Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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

992 replies

HPLikecraft · 10/01/2024 20:51

Thread#2...

Let's keep going!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
48
Iwanttheraintostop · 12/01/2024 11:27

Day 12 for me. This is going to sound v twee but I noticed the birds tweeting this morning whilst taking my daughter to school. I haven't noticed this before - and I heard all the different types of birdsong (in London too!).

They talk of glimmers in sobriety (the opposite of triggers) where you see something small and beautiful in the world and it brings you joy!

Stay strong everyone for the weekend 💪

PubicZirconia · 12/01/2024 11:31

Only Day 5 for me...am I too late to join?

I used the excuse of still being on holiday with family :( Doing ok so far.Fridays are always my downfall but I'm determined to stay strong today.

HPLikecraft · 12/01/2024 11:50

Absolutely not, @PubicZirconia welcome aboard!

OP posts:
WorriedMutha · 12/01/2024 11:51

I haven't checked in yet but am still AF. In fact I haven't drunk since just after Christmas. I'm feeling complacent as it's quite easy. I was at a meeting on Monday evening and in the chat beforehand there was a suggestion to go to the pub. I made haste my departure after the meeting as I might have felt conflicted and tempted to just have one.
My mind has turned to 1st February already. Stick with it or chill a bit and moderate. That's a whole new thread.

FishPie2 · 12/01/2024 11:57

I walked to the shop instead of getting the bus this morning, takes about 15 mins, not often I do that. Came back on the bus and walked from the stop to my house up a small incline and for the first time since summer I walked up it without having a couple of stops to get my breath. Didn't realise until I got to my door, the must have to be due to having no alcohol since Boxing Day or so I would like to think.

TooningOut · 12/01/2024 12:12

Thanks everyone. Good advice, it would be a great test if I didn't drink.

TooningOut · 12/01/2024 12:17

I'm finding my house is much cleaner because of DJ. It's not normally bad but it's super tidy at the moment, definitely because I've more energy. The other night I took the hoover out after dinner!

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 12/01/2024 12:20

@TooningOut

Agreed. My house is a little tidier but I have spent 2 hours with the teen DCs in each of their bedrooms this week and got rid of 2 bin bags of clothes and crap from each of their rooms, and actually spent time with them too - I would NEVER have done this normally. I would have been trying to get dinner over with as quickly as possible so I could drink wine and watch crap on TV. I have still watched the crap on TV - just started a little later and without wine.

Morelinesadded · 12/01/2024 13:32

I still watch a lot of crap on tv, and now without the wine I can actually remember what happened when I come back to a series the next day!

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 12/01/2024 13:38

This is going to sound v twee but I noticed the birds tweeting this morning whilst taking my daughter to school. I haven't noticed this before - and I heard all the different types of birdsong (in London too!)

OT but I used to leave for work at 6.40am to commute across London. Jan and Feb were the worst months because it felt like it was never going to be light in the mornings, but I'd walk up to the station with the quiet streets all to myself, see the first lightening of dawn in the sky and hear the birds. The memory remains a tiny oasis of calm and a reminder that lighter days are coming.

Neptunium93 · 12/01/2024 13:38

Oddly, I've found my tolerance of crap on tv has reduced significantly. I think the wine made a lot of things seem more entertaining than they actually are!

RubberyChicken · 12/01/2024 13:45

Day 741, still going strong, you CAN do it

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 12/01/2024 14:35

Neptunium93 · 12/01/2024 13:38

Oddly, I've found my tolerance of crap on tv has reduced significantly. I think the wine made a lot of things seem more entertaining than they actually are!

Not just me muttering 'Shut up. Shut up. Just shuuuuuuuut uuuuuuuup' at the TV then (altho in fairness I used to do that pre DJ).

Sonolanona · 12/01/2024 16:37

Checking in here... can't believe I'm still dry ! The weekend will be a bit of a challenge but knowing I've already managed one, means I CAN do it again.
Sleep still poor but then I'm menopausal.
However, after 6 years of no exercising (I used to do Taekwondo) I took myself to a women's boxing/fitness club twice this week, and while aching just about everywhere.. I did it, sort of enjoyed it...and defo coped better than I would on the wine!
My skin however is spotty...what's that all about?!

