Still stopped in 2020; a thread for anyone abstaining from alcohol.

[Drybird2020]

Dry January is over and the next phase has begun! Wherever you are on your sobriety journey, you're welcome here for encouragement, advice and support.

We love hearing from people who have been dry for a long time, so if you've swung by to have a look, please post to inspire us!

Equally, if you've woken up hungover, regretful and ashamed, determined that it's the last time, we've all been there and we're here for you now.

Lurky-lurkers, we know you're there! I observed the alcohol support threads for years before I felt ready to take the plunge, I hope these threads help others; if and when you feel ready to post, you'll get a warm welcome.

Might I respectfully ask that if your aim is moderation, you join the long running moderation thread in this topic. I find moderation chat difficult; it weakens my resolve, and many others feel the same.

I'm Drybird, 31 days sober. In that time I have saved 183 units, £192, and 12600 calories! I intend to be sober for the rest of my life, and I use this thread to keep me accountable.

It would be great to know how everyone is getting on, so if you'd like to check in below, please do! No need to share stats unless you want to, just give us a wave.

Here's tae us!

Good morning, I didn't post yesterday which is highly unusual! Part of my Master Plan is to keep myself accountable by reporting for duty on the thread every day.

I cooked a huge roast yesterday and had a pang when DH opened a bottle of red, even though I never drank red. I'm not missing boozing to excess and all that comes with it AT ALL, but the occasional ceremonial un corking to go with a feast or a turn in the year still feels like a loss. I know I won't ever be the kind of person who can treat it as an occasional treat so it's off the menu forever by necessity, but this is where I am with it at the moment.

@Saltypotato I never said a proper welcome back. Its good to see you. 😊

@GreenTeaMug how are things with you?

I'm getting out in the garden today, finally the weather is warming up here. It has been a late and chilly Spring until now. Pathetic fallacy?

@BunniesBunniesBunnies it was how I wrote it!

@GreenTeaMug thank you- we’re going to go for a quick stroll/ wheel in the park we back on to.

Morning, @StillDumDeDumming, have a lovely walk. Glad you've got a plan for getting your shopping.

Morning! Hope you're all doing ok? Can't remember if I've mentioned before but i do a little bit of running, does anyone else? Before lock down I'd only given up the wine about 10 days so hadn't felt any benefit ( sluggish, stitch and hard to take deep breaths whilst running) what with having to take the kids out every day I havent been able to run much but have done the occasional long walk, and have been doing little 15 minute workouts for my stomach lol , also down loaded a free yoga app and been trying those- does anyone else do yoga? I got really stressed yesterday early evening and I thought straight away, hmmmph! I'd normally be having a bottle of wine, as soon as I thought it, I put a yoga session on my phone and did it immeadialty, the thought passed as I had something else to think about and felt much more relaxed after. Was quite proud of myself for doing that. Anyway, I went for a 5k run the other day and managed to run one of the miles at 10.30 minute mile! I usually run about 11.45 pace ! I felt hard but that I was abe too push myself, I wasn't able to before because I couldn't breathe properly.
That's my ramblings of the day, sorry lol. Just wondered if anyone else felt any benefit to their exercises if you do them?
Have a good day all of you.x

@jess3817 I do yoga, and really should do more. You can never do enough yoga. My teacher has moved my usual class online at the normal time which is good for discipline. Are you using an app or yoga with Adrienne or similar? I really want to get back into running because I used to love it, but every time I do I fuck up my knee, by overdoing it too soon. My brain hasn't caught up with the fact that my body is getting on for half a century old.

Oh no, knees are troublesome aren't they, I had tendonitis in one, 5 weeks before Manchester marathon last year, I had to miss 2 long runs and to excersises from the pyshio, but ran pain free on the day wich was worth it.
The app is called down dog, it's free for the duration of quarentine. They're 15 minute sessions wich is good for me. A friend has recommended Adreiene so I'm going to look for her on you tube

Hey all! @jess3817 yes I’m a runner too! I come and go with how much I run (sometimes I don’t go for weeks) but since lockdown I go out LOTS, and it is seriously the number one thing that is keeping me sane (and sober!!!). I’m slow but I don’t care, I just love trundling along at a consistent pace, listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks. This morning I was actually listening to the Naked Mind!

@Drybird2020 sorry about the dodgy knee, running is tough on the knees! I occasionally struggle with my back and when I do I go out for bike rides instead. Also lovely!

I have three small kids and going out daily to exercise is absolutely essential to my survival, hahaha! Luckily my husband realises this too!!!

Since stopping drinking it’s a lovely feeling to be able to run whenever, never missing out on a run because I’m hungover or tipsy already😳😀😀😀

Yes I usually just run along enjoying zoning out, my husband runs alot to and does different sessions so, I thought while I have time, and have been wanting to get faster, I'd try some of what he does, it's to hard for me lol, I'll cary on plodding for now! have 4 kids so completely understand the need to get out the house!

I did Couch to 5 K earlier this year finished it the day lockdown was announced and have run 1 5K since! I do want to get back into it. My daughter is doing the 5K challenge that's going around and is planning on going tonight so I have a reason to do it then.

I do Yoga With Adriene on and off. I like to do it early on in the morning though when I did the 30 days programme it was nice to do in the evening too. Man, I have got a busy evening running and yoga-ing!

