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) 😁

And Frouby: your wedding sounds fab. Something to look forward to. And after a failed marriage, it's lovely to hear about one that's going to happen and be happy.

My girls' lunch is off, as two of them can't make it . I hadn't realised quite how much I had invested in this event, as I am now feeling sad not to be seeing them, and even sadder not to have an excuse to down a bottle of wine. So tomorrow will be a challenge...

Thanks Athena and so sorry to hear about your experiences. She went through a really bad patch last year but I really thought she'd come out the other side

So just as well I didn't start drinking at 6.30.... I'm having a medicinal nightcap now

Nothing wrong with a medicinal nightcap, colouring. Hugs.

Ah that's shit colouring.

What age group is she? Can school help at all. It's good that she has told you.

MH care is shite for everyone but particularly children and teens. You are gonna need your battlepants on just to get the basic help. Your night cap is completely understandable in the circumstances and at least you were stone cold sober when she came to you.

Sorry about your lunch athena. I hate plans being cancelled. It's my pet hate.

MH care is shite for everyone but particularly children and teens. You are gonna need your battlepants on just to get the basic help.

Perfectly expressed, Frouby. Unfortunately!

Hope you are ok, Colouring.

Afternoon everyone

Well have had a 40yr plus health check with the nurse this morning. Was pleasantly surprised considering my previously excessive alcohol consumption. Blood pressure and cholesterol both low. Very low risk for diabetes and heart disease. Weight and waist measurements both a bit higher than ideal but to be fair I am still carrying an extra stone from before Christmas so that's fair enough. Apparently I have a 1% chance of having a heart attack which is reassuring. Especially as heart disease runs in our family.

And for probably the first time in 20 years I could be completely honest about what I have drunk for the last 7 days 😂😂. So that's good.

Still feeling increased energy levels. Have just been for an hour and a half walk with ds and the dog. No way would I have done that a month ago. Bit disappointed to only rack up 7500 steps so far today though. Dug my cheapy fitbit thing out. Reckon it would take me 2 hours walking at ds speed to get the 10,000. Will have to walk the dog at night as well.

Not even thinking about drinking today. I should be thin when I think about what I eat. I eat healthily most days. I don't have a sweet tooth. I am aware of portion sizes. Apart from probably 2 months of the year (December and January) I am physically active. I am overweight because I drink too much.

The gut has got to go!

That is all very good news, Frouby Am tempted to say you should celebrate with a drink, but I won't, and you won't either!

I am feeling v pissed off that I missed my lunch, so have bought a £17 bottle of gin (70cl) and am going to have some this evening. At least it's a conscious decision, and not just out of habit. Also it's too late, really, but it has been a very long day, and everything has ended up being late. However, I am going to measure the amount accurately so I can make a note of units, rather than just tipping it into a tumbler...

Good idea re the measures. I had to buy some after dp kept pouring my huuugggggeeee fecking measures.

Hi all, I'm hanging in there, and hanging out with some wine but tonight I don't care. I've had to hide the knives away in the house. But friends and family are being ace.
Athena it sounds like you're much more self aware which can only he a good thing.
frouby brilliant re your medical and your 7 day alcohol intake!

Hope you're ok, colouring. How is everyone else doing? I may be more aware, but I am now (having done the calculation) that I had 11 units last night . Interestingly, I feel horrendous today (was nearly sick when I got up), so I don't think there's much chance of me overdoing it tonight...

^^ now aware.

I am 50/50 tonight Athena. Sipping ginger cordial and thinking of gin.

Am going to put some laundry away and see how I feel. If I have a drink tonight I won't be drinking tomorrow tho.

Hello Frouby. I've just stocked up on Fever Tree Naturally Light Ginger Beer (determined not to replace alcohol calories with sugar ones). I had a telephone call from my GP today to see how I am getting on. I was able to tell him, truthfully, that I have cut back significantly (though didn't mention last night's blip..)

I am on the gin. Really, really fancied it tonight. And really enjoying it too. Had 2 and just on my last one.

But I won't be drinking tomorrow.

You are doing well even with your blip Athena. It was never going to be easy for any of us but I think we are all doing better than before.

Thank, you Frouby. I think this thread has made all the difference to me. Enjoy your last gin!!

It was luffly. And we had a really nice tea too. Chilli, rice, naice tortillas, chopped salad, cheese and sour cream. I love chilli but dp and dd arent keen but they both loved it served like that all in little bowls.

It's the first time in ages I have actually enjoyed gin. I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing but it felt very decadent to be drinking on a Wednesday #celebratewednesday lol.

Urgh. I feel shocking. 3 gins is obviously 1 gin too many. Really did not want to get up this morning. Was awake at 5am with the beerfears. Feel all muzzy and bleurgh.

I suspect my tolerance has dropped. But also suspect that this is how I normally felt every morning and had just forgotten what waking up without a hangover feels like.

Back to not drinking for me unless it's the weekend.

How is everyone doing at danger oclock?

I am quite happily drinking ginger cordial and don't even fancy a drink.

Hello all.

Well, I have had 105ml, which I think is 3.3 units. Partly to see if I could stop (which I have - herbal tea now). Partly because I have had a horrible day.

I hope everyone is surviving, and that you have recovered, Frouby.

Hi all, well I'm having a very wet week but hoping to dry out a bit the week after next!

Totally wrecked by the situation with my dad, but we are making some progress.

Colouring - glad to hear from you. Sometimes a wet week is the way it goes. It depends on so much extraneous stuff... Just hope you are ok.

Thanks Athena xx I am OK but God this stuff is so exhausting I could sleep for 24 hours I think.

Got CAMHS appointment tomorrow, typically dd looking a lot brighter tonight!

Colouring - Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I know that when I'm really struggling with dd1 it makes me want to reach for the wine. And on those nights I don't feel as guilty for having it as I feel like it is somehow more deserved than just drinking on all the other nights for the sake of it.
Frouby - Great news about your medical. You must be pleased with that!
Not much to report here, other than I ended up having a few glasses of wine on Tuesday which was not planned but just really fancied some. I did feel bad on Wednesday morning as I've got used to waking up a bit fresher, and also felt a bit guilty as trying not to drink during the week. Was dry Weds and Thurs and plan to have an early night tonight too. Not sure about the rest of the weekend though!

Hope today goes well colouring .

mytribe it was a shock to me yesterday morning how bluergh I felt. And thinking about it that was actually my normal. I felt much better this morning for not drinking last night.

I probably won't bother tonight. Dp is home early from work and isn't drinking so might save my day for tomorrow or sunday. Waking up hangover free on saturday morning will really be a novelty.

Have popped a bottle of wine in the fridge tho just incase I change my mind. Am allotmenting later on while it's nice so might work up a thirst. 😁

Colouring: very glad to hear about the CAMHS appointment. I hope it helps.

Mytribe: that still sounds ok. Two dry nights in a row is definitely good. I'm finding this a bit like Snakes and Ladders - I go up a ladder, then down a snake this week. Ah well.

Happy allotmenting, Frouby!