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

[HPLikecraft]

Thread#2...

Let's keep going!

Day 17 AF today. I too am thinking how to moderate more in February.

Sorry for your loss Lindor Hope you are doing ok Big Buttons, sorry to hear it was a tough day.

Did a bit of research on the relative benefits of a 6 week break vs a month off, and I'm thinking it might be worth it, especially as I didn't do DJ last year.

@Neptunium93 can you summarise what the benefits are?

@BigButtons sorry to hear you're having a tough time, I hope things improve for you
@LindorDoubleChoc sorry to hear about your mum, well done for staying AF though

I'm really enjoying waking up on a weekend with a fresh head, normally on a Sunday I'm feeling sluggish and tired and just doss around the house all day but for the last couple of Sundays I've been up early and got loads done in the house. DH and DD are still in bed but we'll be taking the dogs for a walk some time this morning, I'm going to put a gammon in the slow cooker then crack on with the housework and washing today.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone

Haven't been checking in as much as I would like as being back to work / school has been particularly hectic. However I am still AF and am catching up with posts when I can.

I tried the Kylie fizz last night, I thought it was very sweet but it was cold and in a wine glass so did feel like a treat. Not sure I'll get it again though.

I have also been thinking about post DJ and what to do... I have an event on 31st and was going to finish early but now I'm thinking I might not and try to go a bit further instead. I'm sleeping much better, have more energy and am feeling more positive and productive at work. I don't think I want to give up altogether but I would like to feel like this all the time!

Thank you for your support. You are all lovely.
i have horrible headache and feel rubbish. Mind you I have been waking up feeling rubbish AF too- like kicked in the head rubbish. I am looking forward to girding my loins and going for a dry week. Even if I allow myself a drink at the weekend, 5days dry streaks are a massive improvement on my previous mindless drinking.
i hope to be able to last longer than 12 days at some point.
learning to go gently on myself instead of beating myself up.
well done to all of you who have managed to stay dry despite the difficulties that life can throw at you. Hats off to you!

@LindorDoubleChoc so sorry to hear about your Mum, you're right alcohol won't make you feel any better or fix the situation - it's a learned response.

Dh and I both have health issues, we've both been told we have to limit our intake to reduce the impact on our health. Dh has been told he needs to cut down to 20 units a week, my recommendation is a one-drink-a-day limit.
I had reduced my drinking down to 2 glasses of wine a day (a bit more at the weekend)- that's small glasses, as we all know that those home-poured glasses can get pretty big. I drink half pints at the pub - ordering smaller drinks helps.

I think the next step for me is to go alcohol-free Mon, Tue and Wed. I'll be relying on the AF beers (so far Leffe and Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects and Guinness are the stand-outs) to support me. I know it's not perfect, I could give up completely but I don't want to. Limiting alcohol is not the only way to improve your health and I'll be pulling the other levers too.

@BigButtons sounds like you have a lot on your plate atm. Hope things improve for you very soon.💐

Sending hugs Lindor

❤️❤️❤️ to @LindorDoubleChoc and @BigButtons.

I'm finding this thread motivational and also the app telling me how many units/calories I've saved since starting.

“you're right alcohol won't make you feel any better or fix the situation - it's a learned response”

Making a note of this to remind myself for the future.

Day 16 done, I had massive cravings on Friday night but resisted the urge for a cold beer. I know I don't drink all that much but I actually want to achieve something.

Shame I'm eating so much now instead. It does make me wondered if the two are linked.

My Sunday morning check in. Was asleep by 11 and woke up at 5.30, after an unbroken night.

Feeling well rested on a Sunday morning was unheard of for me before DJ.

Spending all those Saturday nights drinking wine that I didn’t even like the taste of purely out of habit really wasn’t worth it.

Sending thoughts to @LindorDoubleChoc

I went to the pub yesterday afternoon. I was fine buying my Mum a Prosecco and me a tea but I was twitchy around another table of ladies drinking wine as that is my poison. Anyway any negatives thoughts around dry Jan disappeared by the time I got home and had dinner.

We were talking about alcohol - my sister can have 2 Proseccos in the afternoon then go home and drink tea and not touch alcohol for weeks. If I drink in the afternoon I go home and drink more.

