Dry Another Day! February beckons. Dry January (and beyond?) Thread 2. All welcome.

[HPLikecraft]

Ah, there you are little dry pingywings. 🐧🐧🐧

Shiny new thread. I've swept the berg and we're good to go. Hop on.

Struggling tonight!

I don't know why I want wine when I have barely wanted it all month and intended to do dry feb?

But I really REALLY WANT WINE

Back in the huddle. Drank as planned on holiday, not too mad for me. Then back home for 3 dry nights, buggered it up last night. I am also incapable of not finishing a bottle of wine.
I've been dry 24 days out of 29, I'm happy with that.
I will also try to carry on in February. I'd like to be totally AF ultimately.

@TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky

Struggling tonight!

I don't know why I want wine when I have barely wanted it all month and intended to do dry feb?

But I really REALLY WANT WINE

I had terrible cravings last night. I actually pulled over to buy some and then talked myself out of it and went home.

You can do it!

Checking in for day 29/29. I’m exhausted tonight and feel like I’ve wasted half my weekend just ferrying people about in the car and washing clothes. Hoping for better energy levels and less ferrying about tomorrow. Have been too tired to fancy a drink.

I didn't go and get wine.

And the reason surprised me a bit.
90% of me didn't want to get wine and the 10% was the wine witch chatting on my shoulder and I just wanted it to shut up. It's only argument was "yeah but..... you could though."

Then I asked my 10 year old if he wanted to go to Tesco and that I was buying Prosecco. He begged me not to, said for him, can I not buy any. He said I'm on a good streak (dry Jan) and to keep on going.

So that was a bit of a shock. I didn't think he'd care that much.

I've been really vocal about stopping drinking entirely, and at one point wondered out loud whether I could just not drink for 2022.

I wondered why my sons reaction was so strong.

He said it's because I "go red in the face and look weird (it's true, I get flushed when I drink in the winter), but then you do let me get away with stuff.
But you also get angrier when drinking."

This is all very true, I can't deny it.

If he doesn't go and brush his teeth when I've told him (usually takes 2-3 times) I will raise my voice quicker than when I'm not drinking.

A few months ago, I walked into my room and he had hidden under my covers and leapt out to scare me, it worked - I absolutely shit myself and reacted angrily and shouted a lot. I would have shouted less had I not had two large glasses of wine and about to go to bed!

And just things like that.

It guess that was a bit of an eye opener for me, hearing him say that.

So I did not get Prosecco or wine tonight and I'm very grateful that I didn't.

I struggled a bit tonight. More than last night which was odd as a night with friends over like last night would normally be really tough. But we were out this afternoon and it was a long drive and I could feel the cravings as we were driving back. DH had a gin as soon as we got in and I was pretty tempted. But resisted and the craving went pretty quickly.

@TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky - my DS didn’t like us drinking either. He’s 20 now and I feel terrible that our drinking was such a huge part of his life.

I'm here to claim my place in the pack too! Finding it okay now, also a bit sad about it ending but looking forward to a damp Feb. Not quite up there with those of you on the intermittent fasting though, that's impressive.

Definitely a bit nervous about my first drink. Have bought a new Pyrex measuring jug to measure glasses of wine properly, so that I can track and stick to units.

@TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky I recognise a lot of what you say about temper with the DCs. It's a major motivation for me too. Painful to recognise that in ourselves, but important I think.

I've been binge watching Emily in Paris tonight at the recommendation of 2 DDs.

Not craved at all today but all they blooming do in Emily in Paris is drink wine!

@TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky I don't like drinking when my kids are awake, it makes me more shouty and anxious. I realised that years ago, but instead of realising that means I have an issue with anxiety and alcohol control I just drank a lot in the hours they were asleep. This made me shouty and short tempered in the morning but I hadn't equated the two. We are all on a journey here.

Morning all.

Only 2 days to go everyone - I can see a few of us are succumbing to temptation in anticipation of the end of DJ (me included). I'm sure I read something about this somewhere - knowing that we will be "allowed" to have a drink in 2 days time means that those pesky cravings are getting stronger.

So I'm saying to myself - actually, although DJ ends on Monday, realistically I'm not going to drink until next Friday at the earliest (because of work etc). So that's 6 days - so just calm down wine witch or whatever you like to call her.

Hope it works - we've got this penguinos - to dry Feb and beyond.

Morning all, so pleased I'm through the final weekend. Well done all for getting this far, even if it's been a damp, rather than dry, Jan for some - we all still have sober capital in the bank.

My main aim for Feb is to not drink on a Friday, at home by myself. I can finish work a bit early on a Friday and go for a swim, jacuzzi and steam before picking up DD from nursery. The main reason for drinking on a Friday is to signal the end of the work week and switch off the stress,I need to rewire my brain into not expecting alcohol on a Friday. So maybe the swim and then a sweet treat later in the evening.

Haven't decided what to do about Saturdays yet, maybe allow myself the option to drink if I'm socialising but I don't want to drink "just because it's a Saturday".

Morning. I've had the flu! Or covid? Or some other unpleasant virus.
Zero cravings here because I've been feeling sorry for myself in bed.

I'm up for carrying on in Feb although I don't want to give up totally, my attitude of a glass of something at every opportunity is diminished and I like it!

I like how DJ just allowed me to not have to decide whether to have a drink or not!

