Less booze. More AF days. But still a bit damp. Not dry jan, but not a soggy summer. Support thread for reducing alcohol.

[Frouby]

New thread in case the other fills up while I am busy this weekend.

Did I mention I get married tomorrow? 😁

Rubbish at clicky links but sure someone clever will be along to link the last thread.

This is a support thread for those wanting to reduce the amount you drink. There is no judgement on here. We are all struggling along with our own problems and lives and looking to cut down. You might only want a couple of weekends off. Or reduce the amount of days you drink. Or the amount you drink. Or both.

Whatever your starting point and whatever your goal come and join us for friendly chat and support.

Anglaise for your anniversary!!! You are an inspiration. I am aiming for what you have managed. I really don't want to be completely AF, but moderation of that type would be brilliant. Some of your reasons are the same as mine - very much in peri-menopause (late 40s), kids starting to notice, feeling tired and under the weather and stressed.

I love your post about Forest Man. How absolutely lovely. You so deserve it!

I read somewhere recently that there is no problem that alcohol can't make worse. I am trying to keep this at the forefront of my mind.

Frouby, I agree with Anglaise. It's a huge improvement, and that has to be a good thing. You've had some pretty good AF runs, too. I think we are all at least becoming more aware of what we're doing, even if we can't always stick to our goals.

Hurley, welcome from me too. I see you posted at 03.24 - prime Beer Fear territory. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I know it all too well. And the 'can't just stop at one' business (which was my problem on Saturday night - no excuse at all for that, other than that the DC were all out, and I could). AF yesterday, but who knows today. Tomorrow is a write-off in advance as it's a family 70th lunch, and Dad has already bought Champagne...

Water, keep going. I think you will, now. Congratulations!

Just remembered that a friend told me about someone she knows who had to have his tongue cut out as he had alcohol-related throat cancer. I am hoping this might deter me, even if just a bit.

Just checking in at witching hour. I had a lovely sleep last night and went from 10.30pm to 5am without waking. Woke for a pee at 5am, dh went to work at 5.30am and then I fell back to sleep until 8am! Feel much better for it.

Going to set about making chutney now I think. Will keep me busy for a couple of hours.

anglaise happy anniversary! I want to be you when I grow up. Apart from having to buy Vaseline.

Welcome Hurley. Beerfear is the worst thing in the world. I am not really an anxious person but I definetly wake up worrying after too much drink.

Dion, do day 2 with me. Then you can drink tomorrow with a clear head. It will taste much better.

Just about to get myself a glass of water and sit down with the chopping board and start chutneying. Might end up sniffing the vinegar though .

Anglaise that's inspirational, wow, well done.

Day 28 here. Someone at work today told me I look really well, so that was nice.

Anglaise your nights sounds so romantic!

I really wanted a glass of wine after work tonight. I’m glad I don’t have any in the house. I’m too lazy to go back out for it!

Just filled up on diet juice instead.

I am def eating more puddings these days.

Day 2 in the bag! Yay me.

Have been chopping, dicing and slicing, simmering and cooking since 5pm.

Have 6 jars of homemade chutney cooling ready for labels. And then I did pizza dor ds, cheese and sweetcorn quesadillas for dd, and then huevors rancheros for me and dh with homemade guacamole and homemade tomato salsa.

Have used up some of my tomato glut which is good!

Kitchen looks like a bomb has gone off though.

What I save in alcohol I should put in a jar and save up for having a dishwasher installed.

Oh and I also found 2 jars of last years chutney at the back of the jar cupboard which I didn't know was there. Didn't make it while September last year so it will still be good to eat. Whichis good as this years will take 6 weeks to mature.

Frouby Day 2 get you! Keeping busy is so important. Your chutney sounds delicious. I could do without buying the Vaseline too but then is isn't all the time (thankfully).
Sarah well done on resisting the temptation of buying wine. If you crack on Monday it is too easy to give up for the rest of the week.
Water 28 days AF wow. And how nice to have a compliment on how you look, that really helps with motivation.

There is a programme on drinking Monday 27th August at 9pm with Adrian Chiles, Drinkers like Me which sounds interesting. He thinks he drinks normally (most evenings several drinks) and finds out the true extent of his dependence and the danger of his level of drinking. Maybe it is a good way to get motivated to cut down in September for la Rentrée (back to school).

Well done, all.

