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?

Argh I am so tired! Up at 3 this morning, drove to Reading to drop of DD1 only to find she hadn't warned her housemates to leave the chain off the front door. Nobody awake at 6 am obviously so took her with me down to Plymouth to drop off DD2. Utterly shit driving conditions, throwing it down with rain. Then back up to drop off DD1 in the afternoon, which was fine, only to find I hadn't taken her laptop out of the car, which she really can't do without. So am trekking down to Reading again tomorrow morning. But not early.

I'm so tired I don't even want alcohol, I've just flung a ready meal in the oven and am going to settle down with a big cordial and tonic and last night's Death in Paradise, then early bed.

Thankyou @CrumpetswithMarmite. Much appreciated. Am in bed with a sleep inducing herbal tea, fairy lights on, incense burner lit. I can do this

@pointythings

Argh I am so tired! Up at 3 this morning, drove to Reading to drop of DD1 only to find she hadn't warned her housemates to leave the chain off the front door. Nobody awake at 6 am obviously so took her with me down to Plymouth to drop off DD2. Utterly shit driving conditions, throwing it down with rain. Then back up to drop off DD1 in the afternoon, which was fine, only to find I hadn't taken her laptop out of the car, which she really can't do without. So am trekking down to Reading again tomorrow morning. But not early.

I'm so tired I don't even want alcohol, I've just flung a ready meal in the oven and am going to settle down with a big cordial and tonic and last night's Death in Paradise, then early bed.

Omg that's a lot of driving....

Missing my wine but I drank belvoir lime cordial topped with tonic tonight and it was lovely - day 5 done here

Just posted on the other thread.

Day 6 here and not faring too badly. Saturday is wine day but its been alright. Looking forward to an early night and waking up feeling fresh tomorrow.

You can DementaMa!
I'm drinking the Fever Tree Light Lemon Tonic which at least tastes grown up, though DH has just popped a beer in the kitchen

Had a massive clear out of my underwear drawer- why am I wearing bras older than my children?- and filled a bag with crap for the bin. Loads of 'proper' clothes to take to the recycling centre, but my and DS's old kecks are for the bin!
Going to stuff face with curry, craving will pass, then settle in with paper...

Could really have drunk a glass of wine at 6 pm this evening . Even DH said he could do with a glass and he doesn’t drink as much as me
Feel ok about not having any now

@dementedma

Crap day today, for various reasons. This is toughest day yet to stay AF. Remind me why I'm doing this?

I’m in the middle of reading The Sober Diaries, when she has a crisis and doesn’t drink and writes that she realises “There is no problem that can’t be made worse by alcohol” A thought that I’m hanging on to. Hope things get better.

Morning of Day 8. Interesting people talking about sugar cravings. I ate more than half a family sized bar of chocolate last night. In my defence it was Caramel and Dark Chocolate 😃

Thank you trydry22. Danger time done, carbs inhaled, green tea on the go and will do a yoga with Adrienne before bed. Not exactly rock and roll but worth it tomorrow morning!

Day 8 for me and just about to pour myself a Pentire Adrift with tonic water, lemon and ice as a pre-dinner drink.

Have been sleeping deeply last two nights but with vivid dreams. Allowing the extra sugar and chocolate for now but will cut down again Week 3.

Well done everyone!

Welcome new comers and delurkers!! Lovely to have you! Had a slight wobble in supermarket today as woukd normally have got a bottle of red for tonight, but no, here I am with more Belvoir AF mulled punch in a wine glass, it's sorting me right out! I have a glass of red in my hand which tastes rich and spicy, I'm sleeping better and feel less bloated already.... specially now the constipation has resolved!!

Day 7 here and I’ve been keeping busy. I’ve got so much more energy today and woke up at 7 just before my alarm, a first in a long time! Stay strong everyone, I know it’s Saturday and it’s tough going but we can do this.

Oh hi everyone, I was looking for this yesterday, my first Friday off drinking in ages. It was surprisingly ok and I found I could concentrate on the film I was watching much more easily. I have moments around this time in the evening where I get a craving for a glass of wine but this seems to pass after a few minutes.

Day 6. Slept much better last night but then my DD only woke me 3 times rather than 650.

Relaxing on the sofa after a busy day, a nice healthy dinner then we have an early day out booked tomorrow morning with the DC's so I'll be glad I avoided the wine.

I do wonder why I stupidly go back to drinking after a break as it was so nice feeling fresher than usual this morning and enjoying a day out without a foggy head, dodgy wine belly and less patience!

