Alcohol free in 23

[DancingSober]

Hello!

This is the thread for doing a whole year alcohol free beginning tomorrow (although some have started a bit early).

This isn't a moderation thread, so it isn't for cutting down. It's absolutely no alcohol for the whole of 2023.

That said, slip ups happen and I will not be throwing anyone off the thread if they have a blip, (or several blips), but please don't post if you're planning to have a few drinks here and there, as it may affect people who are struggling to remain AF but want to.

Tagging everyone from the initial thread:

@SerialMover
@Metalhead
@nancydroo
@blondie87
@TooSunny
@Preparedforjobnottolast
@thenewaveragebear1983
@limitededitionbarbie
@afaloren
@hashbrownsandwich
@Wantmyownbed

I think that's everyone, but please join if you want to (it's open to everyone) and huge apologies if I have missed anyone with my tagging.

How are you @DancingSober ? I hope your cold has gone now?

Happy Saturday everyone. Had a lovely day, I seem to have reset my body clock where I’m exhausted by 10am but then up at 6am. It’s been good as I get soo much done and if I was drinking I’d struggle to sleep or have a restless sleep then sleep off any hangover.

I had a busy day with kids football this morning. Then in the afternoon me & my daughter had a painting session together. I tried a tutorial online and was about to scrap my painting but persevered and it hasn’t turned out as badly as I was expecting.

now chilling for half an hour before we set up a board game. This would have been prime time to open a wine but I’m not even tempted tonight!

hope everyone had a lovely evening

Oops, exhausted by 10pm… and this is todays painting 😊

That is stunning!

That's great @Pollypower

Also not temptation here tonight. Still feeling crappy but had a VERY busy & active day.

DH has just gone to get us a takeaway and I'd be very surprised if I was still awake by 9.30 this evening 😴

Beautiful @Pollypower

Day 28 and the last weekend of January nearly done. I am feeling super proud of myself. I went for my hike and whilst I can barely walk now, I loved every minute. Definitely going to make that a once a month event, where DH has the kids and I can focus on something just for me.

This week I took a video to send to a friend and when I played it back I was shocked at how different my face looked. Less bloated, I have cheek bones when I smile! A better colour, more pink and less grey. Even the bags under my eyes appear to look improved. I still have the red nose but understand that will take a lot longer to reduce. It was a huge motivator to keep going and if I feel weak I think I’ll watch it back and remember how utterly unwell my face used to look.

Tomorrow I am going to do my 1st of Feb pictures because I know I won’t remember or have time on a work day and it feels close enough. Will be interesting to see them side by side.

@Pollypowerthat is gorgeous and a great way to keep the hands busy!

Officially 1 month today. Dry January done for the first time in my life. Had one little wobble but otherwise found it quite easy. Here’s to February being the same.

My OH has booked us an overnight in February and a steak restaurant. Last year I done 80 days AF and drank on a similar date night. There’s just something about going out for dinner together and enjoying a bottle of wine.

he said last night “oh that can be the first night you drink”. I said oh I doubt it. I’m trying to be alcohol free for 23! And he seemed disappointed. I hadn’t declared this, just said that I am taking a break. I get it though it’s difficult when that’s been our fun for years and years but Hoping it won’t change anything.

That's really positive you felt you could tell him that @Pollypower

I had already mentioned dry Feb to my husband so it won't be a surprise to him.

He is really seeing the benefits for us both too.

I keep getting lots of comments from family and friends about how it's weird when people just stop but I just back that up with having seen the benefits of looking after myself more and not drinking, I can totally see why people do just stop forever!

Hi everyone, checking in again.

@Pollypower maybe he just needs some time to get used to the idea - I'm sure that he wants you to be happy, it's just a change for him to deal with?

I've been doing ok - just finished at the gym and really enjoyed it. I'm coming regularly as I've committed to a year's membership, and am really feeling the benefits mentally.

Struggling at times, and getting vaguely annoyed by my husbands drinking at time. He doesn't drink much, maybe a drink or two, but does drink regularly, and it makes him sleepy which is irritating even though I'm always sleepy too so it shouldn't even matter.

Good news is I didn’t regain those 2lbs (somehow) so I’m finishing month 1 on a loss, which I’ll happily take! Bad news is I did my photos and I honestly can’t see much difference 😂

I guess that might take a bit more time.

@Pollypower I know exactly what you mean in terms of hoping it doesn’t change the dynamic. I hate the fact that the first alcohol free meal out I had with DH was pretty awful. I’ll admit that I haven’t told my DH that I want to spend the year dry. I was just going to keep not drinking alcohol until it became the norm. I feel like if I tell him my intentions then I might be setting myself up to fail. I don’t want any pressure!

Gaaah! i got a promotion today that I worked really hard for and I really want to celebrate with champagne.

Instead I have an Af beer and an unexpected period, which isn't really cutting it in the celebratory stakes.

Congratulations @HappyHealthy23, that’s great news! Can you treat yourself to something else instead of champagne to celebrate? Posh chocolates, spa day, new clothes… whatever rocks your boat?!

Thanks @Metalhead ! I was thinking I might take myself off for a massage at some stage actually - that would be a nice treat. There's nothing else I particularly want (that I can afford - there's lots of things i want that are well out of my reach 😉 ).
I've got over my little tantrum about champagne now, though. I think I just had to let it out. Also unexpected period is not helping my mood (thank you, menopause 🙄). I've gone back to being quietly pleased with myself and reassuring myself that I'll be able to give this new role my best shot when I'm not getting wasted on the regular. 😇😁

Congratulations @HappyHealthy23 ! Brilliant news!

Glad the champagne urge has passed - treating yourself to a massage with a lovely clear head sounds much better 🙂

Great that you’re enjoying the gym @TeeNoG !

Must feel good ending the month on a loss @NoTimeForWine 💫

I still ache for gardening yesterday - it wasn’t even that strenuous! Hopefully I’ll end end 2023 in better shape than I started it…

I've just got back from the gym. Feeling good to have started the week well.

I have also decided that I am definitely not drinking this weekend for our weekend away.

@HappyHealthy23 that's amazing well done. I have so many things I want to achieve this year and some being work related and I'm really starting to see that alcohol will hold me back.

@HappyHealthy23 Congratulations 🥳 that's great news!

Well done @HappyHealthy23 great news!

Great work @HappyHealthy23! I also struggle with working out how to reward myself with something that isn’t alcohol. I’m trying to view the more general feeling of calm as the big reward and trying to actively acknowledge it when I need the reward feeling. If that makes any sense!

Dry Jan ✅ now to tackle Feb 💪🏻

I've just ordered an alcohol free bottle of gin as q weekend treat. Apparently it's amazing!

Great feeling! Well done to everyone on ticking off Dry January! 😀🎉

Which brand/type of alcohol free gin did you get @coodawoodashooda ? It would be interesting to see what you think of it when it arrives.

Well done on one month down! Dry January was a good cover; I feel it may be trickier justifying not drinking socially (not that it should be!!), but just going to take each event as it comes.

Congratulations everyone!
Quick message before work to say we did it! I'm feeling super proud of us all!

@DancingSober how are you? Hope you are ok.