would anyone like to try a dry January with me?

[coppercolouredtop]

i really struggle with not drinking daily.

i have tried before and cheated. my dp hates how much i drink and i would like to try and see if i can do a month without and see if it breaks the habit a bit.

i can easily sink a bottle of wine plus a cocktail and still want more. i go two days without simply because i work nights two days a week.

i am getting fat. i am choosing drink over food. i am reliant on treating myself with alcohol almost daily.

i can give up anything else really easily - smoking? stopped with no help when i decided to stop.
put a box of chocolates in front of me and i can take a couple and leave the rest.
open a bottle of wine and its gone. and i want more and i dont get hangovers so there is no incentive to stop!
ive gained 6lb recently and i know its booze - dp and i used to work same hours and i moderated a bit better when he was around but now im not.
i know he hates what i drink and the annoying bint i become after the third glass.
i have lost motivation to do anything. i dont get up early. i cant be arsed to do much anymore ( i know i am depressed which doesnt help. and i think i depress the people around me)
despite being quite outgoing and bubbly i have no friends and no social life. my kids are grown up and dont see me much. i moved to a village i dont know 4 years ago and know not a soul. i also got pregnant which i was ecstatic about but then found the baby had a disability that would have been life altering for me and her, but i always felt being a mum kept me going and motivated and now my life feels completely empty and hollow. im in a job i hate. with a partner who doesnt like spending much time with me. my kids are gone, i have no friends here and alcohol fills the gaps.

ive decided to try and get to grips with that one problem and bin the booze for a month to see if it makes any difference to anything. (waist line would be good!) i never used to drink like this.. (though i did smoke about 3 cigarettes a day)

does anyone relate? anyone fancy giving this a go and supporting each other? im going to find it extremely difficult but i want to try it.

[MumsyJ]

Well done to all of you, be it one day or 31 days 👍.

Where I'm not one of the dry January participants, I tend to give up alcohol throughout the period of lent, although hard, but I look forward to it yearly.

Once again, well done you all. X

[DavetheCat2001]

I ended up driving to my friends last night as the weather was filthy, and had one small glass of wine and then soft drinks.

I can feel that I had the one glass this morning in that my head feels a bit muzzy, but really glad I stopped at the one and didn't uber it after all!

I'm not going to drink again tonight or tomorrow I don't think.

[Roussette]

After my 31 days I was back drinking last night. I had been looking forward to it lots. And yes, I did enjoy it. But... blimey, I have a thumping head this morning, and a horrible taste in my mouth. So yes, whilst it was enjoyable at the time, I have been reminded this morning of the effects.

I definitely am not drinking during the week for the forseeable future, unless I am on holiday because that had started creeping up, so if all I have done is stopped that, that is good.

[MrsTerryPratcett]

I'm wondering if this means I really do need to give up alcohol completely as I find it hard to even cut back.

Well that's the thing. DJ can be a test. If you easily do it, you probably don't have an issue.

However, you've had a rough month! So maybe the test isn't fair Let's meet again for Sober October and see how we do!

[ZenNudist]

Well i saw in the new year and ended up with a massive hangover so gave up all January. I knew if i cracked once it would be too easy to cheat. I did drink 2 glasses of prosecco and half a gin & tonic on the 31st. I decided to finish dry January yesterday because i had a party to go to. Its half a g&t because i couldn't finish it!! Im not drinking again today.

I do feel better for not drinking. Felt shitty this morning and really felt those 2 proseccos.

Ive sat through quite a lot of social occasions stubbornly sober and its a shame to deny myself a nice glass of wine or a lovely g&t but i knew that would give licence to glugging whenever.

Quite happy to have a more sober February but going to try and enjoy the odd drink guilt free. Will it be a slippery slope???

[coppercolouredtop]

Well done all

Mine was definitely a damp jan rather than a dry jan

I'm wondering if this means I really do need to give up alcohol completely as I find it hard to even cut back.

But well done everyone who did it. 💐💐💐💐

[CeciliaMcFlange]

Did it! Well done everyone on a totally dry DJ or a damp DJ. It's been a total revelation for me, just how much better I feel not drinking. I love and adore wine but think for me I just can't handle it brilliantly well, I don't/can't say no once I get going which isn't good for me, dh or the kids. DH said out of the blue that I've been much nicer recently, so am thinking of keeping going one day at a time for as long as I can.

