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.

No @namechangeformeeee I haven’t, but am tempted to.

Checking on day 4. Last night I opened a Heineken Zero, which I do like, but it was so fizzy I couldn't get through it! Back to the stress of work and school tomorrow when stress levels will inevitably rise and I usually use wine to numb myself in the evenings, but I am determined to keep this up!

I am more tediously focused on my lack of nicotine than my lack of alcohol- I kind count that as a plus😂

I love good rays - it is much nicer and also stronger than trip. Makes me feels very mellow.

Day 4 here too, hardest day with prep and eating roast. Had pineapple and coconut juice (Sainsbury's) with tonic, while cooking, and it was really nice! Had nosecco in fanciest possible flute with dinner, which tastes okay but I'm obviously wildly missing the red. Feel flat now and just want to go to bed whereas Sunday evenings are usually great fun. Don't know how to get past that. Keep thinking, it's only for a few weeks, and then remember I actually want to make a lasting change.

I am having a bit chocolate before bed this evening, something I used to have a lot cause it warned me up in the cold weather and helped me sleep. I stopped them in favour of wine but am glad to drink that instead. Back to work tomorrow so will see how I get on after that.

*hot chocolate

Yes it’s been a long evening! Just waiting to go to bed to get the day over with .

I get that. It fees scary. Whenever I have done dj I am always torn because after a week I feel so much happier in myself and don’t want to go back to feeling shit on alcohol- but there is the feeling of somehow missing out and the thought of never drinking again terrifies me/ that is the hurdle you have to get over I think.

Day 4 completed. I’m drinking so much more water it must be doing me some good!

I’ve tried them all 🙄

sentía is weird - it’s very dry, and changes depending on what you mix it with. Personally I wouldn’t spend my money on it again. Didn’t ‘do’ anything at all.

CBD drinks ‘do’ something which is the key thing AF replacements miss. Goodrays is the best. They can have a slightly weird texture but you do get a very small warm and fuzzy feeling in the fingertips,
but I’m avoiding them this time round. Very expensive and also I read they can skew liver results and I’m trying to make my liver better not worse! Plus it feels like replacing one crutch with another.

mother root is nice - grown up - but not cheap.

non-effecting drinks -

pukka night time tea gets rave reviews but the smell is so hideous - like wet cardboard!

the very very best alternative, much debated on here years ago, is a tonic water with 2 drops of angostura bitters. Bitters are alcoholic, but 2 drops would make a glass of tonic no more alcoholic than a 0.05% lucky saint beer or cider. Takes tonic to another level.

First week is always the easiest for me - it’s the novelty of it all, lots of energy, back at the gym and then I start to get bored around end of week two. Dh is the other way - beginning hard and after two weeks he’s in the zone. I’m climbing the walls by the end of week 4😂 Had some good Kombucha from M&S. Plan to eat well in January which means loads of fresh food and cutting out UPFs

Yes none of them do anything for me.

That’s a hard one - I had to stop drinking when I gave up the fags - they are too closely related. Well done on the nicotine, it’s so worth it being free.

Thanks- they really are closely related. I am two whole days without nicotine now😬

That is bloody amazing - seriously it gets a tiny bit easier everyday. When I gave up I smoked 20-30 a day. I fucking loved smoking but I knew I had to stop. Everyone has their thing about how to deal with the panic that wells up when you think about never having another. Some people leave a pack in a drawer. I used to allow myself a cigarette tomorrow if I still was desperately craving. That tomorrow never came. Stick with it, it’s so worth the struggle now to be free. I’m keeping everything crossed for you!

Anyone else experiencing withdrawal headaches? Really brings it home to me how physically dependent on alcohol my body has been :(

I haven't had the headaches but from what I remember its likely to be a sugar crash. There's soooo much sugar in alcohol and your body will be responding to the lack of it. If you dont have a sweet tooth I would reccomend a full fat coke or similar, might help.

Well done @BigButtonson giving up nicotine as well.
I resorted to eating leftover Halloween sweets last night - Love Hearts 🤢, I think I needed a little sugar. Am not going to worry too much if I eat a little more but will be mindful of it.

Interesting. I really don’t have a sweet tooth, so might try a medicinal coke!

I haven't found any non alcohol wines that are nice or worth the money but do enjoy a AF kopperberg in a wine glass. I also enjoy appetisers in a wine glass.

I haven't had headaches but did have horrendous sugar cravings last year when I did DJ which made me feel shocking. I actually put on weight last jan as I ate so much rubbish.

This year hasn't been as bad yet as I dont drink as much as I used to before DJ last year and I am better prepared for it. I have a large bottle of water that measures fluid amounts i use daily to ensure I am getting the amount of fluid I need as if I don't I get sugar cravings and sore heads. I also have been having ready break with blueberries for breakfast along with a coffee and stocked up on things like grapes, berries, oranges etc. I am having a tasty healthy lunch to minimise sugar drops and a protein based dinner. Keeping blood sugars level seems to be really important for me.

I'll join you in that! I've had enough of drinking, I will at least use January to hit pause.

I ate a bowl of frosties at 10:30 last night and they were tremendous. Definitely a little sugar craving going on here!

They were selling those Gilliam Anderson g spot drinks in Sainsbury’s so I’ve bought some for the weekend. The power of marketing!