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!

So sorry @Theremedy . Hope you're doing ok.

@Theremedy, I’m so sorry for your loss.

Aw well done! Have u noticed any benefits yet?

I’ve been more bloated after food, does that count?

Couldn't sleep again. It was past 1am when I fell asleep, and that's with taking Nytol. So tired this morning.

Made it to day 7. Proud of myself as this is the longest I’ve gone without alcohol in almost 2 years.

6 days done, I have done strength training, cardio or body balance each day, without feeling lethargic in the morning, and having time and clear head to do this in the evening. More energy at work and about the house, so I move more and sleep like a baby. Good luck for day 7, ladies!

Yesterday's steak birthday celebration dinner was fine without the red wine 🍷. If anything I enjoyed the food more as I was focused on that iyswim.

Still not sleeping great either (multiple wakings) and when I do I am dreaming a lot.

I watched the Adrian Chiles program “Drinkers Like Me” on YouTube - as it’s not on iplayer anymore I don’t think. Would recommend. It’s a few years old but I hadn’t seen it before. He promotes more mindful and moderate drinking which is my goal. Shows how a few drinks can easily turn into a binge and how easy it is to leave 14 units a week in the dust.

I'm sleeping well. Much more deeply. I'm finding it more difficult to get out of bed in the mornings as a result.
I'm doing ok and pleased with my progress. I do have to contend with the strong cravings but once I've had dinner it's ok. The triggers are cooking after around 6pm.

I'm sleeping well also however waking up in the morning with headaches like I've got a hangover which is annoying. No idea why as I'm drinking LOADS of water during the day (min 2 litres). It passes when I've got up and drank some water but it's not pleasant.
My only difficulty has been Saturday night so far when I fancied a wine but I've been ok and think I will be until this saturday!

I’m generally feeling quite subdued and thinking about wine a lot. On the other hand, I also feel calmer and relieved not to have a hangover with all the horrible symptoms that brings.

Day eight. Last night slept well which was probably the first night since this started. Took my blood pressure today - was verging on high and it's gone from 114/81 to 103/74 I can only attribute the decrease in not drinking as nothing else has changed. Quite amazing really!

That's interesting @SwiftyFifty
I slept well last night for the first time in a while. I can't say I feel any better at the moment for not drinking but I'm not really missing it at the moment. The weekend will be my big challenge.

I actually slept a bit better last night after beginning to wonder if I could cope with the increasing exhaustion, but I am going to the loo at least twice during the night which is annoying. I am drinking a 9.30pm herbal tea, but normally by 9.30 I'd've drunk at least one bottle of wine, over 3-4 hours, tho.

What percentage are we at? 😊

I've been sleeping in since going sober. No more waking at 5.30 am! Not sure how I feel about this. I might need to set an alarm.

That's amazing. Well done.

So last night I decided to sort the freezer drawers out into fish, meat & veg sections as it had been bugging me as it was so disorganised but drinking me cba to sort it. Is that a DJ win? Pretty dull though but it was a Monday - if I'm doing this sort of thing on a Friday and Saturday night I'll wonder what my life has come to 🤣

Tomorrow morning we will wake up to 22.6% done 👍

No cravings at all tonight. Currently relaxing, reading a book with an AF Kopparberg pear cider. Highly recommend if you like sweet ciders.
I can’t believe I’ve managed a whole week! I haven’t been AF for that length of time in probably over a year.

Day 7. I had a very difficult day yesterday juggling two clients, one of whom was being very demanding (she’s French 🤣) and I didn’t sit down until after 10pm for the second night running. The whole thing has put me in a grumpy mood and no alcohol to turn to. Could have murdered a glass of white wine last night but held off.

Tonight will be my first social challenge. We’re playing bridge with friends, and it is usually a pretty boozy affair, but always great fun. I’m going to drive and I will take some AF sparkling wine with me. At the moment I feel like chucking the whole DJ thing, but I fail every year, and this time I’ve decided I’m not going to!

I had a real wobble at about 5pm tonight which is mad as I’d never usually drink on a Tuesday! Over it now. Well done everyone.

I'm doing quite badly, am still in the post Christmas drinking phase

Well we're 7 days into January and I still feel so awful from this bloody virus that I haven't actually needed to use willpower yet. I'm so congested I can't really taste properly and I have a headache that just won't quit.
I am so looking forward to feeling well enough to turn down a glass of wine.

Public service announcement: do not, I repeat do NOT go thinking Marks & Spencers alcohol free red "wine" might be worth a try 😱. A waste of £4.50 if ever there was one.

We have a guest staying and I made quite a fancy dinner so was in the kitchen for a long time and there's no denying I'd have liked a glass of wine, but it wasn't a big deal really. Also, DH and I were invited out to pub drinks by a couple of friends we haven't seen for a while. I turned them down and said could we do it in February - might as well be realistic!

@LindorDoubleChoc thats a shame, their alcohol free prosecco is the best!

I’m away with work, which I usually enjoy… apparently that was just because it was a good excuse for a midweek drink!
Refrained though and feeling better for it.