DRY JANUARY 2022! Been overindulging? Drinking crept up? Want to begin a healthy new you? 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 fifth 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 most years. It has broken my habit, banished much of the craving and reset my relationship with booze. I imagine it's added years to my life.

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

Throw your hat in the ring, pull up a chair and let's do this together. 🙂☕️🧃

The DJ2022 Wagon creaks to a start in just 5 days, but always stops for latecomers 🙂

Lucky Saint is a fantastic AF beer, it's gorgeous. I'll be drinking that even after dry January.

@ColouringPencils

I actually felt quite energetic today! I took a vitamin B12 this morning, so I don't know if that is why. Will definitely be trying it tomorrow though! In contrast, I am still waiting for the bright eyes and glowing skin. In fact my skin is awful - dry red cheeks and three big spots on my chin. Grim. I have used guided meditation and hypnosis videos on YouTube. I quite like Michael Sealey (though you have to leave your skepticism at the door and let yourself go with it). He helps me get to sleep. Come to think of it, I haven't needed that since Jan began - maybe I am more relaxed! Anyway, he does have one quite old video on problem drinking and many more on relaxation, confidence, anxiety. Hard to know if it really works, but it's free so it might be worth a try.

I'm with you in the waiting room for bright eyes and glowing skin.

But finally feeling a bit better for it mentally and physically.Can't work out though if my grumpiness is due to detox or if I am always a short-fused pingwing who masks her horrible moods with wine.

My positive thing today was a run! And I'm grateful for my football team. Watched a documentary tonight about it and it made me teary and emotional and quite caught up, so I forgot about booze! Glorious, pure emotion, no wine needed.

@ColouringPencils

Alcohol depletes vitamin B, so taking a B complex is a good idea if you've been over doing it. I've been taking a vitamin B complex daily since 2nd Jan. I am feeling more energetic and my skin is looking better (eye bags have gone) and tighter (cheekbones are back). I'd say it's a mix of giving up booze and taking the vitamin B.

Best thing about today was going out in the garden this morning in the sunshine and noticing all the green shoots of bulbs coming up. Made a resolve to do something in the garden this weekend.

Still dry, on series 6 of Downton Abbey. I love the way they are always sipping tiny glasses of various drinks - none of those giant glasses of booze like on most TV. Ah - if only I were able to drink a thimble full of some vintage claret and be done with it.

Evening all.

Dry here in Dublin.

Good thing today - went shopping and bought some nice cosy tops. And some nice treat food.

Bad thing - we have a mouse. At least I hope it’s only one! Thought I heard something last night and again today and then spotted something out if the corner of my eye and heard rustling behind a box. Called in the cavalry of my sis and BIL who arrived with a trap. And chocolate. Chocolate for the mouse apparently!

Ugh!

Squeak, squeak 🐁 I hope you catch it!

Just checking in for day 12, am feeling quite down but we had a moment this afternoon after school where me and the DDs were sitting round the fire chilling out (warming up?), and it felt good. Here’s to more of that.

Hello you lovely gang
Today has been a good day. My son finally had two consecutive days with a negative covid test so he can return to school tomorrow. I'm keeping everything crossed I've not succumbed - I have had a sore head for the last 36 hours and I never get headaches.
Day 12 and feeling good.

Morning all
I was on the thread earlier but slipped up last weekend and was too ashamed to come back.
Not had a drink since Sunday and feeling loads better for it so I'm planning on keeping it up. I've been eating much healthier this week too and have a gym class booked for today.
Ready to smash day 4

Checking in 🐧
Hello day 13. Hello warm water and a slice of lemon. Hello a good nights sleep. I feel like I’ve turned a corner with the evening binge eating. I actually had a banana last night.
I guess it’s been almost 2 weeks now. Hoping to start to regain some energy soon as I’m still feeling pretty shattered by 6pm most days.
Keep strong everyone!

Well done for coming back to us, @Peanut82 🐟
You're not alone in slipping up, and there will be no shame on this thread, only encouragement. You can smash the rest of DJ!

Morning all. No mouse in the trap. Squeak squeak. 🐁

@Peanut82 - please don’t be ashamed of slipping up. I did too but at the end of the day I’ve still drunk way less than I would have normally so am proud of that. You should be proud of your dry days too.

