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?

In my dreams I mean

@PeacheyPeach

Hey all xx Day 10 done, I slept terribly last night, was still wide awake at 4am, so I'm really hoping I can sleep tonight 😴 Regarding weight gain I'm bound to have put weight on so Im not weighing my self as that depresses me to much!! Today is the first day I'm back on my healthy eating so I'm hoping I will see a difference in a month or so xx

Try listening to some sleep hypnosis. I have been struggling to get to sleep but listened to Michael Sealeys deep sleep hypnosis last night and fell into a deep sleep quickly!!

No trouble not drinking but my sleep is bloody terrible last 2 or 3 nights...
i think it might be because of snacking in the evening.....

Maybe a Fasting February is in order?

I'm snacking like a PIG tonight.

Morning all. This is day 11 of DJ. Feeling good. Have started doing a half hour of yoga each morning before work and it really sets me up for the day. I then do a half hour after work which helps me to wind down. This is different for me as I used to be a full on spin and boxercise fanatic before lockdown closed the gyms. Not sure if I will lose weight but starting to feel toned and good about myself.

My sleep is between 4 and 5 hours a night and although this is not ideal, this sleep is straight through and not broken at all which must be pretty good?

Morning, day 11 for me. I did DJ last year and really struggled but I am finding it so much easier this time. I think I knew what to expect and also realised that water/tea don't cut it for me, I need a special drink at the witching hour!

I am going to a wedding at the weekend and have a planned day off. I have to say I am not really looking forward to having a drink! I am most certainly going to take it easy though and just have a glass of wine with the meal and maybe a couple in the evening rather than get hammered.Well that is the plan and I am going to do my best to stick to it.

I am still sleeping a bit fitfully but when I get up I do feel fully refreshed and certainly not 'fuzzy headed'. I seem to be quite 'tetchy' though.

I did read an article yesterday that implied that if you do fall off the wagon once or twice during the month, don't beat yourself up about it, but just move on and revert to doing Dry January.

I would definitely find going to a wedding (with all that alcohol flowing!), a challenge in terms of staying A-F. Good luck with that!

I'm on day 11 too. I've not been sleeping we'll. I'm out of work at the moment so I've been going to bed later and later and not getting up early. Sometimes i nap in the day so sleep is all over the place. But I know it's also missing the alcohol that initially helps me get off off to sleep.

I'm not finding it hard not to drink as life is so boring. I've not been out much at all so it's not like I'm sitting in pubs and restaurants drinking soft drinks.

I tried some no alcohol cava but it wasn't convincing. I could do with some low cal alternatives. My favourite is low cal ginger ale at the moment.

I'd not thought about the money I've saved or number of units. But I'm doing it as part of a diet - largely avoiding carbs - so I'm hoping I lose some pounds too. Anyone else got a clue what weight loss I might aim at from the alcohol?

I also might extend for a bit longer. I've done it for 3 months before as part of a health kick - diet and exercise and lost a lot of weight. But if I get a job I will allow a night off to celebrate!

I have to confess I caved in Sunday after working a 7 day week. I had half a bottle of red and I have to say didn’t really enjoy it. Normally I’d have polished off the bottle so am taking comfort that I showed a little restraint. Also it made me realise that wine doesn’t taste so good. Am going to persevere as it’s still going to be a ‘drier’ January.
My sugar consumption is ridiculous though, I can’t stop eating sweets.
Well done to all of you who are staying strong.

"there's no problem that can't be made worse with alcohol" such a great mantra @MyGhastIsFlabbered - spot on!! I will keep reminding myself of it.

Survived the massive craving yesterday. Have just had the best nights sleep!! Day 11 here we come.

@OverByYer as the article I referenced advised, don't beat yourself up about it! A seven day working week is very full-on.

I reckon each unit of alcohol probably has circa 250 calories, so if you drink two or three a night, you could be saving 750 cals a day. However, I have no idea how that would impact on weight loss, particularly if you're substituting sweet, calorie-laden goodies instead.

Have to say that in my couple of months of very moderate drinking in the lead up to Christmas, I didn't notice any discernible weight-loss (but there again I didn't jump on the scales!).

