Ocsober

[FanGirlX]

Anyone fancy joining me for Ocsober?

If so, we could make this into a support thread and maybe list ideas for non alcoholic drinks, good films and tv programmes to watch etc.

Happy Friday! Good luck for the weekend, it's my worse time for wanting a drink but having got on the scales this morning and discovering I've lost half a stone I'm determined to carry on not drinking. Just wish I could shake off this headache.

Still dry!! Its been hard i ain't gonna lie

I have been listening to the sleep meditation app when I go to bed and i sleep right through until the alarm goes off.

My skin is starting to look better too. But i miss having a glass of wine whilst cooking though

Yay go us. A whole week.

Even those who have slipped should congratulate themselves. Changing ingrained habits is hard. We have all cut our units massively this week and I am sure our bodies will be thankful. Also think of the money we have saved.

I had a couple of ginger beers in a fancy glass with ice and lime last night. It was ok but I am trying to cut down on sugars and artificial sweetener, so I don’t want to substitute one bad habit for another.

The scales haven’t moved since my initial loss at the start. I have a good amount to lose so I want to focus on my food this coming week. My sleep may be slightly improved but I suffer with menopausal insomnia so it’s too soon to tell. @FanGirlX, I have heard good things about weighted blankets. Look forward to hearing how you get on.

Oh god it's Friday and I'm telling myself I deserve a drink because I've had a stressful week. Am going to distract myself by cooking cottage pie.

Even those who have slipped should congratulate themselves. Changing ingrained habits is hard. We have all cut our units massively this week and I am sure our bodies will be thankful.

To those that have slipped up, just start over. It's really hard, I know but @Belindabelle makes some good points here.

Well I did have some good news this week, work have just announced that we will only be going into the office 2 days per fortnight.

We are going to give living semi rurally a go.

Friday night and feeling good! I'm not struggling too much... yet!

What are you drinking tonight? I've got some fever tree tonic in the fridge, love that!

Oops, posted too soon.
My menopausal insomnia seems to have gotten better since I started using earplugs and an eye mask. Because I'm less easy to disturb, I've been able to get bigger and bigger chunks of sleep and I think I've trained myself into sleeping better and more soundly now.

@Goatling the detoxing headache will pass, I promise!

Earplugs are ace! I think I must be a light sleeper (well, I know I am, since I got a Fitbit that monitors my sleep). Earplugs have really helped me stay asleep.

I'm on lemon and ginger tea at the moment. I'll move on to the night sky calm later - it has valerian in it which I think helps with sleep too.

Day 12 here (started in September)... this is longest streak ever and it is getting easier. I have kombucha which i will have with ice and a slice tonight.

I have noticed my stomach is much less bloated than normal

DD is tucked up in bed. She volunteered to go to bed early tonight (unheard of 😁). I'm watching Philomena on Netflix and making my way through various teas.

@phonicscloud

Day 12 here (started in September)... this is longest streak ever and it is getting easier. I have kombucha which i will have with ice and a slice tonight.

I have noticed my stomach is much less bloated than normal

Well done. I'm hoping a less puffy face and less bloated stomach will happen for me too.

Woman Down

Took kids for tea after school in our lovely local and I failed to not have wine....

I'm two glasses down and want another 😞😭

@goldpendant, never fear, I slipped and had 2 glasses of wine last night too. Was worried I would just say “fuck it” and spend rest of weekend doing the same.
However, I’ve had a Leffe 0% and a coffee, and have no desire for a drink at all. Surprised.

@FanGirlX, 2 days per fortnight in work sounds great - gives you so much more freedom about where to live 👍

Thank you @30kgtogo - I know I prefer myself when I'm not drinking, everything about me is better. But I've had a horrible week and needed a bit of a release.... it felt so good!

And @FanGirlX what a result - can you do those two days how you wish? Eg back to back? I'd love our company to make a decision - we are in an experimental hybrid period until May with no decisions or permanent changes allowed until then. Sounds like you've got a wonderful chance to find something a bit more rural, lucky!

LowbrowVictoriana I hope so! FanGirlX we live semi rural and love it, apart from one set of arsey neighbours, hope you love it too! goldpendant I'm in danger of slipping tonight but I know if I have one it will end up being 3 or 4 plus I've got indigestion which I know a wine will make it worse so I'm trying not to give in, hard though!

How are we all doing tonight?

Cooking Spaghetti Bol and would kill for a glass of wine. Just remembered an old Slimming World trick of soda water and ice in a wine glass topped with a splash of vinegar. Preferably white wine or apple cider variety as opposed to malt! You can also have balsamic which when mixed with lemonade is meant to be like Pimms.

I am having a glass just now and ok not going to lie, it’s never going to be as good as a glass of Chablis, but I swear I have drunk worse in my time.

Evening
I am doing ok, haven't caved.....yet this is the longest I have gone without a drink for an embarrassing amount of time and I'm starting to feel the benefits. My skin certainly looks better and I am sleeping better than I have for years. I'm drinking tonic with lots of ice and lime and it's going down nicely
Looking forward to another Sunday without a hangover

All quiet on the Ocsober thread front!

Hope it's because you're all active and busy having had a good quality sleep and awaking refreshed and unhungover

I've been doing pretty well... amazingly so. Have fancied a glass of wine here and there but not caved and mostly found it quite bearable.

Still 21 days to go, however!

Hi all,

We had a day out with friends yesterday, dinner at theirs. I found it so much easier talking about why I'm not drinking, and friend made me a beautiful seedlip complete with rose petals and frozen blackberries- amazing! Talked about it, they were v supportive. Much easier than saying how awful it is to resist and talking myself into one.

Back to day 1 - long story but we ended up going away for the weekend, just got back.
I drank, but in moderation.
Now determined to do the rest of the month at least.

@goldpendant, Taft garnished seedlip sound amazing! I agree it really makes a difference to have a soft drink in a lovely glass, garnished, ice etching that it feels just as much of a treat.

Happy to report, no slips this month apart from my 2 wines, 3 days ago.

That, not taft!

Christ, you’d think I was on the wine from my spelling mistakes, ffs! Not sure where “etching” came from..,

I slipped up on Saturday. Housing stress and ex DP stress. Stress seems to be a trigger for me. Alcohol quietens my brain. At least I am recognising this.