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

[HPLikecraft]

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!

So where are we?
Well round about now (at 2.30 pm) we're

79.4% down, but...

We'll be 80% at just before 7.15pm.

80% everyone. That is amazing!

I think it would take significantly more mental work if I had to do that. I'd have to restructure the way I think about my life, which DJ hasn't done for me.

I really, really like the reduced mood swings though.

So the massive takeaway for me is I feel so much more relaxed and less tired - i am determined to keep my drinking right down

I do feel different. I can't work out quite what it is. I am definitely sleeping better. Not a huge amount of energy. I'd like to say my mood is more stable but actually I've been really grumpy 😅

Maybe it's just been stably grumpy, @Greatly ?

Yes it's been fairly consistent 😅

If I've missed one day how do I percentage that ?

If we take 1 day away from exactly now, you're at 73.6% @OneFrenchEgg

Thank you! That's not bad, above 90 by the end will be a win I think. Not that I'm planning to drink any alcohol again.

Had a glass of non-alcoholic red for the first time. Or sis smell like red wine and the first sip was promising…. but after that it was a total disappointment! Like sipping on grape juice, which I suppose it is really.

Wish I hadn’t bothered.

I've been incredibly grumpy! I didn't expect to be at all.

I'm just sleeping insanely well, really enjoying it. But also quite looking forward to a glass of red on the 3rd. Business as usual, really.

I stopped outside the off licence today (was going to the shop next door) and was really tempted to run in and buy a bottle of wine but I think I've got used to not handing over £8 willy nilly for bottles of wine and the thought of paying for it really put me off!

I think I've broken the " get in from work,reach for a drink" pattern which is good.
Sleep still erratic but overall have more energy,am more positive and less bloated..

On we go

As we said right at the beginning, I’m so happy to be achieving this for my DC.

Takeaways for me are

Much better and mainly unbroken sleep. No loo at 3am then scrolling through my phone wide awake feeling shit, guilty and regretful

Being more present with the teen DC. Have also been able to be more accommodating with lifts in the evening

Just a feeling of being in control in life/ work in general rather than feeling anxious, stressed and on the back foot the whole time.

Skin looks better.

No weight loss though as I have developed a massive sweet tooth this month, I never normally eat chocolate or biscuits!

And one massive feeling of amazement that I have made it this far. I rarely got past 1/2 days without wine pre dry jan!

I still get the loo at 3am - some things never change!

But am managing to get back into bed and get off back to sleep pretty much every time, without it being the precursor for a couple of hours wide away angst...

Hang in there everyone! For what it's worth, I generally find 20-24 January the hardest. It can feel like I've done so much but still have a long time to go. From 25, it's always the last Wednesday, Thursday etc.

The other thing to watch for is the last weekend, especially when January has five weekends. It's easy to think what's the point. What will I get out of staying dry for three more days? Its personal choice, but getting a full 31 consecutive days just feels so good it's worth it!

Benefits for me so far:

• clearer skin
• more energy which means I'm exercising
• much better sleep, less 2-4am sleepless panics
• no waking up feeling awful on Saturdays and Sundays
• no waking up and worrying what I've said/done
• less argumentative with DH.

It helped to read this - thank you.

I really fancied a wine tonight but resisted and finished of my nosecco topped with tonic water that was left from the weekend. I nearly opened the wine until I remembered when I last gave into that temptation I felt awful, barely slept and was tired the next day after 2 glasses of wine. I am looking a little slimmer though that could be all the walking I do, my skin is definitely looking brighter and less tired plus I feel better. I have also got back into reading which I love. DH is drinking less as we are no longer opening a bottle of wine together or him having a mid week beer while I have wine. I think we have easily saved £160 this month as the wine I drink is normally £9 a bottle minimum plus dh beers on top.

Book club tonight, and January is the one where we bring nibbles and wine, lots of wine. I took a bottle of kombucha and made it through.

Well done @thenightsky, that's a mean feat.

@Steala very helpful pep talk, thank you! I don't want to fall at the last hurdle, I'm stubborn about my DJ now.

I started my diet yesterday, the switch finally clicked. I know it's not for everyone but I'm going to try meal replacement shakes mon-fri for breakfast and dinner and see how I get on. 14lbs to lose...doesn't seem like much but I know it won't be easy

That’s impressive, well done!

Day 26 and at 8am we’ll be 81.7% of the way there.

I woke up this morning feeling slightly terrified at the thought of ever having a hangover again. It really is an awful feeling. I need to harness that thought going forward.