Day 4 of giving up alcohol

[Saltypotato]

Hi all,

I am on another thread that started in Jan and is still running. We all started together and the support was immense, it was the only thing that got me through the first month. At the end of Jan/beginning of Feb I started having 'just the one' and we all know how that goes if you have a problem. The group are now at 100 days and whilst I love checking in they aren't at the starting stage I am at the moment.

Lockdown has meant I am out of routine and haven't had a reason to keep my drinking under control (no work, not driving etc) so after drinking every night since it began I ended up passing my last full bottle of booze to a friend a few days ago and making an attempt to give up.

That was a few days ago, I am just starting my day 4. It's been easier than I thought as there isnt the option of just popping out to the shop so I'm not taunting myself. I have got a bottle of vodka and one of gin in my amazon cart that I keep hovering over buying but its on a few days lead time so I don't want it to arrive when I'm a week in and undo my hard work. That thought is stopping me.

But we have to go out today for essentials and tonight I have a zoom call with friends in the "pub". I am really tempted to get something whilst I'm out and my brain is doing the 'oh you deserve it, its a stressful time' and 'you can just have two to join in' (from experience, I can't)

If anyone else is feeling similar or just started their journey into the wonderful world of tonic water please join me. Strength in numbers, right?

Thanks for the welcome back you lovely ladies and welcome @Aisleseat I'm also on day 2 and just so wanting this to be the time I manage to beat it. This is the place for support, it's a great group.

Thanks to you both, am in bed now and feeling good that I've made it through another evening without pouring a glass. Just going to focus day by day and do my absolute best. Wishing you the very best, take care x

Well done ladies! I’m also in bed af having done a training session! I had a green smoothie to celebrate. Feel well chuffed.

Morning all
Hope you're all ok and those of you who didn't drink last night - the mornings are great aren't they?
Those of you who did, never mind, it happens, start again and don't go down the self blame route. Alcohol is a powerful addiction - just cutting down is an achievement.

A PP said about night sweats - yep, normal when we quit - the body is getting rid of a lot of toxins and trying to get used to not being poisoned. I had a rough five days after I quit, and then it took another week or so to sleep properly. This is all normal.

I'm still taking it a day at a time - cautiously hoping that this time I can stick to it, but taking nothing for granted.

Love to all.

Morning all. Good to see you back qwertyl and welcome aisleseat. Congratulations Bluemooon, because you must have hit your 50 days yesterday!
Day 10 here and feeling quite calm and positive about it. Early evening is still a killer , but I now do a yoga video then bath with AF beer before dinner, as a coping strategy! Planning on making dinner earlier from today as that should help the cravings. Have a good day all.

I've started cooking dinner earlier too which means I get a longer evening which is great. Your evening routine sounds great. I've been walking but still haven't been for a run like I said I would.

Day 52 for me. I'm feeling more positive but still get fleeting thoughts of 'what's the point in doing this forever?' But I'm ignoring them!

Well done everyone 💐💐💐I’m sober but evenings are my painful times, but don’t want drink. Lots of coffee different flavours for cooler days. Corned beef hash for tea,

I’m too lazy to run Teetotallyimperfect! The yoga is a free 30 day course with an American called Julia Marie. She talks too much but I’m loving it otherwise. I’m not sure how authentic it is but any kind of jumble of half-yoga half full-on-American reach your goals and fulfill your potential exercise is good enough for me. I was struggling to reach my feet to get my socks on in the morning, so I’m already making progress.

I’m af again tonight-hurray!

Can I join?
I'm not sure if I need to stop or just cut down, probably the first. Lately my drinking has crept up to every night. I don't get drunk but I'll either have a few glasses of wine or a few lagers, I told myself it was my treat at the end of the day.
I've started slimming world again and so far I'm on day 3 AF, doesn't sound much but it is for me.
I'm already sleeping better and have more energy, I don't have to check my phone on a morning to see what I've posted on Facebook although it was rare I did that anyway.
Weekends will be the killer for me, although I'm up early for work so that in itself is a reason not to drink at the weekends.
Well done to all of you, looking forward to supporting each other

If you stop rather than cutting down it avoids all the exhausting in your head debates as to whether you will have one wine now, or maybe later, or would you feel better if you had a beer and made it last, or seeing as you only had a small glass of wine, does it matter if you have a second one as you're still below the daily limit yadda yadda yadda ......

