DRY JANUARY 2025! Join us for a healthier start to the year! All welcome 🥤☕️🧋

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again!
If you need a detox, to lose weight, to be healthier, to undo some seasonal overindulgence, to sleep better, to look better, to have healthier skin, to save money, boost liver function, improve your memory, or to decrease your likelihood of dying earlier of various nasty illnesses (sorry for the sudden hard ball!) then you’ve come to the right place!

The MN DJ2025 Chat thread is for anyone who wants to reset their relationship with alcohol; whether you’re a weekend tippler or a problem heavier drinker.
This is a friendly, non-judgmental thread where we support and encourage each other, exchange ideas and information, share alcohol-free drinks recommendations etc.

Hopefully we’ll have some fun along the way. Please hop aboard the good ship DJ 2025, everyone welcome!

I did this thread last year and it changed my life. I rarely drink now…maybe a bottle of wine once a month or so. I was a heavy drinker - DH and i could have put away a whole bottle of rum between us several nights of week, and then some.

Stick with it, it really is worth it. I hardly ever think about drinking now. Looking forward to the weekend without having to factor in drinking or worse, how to cope without drinking, is real freedom.

Is your "friend" a heavy drinker? She sounds like she is sabotaging you which isn't much of a friend to begin with. This would honestly put me of someone totally as it just a lack of respect for my choices.

This is my Day 2. Slept well last night and back at work today.

I would be classed as a problem drinker I reckon. Could easily put away 3 to 4 bottles of wine a week, never drunk usually, just love a glass of wine in the evening and that usually starts when I'm making dinner. But then I'd have the occasional binge where I just don't know when/dont want to stop which is more of an issue.

This Xmas has been pretty good really, not too much drinking to excess.

Looking forward to the next month, have a few pounds to lose, my skin needs some TLC and my sleeping has been all over the place. Bank balance could do with a little bit of boosting as well.

Morning all. I didn't sleep that well last night but I think the hot chocolate I had at around 10:30 might have been part of the problem.

Bright and sunny here today which always lifts my mood.

Huge respect to those of you who are trying to combine DJ with other dietary changes...I must admit I think I'd really struggle to cut out more than just the wine!

My cans of elderflower and lemon/mint presse have arrived this morning so that's good timing for my first Friday of DJ! DS1 bought me some pretty stemless wine glasses for Christmas, so I plan to have a chilled presse in one of those this evening, with plenty of ice.

Keep going everyone

@MeinKraft I remember you from last year - that's amazing, well done you! Wish I could say the same for myself, but I always tend to do DJ and then slip right back into old habits

@Fundays12 not a heavy drinker but not dieting and eats what ever she wants, totally ignorant to my needs. She totally knew I was/am trying to be good. I am so cross.

That's not fair. I can see why you are cross with her. I can't imagine pouring doing that to a friend

I know it can be tough to refuse but just wondering why didn't you? Was it because it was too tempting for you? Or because you felt rude? If it's the latter, I would definitely have chosen to be rude, she doesn't sound like a great friend. I can totally understand it being too tempting if it was there and poured already though.

First two nights were fine - water and herb teas. We're having family over tomorrow for a big lunch so that might be trickier as we will offer them wine but a few will be driving so we will stick with them.

@MistletoeAndWine123 no temptation what so ever, I only had the food and drink to be polite. I am totally in the right mindset and focused. Not going to let last night deter me, but am still so cross (or am I cross with myself for not being able to be rude and say no?). Back strong again today 💪

Hi everyone, ands warm welcome to yet more newcomers.
It's just gone noon on day 3 which puts us almost exactly at....

8%

of the way through! That's a hefty chunk. Well done if you've stayed dry. If you haven't, aim for the next 8%. Don't give up. And don't drink to be "polite" to thoughtless friends... just thank and remind them.

It's great reading all your thoughts, struggles and suggestions everyone. Keep checking in when you can.

That's incredible. I do Dry Jan every year with DH but find it hard to keep going when he starts drinking again. We don't drink a lot, as in, we don't get drunk very often, but we do drink every night, one or two glasses. Almost never more than that but one or two every week night and two every weekend adds up.

I'd really like to have more breaks from drinking this year.

Hi @MeinKraft I remember you, and your post is so wonderful and inspirational to read.

