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Old habits DRY hard! It's DRY JANUARY thread #2... newcomers always welcome!

938 replies

HPLikecraft · 11/01/2023 07:38

Here we are, a shiny new thread to help us stay dry.

Thread one has been great and supportive; and thread two will take us through further challenges and milestones. Hop aboard; you're all doing brilliantly!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
paulmccartneysbagel · 11/01/2023 10:37

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 08:39

I've also saved £160 so far from not drinking. That is huge!

😱

Wow!

TartanTed · 11/01/2023 10:39

Thanks for the new thread. Enjoying hearing how everyone is doing - it's definitely keeping me motivated.

I'm feeling bright as button this week - feels like the combination of no wine, eating well & exercising is finally having an impact - even if not reflected on the scales...

I'm motivated by how much money we are saving too.

Workawayxx · 11/01/2023 10:51

Just delurking to say hi. Well done with all the non-drinking and money saving.

It was DP's birthday at the weekend so I decided to only start on Monday so just 2 nights down so far. I'm hoping to carry on to 10th Feb to do the full month.

DP is still drinking which is actually less of an issue than I thought it would be (we normally egg each other on a bit) although I admit I hoped it would be something we'd do together. The only difficulty was when he put DD to bed and left a half glass of wine on the table and I got a bit twitchy thinking about having a slurp. I'm not sure whether to ask him not to do that or whether it's my issue and I need to just get used to that! I'm trying not to talk to him too much about any of it as I don't think it's right/fair to pressure him, he needs to do whatever he wants in his time like I am.

My sleep has felt lighter or more broken but I also think better quality as I'm feeling better in the mornings. So I'm hoping that will improve. I'm already finding much more motivation to get up in the mornings and to get dinner/packed lunches done in the evenings (normally would have had a glass or two of wine by that point and motivation would be lacking!).

Also agreeing with those talking about the effects of drinking on children. My eldest is 10 and really starting to notice the drinking. I get some nights when DP is working away just with DS and it seems so pointless to sit there swilling wine while he needs and wants my attention. I also notice the impact of lack of motivation/tiredness/lack of patience on him particularly.

Spirini · 11/01/2023 10:55

Thanks for the new thread @HPLikecraft

The chat about alcoholic parents also resonated with me; my Dear Dad was an alcoholic and no doubt contributed to his early death from cancer. I think he suffered badly with anxiety and work stress and would self-medicate with alcohol. Seems I've inherited both traits :( His drinking didn't really become a problem until later in life so I don't think it effected me to any great extent, but I do remember as a teen how he smelled of alcohol and he would often have a short fuse which might've been hangover related. Hard to know I suppose.

But for me, I'm definitely grumpier when I've had wine the night before, and I find it hard to get out of bed to make the most of the day which is really not fair on my kids. Makes me sad that I've been like this for so long, but I think I now have the resolve to do something about it. The thread helps hugely, thanks everyone.

Fuwari · 11/01/2023 10:55

Thanks for the new thread and well done everyone. I really don’t think I’d have stuck with my plan without this thread. It’s holding me accountable and giving me something to aspire to.

My savings aren’t huge at the moment as I was drinking the absolute cheapest wine (Tesco’s box £13!). But it is adding up slowly.

For me I think the goal is more freedom to not be tied to needing to drink. A couple of months ago I stayed with a relative overnight and they’d booked a restaurant for 7:30, a perfectly reasonable time. But by the time we got there, got served etc I was absolutely desperate for a drink. I tried not to let it show but it definitely affected my enjoyment of what should have been a nice occasion. When these types of things happen, you know that the alcohol is controlling you when it should be the other way round.

My goal for this week is breaking the dinner + wine habit. I’ve stuck to that so far. I am drinking a lot of ginger and lemon tea! I find the ginger gives it that little bit of a kick which I like. Other fruit teas can be a bit bland.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 11/01/2023 12:16

Hello! Day three complete for me - I wasn’t back to work until Monday so a very late starter. I am off on a Wednesday so Tuesday would usually have a few glasses of wine, but had AF and it was fine. I slept a bit better last night (partly because I didn’t have to get up today and didn’t have the fear of sleeping through my alarm) and feel like my face is less puffy and wine-y today. Maybe that is wishful thinking!

