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!

Hi @HPLikecraft I'm in.
Joined this thread 3 years ago and managed 2 and half years AF.
Started with the 'odd' glass of wine on holiday this summer and drinking has escalated to almost pre-AF levels.

I'm in
Hopefully for longer than January but good to get support from people with similar goals

Joining please! I know I'm going to find it hard :( so this will be a great help!

Happy NY! I'm of to the ILs today for a meal and I know I will be pushed offered to have wine. I'll take some for everyone else but sticking to water today.

Happy New year, everyone!

I hope you're all feeling fine today.
I drank a few glasses of champagne last night, which was nice, but I can feel it this morning. I'll be glad not to drink tonight.

So this is day one of DJ 2024. It's fantastic that you're all doing this, and welcome along to any and all newcomers. Glad you've climbed aboard the DJ2024 wagon.

My first bit of advice (cliché alert!): take this one day, or even one hour, at a time.
Don't panic about a huge mountain of alcohol free time ahead; just focus on getting through the next hour, and the next... and soon it will be bedtime again and you'll have gotten through the day.

I remember you, @Hepzibar ! I hope you can get back on track.

My morning swim has fallen through as my friend is unwell. I'm off back to bed!

Morning. I’m feeling not great this morning, thanks to a (ridiculously huge) glass of port with the cheese board. I need to remember how much better yesterday morning felt (after an AF night) than this morning.

Feeling motivated this morning.
Glad to see the back of alcohol after so much indulgence to be honest.
Happy New Year!

I had the Freixenet Cava too last night. My online food shop is delivering the Freixenet 0% tomorrow - ready for the weekend. It's the best AF one as it's dry.

Ooh, I will keep that in mind.

I tried some of my husband's AF Guinness last night and it wasn't bad - a bit sweeter than normal Guinness but the flavour was nice and it looked the part in a pint glass.

Fairly sober NYE for me because (a) I bought a rank bottle of white wine that I couldn't stomach and (b) we still have a newish dog who needs careful watching.

Feeling really motivated today. Happy Dry January everyone.

Morning everyone and happy new year!

it dawned on me last night, on the 18th I’m going to an event that’s putting on fizz and nibbles in the evening. Really hope they have an AF alternative…

Other than that, I’m feeling positive.

I'm intending to go dry for 3 months to lose weight and go on a major health kick

Good morning all, hope it is okay if I join.

I'm pretty sure my relationship with alcohol has become problematic, has been for a while. I have been flitting between a number of different addictions, so it's no surprise, really, but I feel that this year, I can use my ability to hyperfocus and get addicted to healthier things, like my many art projects.

I am looking forward to losing weight (alcohol will have played a massive part in my being 4st overweight), having nicer hair and skin, saving money and having more time and energy to do things.

The money is a big motivator; it's embarassing how much I spend on alcohol every month. I've had big issues with money last year, which were not alcohol-related (too many things in my house breaking, including the roof and some plumbing, totalled my car, too), but the extra few hundreds a month will really add up.

That said, I will not go 100% sober (not realistic), but I am making a resolution to only have alcohol in the house I have not bought myself, which may mean three or four bottles of whatever I get given a year, and to only drink sometimes when I go out with friends. I have an outing planned with what will hopefully be a date this week where we will both have a glass or two, while another meet-up with friends will be a sober one as I have decided to drive.

I don't get stupidly drunk, never have, but I drink way over what is healthy and I'm sure there is some liver damage, so this is needed.

That was a long one, sorry. But it's all necessary to get it out.

Morning all
I had wine last night but feel ok today. Planning on taking the dogs for a walk soon with DH and DD.
DH isn't much of a drinker so it should be easier in that respect, I've downloaded the app and I'm ready to go.
It dawned on me yesterday that the last time I went a full month without alcohol was when I was pregnant with dd, she's now 8 😳

Hi all, i hadn't planned on doing it this year, but i think that means I will. I think my reluctance and lack of enthusiasm may actually be my motivators as I don't like what it says about me. Last year i struggled with DJ but previous years were great and I extended them.

Hi all - glad to find this - did DJ last year different name and group really helped

Really grateful to wake up with a clear head this morning! I haven't had a drink since Christmas Day, as much like @Hepzibar I was previously long term sober, but then decided to 'have a few' on holiday...... my plan is now to get right back to complete sobriety.

Drinks wise the past week I've been having the 0.0% Gordons Gin with tonic and lime, I really like it. Have also tried the 0.0% Captain Morgan's and it's ok but a bit sweet - probably won't buy again.

Morning All….just checking in to join in & wish everyone all the best for 24 and DJ. Looking forward to being healthier, well rested and more on top of life booze free. I’ve drunk pretty much every day for years - “just” wine in the evening stuff and I need to stop. Will be downloading lots of quit lit and sobriety podcasts. Wonderful to have this group too!

Morning all and a Happy AF New Year.

@TeeNoG doing exactly same! Gordon's and tonic is a great substitute. The habit of having a 'glass of something' can be replaced, which I found a life line last time.
My habit if pouring myself a drink when I got in from work was absolutely ingrained. Doing AF substitute got me through.

I need to drink more water, my skin needs help -again!

Morning everyone, hope you all had a lovely evening and are now ready for JD 2024!

Hi @Poppy209

I devoured as much support literature/pos casts etc as I could, all helped.
The Try Dry App was really good - just ticking those days off and seeing how much I was saving in money and calories was a real motivator.

Morning, I am in this year too. I did DJ a couple of years ago and it really reset my relationship with alcohol. Towards the end of 2023 I have been doing well in losing weight in anticipation of being able to have surgery to correct prolapse and pelvic floor issues, but could have done better with less drinking. So doing DJ will really help with continuing the weight loss too. Happy new year and best of luck to everyone :)

Hi - joining you all. I’ve been drinking lots over the festive period and I feel groggy and overweight. Definitely up for a dry January and I think with support I can do it.

Happy new year everyone!

We had wine and champagne last night so DH and I are a little groggy (but no full blown hangovers). Really f eel motivated for DJ - I really want to achieve a few things this year and hoping DJ will be the first reset and give my brain a bit of clarity too.

@Poppy209 - are you me? I'm the same with drinking pretty much every day - just wine in the evening stuff and also looking being healthier.

Here we go... I had a couple of drinks last night, and toasted the new year in with water! I'm hoping I can do this!