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.

Afternoon all, I’m checking in.
So. Good news is I managed to stay dry.
Bad news is, I avoided the temptation by not going out. I knew it would be too difficult. It’s a work event with people I love to drink with and we expense the lot.
I feel weak for bottling it (excuse the pun) but glad this morning I didn’t drink. I’m just not there yet. I wish I could go and enjoy a couple of glasses but I know I can’t.

@DavetheCat2001 I can see a definite difference! Well done you!

@spellingtest your post resonates so much. Drinking with no enjoyment and the dread of the next day. Hope you feel better soon.

Managed a reasonable nights sleep. Have been invited out for Sunday lunch - am driving so won't be drinking but actually I don't fancy it anyway as will just leave me tired and useless this evening.

Have a lovely day all

@HotWaterAndLemon well done.. it's not bottling it to avoid a situation where temptation is all around you!

I found it quite interesting watching people getting progressively drunken last night. It seems to hit people very suddenly.

A good friend of mine was there last night and she hasn't drunk since mid December. Similar reasons to me, and she was also saying how much better she is feeling mentally and physically, so I wasn't alone in my sobriety!

OH on the other hand woke up minging this morning after too many beers last night.

Well done @DavetheCat2001 for not drinking. You must feel very virtuous today.

The progression pictures upthread are amazing too. Such a difference already.

I have a big night out next weekend and I've kind of already decided I'll partake in a few glasses.

I'm also having such a craving for red wine right now. Its just kind of crept up on me. All the chores are done and usually I mark that with wine (haven't done for weeks now mind, but I'd started to get in a real habit of wine on Sunday)

I won't. But I really want to.

@HotWaterAndLemon it's good to realise you'd have been too tempted and aren't ready yet. My mid January slip up was for exactly that reason (I was with people I drink with, I was out, I didn't realise how tempted i'd actually be). Recognising that is strength not weakness.

@Crunchymum re your big night out next weekend, I similarly went along last night and had given myself permission to do whatever I felt like.

Another friend of mine was there who has been dry for over 8 years, and her advice I think was sound..don't feel guilty for any choice you make..that way misery and failure lies.

I'm actually feeling really cold today which is annoying! Hoping I haven't picked up the Rona from someone as it was a bit of a cramped space! I am pleased I just went with what I felt like doing in the moment though. I think trying to force yourself to do one thing or another in advance is really hard.

Not sure I'm making much sense!

You are making perfect sense @DavetheCat2001 and that is my ultimate aim.

To be able to make a choice to drink, not for it to be force of habit or because I feel I deserve it / have earned it etc.

I want to be able to enjoy a glass or two and then move on. I'm not there yet and I think I definitely need to abstain on a big standard Sunday evening with 3 young kids and school and work the next day!!

bog standard

PS: I hope you don't have the lergie 🤞

Just checking in, day 37 for me. All going okay I guess. I've got Covid which is a pain but am feeling a bit better today. Oddly enough I've really wanted wine the past two nights even tho I've been pretty ill. Like that will make me feel better?!

Have set a new challenge on my app to stay dry this month but just now I'm really not sure I will make it. Hopefully feel more positive once I can get out and exercise again.

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend

@Crunchymum just tested positive for Covid

Must have picked it up at the party I went to last night, which was in a very cosy bar with a lot of people there! Hugged quite a few too..hope I haven't spread it about too much.

No symptoms apart from a nasty sore throat, hoping it doesn't ramp up over the next few days.

Should keep me off the booze though!

Oh no @DavetheCat2001

I hope it isn't too bad for you and you stay well enough.

Evening all. Another dry weekend here. Only drank at weekends and will probably stay dry next weekend too. I have to knock the Friday night wine on the head.

Sympathies to those with Covid. Having avoided it all the way through I'm beginning to feel these days that it's no longer if but when. I know so many people who have had it recently.

Had a lovely lunch. In the past I would have felt deprived not having some wine but it doesn't bother me now. It's like a switch flicks in my brain when I know I'm driving. It's pretty much the same during DJ.

