Less wets, more dry, sometimes damp. We are tryers to be dryers. Thread 3!

[Frouby]

New thread for those wanting to reduce alcohol. Always supportive and friendly. No judgements, just support to get to where we feel comfortable with our relationship with alcohol. All welcome.

Am a bit rubbish with clicky links but there are previous threads.

Wow, well done Flossie! Saving some for Swampy
That is brilliant with the week you’ve had.
I always think it’s harder to stop once you’ve started than to be AF so that is excellent moderating.

Well done everyone, dryers and moderators.

Moderating well here. 1 g and t tonight. I can stop pretty easily at 1 or 2. Its the actual totally af that's the issue. But 1 or 2 is better than 3 or 4 I suppose.

Flossie... what can I say? That is seriously brilliant. I have had half a bottle, for no reason at all other than the usual meh stuff. Nothing left in the house now.

NC4, I am in awe. I thought two nights in a row was an achievement.

Hypnotherapist tomorrow. I will let you all know how it goes.

Just seen yours, Frouby. That is serious moderation! This is where I come unstuck. AF would in some ways be easier. But in other ways, it would be impossible. And my headache has gone completely now that I have had half a bottle of wine. FML.

I've put the bottle away and have cracked open the peppermint tea and jelly beans. Half left and DH and I were sharing.

Gosh what a difficult time people are having. Well done to everyone managing af and moderating. I e not really managed either, although I’ve had no more than half a bottle a night. Did the online drinks calculator which reckoned I drink more than 93% of other women!!! trying not to feel too morose. Will try to be af tomorrow and get dh to take the wine out with him! Hope other wetties are gentle on themselves.

haggis that's really good, that you haven't gone over half a bottle. I did on Friday so you're doing better than me. We can both progress from here.

The problem is, I’ve had half a bottle EVERY night! ah well. We can indeed do it together. I’m really going to try tomorrow. Will eat dinner with dc early to try and avoid starting the evening off with wine.

Yes, I really need to find some things to do with my evening that don't just feel like waiting till bedtime. I did a little bit of piano practice this evening, that was good. I'm doing more reading in bed. What do the rest of you do, especially those who are stuck in the house with sleeping DC?

My dc don’t sleep-that’s half my bloody problem! other than that, I like seeing, jigsaws and made some lampshades recently. And fancying on my phone for ages....

Fannying, not fancying!

Seeing?

Sewing!!! Although I do quite like seeing, I have to admit.

LOL Haggis I fanny on my fone too, there is so much rubbish on TV. Or maybe it's not rubbish but it never makes sense when you are fannying part time.
I'm lucky that my kids are older (17 and 11) so I can go out in the early evenings,, running club, swimming club, or working late or just take the dog out running - I live in the country but have a good headlamp. We never eat before 8.30pm at the earliest - which is normal in France although late for the UK I think, so evenings are shorter. After dinner kids go to bed and I fanny or if DP is here we play chess, yes really. And I drink tea and eat my weight in chocolate (fortunately I don't weigh too much).

Haha! I thought maybe it was a paranormal thing! I can't do craft. I think I may have undiagnosed dyspraxia, it's one of the things DD1 is being monitored for. I find tangly, fiddly things the opposite of relaxing, though I sewed DD1's brownie badges on this week and felt like a proper mum for once!

Longest DS1 has dyspraxia. He is nearly 17 and still goes mad if I serve up spaghetti. I try to avoid it and give everyone pasta instead, or he just doesn't eat his tea.

I woke up feeling fresh and rested this morning. That never happens. These four AF days have been enlightening. As well as recognising my underlying stress levels, I've realised I need to go to bed earlier as a matter of course.

Who knew?!

NC4 I'm so pleased you are feeling some benefits to being AF, it takes a few days on the trot for them to kick in. Alcohol actually makes you more stressed because it is addictive, which creates a dependence, which in turn makes you stressed because you are always waiting for your next fix. Now I always avoid it if I'm stressed or worried about something, I just do something to take my mind off the problem like a long run or cycle ride or tidy a particularly untidy cupboard (I've got plenty of them). I still like wine but definitely don't want to go back to relying on it again as a reward for getting through the day or as a stress reliever. It was always a great quick feel good fix and it is completely understandable why others on here drink - I'm just over 50, menopausal and old and can't do it anymore and function correctly.

Anglais...I seriously need you to move in with me!! I need someone to MAKE me stay on the wagon!! Currently pressing the fuck it button constantly, in fact I’m sitting on it!! I’ve put on shed loads of weight too which makes me more unhappy than anything. Last Christmas I went to dh’s works do and felt a million dollars (he’s the boss). This year if I manage to go, I will be hiding behind a table!! Am ashamed of the way I look. I usually take care to make an effort about my appearance. But the last six months have pushed me into a hole!! Fml (as I walk to the fridge to pour something chilled into my glass)

Anglais..any tips to get back to running?? I used to run half marathons and 10k’s. Then didn’t for 15 years. About 18mths I got back into it again and got up to 10k before tearing a ligament in my knee!! I’ve had physio and am now ready again. In my head I want to be back at 10k but currently only at a mile!! (Which is incredibly frustrating!!). I’m hoping for a regular run to get for, loose weight, and above all clear the crap that’s clogging my mind!!

fit, not for

Well I’ve managed no wine with dinner so that’s me over the crest of tonight. Just constantly wrangling internally with myself not to have one now!! I bloody will stay dry tonight. Good luck everyone else!

Well done Haggis! I too am AF tonight. DH has gone to the pub quiz and I am going to find something trashy to watch in bed while sewing yet more bastarding Brownie badges on.

Flossie - is there a park run near you? I keep meaning to give our local one a try though I'm at the same stage as you (and have never run a marathon or even half marathon. 10k is my PB!)

Flossie please don't beat yourself up, you have such a lot to cope with. BUT if you are feeling uncomfortable with the weight gain and you are really OK to start running again, why not enter a 10k race in March next year, that would give you a definite objective to go for? And it might motivate you to start cutting down now rather than wait until January...which it is too easy to do at the end of the year. You used to run so I'm sure you will get back into it, I'd try for 3 runs a week if possible, one hour each but at least one varying the speed or intervals to get your heart fitter. And if you can cut down on the wine and lose weight it will be so much easier. I lost 6 kgs and 6 mins of my marathon time. And running will help you mentally of course, it's as good for the head as it is for the body.
I hope I don't sound preachy I can't move in with you but you are welcome to come and do a detox exercise bootcamp in one of my gites whenever you want;)
Haggisgood going tonight, once you get past the trigger period it is easier to get through the evening.

Fuck me angalaise I would even run a mile if I could move in for a week or so! And I am a fattish lass with fooked knees.

Not dry tonight. Am kicking back a bit as will probably be working all night tomorrow and have a plan involving DIY, sorting the shed and cupboard of doom tomorrow .

Have too many poorly relatives as well. Auntie is still on HDU post op, blood and oxygen levels not behaving. Sister rang today and my 5 month old nephew is really poorly with a chest infection. Spoke to my mam and my great niece (3 months old) is in hospital with bronchilitus and my lovely, lovely cousin is ill with the bug I had so can't go and se3 her mum in hospital. Which is causing issues.

Not dry.