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.

I have to admit I have been picking at the remaining Dairy Milk box of choices leftover from Xmas (had 4 last night ), but apart from that have been (I thought) pretty good with my diet since NY.

I imagine though if I was recording calories I am probably eating more than I think, even if it's 'healthy' stuff.

Don't tell me we had a troll on an innocent thread like this?!

I know! Exciting stuff..was a pretty rubbish troll though and was banned within about 3 posts!

I drank last night
Was supposed to be one glass of wine with meal out but ended up being 2 glasses with meal followed by a shared bottle at home and 2 beers

🤷🏼‍♀️

And now today I feel shit
But I'm out again tonight

Hope you are all doing ok.
Not looking forward to Friday night again, had a crap week and need wine. However, day 10!! No booze for 10 days, feeing virtuous, although caffeine consumption is through the roof!
I have discovered Seedlip. It's basically Gin without the alcohol. All the botanicals and flavour just not the alcohol bit. It's very bloody expensive £24.00! More expensive than Gin, but it is like Hendrik's with a bit of cucumber and loads of ice.
Looking forward to a glass at 6.00pm.

Auugh..I would really love a glass of wine this evening

Well it's Friday night and I'm in my pjs sipping Diet Pepsi.. should have been going out with the girls tonight but I really feel quite rough with this cold so happy to stay home.. I'm also a little relieved the temptation has been taken from me 😉

@DavetheCat2001 no no no what.. and I do all that hard work. Find a distraction!

*un-do 💁‍♀️

I think once the kids are in bed and I can chill out, the feeling will pass. Oftern have a glass of wine on the go during bathtime to make it more bearable! 🙄

Do what I did. Catch a bug and a chest infection on New Years Eve and you won’t be able to look at a drop of alcohol!

But now I’m getting better and wine is looking attractive. However last year I listened to the Unexpected Joy of being Sober and have cut down so much since. I can really recommend it because it shows the unrealistic images of functioning alcoholism on TV.

It says we’re sold this image of alcohol as glamorous, empowering and almost feminist when in reality it’s anything but.

You're exactly right ifyouseeRitaMoreno we are surrounded by so much pro-alcohold messaging it makes heavy drinking totally normal and acceptable . . . 'wine o clock', 'mummy's fiend', constant boring weak fb memes about Gin. So tiresome.

I'm into day 12 - it's bloody hot here so taking dog out for early walk. Feeling a bit faint with hunger at the moment but not missing wine too much. I event went to the pub with a mate last night and managed to stick to soda water.

The putting on weight thing is weird, I think it's common to have sugar cravings as there's so much sugar in alcohol that we're now cutting out. Are you dipping into the haribos and upping the carbs?

Keep on everyone, we can do this.

Day 11 done but I can't sleep, have to get up at six ....I know I should get of my phone

Hope you`re sleeping now bert

If not, think how much worse 6am would be with a hangover.

Cheers MrsTerryPratcett Got to sleep at 3.... Was up at 6.20, dropped my son off at the station and don't feel too bad. Your right I would feel totally pants if I had had a drink

Another Friday night and went to the pub but only went for an hour and had sparkling water whilst DH had 2 pints! So feel quite pleased with myself as Fridays and Saturdays are really hard for me

Been for a run with running club this morning, couldn't do that if I was hungover! Keep going MNetters! The sleep does get better and the detox lurgy does lift.

I stayed dry last night but the lurgy has hit me hard today. Just going to dose myself up and mooch around all day.. husband can deal with the kids I'm in no fit state. 😐 the flip side of this is I have absolutely no desire to drink!

Into day 13 and feeling tired and grumpy. Am madly irritated by my dh and children, not sure if this is lack of alcohol related or if I'm just a miserable cow.

Sorry you're not well whynot I hope it passes quickly.

Well done one the run singlecheeseslice.

I went out for dinner last night and stuck to water, not even fizzy water, just had tap - surely I get to wear the DJ crown?

dinner invitation last night and managed to avoid alcohol. Despite there being some lovely penfolds wine and port I resisted. Feeling quite smug this morning as dh did indulge - overindulge, actually!

Oh my goodness @coppercolouredtop

How are things with your DS today? I'm so sorry to hear about his troubles. And your reflux.

How do you think you'll cope with quitting booze altogether ?

Thinking of you both

@CeciliaMcFlange the crown is most definitely yours for now 👑 tap water 🙌🙌🙌

I'm feel just as rough today.. H is hanging having downed a bottle and a half yesterday evening. I had a Diet Pepsi. 12 nights now and not a tiny sip has passed my lips and I'm so so proud.

Well done everyone, who got through the weekend . I'm off out for a Roast but have volunteered myself to drive my son back to college , which is a 3 hour drive , so having a drink is out of the question . Feel really positive that I can do this for the month...I'm gobsmacked as I did used to drink a shit load

I hope you are ok Copper? , please keep us updated, what ever your situation x

I'm still in, not had a drink since NYE, but I am soooo bored with it, does that make sense? I just feel like a bit of the sparkle has gone out of my life. I know it's a good thing, I know it will reset my drinking a bit but I just find it tedious to think there's another TWO weekends to go!

However, on the plus side, I am sleeping better and I am determined to knock during the week drinking on the head for good (unless I am on holiday of course!)

Doing this has made me realise I can cope during the week, it's just a Friday and Saturday night I find hard. I could at a stretch give up Friday nights but not Saturday.

Keep going everyone!

How long does it take to " bed in"?

I'm out

I've drunk every night since Thursday 💁🏼‍♀️