I also worked out that at a conservative estimate I have been hungover for about 20 days/year for the last 30 years - which totals almost TWO YEARS of wasted time. Days and weeks and months of feeling shit.

[Christian77]

Yes!!

[MrsTerryPratcett]

Made it.

Very proud of myself!

[whynot93]

28 days out of 31 isn't bad going so I'm pleased with that! I'd also say going forward I'd like to only drink on a Friday/Saturday. I feel so much better! Well done all 🙌

[singleascheeseslice]

Well done everyone! x

[oldowlgirl]

Well done everyone - I didn't quite manage it but still happy with my efforts!

[Cherrymix]

Hey - other DJ'ers - just popping over from the other thread to say congrats to everyone who made it. Well done to all!

[Roussette]

Dave I know what I'd do if it were me and it'd involve an Uber

I'm proud I've managed 31 days but I'm buggered if I'm not having a drink tomorrow night. I feel I've done what I set out to achieve - reset my drinking. I shan't have any Sunday-Thursday any more but I never intended to become teetotal....

Also, I'm not sure but I think I may have eaten more which I can't afford to do!

Hope you enjoy your night Dave whatever you do!

[SeaEagleFeather]

sympathies ... Im going out tonight and theyóll have Glühwine ... argg!

[DavetheCat2001]

Yes you're both wise and sensible!

@SeaEagleFeather I can't do 'just one glass' easily either..once I get a taste for it, I want the whole bloody bottle!

I just KNOW I'm going to want to drink when I see them all tucking in though, especially with a nice dinner

[MrsTerryPratcett]

Stay dry. I run Saturday mornings and even a couple of drinks... yuk.

[SeaEagleFeather]

tbh dave I'd say stay dry. That feeling of wellbeing is just fantastic and it's amazing how quickly wine saps it

But maybe one glass, if you can stop at that? (I wouldnt be able to!)

[DavetheCat2001]

Well done everyone, no matter how many days you managed. Every little helps!

I've managed my 31 days so am pleased.

I have a dilemma..going to a friends house tomorrow evening for dinner with 2 other girlfriends, and there will be an abundance of wine.

I can't decide if I should:

a. not drink - could drive over there, take one of my posh non-alco drinks with me, drive home and not feel rough on saturday (have a Pilates class at 9.15am)
b. Drive over there..have one drink, then non-alco for the rest of evening. Drive home.
c. Walk over (15 min walk), have a few drinks, get an uber home

I know when I get there and the girls are on the wine I'll REALLY want some...but on the other hand I am proud of my DJ achievement and kind of want to keep going..but LOVE wine too..auugh!

I also don't want to feel shite on Saturday as I haven't drunk all month and so any I have will prob have an effect. My horrible hangovers/low moods have been a big part of me wanting to cut right down on the booze.

Any advice oh wise ones??

[singleascheeseslice]

whoa we almost made it! I'm gonna continue on but would love to read everyone's well earned tipsy messages tomorrow night

[SeaEagleFeather]

I’m still finding I get very bored and irritable between 5 and 8pm though. Does that ever stop? Or does anyone have any advice on how to get over it?

necking 0% beer or throat-scrubbingly harsh sparkly ginger drink; handling the kids; going out more in the evenings ...

[MrsTerryPratcett]

I’m still finding I get very bored and irritable between 5 and 8pm though. Does that ever stop? Or does anyone have any advice on how to get over it?

I bought fancy wool and circular needles.

I can't drink Friday because I'm cabin camping with a bunch of foster children Back late Saturday so might just write off this weekend. Maybe I'll turn into one of those people who is all like "just a small one" at Christmas.

[SeaEagleFeather]

good job orange, it's been a challenge hasn't it?

The first time I did it I was drinking a bottle a night and Dry Jan was incredibly hard. Now my drinking is a fraction of what it was and this DJ was the easiest yet. It does get better, if you keep going!

[Todayisanewday75]

My January hasn’t been perfect but a massive change to my normal drinking habits. It’s DPs birthday at the weekend so will probably drink then but after that I’d like to stay dry in the main.

I’m still finding I get very bored and irritable between 5 and 8pm though. Does that ever stop? Or does anyone have any advice on how to get over it?

[planbitisthen]

I'm still going, and intend to continue into Feb as I feel so much better! Sleeping at night is far better than it was and I have to say I feel more alive. I've saved over 6000 calories and that can only be a good thing. Well done everyone!