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’ve had a strange issue for months where when I breathe in really deeply, I get a mild pain. It’s hard to describe but the best way I can put it is that it feels like I have reached the limit of my lungs. Anyways, it’s now gone! I’ve no idea if it’s linked to DJ but it seems quite a coincidence.

Finding work difficult and the house seems to be falling down around me. But am finally on the sofa with the fire and relaxing, my happy place, another AF day done!

Im counting as day 6 for me is completed, if I dont have a drink before I start cooking, I dont. Thats always been my drinking pattern for the past 40 years

Now I did get a 2 minute wobble around 6ish, and it was ok. Took a deep breath and carried on. Wasnt actually will power that got me past, but realising what the trigger was and changing my response

As I say this is the numerous attempt of doing dry January as a kick start to getting sober again and this really has been so different

And its the realisation that every other attempt its been will power thats got me through the month

We all only have so much willpower, there isnt a never ending supply of it so I cant rely on it

It could be your liver was inflamed or maybe booze was bothering your gallbladder. Its really upset mine recently but I have had issues with my gallbladder since I was 19. Stopping drinking seems to have settled it down again thankfully..

Would either of those things cause the symptom I described do you know?

I’m now in bed so that’s another day done. Can’t believe I’ve done a whole week AF.

22.5%…. A quarter of the way there tomorrow!!

That will be a big milestone!

Day 7 done. Can't believe this time last week it was NYE and dh and I were getting sozzled on wine. Feels longer...

Starting to see some benefits. I'm definitely clearer headed and I'm finding it a lot easier to get up in the morning. I've never been a morning person and hate getting up with my alarm but after a drink I'd find it so much harder. I'd be groggy for ages. Now I'm up and on much quicker with more energy. I feel (tentatively) that if I can carry it on I might even get to the stage where I can exercise in the morning. I'm not overloading myself with diet and exercise changes right now because I know from experience that trying to do too much results in failure at everything. DJ is enough for now but I can see other things following, maybe.

That said....I'm bloody bored. I don't have the time, energy, money or childcare to go out and keep occupied every night and trying to keep busy at home when the kids are in bed (which was my prime drinking time) is becoming hard. I miss booze, I can't lie. But I don't think I'm quite ready to throw in the towel now I'm noticing the benefits.

The beginning was easier because I had overdone it over Xmas and was well ready for a break. Now I feel much better and feel ready for a drink again. But I know if I give in at this stage I'll be disappointed with myself.

Dh is doing really well, more committed than me probably and he was a much heavier drinker.

The weekend will be a big test for me.

Hey you wonderful dry people, you!

Well done to all of you for still being here. Apologies for the sub par OPing recently... my new(ish) car conked out and left me abandoned miles from home, and my autistic teenager has been having a tough time. I'll catch up with all your news and post more tomorrow.

Of course, I do have to tell you that at midnight, the end of day 7, we will be...

22.5%

of DJ2025. Also, it is the end of week one.

We're just about hitting the quarter way mark which is incredible. Carry on showing booze who's boss! 💪💪

Had horrible, stressful news yesterday, to the extent that DH said, 'If you want a glass of wine, I don't blame you, have one.' But that made me determined not to add to the lows of the day by breaking Dry Jan. So I had an AF beer and then some pomegranate juice. Today was better - dire situation a bit under control, and I was fine with soft drinks but had another sugar binge. Not great.

Managed to fit in 20 mins yoga and a lunchtime walk too so at least some things are going right in this dodgy start to the year!

We've done a week!

I'm like this. If I have a few of glasses of wine, my bladder can last for 8hrs and if I'm not drinking, I will have to get up twice in the night. It's infuriating. I assume the alcohol dehydrates me sufficiently that I don't need the loo. I'm reading other people's stories of improved sleep with great hope because this is something I really hope to gain from Dry Jan.

@SandrenaIsMyBloodType I’m the same. Normally last all night if I’m wearing my earplugs (husband snores) and eye mask. But since Day 1 I’ve had to get up to pee every night. Probably drinking too much water in the evening.

@SereneCapybara sorry to hear you are having a rough time.

Well I survived bridge! Drank a bottle of my fizz and it was fine, I’m sure I played better than usual when I’ve had the thick end of a bottle of wine! However, I’ve had really strong cravings off and on today. But I resisted. Very grateful for this thread.

Whole family has colds, so I’m achy, headachy, and not sleeping well with the sneezing and coughing. Not feeling any benefits yet. Also might have to stop watching the soaps, it’s all pub, pub, pub!