Day 8 - day spent ferrying kids to drama. Gives me 3 hours to do stuff so had late breakfast and bought some walking boots as my others are over 20 years old and getting a bit decrepit- like me! They certainly support my ankle (which I broke last summer falling down castle steps after a few glasses of wine - dangerous that drinking lark) but a bit more solid than boots I’ve bought in the past. They didn’t have much choice tbh. Will wear them inside and decide if I’ll keep them. Masked singer tonight. Ok being without vino now but did have a pang of envy when I passed a pub! Anyway…. Hope everyone is surviving the twitch

Great to read how everyone is getting on. Day 8 for me. I'm sleeping better and I'm feeling less bloated and less constipated. I had a fever tree elderflower tonic after dinner with a slice of lemon which was nice snd sharp and refreshing. I recommend Tango dark fruits. I have a week off now and planning on a loft clear out, Sons bedroom clear out and a trip to the tip.

Okay I’ve just done something I’ve never done before. Over 3 hours in a bar with a group of my girl pals to celebrate a birthday and I stayed on Diet Coke. I’ll admit, when the bottles of Prosecco were lined up and being poured it looked so delicious & I did get a pant but I stayed strong. I also had a really lovely evening & didnt feel like I was missing out on any conversations or laughter. I would never have done this sort of evening sober before and it was good to know I can still have a great evening without having alcohol.

I've been fine this week - but I had a real pan fat teatime, while watching Two Doors Down. (It's awful, I don't recommend it!) They were all knocking back white wine and it just looked delicious, and like it'd be such a laugh.

Luckily we don't have any. Otherwise I think I'd have been really tempted.

I've noticed a few of you saying evenings are hiring without booze. They are if you just sit round watching tally, yes. But the amazing thing about being AF is that your evenings can be ANYTHING. Bath, pampering sessions, baking, pottering, chatting, shopping, tidying, exercising, writing, crafting... When you're drunk, all you want to do is loll about. But when you're sober, it's much less fun.

I've been looking at Painting By Numbers. I think I'm going to buy one. Some of the designs are awesome!

Well we had a lovely evening, was a bit worried that it would be hard for me but my lovely friend said she wouldn't have a drink either so we stuck to sparkling water 😂 and we still had a good time, not stopped laughing all evening!!

Day 8 done. Over the last 2 days I’ve had two pub lunches, 2 dinners out, one afternoon at the rugby, zero alcohol. Unbelievable.

So glad to be tucked up in bed - wish I could have been here 3 hours ago!

So glad I didn't give in last night. Baby had a bad night and has been up since 6am 🥴 feeling surprisingly ok...

Morning all!

I have found I need to keep myhands occupied in the evening. So I am knitting, and have ordered blank cards and envelopes and am going to try my hand at painting them and drawing (maybe with Christmas themes) for next year.

@AlbertBridge

I've been fine this week - but I had a real pan fat teatime, while watching Two Doors Down. (It's awful, I don't recommend it!) They were all knocking back white wine and it just looked delicious, and like it'd be such a laugh.

Luckily we don't have any. Otherwise I think I'd have been really tempted.

I've noticed a few of you saying evenings are hiring without booze. They are if you just sit round watching tally, yes. But the amazing thing about being AF is that your evenings can be ANYTHING. Bath, pampering sessions, baking, pottering, chatting, shopping, tidying, exercising, writing, crafting... When you're drunk, all you want to do is loll about. But when you're sober, it's much less fun.

I've been looking at Painting By Numbers. I think I'm going to buy one. Some of the designs are awesome!

My problem is not that I want to find something to do, it's that I want to learn to relax without wine. I work very long hours and the things on your list are most definitely not things I want to do after work. I need to find a way to not reward myself for a hard day by entertaining myself with alcohol, as I would actually love to be able to sit and watch the TV without a drink. I find I struggle to be still and I don't want to be busy, I want to be mindfully inactive. Yoga helps but I'm not doing that for 3 hours, 30 mins is hard enough!

Good morning all. Up and at em this morning..! 8am and I'm dressed and about to head out for a dog walk. Feeling fresh and far less bloated which is an added bonus. Onto day 9 and delighted I've got through Saturday night alcohol free. Have a great Sunday all x

Morning everyone! A relief to have got through Friday and Saturday and in to day 9. AF beverages really helped. It's nice waking up without the immediate anxiety or grogginess from alcohol. I have so many times woken up feeling bad or regretted an argument from the night before. Not this weekend!

Hoping the hardest parts are over but still a long way to go. Off to the gym this morning.