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 🙂

Week 1 done. Sleep still erratic but face definitely less puffy and chubby and belly bloat has reduced. Not doing weighing but feel slimmer.
A huge plus today is I met with and recruited a wonderful lady who will go in daily to help care for mum. This is a HUGE weight off my mind and will really help with my stress levels so a good week all round!

I'm feeling good. My weekend off work has actually been really enjoyable as I have a clear head, and plenty of energy. Gym yesterday, house cleaned this morning and now relaxing this afternoon as the weather is so horrible. Its times like this I'd actually really enjoy a glass of red but I'm enjoying some Coke Zero and leftover Christmas goodies.

To anyone who has slipped up- don't beat yourself up, and remember one slip up doesn't take away or diminish all the good work you have already done, and you can get back on the wagon if you choose.

Had a glass of low/no alcohol red wine last night and a no alcohol corona. Had a poor nights sleep, holiday packing panic dream (I go away at the end of the month). So not so smuggy mcsmug face this morning about my marvellous sleep!!

However, my energy levels and motivation to actually get shit done are much higher than previously.

I'm not thinking about any kind of future me at the moment, just taking this day by day/week by week (although I'll more than likely have wine on holiday...)

Slipping back in for a gratuitous photo 😉

I learnt to cook when Ds was born (he's 18 now) and it slowly became a real passion. Around 18 months ago we were given notice on our long term rental, coinciding neatly with upcoming A-levels. The stress of that (I'm by nature a very chilled out person and normally not at all prone to stress) meant I gave up cooking for pleasure completely. I've made efforts recently and have really felt that I should get "back into the saddle"

Today we are in our little house (we managed to buy before the interest rates went crazy) I am drinking AF Corona and cooking beef short ribs. I'm embarrassed to say that I shed a little tear at one point 🤫

Going forward I have had increasing feelings that I would like to be AF permanently, but truthfully think this would be unrealistic. DH and I have spoken and decided that we will only go "out" to the pub, rather than popping in as and when. This way we will spend less, drink less and it will be more of a treat. I may attempt to stay AF at home as I have little issue with AF alternatives.

@lemonsaretheonlyfruit I'm aiming for 20 units maximum per week after DJ, with three nights AF per week. I know it's still 6 units over the NHS recommendation of 14, but it's a drastic reduction compared to the 70-90 I have been drinking.

As for going AF permanently, I know it's probably what I should do in an ideal world, but I don't think it's realistic for me to be honest. Wine is one of my biggest pleasures in life, but I just need to make sure I can consume it sensibly and safely and in moderation.

This afternoon has been quite a struggle - the weather is miserable and DH has had a couple of glasses of red. I felt a bit crabby and irritable that I couldn't have any, but I'm trying to remember that if I had, I'd probably be feeling quite lethargic and in the grip of the Sunday blues by now. Instead I'm feeling fresh and energetic. Despite all that I still want wine!

By my calculations 4pm today was officially 25% of the way there, which is a great achievement. Well done everybody.

Day one for me (I’m not back at work until tomorrow) so I am inspired by all these stories!

My usual “wine time” doesn’t start until about 10pm. Glass of wine, then bed. On work days I only ever have one, but not work days it is usually two or three - FAR too much. I have bought AF red wine so I can keep going with the routine, usually I drink white. I quit smoking last year after being 20 a day for more than 20 years, and switched to vaping because I knew the routine of it (in that case going out to the garden for a little break) was important to me, so hoping this will be the same.

I signed up to an app and put my goal as 21 days starting today, so I am cheating a bit, but don’t judge!

I've found the last few days fine but today is tough. Like a few of you have said, the combination of crap weather and boredom is making me really want a glass of red. I'm holding off but it's not easy is it! Hoping that by getting through tonight, the next week will feel a lot easier.

Woah, that is a lot to catch up on - I haven't yet, apologies if I've missed anything big.

I just bought a new bag on Amazon with the money I have saved so far from not drinking; it was quite eye-opening to think twice about a bag that is, essentially, the same cost as two bottles of mid-range whiskey, which I wouldn't normally have thought twice about buying in the first place. I have ordered it to arrive next weekend, so I have something wonderful to look forward to.

Other than that I've lost 1kg in weight. But I am also ill again - I wonder whether my immune system will improve over time; sure I have read somewhere that drinking alcohol affects it.

