Dry January Experiences...

[JengaCupboard]

I decided this year to do dry January. Not earth-shattering, but my reasons are varied.

I know I drink too much.

It’s 100% habit over addiction as such, but I recognise lines can be blurred, and I like, and justify drinking, even though I fully recognise the pitfalls. I wanted to try dry Jan to see how hard I found it, and I was concerned (expected) I would find it harder than I would care to openly admit.

To offer some agency; I drink Friday/Saturday/Sunday almost every week. It’s weekend habit. It’s not getting smashed but it could comfortably be a bottle per night – Friday night take away after a 50 hour week, Saturday afternoon at the pub after a dog walk followed by a couple of glasses at home making dinner, and a few glasses whilst pottering round on Sunday afternoon making a roast etc. Sounds nice (it is at the time) but come Monday morning at 5.30am I’m tired, puffy, and regretting my choices. I know drinking on a Sunday makes me feel like crap, but in the moment I like it...’deserve’ it.. and do it anyway.

Oh and if there is anything left over I’ll finish it off Monday night; I feel guilty but do it anyway. Because ‘I don’t drink in the week’.

But it's also about 2000 calories, a load of sugar and about £30.00 minimum

I had a 5/10 hangover on New Years Day.

I drank pretty much every day during December 'because it's Christmas'.. parties, people over, wine cases from clients staring at me... etc.

It’s currently day 15 and to my absolute surprise (and palpable relief) it is SO much easier (if that's the word?) than I though it would be. I have lost 4lbs since NYE (no diet changes), my face is less puffy and my sleep has improved drastically.

I have turned my attention to trying different alcohol free drinks (wines and prosecco mostly) and genuinely don’t feel like I’m fobbing myself off. I’m 41 and want to do better for my body. I’m not suggesting I’ll never drink again for a second, but the physical benefits are 1000% outweighing my temptation for wine, to the point where I actively feel like I don’t actually want it. I know it’s all positive but I thought I was going to REALLY struggle to do this.

I’m also quite easily lead, or at least use it to justify to myself. I have a winter sports trip booked for March where alcohol plays a fairly large part. I feel unsure how to navigate this year – I don’t feel that I want to head straight into the drinking culture, but I also have anticipation FOMO.. that’s pathetic really but true.

I wake up in the morning glad that I didn’t drink. I feel rested and not dehydrated. I’d really like to use this as an opportunity to re-set my mindset around alcohol. My weight has been creeping up too, and although I know it’s slightly age related, 2000+ cals extra a week clearly isn’t helping.

I guess if there is a question in all of this; has anyone else managed to break an unhealthy habitual pattern with alcohol and maintain a much lower intake going forward without bad habits creeping back in?

We’re just about to start a second thread for ‘Dry January and beyond’ feel free to join.

Hey!
We've got an active supportive thread for dry January, I've just created the second one. Feel free to join us

Dry January and beyond - Thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/5253719-dry-january-and-beyond-thread-2

@JengaCupboard your post really resonated with me, as I was you a couple of years ago!
Exactly that weekend pattern, a full on December and arriving in January a bit hungover and sick of it.
I decided to do dry Jan for the first time ever, I found it easier than I expected to be honest. Partly driven by some blood tests I had coming up, but even so, I thought I would struggle. At worst, I found it rather boring but I used a lot of alcohol free drinks and realised quite how much drinking was a habit or thirst based.
I didn't stay dry after Jan, but I used the try dry app for the rest of the year and much to my surprise it seemed as if I had reset things. I stuck to only really drinking when I was out or with friends, so stopped drinking out of habit, because it was Friday etc. I kept under 14 units every week.
Last year I stopped using the app, but have probably drinks even less. I still love a drjnk, but something has shifted for me and I drink in moderation, a G&T and a glass of wine once or twice a week. Even on holiday I kept it low key.
So yes is the answer, I have managed to moderate, so far so good at least. I feel a lot better for it and have noticed friends are doing similar too. I think as you get older you realise your health really matters!

That’s a really good post @cashmerecardigans especially thinking about health as we get older. I would usually have a glass of wine on a Thursday about 5ish but I’m sat on the sofa and I haven’t even thought about it.

I was late to dry January this year because of a holiday but I started last week. I’m drinking a lot of decaf tea instead of wine!

Thanks very much for your input. I suppose I want to not want it.. and at the moment I genuinely don’t, but equally I’m yet to be tested as such; no invites out or pub trips etc. I feel I’ll be disappointed in myself if I allow things to go back to how they have been.

Not to be sanctimonious in the slightest but why am I paying for Botox and retinol and gym when I’m just essentially undoing that work on a weekend with toxins straight back in.

I want change for health definitely; I’m ‘fine’ at the minute but that phrase ‘your body keeps the score’ is forefront of my mind at the moment..