@CovidForChristmas - I must buy some lemons. Used to drink hot water with lemon every day and enjoyed it.

Good thing - ds is finally getting over his I can't do this phase on his Uni course and the words, it's actually not that hard - were such a soothing balm on my soul, one less thing to worry about!

Am getting more craving this week - work stress kicking in, I've always used alcohol to change gears and I need to remember, it's not the alcohol it's the ritualistic nature of pouting a glass of red - a cup of camomile tea often does the same job.

@Peridot1 thank you. I've drunk way less than I would normally too so I'm proud of that. The healthy eating has got me motivated too, hoping to lose some weight, if I can get a stone and a half off I'll be happy

@Peridot1 there’s nothing quite as virtuous as starting the morning with a mug of hot water and fresh sliced lemon

Those still waiting to see a difference in their skin. As well as no alcohol I’ve started taking a supplement and drinking a lot more water. I also think it does some kind of flush out so spots etc first and then the nice soft fresh looking skin after.

[quote CovidForChristmas]@Peridot1 there’s nothing quite as virtuous as starting the morning with a mug of hot water and fresh sliced lemon

Those still waiting to see a difference in their skin. As well as no alcohol I’ve started taking a supplement and drinking a lot more water. I also think it does some kind of flush out so spots etc first and then the nice soft fresh looking skin after.[/quote]
I never notice the difference in my skin - even after 3 months of AF. Not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Morning, start of day 13. I accidentally posted this message originally on the other Dry thread which I am just lurking on (taking any inspiration I can). Bit embarrassing but I've updated and told them my error. What a tit. Obviously I am still not firing on all cylinders.

Sleep marginally better, I got a valerian tincture which I used last night, no idea if it made any difference tbh.

I am still doing an exercise class every day and the 30 day yoga challenge. Have to say I am shite at the yoga, very glad I'm doing it in my living room and not an actual class. I am still not full of energy and I still look exhausted but I guess I'd feel worse if I was drinking wine nearly every day. I take a load of supplements every day. Again no idea if they help but I'm too frightened to stop just in case they actually are 😂 I am so gullible it would appear I'll take anything that is meant to 'naturally' help you.

I saw a TikTok last night that said if you put boiling water on cabbage leaves and drink the water it makes you sleepy. It made me gag thinking about drinking the water but the guy reckons it works so maybe I'll try (again see gullible).

Anyway hope everyone has a great day, nearly half way there although I'm thinking to do February too. Best get through January first tho!

So much for glowing skin. I have a huge pimple on my nose for the first time in about twenty years! Maybe the toxins are finally leaving my body! Luckily teen DC had a host of spot creams I could try.

Day 13 and still AF. Day 11 was the wobble for me but made it through. Looking forward to Saturday and reaching 50% that will feel such an achievement. I’m also seeing how much money I am saving! It’s ridiculous!! Going to pay extra off the mortgage with it. If I can keep it up past January it will make a real difference. Hoping that keeps me focused. Hope everyone has a good AF day.

Wowzers, 50% on Saturday. I'm impressed with us all 😀.

Thinking I'm going to aim to do until the end of March but with a pass out on 19th Feb. I'm going away for a hiking weekend with friends and the Saturday usually involves dinner and wine. I may not have wine, I'll see how I feel at the time but the end of March feels like such a long way away.

Well done, everyone! Especially everyone who has come back after a break. That's the hard bit, I reckon.

Peanut, I slipped up too! But my slip up was a lot smaller than my achievement to that point, and far more importantly, I jumped back in the saddle. I'm proud of that, and you should be too. This isn't easy.

I most probably put that all wrong. What I mean is, be proud of what you have achieved, and are achieving, because it means so much more than a momentary slip up.

Back to day 1 for me. Yesterday was always going to be tricky (lots of stress things happening). Back to AF again. Stress drinking is the one I can't beat. I know the theory, the distraction etc. But my brain just goes " No! Not interested, we're having a drink and that's that".

Aargh. Had a really intense week at work abd cannot relax - just want one glass of wine to chill me out
I can't sleep and I'm fed up of it. Not sure I'm going to stick to tonight