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.

Flossie So pleased for you and DD, what an achievement! As was your Day 2, fantastic!
Dion it is never too late for a Day 1. Is DP behaving himself?
GF is a Beautiful French Woman and will not give up easily especially as she doesn't know he has someone else. Sigh. Just have to remember it is me he is in love with, although he still cares a lot for her it isn't the same thing.
Hope everyone else is doing well!

Dion - how’s things with dp? And is your dc1 heading back to uni soon? Take care x

I've done 2 days. Still no booze I like in house. Will try tonight for a 3rd, but out tomorrow so will allow myself 2 or 3.

woosey I read the thread last night. We could be twins based on our comments on slimming world. I said exactly the same. Best thing is that it's working. I guess I hate being over weight even more than alcohol dependent!

Flossie, DC1 has departed. I would say I am mightily relieved, but that might make me look like an evil mother I hope your DD manages her own Day Two today.

Cotton, I have sometimes been in the situation of having only manky old whisky in the house (which I hate). However, I have drunk it anyway, for want of any alternative - so you are doing well.

Anglaise, DP is being Himself. Sigh.

Dion - if those feelings make you feel an evil mother, then I’m with you too!! Counting the days down til this wkend when the stress levels and arguments in this house will be remarkably fewer!!

I am the other way Cotton. I like beer better than a size 10. Gin and slim is low in syns, I managed to lose 2 st last time I did sw, had hardly any sweet stuff but managed 2 gins every night.

Day 3 here. Yay me. Am finding it slightly easier as the weeks go on to have blocks of 3 or 4 days AF. Am looking forward to a drink on thursday, or maybe tomorrow and dry thursday.

Hectic day here and it got to 5pm and I scarcely gave it another thought. Don't feel as rough today after 10 hours kip but could happily fall asleep right now. Have about an hours work to do then off to bed for me!

Totally NOT af here tonight

Frouby, Day 3? I am in awe.

Hopeless here.

Dion - totally not day 3. Just finishing bottle
Of ice cold Sauvignon. Had planned day 3, poured soda and lime even!! Then just caved in!! Was proud of two days. Wished I’d done 3. Now feeling pissed. Never feel pissed. Actually don’t like the feeling weirdly. Pahhhh
How’s your evening gone?

Frouby - bloody amazing!! You are flipping amazing to do that!!

I posted last week saying I was going to try for 90 days alcohol free then disappeared again! I’ve been lurking though! I was out on sat night with DH - a strangely rare occurance these days - and I decided I would drink but moderate. One bottle of wine and a port - that’s me moderating!! Anyway I’ve now had 3 dry days in a row and 6 in September so more without alcohol than with so I’m feeling virtuous. Had a friend come to stay last night and she brought 2! bottles of wine with her. Weirdly I really didn’t want to join her so I didn’t. Trouble is there’s now a bottle and a half lurking in the fridge. Just as I’m typing this I’m wondering why on earth I put it in the fridge!! I need to put it somewhere it isn’t ready to drink in a weak moment! Duh!
So that’s all the positive stuff but I still need to lose 4 stone and I can’t seem to stick to the calories. I know I need patience but I’ve been waiting patiently for the fat fairy to come and take this weight since the last baby was born and that “baby” is almost ready for secondary school. Anglaise you are super fit. I’d love that but I fear my poor old bones and muscles might crumble from the effort. I don’t think I’ve ever been fit in my life. Actually I know I haven’t. I feel tired thinking about it all! But really I’m way too fat, I know that’s not what this thread is about but I think for me food and drink are alternately things I use to settle myself and things I use to beat myself up. I’m wondering if a bit of yoga or a mindfulness app might be useful in the background. Do any of you do that?

Flossie, I have no excuse for last night. DC not there, so I was on my own, and I didn't have to worry about anyone noticing . FML.

I have just been googling hypnotherapy.

Operation, we are all muddled up to some extent. I get round the alcohol calorie problem by not eating (I find it very easy not to eat - wish I could say the same about drinking!) This is, of course, a very bad idea. 3 dry days in a row is my aim at the moment, though I am struggling even to do one.

Evening all.

After 3 dry days I am ready for a drink tonight! Am not working first thing so think I am going to have a gin. Had a mad day working but earnt good money so am celebrating. House is a tip as was meant to be doing housework but that can wait.

Operation I need to shift a stone which is partly motivating.me to try and get some AF daus in. We go on holiday mid december and am trying to lose 1lb a week between now and then.

I am pretty shocking at eating well. Today I haven't eaten anything as have been so busy. Just realised I was starving so eaten a pot of hummus with oatcakes which probably defeats not eating. Especially as the minute DH walks through the door I am making a g and t.

I think I deserve it just for making it from 3pm to 5pm with a super whiney, super tired ds who is struggling today with big school being a bit too much.

