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Original poster

Dry January - a month off the booze - anyone want to join me?

630 replies

Doshusallie · 01/01/2013 14:54

I am determined to do this - I drink most days, it's become a habit, just a glass or two, more at weekends, but really want to give myself an extended break.

The worst time of day for me is between 6-8 pm, before we eat. So am going to try and eat earlier and it would be great if I could come on here and get some support about that time of day!

does anybody want to have a dry January with me?

And yes I do have a hangover today Grin

OP posts:
Almostfifty · 11/01/2013 20:07

Tea again here tonight. Day 8 for us.

Almostfifty · 11/01/2013 20:07

No, 9! Day 9!

Ruprekt · 11/01/2013 22:42

Friday night is always wine night!

Not today!

Water and peppermint tea.

Day 11 - done!

NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 11/01/2013 23:15

Hope you are being good twinkle!

Matildaduck · 12/01/2013 07:28

As it was Friday i had a can of coke! :-) I would have prefered a sparkling water but didn 't want to go to the shops.

11 days down, feels good.

gazzalw · 12/01/2013 08:57

But it's a very, very long month....I was computing it all yesterday evening as I drank my fizzy water....we've still got almost three weeks to go ;-(.....That's a long, long time....

sorry don't mean to be off-putting...it just seems that it's going on forever.....

I really don't know how alcoholics do it....no wonder they use the mantra "one day at a time" - but how on earth do you carry on socialising and just drinking water/fruit juice....

I have thus far avoided temptation by not going to the pub after work but there is no way I could set foot in a pub and drink a soft drink.....it's the associations....

Also, the cult of alcohol is so built into our culture these days that as DW experienced when she went out last weekend, her friends were on the one hand saying 'good for you' but on the other hand repeatedly tried to temp her to just have one!

tuffinmop · 12/01/2013 08:57

Day 12, probably the hardest I have a dinner party tonight. I have bought myself some non alcoholic fizz so will be ok. I am dreading the "go on, just one, what harm can it do?" brigade....

I am feeling so much different mentally I think this could be the start of a change for the better more far reaching than just January. I now realise I have been numbing myself, avoiding my feelings, trying not to think about the dire straits my marriage is in. I feel like I am thinking clearly for the first time in years.
Sorry that got a bit heavy!
Well done everyone Smile x

twinklestar2 · 12/01/2013 12:50

I had one glass of wine and husband had 2 beers to celebrate my birthday.

Back on it from now!

InNeatCognac · 12/01/2013 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gazzalw · 12/01/2013 13:48

Good luck, tuffinmop, hold that resolve....you can do it...

Know what you mean - it is definitely a crutch for something for most of us...

Well done Twinklestar2.....did you find it easy just having one drink? I think the other advantage of having a break from alcohol is that when you go back to it, at least for while, your intake is likely to be significantly reduced. Gone is gulping a large glass down in about 10 minutes flat....

DW is always saying that we should only habitually drink on Friday and Saturday evenings...that it should be an end of the week treat. I've always been a bit dubious but can see that it might be sensible way to drink from February onwards....

noddyholder · 12/01/2013 13:49

Still going here Since new years eve.

NuclearStandoff · 12/01/2013 13:55

I have kept going since Jan 2nd. But find I am eating more crap to compensate ... unfortunately still have xmas chocs and sweets in the house.
We went out for a family curry last week and DH and I both stayed dry.
But tonight we are going out again - pub then curry - this time with a friend, and dh has already announced he will be drinking.
I intend to stay on the wagon though.
Do still get cravings early evening however.
And haven't lost weight, because of still stuffing face with chocolate.

spudmasher · 12/01/2013 14:06

Well done everyone, especially Twinklestar2 for just having the one glass on your birthday!!!
I was worried aboutnFriday night after a long week at work but managed to distract myself by a going to see Les Mis at the cinema. I was surprised to see themnselling alcohol actually in the cinema itself( shows when I last went to the cinema!!) was tempted, but got a cranberry thing instead.
Tonight is going to be a problem........NOTHING on tv. Might download a book, get a movie on pay per view.......any other ideas??

twinklestar2 · 12/01/2013 17:24

Gazza - I found it easy! What I did was have 2 small glasses but in my nice big wine glass so it felt like more than 1.