Any pain under the right rib can be an organ. If your liver is inflamed it can push against other organs making it uncomfortable around that region. Gallbladder pain is uncomfortable around that region (for me). I still had a pain around there till about day 8 but it's gone now. It was one of my reasons for stopping drinking. If it's sill there in a few days it's worth getting checked though.

Day 11 for me. I am up super early with a sore stomach which is a pain. I have taken the unexpected joy of being sober down to read and am hoping to fall back asleep for a little while soon. It's day 11 for me. Tomorrow night might be my tricky time as it's a normal drinking night for me but I may go and get a good shopping as we need one and by the time I get it unpacked and away the wine witch should have stopped calling me.

I'm still struggling along. Can feel my skin and general puffiness improving a little, but I am SO tired. Admittedly I don't get as much sleep as I should due to DC, plus it's the depths of winter, but I'm also pretty sure it's at least in part due to my booziness over Xmas.

'I'm bloody bored. I don't have the time, energy, money or childcare to go out and keep occupied every night and trying to keep busy at home when the kids are in bed (which was my prime drinking time) is becoming hard. I miss booze, I can't lie. But I don't think I'm quite ready to throw in the towel now I'm noticing the benefits.'

This really resonates too, though, and is why I find it hard to give it up for good even though I know it does me no favours health-wise these days. I don't really recognise all the increased time & energy in the evenings others describe now they aren't drinking. Without a few drinks I feel exhausted and want to be in bed by 9.30pm, and I can't deny that makes me feel a bit dull. But I also know that a fun, floaty hour or two before bedtime results in less energy all throughout the following day(s). The vicious circle!

No plans at all to give up on DJ, but something to think about longer term.

Without a few drinks I feel exhausted and want to be in bed by 9.30pm, and I can't deny that makes me feel a bit dull. But I also know that a fun, floaty hour or two before bedtime results in less energy all throughout the following day(s).

I also struggle with this dilemma.

Day 7 done.

@DryAF I hear you and PP, I didn’t drink in my 20s as I had DD at 21 and never got into any kind of drinking. Started at 30 with a glass of wine. But I remember that feeling when DD was in bed, I still have time in the evening, feeling major FOMO when all my peers were out having a great time even on weekdays I thought).

In the end, I did two things with my time - got into good self grooming habits, spending time (not big money) on body lotions, scrubs, doing own nails, brows etc. 20 years later these routines are still with me.

And the second one was doing a remote degree which was a huge commitment (but I was young, enjoyed it and did Master’s in my 30s as a follow up). Now I read or listen to podcasts or lurk around here. Right now, with two half cotton pads under eyes, soaked in Liz Earle eye tonic for early morning self love 😂

What I am saying you are saving money not drinking - have a thinkmwhat can give you joy, what advice would you give your child on spending the time constructively or with pleasure? Or maybe boredom is good and it will help to make things a bit clearer on what it is you can substitute alcohol with?

Another strange night, seemed endless as I kept waking, but at least no pounding head and racing heartbeat. I'm overcompensating with sugary snacks in the evening, I need to cut these out soon.
Well done so far everyone, our bodies are having to readjust big time!

Last night I took my DP out for his birthday treat. Normally I would break on this occasion and have at least 2 or 3 large glasses, even though DP isn't much of a drinker and will have one or two beers at most. Went out for a Thai and had Bitburger AF lager which was great. Proud of myself and able to drive afterwards and this morning with no worries about being groggy or over the limit. Inspired by all your stories - thanks and good luck all.

I'm still here as well, and this thread is helping with seeing how everyone else is doing it. It's a rather dull and cold start to the year but health-wise I'm feeling good!

Good morning, just a quickie from me for now...

This evening, at 6pm exactly, we will be...

25%

of the way through!

And that is chuffing amazing. If you've got this far, you can surely do another 25% (then another, then another...)

It's a really good achievement, especially for the more problem drinkers joining us this year. I know it's hard, but it's so so worth it! 💪💪

I have been watching this thread and finding it really helpful. Definitely sleeping better and feeling less grumpy. Exercising more and also reading more, I have never realised how much alcohol (even one or two drinks) impacts my ability to concentrate the next day. Well done everyone! One week down.

Hurrah!

I’m continuing to feel subdued but sober. The thing I’m trying to remember is that bar the first two drinks, drinking doesn’t make me happy either.

Social occasions are where I’m really going to struggle. I just can’t go for drinks with friends and sit there with a non-alcoholic drink TBH!