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, I'm still here, still not had any drink. I definitely wasn't a 'normal' drinker, could never open a bottle and have a couple of glasses. It was always the bottle and sometimes even 2. I still have a lot of internal monologue going on which makes me think I just need to not drink and accept it for this month anyway.

I honestly don't know if I feel amazingly better, I guess I'm more patient but I'm not bouncing around all happy and full of joie de vivra. I'm still really tired at times but I've been getting up stupid early. Also there are times I'm angry that I can't drink, that's hard to admit as i think it tells what a problem I actually have. I hate I can't just say to myself, I've no children tonight I'll have 2 or 3 glasses of wine. I'm pissed at me off which surely isn't right.

On the positive I bought scales and I'm down 7lbs from when I last weighed myself at my ex's around a month ago. I'm pleased with that, I've another 10lbs to go so hopefully if I stick at the 16-8 and not drinking I should manage by the end of March.

Sorry for the essay, I'm feeling a bit down on it all this morning. I'd like somewhere to catch up with everyone, it really helps me to hear how you are all getting on. I promise I'll try not to whinge so much next time.

Having some wine and cocktails tonight. Really looking forward to it but worried about how I’m going to feel tomorrow!

I've surprised myself and been dry Mon-Thurs this week, but having a GnT this eve. I'm looking forward to it too !

Hi all, definitely looking forward to dinner and wine tomorrow night. Then no drinking for the next few weeks for me. It helps that I've got DP on side.

I've committed to being alcohol free till Easter. I'm happy for those having a drink but do feel a little bit envious.

@lunklitdays well done for keeping going - envious of your weight loss! Can you treat yourself to something else this evening? I really fancied a drink earlier - went and had a long shower and face mask and now it’s sort of passed. Just need something really good to watch to keep me occupied!

I am also devouring a huge plate of food

Thanks @itsme7, I went for a big (freezing walk), came home looking forward to a warm shower but it was broken. I couldn't be bothered to run a bath so thought I'd be brave and bare a cold one. I'd heard a man on the radio recently, I think he was Belarusian, saying a 20minute cold shower was good for you. He was obviously delusional, it was brutal. So mainlined hot chocolate after.
Face masks sound good, will get some tomorrow.

Didn't actually want a drink at all. Maybe I'm getting used to it?!?!

I've just started watching 'It's a sin' tonight, really enjoying it so far. I'd definitely recommend it.

Hope everyone has a lovely night and those drinking have one for me!

Good evening!
I took a break from MN cos (well, not here but the rest of it!) it's becoming a bit of a shitshow
I will try to keep off the main boards but boredom gets the better of you when there's so little else to do.

I'm still dry, not had anything and not really craving it anymore. Still very stressed though, so my mind is elsewhere.
I'm thinking I could do the 100 days quite easily if this carries on! Though that's a bit of a shit thought.

Still dry, am aiming for Easter. It's starting to feel like a non-event to be honest - don't really think about having a drink now. I think it's the weather and everything else. If the evenings were warm and sunny I'd want to be in the garden - or the pub garden - with a drink. But sitting at home, not interested at all.

What I don't feel though, is any better!

@lunklitdays I’m half way through It’s a Sin - it’s so good but so so sad. The soundtrack is brilliant - have had it on repeat.

And I’m with you on cold showers - I can do a very quick blast just before I get out but that’s my limit! Hope it gets fixed soon for you!

@itsme7 it is so very sad, I lived through this when I was a teenager so it's bringing back so many memories. I tell my children what it was like and they can hardly believe it.

Well another Saturday hangover free and another walk later. Oh the endless walking 😂. Hope everyone has a wonderful day

Just about to start cooking a roast. We have a large bottle of sparkling water instead of wine. Onwards into dry Feb.

I'm still here, still dry, still aiming for my 100 days badge.

Not drinking has not really been on my mind very much at all! DH broke his streak with some planned beers on Friday, and I really didn't feel like joining him in drinking at all. (He got me some fancy lemonade, though, which I appreciated.) Felt quite smug Saturday morning getting on with my exercise all energetically, while he felt groggy and mostly stayed in bed til noon.

I won't get a 100 days badge as I drank half a bottle of wine for our anniversary last week. I'm now aiming for 4 weeks without alcohol. Next planned drinks are weekend of 27th Feb. If I can keep my drinking down to 1/2 a bottle every month I will be very happy. I'm trying to get to the point where not drinking on a weekend is the norm and when we do drink, it's a treat.

Hey ladies, feeling a bit shit today. Yesterday was our anniversary and we had 2 glasses of fizz each then 2 glasses of red each with a big steak. Feeling blah today, not a major hangover but compared to how I felt in Jan I really see the difference. DH commented this morning that he doesn’t want to drink that much anymore, and I agreed. I think I’m just going back to dry now til Easter.

We had drinks last night. First ones of the year . Enjoyable but thinking of the empty calories. Health and fitness is my priority this year, so I'm going to stay dry as long as possible now.

Evening all, we had a take away roast from our local pub today and I didn't have a glass of wine with it. Few minutes of should I, shouldn't I but it passed pretty quickly and now I'm having a hot chocolate and feeling pleased I resisted.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Good evening!
Still dry from DJ, aiming for 12wks (maybe!)
I've reached that one day where I could really use a drink. The dreaded first day of my period. I'm in agony, I'm tense, I'm drained and I'm emotional.
Hey ho, this bit is very intense but at least it doesn't last that long. I won't drink, I don't really have anything in anyway., not unless I fancy straight (cheap) limoncello liqueur that I won in a bottle tombola about 3 Christmases ago!

Well done everyone, it sounds like the majority is either still dry or has a changed attitude to alcohol.
I still haven't had a drink either and have thought that I'd aim for 50 days and if I do that then aim for the end of Feb. This is so good for me!
My anxiety is still greatly reduced, I've lost a few pounds and I love that I've escaped the mindset and habit of having 'just a wee glass' most evenings.
Hope you feel better soon Plonque, nothing worse.

I'm back in my usual routine and happy with that. Had a job interview yesterday as my contract ends 31st of March and didn't get the job. Instead they're going to make me a job as they are desperate for someone with my skills, and because I'm on NHS redeployment, most of the HR requirements don't apply. So it looks as if I'm getting a bespoke job in an area I feel really passionate about.

I found this out today and will be having a delicious ginger cordial and chilled fizzy water to celebrate.

Wow, congratulations pointy! That's great, really chuffed for you. Enjoy your ginger cordial

Thanks tomcullen, I do feel lots better today, not 100% - a bit tender and strained but I'll happily take anything over the absolute excruciating agony that is my day 1.

Plonque thank you! And I hope your period behaves itself. I started on on Sunday after 6 months with nothing and here I was thinking 'menopause, could it be all over?' Nope.

Bloody Mother Nature. We should just have an on/off switch when we feel like having babies.

I've also started my vitamin regime. Solgar (expensive but quality) multi vitamin to start with. Along with a daily Omega 3, feel like any help with a bit of brain power is necessary at the moment .

I've also just finished Last Orders by Andy McIntyre. DH read it first and enjoyed it. I would also recommend it. It seems more sensible than Annie Grace (I found her a bit woo, maybe it was all the American self help stuff).