Dry January and beyond - Thread 2

[BulldogMumma]

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

Day 27! Final stretch and congratulations to everyone. Thanks for the support, although I haven’t posted much it has been so good reading posts.

Thinking ahead? Do I want to keep going? Could I moderate and enjoy a glass of wine without finishing the bottle? Feeling so much brighter and clearer.

Day 30 for me and it feels quite significant. I am not sure why but it just does. Well done you everyone so far. I am planning on aiming for 100 days next but taking it 10 days at a time. The tricky night for me might be valentine's night. We may get a dine in option and open a bottle of champagne but that really depends on how my health is. I genuinely want to stop drinking but feel it needs taken a day or week at a time. I don't really miss it so I may just not bother on valentine's day either.

Well done DJers, homeward stretch now. I bought some bud zero for the weekend as was feeling deprived but didn't even open that.
I am toying with the idea or continuing a bit longer.
I have 1 date in Feb which may be an obstacle though, dinner with friends who like a drink and see me as a drink buddy, not sure how I can approach that

Nozecco is always a Valentines option. I find it perfectly acceptable though I don't claim to be a connoisseur of bubbly. Alas I am a red wine fan and all of the AF options are grim in the extreme.

Thanks I don't really like nozecco but did enjoy Kylie Minouge alcohol free rose. It's definitely a good idea to get some AF options in.

Haven't posted here yet-just lurking and reading.

Am going to a friends birthday party on Saturday and feel a bit conflicted about the 🍾

One thing that has helped me is something I saw that said you are never sorry the next morning for not drinking and I like that.

27th Jan was the date I caved last year. I don't know what it is about the date because I have had the worst day today.

First day I have really wanted a glass of wine.

Settled for some AF Corona instead!

Still planning to carry on and have a dry Feb. Proud of myself for ignoring my forst craving!

Crappy day today with lots of niggly things going wrong or not to plan. Would definitely have had wine pre DJ to cheer myself up. Managed to hold out and went to bed instead.

Caught up on some of the posts - well done everyone, keeping going and checking in.

My birthday weekend is now done and dusted - I did have a few drinks, especially on the day itself. Now it's over it feels easier to decide not to drink. Not sure what that's about!

Day 30 done for me. It actually feels like a big achievement. I think it's psychological as I couldn't imagine getting to day 30. I have been tracking via a dry app and it's been a huge eye opener to how many units I was drinking. My liver should be recovering a bit by now hopefully.

Day 33.
Cardio fitness is coming back slowly but surely.
I had to take a break thanks to an infected corn on my toe, pneumonia and then COVID! I'm hoping with the booze calories gone and increasing exercise the should start to see a difference weight wise.
I'm carrying on through to Feb. When I told DP on boxing day I was giving up booze until March 26 (when we get married) I had an inner thoughts of "omg will I actually do it?".
I feel like I actually can now.

And I'm So proud of each and everyone of you for how hard you have all been working at reducing or completely abstaining from the drink xx

Start of day 32 for me, I don't even consider drinking alcohol now. I hope this is how it continues. Well done everyone taking part in DJ

Morning all
Day 28 for me and I'm feeling good. I still haven't weighed myself, the batteries in my scales are dead and I kept forgetting to buy more, I'll definitely do that today.
According to my dry app I've saved £120 by not drinking, it's crazy I was spending that a month on wine!
I don't feel groggy at all when I wake up now, I feel like I'm really starting to see the full benefits now

From a not very heavy drinker, but gave up 5 months ago....I found that I lost circa 1lb a week. Now lost 2 stone. The wine etc made the difference between exceeding calories required each day to reducing me to less than required.

Morning everyone, sorry I haven’t posted for a couple of days. It was a busy weekend with guests and then full on at work yesterday. But i am still AF, hurrah, and starting Day 28. So close to the end of the month now! This is the longest I’ve been AF for a while so am feeling dead pleased that i can do it. This thread has helped enormously so thank you @BulldogMumma for starting it and to everyone who posts. It’s incredibly helpful.

Day 28 for me too. I've already made posts pouring my heart out on here, so won't do that again, just need to ask- I have been sleeping like a baby, but for the past couple of nights, I have had trouble getting to sleep, and am waking regularly through the night because I can't stop my mind from whirring.
Anyone else? And any tips to help? I'm kbackered🤪

@Flicitytricity Is something in particular stressing you out? Maybe try no eating or screen time an hour before bed (a book?) and some guided relaxation, I also find if you are physically tired from the day that helps with sleep.

@Flicitytricity I actually could have written your post!!

I think some of it for me as I am so anxious about sleeping (and getting a good score on my fit bit-sad I know but I am being honest) that I have worried myself into not sleeping because I am thinking about it too much.
I am a very light sleeper and the good nights sleep was such a benefit to no alcohol.

I am trying to not over think it-why am I my own worst enemy?
And why when you are thirsty you can drink and hungry you can eat but when you are tired the sleep evades you??

Morning all day 28 for me :)

Well done everyone for nearly completing Dry Jan and good luck onwards for those who are resuming drinking..let us know how you get on if you wish to do so..enjoy one for me! I'm staying on the boat for now

I've decided to start tracking my BP am and pm - or maybe weekly with my weigh in if I get an idea of baseline. I know my RHR has come down and that's reassuring but no idea what my BP is saying.

Anyway this morning it's 140/80 - which is fine but probs a bit high due to the two strong coffees I've had and not long had an omlette..oops. Will remember tommo to take it first thing.

I've had a look at some sober blogs and they sound great but I don't fancy paying for an online course - or do I? hmm undecided. Not found anything local in real life that isn't NHS or AA yet I'll keep looking.

Day 28 for me too. Had a really tough confrontation with the wine witch last Friday night (v stressful day) but I didn't give in. Other than that my first Dry January has been easier that I expected it to be.

I have a big family celebration on Feb 1st, I do plan to drink then but will do my best to take it easy as I imagine my tolerance will have gone down a bit! Then hoping to move to a damp February and try to stay under 14 units a week with no binges. If I can't do that I will reassess whether moderation is something I'm not capable of.

@SatinHeart well done for resisting the wine witch!!!! Stressful days are definitely the hardest!!!

Hope you have a lovely time at the party & let us know how it goes!!

Day 27 for me (got back on to it after my shindig on 24th, so a day behind all of you!) and it's a year since my knee replacement. Had hoped it would be feeling a lot better than before, especially after ditching the alcohol, but sadly not. Maybe I'm one of the unlucky ones! Well done everyone

@CandyLeBonBon I have just decided to reset my expectations regarding change.

I'm delighted (and a bit jealous!) for everyone who has seen the sort of changes, even transformations that might inspire people to carry on for ever! But, like you, not really! I was expecting a bit of weight loss, at least!

I'm consoling myself with the knowledge it's doing me good, this pause in drinking, and I hope it will be a basis for a reset in my relationship with alcohol; I am planning for Damp Feb!

Day 28, just logged on app and I have apparently saved £252 and 15.1k calories 🙈 wow. Haven’t weighed myself (“lost” scales years ago) but feeling so much better.

I am thinking of carrying on …….

£182 & 16k calories for me!!! Altho have replaced a fair few of those with chocolate in the first week or so!! Then very hormonal this week so chocolate again!! Have lost 2kg without really trying (do have a lot to lose!!) so I’m happy with that!!

hoping I can shift the focus now I’m pretty happy not drinking snd going to try for fitness feb to get my activity levels up!!