DRY HARD 2: DRY HARDER! Dry January 2024, Thread#2 🧃🧋

[HPLikecraft]

Thread#2...

Let's keep going!

I am lucky as being AF is helping curtail my eating and the weight loss is then spurring on staying on DJ.

I am conscious that a lot of AF alternative wines and beers contain quite a few calories and if I am not drinking alcohol I resent the calories 😁

I had a wobble this afternoon whilst sorting stuff out and finding the unopened Xmas bottle of Bailey's. I had a quick thought that I could open it,little shot and no one would know.

It's because I'm out tonight and finding the thought of being AF hard but my dry Jan resolve is strong and I will ignore my thoughts and not drink. I know from experience the evening will be nice (it's dinner with some good friends) and before I know it I will be back at home sober and pleased my resolve didn't crumble 💪🏼

I needed to grab some last bits for dinner early evening and it was weird passing the alcohol aisle and seeing everyone getting their Saturday night tipples as that would normally be us! Didn't feel tempted as such and still no cravings, but it did feel unusual!

Got my tart cherry juice at the ready to go with my steak

Apologies you felt under scrutiny - I was confused by your numbers.

👋 Evening all. Still going. Longest AF stretch since I was pregnant, and I was last pregnant 22 years ago. 😊 How d'ya like THEM apples....? as they say....

Today has consisted of racing about after one child, and looking after the other, who is unwell.

I really fancy a drink, but am not having one! Am snuggling on the sofa with the well child, and will be off to bed in the next hour.

Keep going everyone!

Past dinner and temptation time. AF for today.

vinoandbrie hope you have a peaceful noght and DC feels better.

wilkolampshade go you.

I thought I might crack today and have one wine with pub lunch! I didn't! I had an alcohol free beer and a coffee. Feeling very pleased with myself.

I definitely think I want to maintain some of this alcohol free approach into Feb. I don't drink in the week (at least not in term time!) I am a weekend drinker mostly so want to think about what that looks like.

I knew today was going to be a tough one and it was - the nearest I've come so far to cracking, I think. Dropped eldest back to uni and all I could think about on the drive home was rewarding myself and having a glass of wine. Went into our Sainsbury's Local for a few groceries, and stood for a few minutes in front of the wine fridge looking at all my favourite brands of chilled sauvignon blanc. I'm really proud (and slightly amazed) that I managed to resist. Currently having a hot chocolate instead and planning to head to bed soon. Day 20 done! Onwards!

Like so many of you, I had a tricky day today. I worked and it was a bit of a stressful day, lots of little things going wrong. I got home at 5 and didn't half fancy a glass of pinot! Dh isn't doing DJ this year so there's booze in the house. But I was strong 😇 I really don't think I'm going to crack now ... and neither are you comrades! Come on, let's give it our all in the final 10 days 💪👊💯🧃☕🫖🧋

Checking in - still AF.

Me and DS shared a pizza from a little artisan pizza van thing this evening. Oddly - it was nice but I didn't find it as delicious and satisfying as I usually have.

I think my healthier eating has somehow changed my cravings as well - this should have been delicious and it usually always has been delicious.

I've been losing about 2lbs per week (first week being that Christmas weight and period bloat), so I am expecting it to taper off now during upcoming week.

I had planned to allow myself a cheat day today as we had a special occasion… but I went for a mocktail!

Something kicked in and I thought… I’ve come this far I’m not giving in NOW… especially as I know there are always naysayers who at the end say “you mean a whole month with NOTHING”… then you say you had one.. and they tell you you didn’t really do DJ…

… those people! I am not letting them win, I’ve worked too hard.

This is how I feel too. I want to be able to say I did it. Not that I did it, but only during the week. Or that I did 'damp January.' I want to do it properly for the first time. Also it's quite worrying to me if I can't go a few weeks without having a drink so I have something to prove to myself.

So good to hear so many positive stories on here despite the struggles!

I agree- the more friends say 'you? Really ? A whole month?' The more determined it makes me too. It's a great feeling getting this far isn't it?

After the very boozy friend's birthday do last night, and feeling a bit left out.. today and tonight have have restored my faith in the positives of not drinking.

No hangover this morning and I got up and had a hour walk with a coffee and croissant with a good friend. I laughed more this morning then than I did last night.
Then this evening a met 2 friends for dinner in town - they both had a bottle of red each and I had a mock tail and 2 AF beers. It was such a lovely evening and full of laughter and good conversation. I honestly didn't think about or wish I had the wine that they were drinking once.

I never thought that this would be possible. I'd normally be the one leading the charge of ordering a third bottle!

Home in bed and feeling v happy. Phew!