My drinking wasn't that bad to begin with as I cut back loads last year as we're having trouble ttc. I can handle my drink and can drink a lot when I do drink. So I'm using this as an opportunity to cut out all the unnecessary nights on the booze.

I'm also doing it to help my OH as he's a big drinker. Hoping it helps him to rethink his drinking.

Matildaduck · 12/01/2013 17:43

Well done everyone!
I might just have one bottle a week post break ( one glass friday, one sat and one sun lunch) i do love wine and will appreciate it much more i'm sure.

twinklestar2 · 12/01/2013 18:11

Matilda how muh would you normally have a week?

Matildaduck · 12/01/2013 18:22

Maybe three, usually two bottles a week.
I drank so much over christmas, i just needed to stop. I was downing a bottle almost in a night :-0

Do you think one bottle a week sounds about right?

NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 12/01/2013 18:24

Well done twinklestar2, and good luck TTC.

spudmasher · 12/01/2013 19:32

I think there are about 8 units in a bottle so that is within recommended limits.

twinklestar2 · 12/01/2013 20:28

Matilda - Trying to be dry during the week and 3 glasses over the weekend sounds like a plan.

Thanks Neither :)

Have decided after Jan I'm only allowed to have a drink every other week.

tuffinmop · 13/01/2013 08:11

I did it! And actually after the initial pang, it was fine. I still chatted to everyone, i still had a giggle, I still enjoyed myself and I don't have a hangover! Yey! Feel very virtuous now and ridiculously proud of myself. If I can stay dry at a social then I can do it anywhere Grin Grin
Day 13 people, getting on for half way!

Well done all x

gazzalw · 13/01/2013 08:33

Brilliant Tuffinmop - well done....As I think we're all coming to realise it's a mindset as much as anything.

I think we all become habituated to just knocking it back and it's easy to almost get through a bottle in an evening if you are knocking it back....But hopefully if we start to employ more measured approaches in February onwards....

Brilliant stuff everyone...yes almost half way through...but we have chosen the longest, most depressing month to do it so double well-done...

Did you get much stick from your guests Tuffinmop? Just interested because peer pressure seems quite a significant factor in people drinking alcohol when perhaps they might otherwise not...

tuffinmop · 13/01/2013 08:58

Thanks gazzalw A little bit of stick from my friends, but when I said I was doing it for cancer research dryathon they accepted it. I didn't really want to start the evening scrutinising my drinking behaviour. I am very much like you - gazzalw, I just smack it back and have embarrassed myself in front of everyone I know! I am known as a bit of a piss head Blush
If I am angry or upset, its the first thing I reach for and between the stress of 3 kids under 5, my husband having an emotional affair (plus other breaches in trust - another story) and caring for my gran (now in a care home, my mum died 6 years ago and now I care for her), its been a long established "coping" mechanism.

Except it doesn't make me cope better, it just makes me depressed........ sighes at own stupidity

Onwards and upwards I say. I would really like this thread to continue in Feb to support sensible drinking habits.... I am not sure I am quite ready for the brave babes bus although I have lurked there and they are all lovely.

twinklestar2 · 13/01/2013 10:47

Well done tuffin, very proud of you!!

I'm happy to continue chatting and supporting each other through Feb too if others are?

NuclearStandoff · 13/01/2013 12:03

So, DH fell off the wagon major-league yesterday evening. 2 pints in the pub, about 3/4 bottle of wine with the curry, and then a whisky at home later.
I had one glass of red wine in the restaurant.
DH's excuse - that we were entertaining. Also called me a "no fun zone" after I berated him for driving home afterwards - only 1/2 a mile but he was pissed by then, and decided to 'show off' to the kids.
He then kept me awake half the night with his snoring; which had been much better since he laid off the booze.
Why do some people find it impossible to drink in moderation? He thinks it was moderate drinking, but he was drunk and annoying last night. Then accuses me of being miserable when I complain, and refuses to discuss it.