Dry January and beyond - Thread 2

[BulldogMumma]

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

Why have we got 2 threads working at the same time?

@FishPie2 the old thread was almost full so we started a second thread

I'm following but haven't contributed to the thread much as I'm finding it pretty easy going. I had 2 successive pub nights this week and I was fine on juice. On one of those nights, one person got drunk and annoying and very assertive about their politics. They just can't see how insufferable they are being.
I'm going to a memorial today for a dear friend today but I will be fine on the non alcoholic refreshments.
I think it is because I set out on 1/1/25 with a no alcohol mindset. I'm more flaky about 1/2/25 as I'm not settled on whether I will give up (sober spring/AF year) or moderate. If I approach this in a 'see how it goes" mindset, I will easily slip back into drinking. I always stay under my safe units but I fancy knocking it on the head as alcohol adds nothing to my health and wellbeing.
I think I will join a sobriety thread on 1/2 and give it my best shot (or does that already sound like dithering).

Day 19! Woo woo! Up and out already.

Sorry if this has been covered but who is planning to go sober forever?

I most definitely am. I’m 43 and just so over the hangovers and the merry go round.

There are people posting on both threads so getting out of sync with days done etc.
Maybe the other one should be closed so this doesn't happen.

I would love to be AF forever! But I need to put a lot of work into that, definitely my mindset.
Starting of DJ then aiming for 100 days, the longest I’ve been AF is 6 months and I still went back to moderating! 😡
good for you and I wish you every success hoping it sticks this time round but I’m really struggling with cravings atm! Even though I know all the health benefits of stopping it’s really taken hold over Christmas, feel like I need a rock bottom to spur me on! I did manage to moderate over Christmas but I know that is short lived with me I can’t just have one or two especially in social settings!

Well done @CandyLeBonBon and@BigButtons, not sure I could have stayed strong with such challenges.
DJ passing peacefully for me- but I have been attempting, and getting better, at moderation having tried it for years!
Also don't want to go back to alcohol - having learnt so much about it's unhealthy effects it seems senseless. However, I don't know how much, or even if, I can do this once accountability ends- so in that way I don't want January to to end!
Good luck today everyone!

I have realised I can’t do moderation.

I work full time in a hugely demanding job - so that moderates me.

But given a day off or what have you, one glass doesn’t cut it - I want two bottles.

What is really helping me is thinking “where does this end” in terms of what joy comes from more than two glasses other than being hungover?

Day 19! So relieved it’s not been a struggle. With my shameful bottle a day habit I was scared that I might need help but thankfully physically been ok. Sleep getting better I think. Been totally exhausted this weekend. Definitely less bloated.

Started a little walk at night and my son has been coming with me. Last night he said that i seemed happier and was laughing more. Definitely made me happy spending time with him. That is my biggest sober win 😍

I think I might try 100 days@WorriedMutha , but keep it to myself so that if I choose to drink I can, but know in my mind I have a challenge. Not sure if that makes sense!

I need a boundary, but also don't want to berate myself if a bad day, or celebration leads to a glass of wine... although this might, and probably would? lead to a slippery slope of regular drinking ...???

Sorry, musing out loud.

What I did notice this weekend was that I thought a glass of wine would be nice with supper and traitors, (sounds like I keep dodgy company!), but didn't, and it wasn't a craving/ yearning, but without DJ would probably have gone for one, two, three... , quite unnecessarily .

Good morning. I'm ashamed to admit that I broke last night. I had lots of fun (was out with friends), but my head is very sore. Back on the sober path now. Sad to break my streak.

@TimeForNosecco that's exactly how I felt. But I kept up my streak, and I've now lost 2.6kg since Jan 3rd so I'm pleased I've kept strong. Next Friday will be the test as I have this work shindig to go to and I'll be in a room full of people I don't know!

Underway with Day 19. It was nice waking up fresh and after a good night's sleep (finally!) and out with the dog when no one else was up. @soberserene don't beat yourself up - cross that day off and get back on it. And congrats to those who made it through challenging circumstances. @CandyLeBonBon can you use the medication excuse, or leave after a certain amount of time? I bet no one will notice that you're not drinking tbh, especially if they're getting batfaced themselves. And you won't have the beer fear the next day.

