Dry January and beyond - Thread 2

[BulldogMumma]

Hey everyone
New thread as the old one was filling up
@Flicitytricity @coastergirl @TimeForNosecco

thats an idea could do that, although I do like to exercise alone unless they can keep up 😂 don’t like being held back!
yes alcohol in the cinema, can’t really say to much I used to take a couple of G&Ts in also! 😆 we all used to binge drink it’s just I’ve decided to stop.

Lol I didn't certain workouts myself as I don't like not working at my own pace but I hike which is actually lovely. It sounds like there lives are centered around alcohol which can't really be good long-term for there health

It’s really tough because I was like them and I just think if I can worry about the damage surely they worry/think about it also? Surely they think to themselves they should calm down or take a break but they all state they enjoy drinking and having a few days off is good enough 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s such a personal journey and you can’t force anyone to make healthier choices like they will have to understand no amount of peer pressure will get me drink or silly comments like oh just have a couple etc!

'Moist March' 🤣. Love it.

I'm not sure what to do after Dry Jan. I know from previous experience that I start off saying I will moderate but it just creeps back in and I end up back at square 1. The benefits this month have been huge. I feel and look so much better..and half lost half a stone.( I was a bottle a nighter).
I don't want to lose that,but I want to be able to enjoy alcohol socially from time to time. Going to London on Feb 7th to catch up with my sis..dinner out and a show in the West End. A glass or two of wine would be lovely. But will I be able to control it?

That’s amazing what you’ve achieved you should feel so proud of yourself, the health benefits from not drinking every night will be massive for you!
It’s a tricky one not knowing what to do next, being able to moderate is the end goal but it’s not possible for everyone, only you know yourself how that’s going to go, we can often romanticise the wine on these occasions because that’s what we know! Sounds like a great evening though so just try to enjoy it don’t let the alcohol ruin the moment by overthinking it I feel I’m wasting so much time and energy thinking shall I drink/ can I drink

The wine witch has a megaphone tonight! But I stopped off at the shops earlier and didn’t buy any - I just know I’d be so utterly disappointed if I caved now - it’s the danger zone this time of night on a Saturday before I’ve eaten anything - kids are away too AND my O/H is on the ale..this is really testing my resolve- but it won’t win

My reasoning is trying to barter - hmmm 🤔 in the future could I drink for one month/ abstain for one month / drink for one month / abstain for one month?

Happy Saturday everyone!
Hope you have all had a great week so far.
I have been to Sainsbury's and got 3 different packs of CBD drinks brands. The goodrays isn't as good as trip, my trip subscription arrives next week so I thought Id give the others a whirl. A hippop brand and a sleep CBD drink. Oh and I got ID'd and I'm 38!

Sober Saturday pro's - went out for lunch and actually ate everything on my plate because I wasn't full on beer.
I then went to the gym to burn off lunch! All this I wouldn't have done if I was still getting pissed and damaging my body and piling on beer kcals.

I'm saving on average £60-120 a week too!

Day 28 completed for me. I have felt achy and sore all day which made it easier to not fancy wine. I actually think I will go up my bed soon.

Day 25 down. The wine witch was singing from the fridge a bit earlier but I have a lot to do tomorrow morning before friends arrive so I need to be up early feeling good, which I know won't be the case if I crack open the wine. It was really nice being up at a good time this morning and out with the dog on a beautiful sunny day.

@CandyLeBonBon - congrats on doing fine at the works do! Sounds really good, especially the putting down of the glass when you knew you didn't want any more.

I'm definitely not continuing into February full-time AF, but like others intend to moderate. I like the idea of alternating sober weeks/months with low intake, but agree the challenge will be whether or not it creeps back up again. For that reason I'm thinking I won't even bother on a Friday night. We'll see.

Hi all
Day 25 done. I won't lie tonight I felt the wine calling me loudly. Managed to ignore it and now tucked up in bed feeling glad I did.
I look forward to waking up without a wine head now.
Does anyone feel like they have more energy? I find on an evening I get loads done because I'm not sat with a glass of wine plus I have the energy to do things.
Might go to the gym tomorrow and take the dogs for a long walk.

@Sammy900 the wine witch was loud, last night; then this afternoon I had to nip into Sainsbury's and I found myself thinking 'I'm almost there, a glass or two tonight won't hurt' 😬 Then I thought No. I cannot contemplate Damp Feb if I can't do DJ without cheating!

So I didn't! 😊

Also @Sammy900 , I worry about the bartering thing. I think I have to say I can drink: Fri and/or Saturday; and if I'm out with mates, which I do 6-8 times a year.

My drinking habit wasn't healthy. But a small mitigation, I'd drink a bottle over 4 hours, so, obviously not great but I gave my body a small amount of recovery time. I'd worry that if I did a month on, one off, I'd drink like a fish on the 'ons'!

And I know quite a lot of potentially 'problematic' drinkers say they gave up entirely to stop the endless bargaining in their head. That could be me!

Hi all. Made it through the day and no desire to drink in spite of having a couple of glasses yesterday so I'll take that as a win! Whilst I'm not hungover, I have definitely noticed how my body feels a bit more fragile and tired even after a just a couple of (large) glasses (aches and pains/arthritis flare ups) which is really interesting as I was a on regular 2-3 glasses a night habit so I just didn't notice!

