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.

Welcome super and longest
Flossie I think it is saying how long is a piece of string. I used to drink a bottle of wine easily in an evening, but I couldn't drink more than half now after a year of moderating. So half a bottle for me is wet, but in the past it wouldn't have even been damp!

Can I ask for your tips on what things to replace alcohol with when it comes to having something to look forward to? At the end of a long day, how do you treat yourself? It doesn't help that DH has so many food intolerances that we are denied the pleasure of a takeaway too. Life just feels a bit dreary atm and I think I've been plugging that gap with wine.

If ive ever done AF days, I drink sparkling water with slices of lime in. Not exciting to be honest. I also try and have an early night with a cuppa.
Hate doing AF if I’m honest, as I really do love wine!! And it does blot a lot out. Just scared of the damage it’s doing

I'm thinking of maybe trying to read more books, have more bubble baths, that kind of thing. In the summer I did a lot of outdoor swimming which was good as it felt like I'd done something for me, even if it was only brief. Harder to think of the equivalent winter treat.

I do generally do 2 AF days a week, but am then looking forward to the other 5 days , when I go a bit overboard

That’s exactly what I’m doing longest. I bought some of those posh cordial and mix with sparkling water

Fail. This is the short version. FML.

Welcome aboard Longest

I’ve just had a hot chocolate. On a cold night like tonight my default is log fire and a glass —bottle— of red. Hot choc was ok as an alternative.

I might take up crochet again. If my hands are full I can’t pick up the corkscrew!

Thanks for the welcome. This is my second AF day in a row and it's fine but kind of dull. I have drunk peppermint tea and am not watching some marvel film on the telly. Maybe I will eventually have more energy and be able to do more productive stuff with my evening, or is that wishful thinking?

Dion - 💐

So, last night wasn't AF. But it was, in my eyes, a good night. DH and I had a small (probably half the size of one of my normal glasses) glass of red. No G&T when I got in. No wine whilst cooking. No wine whilst eating and nothing later - even though I was thinking about it a lot. So a win I think. Intending to be AF tonight but will see - have a few quite stressful meetings today.

really need to join properly. From 1 Nov aim to have max 1/2 bottle per night and start building up the AF days and exercise - COUNT ME IN

Superdoggo - id say that’s a win too!
Wrongwayup - id like to do that too. I struggle with leaving wine in the bottle! How much do you drink usually?

Thank you Flossie - hope tonight goes as well. My only thing was I actually couldn't sleep afterwards so was tossing and turning for hours - along with some weird dreams bout Oxford/Cambridge/York all joined up in a massive conurbation and I couldn't buy a navy coat to wear....
So I felt worse rather than better this morning!

Hi there Wrong

@wrongwayup I have lost 6 lb just by going af 2 days a week. Hope that gives you some motivation. My stomach is noticeably flatter too 😄.

Was af last night. Felt so proud when I woke up today. Tonight tho I’m struggling. Can’t stop thinking of wine!! Want to loose weight for christmas, have eaten so well last couple of days too. Casserole in the oven currently too. And here I am soooo tempted to have wine!! Fml. Think I may weaken....

I’m teetering tonight. I hit a massive career milestone today and I’m proper chuftie about it, plus it’s Bake Off final, so of course my head is going 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Well done NC4! What was the milestone? I think I'm ok for AF day 3. Though if DH suggests wine I may cave. I do need to lose weight as well though so that would be a bonus. Have been scoffing Halloween biscuits I made with the kids though

Hey well done NC4....sounds great!

I caved. Whole bottle down in two hours flat!! Such a shit evening. Had tricky day then tonight dd was ill again. Caught me off guard so went from 0-60 in 2 seconds!!
Just feel so wound up inside. Have failed. Epically!!

Well, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it....

I’m a freelance journalist and I got my first front page on a national newspaper. 😳

(I realise my type aren’t always popular on MN but I promise I have never used the site for work purposes!!)

Don’t worry Flossie, it happens. I’m eyeing up Swampy’s share as we speak..,

Wow that's great NC4! Impressive stuff! I'm sorry to hear your news Flossie. We only just "met" but it sounds like you are going through hell xxxx

Wow
NC4, congrats. That’s fab!! No wonder you’re proud!! Good on you!! Wish we could read it lol!! Am amazed you haven’t downed swampys share!!
Longest - thanks lovely. Yes it’s shit. But then I know dd needs me. So drinking too much wine isn’t gonna help my cause!! But it helps with my adrenaline rush. I was literally led in the bath chilling. Dinner was in the oven for dh and I. The children had eaten and happy and settled in bed. Then dd came racing into me, her throat shut and her eyes on stalks. No air in or out!! Just terrified look on her face!! Fuck my life!!

Oh Jeez Flossie that sounds terrifying. I can only slightly relate but when DS2 was little he had really bad, sudden asthma attacks where he couldn’t breathe and I had to call an ambulance.
You just run off adrenaline and the world around you stops.

You poor thing. Is she settled now? Are you?

Oh Flossie. How terrifying. Huge hugs. Did you have to take her to hospital? I hope she's sleeping now. You have shamed me a bit. I don't find my life easy - work, marriage, kids and DM can all be pretty stressful for various reasons but really I have a lot to be grateful for and should get my shit together. I will try.