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.

Sorry to hear that @lunklitdays. It may not feel like it now but it sounds like you've dodged a bullet. Better that you found out he's a cheater now instead of 10 years down the line.

I think I will struggle this weekend too, as the novelty has worn off now, so I will be checking in here on Friday and Saturday, if you are around.

Something else that I will be doing is writing a list of distractions. I'll probably clear out the spare room (just in case we are ever allowed visitors again 😃), make sure the Netflix list has some good stuff on it and stocking up on fizzy soft drinks and nice snacks.

Still constipated but I am hoping that will start to change soon. Drinking hard for so many months must have an affect that takes a while to fix.

I read that alcohol stimulates your digestive system, so maybe your digestive system is still getting used to not being stimulated.

Evening all, hope you’ve all had a good, and dry, day.

I’m sorry you’ve had this idiot drag you down @lunklitdays... well done for staying strong.

I’m still undecided about February, but the fact that I’m so looking forward to drinking again then suggests I should actually keep it dry instead, because clearly I’m still too hung up on the bastard addictive poison, if that makes sense? No, me neither.

Anyway, as far as January is concerned, the end of today sees us at the 64.5% stage, just a little short of 2/3 of the way through.
Pretty good, eh? 😀

Nice tonic, and off to watch The Serpent now.

Night all, stay strong.

I'm on San Pellegrino Aranciata. It's got an almost bitter orange kick to it. I think it's my new fave.

Hope you sleep well tonight @lunklitdays. Stay strong and true to yourself

Thanks for new stats HP - hope you had a better day.

Day 20 done. Mind still ticking & longing for a drink this eve as a quick & easy release and wind down. But holding strong.

Goodnight all.

@katmarie - you are certainly the queen of appliance meltdown. All quiet on the dishwasher front here.

I am going through a should I shouldn't I phase about drinking at the moment. Those fleeting thoughts that maybe just a couple on 1st Feb would be ok. Just not sure .......

Just wondering what supplements everyone else is taking, I lined all mine up this morning and felt like a bit of a crank...

Vitamin D for Covid
Vitamin B complex with Zinc. Vitamin B to replenish supplies as alcohol depletes them. The zinc came with the vitamin B but it's also supposed to help the immune system
Omega 3 for brain power, as I was feeling groggy at the beginning of January.
Ubiquinol to repair my body and help with energy

I think out of the above only the vitamin B complex (to restore levels after they've been depleted by alcohol) and vitamin D due to covid are strictly necessary. I've got three months supply of them all. I am definitely feeling better but that could be solely down to not drinking 😁 and sleeping better.

Hey @Dugee

I take all those too plus Magnesium and zinc and they really help with sleep and energy levels.

Apart from now, I woke for the loo and can’t sleep now

Just want to say, we made it to 3 weeks!! 21 days!

Just checking in! Well done all, and me! Fat Coke with lots of ice is my treat, I think cos it somehow reminds me of holidays which is the effect I realise I was trying to recreate with gallons of wine - young and single in the sun after work - as I cook yet another whatever and wash up MORE PANS. Like you all, am no longer waking every 2 hrs and have more energy. Those vitamins sound like a good idea, thanks! Still need to eat veg. Veg in Britain is just so unappealing. Or am I going to the wrong shops? Lidl atm.

@whaa try incorporating veg into a main meal or looking at ways of pepping them up. Like honey mustard roasted carrots. Asian style aubergine. Risotto with peas and mushrooms. Stir fried Savoy cabbage/sprouts with bacon. Roasted veg salad. Can you tell I'm a huge fan of veg! 🤣

@ilovetomatoes I was thinking about trying one weekend on/off to see if that helps me stay in control of my drinking.
My DH loves wine, and I think our weekends had begun to revolve around it. Last night he got out the bottles of wine for him this weekend, and put them on the kitchen work surface. Some of my favourites. Did make me wobble and wonder if I can manage another weekend. Will try though.