Hello all, day 18 for me and still feeling good. Had to pick my DD up in the car very late last night and was great to be able to do it without resenting that it stopped me drinking and/or thinking about taxi options. Instead I could just do it and she’s very grateful so win win! Another instance of how my not drinking is helping me being more present with and for my DD. Always my best sober win.

I’m thinking about going for 100 days AF. I’ve found it much easier when out with friends to say Im doing DJ and stick to soft drinks. I think if I tell them I am doing 100 days as a challenge, then they’ll carry on being supportive and not asking too many questions!

I overslept again this morning 😣. Will lay off the CBD and Sentia tonight and see if it makes a difference. All those botanicals might be sedating my brain! Had a lovely coffee, which has perked me up nicely. (I notice that good coffee has the same comforting / cheering / rewarding effect as a glass of wine.)

It's great hearing how others are benefiting, even if I'm not seeing much of a difference myself (if any). I suppose my purpose in doing DJ is to reset my tolerance levels so that I can keep moderating, and give my liver a rest, and that's a good enough motivation to carry on to the end of January.

A lurker here!
I do not get much chance to post as I am usually a bit behind when the thread is very active and moving fast but I now caught up and can reflect.
It's great to see how well everyone is doing and we are on day 19!
I do not plan to go completely sober.Last year I aimed to not drink on any more than 10 occasions monthly(no matter if it was a glass of wine at home or a few at night out) I mostly succeeded(apart from months that included holidays)
This year I am.planning to reduce further maybe to 8 or 6 days a month.

I think I may plan to restrict my alcohol to 2 days per week. But, I'm not making any plans before the end of Jan.

I think it's great there are people on here who can easily foresee 100 days/permanently sober after 19 days abstinence, but that ain't me! 🤣

Hi @Fordian for me, I definitely can’t “easily” foresee 100 days AF but I know I need to do something about my drinking and getting to 18 days dry has, in my case, helped me see that the time may be right to keep going.

From what I can tell from what people have posted, I was drinking significantly more than many, essentially at least one bottle of wine every day. And all my efforts to moderate ended up negotiating with myself about which days each week would be AF and ending up with none.

I appreciate we are all in different places and will take different decisions after 31 Jan. what has been lovely us how supportive everyone has been on this thread.

Day 22 for me. I am still feeling miserable with a virus I have had since before Christmas. I seem to get better then worse again. I had heath issues to start with which have just got worse.

I am really wondering should I just carry on staying sober. I was planning on having a minimum of 300 drop days a year but feel better without alcohol and look better so I don't know if I should just avoid it totally. I don't really miss it either.

@Fundays12 I'd say that if you aren't missing alcohol, it would seem like a great idea to quit altogether! I think I would, although it would come as a shock to me if after quite heavy drinking, (in my case, a bottle a night), I'd suddenly have no cravings!

Friday evening was tough for me!

@IMTOOMessy I’m going for a year. Very ambitious but I need a complete reset and I’m tired of the on/off merry go round of a month here and there.

As at today’s date I’ve done 5% of the year 🤣

@ThriveIn2025 , apparently the first few weeks are the hardest, so while a year sounds like a lot now, you might find it gets easier.

@Fundays12 , I agree with @Fordian , if you don't fancy drinking then you shouldn't force yourself. There are definitely health benefits to light / moderate drinking, but if you're not enjoying it then it's not worth it IMO. I'm like that with chocolate. I'd love to enjoy it so I could have a small amount of really dark chocolate for the antioxidants etc., but I just don't like it enough.

Thanks I think I am going to take it a one day at time after DJ but I certainly won't be drinking on the 1st of Feb as one of the dcs has an early morning birthday party then it's oldest birthday that weekend to. I did feel the wine witch calling at the start of DJ but dont feel it much now at all 🤔

@Limeandsoda2023 I was drinking a bottle of wine every night too so you're not alone.
Managed to drag DD and DP out for a nice long walk with the dogs, it was nice to get some fresh air even though it was freezing.
Just making pizza for tea then it's a shower and pjs for me ready for work tomorrow