Dryer than a Tena Lady - DJ2022 #2

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

New thread for those of us attempting Dry January.

Morning DJers! Well haven't we all done well?! I have no plans yet when I'll drink so I'll stay with DFers until the occasion arises.

I wasn't on this thread, but I did dry January up till the 28th and then had a planned few drinks over the weekend. I'm now going to do a dry February; not moderating. I don't think I'd mind people discussing moderating. I am also going to check out the Freedom thread on here, as I'm 'sober curious' and may keep going if dry Feb seems good. So there is always that option for people who don't want to read about moderating?

Like others on here, I have some outings planned for Feb. One will be easy to avoid booze at, but the other is with friends I honestly haven't seen while sober since I was pregnant . Honestly not sure if I should go! But maybe it will be good to get through the evening sober.

Hi, checking in on day 31. I will be continuing Feb dry, planning 100 days first. Then Sober Spring as well.
I have tried moderating over the years and it doesn't work for me, always slip into bad habits as the wine witch wins once she's been let out of the cage, a couple of times a month.

I am going to moderate and keep on having AF beer in fridge if I have gravings. I am very happy that I managed to be AF for whole month.

Day 31 here. Deciding what to do with myself in February is difficult. I was going to moderate, but then I realised how much time I spent negotiating in my head about when I’d drink. So I’m staying dry until half term, and then making another decision.

It won’t be easy, I’ve got a live rugby match and 2 pub quizzes between now and then, but I think I need to do this.

I used to laugh to myself about my “inner toddler” - that whiny voice going “but l liiike wiiine”. Now the voice is nastier - I was out at lunch recently and saw people with large glasses of white wine (my trigger), and my inner voice couldn’t believe they were drinking so slowly! It’s like a nasty, angry, snappy thing inside me that needs to be dealt with!

@Onewildandpreciouslife I’ve turned into Mrs Judgy as in ..
You’re drinking wine ? 😲
But it’s Monday lunchtime ? 😱
And yes , I understand the whiny toddler , I was there with you but I seem to have changed

@FrugalFrancine maybe look at it like a challenge , spend the evening sober and see how you get on , the only problem would be realising you don’t have anything in common any more

I like this thread and the little community we have @MyGhastIsFlabbered

Thanks @H1Drangea, but I've had a discussion on another thread and I'm not going to the boozy night out.

I got an amazing tip on the other thread though - this us genius if it's an option for anyone else. You go on the boozy night out, but you book a nice hotel room! Then if people get really lairy and you want to go home, but can't get home quickly, (for me it's a train full of pissheads - OK I am usually one of them, but it's dreadful sober), you can go back to your nice hotel room! I'm doing this next time I get invited out in a big city! I'm getting one with a spa and I'm ordering breakfast in bed. Best idea I've heard in years!

Excellent tip !
@FrugalFrancine

Day 31 and it’s almost done. I’d just like to reiterate what some pp have said thanks to all of you for the support it has definitely been what got me through the month. And thanks to @MyGhastIsFlabbered for starting the thread - must admit when I saw your original post in the trending section at the end of last year I thought I can do that. So I downloaded the dry app & immediately talked myself out of it after it gave me a score saying it would be very difficult. However the seed must have been planted as I woke up on 1 Jan and thought I am going to do this & to my surprise I have managed it. I am going for moderation & will see how that goes. Was thinking of aiming for a set number of dry days in 2022 but the trouble with that is I may just end up over indulging on the days I am allowed a drink. Really proud of all of us - well done everyone, regardless of how many days we were dry I am sure all of our livers are in a better place & hopefully our mental health is too x

Day 31. Yay! Well done everyone.
I’m sticking to drinking just on social occasions and only once a week so won’t just sit around drinking with DH whilst we are watching TV I’ll only drink when we have other people with us. If I have more than one event a week I’ll only drink for one.
I do have plans the next 2 Fridays that will involve alcohol but then I’m clear for the rest of the month. I’m nervous about drinking again to be honest.