Frouby, I wish I had seen your first post (yesterday) earlier! I am so glad you managed Day Two, and in such a productive way. I failed, yet again. Worked so hard yesterday that I came home absolutely desperate for a G&T. And today is already a write-off. However, there is now no gin in the house. No wine, either. So I am hoping that laziness prevents me from buying any more, at least for a couple of days. Long drive with the DC today. Ugh.

Anglaise, I will be watching that programme.

Sarah and Water, I am seriously impressed.

Hi, can I join please - sat & read entire thread last night (better than the soaps!) and feel instant kinship! I'm more of a binge drinker tbh, af mon - fri (well, mostly although that's starting to slip too!) but disaster area fri - sun with quantity big issue. Easily a bottle of gin & couple bottles of wine over 3 days (I'm actually disgusted putting that in writing!!) need to give myself a good shake & would love support from like minds (instead of dh who doesn't drink & just calls me a sad alco!!) thanks xxx

Returning and posting again in attempt to successfully cut down and moderate.

I had a brief spell of posting a few months ago, I didn’t post enough and probably didn’t make the time so hoping that a more proactive approach will help this time around. I’m also going to sign up and read the soberistas blogs.

Sooooo, since my brief appearance last time we’ve had the 6 weeks holidays 🤗🤯

Kicked off with a week’s all inclusive holiday (wasn’t going to moderate there was I, nope).

Following this a handful of day 1s passed.
A good bunch of moderating/not finishing the entire bottle of vino, and a good few days when I’ve done that and more, sometimes a lot more. It’s not good enough I know that, and I want to address it.

I’ve had the DC the entire holidays, I have little support and it’s been a bit of a slog....
But, they are going away for a UK break for a few days with their dad next week - first time ever so while I’m nervous I really do need the break and to take some time out for me.

I’m 35 this year and not going into that year with these habits.

Its been a hell of a few years - I’ve had a spectacularly acrimonious divorce,moved house twice, become a single parent (small, primary age DC) but my goal now is to bloody well realise I am out the other side now, and to in turn look after myself more.....without risking sounding like one of those wankers on advocating self care/self love on instagram haha.... but, I do matter.

Taking the healthy hobbies approach for the time being, starting with getting my bike fixed (needs new chain and brake mending)
So I’ll be marching the DC down to the bike shop ten mins away later this am.

I want to get on the bike out as much as possible, and resume couch to 5k once DC back to school which I was doing pretty well with tbh.

I really miss having an evening activity - yoga or Zumba etc, think I’ll find a babysitter going forward because that shouldn’t cost more than wine would have .....

Planning on going blackberrying this pm at a local farm that is a good freebie activity apart from the coffee.

Flipping hard constantly thinking up activities for the DC isn’t it ?!?

That’s a proper self centred post but it feels good to get it all out there, I look forward to getting to know you all better this time, and to cheering on our progress.

Day 1.

Welcome back Hellabella. I remember your posts before. It is hard when the dcs are off. I have a stroppy, selfish teenager and a manic 4 year old. Or a delightful 14 year old dd and a lively 4 year old depending on what sort of day we have had.

Day 3 here. Had some lovely, quality sleep the last 2 nights. It's been bliss.

Todays plan is go ride ponies, go to retail park and pick up a parcel, pick up pet food at same time, have an hour on allotment with ds, make some runner bean chutney (and try not to wreck the kitchen), tea, bath and bed to read for an hour.

Tomorrow it's going to be quite windy so we won't be riding. So off to the big retail park to get dd her stuff ready for school.

Tomorrow may very well be soaking bloody wet. Dd is a 'careful' shopper and wants to spend bloody hours chosing between almost identical pencil cases. Ds is a 1 man wrecking crew who doesnt enjoy shopping for anything other than toys, pony stuff or gardening stuff. And I can't send dd on her own as she will absolutely blow her budget on multi coloured paperclips and highlighter pens then be stealing my office supplies.

FML already.

Thanks Frouby

Day 3 is excellent, well done you!

Riding ponies sounds great I used to ride as a teenager and now we live closer to the countryside I have wondered about horse riding, only thing is I’m approx 86kg and would probably need a shire horse 😂😂😂

Having a plan for each day seems to help me in this quest / booze battle.

To that end we are off to meet a friend and her daughter at a big leisure centre tomorrow for a family splash thing, will be driving.

Pizza with DP and the kids when he finishes work Thursday, again will drive, he will be shocked

Have a good day all. X

Just whizzing by from my sun lounger by the pool in France!!

You all sound like you’re doing simply amazing!! Frouby..where’s this determination come from. You’re doing fab!! Well done you.
Hi to all the newbies since I’ve been away. Will be back Sunday eve. Slimming world starts wed so there’s my motivation!! 2 dress sizes less by Christmas!!