Thanks jess 15 minute sessions sound manageable for me, I'll have a look. @Ulysses I've been considering couch25k, a gradual reintroduction to pounding the pavements might be just what I need. 3 young kids in this house so I relate to the need for escape! 😊

C25K is great!!! I’m actually doing it (again) now in addition to my longer runs, just for fitness. Plus the gradual approach is very good if you have any previous injuries. Do it😊😊😊

Yes to C25K. I've done it a couple of times but never really continued doing after the final week. No excuses now that it's light in the evening. I'm warming up to doing it tonight but first procrastination!

Ah nice to know some of you run on here too! I definitely recommend it. No matter how tired, crap or how much I don't want to go for a run, or how sometimes I'm nervous to because I think I cant do it, I always can, if only a few miles, and I always feel much better and not tired afterwards lol

I love running but gave up a year ago due to fatness! I am a yoga teacher would you believe?!!! I have just started moving my classes online. I also do yoga nidra - which is my real passion! And well woman yoga. I love being able to welcome people and make them feel at home. It’s my only actual talent and online does not feel great at all - but my students like it and I’m here to serve. A better day today - less defeated

Morning All.

That's good @StillDumDeDumming. Glad you feel less defeated and it must be doing you good to get back to teaching. I enjoy working, even though especially in this crisis it doesn't seem terribly important compared to other people's jobs, and it gives me a sense of purpose.

I did not go for a run yesterday, predictably. I'm having bother with my periods - think this is my fourth week of bleeding, and it's getting heavier and crampier. This isn't totally abnormal for me, but I end up anaemic, along with the lethargy that goes with it. I'm going to give my GP a call this morning to get some advice.

Morning all, checking in. It's great to read that everyone is finding the strength to get through the days, be that through exercise, online support or just chatting on here.

@StillDumDeDumming, hang on in there, you are doing amazingly well.

Day 180 today and it's my 6 month soberversary on Wednesday. I'm doing it one day at a time. Hope everyone has a good week.

@Ulysses 4 weeks is too long! That sounds terrible. I hope the GP is able to help.

You lot are edging me ever closer to running again. But I need to get some headphones and I never know what to do with my phone, the best solution I've come up with is to post it into my sports bra.

@ElsaCragg a big week for you! I feel that 6 months is a significant milestone. Are you norcing differences in the way you feel, about booze and life in general? 😊

This is slightly off the intention of the thread, so do skip to avoid any talk of drinking...

I’ve had a (planned) blip, which has really cemented AF as a long-term thing for me. Am not remotely suggesting this as a good idea - it could obviously be disastrous.

After my 100 days, I added a bottle of white wine to my shopping. Had two glasses a few days later. Completely unenjoyable, slight buzz on the second glass but no urge to keep drinking as I would once have done. Overall not a nice taste or feeling. Woke up at 2am with familiar feeling of crapness. Two days later I had the other half and same experience, I didn’t even finish it. One reason this didn’t feel too risky for me was that I wouldn’t now be able to get regular large amounts of wine anyway due to lockdown.

I wanted an occasional treat and it turned out not to be a treat. Also I felt lonely - wine didn’t help that either. I now feel secure in staying AF as a longterm choice.

I also feel a bit of a wanker posting this here, but I’d like to stay on this thread and be honest so I hope it’s OK.

Really interesting to hear your experience @SparklingLime because I have half a mind to have a drink when life gets as near to back to normal as it does.

I've done more than four months and feel very strong and not fussed about booze at all. But I just might celebrate with a glass or two of rosé if I get to see my very old and frail mum again.

Than I think I'll stop again.

Monring all. Thnaks Drybird i am fine.

Well- out of my mind with work anxiety. Sleepless nights etc but fine generally.

Iam hitting the AF booze hard. (Habits take a while to die)

After longish alcohol free periods in the past I found the first couple of drinks tasted vile - vinegary and thin, and I got an instant headache and then a slump like a sugar crash. But I kept going until I regained my taste for it, such was my addiction. I can't see the point in doing it again, but @SparklingLime if it has worked as a strategy for you and cemented your resolve, that's good. One or two posters on this thread or the previous reported similar experiences, got nothing out of an experimental drink, and didn't go back to it. For some people (including me) it would present too much of a risk, and apart from anything else the process would occupy my precious brain space, and not thinking about booze is one of the best outcomes for me.

@GreenTeaMug I drink lots of Becks Blue. Opinion is divided on AF booze, but I find it helps. Its about finding what works for you.

Sorry about the work stress. Have you given yourself a structured bedtime routine (like a toddler!)? And like everyone else on here I recommend Yoga, even just a breathing and visualisation technique to calm your mind before sleep.

Hey all, @SparklingLime that’s really interesting to read your experience.

I’m still very early days (Day 9) and although not missing it too much now, the thought of NEVER drinking again really stresses me out (so I take it one day at a time). I don’t know why.

After initially not noticing any improvements (in fact I felt worse! Headaches! Nausea! Grumpy!) I’m now starting to feel better!!! Mainly I feel calmer and more balanced, and dare I say it... Happier?!? It’s not a magic cure for me, I am still knackered (small kids will do that!) and I still have spots AND wrinkles (where the fuck is my glowy skin😂😂😂) but at least I am not always feeling grumpy/guilty/hungover as well😳

Good luck to all today👍

Several years ago I went alcohol free for a few months and had the most wonderful pink cloud. last year when I was AF for months it never happened and i remember growling with fury 'where's my fucking pink cloud!!!!!'

I need a bedtime routine. Thanks Drybird. :)