Anyone doing Dry January 2021?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

I was going to go sober this year...but for various reasons (excuses) it didn't happen. DP and I have agreed to try Dry January as we are both drinking too much. Anyone else fancy coming along for the ride?

@MrsMiaWallis join the long term AF thread.
Moderation doesn’t work for me either. After a big chunk of being sober, I had a drink...only I didn’t stop with one, I had an entire bottle. It was good because it cemented the knowledge that I can’t moderate, which is why I was in the position that I was in. Plus I didn’t even enjoy it.

I have literally leapt out of bed feeling as bright as could be. Such a nice feeling.

Rolo1324 don't worry! Day 8 was a blip, so just start again at day 7! You can do this. Don't let last night throw you off course!!! Everybody is entitled to a blip once in a while! Onwards and upwards

Sorry this thread is t working for you @MrsMiaWallis (I watched pulp fiction last night!) but you have to do what works for you - best of luck - @Belinda554 - if you didn't even enjoy it, that's really annoying for you but I get where you're coming from - I've been in the same boat!

I know what you mean @MrsMiaWallis but I joined this thread this time to get me going. I have no intention of starting drinking again and I definitely can’t do moderation at all, the last 2 years have basically been an exercise in proving just that. I’m either all in or all out! Maybe try one of the dry threads, the one started by @Drybird2020 is very supportive I intend to head on over after Dry January. Good luck and I know what you mean it is very difficult but ultimately you need to find the support that suits you.

I had a dream last night i was having a drink and i felt really guilty about it. Relieved to wake up and it was still day 9 for me.
I do the same thing when im dieting, dream ive eaten a big slab of cake!
Theres no doubt that real me will do this. And then moderate. I was making myself ill. Just wish I was enjoying some weight loss too

Thank you! I will. Good luck everyone!

Friday night was a little bit difficult but I managed, feel pleased with myself. First Friday night without a drink in years I would say (except for when I have been ill). DH still had wine, but I resisted, and he drank less than he usually would. The valerian drops are proving quite strong, I will be cutting down the dose!

Hi All, I’m doing dry January again this year, I’ve done it 3 out of the last four years. Couldn’t be bothered last year but going to try again this year. When you give it up you can then see when you miss it & recognise the triggers. For me Friday evening is the only time I miss a nice cold glass of vino after a stressful week at work, I usually start to look forward to it by mid afternoon. I nearly cracked last night when my son brought me a bottle of wine, now I will need to work on keeping that unopened in the fridge for next three weeks, that’s an extra test ! It’s definitely a good thing to get up bright and breezy on a Saturday morning, no fuzzy head and dry mouth. I’m hoping to lose a few pounds too as I usually munch crisps when drinking my wine on a Friday/Saturday. I’m full of determination today, let’s see how I do next weekend! We can do it ....

I did polish off the Xmas chocs yesterday but at least they are gone now. I am not going out, so no impulse buys, no shopping apart from what I order for delivery, and I am not ordering any more chocs apart from some 70% dark.

All power to everyone staying dry, the first week is the hardest and weekend nights do feel a bit flat in the beginning. Hang in there.

I decided to go alcohol free at the end of 2019 and have just celebrated my Soberversary. It has been the best gift I could have given myself. I only wish I had done it earlier, but I needed to spend some time on the merry-go-round of moderation and failure before getting off forever.

@MrsMiaWallis come and join the thread called "Leave alcohol behind and relearn you life" if you want support without any talk about current drinking. Everyone on there is aiming for forever.

Ah, the dreams! I had a different type of substance misuse problem decades ago, and I still sometimes have dreams about using (they do not however translate into cravings in waking life thankfully).

Well I fell off the wagon spectacularly last night and am suffering for it today

@wizzbangfizz hope you feel better soon. Hangovers are the worst. Don't beat yourself up over falling off the wagon. You've had other dry days which will benefit you. Dust yourself off and hop on up again when you're ready. We'll be here.

@Goodiebagh

I had a dream last night i was having a drink and i felt really guilty about it. Relieved to wake up and it was still day 9 for me. I do the same thing when im dieting, dream ive eaten a big slab of cake! Theres no doubt that real me will do this. And then moderate. I was making myself ill. Just wish I was enjoying some weight loss too

Omg! So did I! I woke up feeling really confused! I think it's because I had the 0 alcohol fizz in and I FELT like I was 'drinking' even though I wasn't! Felt very relieved when I remembered I hadn't drunk - just goes to show that my fog

Oops pressed send too soon!
Just goes to show that my foggy brain isn't just alcohol related!

Semi planned slip for me on Thursday...DH got offered a new job... Back doing what he wants to do and significant pay rise. He’s soooo happy.

We celebrated with some fizz... straight back on DJ yesterday though.

Interestingly I felt like absolute crap on Friday and slept dreadfully Thursday night. Last night (sober sleep) I reached my first ever ‘excellent’ sleep score on my Fitbit with 7 deep sleep and 12 REM cycles. When drinking it used to be average 3 deep sleep and 6-7 REM sleep cycles. I know alcohol affects sleep but that brought it home a bit...

I need to think about how to celebrate milestones going forward. I think that’s going to be one of my kryptonites.

Try Dry tells me I’ve saved 74 units and over 5000 calories... even after Thursday 😱😱

Ah, the dreams! I had a different type of substance misuse problem decades ago, and I still sometimes have dreams about using (they do not however translate into cravings in waking life thankfully).

I quit smoking in 2005 and randomly and occasionally have dreams about smoking. I do wake up really wanting a cigarette... Thankfully there are no cigarettes in the house and by the time I've got up and got ready the craving has gone.

Day 9 for me, woke up at 8am and went for a long walk in the snow, got in at lunchtime. Just lazing in bed now with some Quality Street. Plans for this afternoon are cleaning the kitchen and reading my kindle. I'm going to have some more Becks Blue tonight but I'm not sure about it, it seems to make me feel sluggish and dehydrated like regular lager but without the buzz of the alcohol. But will give it another go and at least finish the bottles off I have left.

Hi all Day 9 for me today. Loving how supportive everyone is x had a zoom meet up last night DH had a bottle of red, I stayed AF and it was fine. I think socialising "virtually " you havnt got that pressure of someone topping your glass up which I find my weakness is in usual circumstances I do cave in pretty quickly!
But what I loved about last night was after we had finished the zoom I went and had a lovely long soak in the bath with a book instead of falling into bed with all my makeup still on !!!

I got through yesterday, chipping away at this slowly. Not counting days as it’s too hard just counting each day. Everyone is doing fab. Well done

Thank goid9for cups of tea.

Just found you!!

I did it last year too and managed Feb and about 10 days of March before succumbing. Also did Sober October last year.

So I have lost 7lbs in 8 days. This must be mostly water mustn't it? I do snack a lot when I drink bit even so!!! Very happy with that side effect. ALso my skin looks so much better.

I have had problems nodding off to sleep and had some very vivid and odd dreams. I struggle to get to sleep and then struggle to get up in the morning but I remember that will subside as time goes on and I will be leaping out of bed at 6.30 before long

I always feel like it's going to be so so hard to stop and then when I don't drink it's like "Oh, this is really easy actually, it's just a habit." Apparently it takes 21 days to breaka habit or establish a new one.

Keep on everyone!

Well tomorrow is day 10 and according to a pp that's the day we should all wake up resplendent and finally notice all the benefits of not drinking!

@bluesussex you sound just like me 😁