DRY HARD 2 - DRY HARDER! Dry January continued. All welcome.

[HPLikecraft]

Shiny new thread to see us through to end of the month... possibly beyond!

KOKOing everyone.

Morning everyone. Day 28!

I'm planning on setting a new goal on the Try Dry app the second I get my Dry January badge. I've decided to take the leap and go for the 100 days. Right now it actually feels perfectly fine, but I'm sure I'll have some wobbles at some point.

I'm actually focusing more on other plans right now. I've quit one unhelpful coping mechanism per month for the past three months now. In February I'm going to get my eating back to a more normal pattern. I'm put some lbs on over the general Christmas period, and haven't lost them this month, thanks to all the snacking. It's only vanity pounds, but some of my clothes aren't fitting as well as they should, and I'm not about to start shopping in a bigger size! Not planning any strict diets, but to go back to regular mealtimes and a food routine, rather than randomly grabbing things whenever.

@InTheseUncertainTimes yes I like your thinking! I am also planning to set a new goal- I'm going for dry Feb as my next plan. And likewise I'm planning on sorting out my weight next. I tried in Jan but it was too much, with DJ, homeschooling and having Covid! So now that I am in the groove of not drinking, have recovered from Covid and am -fingers crossed - getting a part time nanny to help with homeschooling, I feel like feb is a good time to take on the diet issue.

I slept so well last night! Mind you, part of that was exhaustion - ward setup is getting silly now. We have so many estates staff off sick that yesterday I was at one of the wards being set up, assembling flatpack bedside tables with my own tools. Honestly, the next person suggesting our wards are empty and our staff are sitting around doing nothing is going to get an earful.

I am looking forward to a nice glass of wine on the 5th, but otherwise coasting along. Well done, everyone!

Day 28 for me too. I've started getting the vivid dreams again, this time had v weird dreams about cats the last couple of nights

Day 28 nearly done and I almost caved tonight.
Had this overwhelming feeling (all day) that I really, really wanted a glass or 5 of wine. Internal monologue of 'well I'm very nearly there, I've proved I can do it, what odds is 3 more days?' Combined with the fact I won't drink on Monday as I have to work, so actually I'd have to wait another week. I went out for a walk with my son and he said to me that I'd be giving up, what would have been the point? I couldn't say I'd done DJ as I hadn't. Also he gave the analogy that 100m sprinters don't stop at 95m and say 'well I'm nearly there might as well just stop'. He's only 16 so wise words really.
It has made me realise I really need to carry on and do February too. Although this period has done me the world of good I've obviously still got issues. Sigh.
Hope everyone is well and not having stupid thoughts like me. I can't believe we are so close to finishing.

@lunklitdays - your son is wonderful - that's so motivational. I love his sprinter analogy. I'm going to keep that in mind.

Just a few more days to go. I genuinely never think 'wine o'clock' in the evening now. The only times I want one is when we are trying to make an occasion - I wanted a whisky on Burns Night. I wanted a cocktail when DS1 made an incredible 5 course meal for us. And I do find a glass of wine stops me wanting to cram every grain of sugar in the house into my mouth between 6pm and 10pm. If I have a drink I never snack at night.

But definitely appreciate the energy and clear headedness during the day. Work is easier.

The end of Thursday. That’s 90%

90%!!!

I was very close to getting wine tonight. Busy and stressful day at work, an irritating colleague. I can see that I'm not the only person on here who has those feelings (misery likes company, as they say). This is something I need to keep an eye on because the next few months are going to be stressful due to a big project launching (and irritating colleague is on the same project).

@UsernameFail I’m with you, my goal for Feb will be to ‘damp’, no weekdays and not as much at the weekend. If I can’t moderate I’ll stop. I’m feeling quite accomplished to have come this far. It’s my wedding anniversary next weekend so will have a glass of wine then.

Hi all
I've been lurking and following you all, through the highs and lows.
I've been doing dry January for decades now but this year, usually by this stage I'd be full of anticipation focusing on the end date - couldn't even contemplate the notion of continuing but for the first time - dh and I will do dry Feb and possibly longer - although best to not think about that - one step at a time and all that!
I'm doing this mostly to support dh (although not entirely selfless as I will benefit too) - who has gained significant amounts of weight since lockdown v1.0 and finds it impossible to lose whilst drinking. His waist size is in the danger zone and his blood pressure was in the red zone - nothing like a health scare to motivate. Good news is he has lost 3.5kg and his BP is now in amber. Potentially we are considering not drinking at home anymore - whatever happens we'll always find it easier if we agree a plan together - partners in crime!
Well done everyone - we're almost there!

For all of those supporting a DP, my DP really likes the book recommended below. Last Orders by Andy McIntyre. Being a bloke he likes the fact that it's a practical guide. He read it in 2 nights and is feeling re inspired. I will read it next and let you know my thoughts.

Morning all. Day 29!

