DRY JANUARY 2024! 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!

DJ threads are 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 7th year of DJ and I swear it has made all the difference to me. It was so hard first time, but it has definitely 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. 🙂☕🧃

The DJ2024 Wagon creaks to a start in just 5 days! Join us!

Hello, I’ve name changed for this. I’m going to try and join in as I really need to do something about my drinking which I’ve been unhappy with for years but haven’t been able to get on top of. Like others, a January birthday means I’ve only done dry January once before. Although that year I managed to stay dry for three months and lost loads of weight.

I’m in and I will glad of the support. My debt is creeping up on me and I’m too often nipping to Tesco for a bottle of wine after a bad day at work. Something needs to change!

Me too @Namemchangeforthispostonly101

I'm hoping to make it stick this time

I’m in. I have the try dry app. I am scared as so much of my socialising involves booze. I also use it as relaxant. Average three bottles of red a week- most condensed to Thurs/ Fri /sat- over the festive period I know I have been having more than this.
i am fed of of the crap sleep, kicked in the head feeing and anxiety.

I’m in; did it the last few years and thought it really reset my alcohol habits
thanks for thread!

I'm in! I did it last year and felt so much better for it and vowed to reduce drinking throughout the year. I used the try dry app all year to track my drinking.

I'm ashamed to say that in 2023 so far I've only had 103 dry days, which includes 31 for DJ. That's quite horrifying to read considering that was me trying to drink less.

2024 I'm aiming for dry January and 150 dry days which seems achievable as it's only 1 extra dry day a week. I know I should aim higher though.

I'm going to Mexico in the Easter hols and want to be a) less fat b) fitter c) spend less time necking the AI booze and more time exploring / having fun. I think cutting down on the booze is the key to everything.

Great to see some more new 'faces'. Welcome all. 👐🏻
We always have a mix of people here: normal drinkers, heavier drinkers, problem drinkers... There is never any judgement, and Everyone will benefit from DJ.

Over the coming days and weeks I'll post articles etc. and we can discuss various aspects of dropping alcohol, from the difficulties: social pressures, fragile willpower, sleeplessness, headaches... to the benefits, which are enormous and more than I can be bothered to list at this precise moment as I've not had my coffee yet!

More than anything it's about mutual support and encouragement. We'll also have some fun on the way, with an annual talent competition 3 weeks in!

Just two more days! 🧃🍵🧃🧋

Hi @HPLikecraft I was on your dry Jan thread last year under a different name. You may remember me because I was the last dry one, trying to convince everyone to keep going😂
I’m on another AF thread as I’m still looking to manage my consumption better or even stop altogether. Thought I would join you guys again for the moral support.

Irony - I've just been prescribed antibiotics and thought 'great, added incentive when starting Dry January' only to find the instructions blithely announced 'you can drink alcohol with flucloxacillin' 😂

Fragile willpower is my problem. And a DP who makes sure there’s always a bottle chilling in the fridge.

I’m interested in learning about tasty alternative drinks that aren’t full of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

I'm in for the second year running - nc since then! The thread was so helpful last time, I didn't manage the full month as it was a big birthday for me and an anniversary (think it was 6 days short) but aiming for the full month this time. Drinking far too much again, its been every day of the week not good. Downloading the Try Dry app now! Good luck everyone!

I had a lovely fever tree pink grapefruit soda in a restaurant recently. I later realised I'm not supposed to have grapefruit due to medication but if you can I really recommend it.

I'm in. I try and fail DJ every year but I've had a heavy December so am looking forward to a reset.
I like the idea of pomegranate juice with fizzy water so may stock up on that and some pineapple juice as a treat.

Thanks for setting up the thread, OP.

I'd love to join - both DH and I are going to do dry Jan.

I've never done it before and while I don't binge drink, I drink far too often, I can even remember the last alcohol free day. So Dry January it is. I'm actually a little intrigued to see how it affects my body and mind.

Bought some AF beer ready for it (loved AF beer and tonic waters when I was pregnant and didn't drink so hoping they'll fit the bill for DJ as well).

A word of warning for the newbies. If you are hoping to lose weight during DJ, don’t do what I did the first time and replace alcohol with sweet AF cocktails. You won’t lose anything.
I’ve found that AF beer is ok. The wine is fairly dire and far too sweet. A ginger tea is also quite nice and won’t keep you up all night, as no caffeine. My favourite is red grapefruit juice over ice and topped up with soda water. It’s quite bitter and I can’t drink too much of it (unlike a nice Malbec!🙄).

I'm going to join. I think I need a reset. I drink (and can drink) too much!

Ha! I remember the group of die-hards at the end, @MamaGhina so I'm sure I'd recognise your old NN!
Did you carry on to the February and beyond thread?

Thanks for this and all the effort you’re going to, it’s really going to be a huge help 💕

Ooh, I'll join, although I'll be starting 2nd January because of a wine and cheese thing on the 1st.

Thanks for the thread @HPLikecraft.

@HPLikecraft no I didn’t because I cracked over feb half term 😥

Thanks @MamaGhina for tagging this thread over on the other one.
I'm in please! My last alcoholic drink was mid October - I have a problem with alcohol and had to change. Today is day 80 and I so want to get to at least 100 days AF, which I am, for the first time, having done a AF Christmas (which was lovely), confident I'll do especially with you all helping me along!

Wow @MissSmith80 you've done really well! Be the inspiration we need 🤣