The problems start when I flick the on switch .....

@Cherrymix same for me, once I start I can't stop. That's the bit I need to work on, especially in situations where there is a lot of booze available.

@blackteaplease I did a long dry period a few years ago and found it much easier to deal with those boozy occasions when I wasn't drinking.

I used to get past the first few drinks by saying something like - I'm really thirsty can I have a glass of water. Then by the time people had drunk a few themselves they stop noticing whether you are drinking or not.

Day 38/38. Checking in.

@Crunchymum thanks for framing it that way, it makes me feel better.

Sorry to hear that @DavetheCat2001 hope you stay reasonably well!

Have a good week everyone!

I came back to the huddle after a week of really bad insomnia. Told DH it might be drink related (and I was only having one or max two small glasses of wine - the ones that only hold 120ml.) He was skeptical but I had an unbroken night last night and no booze.

Thanks gang.. was really interesting how a faintish line yesterday turned into a big fat dark one today 😳

Not feeling too bad.. chest is a bit wheezy and sore throat. Hoping it stays like that!

Hi all.

Your photos def show a fab difference @DavetheCat2001. Rubbish about the Covid ones though.

So many people seem to have it at the moment.

I am back on the berg after a weekend off. Annoyed with myself as have had three nights crap sleep after three nights drinking.

So wish I could just have a glass or two. But no. I can’t seem to do that.

I’m aiming for a ten day stretch now. Meeting a friend on 17th so if I don’t drink till then it will be ten days. And my longest stretch.

Hi all, managed a dry weekend which was great but having a wobble today and would love a glass of wine. Just to enjoy one glass seems impossible, it always leads to more!

That is quite a line @DavetheCat2001

I hope it passes for you quickly.

I too have an issue with moderation. I don't do one glass. I drink less now as I take a medication you aren't meant to take much alcohol with (I still drink more than I should though)

I am planning to drink on Saturday but it scares me as much as it excites me. Am hoping the event is cancelled to be honest. How bad is that???

Checking in on day 38, I’ve a stinking cold so I don’t even feel like drinking. Ugh. At least it’s not Covid, sympathies with those suffering!

Thanks @Crunchymum

Feeling crappy this evening..throat is v sore and I feel a bit out of it

I know exactly how you feel about your night out. I felt the same weekend just gone, and was umming and ahhing about whether I was going to drink right up until the night. I'd kind of decided to give wine/prosecco a swerve as I have no off switch there, but thought I may have a g+t

When OH went to the bar and said 'do you want a G+T?' I actually genuinely didn't fancy one after all and had a diet coke.

Maybe it was the Covid brewing but I didn't fancy drinking or staying too late. I had a good time and it was nice to see friends, but was happy to get home at a reasonable hour!

Try to put it out of your mind until the day, and y'know if you don't fancy going..don't!

If you do, then be kind to yourself and give yourself 'permission' to do what you want to at the time. You may find that you don't actually fancy a drink, or you may find you do, but just have a couple..maybe plan to have a soft drink in between any alcoholic one?

Try not to plan in advance as it just stresses you out and means you start to dread going rather than look forward to it.

Hello! Sorry to hear about the covid sufferers. I feel I'm dodging the covid bullet at the moment a bit!

I didn't stay dry, in fact me and DH got smashed on gin Saturday night and we had a kitchen disco!! I have to say it was a fun night!! But the hangover at 5am - thirsty and headachey was less fun.

I also have massive issue with moderation.

But but but nothing was drunk on Sunday which normally I would just keep going onto every night of the week so I've started the week feeling good!

Going to (try and) not drink until Friday or Saturday this week. I like seeing the yellow days in the try dry app!!

I like seeing the yellow squares in the app too @space21! Kitchen disco sounds fun.

Back on the dry last night and feeling much better for it this morning. Took me a little bit of time to get to sleep but pretty much slept through the night once asleep.