I'm feeling okay. Annoyed that my blood pressure and heart rate still haven't settled. I have hypertension (usually well controlled with meds) and have been doing a weekly monitoring for my own interest this week - taking it four times a day - and it's been all over the place. Last autumn it was very even all through the days and the week. Now it's up and down like a yoyo. And I've just done my usual cardio workout the way I always do three times a week, and the usual effort kept me in peak heart rate range a lot, which usually only happens for the odd minute here and there.

I initially thought I'd try to lose holiday weight this month too, @LarryUnderwood, but found it was too much all at once. Now that the not drinking seems to be occupying less of my head space, February seems doable. Good luck!

Excellent words from your son @lunklitdays - well done resisting and keeping going!

It's our anniversary on Sunday and we've got Monday off. We were supposed to be going away.

Our plan is to cook a nice meal at home on Sunday night and have a bottle of wine. Then go into dry Feb.

I can't believe it's nearly the end of January, big pat on the back for everyone!
@HPLikecraft you're going through a tough time, hope you're doing ok and we'll done on not caving.
I'm considering a 50 day streak on my Try dry app but I'm also not going to beat myself up if I have a drink next week. I'm going to stick to one night a week. DH has also been sticking to DJ even though he said it was an utterly terrible idea lol. He has Long Covid so no doubt it has done him the world of good.
I love my changed evenings, instead of PJs on at 7.30 and pouring a wine I klnow do yoga and go for a walk. I have also been playing PS with my DS so I've rediscovered how fun that is!

Hi all. Dh and I decided to have our reward for dry January last night because he won't be around much the next few nights with work. So we had a takeaway and shared a bottle of sparkling wine. We agreed that we both enjoyed it, all the more so for it being a treat rather than the norm. But also that we both experienced after effects this morning, which has cemented our decision to commit to moderation from now on. We've decided that our next night for a drink will be valentines night, and then we're giving up for lent, until Easter Sunday. So technically I didn't quite make it through dry January, but I'm happy with my drinking decisions so far which is a lot more than I could say for previous months over the last year or so.

@katmarie, well done for getting as far as you did. That's brilliant. Like you, I've reflected on how I want my drinking to continue. Our approach sounds similar.
I think Dry January should be a time to reflect. I know so many people who have done it in the past, then gone on to drinking even more, almost with a vengeance! If you dont reflect and learn something, there's no point. Am not judging other's journeys, I know how difficult it is, this drinking lark ! But it's great to take something away.

Day 29 and I'm starting to feel a bit antsy.

If I am going to break DJ, it will probably be tomorrow

The "angel" on one shoulder is telling me to do the 100 days and then truly assess if I need alcohol in my life (I've actually felt less healthy than even this past month... I'm having a flare up of a pre existing condition so not booze related!!)

The "devil" on the other shoulder is telling me to have a few glasses of wine as I deserve it. I've done so well / I've lasted the month despite the hell of homeschooling and WFH / I can moderate better this time.

I usually feel quite good for doing DJ but my illness has really skewed this one for me.

I need to make myself remember all the (many, many) reasons I wanted to have some time without wine. I'm pretty 99.9% of those reasons still stand.

So 100 days it will hopefully be for me.

Just had a taste of can of Seedlip with lemongrass tonic- now that was not an experience I ever want to repeat...let's just say it had a long finish - that went on for 5 minutes! What were they thinking!

Still here. Hanging on by my fingernails.

Dishwasher drama provided some distraction this evening

We need a percentage!

Morning. Day 30 - almost there!

I actually had a pretty bad craving out of nowhere yesterday afternoon. Really wanted some wine or a gin (or several). I'm not even sure why. It was intense though, and I'm very glad we didn't have any in the house! Ended baking brownies and going for an unplanned rainy walk just to distract myself, and thankfully felt a bit better by the evening. (Well, I felt sick after eating too many brownies, but didn't crave a drink as much!) I wonder if it's just PMS. Had a very bad night of last night, too - mad vivid dreams, but very short periods of sleep at a time, and I'm sure at one point I was dreaming about having a bad, broken night?

Morning all! Nearly there, but it seems a few of us are getting antsy and impatient. Me included. A few of you have already fallen off the wagon (you did well to get as far as you did, and we’ll gladly help you back on if you want), but hold on and keep going, everyone - there’s only another couple of days left. Shame it’s a weekend, but still: we managed last weekend.

We need a percentage!

Sorry, I’ve been neglecting my duties!

At this moment, 10 am on the 30th, we’re 95% done.

I can see a chequered flag in the near distance! Keep strong this weekend, everyone.

Yesterday was hard. So easy to say it's Friday, nearly the end, one drink won't hurt. Etc etc.

But it's Dry January I must remind myself. And January ain't over yet.

Got up really early - washing done , guinea pigs mucked out, floor hoovered, dishwasher mended.

Time for a coffee

Almost there but another week for me, as I don't feel like drinking on a Monday. Saturday 6th Feb for some nice wine that I'm looking forward to. Then I'll stop again until March.

I don't drink on Monday either. Got to go out today to get supplemental food shopping - so much for staying local, our supermarket in town had so many empty shelves! So it's off to the big Tesco in the next town.I will get myself a nice bottle of red wine, and it will sit on its shelf until Friday night.