That's a good point!

@mummyof4kids it's your decision what to do, but just remember you don't have to get to the point of 'needing' to stop, just whether you think it would benefit you to do so.
I haven't been counting the days as much but just realised I'm on day 19. I haven't decided if this is 'forever' but so far I can only see benefits to stopping - I feel like I've got loads of time back for hobbies I'd lost interest in and I don't want to lose those now. I'm going to aim to do at least 60 days then see, but right now I don't want to drink and I'm hoping that feeling continues!

@Haggisfish congratulations!

@Threeflyingducks
I'm not at the point where I need to stop but I don't want to get there neither. It will definitely benefit me, I already feel loads better and it's only been 3 days, I've got a slight niggly headache today but other than that I feel loads better, more energy etc.
DP doesn't drink often and when he does it's one or two so it's easy not to drink at home.
I think I'm gonna carry on not drinking, not saying I'll never drink again but at the moment I don't see any positives in opening the wine on a night.

Edit: not easy not to drink at home, I meant as DP doesn't drink much I don't have the temptation from him

Welcome @Aisleseat and @mummyof4kids. Stopping for a set period is easier than cutting down IMO. Our brains like it when we make a clear cut decision. That’s why it is good to set targets initially of 30 days etc. It’s hard to commit to forever initially, but it’s also hard to continually argue with yourself and negotiate times to drink. Some people prefer to start each day by saying they won’t drink that day.
Well done @Haggisfish. Day 52 is fantastic @Teetotallyimperfect. 🙌🏻

@heatseeker14 that makes sense
At the moment I'm going with the "I won't have any wine tonight" and see how I get on with that

Another AF night for me, I found it quite easy tonight. Happily sat with a cup of tea.
How's everyone else doing?

Evening 👋, tonight's been difficult for me. I had a stressful days work and usually by 5 I'd be thinking of having a glass of white to wind down but struggled to distract myself. On the upside, I've done a mountain of ironing and put so many lotions and potions on my face that I'm hoping to look 5 years younger in the morning.
Main thing though, another day AF. Am dreading the weekend already but if the weather is good will plan plenty of activities as a bit of diversion.
Hope all are doing ok this eve x

@Aisleseat well done on staying AF
Tonight and tomorrow are gonna be hard for me, I always associate Friday and Saturday nights as 'wine night' even though I have to be up at 5 on Saturday and Sunday mornings for work. Not sure whether to stick with the tea/juice or get some AF lager in.
Looking forward to getting up for work with a clear head tomorrow

Drank a bottle of wine last night, feel rotten. Upset and stressed so reached for the grog. here we go again.

@randomer don't beat yourself up, today is a new day. Dust yourself off and try again.

Me too @randomer
I'd managed nearly two months! And had a stressy day, a bottle lurking in the cupboard, so I decided I should have just one glass. I drank two thirds of the bottle. And I didn't really enjoy it, I just wanted to feel a bit numb. Feel bloody awful this morning, so disappointed in myself. Poured the rest away this morning. Haven't got any in the house and not intending to do any shopping for a few days.
I'll never learn!

Day one again for me!
We can start again together x

Hope everyone is ok. Will catch up properly later, lots of work to get ready, in school next week with the year 10s! We have had a lot of positive feedback from students and parents, so think we will have 90% in.

Have a good day all.
Sx

Today is a fresh start @SophieB100 and @randomer. Don’t waste any energy beating yourself up. Alcohol is a tricksy fecker.
I had a few negative thoughts late yesterday. It’s my birthday soon and felt a bit sad about the thought of not drinking on my birthday. Then I remembered how far I’ve come with losing a lot of my much despised belly fat. Hopefully I will be less wobbly by my birthday!

I feel your frustration Sophie and Randomer, but I think these things happen to everyone. I’ve never got anywhere near 2 months. If you have made it that far you know you can keep going. It’s nothing but a blip. How are you both tonight?
How much have you lost heatseeker14 ? If you don’t mind me asking? I am hoping to lose some once I conquer this temporary sweet tooth!