I bumped into someone yesterday who said they couldn't do DJ. I thought if I can do it anyone can. Feels like we're onto the downhill bit now. We can do this! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

After my wobble yesterday afternoon I went out and had an AF beer in a central London pub (£6.50!!!!) then a ginger beer with my meal. I had a lovely evening and I didn't even feel pangs of envy with my friends drinking wine.

I'm going to treat myself when Jan is over - any ideas? (not alcohol I'm carrying on or sweet things!).

Happy Sunday everyone. Oh the joy of waking up with no after effects of drinking!

I went over to a friend's house for dinner last night, there were six of us in total, one other was doing Dry January.

It was a really lovely evening but the host got a little squiffy and I did find it slightly tedious at the very end. DH was also an amplified version of himself which, given he's already a very gregarious, ebullient person I started to find too much. It made me wonder what I'm really like after just a few drinks!

But this morning I feel absolutely brilliant. Happy to be AF and no desire to start drinking again.

@Yestodessertplease I've spent my "savings" on Vinted...

Adult dd is living with us atm, she says dh and I are boring in January. When we go alcohol-free we don't go out. And I think this is a problem, I don't feel as inclined to go to the pub if I'm not drinking alcohol.

Last night, to cheer dd up, we tagged a trip to our lovely local on to the end of our dog walk. The dog was thrilled to be back - he always gets naughty treats from the bar staff - and last night was no exception. I was desperately hoping they would have a decent AF offering - it's a very traditional real ale pub (no wine by the glass)...they don't go for new-fangled nonsense but happily, dh came back from the bar with a bottle of Ghost ship and Erdinger...dd went full fat! I have really missed the pub - we always have chats with randomers and locals - feels very social, we only ever stay for a drink or two, I don't know why we are less inclined to go when we're not drinking but our lives would be poorer without it.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain

Sorry for the delay. Tuna recipe which is v simple and delicious!

It's kind of a made up recipe so a bit vague but I am sure there are proper ones on line.

Fry 2 crushed cloves of garlic in olive oil on a low heat.
Add 1 tin (or two and double the amount of everything else) of tuna . I generally use normal tuna in brine but it's even more melty and lovely with ventresca tuna fillets from Sainsbury’s. Just a bit extortionate but sublime.

Leave this cooking for a couple of minutes.

Add a jar / carton of passata and stir.

Add LOADs of back pepper, and salt / chilli to taste (I use lazy chilli but anything like that is fine)

Cook on a low heat for 20 mins with a lid on stirring every so often.

Next is where I normally add a small glass of red but as I said the other day - I added a beef stock cube and some balsamic vinegar and it tasted the same. Take lid off and to cook for another ten or so until it's not too liquidy. It should look quite smooth / velvety.

I taste quite a lot as it cooks as I love it with lots of chilli in so it needs to be the right amount.

The other day when I made this I sliced a couple of handfuls of black olives and it was really lovely.

Serve with spaghetti or linguine - I also then cover in lots of Parmesan and black pepper. It's just so good (if you are a tuna lover!)

Enjoy!

Morning all. Today's post is all about tips and tricks to survive a night out off the booze or while moderating - hope it's helpful:

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/21/dry-january-21-tips-tricks-again/

Yes I think my "savings" will involve retail therapy too!

THREE WEEKS TODAY!!! (Well, it will be by the end of it!)

Can't believe I've managed three whole weeks off the sauce! I've been a bit quiet lately on here, but lurking every day and still AF.

Awarded myself another badge on the Try Dry app yesterday after drinking coffee in the pub while all around me were swigging lager or wine.

It's both weird and wonderful to wake up hangover-free at 8.30 on a Sunday morning after a good night's sleep. I don't think I'll ever get sick of this.

It was absolutely fine for the first couple of hours, but then it was so noticeable when everyone started slurring and repeating themselves, finding things funny that I would normally have done too

Exactly what DB said when he first stopped srinking - he watched his mates get progressively louder and stupider and slurrier with their words and thought ' I looked like that.' I think it really spurred him on to get sober.

Early night last night, couldn't get warm so retreated to bed with a hot water bottle, tea and the radio after dinner.

Morning all! Day 22 here. No alcohol but my god, have I been eating some crap! Mostly ready meals with an entire box of Jaffa cakes for dessert. I gave myself a pass as at least I'm not drinking but I really do need to sort my eating habits out now. Still mulling over what my drinking habits will be in February. It doesn't help that I'm currently watching House of Cards on Netflix where the main characters share a joint and a glass of wine by the window each night. Lucky bastards 😁

I am going to go to the 9th Feb which for me will be 6 weeks. I think I need to give my liver a little present so hopefully by then it will have forgiven me 😁

Then I need to think about how to sensibly moderate although my weight loss goal will make it easier as limiting my alcohol really makes a difference for me scales wise and vanity wins.