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!

Anyone fancy talking me out of a wine 🙈

It's a bar and a half worth of chocolate in calories. Not worth it at all.

I’ll try!
Why are you doing dry Jan? What was the thought process that led to that decision? Mine was feeling rough, feeling bloated, feeling anxious and actually feeling a bit bored with drinking - it didn’t really do anything for me anymore and I would just keep drinking to try and chase that nice feeling even though I was full and not really enjoying it.
Tell us why you are doing it.

To try and be healthy! TTC, but just started my period 😥.

Day 17 for me! Last night was a big test as I was out at a friend’s house for dinner with a group of friends who weren’t doing DJ. I was a little tempted to break at the beginning when they brought out a bottle of champagne but am feeling relieved I stuck to my guns. I actually had a really nice evening & it proved I was able to socialise without drinking.

@RedxRobin well done, especially when the champagne came out! Did people say anything about you not drinking?

@RedxRobin I couldn’t have done that!

I got a few comments from people saying that life was too short for DJ but I thought I would just look really silly if I caved in to peer pressure! I just joked it left more champagne for the rest of them!

'Life's too short' is a very persuasive argument sometimes, when you want it to be, especially coming from people you know, so definitely well done!

I have cravings again tonight. Trying to ignore them but feeling grumpy.

Today has been hell-ish, one kid has a stomach bug, other is being a pain, but hating life and craving a glass while we eat pizza and catch up on The traitors when they’re both in bed.

That is exactly the type of day that would have me reaching for the wine, @Waffle19 - well done for resisting.

It’s not exactly a surprise, but I find that when I’m just sitting around not doing much is when the cravings are at their worst. I’ve just sorted the mountain of laundry out and that really helped distract me. Actually forcing yourself to do stuff is energizing too.

I’d struggle too. I’m sorry. Is there a different sort of treat you can have?

@HollyGolightly4 Sorry to hear that, was always a trigger for me too! Could you do something like have a really hot bath, basically something you also couldn’t do if you were pregnant but is still a treat and relaxing.

Agreed - and I have found I have so much more time now I’m not trying to condense all the jobs into the day time so I can relax with a drink in the evening.

Thank you so much everyone 💕 it's thanks to this thread that I didn't give in. I just kept telling myself have one non alcoholic drink, then you can have an alcoholic one next if you still really want it. I did, but held off. Going to have a slice of panettone and a cup of tea whilst we catch up on gladiators. Feel like I've really earned that dry Jan tick today!

Day 18 for me. I went dry on 1st Jan after a heaving week of Christmas drinking. It’s not been too bad although I would really like a glass of wine tonight. I am sure I’ll make it to 31/1/25. What is everyone having as an alternative?

Well done @HollyGolightly4 - I'm sure a lot of us can sympathise with the stresses and disappointments of TTC. You did really well.

@RosieLeaLovesTea - I've been really pleased with the Martini alcohol free aperetif type drinks with tonic and a slice of lime. The one I've currently got on the go is called Floreale and it's a sort of pale golden colour, but I slightly prefer the other flavour (can't remember what it's called) which is orange and looks exactly like Aperol.

I also like the M&S sparkling fruity water in cans although they're £1.20 each! I don't buy canned fizzy drinks and that seems incredibly expensive to me? Perhaps it's the normal price for something like a Coke or Pepsi, I don't know.

Day 13 nearly done. Has a really great sleep last night too.

I've been saving so much money as I haven't done a big shop for 2 weeks, just been getting essentials like bread and milk at the local shop. I have loads of food in that needs eating too.

Normally I'd buy my 2 or 3 bottles of wine for the week but with not drinking no need for a shop and spending money on stuff I really don't need.

Had enough energy to sort my freezer out yesterday and found some very old bagels with a 2020 date 😱.

Another day sober. Hurrah!

I’m really finding that once I get past that pre-dinner glass it’s much easier not to drink at all.

Well done everyone, another Saturday done, only one more Saturday to go!

Another Saturday done, hurrah! Today was really tough, I got some bad news and have been trying not to cry for most of the afternoon.

I really fancied a glass of wine, but resisted!

Sorry to hear you’ve had bad news @MabelsBeats but massive credit to you for resisting the call of wine.

Hope the sadness lifts soon

Well done everyone, very happy to have been alcohol free for another Fri/ Saturday night! I am not finding it hard either - maybe as I have done a few of these now. It’s just a rule that I don’t drink at the moment so I don’t.

I haven’t been majorly challenged though - have been rather like a hermit this month - no big social occasions to navigate. DP is also dry when with me at home.

My resting heart rate has dropped 2 BPM, I am sleeping through the night, I am enjoying my Saturdays (Friday night was my binge drinking night) where I don’t feel like death on the sidelines of the sports fields watching the kids, swigging lucazade and craving a bacon roll.

I have not noticed any positive skin changes, I haven’t lost any weight, and I don’t have any more energy. Still as knackered as ever and maybe even more so. Let’s see what next week brings.

@MabelsBeats 💐 and well done for not turning to the wine to cope xxx