Welcome Hellabella and wanna. I've just read an article about the Adrian Chiles programme, he was drinking 100 units a week.

Day 29 here. Lovely lunch at a friend's house. She has a very sweet 4 yo so that was nice. So it's 30 days tomorrow and my aim is to get to 60 days at which point dh and I are going out for dinner and I'm going to order a really cold expensive bottle of white wine.

My plan (pause for hollow laughter but it's definitely something to aim for) is after that, no drinking Sunday - Thursday with no more than a bottle of wine on Friday and Saturday nights. That's a bottle each night, is that still too much? I think I'll be doing well if I can do that. I've done it before and really hope I can do it again.

Btw I hope I don't sound smug. This is the longest I've been without alcohol in years. I've definitely got to watch out and moderate myself.

Day 3 in the bag!

Was tough tonight though. The urge was very strong. Didn't get home from the allotment until 5.30pm, DH just in too and cracking open a lovely, cold can.

I had a pint of orange cordial. Didn't quite do the trick but at least I wasn't actual thirsty anymore.

Am feeling very virtuous.

But it's pretty boring being sober. DH is quite merry, happily watching football with a can in his hand.

But in a month or so I might be happy if I am half a stone lighter. Possibly.

Well done Frouby 🙂

It was so hard tonight. Wanted a drink more than any other day since stopped. But we don’t have any in so I’m just on the juice.

Waterandlemonjuice - thanks for the welcome.

You don’t sound smug at all, you’re doing tremendously well! Don’t think I’ve ever abstained that long myself other than in pregnancy, so keep up the good work !

Well done Frouby, guess we just need to keep in mind that being hungover is pretty feckin boring also!!

Day 1 down fairly easily here, I’m not setting a specific target over two days so anything more will be a bonus.

I think I’ll log AF days on the dry Jan app to track my progress, like on here I feel I need a way to see a tangible improvement.

Currently on the sofa with a coffee and a stale kit kat, a small victory and Day1 down.

Sending good vibes to you all . X

What a lot has happened on here...

Glad to have you back, Hella. Sarah, well done. Water, you don't sound in the slightest bit smug. And what you are doing is massive, so you would have every right to!

Frouby, Day 3 in the bag!!! I want some of your determination.

Woosey, glad you have checked in.

Yesterday a write-off due to family b'day. A kind of drip-feed of Champagne from lunchtime onwards. Feel a bit bleurgh now. Had to stay over as I knew in advance I wouldn't fancy the long drive back afterwards, even if I had been AF.

So. Today is Day One, yet again.

Laptop about to die now and I can't find the charger!!

Having read the entire thread you all deserve huge congrats for what you've achieved - you're all amazing, human and (most important) not preachy - perfect!! My birthday today and I'm determined that by my next one I will be drinking like a normal human being and not a crazy lush! Having said that, having a birthday is yet another excuse I give myself to drink during the week.... but will try my best! I've realised that's what it is - I keep making excuses! I say I'll only drink at weekends, but..... hey, I'm having a bath, I'll just have a nice G&T while I'm in it..... hey, I'm cooking a lovely meal, have to have a glass of wine while doing the prep..... hey, I'm out for dinner, well of course I'll have a glass....etc etc so actually I'm constantly cheating and giving myself stupid excuses and being daft enought to believe them!! loads to do, I also want to give up smoking and lose about 2 stone but one mountain at a time...... you guys are inspirational, thank you xxx

wanna I regularly drink because Wednesday.

So much for Day One, as it would have been rude to turn down a glass of Lambrusco this afternoon. Relatively low alcohol, but still alcohol. None tonight, then.

Wanna, what a lovely message. There are some fab people on this thread. In fact, that should be re-phrased to say that everyone on this thread is fab. Stay with us!

Frouby

I cracked and had a can.

That was 18 days AF which is the longest for years.

I’m not catastrophising it.

I didn’t even enjoy it. It tasted bitter compared to the juices I’ve got used to.

It’s not making me want more.

If long term I have 1 drink every 19 days I’d be happy with that!

18 days is fab. Lol at 'because Wednesday' - know the feeling.

I may move my non AF day to the 14th as lovely relatives are coming for the night and I am cooking for them. So that will be 52 days AF if I drink that night. I think that's ok.

Day 30 today, feel great. Have a large jug of water next to me with lime slices and ice. Am still florid though which I VERY annoying. Oh well.