Not dry january. But less booze in general. Anyone else?

[Frouby]

I am posting this thread because I really want to reduce the amount of alcohol I drink.

I was going to do dry January but think that is too much for me. And when I do drink again I will revert back to bad habits.

On a normal week I would have 1 or 2 g and ts mon to thurs. Bottle of wine on a friday. Then either a couple of beers or a couple of g and ts on a Saturday night. Nothing on sunday.

Over Christmas (which started for us mid December as we had a holiday) I have drank every day. Never been drunk drunk but 4 or 5 drinks every day.

I feel fat, bloated and lethargic. I want to cut my drinking down to a couple of nights a week. Friday and Saturday. Or thursday and friday. DP also drinks most days (more than me too) and we both need to address our relationship with alcohol.

I didn't drink last night and won't tonight either. And I feel 100% better already. We get married in May and I want to lose weight and improve my health.

Does anyone else want to join this thread for support? I know there is the dry January thread but I will be drinking (probably) 2 days a week so dont want to post on there and knock any penguins off the ice.

Currently drinking ginger ale with loads of ice and contemplating a shower and a cupp of tea later with the last of the Christmas cake (diet starts tomorrow) 😁

The after photo is 7 months of 4 days a week AF and max one bottle of wine over the week-end.

Wow Anglaise that's an amazing difference! You look so much fresher!

Big smile says it all. We are what we feel and feeling proud of yourself you should :)

I realised I hadn't been afon Sunday as I had one at lunch. So I'm four says now. Kids were up early so good job I didn't have my usual thurs night bender.

Anglaise - got look brighter. I bet you feel it too. Well done you!

Cotton - you’ve done so well!!

I went out with friends for cocktails. We shared 2 bottles of white between 3 of us. So less than my usual whole bottle to myself. I was led by them and was sipping rather than glugging 😂😂

Fab photos Angalise. They really do show a difference.

I have fallen off the wagon again. Sigh. Don't know why. I was AF sunday and Tues. Had a couple of lagers on Monday. Half a bottle of wine Wednesday. Half a bottle of wine and 2 g and ts last night.

I feel pretty bluergh this morning. And I have been starving hungry all week and I know it's an alcohol induced carb fest.

I will drink tonight probably. Or tomorrow night. Then am making a big effort to be AF for at least 4 days.

Hey frouby it is so easily done. Don’t beat yourself up about it. The way I see it is we’ve all begun to recognise the way things have slipped..and we are all beginning to make changes to a healthier life. I think actually you disnt slip too bad..you stopped at half a bottle..that’s an off switch glaring at you.
I’ve bought a bottle for tonight, then we are out tomorrow night so will no doubt drink then. Then my plan is 3 AF nights next week. That would be major progress for me.

Thanks for sharing the photos, Anglaise. You look pretty good in both, but you can see the difference in the second one. If nothing else, vanity should give me a kick up the backside.

Frouby, your week this week sounds like mine last week. I was tempted last week to just think "oh sod it, this is too much like hard work". For no particular reason. I think relapses are inevitable. We didn't develop a drinking habit overnight, so we're not going to kick it overnight either. Woosey is right about making gradual changes. My DC1 is coming home for the Easter holidays today, which will be a test for me.

Cotton: four days is fab. Having done three days, I am now aiming for four (possibly over-optimistically).

My triumph of sorts is that I went out with a friend last night, and we only shared one bottle of wine. I realise this is a lot by some people's standards, but I was prepared for it to be a lot more. I had only just started feeling pleasantly fuzzy when she said she had to have an early night as she had to be up at 4.30 for work. So I went home and went to bed, not via my Alcohol Cupboard. Going to try very, very hard not to succumb tonight.

AF Day 1 Again. Phew. Provoked by DC1, who spent a good hour telling me why XH and I are defective parents. Then had to go to drop one of the DC at a friend's house. Took money with me so I could buy gin on the way home. But I didn't. Came home and had water and some grapes instead.

I'm thinking about sticking to drinking when out on social occasions and just not drinking at home. Had 4 AF free nights last week and had two glasses of wine last night, less than half a bottle and I was totally just drinking it out of habit. Had a dreadful nights sleep, dehydrated and bad dreams and this morning I'm thinking its just not worth it.
Tbh I didn't even enjoy the wine, just its effect, and I always eat too many snacks and food which adds to the guilt.

Well done Athena. Not sure I would have resisted the gin in favour of grapes and water! Cotton, I've thought about trying to not drink at home, but it's actually when I'm out that I lose the 'off' button and revert to my 17 year old self! I didn't manage to stay AF last night but did manage to stop after two glasses, so I'm pretty happy with that as I'd not had anything since Sunday.

Last night we went out for a drink, which then meant I wanted more. So drunk a litre of bloody wine. Good news is that I'm hungover, maybe after the 5 days of sensible my body didn't like it. See what happens tonight. Can I actually ever stop at 2 (glasses not bottles )

Just got in from date night with husband. Was lovely but four glasses down the hatch and the world seems fuzzy!!
Tomorrow is start of Af........

Failed tonight, under extreme provocation (DC1 and DC2 ought not to be allowed within about 1000 miles of one another, and the return of DC1 always produces bloodshed).

Morning - another fail here too! Started with Prosceco and then onto the red wine- feeling dehydrated and fuzzy of head. Today is AF day one again

Tomorrow is my Day One, again.

Mine too Athena

Tomorrow is my day one too. Had fab day so finished it with wine.....as we do!! 🙄🙄

Day one here..

Day one here too.

Fml.

Day one here too, Monday always is. Didn't even get through a whole bottle of wine this weekend but I live quite an isolated life, kids, work and sport no OH to drink with 🙁🙂

Day one here too 🙌🏼🙌🏼

I’m really not sure how you all doing this!! There was half a bottle of wine in fridge...determined not to touch it, I poured myself tonic and lime. Ate late too. After dinner Dh poured me a glass of wine without thinking to sit and watch a film together!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m sipping it half Enjoying every sip and half feeling shit for doing so!!

I can't have it in the house woosey

I didn’t have it in the house for tonight with the greatest intention. Then spent the morning at hospital appointment with my little girl and come out feeling crap. So what did I do...stop off for a bottle to stick in the fridge!! Fml!! My challenge now tho is to have HALF, not a WHOLE!! Everyone I say to that I’m trying to cut down on alcohol etc says “don’t punish yourself, you’ve got so much stress”. Then I think ah well...I’ll keep drinking!! Then the loathing comes in. It’s cyclical!! 😩😩

I was dry last night and plan to be dry tonight. Was up peeing all bloody night though. That's what a week of alcohol and a weekend of shit food does for you. Fills you up like bloody balloon.