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?

I don't like wine but corona beer with lime tastes really good to me. There is AF corona but it's not available in uk unfortunately.

@pointythings

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.

I'm the same - I love the taste of wine. 🙈 my parents let me drink alcohol from a young age. There's an unhealthy relationship with alcohol right across my family - people serving sherry at 11am at Christenings etc. My own children don't like alcohol, even the grown up ones. Maybe because I never offered it to them. Actually the 18 year old likes the very occasional strawberry daiquiri but that's all.

I also LOVE the taste of some wines. I don't drink for the sake of it, as in if we go out and the wines I like aren't on the menu then I won't have one but I do love the taste of the good ones!

Another AF night, H tried to tempt me but I held strong. I know he will more than likely crack soon as this is the longest he's ever not had a glass of wine in the 12 years I've known him.. that's his journey and this is mine. Got up full of energy this morning which is nice. I've done my walk along the prom after the school run and I'm feeling the benefit of getting that fresh air every morning without feeling like I've been hit by a truck 😆 I also love the taste of wine, that first cold glass of white goes down far to easily - my trouble is not being able to stop at 1 or 2.!! Personally I think it's an all or nothing situation for me. Dry January will be the first step forward in being AF for now, one day at a time.. double digits and onto day 11 I can't jeffin believe it.!

So I feel bad still posting on this board but wanted to explain. I did drink Saturday night as it was a planned fall off the wagon and 2 glasses of Prosecco. I had set aside 2 evenings in Jan I would have a drink as they were birthdays and celebrations but feel good I was restrained and I have no urge to drink again until my next planned evening which is 22nd. So I feel a fraud for posting on a dry January board but my plan is to stick to this pattern for the rest of the year where I have set dates that I have going out plans where I have a couple of drinks but no drinking at home,

katedan you're not a fraud and you absolutely should keep posting here. These threads are about supporting each other in resetting, improving, maintaining or ending our relationship with alcohol, whichever applies to us. For you it's about more mindful drinking and keeping it for special occasions. For me it's about acknowledging the harm alcohol has done to my family and taking that month to work through it. For others it's much more radical. All of those things are equally valid. I personally feel that dry is a state of mind more than it is about quantities.

Absolutely agree with pp katedan that actually sounds like a really sensible, holistic approach to alcohol. Keep it for special and don't go overboard. It's where I want to be at the end of DJ!

Attempted to delve into The Naked Mind last night ...

It was a little like wading through treacle, couldn't get past the intro! Maybe I was too tired. Think I'll stick to the more humorous (lighter) books ... has anyone got any suggestions along the lines of Lotta Dann's Mrs D books?

www.amazon.co.uk/Lotta-Dann/e/B00MFUIX7U?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Day 11 - we are going great guns - bring it on!!

@NorthernChinchilla

Absolutely agree with pp katedan that actually sounds like a really sensible, holistic approach to alcohol. Keep it for special and don't go overboard. It's where I want to be at the end of DJ!

I did this for the second half of 2021. I recommend it!

The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley, already mentioned on this thread is light reading and amusing, but really resonates with me, so I recommend that.

I love yoga, I try and do 10 minutes a day, I do it first thing and it sorts out my aches and pains, and I always do a 10 minute yoga stretch after running.

Day 11. Can't quite believe it. I haven't gone this long without booze since I was growing a human.

I also love the taste of wine, especially red, wines like Black Stump, The Full 15, Cabalie. I also love white wine, but I skull it, so tend to stick to red that I sip. I love drinking on my own too....

Yes day 11 here also! Longest I’ve been off since i last did dry jan which was some years ago. I didn’t manage the full month but did do 25 days or something. Other than that since I grew all my little humans but I did have a glass once a week then. Turned down the job I was offered - due to ill father and because I’d miss out on shares and bonus but seems they are willing to wait until after then for me to join!

One thing is I’m really sleepy! Finding it hard to sleep at night and the getting up earlier for work - could do with forty winks now.

Iamblossom I drink alone too - I live alone, if I go out, I always have to drive because no public transport - and I don't have any alcohol at all if I'm driving.

But I can happily moderate and I know it isn't like that for everyone.

@Iamblossom - me too, live alone, drink alone ... rather enjoy it

A bit too much! Hence this!!

What about boozy chocolates? I got a box for Xmas but should I save it for February?

I would say yes as that is alcohol.

Day 11 and I'm getting bored...danger zone. If I crack it wont just be one night though. I'll be back on it every night. sigh

Hello again. Thanks for your kind words the other day. I got my tooth patched up a bit, it’s still sore which is making it difficult to eat but managing soft foods. Doesn’t look great but not absolutely dreadful. The dentist will do a proper repair in a couple of weeks. Lost a few pounds so ‘Every cloud’ 😂 Feeling more positive today. Slept well, went for a walk and bought some nice AF drinks. Determined to see the rest of dry Jan through and would like to think even further. The only time I tried dry Jan before I got to 14 days. I’ve got 2 ladies lunches on the next 2 Saturdays but I’m determined not to drink. What I’m not liking at the moment is my obsession with the whole AF thing, I feel like it’s all I can think about!

You can do it dementedma is there anything at all that would distract you? Of the fun, or even clearing out the kitchen cupboards variety?

@dementedma

Yep. That’s me. Once I start drinking I’ll keep going and the alcohol free nights will go out the window.I had a bit of a crisis on Day 17 in November and drank every night until this start of DJ. Some nights this time I’ve just had an early dinner and gone to bed with a book.

Day 11….last night was ok as it was a work night and I don’t drink as much during the week. Its really just getting through the 2 hours between 6.30 ish to 8.30ish

I've started a new thread for us, but my OCD won't allow this to be abandoned before it hits 1k so I'll fill it up be myself if I have to!

Day 10 and still feeling strong here. The dieting part is tough but I can't go on at the rate I was putting on weight. Hopefully I will see some benefit too. I'm not seeing much yet but it's very early days.

Day 11 done, loving this thread

& I'm sure I'll like the new one too

Thanks all. Went to Pilates and am in bed eith herb tea

Can't believe we have filled a whole thread already!

One effect of not being blurry with wine by 7pm is that on my nights to cook (which is every night this week) I am being very creative with puddings much to my boys' delight. They had Elton mess this evening to use up the double cream and two packs of cream cheese I found in the fridge, added cocoa powder and icing sugar, job's a goodun . Managing not to eat it myself too which is a bonus.

Ds1 isolating in his room till Friday, seems ok so far, I wonder if he will take up my suggestion to clear out all the clothes he doesn't wear any more, I think he'd have to be pretty bored to agree.

One becks blue and the half glass of af white left in the bottle topped up with soda water. Now on lime and soda. I'm not sure I could do this without af drinks....have I just swapped one habit for another.. ?

I've definitely swapped drink for sweet things which I'm now trying to rectify. But baby steps!