Dry January and beyond - Thread 2

[BulldogMumma]

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

Those 18 days means everything! That’s a long stretch so well done to you and more importantly well done for jumping back on board

Glad I’m not the only one, it’s a weird feeling can’t quite work out what I’m supposed to be doing 😂
I’ve done the sitting at home eating chocolate’s watching tv etc last year when I managed 75 days AF but this time round I’m not doing that and I guess I need something more this time that’s not going to cut it if that makes sense.
Already a gym goer and am eating healthy I recommend calorie deficit app for anyone who is looking to shift some weight already lost 2kg in just over a week, it’s surprising how much we turn to food when we quit booze I didn’t realise how much I was actually snacking! I will figure it out I guess and I’m on for 100 days 🙌🏻 all the best

Morning all
DD woke up with a nosebleed at 5.30 this morning so an early start in this house. Don't feel groggy today woo hoo.
While I was dealing with DD's nosebleed I was thinking to myself how good it feels to be clear headed at 5.30 in the morning.
Have a great day everyone

Go for it. I stopped in August and am still AF. I can't even think now about drinking anything with alcohol in it. To scared of how il feel and a thumping headache lol

@Neptunium93 That’s interesting. I don’t tend to get tired from normal lager- but then I was drinking so was tired anyway so maybe it was the hops?🤷🏻‍♀️
i really like the AF lagers though.
i will maybe try the gin.
I had a constantly different mix of three kittens between my legs last night.
one of my establishes ones is not happy with the new kitten- even though he is her brother. My little
black and white kitty lives everyone !

I've been lurking on this thread from the start so I'm here to say hello! Day 23 for me and I'm feeling great. Thank you all for inspiring me to keep going, it's not been easy!

Day 23 for me, generally it's going great although I seem to be having an AF gin every night now whereas I never used to drink alcohol every night.

Would definitely like to extend beyond January, even to 100 days maybe, but I have a big family celebration on Feb 1st which I really want to have a couple of glasses of fizz at. I just can't reconcile myself to going AF on that night.

@TimeForNosecco

Ok, thank you for morale. I was a feeling a bit "what's the point" but a month of only drinking one day is massive for me and something that I didn't think I could do.

@soberserene I'd count the 18 days towards your target. A single flip up over the month is nothing, especially as you climbed back on board the wagon!

Just think how many drinks you DIDNT consume in January!
If it was me, I'd add an extra day on the end and still claim Dry January 😁

You've done great!

Evening everyone, hope you are all OK. I came across this, which I thought might be of interest and provide some extra motivation to reach the finish line - it's the milestones in terms of health benefits from doing DJ:

https://www.priorygroup.com/media-centre/priory-expert-shares-the-key-dates-of-dry-january

I've not noticed a difference, but that might be because anything to do with the liver isn't really noticeable anyway - whether it's being damaged by too much alcohol / a bad diet, or in the process of healing. I hadn't really thought about eyesight improving. Has anyone else noticed that?

Tricky day for me anxiety-wise, as I've been worried about a friend who has had cancer (not alcohol-related - she has been TT most of her life). Managed to get out for a run, and hopefully a Tanquerey 0% & Trip will calm me down. Not feeling the urge to drink wine this evening, which is good.

@soberserene , you will have a near 98% pass rate by the end of January, which is brilliant, and would get you top honours in any subject! 😊

Day 24
Well done to everyone.

hello everyone, Day 23 done. I went out again last night with another friend who wasn't drinking, but today has been tough. I had a bad night's sleep, an arse of a day at work, an unexpected email from an old contact I don't like, news that I need a health procedure and to top it all off no flippin' tonic water left. That wine witch was calling hard this evening! But even through gritted teeth I have not cracked. As was said upthread, we're so close to the end of the month now and I'm darned if I'm going to give in now.

Well done everyone and @soberserene that does include you 😍a straight run of 18 days is pretty good and you're back on that run again. And congrats on the distinctions, @Littletinytarzanswingingfromanosehair - superb stuff.

Day 26 for me the wine witch did call me but I told her to beat it and got on with a ton of paperwork and emails I had to catch up on tonight. I think this weekend might be tricky for me but I am not having a drink.

Day 23? Still here despite a stressful week. I have discovered Mother Root ginger non-alcoholic spirit which is very nice with tonic. I’m away (again - bad mother of the year award) this weekend at a meeting which has previously had a boozy dinner. I think I will eat and wuss out early.

