Dry January and beyond - Thread 2

[BulldogMumma]

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

Oh I was thinking 100 days but sober spring sounds good

Saturday and Sunday, still AF, but have treated myself to a bud zero. Not sure if I'm committing to much longer. But not drinking just yet

Also anyone else find some things in life feel a bit boring without wine
@Deedippy I was just discussing this issue this morning. It’s a flat feeling. We likened it to when you drink there’s a high (10) and a low (1) and a feeling of stability (5) before you do it again. Now it’s just that middle area - a constant feeling of 5. Other highs and lows don’t hit the same for me yet, more of a 6 and 4 if that makes sense. I wonder if there’s this adjustment period where the middle area becomes the new norm and the extremes fade away. It’s certainty taking me a while to get used to and we wondered if that’s why people go back to drinking after a decent dry run, because they are after that 10 feeling.

Yes I think they say it’s the dopamine hit you get from that first drink, and our brains get used to it which in turn makes us crave the alcohol for that high that we get, but what happens is it lowers our natural dopamine for some time after and we get used to only getting the fake dopamine hit from alcohol. It can take sometime for this all to be restored where we start producing it naturally again which is probably why we feel so flat! Exercise can help and getting outside especially in the sun, cold water dips! But from what gather it’s not an overnight fix it’s quite interesting hearing all the scientific based information and is really helping me fall out of love with that glass of wine!! 😆

I've had no problem being AF at all, I've been really lucky!
I have a holiday coming up, but I'm planning on treating myself to af cocktails, which might inspire me for a future date I'm half dreading...
There are 3 of us, life long friends and we get together once a year for a two night stay in a lodge. Hot tub, loads of wine, loads of eating, drinking talking. It just won't be the same. I won't get the uncontrollable giggles, the sheer ' letting it all go" cos you're with the people who really know you.
I'm just wondering how feasible it would be to drink freely for a couple of nights then go AF straight after.....

To get a buzz I have found doing an hour's cardio at the gym is helping. Especially when I get the witch in my ear around 4pm on a Saturday xx

Hey guys
I had a drink last night. I really needed a day off to rest today as I’ve been really concentrating on keeping fit and active and exhausted myself doing 2 massive walks on Sunday and Monday and so I thought I’m not doing anything on Tuesday (it’s like my Sunday with work shifts) so that spurred me on to thinking that having some wine would be ok.

I enjoyed it, even though I’m a bit gutted that I couldn’t make the goal of staying af for 120 days - maybe that was actually unrealistic and hard to achieve.

I now need to think about how I’m going to moderate if I’m not carrying on for the 120 days…hmm not sure 🤔 I definitely don’t want to return to old habits of drinking 3 days in a row every week. So will head over to the damp feb thread.

I’ll stay in both threads as I’m still not sure what to do

hope everyone is doing ok

So far I have had 35 days dry since the 29th December which actually i am really pleased with. I will be driving tonight so I know it's going to be 36. I think keeping the app has really helped me overall.

My health hasn't been great the last few months so I had some blood tests done. The results came back saying my kidney and liver function were good which was a huge relief. It did make me wonder what the results would have been 2 months ago though.

Made chicken in white wine sauce tonight. Thought I'd have a small glass. Honestly it was a bit meh!

I had it while cooking dinner and put the rest in the sauce.

No craving for more or anything!

Feeling very chuffed!

Day 36 and apart from a little “ooh a glass of wine would be nice” thought I’m keeping on and staying strong (sorry didn’t mean to rhyme 😂)

Hows everyone doing? 100 days sounds a lot but one step at a time. This thread is amazing. Couldn’t have done it without you all!

For those who are introducing alcohol back into their lives, I really recommend the app. I did DJ in 24 and apart from one slip, I stuck to it. The real bonus was successfully moderating for the rest of the year. It isn't a sophisticated app and could be improved but it is the daily accountability process and the units laid bare that helps me.
I'm just sticking with dry for now but I'm not going to be gutted if I drink occasionally. Just count.
@Sammy900 don't beat yourself up. You are rethinking and rewriting the bargain you made with yourself because of it. Carry on as you were and be proud if you do 119 af days. I did DJ last year apart from the 23rd.
You would never talk like this if you were giving up chocolate. It's been 36 days without chocolate and now I'm back at day 1??? We just cut back on chocolate and great if we do it. I sometimes think that the day counting and declarations of how long you have been sober are a hindrance not a help and that's why I say don't renegotiate your bargain. Its the wine witch at her devilment. Crack on.

Morning everyone
still here and DRY! Actually been feeling really good must be all the healthy eating, fitness and of course my sleep and more importantly being AF
Been reading everyone’s posts but not got much in put apart from I’m starting to enjoy being AF now took me awhile as I did find DJ tough.
And that’s not to piss on anyone’s parade as I see some have gone back to drinking so each to their own I hold no judgment as I’ve done that for years!! But this time feels different for me and as I’ve said before I’m not going to give up all the benefits for a couple of drinks it’s just not worth it.
wish everyone the best 🙌🏻

Day 37 here and looking forward to hitting day 40. Every number ending in a zero feels like a big deal to me. I purchased a new item of clothing as a well done to me for staying dry in Jan. Fully intend to treat myself at the end of every month going forwards.