KatieKline · 11/01/2023 12:18

Thanks for the new thread, great to be here, on Day 9 for me and the cravings have certainly weakened. Have been exhausted at the end of the day and in bed by 10 most nights, big big difference as usually up until midnight drinking wine. Think my body is craving the rest, so trying to listen and do what it needs.

Sleep has somewhat improved, waking less in the night, sleeping deeper but vivid dreams. Much less bloated too.

The posters who have written about their kids really struck a chord with me and my own kids, although I'm not usually hungover in a morning, and I am mostly level-headed there has certainly been days where I haven't given them my best and have been lethargic, short-tempered etc. Even those little moments of them smelling the wine etc is really what is making me pause - how do I want them to remember me and their childhood?? Definitely pause for thought, so thank you. More thinking to do post Dry Jan.

I also really appreciated those posts about the negative effects of alcohol, not just the money side - the lethargy, dinner being later because I'm cosy on the sofa with a glass of wine, before I drag myself off into the kitchen.

These threads have really kept me focused and on track with this goal, so thank you.

pointythings · 11/01/2023 12:25

I've totted up what I'll save in January from not drinking and it's about £70, mainly because I have expensive tastes. Still, that's enough for a treat.

Stickywhitelovepiss · 11/01/2023 12:43

I've done a lunchtime run, taking inspiration from you lot!

WaxingGibbon · 11/01/2023 13:54

Hey all - thanks for the new thread @HPLikecraft
My news is ... I have lovely skin! I know!! I never thought it would actually happen but I looked at myself in the mirror this morning, and there it was. It will be a combination of no alcohol, more water, and improved diet generally (I ate mainly rubbish before)
Hope everyone's staying strong - whatever that means and looks like for you - and having a good day.

tothefareast80 · 11/01/2023 14:01

@HPLikecraft Thanks for the new thread! I get a lot from reading everyone's messages and it's definitely keeping me motivated and on track. I'm feeling more motivated and have done some much needed studying for a course that I'm on. I found it almost impossible to focus on it in December last year, no doubt as I was drinking too much and feeling rather jaded during the day. I'm also feeling better at my job and just generally less anxious and more positive. Seems that this was absolutely what I needed to do.

Selfesteem22 · 11/01/2023 15:19

Had a bit of a blip last night - meeting up with a friend who I hadn't seen for a while and some how couldn't resist a couple of glasses of wine. However drank less than i would have done before. Really tired today despite a good night's sleep and more determined to carry on!

AngryGoblin · 11/01/2023 15:55

I'm on day 9 today. started late as it was a bank holiday and we went out for lunch on the 2nd.

feeling fine so far and sleeping well and feel motivated to keep going until the end, which will be 1st Feb for me as I will tack those last 2 weekdays in January on to the end to make it a total 30 days. I'm motivated by seeing the teacups on my Try Dry app and so far I'm finding it quite easy. but I think that's because I had such a stupid amount to drink during October, November and December, and the rest of 2022 if I'm honest, that I was almost looking forward to a rest from it and a reset. I checked my app and the last time I did 9 days in a row without alcohol was January 2022 so it's definitely time to stop and check I can.

I had a major bereavement last year and that didn't help. Although I do know that no matter how bad something is, drinking never makes it any better. It does temporarily make me give less of a shit though. Anyway, I'm not tempted, there's no wine in the house although there's plenty of other alcohol but I can completely resist that.

well done everyone who is still doing this!

Cherrymix · 11/01/2023 17:09

Marking my place. I am getting a bit bored with DJ. Those sneaky "just one" thoughts are creeping in. Trying to stay determined

thenightsky · 11/01/2023 17:26

Place marking on new thread. Thought I'd lost you all earlier!

JonSnowsCupbearer · 11/01/2023 17:28

Hi everyone, thanks for the new thread!

I don't dare think about how much I'm saving. My wine has gone up to £8-£10 a bottle, plus the beer I drink, it's going to a lot.