WTF99 · 12/01/2024 17:05

Hellloooo!
I've checked into the pub . Just chlling in my room before going back later to see my rellie again...I've already been there most of the day.
Last time I did this, just before new year, at this point of the day I was looking forward to getting back later and having a a glass or two of wine before bed. Not tonight. I've brought some hot chocolate with me instead as an end of day treat.
I was up really early this morning then a long drive so hoping I'll just flake out tonight. Will avoid the bar I think, with its log fire and chilled wine.....

Neptunium93 · 12/01/2024 17:13

@Sonolanona , I had bad skin last time I did DJ, but it has been fine this time. I wonder if it is something to do with increasing exercise / sweating, combined with detoxification? Also the interaction between alcohol and hormones is quite complex, so individual reactions are likely to vary a lot.

CrackersCheeseNoWinePlease · 12/01/2024 17:28

The urge for wine tonight was real earlier. I had to call in the supermarket on my way home for bits for tea, very nearly picked up the wine but I managed to resist.
Early shift at work tomorrow, didn't fancy a hangover either it so after tea I'll be having some Becks blue

wellitywellness · 12/01/2024 17:33

Argghh Fridays - my most difficult day of all... Especially after this horrible week.

If Dry January has taught me one thing (and it has in fact taught me many!), it's which drinks I really and truly appreciate, and Friday red wine is definitely one!

So after a few day's worth of quit lit, it's back to the body. I've written about long-term risks / harms of alcohol in previous entries - this one is all about the impact the old giggle water has on our daily quality of life in the here and now. Read at your peril!

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/12/dry-january-12-quality-of-life/

(Feedback and comments gratefully received btw... ;) )

Dry January #12: Quality of Life

‘Booze fucks our shit up.’ – Holly Whitaker Congratulations all – we’ve made it to day 12, officially over a third of the way through!! Whoop whoop! Back on day 6, I posted about the quite frankly …

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/12/dry-january-12-quality-of-life

pangolinfan · 12/01/2024 17:38

Really tough day at work + DH bringing home the most delicious looking bottle of Italian red (for him to drink later) is seriously testing my resolve for the first time. Currently in the bath summoning the willpower to go and cook dinner (he mainly does it in the week, as I work longer hours than he does). I have couple of Lucky Strikes to help. Please send alcohol-resisting thoughts my way.

disappearingfish · 12/01/2024 17:48

Agree with others, this feels like the hardest moment so far! But, I am still resolute 💪

Rassy · 12/01/2024 18:01

Hello! Doing DJ for the first time - thought about doing it many times! However DH won't join in which makes it more difficult at weekends. When I said I was doing DJ his face hit the floor!Normally we would cook something nice Friday and Saturday and share a bottle of wine each evening. Any tips on how not to crack?! Is anyone else's DH not being supportive?

Neptunium93 · 12/01/2024 18:13

Interesting stuff, @wellitywellness , and I hope you have an easier week next week.

As you say, dosage is key when it comes to alcohol.

On the sugar, wine isn't as loaded with sugar as we may think and it is natural sugar, so no surprise that it didn't cause your blood sugar to rise. The alcohol appears to have a high calorific content, but Tony Edwards* argues that the measure is flawed - it is literally based on what happens to it when it burns. You and I are the same height / weight btw, and I've never found drinking caused me to put on weight either, but it may be that it varies between types of drink, or is related to increased snacking for some people. I did lose a couple of pounds last week, but have put them back on again, which I'm pleased about.

I think Messrs Nutt and Spector have the balance right. Some of the Quit Lit writers are clearly on a mission based on personal experience and good luck to them, but they do have an agenda and I don't think they necessarily look at both sides of the equation. Before February I will be digging out my copy of *'The Good News about Booze' by Tony Edwards for a more positive assessment😊.

HollyGolightly4 · 12/01/2024 18:19

Today has been the first challenging day!!! Out for tea and the place does the best cocktails. Resisting and having a virgin bramble instead.

disappearingfish · 12/01/2024 18:23

@Sonolanona I also have three big spots on my face. When they said DJ would lead to more youthful skin I didn't think they meant a return to teenage acne 🙄

wellitywellness · 12/01/2024 18:29

@Neptunium93 thank you for the recommendation! I will definitely read that one...