My sleep is so lush right now. I don’t stir from falling asleep until the alarm and then I wake up feeling…. refreshed. It’s unreal. That alone is not worth risking a glass of wine for (to me).

Tomorrow we will be 10% of the way through 2025!

5 weeks AF (apart from that half G&T mentioned in my last post). I've had about 5 good nights' sleep in a row and it's incredible how much better I feel. I never usually feel very positive at this time of year but I do right now - been thinking what I might achieve without alcohol in my life.

Have booked a holiday in France today for 2 weeks in the summer. Does feel weird contemplating a holiday without drink I must admit...

@thrivein2025 I think it's nice to treat yourself to the end of the month as a reward. I did the same altho was about a week off the end of Jan!!

Not doing so great with healthy eating though.. still v much obsessed with chocolate and sweet things in the evening. I might try and work on that once it's warmed up a bit!

Have a nice evening everyone!

Day 36 which is unbelievable. The test begins tomorrow with a long weekend in London with my sister.I want to have a drink...but scared I won't be able to get back to abstinence again.

Checking in for day 42.
I had a presentation to do today for an exam and I breezed through it. A few months ago I would still be recovering from a boozy weekend and been feeling fogged and bleurgh.
I have another presentation tomorrow for my division and I'm actually not as anxious about it as I would have been months ago.

My insides are coping better with spicy food too.

Evening all
I'm still here in the shadows, been so busy with work/kids etc I've not had much chance to post.
So I've not been totally AF but I feel DJ has reset my habits to make better choices.

I feel DJ has done me a lot of good

I feel the same. Good to not be craving the wine at the end of the day

Evening all! Really busy week here! 38 days af and still a bit shocked about it tbh!! 😅 looking back I was so dubious I’d actually manage dj!! Massively helped by this thread! Missed checking in! Glad everyone is doing ok!

@AuraBora my friends son was fine thanks just badly bruised thankfully no breaks!

def don’t beat yourself for having a drink! Huge kudos to you for stopping half way when it didn’t go down well! That takes strength!

We’re going away the week after next and I really need a break and can’t wait to go! I’m not going to drink and I don’t want to drink but I am fretting about the evenings I literally haven’t had a fully sober holiday since I was 15 which sounds ridiculous!!!

later years it’s just been wine in evening I’m thinking scrabble or other games I don’t just want to watch tv the whole time after lo in bed!! don’t really have a hobby , love reading but feels bit antisocial !

Any suggestions???

Thanks @seahorsesplendour and well done for getting this far as well!

Actually had a sober holiday back in 2020 (camping) and we really enjoyed it (was me and DH and DD), we were so fresh and slept well and remember it so well which I'm sure is down to the lack of booze.
Not sure why I'm struggling with idea of a booze free holiday in France in the summer much more , it's probably all the old associations of France, French food, wine etc! Anyway it's a while off :)

Scrabble or similar sounds good. Will you be with others or is it just immediate family?
Atm I'm struggling to do anything much in the evening apart from watching TV (and a bit of journalling)but I'm hoping to develop some hobbies as time goes on (I'm doing a beginners' knitting class soon, have tried with some YouTube tutorials but I need face to face instruction!). I'm looking forward to the light evenings when I can go out for a walk! I don't really like doing exercise in the evening although occasionally do some yoga.
I personally don't think it would be antisocial to read if that's what you like doing!

@BulldogMumma I feel the same. DJ defo reset my habits. I did drink last fri & sat. Provably because it was a novelty thing. I'm seeing my friend tonight who doesn't drink loads, just the odd one, I've always been the bigger drinker but I'm going to drive. Pick up another friend on the way. My second friend is trying to guilt me into drinking. Basically said oh well if you don't drink I won't. I'm a bit cross actually

I could drink but when I listen to how I'm feeling today I don't want to. I've got an early start. I want a good sleep. At 45yo & yesterday I said oh okay I'll drink then. But today I'm going to say no
I'm a bit cross that I was made to feel that way actually!

Gosh don’t be bullied into drinking @hby9628! Good friends will want what’s best for you and the ones who are encouraging you to indulge probably want to feel better about themselves!

I did have one friend who was like “No more fun Thrivein2025” when I told her I wasn’t drinking anymore. It did sting a bit because I really like her and enjoy her company. We haven’t met up at all this year which does make me a little sad but at the end of the day, I need to not drink for a while and that’s that.

Day 39 for me. Looking forward to ticking off day 40 tomorrow and knowing I’ve done the first 10% of 2025 dry. Yay!

Day 44...
I've confidently told colleagues now I'm not drinking until March 2026 for the wedding and they are being so supportive. I know I was a weekend drinker but I don't think they have a clue on the amount!
I have opened another savings account with nationwide and for the money I'm saving I am putting it away each week.

I don't understand how people can bully others into drinking, maybe because I know how hard it can be to fight it but it's so selfish.

Still here, still AF.

Good for you and good idea with the account.

The peer pressure isn’t easy. I gave up in August and have just kept going but when friends were arranging a get together and I offered to drive, they insisted they wanted to rearrange the date to accommodate when I was drinking again. Kind thoughts but I said I’d rather we meet and I was fine driving. Had similar since but has abated now as they know I’ve been AF for months and I can still enjoy the evening which I have done