Dryer than a Tena Lady - DJ2022 #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

New thread for those of us attempting Dry January.

Day 22 going well! We have loads of wine in our wine rack but I don't really like wine so it's ok. Beer fridge has only AF corona in it. Dh hid the other beers in the start of January.

Checking in - day 22. Feeling good at having come so far, but struggling at the moment. Am on a 5 hour train journey. Would usually buy a mini bottle of wine at the station and get a couple of G&Ts from the trolley (I only drink gin on a train, for some reason). Gah! Have come too far to give in now, but it’s not easy.

Am away on my own for a week, so lots of other trigger times when I would usually drink. And I ordered af wine with my supermarket delivery but they're out of stock.

Wish me luck!

I was laughing at my supermarket- I was there with 0% pilsner and alcohol free sparkling. Guy behind me bought about 12 bottles of 0% pilsner. No wonder all sold out in supermarkets- we only have one small section with AF beers and wine but seems everyone is buying alcohol free. Ironic the apprentice task this week was making an alcohol free drink! Still was struggling too last night! Getting into single figures for first milestone

Hmmmm... after completing my decorating, I could murder a drink, just one. I won't, but after working hard physically (like with gardening) it's so nice just to have a drink and flop

Will have a hot bath, get all the bloody paint off me instead....

There is definitely something really satisfying about seeing alcohol in the house or when out and not having it. Today I visited my parents as a weekend bday thing. I spied Prosecco in the fridge which she probably put there in anticipation of the visit before she knew I was doing dry January. Man I would have really enjoyed a glass! But no. I didn't. And it felt good to know I have the strength to resist. Even when it is my favourite drink calling to me so sweetly...

Very tired tonight so it is going to be an night me thinks.

Keep strong my fellow dry january friends! We've come so far!

Early night*

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday , keeping busy and away from the alcohol
We had a day out at the coast , lunch , shopping , walking and pottering about
No alcohol , and a nice lunch out with a glass of tap water and a coffee

Hopefully going away for the.night next Saturday with dinner out which may well involve wine , can’t decide yet ( will also include walking , maybe a museum and quite possibly IKEA )
That’s one of the bonuses of being older with DC who have flown the nest ….until you get the phone call from DD in floods of tears …

Oh dear H1Drangea hope it wasn't anything too serious?
I'm at the other end of the scale, currently snuggled on the sofa with my two, both gently wittering on about their games (Roblox, Adpot Me).

Going to achieve a lifetime ambition today and buy a loveseat and a new bed! I'm in my 40s and have never owned a new sofa (we'll wait till we're in the new house before buying the larger items) and my bed I've had for 20 years, so am very excited!

Will also do the last bits of the decoration and return the living room from its current state of chaos. All good AF fun!

I thought last night would be a really difficult test. We went to a gig in Brighton. DH had two alcohol free Heinekens (which he said were really nice). I had coke and zero interest in anything alcoholic. It was interesting seeing the drunk people from a sober perspective (really annoying - I'm embarrassed for my many drunken exploits). Also great just leaving and driving home and not messing around with taxis and trains was refreshing.

Last year by now I was counting down the days until I could drink even though I wanted to do 100 days (I failed). This year I have no interest in drinking again though it's going to be a lot harder when DH is drinking alcohol again and it's in the house.

Interestingly I noticed yesterday that my tinnitus has pretty much disappeared since stopping drinking. I can't see how it's related but I'll take it as a win. I also used to have really badly cracked heels - they've also healed

So at the moment an alcohol-free future doesn't look so frightening but I'm sure I'll have a few tough moments ahead. Like others, I'm loving not thinking about whether I'll drink or not. And I'm still loving waking up clear headed rather than hungover.

Sorry - that was long!

Well done! That sounds so positive.

We had takeaway pizza last night. Apart from when I was pregnant, pizza always comes with beer! But pizza with no beer was fine, obviously! I am less bloated today too.

Still gaining weight though...

Dh slipped at work last saturday night and hot his head when he fell. He has spent all week suffering from a bad concussion. I have been doing everything in the house as well as all the school runs, gymnastics and my own work. I was really looking forward to this week's OU work but instead of finding time to enjoy it I've just had to try and fit it where I can. But still haven't given into a glass (bottle) of wine so am feeling good about that.

And I have thrush! Good times!

I failed yesterday. Back on it today though as it sent my anxiety wild, I've been up all night and now I have a headache.

Day 1 ....

Ijustneedtosleep21 you haven't failed though, you just decided to have a drink. It doesn't mean all the other days when you have chosen not to don't matter. Have you drank less than you would in a normal month? Then you haven't failed at all.

@Ijustneedtosleep21 there are no failures here...pop back on the wagon and off we go again!

I agree it isn't a failure. To date you've drunk far less in January than you would normally have done. In addition this is something you can learn from - knowing what your triggers for picking up a drink are is powerful. You'll be able to think about developing coping strategies if you hit that point again. It's a journey.

Agreed, it's not day 1, it's day 23 with a minor wobble.

In other news I have deep cleaned the bathroom - it is sparkling.

Agree with everyone @Ijustneedtosleep21 don't be hard on yourself and it sounds like it was also an enlightening experience if it set off anxiety - that can be something, weirdly, to be grateful for you have a stark reminder to stay strong and pick it back up.

Not sure if this is the best advice, but if you have done dry jan straight for 22 days, just penalise yourself with a minus day... you may have broken the streak but it doesn't mean you have broken the overall goal of drinking less and having topping up an amazing number of days being AF. It's okay to wobble. We live and we learn. Keep counting those days and take this as an experience to spur you on if you can, I know it can feel hard to feel that way when things feel rubbish.

I'd say one day off the wagon should be considered part of your individual journey. Even put another day on for 1 Feb if you feel that would help you feel better.

Thanks everyone appreciate your kind words. You're right I've done so well not drinking for the rest of the month. A big thing for me is not drinking at home anymore and I wasn't home so I have to look at the positives.

@Ijustneedtosleep21

Thanks everyone appreciate your kind words. You're right I've done so well not drinking for the rest of the month. A big thing for me is not drinking at home anymore and I wasn't home so I have to look at the positives.

Exactly. Mind yourself :)

Look at it this way of saying you're back to Day 1 makes you feel like a failure...say this year you've been dry 22 out of 23 days - and to badly paraphrase Meatloaf (RIP) 22/23 ain't bad

Checking in on day 23. Feeling OK, still taking it a day at a time but determined as we head toward February.
Will be getting in some nice AF drinks for February though as I am missing having something different from tea or water over the weekend. Kombucha or that Robinsons crushed mint and lime cordial is nice but it doesn't feel fancy.