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

[Doshusallie]

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

glitch tell me about it. Its looooooong and dull. Bah. A month will be long enough! (must remember the positives - gives self a quiet talking too)

to I mean

Slept terribly on Thursday night, but had accidentally made a normal cup of coffee rather than decaf. Slept very well last night, but actually woke up feeling slightly hungover, even though I've been on the wagon since 1st Jan..
Maybe withdrawal symptoms?
Enjoying my low sugar lime and soda drinks.

No determined you are not.

My cold has turned into a stinking cold which, whilst I wouldn't recommend it necessarily, is certainly helping with my abstention! Couldn't drink wine now if I wanted to!

I was really grumpy at dinnertime knowing that it was going to be a booze-free Saturday. I seem to have cheered myself up with toblerone, going for an early night though cos I'm a bit bored tbh.

Badbersnatch I wonder if a lot of drinking is due to boredom?

Well I am staying up a bit later knowing I might be tired tomorrow, but not tired and hungover

I cracked tonight and have had 2 double vodkas and cherry coke. Epic fail

Not even sure why I bothered, I hate spirits but it was there in the cupboard. I had the 'Oh but it's Saturday night!' mindset, I think.

6 days. Pathetic.

I think I have begun to realise just how much alcohol was defining my daily routines.

We would have a drink pretty much every night to 'unwind' but that first drink usually signalled the point in the evening where we would do sod all apart from TV and slouching on the sofa.

I am finding the evenings a bit boring without alcohol which is interesting.

Need to find another focus

I thought of this thread today when in Sainsbury's - virtually every person was buying alcohol. No obvious dry January activity at all - which surprised me. Anyway, I think Sains' plum, blackberry and pear juice would be lovely with tonic or soda water if anyone is looking for a long drink. Plus, it looks like red wine. (I think it might work with gin or vodka as well ...)

DW has just returned from going out with friends. The others consumed three glasses of vino each and DW had one lime juice and soda water.....Quite apart from the fact that each round of wine cost £23.00 (for three glasses) DW said that she was actually quite repulsed by the smell of the wine..... I babysat and was tempted but there was no alcohol in the house so I resisted....

But those of you who say that we might drink out of boredom might possibly have a point....Definitely think you need to keep the idle hands occupied in the evenings...

Still going. Last night was hard - out for a farewell dinner with DH, who has gone away until the end of the month - but I stayed on the water. Now I'm home alone until 2 Feb, so it should be easier (I tend not to drink when I'm on my own - just need to be careful of all the nights out I have planned to keep me company).

Congrats to all the newly pregnant ladies on the thread!

Morning all. Agree with the boredom theory. I did mani pedi in front of the TV last night to keep my hands busy. Made a martini for DP but had beetroot juice for me in a martini glass - it looked fab!

Mornin all,
ditto with the boredom thing, its definately an issue with me too.... I hope I will plan to do lots of jobs, starting tonight with gathering all the charity shop stuff and bagging it up ready to drop off on Monday. I must resist online shopping, i've done too much already! (so much for saving money)

Ooh, nasty Eleanor, I had a bad bout just before Christmas with proper pink wee and burning - on the plus side it did keep me off the wine for a week

Well I got through Saturday night. It's less than two weeks until my goal and I've decided that, if I stay dry until then (scary birthday) I will celebrate with proper champagne that isn't supermarket own label. I'd like to think I can go back on the wagon after that and teach myself to drink just on special occasions rather than whenever I can.

Just spotted this thread! I'm doing a dry jan.

I am on day six now and its just breaking a habit for me i think.

I love wine but have consued way too much and too frequently. It has stopped being a treat. I think i would also like to just a have a glass here or there at weekend and not be looking at the clock each night waiting for wine oclock.

Ok so slipped up last night......but today is a new day, had half a bottle of red wine which also means I smoked....
i drink out of habit almost every day and have 4-6 cigarettes as well, its crazy because after the first glass and fag i really don't enjoy it that much.
Have definitely had more energy and find myself doing 'little jobs' in the evening ie washing, clean the floor, tidy out bits of storage etc.
A friend of ours suggested we were alcoholics......

Really cuppa? How did that make you feel? We're you offended or worried they had a point?

Morning all abstainers, and well done to all those who got through our first Saturday night. Can recommend a streaming nose, runny left eye, sneezes and headache as an aid to not drinking. Certainly working for me.

Agree with doing more in the evenings - I am reading more and have read half the Hunger Games trilogy since New Year's Day which I am really enjoying.

DH is still really struggling with sleep though

An article on habitual drinking

Day 6, bring it on.

Ooh Saturday night without a glass of wine felt a bit weird. I am bored of the ginger ale already but I did it. V pleased with progress thus far.

Day 5 went well. Was out for most of the day and got in later than usual.

Peppermint tea went down a storm and my skin feels better.

Got up to make breakfast for the children for the first time in ages on a Sunday but that was because I didnt feel sluggish.

Well, I did go and do some quiz and answered 5 out of 20,questions like 'do you drink to get away from stress?', 'have you ever regretted drinking? And do you crave a drink at a certain time daily? answer yes to these 3 and any other questions and this website says you have a problem.....so wanting a glass or 3 of wine at 7.30pm once ds is in bed most nights and regretting the odd hangover means I do.
Whilst I don't think I am I know I have got into a habit and the fact tha I've been more productive and have more energy tells me that it had gone to far.

Hi, just noticed this thread. I'm a longterm TTC-er, and have been bracing myself through December for a major lifestyle change to try to boost fertility, which includes no booze.

Feeling positive, which may be because I'm aiming towards something rather than just denying myself for the sake of it, IYKWIM? Managed to drink cranberry and soda at a pub lunch! (cutting right down on caffeine, sugar and meat too, and would sell my best friend for a bacon sandwich, 3 cups of tea and a kitkat, but that's a different story )

Well done everyone!

I had two small glasses of wine last night, with supper (which was an early one) and there was always the danger that I could "get stuck in" after supper, especially with having eaten early, but I left it there. And I am feeling the benefits today!!!! Already done a round trip into London and it's just gone 11.30. I can safely say that has probably NEVER happened before on a Sunday!

We are out for lunch at friends, which could be a flashpoint, but just need to be disciplined and stick to the soft stuff now until next weekend....