Dry January 2022

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

Did Dry January this year and we had an amazing little support group going on here and I wondered if anyone cared to join me next year? This time I'm hoping to stay dry longer - 100 days - but will see how January goes first. I don't want to set myself up to fail.

Who's with me?

Cross posted with @Upyouranty - day 8 for you. I started sleeping better at day 6. Fits in with what dr William Porter says.

I've been good, I told DH not to buy any wine. I asked for ice cream instead. So, Day 2 looks safe

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I am thinking of you and sending you

I agree with everyone- taking a drink might make you say things you do not mean. Better to retreat and rest and talk tomorrow with a clear head. But it is so hard and I am thinking of you.

as for me, well i am past my triggers- the walk did me good and I am about to do a load of ironing. I drink to dampen down feelings of sadness, anger, irritation. And I drink when I am feeling bored or happy. But once dinner is done (insanely early today!) I am usually okay.

Hope everyone has a good evening and again @MyGhastIsFlabbered

@MyGhastIsFlabbered

I've been good, I told DH not to buy any wine. I asked for ice cream instead. So, Day 2 looks safe

x-post. Good call. :)

@Mybestyear

Everything you posted correlates with my experience.
I got a velvitiser for Xmas, so I’m off for a bath and a choc orange hot chocolate ♥️

I also took a photo the other day - so thanks to the poster who suggested that. It’ll be interesting to see how things change

Day 3 today and already on the Becks blue. Does anyone else find they have a raging thirst?

@Firsttimemummy33

Day 3 today and already on the Becks blue. Does anyone else find they have a raging thirst?

Yes I do. I have been having silly amounts of lemon squash and soda water. Plus going to the loo - alot.

I have been most diligent in taking my vitamins as well and also some milk thistle tablets as I have been having some pain around my liver area recently.

I saw a pic of myself taken december 2019. At the time I hated it, but can see how different I looked compared to now. The lockdowns saw my drinking increase dramatically. I think I will also take a photo today. I am on The Sober Cafe facebook page and people often post befores and afters and they always looks so fresh, bright, and plain happy in the afters. :)

Hello, may I join?

I'm on day 2. Usually a daily wine drinker through nothing but habit and glutton.

Waves @Mybestyear - new user name in place! (Ex toofar)

@SarahJessicaParker1

I feel fine about the weekend, but I don't have any plans! If I was meeting up with friends, I think I'd really struggle.

I haven't had the weird dreams...maybe last week when I did my first Monday to Friday AF for quite a while. I have been sleeping really well the past couple of days. I wonder how long it takes to get to the leaping out of bed early to enjoy your day stage 🤔. I did get up reasonably early today and did some yoga.

I've got a weird one. Is anyone else suddenly really excited about food? I'm a greedy bitch at the best of times , but lately I've become very fecking Martha Stewart. Suddenly wanting to bake cookies and the like . This is not like me at all! I'm a dreadful cook. Maybe this will be a new thing then. I've been eating pretty healthily tbh and avoiding proper hangover / night out food junk food, but obsessed with cooking. I do think I'm eating less though as no massive bags of crisps in front of Die Hard and a bottle of prosecco

When I tried to do Annie Grace 30 day alcohol experiment in November’ I baked a cake…..for the first time in 20 years 😂

@MyGhastIsFlabbered

Well done on not caving. Sorr you’re having such a difficult time 💐

Ha! What a weird phenomenon; the baking thing. I'm not even arsed about eating it.

Op, sorry you're having a rough time . Amazingly well done on not getting wine!

Day 3 completed, I'm very pleased as we went for a pub lunch with friends and I had sparkling water 😇

A PP suggested taking a selfie at the beginning of the month, then one at the end. I took one yesterday, I look bloody awful so the only way is up from here, hopefully! I've also measured my 'waist' I'm hoping the only way is down for that one

Day 3 ✅. I feel differently this time. Much more determined. Hope it continues!

I'm currently drinking tonic water out of a gin glass with lots of frozen berries, pretending its gin.
Slave to our drinking habits! Here's to day 3

Day 3 and i am drinking Three Spirit Livener with ginger ale, while DH drinks wine. I can do this. He is not happy about it though. He is very snappy with me as he sees it as a judgement on his (heavy) drinking habit. I will just keep on though.

Day 3 and going well. But I think my cravings won't start until Thursday. There is wine open here but no desire for a glass currently.

Hi all, just in from work and this would normally be be a trigger to pour the wine. I’m sitting on my bed and writing this instead. Day 2 and I’m staying strong.

Day 3 done! I had circuit training this evening so never want to drink anything but water afterwards.

Also, thanks for all the kind thoughts x

Day 3 done and I'm already in bed. I must sleep better tonight, I am exhausted. Drank sparkling water this evening, I am very thirsty too. Had a browse back over last year's dry Jan thread and I seemed so motivated and energised, I need to get to that point. I feel hungover at the moment!

Joining. Day 3 here. I got bad habit drinking 1 to 4 corona beers during first lockdown. Now trying to stop that habit. I enjoy sitting outside and drink beer and vape. I tried different soft drinks but sparkling water with lime juice works best.

How you getting on @Cantdoitallperfectly ? Are you ok ?

@Mybestyear love this idea of changing the language of the user name. There's a lot in that! I'm also doing the alcohol experiment. I am trying to change my personal inner voice to be more positive but putting things in the external world is a great positive affirmation!

Day 3. I always find days 3-5 hardest... but instead tonight I did an early dinner and am giving myself a home spa night - bath, face mask, herbal tea, might even try a meditation.

Trying to drink lots of water too...

Last night's sleep wasn't great. Back to work tomorrow which is the bit I'm scared of - I've realised stress is a big causal link for me in terms of why I drink... I might put some sticky notes on my desk/wall of positive affirmations of myself / this year / this commitment. To help remind me. Plus maybe some could have ideas of different strategic to de-stress when I'm tempted. Other de-stress ideas include:

• a nice bath
• a walk
• stretching / yoga
• make myself a nice hot drink and drink it mindfully
• go to the gym
• find a new recipe and make something new for dinner
• look at Pinterest for things that inspire me
• close eyes & breath for 5 mins using box breathing technique
• write down my vision of future me / repeat a positive mantra
• pick up the phone/WhatsApp to speak to someone
• watch something short and positive from YouTube
• read a book

Must stay strong.

Well done everyone. I love reading all the updates.

Day 3 done. Feeling OK but massively relieved that returning to work tomorrow is wfh. If I had to go in the office over an hour away to drive home in the cold and dark later, I would not be happy.

Well done everyone 👍🏼