Dry January and beyond

[BulldogMumma]

I couldn't find a dry January thread so thought I'd make one.
I've posted on the alcohol threads before but never see it through. This year I'm determined to do dry January and even beyond.
My drinking has really crept up lately and I know I need to address it. I lost my mum this year due to alcohol and I don't want to go the same way. I've been using alcohol as a crutch since losing my mum but now's the time I stop relying on the wine and take back control.
Anyone else who wants to join me are more than welcome, would be good to have some buddies along the way x

@Comeonicandoit strangely I was on day 4 yesterday & had cracking headache I don’t drink every day either but I was thinking last night I’ll mostly not drink mon-wed but often will on a thurs then again on a sat or Sunday so mostly don’t go more than 3 days! So maybe my body reacting to this or maybe just a headache!! 🤷‍♀️ anyway totally gone today (day 5)you’ll be glad to hear but chocolate cravings have hit!!

we had plans for tomorrow but have been cancelled due to forecast now I’m a little worried as a Sunday drink is one of my ‘treats’ & a great way to deny Monday is looming so I need to make a plan to keep busy!!

Well I got through last night but had really bad sugar cravings & I don't usually have a sweet tooth, so it's obviously my body going 'WTF' and seeking other sugar sources. I also had to keep getting up for the loo, it seems to be a pattern. Thankfully this group is helping and also a rl friend who is doing DJ.

I only managed 2 weeks last year but I did manage to keep to Friday / Saturday only after that so it was a win of sorts. And it means that anything over 14 days is an increase.

Anyway, fingers crossed for tonight. We can do this!

Feeling rubbish today. So tired and achey. I think I'm sleeping alright so not sure why I'm so knackered. Also woke up with a burning, gastritis type pain in my upper stomach. Not sure if that could be withdrawal related?

It's tough because when I already feel shit I'm more tempted by the logic of oh well you feel crap anyway so may as well drink and it might perk me up. But I know I have to push through to see the benefits.

Tonight will definitely be a test but I feel quite determined. Good luck everyone.

Also have a headache on day 4. Must drink more water, which always makes me feel super virtuous! Such an easy healthy win at no inconvenience or expense, although I might treat myself to some sparkly -almost as expensive as wine- water tonight.

Day 7 for me. I had some serious chocolate cravings yesterday and think it was my body craving sugar. I also felt achy and sore. Today I feel way better and have hiked 8 miles up a very snowy hill with a friend doing DJ. It was really enjoyable but I am cold and tired now. 7 days is that longest I have gone without booze in year's so I am quite proud. We were meant to be going out for a family day but it looks like there is going to be heavy snow tonight so I can't see it happening. We have about an inch of snow already which is fine but another few inches are forecast

@coastergirl I think it's important to ' 'fall off' sometimes when trying to moderate/ stop altogether. It makes you realise how it felt to not succeed for that day. Spurs you on the next time as you don't want that feeling again. A bit like negative reinforcement. Every person who has ever stopped drinking altogether has had a few or even more blips.

@TimeForNosecco I was speaking to my nurse friend yesterday as I would like to check my liver. She said the GP will do a blood test for liver function if I ask. I suppose I want the reassurance after reading how much little alcohol is actually needed to impact the liver

Well there’s certainly a theme of people feeling a bit unwell and tired and hungry for sugar!
Sometimes I forget my mission and think “ooh time for a drink to feel better / perk me up” and my challenge is to remember that it does not help, it just delays things.

it might sound ridiculous but when I’m finding it hard, I write down the time in 15 minute intervals and tick it off when I get there with no drinking eg
3pm ✔️
3.15 ✔️
3.30 ✔️
3.45 ✔️
4pm
4.15pm
4.30
Etc

i don’t usually need it too long but helps me work through that hour or so when I feel conflicted about my decision

Day 4 here. I've cleared all the chrissy decs, rearranged the lounge and tidied up the Xmas detritus, been for a lovely dog walk, done a workout and did some photography training with my daughter (bought her a camera for Xmas). Caught myself thinking 'ooh lovely, time for a sit down and a glass of wine'and then felt a bit disappointed when I realised I 'couldn't'. That's the thing isn't it? It's so habitual. It's not the wine I crave. It's the habit. The punctuation that marks the end of my day.

I'm off to find some nosecco!

Went for a run earlier - really cold out there! - but it always makes me feel good. I wouldn't normally drink until much later in the evening so I'm not missing the wine yet. I've stocked up on fruit, as I don't eat sweets or chocolate, so will have a big bowl of cherries and blueberries, then maybe a mocktail. I like most of the alternatives, except AF wine, which I find too sweet.

