Roses are red, we like Becks Blue, Tryers to be Dryers push on through. 2019 will be our Valentine.

[Frouby]

Thread 4 for support, tips, tricks and friendship as we reduce our alcohol intake even more. For anyone who wants to reduce, stop, moderate or even just track their drinking.

Absolutely no judgement, just support. Everyone welcome.

Previous threads somewhere but am rubbish at clicky links.

Old tryers and new dryers, welcome to our thread. The one that starts in February and will see us all hit our goals as we move forwards.

for Flossie (and sod whatever MN thinks to this )

I am on the wine tonight. Basically if she suggests it I never say no. I am just lucky that he's generally more on the side of the angels than I would be left to my own devices, I guess, much as I get grumkpy about his schoolmaster tone sometimes.

Bloody Brexit has triggered me too though. I have spent the last 3 years in a state of grief about it . As a left wing north London civil servant I am the archetypical cliche of a remainder bubble, I accept that and know there are lots of legistmate arguments against the EU but I have found it really hard to cope with what genuinely feels like grief (and I am no stranger to that) while being told professionally and publicly that those feelings are totally invalid and undemocratic. It's knocked my mental health into the gutter and the alcohol has followed. I had calmed down quite a lot but I am now very stressed again. Trump and climate stuff have compounded the feeling that we are headed to hell in a handcart.

Longest I’m feeling much the same. I almost can’t bear to watch it read the news. It’s a mess. And my beloved Labour Party are up shit creek.
I try not to think about it.

Also - my XH was very good at moderating me, on account of school master tones. I used to get mad and say I didn’t need him judging me. Now look 😳

More hugs for NC4 and Longest. I wish I were dry, but I'm not.

Longest NC4 the UK are a real laughing stock here in France. I can't bear it either, but fortunately it is a lot lower priority on the French news programmes. I've been living here in France for 18 years but because I haven't got nationality nothing is certain, even with a residency card.
WTF. And what a waste of everyone's time. I'm sure that Parliament has more important things to debate.

I have stopped watching or reading anything about brexit. The politicians should all be charged with treason. I voted remain but wasn't devastated by the leave vote and cautiously optimistic that it wouldn't be an absolute shitshow.

It's an absolute shitshow. Fuck sake.

Anyway. Flossie . I don't know how you are coping. I really don't. And for you too Dion.

Wasn't dry last night. Walked down to the pub with the kids and the dog after school and had half a lager. Then came home and had a couple more. Fml.

I need a Plan for next week. Am going to buy a crate of becks blue, it's £7.50 I think for 12 bottles. If I have an AF alternative I am OK with not drinking. Not brilliant but OK at least 3 or 4 nights.

Summer is coming and non of my summer clothes fit. I need to do something about that.

Flossie- I completely get where you are, and am in a similar place myself.

I wake up every morning and tell myself definitely will be AF today, I talk myself through strategies all day at work. Then switch that voice in my brain off when I get home- reach for the wine and am back in the same spiral. Until this week I had not had a single day AF in over 3 years....

So, now AF for 7 days (never thought I would say that!), but I know that it is incredibly fragile. I still feel really poorly (although wondering if partially alcohol withdrawal as well as viral), and I know that once I start to feel better my hand will reach straight for wine bottle....

Challenge will be tomorrow. I have family coming here all weekend for a big celebration and all my family are big drinkers. Will update on Monday.

Brexit- I wish I could do the same thing as I do with my anti- alcohol voice and tune Brexit out.... it is such a mess

Frouby- me too on the clothes front.

I am about 10kg over weight (I am very short, so it is quite a lot).

I had hoped that a side affect of being ill and not eating much for a week would be weight loss....but I have put on a kg!!!

And me with the clothes. I’m living in leggings and harem pants at the moment till I can get back into my jeans. I want/need to drop two dress sizes.

Brexit. Corbyn. FFS. It’s only a national crisis - what are you playing at Jezza? If there was a general election now I’d struggle to vote for anyone.

I was AF last night. It was a very close call. My friend rang me for a teatime pint but by the time I was ready she was going home, then I nearly went for a bottle of wine, and was thinking about it in the bath, but then I lay on my bed and couldn’t be arsed to move. The pull of my bed was stronger.

NC4 - Littledogs ‘not now’ is definitely a tactic I will use when craving back. Sounds like you do something similar? Distraction until time as passed and is bedtime....

Although I do love a glass of red wine in the bath, so would not have got past that challenge!

Eww, no I couldn’t drink wine in the bath. I quite often take a brew up with me, but wine’s a downstairs drink.

Hi everyone. Day 3 here but not sure if I’ll make it through or not at this point - the ‘will I won’t I’ debate is already raging in my head. No particular reason only that Thursday normally involves alcohol after having a few days off - fucked up thinking at its best! I know I’ll feel better if I can make it another night.

