High functioning and ready to cut down ? Anyone want to join me ?

[Tinkerbellx]

Hi
I'm not ready to go AF hence a separate thread ( yes I know I should do so sorry just being honest ) , but I'm in my late 40's, single parent and full time professional job .
2 at uni and 1 in 6th form and one still at primary . I'm juggling as many of us are .... the career/family/house / car . Along the way I'm now drinking a bottle of wine most nights . It's become a habit and I know it's making me ill .
I guess I leaned on alcohol throughout a long unhappy marriage / then the divorce and now it's become a habit .
The first thing mummy does when I get home is pour a glass of wine and then I feel myself start to unwind . Except I carry on .
My face is now feels puffy , my clothes are tight , my sleep quality is crap and so on .
I'm at a point in my life where I really need to take control as its my first opportunity in almost 27 years that I actually can .
I have an amazing partner now and we're planning on selling our homes imminently to move in together as a family . I want to have taken back control of this before then .
So I plan on not drinking during he week starting tomorrow .
I've stopped before and after the first night I remember actually enjoying it so I don't know why I'm so panicky ?
Does anyone else want to join me please ?

What will you substitute? I find water really boring. Wine is a 'quick win' relax for me, but I think I like the hydration and taste also.

I've tried herb teas before and Belvoir syrups (warm and cold). What have you found that works as a substitute?

By the way, I'll join you. I don't have a bottle a night but I feel like something is missing if I don't have my glass (or 2) of wine of an evening. Before supper.

I'd like to drink alcohol only on the 'weekend nights', plus the odd Thursday

Thanks Ringsender.
I have some Belvoir elderflower which I like with sparkling water . Hadn't thought of having them warm though .
I think my fav non alcoholic tipple which I'm afraid is v boring is soda and lime .
Do love a cup of earl grey too .
I have so much to do in the evenings and when I have a drink not much gets done . Think I'll take my mind off inu cracking on and doing some homework / reading with my dd which is what I should be doing .
It will certainly help me maintain a better work life balance during the week .
Thanks for replying .

I'll join you. I drink far too much wine and it's making me feel really sluggish in the mornings. I don't want to completely cut it out but want to stop my mid week drinking.

me too

I’m in.
I just poured the remaining gin down the sink. I only drink 3 nights a week, as I’m up early for work, but have found that a bottle of wine no longer lasts the night and I’m then pouring a g & t

If you plan weekend only drinking is that Friday - Sunday or what? I need to cut down too.

I'm in! I'm on the wine far too often during the week. I know why, it is because I have been unhappy in a relationship. The relationship is ending, and so is the weekday boozing! 👍

I’ve been feeling I really need to cut down too. My plan is to not drink anything Mon-Wed and then a strict maximum of 2 drinks the other 4 nights. I know that is still quite a bit but it will be a big improvement on my current 3-4 drinks 6-7 nights a week. I drink because I am a terribly uptight worrier with a stressful FT job.
What strategies does everyone have for coping? (Other than the nice soft drink alternatives). I’ve done some reflection on my many past failures at this and am going to impose the following rules:
I am NOT going to fill drink free evenings with chores but am going to incorporate something fun like watching a movie/ baking a cake to eat with the kids.
I am going to prepare dinner as soon as I get in from work to resist the call of an aperitif.
I am going to go to bed/bath early and read.
I am not going to tie this in with trying to lose weight/ walking 15k steps a day/attending the gym 5 times a week. I recognise it’s going to be really hard all by itself.
Good luck everyone..stay in touch and please share tips. I know if I don’t nail this this time I probably need help so am determined this time.

Me too! I'm not that bad but currently on mat leave and four year old had jsut started school, am finding it all quite stressful and boring and a glass of wine while making the dinner helps me unwind. I need to lose half a stone too. This week I've had about the equivalent of two bottles which is slightly over the weekly limits so I need to cut down to maybe one bottle over a week which I'll be happy with. To start off I'm going to go dry til Friday evening. Good luck everyone!