Someone was asking about health checks... Coincidentally I got invited for a health check a couple of months after I'd done DJ last year and my liver function was normal. I don't know if it would have been normal anyway, but I like to think that the period of abstinence helped.

Someone else mentioned supplements. I take folate as there is evidence that many of the negative effects of alcohol (cancer risk etc.) are correlated with low folate levels. That's not to say that heavy drinking is ever a good idea, but for anyone wanting to moderate rather than give up, it might be worth considering.

For Quit Lit, I like Adrian Chiles' 'The Good Drinker' (there is also a TV show which should still be on I-Player). Technically it's not Quit Lit, as he is cutting down, not out, but I like his balanced approach.

Keep going everyone - we're 13% of the way there after tonight!

Evening check in. I'm not going to drink but I do feel quite irritable. I had my period last week, and it's come back?! Wtf.

Stocked up on snacks and buying a film on Sky. Note to self, can't rely on tv next week as I have done this week, I'm bored out of my skull.

Definitely feeling it tonight, again, my first Saturday in years without booze.

Need to pull my head back in.

Hi everyone, can I join late? I've been reading the thread everyday since January 1st but haven't joined. Reading it has really helped me. Today is my day 4. I drink pretty much every day and too much. It's gradually crept up over the years. I have had AF periods over the years but not for a while. My weight is creeping up and I'm worried about cancer and overall health as I get older. I really want to try for a dry January and possibly beyond. This thread is a huge help.

Evening all
I'm just back from work. Normally on a Saturday I finish work and buy wine on the way home, tonight I came straight home.
Saturday nights are the biggest test for me as I don't work Sundays.
I've got my AF corona from last night though so will drink them instead.
No snow here yet although we're forecast it overnight, I like snow when I don't have to go out in it so tomorrow will be a snow day at home if it comes as forecast.
Day 4 nearly done!

You're more than welcome!
I'm the same as you, I was drinking every night. My weights crept up and I'm sick of feeling sluggish

Day 4 pretty much done. A zero Guinness tonight for a change. Went to yoga today then spent ages decluttering my jewellery collection. So much of it tarnished and grubby so cleaned it all, chucked out the broken stuff,and have a bag of goodies for the charity shop. We're not talking tiaras here by the way! ( The footman cleans those)

Welcome. Well done on being in day 4.

Hi everyone ok for me to join late? I've been unwell so haven't had a drink since the 30th Dec I had sparkling water at the bells can't remember not having a drink to bring in the New Year so definitely a first for me! As there's lots of booze left over think I will stash it out of sight as starting to feel better dont want to give in to temptation 🫣

Another day done. I think this has been the easiest so far. Hoping that feeling continues! Well done everyone

Has anyone found a decent AF red wine?

Some of the AF beers are brilliant now. Can't even tell the difference.

I've found a semi decent white. Not tried an AF red for a few years but when I did, they all tasted like beetroot!

Managed the family get together at our local bar just fine.
Had some AF cider, even though it's 0.0% I still feel like I am cheating if that makes sense?
And then had a couple of Grayson's CBD drinks.

One thing i did find it how loud people get and irritating when drunk.
Jeeeese I dont want to be one of them again.

@Shanda5 what's the brand of the good AF white please? I think I shall need to purchase as the weeks progress!

Hi all. Am I the first to report a failure? First or not, either way, I'm terrible at this and have polished off a small glass of wine tonight left over from guests, as well as a G&T because, well, I'd already had the wine. I've not had a drop of alcohol for 14 days and hoped to roll through Jan, but no... What I really want is moderation, so I'll still fight for that. But I'm really annoyed and conflicted right now. Honestly, I really enjoyed that G&T, but I really wanted to prove I could do a defined period of time AF too. Maybe I should leave the thread I don't know yet, but here's my 'woe is me' moment first...
I really wanted to do it ☹️

@Janufairy focus on the fact you did 14 days!! That's very impressive over the festive period. I'm on day 4 and feeling like I could quite easily give in but thankfully there's no wine in the house and I ain't going out anywhere in this weather!!
Don't leave the thread. Just get back on it tomorrow. A blip is a blip. No judgement here x

Hang in there @Janufairy . You've had two weeks off, which is really good - according to the NHS, the liver can recover in that length of time, so you have already achieved something. You can start again if you want to. There's a good post a page or so back about how change is cyclical, and that there are always relapses along the way.

14 days is a massive triumph so please don't leave the thread or think you are a failure. I'm only on day 4 and struggling like hell tonight. Moderation is my goal too and I highly doubt I'll make it all the way through January. I might not even make it through tonight!

I think we all have personal goals. If you are a regular drinker (like me, 4-5 nights a week at least) then cutting back to weekends only is still a win. And having 14 solid days off definitely is! Don't be so hard on yourself, we are all only human.