Well done to Littledog and Swarskid - brilliant!

NC4, Frouby and Swarskid - I’m with you on needing to lose weight before summer. What’s your plan other than trying to cut back booze? Low carbs, SW .. ?

Flossie - thinking of you and DD.

Hi to Dionysa and everyone else.

Canshop mine is pure booze. We eat well, healthily most of the week, I don't have massive portions, don't have a sweet tooth, don't have much processed food blah blah blah. I walk about 10k steps a day doing the school run, and often go over that, plus ponies and allotmenting so I am physically fit.

I just have a beer belly, and ita all belly and boobs.

So my plan is swap the beer for af beer, and if I do have a drink stick to the gin. Beer is horrendously calorific and too easy to drink. I usually stop at 2 gins, or half a bottle of wine. Beer I have 3 cans or 5 or 6 bottles maybe.

So that's my plan. I was messaging flossie with a weekly weigh in but forgot last week. Fuck sake.

I am wearing jeans/jeggings at the moment. But that's only cos I gave in and bought size 16s as my 14s were thrust waiting to happen 😂😂

Thrush not thrust. Though my fanny was thrusting its way free as they were far too tight.

Apparently carling gives you a fat fanny too. Fml.

😂fat fanny

Fat Fanny is a brand of tights for curvy American women apparently. Always makes me laugh.
Is that Carling specifically or all lager? My beer belly’s bad enough. I don’t want to be worrying about a lager chuff too.

Canshop The last time I wanted to lose a few kgs I did intermittent fasting and that worked for me, but I know fasting isn't for everyone. AF beer and wine are a lot less calorific than normal beer and wine.

Once you hit fifty if you eat more than 2 small meals a day it is difficult to stay slim. That's one of the reason I do so much sport, to be able to eat more.

Just catching up.

Lol at spam and rats (I am very behind) and the vagina guide

I have been crap, my app says 9 AF days so far in March

Littledogs and swarskid well done both of you.
Pmsl at fat fanny
Lurker, tell your dd that I have a teddy in bed and I’m in my 50s
flossie so sorry to read about your dd
dion I was itchy recently and thought the same, it passed though. Dr Google is generally a shit idea!
frouby sorry about the £300 loss
NC4* wow re snog!

I’m fat too, probably mainly because wine. I’m off work atm so almost want to go back so I'm forced to be AF in the week. How fucked up is that? Some nights I’ve had a bottle of wine, others more, feel cross with myself for it. Also have period pains but no period so presumably its theknock knock knock of the menopause ffs.

Well. Man been to quote for blinds. I wanted 5 roller blinds for small/medium windows and 1 day and night roller blind for living room. Have priced them up buying them myself, £150.

Guess how much they quoted me? £750 quid. How I laughed.

Someone else coming tonight, hoping ots going to be a more realistic quote. Phoned dh to tell him, who went a bit quiet when I told him how much. Then was very relieved I haven't agreed to it.

Anyhow, I said someone else was coming tonight to give a quote but if that was too expensive then we would have to just buy them and he could fit them. Dh is a builder btw, so should be more than capable. He went a bit quiet again (we argue when doing diy because he doesn't fecking listen) so I suggested asking my bil, who dh hates if he could do it for us.

Dh is going to watch some you tube videos and maybe ask his mate for pointers. If this quote tonight is horrendously expensive.

Frouby roller blinds are piss easy. Me and XH did ours in the old house. Bought from John Lewis, cut to size, job done. They were lovely too.

I went to the GP this morning. She’s upped my meds and ordered blood tests for iron, thyroid and inflammation.
I’ve come home and cleaned my front room to cheer myself up. It’s worked too. I bought some roses from Booths on my way home.
I’ve got an hour till DS2 gets home, so I’m watching The Bay from last night.

How can this space not spark joy? I do love my little house 😍

NC4 - what a lovely room 😊 I hope the increased meds help you.

Frouby - made to measure/fitted blinds are ridiculously expensive, much better off doing them yourself if you can.

Anglaise - don’t think I could do fasting. Need to do something though. I’m 54 and still not hit the menopause! However, definitely finding the weight creeping on. I do yoga/lots of dog walks etc but not much cardio - perhaps that’s what I need to focus on (and obv the booze!).

Canshop I find cardio activities (running, cycling and swimming) work well for me, but they aren't for everyone. Dog walking is very good. When it comes down to it, losing weight is down to over 80% what you eat (and drink) and less than 20% exercise
NC4 your house looks really cosy, I'm not surprised you are so happy here. I love your floorboards!
Frouby fit the blinds yourself, you can buy adjustable ones which aren't too difficult to put up.

On way to meet friend for drinks. Not expecting it to be much fun tbh, she's having a rotten time.

NC4 your house is lovely! Mine could look a bit like that if I could keen on top of the junk. It is more midden chic at the mo. I hope the meds help.