No Alcohol 2024 February

[NoAlcohol2024February]

Checking in for February 2024 now Dry January is over. Feeling positive for an AF February and the year ahead AF 🤩

Checking in. Thank you for the new thread.

Didn't do dry January as both DH and I have birthdays but starting on dry February and cutting down generally after that. At 55 I find I just can't tolerate alcohol as much these days.

Also checking in for February

Yep I’m here too! Thanks for the new thread!

I'm in!
I found dry Jan much easier than I thought I would, even with my dh having an occasional drink. I have eaten so much sugar though, so this month, my plan is to improve my diet. I was pretty good up until Christmas so I'm hopping it won't be too hard.
Good luck everyone!

Hola, I'm on board for the long haul 🙌🏼😁

Checking in

Checking in. Thank you for the new thread.

Checking in! Looking forward to Fit February! Or Freedom February!

Thank you for starting the new thread! Day 56 for me today! The longest I have ever been sober.

I have a big personal challenge for me tonight... a colleague's leaving do, which I am doing Sober. It's at a pub and there are some big drinkers here. My plan is to get soda and lime and if anyone notices or asks why I'm not drinking, I'll tell the truth. It makes me anxious and I'm sick of feeling shit and having crappy sleep. Since I've stopped drinking, I feel loads better. GO ME haha

Good luck everyone, we are gonna be great!

@wannabedry you can do it. I find that it can better to focus on the positives rather than the negatives if someone asks, eg Smile and say no thanks I'm not drinking. If they ask why, I'm just trying something different for a while and feeling pretty great so far! And try to change the subject If you tell them why you don't want to drink people tend to argue why they think you are wrong. X

That's a good idea. I need to be short, sweet and positive. I'll try that approach. Dreading the questions to be honest, so hoping having something that looks like alcohol will help. Probably massively overthinking things!

@wannabedry if they push you just laugh and say, I feel so good though, why would I want to do that?!
Be confident, your life, your happiness, you are in control! When they see that they will give up and move on.

Thank you @whereaw. I do just need to do that. I hope it doesn't become a big topic of conversation. I expect it will as some of the team are coming off Dry Jan today.

I just need to get a few of these AF nights out under my belt. Being sober is fine for the most part of my life as I don't really go out much and when I see friends it's for coffee and a mooch round the shops, not normally bottomless brunch or anything like that.

However, I need to actually embrace these sorts of nights as they will be a good test of my resilience. I have to go out and face my fears!

I'm in! Jan done, and decision made to keep on going. Relationship with booze isn't that positive, so this feels like the right step. Onwards 😊!

Checking in for AF February 2024.
At least it is not as long as January 😜to get our second month in.

'I expect it will as some of the team are coming off Dry Jan today.'

Could you mention dry Jan and just say you're carrying it on a bit longer. Then it's something they at least relate to in part, and keeps it vague. Good luck!

I'm in xx

Ah! Found you all! Checking in and feeling positive. Just wish the weight would start coming off me like it is for some of you!

On the train and nearly home. They all left the office early - around 3.30pm and headed to the pub. I had a Diet Coke and then a lime and soda and eeeeked it out. No one said anything until someone asked what I was drinking and I said 'lime and soda' and then one of the other girls said that's what I'm on as well and we clinked glasses. Then someone else who I don't know said "I haven't drunk since Boxing Day and I feel brilliant. Got a hen do this weekend and I'm not drinking for that either"

Then someone else said they gave up alcohol for five years but went back to it and now drink 'mindfully' and 'never spirits or cocktails'.

Most people were a bit 'ohhh booo boring' but I'd say 1/4 of the ones I was sitting with were also not drinking for whatever reason.

All in all, a success!

That's a great update @wannabedry well done for sticking with it 😄

Im currently on the bus home from a work event too. The rest of my team are still out and planning a few more. Did I feel a pang of regret at missing it? Yes. Will I be relieved tomorrow that I didn't drink, didn't talk too much, didn't stay out too late, didn't give away too much personal info, didn't spend a ton of money on feeling shit? Also yes 😅.

Count me in too! Longest stretch without alcohol for 8 years and I'm feeling very positive. Would be lovely to be disciplined and only drink now and again but from experience I'm not so I won't!

Checking in! Good luck everyone ☕ xx

Checking in too. This will be me starting (again).

I did 5 months of no alcohol up until Christmas Day last year / then New Year then a short holiday happened - all involving alcohol.

I felt fabulous alcohol free though and managed really well. So I'm VERY keen to get started not drinking again. Knowing I did so well last year gives me confidence around doing it again - but for MUCH longer.

I would like to join. Just done dry Jan and last year I managed 84 days,felt good but I hadn't addressed the reasons I was drinking so I went back to it.

I'm way more focussed on my underlying feelings this time around. If I get cravings, am I bored, stressed, excited etc and then choosing to sit with it.