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've drunk every night since Thursday

That's not even a Damp January!

I'm still holding the line. As is DH, which is a turnip for the books Better when it's a competition to see who breaks I think.

Just found out we are going to Brighton on Friday night for our nieces 18th, I suggested we drive but it's about a 5 hour round trip, so DH has booked a gorgeous hotel , now I love wine .and I'm mean really really love wine but what I love even more than that, is sitting in a hotel bar/lobby drinking wine people watching......I going to fail Dry January

I going to fail Dry January

Self-fulfilling prophecy!

Still going here. Nothing since NYE
However now spent £48.00 on 2 bottles of seedlip no alcohol gin.
Fast running out of bottle no 2

@MrsTerryPratcett my H seems to be drinking more.. he passed out by 9 last night whilst I was up watching the sas program! I'm determined not to give in now.. two weekends no wine is blooming amazing for me.

that seedlip is more-ish isn't it?

Missing the taste of a lovely glass of wine quite a lot but physically starting to get a sense of wellbeing. Well, it's either that or the mad winter-lake swimming I do when possible; it kick starts your immune and other systems nicely.

Sleeping better too, when the 4 year old isn't rolling over and pushing me out of bed.

Keep going =)

I’m still in. I’ve combined it with healthier eating and more exercise and I’ve lost a grand total of 1 lb ! Have to say I’m disappointed as I’m walking around with a sort of virtuous slight smirk that I thought meant I was thin

A couple of questions folks.....how long before the feelgood thing kicks in and is seedlip worth it?

troubles if you've been exercising more you might have gained more muscle in place of the fat. Muscle is heavier so your scales won't show much difference. Measuring tape round the waist or your belt buckle is maybe a more reliable method :)

Well done everyone for sticking it out so far!

Bert why don't you give yourself a pass for the night in Brighton - have a good time and enjoy the night in a hotel and then get back on the wagon? One night off in a month is bloody good going.

Orange are you feeling any benefits at all? I found this blogpost helpful - see below

1. Know what to expect

The first two or three weeks after quitting drinking can be physically and mentally gruelling, but it's much easier if you know what to expect, and know that it's all perfectly normal. After years of flooding your body with addictive toxins, it's bound to fight back a bit when you quit.

You will probably feel more tired than you can imagine. By mid afternoon you'll want a nap - like a toddler. You'll feel muggy headed, like you're wading through soup, and your concentration levels will be completely shot.

Don't worry - it'll pass. See it as a sign that your body's recuperating.

Ironically, you may find that you also have problems initially in getting to sleep. Again, this is temporary. Soon you'll be sleeping like a baby - better than you have in years. And no more waking up at 3am with the night horrors.

You might get headaches and/or constipation. That's all part of your body detoxing. Drink lots of water, fresh juices and smoothies.

You may be a bit (or a lot) tetchy and snappy. Like a bad case of PMT. Try to avoid taking on anything too crucial or stressful over the next week or two.

@orangecushion I like be seedlip, very moorish. Very Gin like.

thanks mcFlange and chick

orange the wellbeing is just starting to kick in the last couple days. Sleep's been improved for about 4 days now.

Rattiness is still in full force though.

Literally, all I can think about is wine.

High five @whynot93

I desperately wanted a beer last night and I can't tell if it was the alcohol or the sugar I wanted. I was also eyeing DD's chocolate so possibly the latter. As a result I ate everything in the house that wasn't beer or chocolate (yay me) and I'm feeling rotten this morning.

But no sugar/alcohol passed my lips.

orange, hold on. It's really hard .... can you go out and swim or do some exercise or something that absorbs your mind

It does get easier, it really does

Day 14 and the constant craving for alcohol has eventually gone over. Still feel like it occasionally but it doesn't feel like I'm going to fail any minute coz I can't stick it out any longer... such a relief!! I feel loads better and the sluggishness has gone away. This last weekend I spent with friends and family, and I can't believe how booooorrred I was without alcohol to keep me a bit fuzzy at the edges, just couldn't be bothered to be sociable. Is this normal?
It's not that I'm desperate for a drink anymore, I just can't remember how to hold a conversation without a drink and I'm a lot more self conscious without the wine to loosen me up 🤷‍♀️

Yeah I'm bored too... although have been getting loads done. Am trying to Marie kondo the house. And have started two new courses. As well as working harder at my job. And getting on DSs case about homework

So DH drunk 3 beers last night while watching a film , feels pants and slightly cheated, as it was just a night in front of the TV and doesn't feel a hangover is warranted, I in the other hand feel great . Day 16 here I come

Hi all

Day 16! I had some fairly shitty medical news yesterday which totally bummed me out and the ONE thing I wanted was a fuck off huge glass of wine, but managed to resist. So well done me.

Onwards and upwards, it's stinking hot here and DH is hoovering up the beers I, however am virtuously drinking water. My medical condition is fairly incompatible with wine/alcohol so I'm trying to frame this month as my new normal.

How's everyone else doing? This thread has gone quite quiet, are we falling off the wagon or hitting a mid Jan slump?

I can't imagine heat.

Hey coppercolouredtop...don't disappear, how is everything you end ?

CeciliaMcFlange well done, I can't imagine trying to do this in the heat of summer, when everyone is in the pub beer garden . At least in the UK everyone hibernates in January. We are about to get an icy blast, fingers crossed we get snow ( a big kid who loves sledging)

I'm still in, 15 done 🙌 I feel bloody magic I have to say. Well done all, we are halfway there...

Day 16 for me too. Proud of myself.

Pros - sleeping really well. Solid 7 hours, wake refreshed.

Cons - I'm very bored not having a drink. During the week is fine. Friday and Saturday boring.
I have a feeling I'm eating more.

Can't believe there are two more weekends, I feel like I've done about five already