This is it, my day 1

[Stopthisshit]

I drink too much
I need to stop
This is my day 1
Join me

Ok I know this isn’t anywhere near as impressive as everyone on this thread but I want to tell somebody, I went for lunch today and only drank sparkling water ! I’m hoping to get through this evening after dinner cleaning out my wardrobe!

That is impressive, Tanline! I’m going for lunch with a friend tomorrow who likes a drink and is not particularly impressed by my going sober. Dreading it.

Brilliant Tanline, and good luck for tomorrow Cats. Will she see it as a threat to her drinking?

DH is AF tonight 😱!

Drinking tonic with rhubarb (Aldi) tonight , it's pretty rank.

Yeah, Wilderness, we both drink a lot. I can still have a laugh without a drink so I don’t think that’ll be a problem, it’s just the peer pressure I don’t want, I can be weak at times... I really don’t want to break.

I love rhubarb! Is it really bad? I’ve been hitting the lime cordial and tonic pretty hard 😂 and the 0% Birra Moretti is pretty spot on, not that I was a huge beer drinker, but it makes a change.

Ooh, haven't had lime cordial in ages. How did it go today Cats?

@Tanline Good luck for your scan tomorrow.

Nothing yesterday, Wilderness, So still good. 👍 feeling pretty motivated (once I wake up properly) so not missing it too much so far (apart from a glass with dinner). How’s everyone else getting on?

Ps: lime cordial is the bomb.

Still good here thanks just ordered three spirits so hoping to wean myself off caffeine, it's making me feel awful. Good to hear your doing well cats good luck tanline lets us know how you get on.

I was forever paranoid I had damaged my liver as had random pains that caused me panic.

Just had my first three spirit drink it's very addictive. Shame it's so expensive. Hope everyone is having another sober day.

Non alcoholic peroni here 👍

Still going strong here but still find this time of day the worst.

How is everyone doing?
Has anyone tried the seedlip fake gin?

Yes, AlwaysSunshine. It’s nice, but doesn’t taste like gin and is so expensive. Didn’t last me very long. Unfortunately I have had a couple of glasses of wine this weekend. Nothing compared to what I could do usually, but I need to watch it. Didn’t want much, which was helpful. But still need to be careful.

Hello I need to join you if that’s ok. I feel like I’ve actually hit close to rock bottom. I woke up so angry with myself this morning and I don’t feel I’ve really felt like that before.

I am having a hard time generally but my appetite for alcohol is ridiculous. I just keep going until I pass out. I know I can stop, and I’m so bloody ashamed. I feel quite tearful. Anyway that’s it for now.

I think I need to take the emotion out of it a bit. So maybe focus on the fact that I’ve developed a massive tolerance in the last year, which can only be addressed by stopping. I’ve also put on 5 stone. Sorry I realise I’m talking to myself.

I have been lurking for again BUT tonight I can safely say I’ve completed my day 1! My dd started school today, I finished work at 1, came home cleaned and took dog for walk, went to pick her up with her scooter like she’d asked. Went to the gym for an hour and a half tonight and have just got into bed! I have done 21000 steps too!

Still you’re not talking to yourself. 😊 I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. Realising alcohol is not helping is a very big step forwards though. The saying “there is nothing that alcohol cannot make worse” resonates for me. It is very true.

Always - well done - hope you’re feeling good, and a little bit smug, this morning. 😊

Hi, hope everyone is doing OK. I had 1 small glass of wine on Mon, and 2 on Weds. However, went out for dinner last night and didn't drink. I am sleeping much better now I am mostly AF, but it did take a while to get there. I'm hoping that I've started on kicking the routine/habit of 2-3 a night.

Good luck for taking the first step Still.

Urgh. I drank Thursday. A few glasses of red with dinner guests. So disappointed in myself. Did drink yesterday. I really need to moderate. Struggling with abstaining completely.

Is anyone still around? I have had several false starts since last posting on here, but am pleased to say this is now my day 34.

This is the longest for me other than pregnancy, and it's been easier than I could have imagined.

Back when I posted before, I really wasn't in the right frame of mind, but I have reread the Allen Carr book, and this time it has stuck. I also joined and completed the Annie Grace 30-day challenge online, which has kept me focussed day to day.

I'm not even anxious about Christmas, it doesn't bother me. I've also been away for the weekend and had soft drinks, no problem.

It's a fab feeling.

Well done ElsaCragg . It sounds like you are doing great. I managed 24 days Oct-nov. I then felt I could manage a couple of drinks at a night out and it’s all gone pear-shaped since then. I am stressed to my eyeballs with work/life/Christmas looming but am planning on going AF again in early January. Keep going! Please share your top tips!

iamyourequal, 24 days is fantastic, don't let a slip up knock you back.

This can be such a stressful time of year, and understandably there are so many temptations and opportunities to over indulge, so good luck with your new start in the new year!

I decided that just one drink would never work for me, I cannot recommend the Allen Carr book highly enough.

Things that have worked for me - lots of soft drinks, tea, coffee, water, cordials. Not trying to overhaul everything at once (I need to address drinking less caffeine and eating less junk food, but taking it one thing at a time). Looking at online support and articles, so being more mindful day to day. And after a week or so, when I felt clear headed and more restful, I felt so smug and virtuous that I was on a high. A much more enjoyable feeling than alcohol ever gave me. If that makes sense.

I've found that not drinking at all is easier than cutting back. It removes all the doubt and decision making, and is quite freeing.

Thanks for your kind words Elsa. I agree with everything you say! I truly felt better AF too. I felt far less anxious and had more energy so I can’t believe I have fallen back to drinking again. I have 3-4 small drinks most nights and it adds up to a hell of a lot of units per week so I know this can’t continue. I am definitely going to read Allen Carr. Thanks for recommending. I was really enjoying all the quit-lit until I fell off the wagon! I know what you mean about doing too much at once. Trying to quit drinking at the same time as dieting/taking up exercise/decorating the house etc is crazy. Keep going beyond your 34 days. Take care.

Exactly iamyourequal, waking up with the energy to face the new day is the best!

I've found that concentrating on the benefits of not drinking is really helpful, rather than thinking that you are missing out somehow or that you are denying yourself.

Maybe you could try to manage a couple of non-drinking days per week, and/or cut back the number of units, if that's not too presumptuous. The main thing is identifying that you want to change and are prepared to do something about it. I was in denial for a long time.