Ooh snoopymcloopy that sounds delish! Thanks for the inspiration! I’d forgotten courgette risotto and roasted veg salad sounds nice. Once had one with parsnips roasted with Parmesan, yum! Will do some research. Think I’m so bothered about not drinking and what’s for dinner I’m too knackered to cook veg. Not good!
spacecudet that’s hard! For me I know I’ll have to go through those difficult first few days again if I have any drink at all. Don’t know if it helps, but am trying to change my thinking, so when I look at that bottle of pouilly fume, ( or any cheap crap if I’m honest!) I’m thinking, ugh, it’s just ethanol and basically a bottle of cancer, like liquid cigarettes.

Thank you for new thread, am mainly lurking

Am massively proud of myself to have made it this far. Not been dry for longer than 5 days since my last pregnancy in 2017.

It's DH birthday on 27th so we decided in the beginning to do until then, share a bottle of champagne or red wine on his birthday and then do the rest of January.

I feel really torn! Half of me can't wait for the 27th and in fact is really worried I won't make this weekend (because what's the point if we are drinking on Wednesday - we don't usually drink in the week) and the other half of me thinks I don't want to drink on 27th and to see how much longer I can do past January!

So silly - how can I feel both of those things! For context I am a heavy drinker - only drink Fri-Sun but polish off 30ish units in those 3 days. Therefore something needs to change. I have found abstinence has given me a mental break from the constant negative thoughts about myself on a Monday/Tuesday about how much I've drunk and I must do better the next weekend and then I just do the same thing again.. etc etc....

It's been much easier that's it's off the table but I'm still struggling at 5pm on my 'drinking days' until my witching hour (s) is over.

I think my plan is to see how February goes and if I revert quickly back to old ways then I think dry in the home may be the better way forward for now.

February 17th is the first anniversary of my mums sudden death so I think it might be best if I attempt at least mainly dry Feb in the run up to that as I'm sleeping better and feel less stressed.

Hmmm lots to ponder....

Well done all however you've done up until now!

Lots of chat about what we do next as individuals. I agree with the sentiment that because I'm still looking forward to a drink it's probably a sign I need to stay off it for a bit longer. I do find totally abstinence easier than trying to moderate. I can see me slipping back pretty easily into that mental argument of "shall I, shan't I drink tonight". Quickly followed by "oh fuck I did." So I'm still pondering being dry for 100 days. It's not like I've got anywhere to go is it

Well, to add to appliance meltdown, I now have roof leaking drama. Woke up to water pouring through the roof in our utlility room. Fortunately, straight into the sink below. So waiting for the insurance company to call me back on that one. Not sure I want to be queen of this particular kingdom!

We've made it three weeks though, so well done everyone!

Day 21 - yay for making three weeks! Morning everyone.

Just to add to the general appliance malfunctioning: our dehumidifier is on its last legs, I think. It makes a weird noise and no longer stops when it gets full, so there have been some minor water issues. I'm still using it, but we ordered a new one, too. It seems to have a fault to begin with. Frustration.

I downloaded William Porter's Alcohol Explained yesterday, and have been reading some of it. I can't say I empirically relate to some of the things he writes, but that could just be me feeling generally contrary, and I might end up thinking better of it after some reflection.

Afternoon all,

I'm glad to hear I'm 60ish per cent of the way through. DP is caving in tonight but I am going to continue.

I've got a pile of books to read, so may leave him in the living drinking while I retire to bed to read.

Please finish this sentence for me lovely DJers ....

I've had a rubbish day at work . I could really use a ...................

.......cup of tea and choccy biscuit!

A bubble bath and mug of hot chocolate?

... a break from adulting. I want to permanently relocate to my bedroom (minus DH!) and stay there, much like my teenager.

....Netflix in bed. On my own.

Definitely a break from adulting.

...lockdown ending and moving to Australia, on my own...