Hop on up it's Dry January thread #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Shiny new thread to carry us onward through January

@PeacheyPeach yep describes my feelings. I did a pretty successful reset in 2016 and massively reduced my intake for well over two years but gradually got less disciplined. Pretty much daily all last year. I want to do 5 days out of 7 AF consistently and break the habit of reaching for the wine bottle every evening. I've done it before and know I can do it again and it's great to have your company.

Any recommendations for still drinks? I can't drink fizzy things and all the non alcoholic stuff seems fizzy!

@Allycat that’s really interesting. I have been having those thoughts too. When I don’t drink I don’t miss not being drunk. I quite like being level headed. I think I have a treat element too which is why my fridge is full of AF cider, lager, nosecco, zero gin, zero wine and AF stout! I have bloody everything. And then I pick and choose of an evening! When I drink a glass of wine though I cannot stop until I finish the bottle. So there must be something that makes me do that. Don’t know what. Addiction? But then why don’t I really miss it when I have my AF stuff in. It’s odd.

I had my first twinge today.

Dh is miserable and business not going well. I have three teens/young adults at home and dd1 and dd2 don't get on and have been bickering all day. There's an open bottle of red in the kitchen. I wanted to drown myself in it! I've gone to bed instead.

Yeah I nearly lapsed today. Dh is depressed again and had bought spirits. He has gone to bed so I am going to have an AF drink and finish some work. Have worked until 11pm nearly every night. Am still behind!

Good name Frodont. Sorry about the business.

TSBelliot likewise about the name, made me smile. Sorry to hear about your dh.

I've made myself a cup of tea bit its giving me terrible heartburn. My digestion is awful at the best of times but seemed to have improved so much over the last 10 days. Not so good today.

That seems unfair - heartburn is horrid. It is known as volcanoitis here. Let’s hope it is gone tomorrow and stays away in honour of your virtue.

@TSBelliot

That seems unfair - heartburn is horrid. It is known as volcanoitis here. Let’s hope it is gone tomorrow and stays away in honour of your virtue.

It really should, shouldn't it? We'll see.

Tell me which AF wines are best. I tend to find these too sweet.

Morning everyone. Really difficult few days here - not from an alcohol POV - but homewise. I really fear DP is having some sort of breakdown but, like a stereotypical man, says he's fine. But we had a better day yesterday so I'm just taking one day at a time and we'll see.

But despite things being very fraught here (& we'd normally turn to the wine) I've actually not been tempted at all. I think the AF wine last weekend helped curb my cravings. So...day 19 and feeling strong. Over halfway through!!

Sorry to hear things are so tough @MyGhastIsFlabbered you’re doing so well to not drink through it. Hope your dp is ok.

I struggled massively last night, was in such a ferocious mood, everything just got on top of me and had to have a lot of conversations with myself to convince myself alcohol wouldn’t help. I think in someways the problem is I still think it would have cheered me up a bit. This morning I’ve woken up a bit flat and feel like a bit of a hangover wouldn’t really be that bad seeing as everything’s pretty shitty anyway. Need to sort myself out.

@teelizzy can I ask a bit more about your successful moderating? Did it feel like hard work during those 2 years or did it just become the way you drank? I’ve read a lot of people saying it’s actually easier just to not drink rather than have the constant argument with yourself about will you / won’t you

Morning everyone. So sorry @ myghast that sounds so hard you are doing amazingly well and try and look after yourself. Many of you are having to cope with such a lot and i really admire how you are all doing.

Day 20! Feels great to know that, cant see much difference on the outside, not losing weight my skin is better but more to do with seeing a dermatologist and a rack of creams etc - i am mentally putting it down to alcohol. I have to be healthier though.

Humphrie, I'll join you in the admiration, well done to all, especially those who have loads of other pressures! I think that the DJ mindset is a real boost, I'm not treating this as all or nothing but I have cut down from drinking at least a half bottle of wine per night, over 2 weeks I would have purchased at least 10 bottles so I have saved myself about £70.. I'm so pleased I've done this. I always thought that alcohol and nightly drinking ruled my life (my parents drank nightly and I thought I'd inherited the addiction..) but I have now broken that belief. I don't intend to give up altogether but I will keep to keep to several AF days per week.

