Hop on up it's Dry January thread #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Shiny new thread to carry us onward through January

THREE WEEKS !! come on thats great isn't it. I love knowing I've actually got the willpower that I so needed to take control of my drinking . I really think I had gotten out of control in the last year and it was actually starting to scare me, I don't want my children having a warped view of drinking. I don't want them being brought up in a house were it's looked down to have a drink because that will only make it seem more.exciting but I also don't want them thinking that's it the only solution to have a good time or be social. I'm hoping that this is the year that I get the hang of moderation. That means for me no more nightly midweek drinking Sat in my Pjs topping up my glass all evening. I know three weeks is a short term relatively speaking when I have years of this ahead of me, but I feel much more determined than ever before!!

Mmm I've got a mcguigan zero - it's not bad (the white)

Have probably saved around £150-200

Anyone else's eye much less puffy?

Yes @OhioOhioOhio that's the main thing for me! Sadly my stomach can't say the same....

I've got the sparkling Rawson's Retreat for tonight. Never tried any of the AF wines and at first taste it definitely had a appletise aftertaste but a few gulps in and it's definitely a good fizz substitute!

I look no different but with departing impetigo - it’s disappointing. I think age is a fucker!

Eye bags def better but I’m not as radiant as I had hoped. Really craving it tonight fir sone reason. On the mcguigans with tonic. Ok for glass or two. Sleeping much deeper though and feel refreshed about an hour after I haul myself out of bed. Been peeing for England though. Anyone else? Could it be a sign of detoxing??
Well done us all for getting this far. Payday this weekend - have already treated self to a bottle nosecco for tomorrow!

@SwiftyFifty I’m so glad you mentioned the peeing! It’s driving me insane as I am waking up at night needing to go the loo - I have been doing a month long yoga challenge with th con drinking so I though it was possible because I was drinking water at night when doing that.
Wish I could say I was sleeping better!

I am starting to think about Feb - I know I can see the month out now - determined to see it through

Not sure what my plan is - thinking 4 days no alcohol - typically Mon - Thurs - then “allowed” to drink the other nights. Need to avoid the sinking of a bottle of wine each of those nights though!

Yeah. I'm not sure what to do with February either.

I keep catching sight of myself and seeing my aunts, I seem to have aged about 30 years in the last year. Was hoping dry jan might help reverse that a bit!

I’m planning on carrying on through Feb, partly because I feel like need longer to make sure my old wakes don’t creep back immediately. But mainly because I’m finding home schooling and all that jazz so much easier this time, I’m on much more of an even keel because I’m not drinking.
I’ve also started to loose a couple of pounds and would love to loose a bit more.

I’ve set myself this year to see if I can moderate successfully. I like the idea of drinking at the weekend and having one sober weekend a month. I’m going to do a dry September too. Thanks @teelizzy for replying about moderation up thread

I’m looking forward but apprehensive about Feb. I want to give moderation a go as it’s something I’ve never truly committed to.

I can report back that the Savyll AF cocktails are gorgeous. The G&T is lovely and the mojito is amazing. Not sweet but not just a lime a mint infusion either.

Yeah this lock down is much, much easier with no booze. Weird that I thought it helped me relax.

Day 22! Feeling good for it … more energy and motivation to get things done. Have not lost an ounce unfortunately but I think my sugar habit is not helping! I don't think I look dramatically different but I would say that fine lines around my eyes seem to have reduced?

Toddler was being v difficult last night so my brain screamed DRINK! but I didn't. I think the stubbornness to actually achieve Dry January will now override anything else, so instead I flicked the kettle on and made a cuppa. Of course a few minutes later the wine witch had gone. I want to remember what that power feels like. I want to use it for the rest of my life. Just because I am angry or upset, it does not mean I need to pour alcohol down my throat.

I'm feeling really apprehensive about going back to drinking. Sounds like there's a few of us. I can see why in some ways it's easier to just be AF, you don't have that constant voice planning out alcohol in your head. Equally, being AF scares me too …

Agree with all the most recent posts - the notion of doing a lockdown and homeschool without booze was simply unthinkable.... we started dry jan because the kids had school places but then we withdrew them. I thought I'd neeeeed the wine but have survived. I know now that I can control it, and not the other way around.

I too am debating staying AF. It's easier to not worry about it taking hold. But I might instead plan an occasion once a month, eg a birthday, an anniversary, Christmas etc, when I allow myself a very nice bottle of wine. I'd miss the taste and the feeling too much to go tee total I think.

As someone else mentioned, the 1st Feb is a Monday, so I'm definitely not drinking for the sake of it, just because I can. All that would prove is that I'm a slave to it and at the first opportunity I'm under it's control.
I have decided to also only drink in company, whereas before I was also drinking alone. Time to put some boundaries in place and stick to them!

@OhioOhioOhio

Yeah this lock down is much, much easier with no booze. Weird that I thought it helped me relax.

I agree. I am coping better with work and with relationships.

It's been incredibly easy to be honest. Planning to do 100 day streak and then reassess.

I've decided that once DJ is over, I won't drink wine at home unless it is a special occasion or we have guests (which won't be for a while). Once I've had a glass then I just want to carry on whereas a G&T I can have one and not want another. Going to aim for Friday/Saturday nights only unless something going on.

@BoozeHound glad to be of service

Would love a DJ continuation thread/committed moderation thread if people are up for it. My personal goal is a consistent 5:2 week ie 5 days AF.

I know from experience that while I never get blotto/blackout/behave badly I find it hard to stop before a certain level of buzz. Daily drinking ups my tolerance level to a somewhat alarming degree meaning that suddenly a whole bottle of wine isn't enough.

I also realise that because I've always taken care when I've been out to never get into a state where I couldn't get myself home safely that's always acted as a moderator. No such issue when drinking at home.

Happy 22 of January to all.

I am definitely up for continuing in some form. Not sure yet if am feel i can continue to be totally dry after but am at least considering it which is something i have never done before.

@ fly, great plan re the wine at home, i too can have one very weak gin and tonic and leave it there, sometimes i would have another but it wqs rare, something i find difficult with the wine. Glad you reminded me of this.

I too was thinking it'd be nice to carry on with a moderators thread. Definitely keen for that, however we all decide is appropriate for us. Having you lot here has really helped me stay accountable, and seeing all of your reflections on it has made me realise some of my own demons with the drink too.

Hmmm this has certainly helped. Am amazed I haven’t drunk this week as dh has spirits in. I feel a bit flat though, no better, not more energy, bit more patience - am ok in all of those generally. You know what I have done she’d more of? Work. Hours of the stuff! Clearly that needs to change.

Reminds self - have saved money, have saved money, less likely to die early, less likely to die early...

I would also like to be part of an ongoing thread for those that want to try moderation. So not totally dry but a mix of AF (majority) and A days - I’m dithering between 4AF and 3 possible for A.

And I bought myself a rather lovely lambs wool scarf with money saved ...,,,