Day 23 done 👏

Day 24!! Happy Friday everyone the last weekend of January 🙌🏻 well done everyone, it’s nearly over for those of you who will be having a damp February 😂
As I’ve said I’m going to continue, hoping I find it easier as time goes on, I’m more focused on my weight goal atm so alcohol is a no go with all those empty calories.
Not much planned this weekend feeling a bit miserable tbh but no real problems so I’ll put it down to hormones! My DD thinks I’m going through peri menopause she thinks I’m bat shit crazy and grumpy! She’s right, but I think every time I stop drinking I can become a little bit more irritated easier I’m less tolerant and I genuinely don’t feel like having fun, these are all things I need to work on as what is the point otherwise! My brain needs a lot of re wiring!! 😂

Morning all and hope it's a happy or at least reasonably happy, Friday...

@tonstantweader well done for making it through!

Looking forward to another sober weekend. I actually am!

Seeing sister and family for a walk and roast on Sunday. I think this might a time when the ale goblin calls but I will not succumb!

Keep strong all and well done for all the dry days so far!

Day 28 for me, this week has been stressful both professionally and personally. Did think I would cave on Wednesday but just reminded myself how bad I would feel on Thursday.

I'm aiming for 100 days dry then see where I go from there....for me this would be 7th April. We go on holiday at end of Feb, that will be a real test for me

Ordered a bottle of Everleaf to try, I enjoy Koppperberg alcohol free when I'm out too.

Can't believe I'm on day 24. Have hardly thought about wine, tbh.

Bit nervous about this 'do' this evening - am going to aim to avoid alcohol as I have just really liked being in control of my faculties and emotions, but if there's drink literally everywhere I'm not sure about my resolve!

Hey day 24 for me

Im feeling healthier and my HR and probably BP has come down - my RHR today is 60 which I’m really pleased about.

I’ve filled my weekend up with early morning gym classes and other things to do - really don’t want to eat junk either so going to be good.

hope everyone else is feeling the benefits too

So all is good from an alcohol point of view I’m glad I’m doing 90 days & hope I’ll want to carry on past there!

But having a wobble today about my relationship!

We’ve both been really grumpy with each other since starting dj!

I had a moment to reflect today & realised we got together drunk, most of our early dates were spent drinking, our wedding was amazing but very alcohol soaked!! We always drink bit more on holidays… you get the picture!

Now obviously in 27 years we’ve also had a lot of sober times!

We’ve adopted and haven’t been drunk since way before then (prob getting on for 10 years!)

But still drink regularly together and have all that time, other than a few dry Jan’s and a while after adopting.

Now it has been a stressful month for various reasons so the grumpiness is probably more about that but my wobble was what if we only have drinking in common now and we stop that where does that leave us …

I guess time will tell and I’m hoping this is a passing wobble or maybe my drinking brain trying to give me a reason to drink again??

anyone relate?

Been in the red zone for Storm Eowyn and it's been awful. Really craving a comforting glass of wine while the wind howls

Day 25 checking in and I have my glass of J20 and frozen fruit. I don’t feel tempted at all, which is a nice feeling.

@Seahorsesplendour I’ve done a few dry spells and I’ve always felt really resentful of DH when he sits there with a bottle of red and I can smell it. It always felt really inconsiderate! I think he prefers it when I drink with him. Drunk conversations flow and when one or both of us are sober we can be a bit…. Insular. Both our drinking habits are unhealthy though. We definitely enable each other.

@Hedjwitch hot bath to take your mind off it? You tube workout? Mindful colouring?! Try and find a good distraction.

Waving from Day 24 here. Another busy ol' day but haven't felt the siren call this evening. Like others, I'm looking forward to waking early(ish) tomorrow and be able to crack right on. I've lunch with a friend and then seeing other friends on Sunday. DH picked up white wine earlier in the week in case the Sunday friends want some, so it's been in the fridge for 48 hours now, and I've not been remotely tempted, which I'm really pleased about. Maybe DJ is having an effect after all.

@Hedjwitch can you have a comforting cuppa of something nice and hunch up under a blanket? We're in the amber zone and it's blowy outside so virtual hugs to you in the red zone.

@Seahorsesplendour it sounds like a wobble to me. Can you plan in sober trips out like cinema trips or similar? DH and I realised that we'd fallen into the habit of both doing our individual thing when drinking and not talking to each other so we deliberately started doing 'going out' type stuff (which wasn't to the pub!) which has been really nice and reminded us of why we like each other's company.