Hello, just to say, I did probably drank more than you - easily a glass of wine most nights and a few glasses on weekend nights. Did dry Jan and haven't missed booze at all. Tonight we had some fizz to wave goodbye to January,, and I enjoyed the first glass and then didn't want anymore (normally I'd enjoy the first bottle and suggest another). Instead I had a glass and then made a cup of tea. Will I give up booze? I doubt it, but I feel no need to drink again unless I'm toasting someone's birthday, wedding, etc, and even then a few sips and I'll.be done. I could probably say I'm now tee total but don't feel the need to dramatically label it and pressure myself. I'm slightly shocked at who I am now but also slightly delighted :)

Hello @JengaCupboard- I was wondering how your drinking is going now? Full disclosure - I’m trawling the alcohol support section for inspiration to quit or cut down 😂

I used to drink moderately but my life was very different then (much easier!) and I find these days I lean on alcohol a lot (more than I should).

Hi @Icanttakethisanymore - sure; so I've definitely moderated, and although it takes a bit of conscious effort sometimes, it feels like I'm fully in control and not drinking habitually etc. I managed the dry Jan month quite easily which gave me the confidence to continue moderating, rather than it being a massive slog.

I have stopped drinking at home at the weekends 'just because it's Friday' etc. If we have friends over or are out for dinner/Sunday lunch I'll have a couple etc, but trying to save it for occasions as opposed to purely habit based drinking.

I don't buy wine as part of my random shop any more, as if it isn't there I can't drink it (and don't think about it). I have actually bought some very nice smaller wine glasses which eek a bottle out to 5/6 glasses, and three small glasses is just as satisfying as 3 large glasses (aka the whole bottle) as it would have been before.

Sleep is vastly better, skin is better, especially hormonal breakouts, and i'm approx 10lbs lighter with no effort to cut calories in any other areas.

I don't think about drinking anywhere near as much as I used to. It used to be what I looked forward to by about 3pm Friday (or Thursday) afternoon for example, but that 'drink noise' seems to have gone.

If I had to put a number on it I'd say I have cut down by 75%. I still have a drink most weeks but it's not a lot, and I haven't been hung over this year at all... I feel much more in control, which is the biggest thing for me I think.

Thank you for the update. That sounds really positive - well done!

I listened to Adrian Chiles book "The Good Drinker" a while back which is very much about how to moderate and he talks about only having the drinks he really appreciates and enjoys, rather than drinking out of habit. It sounds a lot like where you have got to. It's a good listen if you are into audiobooks.

I've found myself a bit 'stuck' in the monotony of looking after small kids (and being a bit isolated). A glass of wine (or 2 or 3) has becomes the highpoint of my day / week. I don't drink every day and I rarely get drunk but I know I'm drinking too much and I know it's become too important in my life so I need to make a change before things get worse.

Thanks again.

Hi everyone. I found this thread while browsing this board because I know I have to reduce my drinking and op your post really resonated. I drink habitually at home too, only I do it from Wednesday through to Sunday rather than just over the weekend. I can stop at one drink no problem, it’s just become a natural part of my evening. But as I approach 40 I’m thinking that it’s probably not doing me any favours. I regularly exceed 14 units a week and if I go out with friends I can easily fall into binge drinking territory and the next day is a write off. This doesn’t happen often though.
its the habitual home drinking that is the issue for me. Without it my evenings just seem a bit empty and dull. When I haven’t drank I feel so much clearer headed and energised but equally the temptation of that initial wine buzz is hard to ignore sometimes.
Do keep posting op as I’m finding our posts quite inspiring.

Thank you for starting this thread - during January me and my DH continued with our wine every weekend (making fun of the miserable sods doing dry January ) and would also share a bottle other nights in the week. So basically 3 bottles a week, sometimes 4 - between 2 people. Lots during December too.

2 weeks ago I had a blood test as I'm on a medication for rheumatoid arthritis, and it flagged up quite a high liver enzyme. The consultant said to stop the medication and then have another blood test.

This is scary territory for me as concerned my joints are going to swell up. So now I'm on zero alcohol input for the foreseeable and I'm certainly seeing the point of dry January!!

It has become such a habit - particularly during lockdown - so I'm thinking that's quite a long habit I've had; like the last 5 years. Nervous about the results of the next blood test.

So I'm on second week of no alcohol, and DH is also having a break. Hopefully we'll continue for another 2 weeks. It would be nice to cut back to only having a glass of wine maybe once every 3 or months - when there is an occasion.

A cautionary tale incoming...

I have had a slightly boozy Sunday - family birthday and some afternoon/evening wine consumption.

By my previous standards nothing outrageous - maybe a bottle and a half between 2pm - 8pm including a large meal (cooked by me so no compromising behavior etc) and a good time had by everyone. But everyone is 'topping us all up' and 'there's only a drop left just finish the bottle' etc, so keeping tabs was tricky, although I was certainly more aware.

However; I slept terribly, and today I am tired, irritable, vaguely nauseous and under productive.

But I'm taking a positive - this is exactly WHY I am moderating drinking. A reminder of what I don't want for myself. Leftover open wine has already been frozen in ice cube bags out of the way. This used to be me literally EVERY Monday, whereas now I'm tempted to have a few weeks off completely.