Dry Jan 2026- anyone care to join in?

[BigButtons]

Since there doesn’t seem to be a dedicated dry Jam thread I thought I would start one and see if I get any company.
I so need this. Drinking has made me feel sluggish, anxiety ridden and awful. I remembered how great I felt doing it last year but slipped back into old habits far too easily.

Well done @Miloarmadillo2, that sounds stressful!

I’m on day 17 alcohol free, feel like my sleep is improving slowly, it’s still not great but better than it was! I’ll take that as a win.

@Hedjwitch happy birthday! @Doyouthinktheyknow my sleep is better too after an awful first few days. I’m listening to a yoga nidra track before dropping off. I almost don’t want no alcohol to be part of the solution to insomnia though!

Happy day 14 all !
Benefits for me have included lots of energy, better sleep and generally more organised in my life.

I'm definitely at the stage now where my sleep is better and I could actually sleep in all morning if I was left. I was missing wine yesterday so went to our corner shop who said he didn't have any so I felt a bit disappointed. Doing a big shop on friday though, so will find some then. I'm hoping to find some that I really like so I can buy it regularly. My only reservation is that I need to keep my blood sugar down so will have to read all the labels carefully!

4 hours sleep last night!

Work is very stressful at the minute I could just swim in a vat of wine! I'll have a bath later instead with some posh essential oils and ds has promised to make dinner.

Happy Day 14 everyone 🥳 I don't post much on this thread but do read along to keep up with you all.

Benefits I've noticed - more energy, more calmer and organised. Skin so much more brighter, sleep much deeper.

However yesterday and today I've noticed that I am more puffy don't know what that's about. Oh and I've lost two pounds. My sleep has also went a bit to pot for some reason.

You are all doing amazing 👏 well done 💐

@Strikethepower do you mind me asking what bath oils you use and do they make the bath slippy after using?

I've ended up with two different bottles of NA wine now as the corner shop sent someone to my door with a bottle as he felt so bad he had run out yesterday and also dh went to Lidl and got a bottle for me from there - so spoilt for choice. Looking forward to a fancy drink tonight! I'm feeling the benefits of no alcohol I think though nothing dramatic, mainly just better sleep. I think drinking early evening also increased my appetite as well, made me eat more!

On the NA fizz. My birthday present to myself is a 2kg weight loss so far and a much more positive outlook on life.

Aromatherapy Associates. You’re mean to put them on your skin - chest, stomach etc before getting into the bath, so I think they are less likely to make the bath slippy.

Happy Birthday! Now that’s a present you’d actually want! 🥳 Congrats on the weight loss.

I've been lurking. My last gin was on 31st Dec. Lost 6lb which is good. Missing the ritual of having a drink at the weekend though. Can anyone recommend an alcohol free gin?

M&S do cans of Gin & Tonic - not too bad but make sure it’s chilled, over ice and plenty of lemon

Thank you I will have a look at them

I think … but can’t be sure as it’s all a blur… I just had 8 hours sleep straight?!!

Happy day 15!
Slept amazing!.
Hope we are all doing ok

We're half way there 🙌I have a fitbit. Three or four times a year I'd maybe get a score of over 90, which is classed as excellent. In the last two weeks I've had eight 'excellent' sleep scores. Definitely can't be a coincidence. I hopped on the scales this morning and appear to have lost another 4lb this week too. Heart rate has dropped to 57 from 67 since dry january. The stats are speaking for themselves and its really motivating me to keep this up. I don't want to live a life without wine or similar but I'm hoping it's given me the incentive to moderate it. So glad for this thread.

Day 15. Still sleeping better. Envious of those of you who’ve lost weight. To my frustration, I haven’t. How can that happen?! So unfair!

Yes I’m jealous of those that have lost weight as well! I fell off the wagon last weekend but hoping to stay on this one!

My sleep is getting worse - I scored a low last night!

I’ve not lost any weight at all! I have been stuffing my face with chocolate and crisps so maybe that’s why?🤔

Half way through everyone! Or are we?... I am planning going to the first weekend of Feb as the 1st of Feb is a Sunday and I really dont want to start a new month normalising drinking other than on a Friday and Saturday evening. Anyone else planning the same?

I was like this last week. I was replacing the wine with tea and chocolate digestives and snacking late in the evening! This week I've switched to herbal tea after 7pm and stopped the silly snacking and have lost 3lb since the weekend.

Right, I am resolved now! I will put down the caramel wafers. Probably…
Weirdly I am finding Friday nights easier with no wine because I looove waking up early on Saturday morning and having the whole day to do stuff. Saturday evening however is getting really tough. I’ve already decided to go for a swim late on Saturday evening as a distraction. Then, I’ll get home about 8 pm, eat something and be past my danger zone.
Well done everyone, keep on keeping on!

Me! I’m going until at least 7th Feb when we go on a cruise but may carry on, I am feeling good for it.

Yes, I’m waiting until February for the same reason.

when this is over, I don’t want to drink on a Sunday - Thursday, ever again, unless on holiday.