Dry Jan 2026- anyone care to join in?

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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.

Ok I searched for this thread as now we’re on day 15 and honestly it’s made no difference to the way I feel at all and all I want is a glass of wine (to be fair it’s been a lousy start to the year generally so stress doesn’t help). When does it get better? Does it?

Ok I searched for this thread as now we’re on day 15 and honestly it’s made no difference to the way I feel at all and all I want is a glass of wine (to be fair it’s been a lousy start to the year generally so stress doesn’t help). When does it get better? Does it? For full disclosure I was drinking a bottle of wine day for years!

Hi @MaggieBsBoat! I’m not an expert but i’m quite surprised you don’t feel different! I was drinking similarly but after 2 weeks I feel a fair bit better. I didn’t feel awful before but I wasn’t sleeping well and I felt less capable and more overwhelmed than I do now. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel a bit miffed but it’s worth remembering that a bottle of wine a day is very bad for us, even if you don’t immediately feel the benefits of stopping - your body is undoubtedly healthier for having a couple of weeks off the booze and will benefit from any reduction in your drinking going forward. Hopefully you’ll start feeling more of the benefits very soon x

My sleep is no different with or without alcohol, but I do take anti cancer drugs (Exemestane) so I think that's the culprit. My DP has just commented on the bags under my eyes - so much for clear skin and boundless energy.

I have been reading that those of us who are older (over 50) will take longer to see the benefits as our bodies metabolism and general healing is much slower.

For example, our over 50's skin only regenerates every 86/90 days, as opposed to every 28 days for younger people. So it will take 3 months to see the newer skin.

Also, I read that skin generates from the lowest layer and these skin cells gradually make their way to the surface. So being 50, the skin I can see now was generated in late November, early December - no wonder it's so dry and flaky - I drank shed loads for the whole of November and December!

I won't see my dry-Jan skin benefits until at least March.

Well done all- I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times since Saturday due to life stress/ but I am not beating myself up. I have drunk far far less this month.
well done to all keeping going whether dry or damp🙂

Half way through! I'm definitely sleeping better. I'd been waking up at 4.30 most mornings and had been blaming it on perimenopuase but not this week. I can't get up now though ha!

Quite enjoyed being up and about early and feeling fresh on Saturday and Sunday morning last weekend so using that to spur me on this weekend!

Don't know how I feel about going out socially though and will have that to content with at the end of the month.

I’m the same Maggie ( although did have wine last Friday), I can’t say I feel that much better nor have I lost any weight. I will keep going although I would say it’s drier January rather than dry January!

I haven't lost weight, I am insatiably hungry and stuffing myself to ward off the sugar cravings. Sleeping well, feeling energetic and my mood is better though

@Hohofortherobbers Ah I am the same!!!

Could have poured a glass tonight felt flat like a pancake - stress and all. But I got through the evening.

Keep going y'all

I also wanted a glass last night - long day at work and just wanted to destress. But I realised that all I wanted was to down it in one and then pour another so I resisted cause that will do me absolutely no good.
@MaggieBsBoat my dry January emails keep telling me its different for every person and if you are over 45 like me it can take longer for the effects to kick in.

I have lost 2kg which is surprising given the amount of snacking I'm doing! Sleeping much better and have more energy.

Another dreadful night’s sleep! I’m not giving up, I’m doing Dry Jan as a habit breaker, to stop mid week drinking. This usually works till the summer when I struggle to resist a cocktail after a long day working in the garden - that seems like a world away at the moment! 😩

I can't have sweet treats because of my blood sugar, so have justified buying myself a new pair of boots and a scarf this week (on Vinted) so I'm happy with that! Not enjoying the AF drinks much but I'm trying a can of gin and tonic tonight which I'm hoping will hit the spot.

Still dry, finding it easy but dull.

My husband and I usually go for lunch on a Friday and share a bottle of wine. We really enjoy it. I have no interest in going out if I can’t drink.

He’s drinking a Guinness 0 most evenings, and loving it. I’ve just bought some Mother Root. I don’t even like it much, but it feels slightly more adult than a Diet Coke or water.

We always do at least 2 dry months a year, but really, all it does for me is remind me how much alcohol is a part of our lives and how much we enjoy it.

We are off to the Caribbean mid-Feb and we might stay dry until then. That first cocktail is going to be bliss!

This is my 12th day since I last had a drink. I normally have half to a whole bottle of wine a day apart from maybe one day off a week. I’ve been doing pretty well so far but tonight the cravings are so strong. It would be so easy to order a bottle of wine on Uber or Deliveroo. I just had a bath to try and distract myself from the craving but it’s still there.

Me too - it’s the mid-week drinking I want to stop.

I’m past my danger time now, Friday evening dinner. I longed to crack open a white wine, but had a sprite, and the craving has passed.

It’s just past 7pm and I really fancy a glass tonight. Not sure why as i’ve been to the gym, and i’ve eaten dinner already so usually that would put me off.

I’ve had a bit of a stressful week and DH has just commented that i’ve been a bit ‘off’ and a bit flat this week and to be honest i’ve been finding him really irritating! Maybe it’s a bit of PMT 😂 of lack of wine.

I went to bed in the end with my iPad and a massive chunk of mint Aero. Going out to lunch tomorrow with some friends. Most of them will be drinking wine so that will be interesting.

Well done everyone! Fridays are tough, I’m finding a craving around 4-5 each day. I saw a pair of ladies in the pub this afternoon with wine and was so jealous!!

good luck tomorrow, we are over half way now!

Another one here that could have had a glass of red wine tonight. Had a ginger beer with lime instead and let it pass. My first craving which I was expecting at some point but it still took me by surprise if that makes sense. Maybe because we are in week two now and the novelty has worn off, real life has started back after the Christmas holidays. Anyway will keep going and see how tomorrow goes.

Sending you all strength and positively 💐

Anything I watch on tv people seem to be drinking and even books I read seem to have a lot of alcohol in!

Day 16 done.

Think I've got to the stage now where I'm not thinking about alcohol as much. Don't get me wrong I've had slight cravings but somethings kept me going. Maybe I like a challenge. The days of drinking in the week are gone! I'll play Feb by ear. But for now over and out. And well done all :-)

I’m 52 so what you say makes a lot of sense.
I also keep thinking that I was drinking the equivalent of 3 snickers a night and yet no weight loss at all. Just wine cravings and then some

Tonight was bad!!!

😡
still on the wagon! Keep it up mighty women. We are strong.