On the plus, I've finished the first ten day lap of the diet I do today and lots 7.5lb. I only really started last Wednesday so I'm made up 😊

Hope the poster who did the weights last night has been ok today 😁

JengaCupboard · 11/01/2023 17:33

Admittedly this could be unrelated but is anyone else's skin suffering currently? My (usually oily but not hideous) skin is bumpy/dry/spotty and so red, my forehead feels like sandpaper its awful... I read online last night that it can be your body purging toxins but most claim quitting alcohol should clear up poor skin? I feel great though, and so far a lot easier/less tempting than I thought it would be, including dinner last Friday night with friends...

Fuwari · 11/01/2023 17:40

I don't know if anyone else is in this situation, but I take antidepressants. I know you're not supposed to drink on them but I didn't feel it made much difference whether I did or not. I can't say I felt depressed prior to drastically cutting alcohol. I suppose I was "neutral". But the past few days I have felt so much lighter and I think it's because they are now doing the job they were supposed to, without so much interference!

It's well known that alcohol is a depressant but I would have argued it didn't have that affect on me. I was wrong. I feel I'm doing a lot of reflection right now but in a good way.

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 17:54

Fuwari · 11/01/2023 17:40

I don't know if anyone else is in this situation, but I take antidepressants. I know you're not supposed to drink on them but I didn't feel it made much difference whether I did or not. I can't say I felt depressed prior to drastically cutting alcohol. I suppose I was "neutral". But the past few days I have felt so much lighter and I think it's because they are now doing the job they were supposed to, without so much interference!

It's well known that alcohol is a depressant but I would have argued it didn't have that affect on me. I was wrong. I feel I'm doing a lot of reflection right now but in a good way.

I'm on antidepressants too (100mg of sertraline) and like you, I was previously taking them whilst drinking. My alcohol consumption also meant that I took them sporadically, often missing several days at a time, which again you're not meant to do.

Since 1st January I've been taking them every morning religiously and obviously haven't touched any alcohol either.

I really think that the double whammy of taking the antidepressants properly and not drinking is having a very positive effect.

Fundays12 · 11/01/2023 17:57

JengaCupboard · 11/01/2023 17:33

Admittedly this could be unrelated but is anyone else's skin suffering currently? My (usually oily but not hideous) skin is bumpy/dry/spotty and so red, my forehead feels like sandpaper its awful... I read online last night that it can be your body purging toxins but most claim quitting alcohol should clear up poor skin? I feel great though, and so far a lot easier/less tempting than I thought it would be, including dinner last Friday night with friends...

I haven't had this but it does sound like your body detoxifying. It might be worth doing some face masks, brisk walking or an exercise that helps you sweat out the the toxins plus loads of water as it's a natural toxin eliminator

Stickywhitelovepiss · 11/01/2023 18:17

I have pondered going on ADs moving forward - I haven't to date exactly for that reason (i.e. wouldn't work with excess alcohol anyway). I'm still aiming for 10 - 20 units a week post DJ though, so not sure if that's 'enough' to negate the value?

cashmerecardigans · 11/01/2023 18:58

Still going here too, on fever tree ginger ale tonight. I also tried Belvoir ginger cordial earlier. It was really good, has a proper kick to it

freshstart2023 · 11/01/2023 19:03

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed with stress this evening and am so tempted to turn to a glass of wine. I just really miss that warm, fuzzy, relaxing feeling.

Greatly · 11/01/2023 19:06

Still dry here. It felt odd buying alcohol for dd going back to university. So expensive as well! Feel fine atm but have a busy weekend so it will be hard.

31st Jan is a Tuesday, so I'll try and stay dry until the following Friday 😭

TripleB32 · 11/01/2023 19:10

TartanTed · 11/01/2023 10:39

Thanks for the new thread. Enjoying hearing how everyone is doing - it's definitely keeping me motivated.

I'm feeling bright as button this week - feels like the combination of no wine, eating well & exercising is finally having an impact - even if not reflected on the scales...

I'm motivated by how much money we are saving too.

Exactly the same here!

Feeling great but had hoped to have started shifting some pounds by now. Maybe next week??

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