Dryer than a Tena Lady - DJ2022 #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

New thread for those of us attempting Dry January.

Oh no @MyGhastIsFlabbered
I tested positive last Tuesday but I’ve been fine just a bit congested. Hope the same goes for you too. I’ve tested negative on every lateral flow since so I’m hoping to be out on Monday
Make sure you get plenty of rest. I’m a bit tired today but I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve got cabin fever.
I’ve managed to stay not drinking and eating healthily though so I’m pleased with that. Usually it would have been an excuse to binge on wine and crisps.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered hope you don’t feel too bad . DS ( grown up ) tested positive for Covid on Christmas Day , ( he has left home ) and says he has had worst colds
Been out for dinner and had 2 glasses of wine , which was lovely , but ( and this is big ) I don’t want any more
Back on the wagon tomorrow

Ohh no on covid @MyGhastIsFlabbered! That must be annoying.

Great news to hear some a few of us have had added positives with weight loss. I weighed myself yesterday and I have lost about half a stone..! A lot of that I think was from over xmas. Be good to lose another half a stone!

I'm flying tomorrow for work. Not sure if I'll allow myself perhaps a wee tipple at the airport, possibly... But overall plan is to keep as dry as poss next week going in to feb.

@H1Drangea that's awesome two was enough and you didn't want more! Maybe a relief too? I'm really hoping to get the same feeling when I have a beverage and to keep it that way!

Oh no Ghast! How are you feeling? Though I have to admit, my second thought (after poor thing) was will you be able to collapse in bed and go on MN as much as you like....?

Can't believe January is nearly over, it's flown by. It's been such a positive experience. Never been one of life's 'joiners' never done a national month of anything, sponsored whatsit, anything like that. But this has been so good for my MH, and it has reminded me of the value of doing something as a group for support, so thank you all

So sorry to hear that @MyGhastIsFlabbered

Hope you recover quickly. I will echo what @NorthernChinchilla said, it’s awesome to have been part of the group, and even if I’ve not been 100% successful I’ve had more AF nights than I’ve had in any month ever I think, and I’ve learned to moderate on nights when I have gone out with friends.

Thank you everyone. I’m in bed with my lemon and ginger tea and looking forward to another day at work with a clear head, And I swear half of the wrinkles around my eyes have gone 😃

Hope covid is easy on you @MyGhastIsFlabbered. I'm still checking in every day and chugging through January. I've put my back into trying to lose some weight as well as not drinking. My instinct is to reward myself with food otherwise. I'm hoping it doesn't all go tits up in February 😬. I have a night out next Friday so will drink then I think. Who is cutting out /cutting down going into February? Do I migrate over to the February thread even if I'm sneaking a night off?

Awww lovely to hear it's been a positive experience for you both. That has cheered me up.

I don't feel too bad - just like I've got a cross between a cold and mild flu. But I did have a little cry last night because my kids are with their dad this weekend and he's going to keep them to minimise the chance of them getting infected. Obviously there's a huge chance they already are but we're trying our best. But I'll miss them even if they do drive me nuts on occasion. And it's my eldest's birthday on Saturday and I've had to cancel our plans.

MyGhastIsFlabbered. Aw, me too. I also know what you mean about missing dc even though sometimes all you want is a day without them! You'll feel better quickerwithout having to care for them too. Sore throat is the worse symptom I have. Very thankful not to be as tired as the first time I got it and I really hope I don't lose my sense of taste and smell again.

Nearly booked dd1 a trip to Cadbury World for this weekend as a little birthday treat but decide to take a covid test first. That turned out to be the right choice!

Can you believe it? Only 1 more day to go after today. Are we planning on carrying on on this thread or moving over to a February one?

Oh Ghast, really sorry to hear about your children although glad you're not feeling too ill.

Just brilliant we made it this far! We had friends over last night and DH is horribly hungover today. Not too long ago that would have been me.

I will be moderating in Feb so flexible re. if this thread is completed or another one started!

@MyGhastIsFlabbered a shiny new thread for a shiny short month ?
Fabulous February ?