Am filling him full of stew and dumplings then putting him to bed 😂😂

Operation I’ve got two stone to loose. I know if I cut out alcohol it would drop off. I eat really healthily so it’s purely down to alcohol that I carry weight. The wine, followed by the insatiable need for crisps afterwards!!

Frouby - you’ve done great. You deffo deserve to drink tonight. You sound in control which is brill. Enjoy!!

Anglais - how you doing?

Dion - how has your day gone today? How are you feeling this evening?

Well I managed to leave a large glass of wine in the bottle in the fridge last night so was mega proud of myself. However woke this morning feeling rough, really rough!! Sluggish and hungover. Have get tired all day. Promised myself I wouldn’t drink tonight. Even bought a bottle of lemonade and stuck in my fridge. However the closer it gets to my normal wine time, the harder it’s becoming. Especially after a friend sent me a pic of a glass of wine she’s tucking in to!! I’m feeling myself weaken!!!!

Flossie, well done for leaving a glass. Did you manage to resist it tonight??

I have, amazingly, been AF tonight and am having an early night before any temptation sets in. Worked very hard today, and I'm exhausted. Probably also a bit under the weather after over-indulging last night.

Frouby, choosing to drink is very different from doing it just because it's 6 o'clock. That sounds like major progress!

Urmmmmmmmm......

I’ve had a bottle of Sauvignon and a dominoes pizza!! Wtaf!! I’m crap!!

Dion - wahoooooooooo!! That’s awesome!!

So After my 3 days af , I went out last night. As planned I moderated to a pint of cider and a large wine. Good job, I was almost sick! Maybe the sweets I hinged on afterwards

Cotton, moderation is what we are all aiming for!!

How are things tonight, Flossie?

I have had a better couple of days, thanks to Anglaise and the Ailsa Frank hypnotherapy recordings. I listened to them yesterday, and had the first AF night in a long while. It was relatively painless. I had lunch with a friend today and had one medium glass of wine. This is when I'd normally cave in (as I didn't have to be anywhere pressing afterwards), and drink the rest of the bottle nice and slowly over the rest of the day. However, I didn't do it. I did some very boring shopping and went home and had a cup of tea instead. I also re-listened to the hypnotherapy recording just before the Witching Hour. I can't claim it is going to be the ultimate cure, but one day AF and one of serious moderation is a massive bonus for me... Bought some low cal ginger beer in Tesco, so I have been drinking that this evening.

Bloody hell dion, that sounds amazing!!!!! I need to try!!

Spoke to a friend this pm about my drinking. She’s so open minded and works in health. She told me to aim for moderation. Also said with all my shit that I’ve got going on, I shouldn’t be punishing myself by feeling crap if I fail. She said by trying af and failing, it will compound the fact I’m struggling. She said to tell myself I’m allowed to have a glass of wine. Hopefully by doing that I won’t press the fuck it button!!

So tonight I poured myself a tin of g&t. It tasted of cats wee!! (Not that I’ve tried cats wee!!) I actually refused to drink it!!!!!
So I had a medium glass of wine with dinner. Might let myself have another medium glass which will empty the bottle i have in the fridge. So I won’t have any more.

This thread caught my eye, as I've kicked the wine habit this year (3-4 bottles per week) and am now 8 months AF tomorrow!

At the beginning of the year I wanted to cut down and didn't know where to start. Would really recommend reading/audible version of 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' by Catherine Gray. By the end of that I was ready to try going AF for 30 days, then increased it to 90 and beyond.

In the early days, personally I found AF beer my friend so I at least felt I was having something. I wanted to completely break the habit with the wine glass, but can now have a AF sparkling wine without fear I'll want an alcoholic version.

It's literally the best thing that's happened to me in years, it's really worth trying to get to the other side if you can. Good luck!

Omg 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!

^^ As Flossie says!!!!

I know, it sounds a lot now! I would have laughed in your face if you’d suggested at new year I’d go AF, but something has just clicked.

I was really dependent on it so I really know how you feel xx

Wow Starfish I can't imagine 8 days let alone 8 months. You are amazing.

Had 2 nights of dampness. 2.5 g and ts Wednesday, 2 last night. I actually threw half a glass away in Wednesday. Realised I didn't really want it and tipped it down the sink.

Tonight will be damp because friday. I havr a bottle of wine in the fridge, will probably have half and either a couple of lagers or a g and t. Not sure about tomorrow yet.

It's been a bloody hectic week. Getting into the swing of ds new school, and new school run on foot. It's about 3/4 away which isn't far but am knackered doing it twice a day! I was adamant that we would walk and ds is loving it as we see his friends on the way, and it's nice getting to know the other mums but it's an extra 3 miles a day.

If I don't lose weight I will be bloody annoyed.

flossie how is your dd doing?