Hop on up it's Dry January thread #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Shiny new thread to carry us onward through January

@OhioOhioOhio

Happy Birthday Haggisfish

Thanks op.

I feel that so many people have betrayed my trust lately. I miss having a special friend. But think I trust too easily. Wine is such an easy way to occupy an evening.

Yes. The evenings seem very long without wine! But I'm still glad I've abstained. It's made me realise a lot about myself!

Happy Birthday Haggisfish.

CandyLeBonBon
What have you realised?

Morning everyone, how are you all? It’s day 30 for me today but I’ve really struggled the last three days. I’ve realised I’ve been wanting wine because I’m bored, lonely and fed up. I have days where I can’t wait for dry jan to be over then I think I want to carry on for 50,60, maybe a hundred days. I’m battling with the mental challenges of this, I’m not actually craving or needing alcohol. Any tips to cope with this? X

Happy birthday @Haggisfish

@Backtoblack1 that would be the wine witch talking (or whatever malign spirit bothers you to drink). The thing to focus on is all the days where that voice is quiet and not bothering you.

But gosh life is so flat and closed off for many of us just now, and so stressful for those in frontline services. It's no wonder these feelings are there.

Keep on keeping on as they say.

I have managed to lose 7.5 lb this month which can only be doe to stopping the wine as I have eaten normally including a fair amount of chocolate. I am feeling vey pleased!

I dreamt last night that I drank on Saturday night and got really pissed and was a dick in front of my neighbours. I woke up feeling so cross for not finishing Dry Jan, I was embarrassed with myself, it was HORRIBLE for a few fleeting seconds til I realised IT WAS ALL A DREAM. Whew!

I am actually "scared" (for want of a better word) about drinking again, but in the same breath I can't imagine never drinking again. We've been invited to a party in September and I was thinking, the way I feel now, I could happily go and be designated driver and wouldn't be bothered. I don't want to be back to that place again where I make so many plans around drinking, sulk if I'm the driver or fork out a fortune on taxis. I just don't want to be that person again, it is exhausting and depressing.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered, hope you're okay today. I'd struggle to find 5 friends too, it's not just you.

Thanks everyone. I had a lovely day. It was interesting having a drink-I really really thought about it and really tried to enjoy it. I didn’t if I’m honest. And I feel really crap today! I’m having the same mental battle about not wanting to drink again but not wanting to not drink again as well!! I think it’s because we are battling decades of social conditioning that to enjoy an occasion we ‘must’ drink. I actually enjoyed the sober part of my birthday far more!

That’s really positive, Haggis.

Jealous of those of you who are skinnier. Can’t stop eating - no fatter which I will take as a win when I have eaten enough cheese for ten and keep reaching for the family sized bags of crisps. Maybe next month.

Yeah I'm struggling with the 5 friends too. Oh dear eh?
I've realised that the best thing the wine does is occupy me during a weekend when my kids are away to my bastard x. The whole weekend is dealt with.

I don't mean that I drink the whole weekend or even that each time I drink a lot, although I'd always have in 2 bottles of wine. Just that at the end of a day of jobs having a glass of wine whilst watching tele is a much easier way to while away the time than just watching the tele.

Well done @ApolloandDaphne and everyone else celebrating weight loss.

@TSBelliot I'm you - not lost anything but am fitter and tummy definitely flatter as a result of more exercise and less booze. One thing at a time - last time I got serious about abstinence/and then moderation a few years ago and stuck at it I lost a stone over 6 months.

Teelizzy - that’s an encouraging message:)

Hi all. I've lost 2lbs. Trying to lose 2lbs a month which seems achievable.

I've realised my acid indigestion has improved a lot. Haven't taken my stomach pills for 10 days now and still have a bit of reflux but nothing like as bad. Fingers crossed.

I really want to carry on AF for February but I'm worried that the end of dry January will give me "permission" to drink.

Frodont

2lbs is great. Well done.

Hi all just reading through everyone's posts and its interesting isn't it how we have all used wine ( or alcohol) as a way of passing the time in the evenings . It's crazy isn't it how we've felt that we can't relax unless we are looking down the bottom of a glass. It's as if we have all been conditioned to think this. I definitely think social media and tv have a lot to answer for!! I know personally for me I couldn't wait to open a bottle but when I think about it I "paid " for that couple of hours the next day ,always woke up with a worrying pain in my lower back, headache until lunch time and a massive wine belly 🤣 and to be honest it wasnt like it was anything special anyway. I still had all the mundane jobs ( school pack lunches, putting the bins out etc) wine didn't make any of this magically disappear!!! I'm really loving my new evenings I've even started taking care of my skin. Actually taking my makeup off and blathering it with new creams . I barely even cleaned my teeth before bed a month ago how grim is that 🤢🤣

Well done everyone. I’ve lost 6lbs in 30 days - was hoping for more but I am snacking a lot and eating a lot of chocolate.

I’m going to get some AF wine for later. Hope that doesn’t trigger anyone. I know it helps my psychologically on the weekend x

Day 29 for me, putting some Becks Blue in the fridge for later and also have some nosecco and tonic to finish off tonight. It feels good knowing this my last day of work of January. Going to treat myself on sunday to a big bunch of lovely flowers to congratulate myself on getting through DJ

Hello all, and well done everyone for getting this far - i never though i would! I have also lost 4 lb, i have been trying though but it is only today that the weight loss showed on the scales after nearly 4 weeks.
Still not sure what i want to do going forward but not intending to drink straight away. May think about lent.
Hope everyone is doing ok.

Gah! I want to drink tonight. I’m telling myself I’ll go one day extra on Monday. I am a chronic anxiety drinker and my anxiety has been off the charts this week.

@MoonBaby1

Gah! I want to drink tonight. I’m telling myself I’ll go one day extra on Monday. I am a chronic anxiety drinker and my anxiety has been off the charts this week.

Me too, but I keep telling myself that after today I can drink every Friday for the rest of the year if I want to, so not a big deal. I've lasted 29 days, would be a shame to stop a couple days before the end of my goal

You’re right. I’m not going to ruin it now. Thanks

Dd and dh are having a gin and tonic and i couldn't care less. Think I'm going to definitely do dry feb.

Day 29! I'm trying to keep going until 31st but I do really really fancy a glass of wine!

I'm ok. I finally plucked up courage to ask a few people that question about my qualities - their answers have truly humbled me and made me a bit teary but in a good way. May I share them here?