Educating myself around alcohol I have learnt the brain always remembers (and I have screwed up my brain chemistry) so for me if I start drinking my brain expects at least a bottle of wine despite long breaks of being alcohol free and then I end up wanting to quit again - it's a vicious cycle.

Morning :) Checking in to day 14 ... genuinely can't believe I've got this far! I'm glad the weekend is nearly over though... friday and saturday are definitely a little tougher than week nights, especially when DH is happily sat with a beer. (He is much more moderate than me so I don't begrudge him not doing DJ!)

But my sleep is still awful, and my skin seems to have reverted to teenage spots... whaaa :( I suffer from terrible restless legs at night due to some neurological problems and wine really helped dampen that. I've ended up pacing the floor at 3 am pretty much every night. On the plus side I'm still more alert in the morning! I could take more neuro meds but that feels like I'm just swapping to another 'doping' factor which seems counter productive!

Still..here's to another dry week ahead!!!

Yes similar here, and my sister is the same as yours! Unfortunately DH is like me! Feel ok about him drinking in Feb so far though, especially if he sticks to beer. Current thinking is I'll definitely carry on as long as I can. If nothing else, sleep feels too precious!

Morning everyone! 15 dry days here. This weekend was a tough one after a bitch of a week and I spent far too long gazing at the wine selection in tesco yesterday. Went for some Kylie 0% but forgot it in the freezer so it's now a big ice cube.

I'm also wondering what my drinking habits are going to look like in February. As well as the alcohol, I've also stopped weed (edibles) as they both go hand in hand for me. I would have a small crumb of edible and half/two thirds of a bottle of wine and would get a lovely relaxing buzz. I'm thinking I might make it a fortnightly treat instead of weekly so that way I get 2 productive weekends a month. I've found I have MUCH more patience with the children since stopping everything so I'm reluctant to lose that. I love the idea of being long term sober but the reality just seems so, boring? Like I have nothing to look forward to that is just for me.

@DecafOatMilkCappucino I think it's normal to feel that way for the first 3 months or so while your brain is readjusting then you just get used to not having alcohol to look forward to

So sorry, @LindorDoubleChoc
My Dad was a drinker, and it made him a poor parent, so I totally get where you are coming from.
I cried when my DM rang to tell me (they lived abroad) but never shed another tear, even when I had to identify him in his coffin (law I'm the country they lived in)
It's sad that most of my memories aren't fun/happy ones

❤️ @BigButtons & @LindorDoubleChoc

I can't believe I'm still in, quite a wine craving yesterday but time ran away with me, I couldn't cook what I'd planned in time for the little ones bed time so we ordered pizza. I wasn't going to add wine calories to that and I just thought how I would feel in the morning. Which is great - whoop!

@BigButtons other people are often the trigger for drinking in my life, usually kids or work. Sending hugs 🥰

Sorry to hear @LindorDoubleChoc and @BigButtons - puts my week in perspective...

@DJer24 Current thinking is I'll definitely carry on as long as I can. If nothing else, sleep feels too precious!

Same on both counts for me!

Just seen this thread and want to say Hi

Im day 13, I started the 2nd January. I have a couple of DJ's under my belt but always started the 2nd cos Id always been hung over on the 1st and needed a livener

First DJ since 2019 and January the 2nd was the first day since 2020 I didn't have a drink - yep 3 years of drinking every day

Tbh, other then a few days of withdrawal its been easy enough, even driven DH to the pub a couple of times and have sat there quite happily with a Diet Coke

I know moderation doesn't work for me, its all or nothing so whilst Im not struggling with not drinking at the moment, Im struggling with the idea of not drinking again. I did 12 years one time, and christ they were 12 long years lol. I do enjoy alcohol, always have, so whilst I was obviously healthier and fitter and a better me being dry, I always resented that I couldn't drink

Condolences to LindorDoubleChoc and wishing BigButtons a calmer day.

I would agree with gingercat02 that often when peeved (looking at you DH) I can instantly go to the thought of a glass of wine, even if first thing in the day - although that is the best time if I am going to be peeved, as reaching for wine then will not be happening and the feeling has worn off by wine witch time.
Still taking it one day at a time and thinking each AF day is doing me some good. Will think about 1 Feb when I get there. Have been caught out by making myself long term 'promises' so better for me to be 'in the moment' instead, as disappointment in myself is a strong driver to the 'fuck it' button!

Have a good Sunday all.