@BoozeHound from this and other threads and resources like it plus a close friend who is an AA sponsor it's a very individual thing and dare I say it depends on how and why you drink.

As other posters have said, it's about the conversations you have with yourself and like abstinence those conversations have to be honest all the time if it's to work and if it's to last. Which is why moderation is such a fraught topic.

Choosing my words carefully- I was an avid smoker in my 20s who found it really, really hard to quit and accepted that the only path for me was to decide that I was never, ever going to start again.

Hope this helps.

I seem to be finding it easier now. I have a new 'drinking' routine in the evening which involves switching form earl grey to peppermint tea. How wild am I? But I do think it seems to be about forming new habits. I'm sleeping better and I am more alert during the day but I don't think I have lost any weight. I like my chocolate too much!

myghastisflabbered I hope you have a better day today. One day at a time seems the best approach. I have another day of dd1 and dd2 bickering at each other. Luckily dd3 is just getting on with life and not getting involved. I think this weekend is going to be very hard as far as alcohol goes. I have realised that booze doesn't help me cope though - i get much moodier when I drink - not while I'm drinking but the next day.

First post on this thread but Day 20 for me today. Haven’t missed my daily wine at all, replaced it with sparkling water.
Feel more clear headed etc
Main reason I wanted to do DJ was to lose some chub. I’m 43, peri menopausal but so far haven’t lost any weight at all. Slightly disheartening as cut out two daily glasses of wine, walk 3-4 miles a day, no cake or biscuits as no longer sugar cravings, two weight training sessions a week. Healthy diet not much bread or pasta, lots of veg
Any advice as I might as well enjoy my wines again

Hi everyone! Day 20 here and still going strong, although weight loss has plateaued a bit 😭

Day 20!!!
Candy don’t worry about your weight plateauing. Mine has been the biggest disappointment of dry January. I want to loose a couple of stone gradually and be 9st by Summer. It’s not really shifting right now.

I’m able to wake up now and know I’m not going to drink which is good. I still ache for a drink each evening but I now know I won’t give in.

Like others I’m becoming a bit obsessed with alcohol free drinks and spend hours researching them. I’m waiting for a delivery of 24 (!) Savylls cans you arrive today! They’re doing 21% off as a Jan promotion and I just had to get the free delivery too . It’s having a routine and treat that’s keeping me going.

Day 20!

I've stayed strong since blip last week but no weight loss at all, in fact I've gained a pound. I do feel less puffy in the face and skin a little clearer, biggest difference for me by a mile is in my mood. I'm calm, clear, and buckets more patience for the children. I feel dreadful about who I was before I stopped.

@SoberCurious78 in my experience unless you're massively restricting your diet as well it will take a while to see results. But the things you're doing will all do the trick in time.

[quote Blessex]@Allycat that’s really interesting. I have been having those thoughts too. When I don’t drink I don’t miss not being drunk. I quite like being level headed. I think I have a treat element too which is why my fridge is full of AF cider, lager, nosecco, zero gin, zero wine and AF stout! I have bloody everything. And then I pick and choose of an evening! When I drink a glass of wine though I cannot stop until I finish the bottle. So there must be something that makes me do that. Don’t know what. Addiction? But then why don’t I really miss it when I have my AF stuff in. It’s odd.[/quote]
Blessex, you could reframe this, not as your addiction but as the fact that alcohol is a VERY ADDICTIVE substance which acts very quickly and efficiently on your brain. Look at all the trouble it causes - across the UK and worldwide, go anywhere and you will find a branch of AA close at hand. Why should we be able to tolerate, to withstand an addictive toxin? Why should we be able to moderate it, and to feel stigma and shame if we can't?

On lighter note, can anyone recommend a good sleep app that gives you your sleep patterns - REM, deep sleep etc? My Apple Watch has arrived!

Sober curious- I'm day 20, also 43 and cut out snacks too, walking more. And haven't lost anything at all. I want to physically see results! Although my knickers do feel a bit slack 🤣