@OverByYer don't be hard on yourself, onwards and upwards this has nearly been me a few times so I completely empathise! interesting that you didn't enjoy it so much. I hadn't thought about that.

I once gave up chocolate for lent and when I tried it again, I didn't think it tasted very good! Taste buds must change I guess when we're not as addicted.

If you fall off the wagon don't beat yourself up about it, just hop right on up with us again. Every dry day you manage you're doing your body and your wallet good. 2/3 dry January is still better than no dry January.

Day 10 here - made it to double figures. I don't think I've done that since last January.

I got up early and did a yoga session - would never have been able to do that if I'd had a drink. I think my weigh in yesterday was a wake up call and I need to stop eating like a pig. Going to stock up on healthy snacks today.

KOKO folks - we're going to need a new thread soon! X

Wow, we are going to need a new thread shortly, hadn't really clocked!
Daffy and Ghast I used to do similar, 15 min workout each morning, HIIT/weights etc. Brilliant for setting you up for the day. Not doing it at the mo, as my mornings are the only bit of quiet me time I get with DD being home 24/7 but once we're back into a routine I'll be there!

Can't believe we've done 1/3 of DJ already. Have noticed that with how the weekends fall, DJ will last the first week of Feb for me too

@OverByYer as the article said, its important not to think that 1 slip up means the overall project will fail. Get back on the wagon today. I slept like a log last night and feel energetic today. I hope sleep gets better soon for all of you who are still struggling with it.

Yes back on the wagon, and in a way I’m taking the fact that I didn’t enjoy the wine as a positive. I felt I drank it more mindfully rather than glugging it down like I normally would. Still feel much better , don’t miss that ‘ tired behind the eyes’ that I normally have when I’ve been boozing.

Struggling to wake up in the mornings (as others have said) sleeping much more deeply I think. Need to address my fitness and eating but trying not to go all or nothing as I know that's my downfall. Overall very happy and 11 days!!

I felt I drank it more mindfully rather than glugging it down like I normally would. I'm sure that is key to developing a good relationship with alcohol (if that's possible!). Before Christmas, I was very aware that DP (also doing DJ and so far sticking to it!), glugs down a glass if not a bottle of wine like they're drinking fruit juice! Shocking!

Day 11
Goodness , it’s going much better than I thought it would
@OnthePiste definitely a planned day off for the wedding . There’s been so few reasons to celebrate over the last 2 years
Good plan to try and be moderate , and there will be plenty of hands here out to help you get back on the wagon on Sunday
I’ve offered to drive on a few occasions when I don’t want to drink , just a mouthful of wine with each course , a sip for the toast etc there will be other people not drinking ( and you can watch how alcohol affects people which can be very educational )

Cutting back on the sweeties and biscuits this week , as I’m starting low carb Bootcamp next Monday , I want to lose about a stone ( no pressure ! )

I think that's very true, a large G&T can disappear far too quickly... one of the reasons I find beer good as it's obviously a lower ABV and it takes longer to drink. Just rather lardy!
But yes, DJ is a time to think about the relationship around alcohol and how to (hopefully) enjoy it occasionally without it being a crutch or a necessity in certain situations.

Snacking isn't so much of a problem for me because I'm doing 16:8 alongside Dry January - am slowly but steadily losing weight and have been for 18 months now. It's very sustainable, I only do 5 days a week and take holidays off.

Am sleeping like a log, but I see that as a good thing.

Also it made me realise that wine doesn’t taste so good.

It doesn't, does it?! Movktails are so much nicer than booze. We really only tolerate the taste of alcohol for the effects.

Also it made me realise that wine doesn’t taste so good.

I have to disagree with this - wine absolutely does taste good to me. Always has, always will. It's the effect that I don't like, I hate being out of control.

Hello, I'm on day ten today. We had pizza for ds's birthday, but no wine for me, which I was okay with. I had redbush tea instead.
I drink wine because I like the taste, more than for the effect. Two glasses are enough for me. I don't go over that, I'm just not tempted.