy food. Diet starts tomorrow.

@LarryUnderwood - hope you feel better soon.

Day 10 was fine. Nice walk and good not to feel zonked for the week ahead.

I'm finding it quite easy at the mo. Not having wine in house and lack of normal routine is helping. Off to bed to try to sleep ahead of full on week at work

Weekend done and not a drop passed my lips - result. Finding the thread really helpful and definitely keeping me on track. Well done everyone.

@BrassicaBabe don't be hard on yourself. Get back on it tomorrow

I'm finding it quite hard this year. Not sure why. Last couple of years it didn't bother me. I am really craving sugar nd eating junk which is annoying. But it's good to have a clear head. I'm definitely more productive. And I'm not really missing the booze more than a fleeting grump when I'd usually pour a glass. But the sugar intake is really bugging me. My stomach has got all puffed up again after a really nice weight loss pre-Christmas.

Good night all, well done so far and here's to another AF week!

Day ten done for me. Nearly caved when cooking the roast but managed on a tonic water and ice. Had a cup of tea after dinner- unheard of for a Sunday night!

Will have no problem abstaining during the week as don't usually drink much Mon- Thurs during term time but just realised there are three more bloody weekends in Jan to go! And in lockdown too...

Day 9 ✅
Not finding this difficult yet, (!!!) but something like a roast dinner would be hard. So I didn’t have one.

Productivity levels have definitely gone up. Mood is fairly ok too. Onward!!