Day 24 today as started late. Going to carry on but had a craving tonight. Now thinking to how I’m going to celebrate Valentines evening and my big birthday weekend at end of Feb. Wondering if I can get through upcoming occasions AF?

Night night fellow DJers! Let's hope it means a permanent change for us all, whether it be AF or moderation

Well, I'm moderating so will be AF until Friday, so have Tues - Thursday to get though. I'm finding Ginger Beer Cordial and soda an absolute life saver. It's got a slight 'kick' to it which makes it seem less like a soft drink. I wash that down with a hot chocolate before bed :)

Woohoo 1st Feb here we are! I'm still feeling good about not having alcohol going forward though I know DH is going to test me when he starts (probably tonight!) But we've got this haven't we? However people are going on whether moderating or AF I hope we can keep our little group going. You've been a life saver

You too @MyGhastIsFlabbered I’ve had more AF nights than I’ve had in any month in the last 20 years and am really pleased that I’ve broken what was essentially a bad habit. Thank you for your support.

Tuesday night and I’ve had two ginger cordials and now having lemon and ginger tea. :)

The moderating thread was piled on by committed abstainers 😬 so I'm back in the fold. Not drinking until Friday and will steer well clear of any glorifying of drinks 🧐🙂 happy February!

@wurlycurly

The moderating thread was piled on by committed abstainers 😬 so I'm back in the fold. Not drinking until Friday and will steer well clear of any glorifying of drinks 🧐🙂 happy February!

You and me both 😀😀😀

@wurlycurly oh goodness was it? That's not helpful at all. I've nothing against moderation i just don't think I can do it. I've tried and gradually my alcohol consumption has crept up. Plus I really like sober me and all the benefits it has - no hangovers or beer fear

I'm dry until Friday and rate the belvoir ginger cordial topped with tonic. The lime one is good too. Plan for me is dry sun-thurs and mindful drinking Fri/sat. Aiming to keep it to one bottle of wine a week - compared to around four bottles a week before I did dry Jan.

I’m the same @MyGhastIsFlabbered , once I start , I can’t stop
Until now !
So I’m not moderating as I know it will be the slippery slope back to my old ways
The only issue that I can see this week , is that it is Mums birthday on Friday , sadly she died 20 years ago at the same age I am now (61 )
DH is planing on going fishing that evening ( which I’m fine with ) and I would normally buy myself a bottle of Sauvi B and a family bag of revels and have a lovely evening home alone
I’m still having the lovely evening home alone , just need better snacks and drinks ( and will buy a big bunch of flowers as she would have liked that )

Going to search out for the moderating thread now , so I can join in the outrage

It's sad that moderators and abstainers can't get on at times. We're all different - some of us have the self awareness to know that fully AF is the only way and for others like me, moderation is the way forward. Ultimately we are all striving for a safe and comfortable relationship with alcohol - whether that is politely saying 'thanks, but no thanks' or a nod and a handshake on weekends or special occasions.

Still drinking AF beer. My first drink will probably be on Saturday. Dh fancies some wine so I might have a glass. I am not a wine drinker so one glass is plenty.

Had two small bottles of lovely beer last night. It felt like such a treat!

I completly understand that some people can't or do not want to have alcohol. For me its more like Ben & Jerry's icecream. I'd happily have some at lunch, I'd enjoy eating it several times a week, I could eat way too much at the weekend. But I know having small bowl once or twice a week to end a nice meal is much better for me!

I'm keeping the dry app, I am going to keep using it to record any drinks along with the alcohol free days. The calories and money saved has been a real eye opener!

Well I think we're all friends here and can get on whether completely AF or moderating. Hopefully it will stay that way. I'm still COVID ridden and not feeling great. Eldest DS and stepdaughter now have it so just waiting for DS2 to test positive.

Oh no! Have you had it before? Dd2 was negative but I'm not sure we could get the swab far enough up her nose tbh. There were loads of kids off in dd1 and dd2s classes so it definitely came from one of them!

I had a touch of a headache that I'm sure was a hangover this morning! I was quite glad, as though my body knew it had alcohol and reacted accordingly.