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.

[Roussette]

I'm just hacked off there's a two thirds full bottle of champagne in the fridge with a champagne stopper in it that obviously DH opened last night when we had friends round. (he has a habit of opening too many bottles) I was trying to avoid that....

[Spfairydust]

I’m in!

Actually really looking forward to it. There may be some hard days, but I really want to do this.

[troubleswillbeoutofsight]

I'm in too. Did it a couple of years ago and, though hard, broke my cycle of drinking almost every night. Since then I still drink too much but probably 3 bottles a week

[AdelesBeard]

If anyone is struggling I can recommend reading some 'quit lit'. It really helps to change your mindset from one of feeling like you are 'missing out' by not drinking to feeling incredibly positive and excited about changing your drinking behaviour. I loved the Unexpected Joy of Being Sober but there's loads of books and blogs out there. Also check out Club Soda. Happy January!!

[Spfairydust]

Thanks for the recommendations!

I had pre-ordered ‘The Alcohol Experiment’ by Annie Grace. It arrived yesterday.
It’s a 30 day exercise with information and activities for each day.

[Ovendoor]

Well I woke this morning feeling bloated and lethargic after a few too many glasses of fizz last night.
I am so up for this now. I hate wasting my mornings feeling pants!

[TheNewSchmoo]

I'm in. 2 glasses of wine or gin and tonic each night. Bottle of wine Friday amd Saturday. I live alone so it easily sneaks up. Boredom related probably.

I have a mini bottle of champagne from my wine advent calendar (I know, I know), I will celebrate with that on 1st Feb (and no doubt be totally sloshed on it ). I'm going to use my boredom to read more.

Daft question. Does dry mean no wine in cooking?

[russianbubble]

I’m joining you! 🙋🏻‍♀️
Also got into bad habit of drinking most evenings and go overboard at the weekends/social events etc.
Am looking forward to a healthier 2019

[Underthefur]

I'm in, have downloaded the app. I also recommend Club Soda website and Facebook groups for support

[Nutellaoneverything]

I'm in, can't get through more than one day without some booze, more often than not it's 2+ strong drinks with spirits every evening. Put on 5 stone in as many years and I know a lot of it is alcohol related although I also have hypothyroidism.

[Onlywrite]

Yes I'm in!
I'm cooking now though, and need your help to resist a glass of wine - am unable to even sail through day one! Any tips?

[Spfairydust]

@onlywrite - maybe think about how proud of yourself you will be? Any soft drinks that you really like that you can have whilst you are cooking?

[DitzyPrints]

I’ve downloaded a couple of decent looking books on kindle not the alcohol ones just gritty stories as I tend to find I’d rather go to bed with a good book then sit up if I’m not drinking.
My plan for first night - soak in bath and read book in bed

[sluj]

Is it cheating if I delay it till after the weekend in order to drink up wine already in the house? I just know I'll fail if it's looking at me. I'm not bothered about the presence of beer or spirits, just the wine 🙄

[chickydoo]

I'm in
To be honest alcohol doesn't really agree with me much.
I could do with a few weeks off.
Just not sure what to have instead of my nightly G&T
Maybe just the T? I like tonic
I will look for the app

[LadyWithLapdog]

Sluj - put those bottles away in the garage or the shed. Out of sight, out of mind.

[Underthefur]

@DitzyPrints can you recommend some good books please? I intend to do the same as you, go to bed earlier and read, rather than stay downstairs and have another glass or three.

[Mammyofonlyone]

I'm in! Easy so far but it's approaching the time I'd usually fancy a glass of wine...!

[coppercolouredtop]

I've got the app and am amazed to se how many calories I was drinking.

So far so good 😊

[DitzyPrints]

copper what’s the name of the app think it’s different from the one I have?
Fur Paula Daly books usually fab page turners. Loved ‘Her’ by Harriet Lane and also Elizabeth Haynes books all have female main characters and are gritty thrillers definitely recommend :)

[LadyWithLapdog]

Mammyofonlyone - pint of cold water to sip at. I am having some Coke and I’ve had several nespressos as well (though, sadly, the calories will add up). I also plan to go to bed earlier.

[ScabbyHorse]

I'm in! Have put all the Christmas booze away up in the loft haha. Hoping to lose weight and see if I can get on with new boyfriend whilst sober.

[Mammyofonlyone]

Thanks Lady! I'm planning on an early night too

[upaladderagain]

Can I join too? Drinking every night - a couple of large glasses of wine, willpower non existent so nibbles added to the mix. I don’t get hangovers and can go out and not drink, but it’s when I’m curled up on the sofa and can hear the bloody stuff shouting at me from the kitchen.
Any suggestions on substitutes? Tea or coffee after 7.30 keep me awake, fruit juices are too heavy and I don’t like anything fizzy. Something with a proper grown-up taste might keep the cravings at bay.