No alcohol in 2024

[Noalcohol2024]

I gave up alcohol for an entire year 10 years ago and I am going to challenge myself to do it again in 2024. Anyone want to join me? I won’t lie I found it really hard. However, it did help me reset my habitual drinking. I feel ready to do it again. If anyone else feels a year off alcohol is something they want to do then join me on January 1st. I am going to take the next few days being honest with myself and reflecting on why I feel this challenge is something I need to do. Anyone who starts on January 1st with me can include their reasons in the introduction (if they wish to). I have a big birthday this year so I know it will be a challenge on that day as-well as Christmas and New Year 2024 but I am determined.

How has today gone Glinda? Be kind to yourself, you've had no sleep for days, you're exhausted, and you're sick. Chest infections are horrible. I hope you were able to take the day off sick today to take care of yourself and rest, don't feel bad about that, you are sick. I echo the other posters who say get yourself down the GP if you can, or if they can't see you today please go to your local pharmacy and speak to the pharmacist, they tend to be lovely and sympathetic and will be able to give you something for the not sleeping.

You must feel dreadful at the moment. Once you've had some sleep things will be clearer, everything is awful when you haven't slept, I know and understand the desperation. I hope you are OK.

Sorry everyone, that was a real black wobble!
I ended up going into work, scraping through and am now home with a hot berocca. I am so so so tired, and yes, I've clearly been using wine to help regulate my sleep. One glass for a sugary energy boost, two three four (five) to knock me out. Rubbish wine sleep and then the cycle starts again.
Day 19 here. Tomorrow is 20 and that feels good. I read once that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, so fingers crossed my new habit is not boozing.
Anyway, I'm such a light sleeper, and as much as I love my DH, he's a sleep troll. At 4am, sometimes I swear his snoring is just him shouting about what a great sleep he's having. He rolls about, flails his arms and is a general menace. I've asked him to sleep in the spare room tonight to give me a chance at a good night, and I stopped in at the chemist on the way home for some phenergen (sp?). I have some Epsom salts and bubble bath and I'm going to try and unwind some of this pent up anxiety with a book. I'm going to try and see the gp about sleep and chest, but that could take a while.

I didn't drink. I'm not proud of the realisation that I'd have happily taken the day off to get battered, but I am so so proud that I didn't drink.

Thank you so much to everyone for checking in, you are all bloody marvellous xx

I'm impressed @glindathegoodbitch , well done sticking in there 💪🏻

I hope you get a good sleep tonight and that you manage to see a GP about your chest soon.

I must admit I did laugh at the description of your DH sleeping 😴😂

Thats an awesome update . You've got this 💪

@glindathegoodbitch you fought through it and came out the other end.

I managed to get some of the Trip drinks from Sainsbury’s after I abandoned a very icy dangerous walk.

I’m the Sleep Troll in his family (DH just found this hilarious and now I have a new name 👍) but DH said I’m getting better not drinking so I’m pleased about that.

Enjoy our bath and sleep well🤞

@glindathegoodbitch so pleased to hear your update. If you can conquer moments like this you can conquer anything

@glindathegoodbitch that sounds awful - sleep deprivation is just horrific 😭 I really hope everything you are trying helps....

I have actually lost track of days somewhat (not sure whether that is good or bad!) but I think about day 19.....

I'm having a tough time myself with my kids and their various health/neurodivergence issues, and honestly today especially has been HARD. However I have NOT been tempted to drink.....I would still have all the same struggles but would also be pissed and argumentitive /emotional, then hungover of course....doing things sober is hard but worth it!

Hang on in there everyone......

@ThisIsASeaplane ’doing things sober’ this is such a poignant reminder of how I want the rest of my life to be.

When our kids are ill or going through a hard time it’s like we are there feeling everything with them.

Day 19 is so far along you are doing brilliantly.

I've been doing Dry January and have a rather vain question - I've been suffering from acne for the last 2 weeks - can this be a side effect can anyone tell me?

Thank you everyone for posting, I'm finding it inspiring and big hugs to everyone who have more to worry about than acne, it's incredible what everyone is doing.

@MokaEfti

I found this on a website and they mostly say the same.

The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol on the Skin.The effects of quitting alcohol can be seen gradually on the body and on the skin. At the beginning of withdrawal, it is common to have some skin discomfort, namely dilated pores, the appearance of acne pimples, redness, etc. This is due to the fact that, during the first few days, the body is trying to eliminate accumulated toxins. Once it has resumed its full functions, the improvements become noticeable. The skin regains its radiance and imperfections tend to disappear. The body is once again able to provide the nutrients necessary for its health and to ensure its hydration. With rest, the features are also less drawn and dark circles gradually dissipate. Skin conditions aggravated by drinking, such as rosacea or couperose, are calmed and red patches on the surface of the skin are reduced.

Day 18 people! I am proud yet ashamed to say I think this is my longest sober streak as an adult (apart from multiple pregnancies over the years when I didn't touch even a sniff of anything alcohol or caffeine related).

It hasn't occured to me to want wine, apart from one episode last Saturday which I already knew it would trigger.

Am I the only one who doesn't feel much difference?

Day 17. I think this is the longest stretch I've had since the pandemic hit. I'm always emotional with PMT which is hitting now so managing that without wine is the next challenge.

'I am proud yet ashamed to say I think this is my longest sober streak as an adult (apart from multiple pregnancies'

Same

@Noalcohol2024 thank you - I did try googling but found something saying it was a myth so this is helpful

@hashbrownsandwich Well done on your progress! That is a really positive change and one that should benefit in the long run considering how frequently you were drinking. I felt the best so far after the first week was down but there has been peaks and troughs since as other life things still exist obviously. Have you tried introducing a healthier habit around wine o clock? Do you notice any difference getting up in these mornings or your sleep quality without the alcohol?

