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!

I really, really like this idea. I'm very similar, I work well with rules and targets (massive nerd) so I think this would encourage me to save my days for special things rather than just waste them on drinking for the sake of it.

You've come this far! Think of how chuffed you'll feel if you make it to the end. One more dry weekend and you're done!

I’m slightly in the sod it camp too - I’m getting so tired of it now and really want a glass of red with dinner. I’ll keep going because I’m determined to do this, but I’m feeling miserable.

I'm feeling more tempted tonight than at any poi t so far. I think it's seeing a fair few others call it a day, but I'm going to try really hard to hang on. Have a AF beer in the fridge so will try to stick to that

I can relate. We’re so close to the end now. How will you feel if you have a drink now? Will you be truly be okay with saying sod it or is it important to you to complete the 31 days? Like others were saying, I’m quite driven by targets and goals so I’m really keen to finish. I’m going to try my best to cling on for another 3 and a bit days (and have an early night!)

Another few benefits I forgot to mention:

• Clearer, brighter complexion

• 5lb weight loss

• Watching TV shows and actually following the plot and remembering what happens

@freshstart2023 the answer is I'd feel really annoyed with myself! So I've got the AF beer out and it's doing the trick. I'm determined to stick it out, I've never managed it before. So thank you for that intervention, it was so useful to focus on how I'd feel afterwards not how I feel now

I’ve never managed it before either. I’d really like a drink but would be so annoyed with myself if I cracked now!

Let's run through the finish line together!

@freshstart2023 and @cashmerecardigans I'm right here holding your hand and will toast you on Friday!

I'm jogging along with you guys!!

I haven't lost any weight, but am a bit underweight so wasn't aiming too - I've been drinking much more Horlicks, Options and milky tea, but I'd still have thought the calorie deficit was in my favour...

I didn't (usually) drink to the point of hangover / hangxiety, but do feel a bit 'clearer' in general. I did read in one of the quit lits that if you are never hungover, you are likely always hungover - not sure that was me, but will be interesting to see how far my tolerance has dropped after 60 days.

Absolutely!

And thank you @pointythings 🙂

I’m thinking tomorrow should be easier than today, and Monday and Tuesday will be much easier than tomorrow. Today is definitely the hardest.

Evening all, and big congrats from me to everyone for hanging in. I'm suddenly finding it hard again, I was in a restaurant with family last night and everyone was drinking and I said - ooh shall I break dry January and have some wine? And everyone said - yes! Go on! Apart from D nephew who said sternly, NO you will be so cross with yourself. So I didn't, and I am so grateful to him, because after a while I found I didn't really miss the wine that much, and I felt v proud waking up this morning with a clear head.

Ah, come on all you tempted people! Just a few more days, you can do it!

I mean, how do you think I feel? I've been tempted, but as your OP I feel I have to be the grown up here, set a good example and stick with it! 😀

I'll be glad I did. I'll carry on through the week,but next weekend (3rd Feb) my son and his partner are coming for the weekend (it's our "Christmas" as he had to work Christmas and New Year because of the border patrol strikes -he's armed forces) then mostly dry for the rest of February... except my birthday!

That was a great list of good things, @freshstart2023 - you know it was worth it.

So the end of day 28 will see us

90%

of the way through. We're in the final lap!

Another one who has cracked with the finish line in sight! Need to get to 25 days AF for the month so working towards that. Previously I would have done well to have 2 AF days a month so a big improvement

I'm still here and still dry too. Unsure when I will start again TBH, though I'm sure I will (and DH definitely will!)

I'm sure that once the weather is nicer things will become harder, currently I have little issue staying at home because it's cold and dark outside. Summer afternoons in a beer garden will be somewhat harder to abstain from.

I'm so glad this is the last weekend in January. I have really struggled this year for some reason. Normally, I'm all psyched up to keep going, and not even wanting to drink again at this point. I do hope to keep alcohol for weekends only though.

Made it! Witching hour well and truly past.
Thanks so much to everyone, I was definitely wobbling but am so happy I've stuck with it.
Hopefully all downhill from here

I know I can do it as I've done it before. Still dry. 😐

Still dry here too! Used AF wine to get through tonight (it’s no where near like real wine, but it’s not too sweet so I’ve approached it as a drink in its own right rather than comparing it to the real thing).

Onto the home straight! My biggest test will be the 31st which is a big girls night out for dinner and the theatre… will need to stay very strong for that!

Fantastic willpower @WaxingGibbon - well done!

@Mushroo good luck for the 31st - a shame you can’t delay it by 24 hours!

@cashmerecardigans well done for making it through the last Saturday of DJ. I’m also safely tucked up in bed with another dry day done and dusted. Today was a funny one - I thought it would be relatively easy due to only having a few days left, but it was harder than it looked and definitely had the potential to trip us up. Agree it should be all downhill from now - hurrah.

@freshstart2023 i know! It will be the true test of my willpower 😂

Made it through two challenging days - recognised my triggers and determined not to turn to wine - it won't help. I have to say that losing the middle of the night/next morning anxiety is a very clear benefit of DJ.

Onwards to the last few days/<10% of DJ. I will be carrying on for DF.

Just made it. Had an AF beer and resisted but it was close - put a real one in the fridge.