Back on the wagon after dinner and drinks out last night , DH and I agreed that we’d enjoyed the wine last night … but , not as much as we thought we would , so we’ll keep going !
Slept really badly too , noticed a real difference

I did have a lovely virgin Bellini today , was peach purée , with fever tree white grape and apricot soda water ,which I will be hunting for in Tesco as it was lovely !

That sounds lovely @H1Drangea must remember to look out for that.

@wurlycurly

I’ll be moderating from here on in. I’ve been reading Mindful Drinking and have drawn up some very strict rules for myself. I’ve been gradually cutting down over the years but struggling with AF nights, so this has been great as a re=set, even if I had a few nights off.

Should we stay with the main group @MyGhastIsFlabbered or start a separate moderation thread? Hope you’re feeling better x

I'm easy either way: would it be better for the AF-ers to have their own space, and the moderators theirs, or stick together?

My moderation rules:

• Saturday evening is date night, having a drink acceptable
• All other days AF. Exceptions: celebrations/events of some sort. And these are of the order of birthdays, big news, family get-together, NOT it's my neighbour's aunt's hamster's birthday
• No day drinking. A half at lunch if we're out, fine, starting a 'sesh' at midday, not fine.
• No more than two consecutive days having a drink.

-Applying all the above for holiday/time off work too.

• Have a dry weekend now and then.

Anyone else?

@NorthernChinchilla I think it might be better if the moderators have a separate thread so that we’re not a distraction to the AF. And then some might want to come over after dry February?

I’m feeling very enthusiastic just now so I might start one and see what happens :)

Hope nobody minds :)

I don't know who else is doing DF (Dry February) and we've got such a lovely little group here I actually feel a bit sad that we might get split up. It must be the covid talking

I'm happy to bounce between two groups. Surely everyone is welcome everywhere, but it's easier on those who are abstaining not to have the endless chats about how to go about moderating? I find the dry months fairly easy and navigating the choppy waters of cutting back pretty daunting 😬. All sorts of rules required and discipline. It's going to be tricky as DH is a big drinker.

@wurlycurly

I'm happy to bounce between two groups. Surely everyone is welcome everywhere, but it's easier on those who are abstaining not to have the endless chats about how to go about moderating? I find the dry months fairly easy and navigating the choppy waters of cutting back pretty daunting 😬. All sorts of rules required and discipline. It's going to be tricky as DH is a big drinker.

It is a a lovely group @MyGhastIsFlabbered and thank you again for starting it :)

We could pop over here on our AF nights and talk about moderating on the other thread.

Got the same problem with OH drinking @wurlycurly

He drinks a lot every night though is trying to cut back and is trying to have one AF night a week

I am going to go forward not having a couple of nights off from alcohol each week but instead a couple of nights off from not drinking, if that makes sense? I want my alcohol free days to greatly out number drinking days.

I really like NorthernChinchilla's rules! I no longer want to find any reason at all to have a drink. And certainly no more trips to the off licence to buy 8 cans of strong Polish beer to drink in an evening between dh and me.

I really want to reduce my antidepressants to the lowest dose. No alcohol is really helping me work towards this which a great incentive for me to keep alcohol to an absolute minimum.

Morning all on the last day of January - yay!!! It is actually day 36 for me as I started on boxing day after a terrible drunken binge which spoiled christmas. Will be staying on for dry February and likely a dry life.
Rushing out to work so just a quickie - hope everyone has had a good weekend and hope to see some of you on the dry February thread....whatever that turns out to be. Now to work on the cake intake.................

I really don't mind. I remember last year some people found it really hard hearing the moderators taking about what they were drinking. I'm out later this week and actually a bit panicky about having my first drink. I might stay dry even though I'm out with at least one hardened drinker so there will be some pressure I expect.

I did 24/31 this dry Jan so I guess I am already moderating. That is way more dry days than I'd usually manage - used to do only Monday some weeks. Maybe Monday and Tuesday then that would be it for the week so I'm pleased with how month has gone and want to carry on with this level of drinking/dry days going forward

I will go dry for Lent @MyGhastIsFlabbered I'll dip into a new dry group for sure. This thread has been immensely helpful and so a big thank you for starting it and keeping it ticking over!

I did 25 days in the end which I'm happy with. I'm
going to do three dry weeks in February.
Wishing everyone well!