Hop on up it's Dry January thread #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Shiny new thread to carry us onward through January

Zero alcohol apart from this evening, that is

I feel bad for being triumphant earlier as so many people having a tough one. I actually think I gave myself too much credit there, I definitely did think of wine otherwise I wouldn't have noticed it. I agree it's relentlessly monotonous, absolutely that.

@Sometimes123 I'm failing at work and home schooling too. Failing colleagues and clients and children. Not succeeding anywhere. You are not alone. Feel like breaking this would only add to my sense of failure though.

@CandyLeBonBon I'm ok - been a lot of tears today and apologies. I don't honestly know if we'll survive lockdown 3 as a couple, but I've been through worse. I hope we will.

@DefNotDeadYet happy (AF) birthday

Oh yes @DefNotDeadYet - hope you have a nice one!

@DefNotDeadYet happy birthday, and I think you deserve that fall off the wagon, amazed by your strength to stay committed to AF at such a difficult time. Take care, lots of chocolate!

Happy birthday @DefNotDeadYet - sorry it was such a sad one but well done on the 5lbs

Oops didn't mean to put a in there - sorry!

Evening all wow day 13 this week is flying. I only realised it was Wednesday as it's our bin collection day !!
Well done everyone for keeping strong. Definitely difficult time for us all and the first ( easiest) thing would be is to crack open a bottle So the fact we are all resisting is fantastic xx I think our will power could all do with a huge slap.on the back!!
My sleep is still a bit crazy , having some mad dreams !!
Someone said further up the thread that their days are more productive and feel longer, I was thinking the same today usually everything is geared towards that time of night were I can sit in front of the tv with a glass of something and I don't move! But now I find my self doing little jobs in the evening before a lovely long soak!!

@Allycat oooo I didn’t see that tip. So a bit of tonic water into the nosecco???

I wouldn’t be able to do this without this thread. I did a 12 hour day today at the computer. Full on meetings etc. Two kids homeschooling. I had two zero gin and tonics. I have to say the Gordon’s zero is definitely growing on me. It is a real treat to have that in the evening and makes me realise a big part of alcohol for me (not all by any means) is the taste of it. I love the taste of wine, beer and a gin and tonic. Hell I even love a cider on a hot summer day. So at least I can get the taste of it. Well done to everyone. Keep going also. It’s tough but we are going it. Happy happy birthday @DefNotDeadYet and see you back on the wagon tomorrow. Woohoooo!

Anyone thinking of dry February too? I'm really enjoying all the benefits of dj but do t trust myself to stick to hardly any alcohol yet. I don't think I'll feel like I've rebooted my system NY the 31st.

@Blessex yes honestly, it makes all the difference! I've nearly drunk the whole bottle 🙈

@Allycat hahaha you know what tho. Maybe having something that tastes as good as alcohol is good enough for midweek! I am thinking maybe this is my solve. I cannot figure going teetotal - but I can at least save the real stuff for the occasions (as I used to do) and quaff the fake stuff on a school night! For now though of course a total reset.

I'll take the medal @Allycat - I did the same tonight with AF Sauvignon Blanc by Eisberg. Almost a spritzer!

@Goldpendant I'd demoted a bottle of Elsberg to the fridge in the garage, as it was like grape juice. At least now with a bit of tonic it may not be such a waste of money!!

Well done, all! I'm loving all the positivity, it's a commitment I never thought I was actually capable of making. Seriously, I was starting to wonder if I fit the definition of alcohol dependent as I was drinking every night.. going back many years. I realise it was just habit. I haven't tried any AF drinks, just making do with tea, had so many cups tonight. I seem to have switched addictions! But not complaining.

Hi all and well done! We are really doing this. Halfway through the month. I have also noticed I have more time. I’m working from home but when I finish I really don’t have the motivation to do anything in the evenings like everybody else on here. Not sure if it’s the dark nights or the sameness of the days but things are just a bit flat. I work during the day and go for a walk at lunchtime then 30 mins exercise after work then dinner then bath bit of TV then bed. One good thing is I don’t feel like alcohol. I just feel like going to bed earlier and earlier. I have a couple of zoom calls on Friday and Saturday with friends and am really looking forward to it. But when I think of it I think oh yes I will have a gin when chatting. It will be a test to stay off it this weekend. But definitely feeling the health benefits so must try and keep it up.

Oh @DefNotDeadYet I'm really sorry, re-reading thread this morning and I had somehow missed your post about your Dad, hope you are okay.

I also don't have energy in the evenings, but maybe more so during the day. And I'm coping with work stress better, which is good because it is more stressful than ever, and school stuff on top is awful. I feel on the edge of breaking down with anxiety, but not going to break this.

Hmmm Dry Feb. No I don't think so for me, although am not going to drink until the first weekend, and then thereafter only weekends. Somebody upthread mentioned previous good habit of weekends only and skip one weekend a month. That's the regime for me I think. I'm also going for more beer (ale) and slightly less wine. I love beer and find I can just have one and really enjoy it. Whereas wine it's the best part of a bottle every time. I suspect March will be hard around anniversary of my DM loss, usually I anaesthetise with wine. And September which is my hardest work month. I guess I will likely need another reset next year but hopefully not as badly as this year. Either way I want to do this every year.

So sorry for your loss @ defnot awful at any time but lockdown makes it even harder.
Dont think i will be be doing dry February but will do another month later in the year.
Day 14 and seems to be going quickly, will be great to get halfway,
Not getting so many cravings but stealing myself for the weeksnd.
Good luck everyone and well done.

@mrsnibblesisahero yes I agree that sounds doable. Only weekends and 1 weekend a month off. Sounds like a plan.

Resting heart rate is down from 80 to 61 over the past 2 weeks 🙈

My thinking is that I will now see it as falling off the wagon if I drink midweek and get back on ASAP. Before if I drank on a Monday eve because, work, I'd just sack off the whole week because I'd already started. I couldn't see how messed up that was. Now although I will find it hard, I think I will recognise Monday drinking as idiotic. And Tuesday etc....

Thanks Coronals for the tip re the AF Gordons.

After trying several red AF wines that all taste like grape juice, I've found one that almost tastes like the real thing - it's McGuigan's 0% Shiraz.

My other favourite drink is the AF Erdinger lager, it's fab and really feels like you're having a real one.

Day 13 for me. I use the dry App so every night I tick off each alcohol-free day. The app calculates how many units, calories and £s have been saved, so it's a good motivator and a useful tool.