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!

@Addictforanex I'm considering getting Sentia. Which colour did you opt for?

No, I didn't mention it afterwards @flipent perhaps I should have but I was annoyed as someone else asked 'what was in it' and she listed ingredients, but also said no alcohol,
I'm disappointed in her for her deception, although, and I think after the effects affected her too, she forgot and mentioned the Vodka.

I wouldn't in any way condone the vodka infiltrate, but I'm surprised anyone could detect half a cup in a pitcher. Maybe I'm such a hopeless alchy it'd take far more to touch me!! 🤣

Well, thinking about it, I wonder now if that amount that host said was in the drink, was actually more?
I felt that typical effect of having had alcohol and I knew. but wouldn't be surprised if she topped up the pitcher with more alcohol as it went down.

Busy day at work and thoughts have turned to finishing for the day and a busy weekend ahead, which has no place for a dehydrated thick head to start it off. Am planning on finishing at five-ish, sorting out what I need for tomorrow, a nice dinner, and then a bath, book and bed. The dog has been demanding to go to bed at around 9 every night, so who am I to argue with that (she likes to camp out at the bottom of the bed)

@HeresToLife I admire you're very calm and level approach to it.
I'm sure I would have handled it with much less dignity!

Thank you everyone for the support, it means a lot. I guess what I’m struggling to understand is WHY I drank.

I didn’t have very bad cravings, I didn’t particularly want to. I just kind of happened.
I’m not saying I didn’t have a choice, of course I did, but it seemed like more of an automatic thing than conscious choice.

@Fordian i actually got the bundle deal of all 3 😳

I have tried all three Sentia flavours: Red, Black and the new Gold.

I like the Gold as a pre-prandial with tonic and a slice of orange. It's quite citrusy and bitter. I also like the Red, which is spicy, a bit like mulled wine. Nice with tonic or even on its own, like a short. I didn't really like the Black, bit like liquorice and not my kind of thing at all.

I'm not really sure about the alleged relaxing effects – personally I don't really notice anything, it's probably too subtle for me! It's also really, really expensive: costs more than a decent bottle of whisky. I've got some at the moment, but won't be making a habit of it. I think I've spent more this month on AF drinks than I usually spend on wine!

I'm interested in the Sentia too, but I'm not sure the flavours sound like my thing (I'm a wine girl really) so I too am reluctant to spend so much on it. Shame they don't do minis to try.

'posted at FIVE THIRTY A.M.! 😂'
@fordian sadly 5.30am is not even particularly early for my bunch

@TeaRose29 thanks so much for talking the time to make that post. I’m intrigued (am also a wine girl). Will try them and report back!

Totally agree re the cost - I got 30% off but was baulking at price of AF drinks in general when out recently at a restaurant. I guess we are conditioned to think they are “worth less” than alcohol to us, so should cost way less. I think an AF fizz at the restaurant was £9 per glass and I couldn’t bring myself to order it. My brain thinks a AF drink should cost the same as a lemonade.

Some AF drinks I guess are quite complex and difficult to make (and I don’t know that ethanol is a particularly expensive ingredient?)

I nearly just reached for a bottle of wine last night without even thinking - just caught myself in time. It was that time of night when I was happily cooking in the kitchen, it's dark outside and I always enjoy a glass while I cook. I came so close, just forgot I was doing DJ! Then remembered and nearly just carried on and got the wine because I felt like it. Then stopped myself and got a tonic water. That did not hit the spot at all, but distracted me enough to get on with it and stay on track!