I’m feeling positive and inspired after Friday’s slip up. I’ve spent the day decluttering and sorting the house and I’m doing a lovely roast for tea. After that I’ll get everything ready for the week, have a bath and an early night.
I did 2 AF days before NY too, so I’ve still got as many days under my belt - just not consecutive. I’m going to make a plan for this Friday so I don’t fall into the same trap.

I liked this article - there's nothing in there I didn't know already, but it's a nice summary of the benefits:

psychiatry-uk.com/six-reasons-why-dry-january-is-good-for-your-mental-health/

Made it through witching hour with a Diet Coke.

Would've spent around £40 on wine since New Year's Day, so considering we are pretty broke it's a good thing we didn't.

Read Dry by Augusten Burroughs. Not a patch on Glorious Rock Bottom or The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober (both of which have been incredibly meaningful to me in different ways, and I highly recommend) - Dry by comparison was just all car crash and little by way of self-reflection / insight (IMHO).

Next on the list: The Good Drinker by Adrian Chiles

@Stickywhitelovepiss

That's funny I downloaded the Adrian chiles one today. Really liked (if that's the right word) glorious rock bottom and TUJOBS.

For something a bit less directly related a friend recommended Matthew Perry's autobiography on audiobook today.

@Stickywhitelovepiss I'm hoping to start The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober soon so that's good to know.

Well that's us past the 25% mark (at 6 pm) so that's fantastic. Bronze award time, everyone!
Cruising on to 50% now...

We are fast becoming a sobriety based book club! 😄

Does anyone have any podcast recommendations please?

At @freshstart2023 that's a nice summary of some of the psychological benefits, worth reminding ourselves about.
Here's a summary of some of the health benefits. There will be some overlap, of course...

www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a25656740/dry-january-benefits/

Try "Tracks" on BBC Sounds.

Conspiracy thriller series. Excellent and gripping.

Im finding this OK so far. Easier than I expected actually so Im quite impressed with myself. I cant say Im noticing any physical benefits unfortunately as Im absolutely full of cold and bunged up and feeling pretty crappy. I started the week treating myself to nice AF beers and Some sparkling presse type things. But since I cant taste them Ive find I’ve hardly touched them, just sticking to squash, coke and tea mainly. Bought some M&S nosecco last night for a Saturday treat but I ended up not even opening it, I thought whats the point can hardly taste anything anyway. I’ll maybe save it dor later in the month of Im facing a challenge. 2lb down, yay!

We are fast becoming a sobriety based book club!

😄

Thanks for the medal @HPLikecraft - just seeing that is motivating in itself!

A big thanks to everyone on the thread for your support. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have got this far without you.

25% - hurray! thanks for the award @HPLikecraft - it's nice and shiny!

@LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE - night sweats all rather normal - at least for me.

Thank you @Champagneforeveryone - for both your photo of ingredients for something delicious, and for info on your DS. I need more of what you have. Especially if your DS actually asks to go to the pub with you! You are def doing something right. I'm finding the whole teen thing very trying. Will be the thing that tests Dry Jan the most ; )

Camomile tea for me. Hope you are all doing OK this evening.

@freshstart2023 Similar here. I'm aiming for 15 units/week max which will be a big reduction for me (and intending to go the year...). And similarly - I'm not currently aiming to go to zero - I just think it's unrealistic at present. Hoping to lose some wight too - and that is as motivating to cut back as anything. The big challenge is coming home stressed and wanting a drink.... If I can get through the 6-8 witching hours I can make it I reckon. Didn't drink today! 😊

Busy day I my house today. DC1 had all new bedroom furniture delivered so DH has been building all the furniture while I cleaned out his bedroom. We still have a couple of units to build but he really needed new ones as his furniture hadn't been replaced in a long time. We wouldn't ever drink on a sun so I don't miss it tonight. Sun nights are always boring job like ironing nights in our house. DC1 is calmer thankfully after being on full meltdown for the last 2 days.

Thank you for the award, @HPLikecraft - being a quarter of the way through feels great!

I’m past the witching hour now and feeling good. On a usual Sunday I’d be about three quarters of the way through a bottle of white by now, wondering whether I had ‘enough’ in the bottle to last me the rest of the evening. It does feel quite liberating to not be doing that tonight.