According to the app I've saved about £300 and my skin looks so much better and the bloated puffy feeling has gone. It was well worth the effort that wasn't really an effort in the end!

Checking in after another dry night in the pub.
I left at 9.30. Annoyed with myself. I stuck to non alcoholic drinks and had a lovely meal. So why do I find it so boring? Will that change?
Urgh.
Either way I’m on day 30/30 through sheer stubbornness.
I don’t feel elated or proud. I feel a bit miserable to be honest.

Sorry for the negative post.

@CovidForChristmas
No need to say sorry! You've done amazing!!!

Morning everyone. Can you believe it? The last two days!
Reading everyone's posts from yesterday (sorry I was absent!) was pretty positive: many of you looking ahead to keeping dry (or at least a bit drier) in February and beyond, having a year of health, losing weight... seems many of you are taking something positive forward from this Dry January.

I'm going to have a drink on Tuesday. Got a nice bottle of fizz ready. Then be dry again until the end of the month (well, it is my birthday then) and hopefully be mostly dry thereafter. It's taken me a few years, but I think I'm stronger than booze now. I can kick its arse.

It's not quite so important now as we know we're nearly finished, but we're now 95% of the way through. That's fantastic... don't go slithering off the berg now, penguins!

Thanks @space21.
I think I’ve had a bit of realisation that this needs to be the way forward.
I’m fed up of hiding my cigarettes and worried I smell.
I’m tired of my skin looking dull. My stomach being bloated.
I’m tired of planning my weekend around drinking.
I don’t want my children looking at my empty bottles or hiding them in the recycling so they don’t see.

I’ve felt great this month. Except when I’ve gone out. Even though I’ve stayed dry I’ve not enjoyed the evening. I’m itching to drink. I’m envious of those who have wine! I’m waiting for the time I can go home. Maybe the truth is, it’s too soon to be going to the pub. It’s not that the challenge is too difficult, it’s the feeling still that not drinking is missing out.

Anyway, I’ve had a shower, washed my hair and had a coffee. I feel a bit more human now.

Anyone got any recommendations for a podcast or book that focuses on all the benefits of not drinking, rather then the reasons they stopped? Trying to change my mindset.

Happy almost-end- of-Jan gang!

Well done to all of us.. this journey is a tough one.

My aim for February is to get myself off my anti- depressants. Been on them since my dads sudden death in 2014, and I have realised that I have been losing my battle with depression as medicating myself to bring myself up, and then drinking bucket loads of booze, thus killing my mood stone dead.. what an idiot!

I don't want to be on meds forever, so that's the goal for next month.

Just been for a run. There is no way I could have done that after a regular Saturday nite on the plonk.

No intention of drinking this coming week, although we are off to a 50 th on Saturday so may have a few then, but at this point not sure I actually want to.

Checking in for a dry February - I am also on the low carb boot camp. My weight loss is slow but steady - 8lbs since 1st Jan - several stone still to go. An embarrassing amount of money saved from not drinking according to the App and I am enjoying waking up without a slight headache from overindulging the night before.

@CovidForChristmas I completely understand!!! I've had the same feelings only now I'm starting to see clearly that the benefits outweigh the constant meh feeling. Obv the next few months and weeks will be telling to see if I don't head to the old habits but I know right now, I want to drink like normal people!

I also understand the hiding of cigs, hiding how many you're smoking, always brushing your teeth and spending too much money on spray deodorant to mask the smell. I haven't had a fag for 8 years.

Hope you have a cracking Sunday! I've been ironing and watching Marley and me.

Re podcasts on not drinking I can't help but I am listening to the Battersea Poltergeist which is totally fascinating!

@CovidForChristmas

Thanks *@space21*. I think I’ve had a bit of realisation that this needs to be the way forward. I’m fed up of hiding my cigarettes and worried I smell. I’m tired of my skin looking dull. My stomach being bloated. I’m tired of planning my weekend around drinking. I don’t want my children looking at my empty bottles or hiding them in the recycling so they don’t see.

I’ve felt great this month. Except when I’ve gone out. Even though I’ve stayed dry I’ve not enjoyed the evening. I’m itching to drink. I’m envious of those who have wine! I’m waiting for the time I can go home. Maybe the truth is, it’s too soon to be going to the pub. It’s not that the challenge is too difficult, it’s the feeling still that not drinking is missing out.

Anyway, I’ve had a shower, washed my hair and had a coffee. I feel a bit more human now.

Anyone got any recommendations for a podcast or book that focuses on all the benefits of not drinking, rather then the reasons they stopped? Trying to change my mindset.

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober Glorious Rock Bottom are both my favourites. They help immensely.

Without those, I was be craving wine every night.

Jason Vales kick the drink.

Sober girl society.

These are all books.

@Runninghorse

Checking in for a dry February - I am also on the low carb boot camp. My weight loss is slow but steady - 8lbs since 1st Jan - several stone still to go. An embarrassing amount of money saved from not drinking according to the App and I am enjoying waking up without a slight headache from overindulging the night before.

That's great on the weight loss. Is low carb boot camp an MN thread?

I believe it's this thread @FanGirlX

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp/4461744-Week-2-Jan-22-Low-Carb-Bootcamp-Thread

Day 30/30, nearly there!

I haven’t had any AF substitutes so went for a 0% Cobra tonight. It was not great tbh! Oh well, worth trying it, at least now I know.