Stories like yours are exactly why I start this thread each year, because a dry January thread on Chat changed my life for the better, too.

Thanks so much for sharing your success story 🙂

She was incredibly rude and undermining to do what she did, not a great friend. And yes, being rude sometimes is necessary I find! 😅 Anyway, forget about her, you're back on the wagon again and it's only the 3rd of January, best of luck, looking forward to virtually sharing the rest of the journey with you and others x

Still no drinking for DH or I, which tbf is more of an achievement for DH than for me.

Alcohol free alternatives are super helpful, and if you put them in your "usual" glass it still can feel like a treat. Although, I'm yet to find an AF wine or prosecco which isn't too sweet as I'm usually a very dry chardonnay drinker. However, I do love the AF corona and peroni so they will do for me.

I'm a rubbish sleeper at the best of times, and last night was no exception. But I'm on my period and being perimenopausal has made my periods extra evil so I have to get up multiple times a night to change anyway.

Back at work next week, sleeping may improve then.

8%. Good! I'll be measuring it to 3 decimal places by the middle! 🤣

Had a bad night's sleep, so I finally woke up with a headache 🙄

I'm hoping my sleep improves a bit!

A bit concerned about tonight; I wish I'd managed to get some grown up AF drinks in, but I've been working every single day, inc tomorrow; and, as mentioned I don't want to make a big deal of my DJ to my family. I asked DH to get some flavoured tonic today based on what a friend always drinks (my excuse to him for getting it!), so if he remembers, that'll be a start!

Tonight, like for so many of us, should by my 'end of week wine treat'. However, I am going to nip to the shop shortly and stock up on herbal teas and nibble on some minty chocolate (thanks for the tip upthread). I'll have a bath, there's clean PJs in the dryer, catch up on Vera and have an early night. I haven't been sleeping well but last night was the first time since christmas begun I had a 'head hits the pillow, fast asleep' night and that will be day 3 done and dusted.

Have a good one

Jeez it’s only 3.30 and I’m already fighting the wine demon when it comes to thinking about tonight.
It's going to be a lot tougher than I thought. 😬

I LOVE a glass of wine on a late Friday afternoon while finishing up WAH. I will be having water in a wine glass tonight, I don't drink fizzy drinks or tea/coffee.

You can do this! What's the plan for your evening?

Thank you, I REALLY want to stay dry.

My plan is to…I don’t really know. It was to go to the gym, but I’ve done that already. I’ve done a big spring clean today, so all the housework is done.

The cravings are coming in waves at the moment. One minute I want to drink, the next minute I don’t.
I keep reminding myself how pleased I’ll be tomorrow to wake up with a clear head and go to the gym.

Exhale 😮‍💨

I struggle with boredom at times as well, which can end up with me turning to the bottle.

Do you read? Have any hobbies? A colouring book is strangely a lovely way to pass the time at home.

Could you plan a lovely everything shower, a nice long skincare routine, fresh PJs and an early night?

You'll def feel so much more pleased with yourself in the morning, hang onto that knowledge tonight. Think plenty of us will find tonight a little challenging so be sure to check in later if you need to 👍

Thank you so much Mistletoe.
I have colouring books, reading books and loads of things I can do to keep distracted.
🤞

Would it help to have some stock phrases ready in your mind so if it happens again, you don't feel obliged to be polite? Maybe something like, 'That's so kind of you but I am doing Dry Jan, so I'll just have water/ I brought some sparkling cordial to share. Do you have any ice?'

As for the meat and potato pie - she is either really forgetful or a bit manipulative. But maybe next time just eat the bits are do qualify as low carb and if anyone asks, just politely say: 'I started low carbing and it is really important to me to stick to it. I thought I'd mentioned it, but maybe I didn't.'

Me too! I wouldn’t usually be thinking about wine at this time, but then it’s usually just an automatic assumption I’ll crack open a bottle once the kids are in bed on a Friday. Friday nights are going to be my hardest for sure.

My plan for tonight is going to be to have a nice hot bath and try one of the CBD drinks I’ve bought.

Then it’s the darts final and I have got non alcoholic beers in for the occasion, will probably just have the one, it’s more the habit of watching darts over Christmas with a drink.