Friday night! Well, I have a bottle of M and S non-alcoholic sparkling rose in the fridge which I am looking forward to trying. I haven't tried any non-alcoholic sparkling wines before - I was disappointed in any of the non-alcoholic wines that I have tried. We'll see. I'm enjoying the support from this thread. I'm impressed with myself that I have managed this far and I think it is getting easier and I'm also enjoying the variety of the non-alcoholic soft drinks that I have been having. Fingers crossed that we all get through the weekend unscathed and alcohol free 😀

@flipent Yes, I was calm about it, but still annoyed.
I didn't want to spoil the party, but I do feel let-down, and yet, I didn't tell anyone I was doing DJ so to anyone else it would be no big deal.
It was just that I picked up on her saying there was no alcohol in the drink, and everyone praised her for how it turned out ( very nice and 'balanced' not too sweet, or tart) and on the 3rd drink, I felt the affects.
I shall have to be more aware, especially at family get togethers 😒

I tried Sentia when it came out, not sure if it was 2 or 3 years ago. It was red.

I think it sort of gave me a relaxed feeling in my arms and that was about it. Pleasant enough to drink, though!

Thanks. If I was a hermit for the whole month I would be relatively confident that I’d achieve DJ… just about. It’s the social occasions that I hugely struggle with.

Hi all hope you don't mind me joining the thread 10 days late! I've been doing dry January since the 1st but just found the thread. I ended the year going through a hard break up and moving into my own place so living alone for the first time ever. I'm not going to lie it's been really difficult! I'd gotten into the habit of drinking probably 3 nights a week to numb how unhappy I was. I had the worst anxiety ever and I am starting to feel that the anxiety and relationship problems haven't been helped by the unhealthy alcohol habits. This is the longest I have gone without a drink in years, I honestly can't remember the last time I went a weekend without a drop of wine before last weekend. So just jumping on and hoping to steal some good ideas for AF. I'm about to crack into a Schweppes aperitivo spritz and have some AF Corona for later 🍻

@newme2025 totally understand how this would be so tough! Feel exactly the same. At the moment with not drinking I just want to read have a bath, watch a bit of Tv and go to bed! Really can’t be arsed to socialise. I don’t feel I know how to without wine it’s so ingrained in me.
Good luck this evening.
I’m having a chilled one currently having a Trip. It will have to do!

Just a quiet night in tonight but I’m struggling. Feeling flat and want a glass of wine, especially as its Friday. I do have lots of chores to do tomorrow which I know wouldn’t get done if I was hungover.

Amazing to be doing so well going through what you are. Huge pat on the back x

Nice to have you along, @runningaway90 👋

Well everyone, it's the weekend again. But we managed last weekend so we can do it again.
Stay strong!

I've got my Becks Blue and some Scandi Noir lined up for tonight.
DH has discovered an AF beer that he likes, and so has one or two of those each night. It's not DJ for him as such, but he's sort of going along with me. I think it was more the "No booze is good booze" headlines this year that have persuaded him away from his 2 glasses of red wine per night habit.
However, we sit consuming our own bodyweight in snacks along with our AF beers of an evening 😞 one thing at a time, though!

I should add, the end of today, day 10, will see us:

32.2%

of the way through DJ2025!

As near as darned it one third!

We're all brilliant 💪💪

Day 5 here and had an awful night's sleep so feeling absolutely knackered! I did manage a walk a lunchtime to try and perk myself up but now I'm very much craving a glass of red wine...! None in though and no way am I going out. I've just scoffed 10 wine gums however (that sugar craving happened last year too!).

Im sure I felt like this on about day 5 last year too, the little voices keep saying "Ah go on - you've done soo well, have a reward - it's Friday"!

At least I can have a looong lie in tomorrow unless the cat starts being needy and hopefully will be tired.

But you still managed a lot more alcohol free days.
Why not just start at Day 1 again (if that doesn't sound too awful!) and finish in Feb?
I only just started 5th Jan anyway and I think there are some other recent new joiners?

I’m so proud of myself tonight, it’s been a crazy week at work and that’s usually a trigger for me anyway, let alone it being Friday, but I’ve not even been tempted. Maybe as I’m feeling so tired but also I think because I’m trying to be very conscious of it and not just pour a glass as a default end to a stressful day. Even more smug because DH has given up on dry January tonight so is sitting having a real beer!