I’m with you. I had recently got to a point where I was drinking every day and that’s just not who I want to be. So I have decided to cut down to just Friday and Saturday. I’m on week 2 and it’s been ok, but I have had quite a lot to drink the last 2 weekends and I don’t want to just condense all my drinking into those two days, I want to drink less, much less!

I'm in.

Summer just keeps not ending and the nice weather is a good excuse for wine blah blah blah

I want to lose a bit of summer rose and baguette weight and drink less and tone up.

I am also going to try and cut out the drinking in the week.

Here we go!!!

Yes I'm in too. Funny your thread should pop up just now I was thinking the exact same thing!

I also have a ton of summer rose weight to lose and tired all the time, not sleeping. Time for a change.

Alcohol really messes with my sleep

How's everyone done today/this eve? Just water, orange juice and tea. I think I'll have a herb tea after dinner.

I've had one glass of wine but I'm not in work tomorrow so it is still my weekend, kind of. (Any excuse! 🙄)

That said, I'm tired and ready for bed, so I think I'll head off rather than pouring another glass. Not a perfect start, but not dreadful either.

I hope the rest of you are all doing well!

Ringsender2
Halfthesky5
User1483387154
Itsallpetetonh
Warminstermum
Catonaroof
Iamyourequal
Commanderdalgliesh
Littlepond
Mumsiedarlingrevolta
ProfessorPollington
Wardrobe12

Wow ..... sorry if I've spelt any of your usernames wrong .

So good to have so many of us on board .

Thanks everyone for your replies .
I've had a bottle of red today and a small glass of Prosecco but all set for AF day tomorrow .
I think the idea of not catching up on chores/ keeping busy but doing something nice is fabulous .
I work ridiculous hours and would like nothing more than some extra time to read a book or get some sleep !

Will check in with you all tomorrow night hopefully.....it's so good to be doing this with other people thank you .
Happy Monday x x x

Me too please. Drinking most evenings and feeling like crap. Tired all the time too. Need to find something to replace it with and get my energy back

Welcome Monarexfluff !
Tuesday morning we will all wake up hopefully feeling refreshed and more energised x
What's your favourite soft drink ?
Hobby ?
I used to love reading but can't concentrate now as always too tipsy .
So looking forward to getting into bed with a good book .

I'm in

Morning all.

Feeling very motivated to get started today-

off to walk Ddog now and am reeking of virtue

I'm in. Last week I did manage Mon - Friday non drinking and felt so much better . Friday I had 2 small glasses with dinner , but Sat drunk shit loads cause was out at a party . Last night finished the bottle I had opened Friday. So I'm ready to start again this week . Hardest day is Monday I find . I drink blackcurrant & apple squash when not drinking wine . We can do this

I'm just about to make a fizzy fruit juice using sparkling water. I'm struggling a little already but am feeling stronger after reading this thread. I suffer from anxiety and alcohol has become a bit of a crutch in social situations and helps me to relax after work. I really want to break the habit though as it's not doing me any good.

Hey everyone! I was reading this with interest, as I cut down on drinking a few months ago. I still have the odd glass of wine or beer, but have definitely got out of the habit now and find it fairly easy, although I do still get that longing for it sometimes. I just wanted to give you all a bit of motivation, and say that you can do it! And you will feel so much better for it! I look back and can’t believe how tired and sluggish I felt on a daily basis. I’m not exactly full of beans, but I have so much more energy, and don’t struggle getting up to do the school run anymore. It is definitely worth it, and I think once you start to feel the benefits, it becomes fairly easy. Best of luck everyone!!

Evening all. Thanks for your words of encouragement icanhearapindrop it’s nice and inspiring to hear of others who have cut right back successfully. Well done! How has every got in this evening?

I took all alcoholic drinks out of the fridge this morning and made dinner nice and early, as pre-dinner hour my weak spot. I am now drinking tea in the bath (carefully..lol). I know tomorrow will be harder as will have a stressful day at work but determined to follow same strategy as today. I hope others managing ok?