I'm going to save it up for special occasions I think. Happy to be AF at home I think.

Well done everyone else though!

Another dry night out completed. One of the group is pregnant and it was a less boozy affair than in previous years in general. I don’t know if this is just me but I find sitting at a long table difficult - I always find myself listening to the group on one side of me then feeling like I am ignoring the other side and being rude. Heightened by being sober!

@Sammy900 and @Fordian , on the bartering aspect... I think it's fine in the short term, while you're adjusting to a new routine, but ideally you get to a stage where you don't have to think about it, so if, say, you've decided only to drink at the weekend, the thought of drinking in the week doesn't even occur to you.

I think some drinking patterns are trickier to manage than others. I read about someone who stays dry for the first week of every month. And weekend-only drinking is quite common. The danger comes if you end up bingeing in a single session on the basis that your weekly units are within the guidelines, or you've just had a week off (for example). It helps if it fits in with your lifestyle too. I ended up drinking on alternate days some years ago, because I went to the gym every other evening and didn't have time. I'm thinking I can do that again, and knowing that I can have a drink the following night means it won't feel too onerous. Will also put it all into a spreadsheet, which should keep me on task!

Well done everyone - very nearly there!

Morning all!

Day 27 for me so almost a third of my new 90 day target!

I’m feeling grateful I made up my mind to do this! I 100% know I would be joining the bartering & debating what my drinking will look like again. I’ll have a week a month off was what I settled on last dj.

Funnily enough every dry week last year there was a pressing reason why I should have a drink so I know it just doesn’t work for me 😔

im lying in bed focussing on all the improvements I’ve felt through Jan, better sleep, better waking (hoping the later day tiredness improves at some point!!!) , better skin, less paranoia, less hot flushes, no palpitations, less health anxiety, achieving more in day to day life and better concentration not waiting to get to wine o clock at the weekend so enjoying the days more !

I wish all of you luck with moderation and really hope it works for you!

im getting a few glimpses of life feeling much better for me without it … now I just need to remember this!

life af is not perfect my anxiety still isn’t great and there’s a few other things I need to work on but for now I’m feeling proud I’ve made this huge decision and I just need to stand firm!

I’ve written this so I’ve got it to look back on if I wobble next week or any other time !!

for those finishing next week enjoy the last few days and have one for me!

Morning all day 26! Made it through the weekend whist DP and DD invited me to the pub there was no way I was going yesterday.
And that’s because for me I would have caved it’s far too early for me to be sitting there with a soda &lime and be comfortable with that. plus I wasn’t getting out of my pjs 😂
Had a really lovely day yesterday, some beautiful sunshine so was just walking laps round my local park felt amazing to just be outside so am grateful for that kept me busy and I managed to get 20,000 steps in!!
Back to the gym this morning weigh in day I’m excited as I can see I’ve made real progress these past two weeks! It’s finally paying off now I’ve kicked the booze and biscuits!!
Am thinking I need to book a holiday but I don’t want to just be sitting round the pool or beach as that’s old habits with doing nothing and drinking! I need something with lots of activities it’s mental how you want different things when alcohol is removed, if I’m not drinking then I need some sort of stimulation I can’t just sit still anymore! Does anyone else feel like this?
Last weekend of Jan 🤩
well done everyone
was thinking maybe we could continue the thread or start a new one for those of us that will be continuing after DJ it’s been a massive help and motivatter for me so thank you again @BulldogMumma

I drank last night.
i feel a bit shit about it.
had an awful situation happen. I thought 2 of my 11 week old kittens had somehow managed to get outside when we were working in the garage.
they always come when called but for at least an hour there was no sign. We turned the house upside down
The neighbours were out with torches and I was beside myself.
I feel really rough this morning.
so although I feel disappointed that I drank it has certainly taken the allure away.
I was feeing angry and resentful and wanted DJ to be over. Couldn’t wait until I could drink again.
Now I wish I could have stayed sober because I feel so hungover today.
it’s been a good lesson.
Hope everyone else is doing well?

Also interesting for me is that since being AF my skin has exploded with acne on my chin- I look like I have bloody pox or something . I certainly do not have better skin.

Morning all
The groggy feeling I had when I woke up seems to have gone over the last few days so I'm waking up feeling clear headed and energetic.
Today I'm going to weigh myself and see how much, if any weight I've lost by doing DJ, I definitely feel like maybe I've lost inches although I still have the wobbly belly, I really need to work on that.
@BigButtons don't beat yourself up, it was a blip caused by a stressful situation. Think of how many dry days you've had in comparison to drinking days, it's an achievement.
Today's plan is cleaning the house and I might fit in a trip to the gym if I've got time. I'm getting married in the summer so want to start getting in shape.

Day 28 today. I don't know why but I am looking forward to seeing day 30 on my dry app. I think it's psychological as it feels far more. I am definitely not drinking on the 1st Feb as DC3 has a party that day and then it's DC1 13th birthday on the 3rd feb so I wouldn't want to feel rough for that.

Lol it's actually day 29 for me. I misread my app so tomorrow is day 30 😁

30 days is a big deal!! You’re almost there. Ahh special birthday coming up you’ll want to be present for that one all great decisions not to drink. I’ve decided I will go to the quiz night on 1st feb but I’m going to drive and then if I feel uncomfortable I can just leave