DRY JANUARY 2023! 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 sixth year of DJ and I swear it may have saved my life; 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. Everyone welcome 🙂☕️🧃

The DJ2022 Wagon creaks to a start in just 4 days, but always stops for latecomers 🙂

I'm really curious nosey @Champagneforeveryone what is your DS wearing? Does he at least get a hair cut?!!!

I was wondering that too. I'm visualising sequins and a tutu?

Eeeek we're heading to the pub for a pre dinner drink. I'm going to see if they have AF beer or try to stick to a soft drink.
Wish me luck - my mettle will be truly tested!

Another one here who is happy to read about people's slip ups (planned or accidental) because it shows me that if I do slip up, I shouldn't automatically think 'game over' and not bother to try any more.

Currently in the middle of peak 'trigger time' (prepping dinner, revolting weather outside, I am so tempted to open a nice chilled bottle of white) and really trying not to cave.

Enjoying a glass of AF red whilst our curry cooks - it’s nice, but it’s not wine! Having something to drink out of a wine glass is ticking the mental box of “it’s the weekend, time to relax” nicely though.

First week done. Not sure why but I've found it a bit easier mentally so far this year. I've just been drinking water, not needing to replace wine with a nice drink, though might have an AF beer tonight as it's the weekend.

But physically, I've felt tired and craved sugar.

@cashmerecardigans - I find the best trick is to decide what you'll drink in advance and just practise saying it so it comes out quickly and you don't have to think about it when someone is going to the bar or the bar staff asks what you want

Been lurking since the thread began and finally feeling ready to join. Day 7 for me, not exactly loving it yet but the bottle of wine (at least) a night habit had to go before it became a problem I couldn't get myself out of

Well done to everyone so far, non alcoholic G&T for me tonight!

Struggling a bit tonight, I'll be honest. Was sooo close to opening a bottle of Sauv Blanc half an hour ago as I started the cooking, but luckily DH said... do you want a cup of tea and I quickly said yes! I've not lost a single pound in weight though, which is depressing.

My mood feels very low this evening due to the aforementioned stressful situation. I would dearly love to open a bottle of red but am running a bath instead.

Good luck everyone - if we can get past tonight we'll have done a whole week.

I went to the theatre this afternoon with a friend and was ok sitting there with my AF beer whilst she had wine before the show. The show was great and no interval when I would normally have wine!

Now I am back home and have a different friend coming over for dinner. I have just bought her a bottle of wine as it seemed off to not have any to offer her when she gets here just because I'm not drinking.

But I am struggling right this second. I would LOVE a glass of wine right now.

She normally stays for a while. Will drink about a bottle to herself (as I normally would on such nights). There are lots of stressful things going on in our respective lives and I think the person drinking wine is more likely to be happy staying for longer as they are getting nicely tipsy.

I think I might have to set my stall out when she gets here and say that I plan to have an early ish night (which I do) so it's not too much of a long night. I love her - it's just more tricky than normal.

Good luck @lemonsaretheonlyfruit, I think you're sensible to say you're planning an early night from the off. It's definitely so much easy to leave early without seeming rude when the meet up is not at your house isn't it?

Had a very stressful first week back at work and was so tempted to buy some wine to unwind. Feel much better now I'm in the house, it's absolutely chucking it down with rain, so that will help with me not wanting to go back out to the shop later on! I'm drinking the AF McGuigan sparkling wine which is actually not bad if anyone is looking for an alternative to prosecco.

I'm back! I had an AF beer, which was actually really nice. I tend to drink beer in the pub anyway as wine is so expensive so it didn't feel that different. However on coming home I'd normally open wine, so am battling that by opening a massive packet of crisps.
Sending strength to all those struggling tonight

I think we should all be here to support each other, however well we are doing. Criticism doesn't help. Nobody really knows how hard it is for anyone else, but I bet we have all drunk a hell of a lot less than we would have done last week.

That's another reason I don't mind buying AF drinks - as discussed yesterday they are not that cheap, but you just don't need to keep drinking them. I put two AF beers in the fridge yesterday evening and one is still there. On a normal Friday night I would have drunk both, plus a bottle of wine. So the cost isn't really comparable in my view.

Anyway, I went to Ikea early evening and ended up having meatballs and about 3 glasses of coke which cost £1 for a refillable glass. The cafe is rammed on a Saturday night - who knew??

Im with dp and drinking an AF Corona. It's nice to have something to open that we share.

Special big hand to those whose partners are not doing this - much harder. Each day is a step.

The beef casserole tonight was crying out for a glass of red but two AF beers instead and now in bed! Did a yoga class today for the first time in years and I am absolutely knackered. Have also eaten rather a lot of cake.

I've opened my first bottle of Nozeco. Its surprisingly nice.

Made a nice curry for dinner. DH & I both enjoyed it but agreed it would have been better with a glass of wine. Wasn't tempted to open a bottle though... how much reserve I'll have next weekend remains to be seen.....off to make a cup of tea.

DS is a rock guy, long hair, band T-shirts, DM's etc. He's returned from London with an extensive set of tights and short skirts / hot pants. Annoyingly he looks rather good in them and has seemingly endless confidence to go out in public in them. I am an extremely cool parent and haven't made too much fuss for fear of making things worse (I'm aware that I was once a devotee of white ankle socks over black tights so my record isn't blemish free 😆)

Anyway we went out, DH unsurprisingly did have a drink and I had AF lager all night <polishes halo>

In bed now and feeling rather pleased with myself. Good luck to all those still struggling tonight.

Well this weekend hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. Think it helps I've been busy so haven't been tempted or even thought about alcohol. Treated myself to a nice Chinese takeaway tonight and still feeling so full so wouldn't even enjoy a drink if I wanted one.
Think that's me out of the woods now until next weekend as Friday and Saturdays - especially Saturdays - are when I enjoy a drink most.

I've been feeling very positive and motivated this week and it's helped having a clear mind and knowing I won't pressure myself into drinking for the next few weeks. Sometimes I say yes to too many events involving alcohol and although i enjoy them at the time sometimes I wish I would just give myself a break between them and not go out every other week or just learn to say no which is what I aim to work on this year.

Yes, me too! I had a very stressful few months and didn’t even try and have an alcohol free night as I was so anxious, so feeling slightly foolish now that I’m not drinking and my anxiety levels have plummeted!

Day 7. Have survived Friday and Saturday nights and back to work tomorrow so have completed the first hurdle. Bit disappointed that the weight isn’t dropping off. I think I’ve only lost a pound.

Have visitors later this week who like to drink. That will be challenging….

Well done everyone. Onwards and upwards :)

Thanks. My partner drinks every night. It does make it more difficult…

He remarked that I seemed a bit subdued last night, as he was sipping on an ice cold beer…….😕

Friend has just left. She drank the bottle of red that I bought for her and I had 3 AF beers. I also made her take back the bottle she bought with her. Done. Phew!

I'm definitely calmer. I undoubtedly have more mood swings when I drink, more up at times but a good bit lower the day after, quite despairing at times. It's not even like I drink that much but it affects me more as I get older. Work is bonkers this month (NHS) so I'm glad to be trying this now.

Woah lemons good stuff!

Well done you :) I don’t know if I would have had that much self control