Well 21 days in the bag!.
And yes, as many others this is definitely my longest streak (by about 3 or 4 times) since becoming an adult.
Big weekend ahead. Its my eldest boy's birthday. We're taking 13 kids skiing (which would always be followed by debrief and congratulatory "no one died" wine), I'm baking a massive cake (normally done with wine to cover the fact that I cant actually bake cakes), seeing my incredibly overbearing father and my god awful MIL - seperately thank goodness (but both encounters would normally result in "god I hate them wine" so double whammy wine trigger) and of course, the obligatory Friday after a long week juggling work/elderly parents/ small children/ the fact that my boss said I dress like I am homeless in my work appraisal... which was nice, and definitely did not make me want to high five her... In the face... With a brick.

Anyway, much love and support to all you marvellous wine-free-wonders.
Let's smash this weekend out of the park together ❤️

Oh, and I just want to sneak a little fust pump moment in here.
21 days... 11lbs down!!
(Despite eating 2 giant boxes of m&s chocolate boxes left over from Christmas!)

Is wine actually neat lard???

@glindathegoodbitch your boss ! Can’t believe she said that! Did you ask her for a pay rise so you could update your wardrobe?

Well done on facing those things in your life without the false crutch of alcohol… sounds as if you’ve equipped yourself with a cracking sense of humour instead.

A few of you are ahead of me (awesome to start your journeys before NYE!) but wanted to say that as we get to week three, those of us who would have drunk to the point of damaging our livers, should now be in the stage of recovery from what I’ve read. Fatty livers will have started to repair! Hurrah!

Also, am jealous of those of you experiencing weight loss… nothing here, boo

Wow @glindathegoodbitch! Well done on the weight loss and good luck for the weekend. Try to look at it as these things being SOOOO much easier to deal with without a hangover 🙂

I tried those goodrays drinks someone recommended last night. Not sure if it was a placebo effect or what but I went out like a light last night and slept like a baby, dreams and everything! I had blood orange, it tasted a bit like fairy liquid but palatable enough. Will maybe have one of those every Friday or on stressful days, think I'd be quite happy with that! 😃 (will be trying other flavours 🤣)

@glindathegoodbitch congratulations on the weight loss. I’ve lost 5 and a half pounds and my aim is another 4 by the end of January. I too have been eating the left over chocolate from Christmas not touched the wine though! I bet your homemade cake is delicious too.

Your boss sounds so rude. Not sure if you work in the UK (unless your skiing in Scotland) but when I worked abroad boss’s did seem to get over involved in the dress codes of the employees more so than in the UK. That was my experience and it was a few years ago. I was glad when most places went more casual.

@unbelievablescenes a good nights sleep finally! The CBD drink had the opposite effect on me but the Trip one tasted nice. I’ll continue experimenting with them.

The penultimate weekend of Dry January has come around so quickly. I have to admit my default thinking is shifting and I’m not preoccupied with deciding what alcohol can I drink this weekend so I do believe behavior change is happening. May it continue.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Just catching up on this thread. I have managed to keep to my dry January plan so far, hoping to continue at least moderating and break the habit of post work gin tons / entire bottles of wine.

I have listened to a podcast called "sort your shit out" which was really helpful and interesting (and also funny!) and on the podcast it recommended a book called Drink by Professor David Nutt which I downloaded on Audible. It's facts about alcohol, what it does to your brain, and the history of it. I found both resources really useful to help me give up boozing. I also recommend the Try Dry app which if you are honest with your baseline will tell you how much money and calories you have saved (cals probably negligible as I'm definitely snacking more but gives a good idea and shows progress!)

I have learnt that I am high risk for being an alcoholic, although I am certain a lot of my drinking was habitual. I was drinking 3-4 bottles of wine a week and then gin on top of that on the other days. So on average probably 40 units a week which is horrendous. I didn't realise it was that much or that it was as bad as it is for my health.

I've not suffered with cravings as such. The odd pang if I see someone drinking a nice glass of wine on the TV perhaps but not climbing the walls so I am hoping that's a good sign.

Will see how I get on as the rest of the months go on, certainly not planning on a binge on the 1st Feb or anything and am definitely going to be moderating as I suspect I can easily slip back into old habits.

Think we all deserve a pat on the back!

Still going. This weekend is normally the one where my dry Jan attempt crashes and burns! Not planning to drink at the weekend and feeling kind of resigned to it in a strange kind of way. The weather is awful and the nights are dark so there is not much to do in the evenings apart from watch TV. But I’m just accepting of that for now. So yeah mostly just feeling resigned to it and the wine witch has been remarkably silent. Hopefully there won’t be an ambush!

I seem to take longer to get to sleep but once I am, I'm fully out until the alarm goes off at 6.30am. Honestly, I used to fall asleep by 9 on the sofa, drag myself to bed via the secret chocolate stash in the cupboard, then I'd be asleep again until about 3, then generally awake again for like 2 hours. Awful. I can't say I've kicked the chocolate habit but that's literally my only vice now.

I'm starting to look ahead to February as I initially only pledged to do dry January but I'm thinking I can manage longer. My ultimate goal would be only to have wine on a Saturday night as a treat but we all know moderation is the hardest part!

@BeckyWithTheGoodHair010101 thanks for the podcast recommendations.

Not long til the end of dry January and like many of us in this group this is the longest I have made in the last 10 years!

If you feel like committing to the rest of 2024 No Alcohol challenge after Dry January we are here to help each other til the end of the year.

The Try Dry app is excellent the yellow alcohol free teacup days make me so happy when I mark them off. I think it is a great tool if you decide to moderate after Dry January.

Have a good weekend.

I nearly nearly caved in tonight. Hanging on by the skin of my teeth!