Anyone fancy a sober thread?

[SmiledWithTheRisingSun]

Day 20 here & loving it but could do with some chat about why we love being sober... book recommendations.... AF drinks ideas.... etc?

Great idea.

Day 50ish here!

Every night I have a soak in the bath and listen to sober podcasts, which are really informative and inspirational. Favourites are Annie Grace's This Naked Mind. And the Janey Lee Grace one. Loads of scientific info as well all the regular sober stuff. Highly recommend!

I hate cooking and always used to cook with a glass of wine on the go. Now I cook and listen to these podcasts - love it.

What I'm enjoying about being sober:
•The deep refreshing sleep. No more waking up in an adrenaline fuelled panic at 3am every night.
•No more spending the days counting down the minutes until 'wine o clock' (god that expression makes me cringe 😅).
• I'm reading books again. I couldn't read more than a page or 2 when drinking wine, and as a result I haven't read properly in years. Now I'm devouring book after book.
•The evening is no longer 'game over' at 5pm because I've started the wine. I suddenly have so many extra hours in the day
• hot baths! I used to avoid baths and jump in the shower as a drunken bath felt tiring. Loving my nightly soak now.
•I'm a much nicer, calmer wife and mother

There are so many more.

Fave books so far:
This Naked Mind
The Sober Diaries
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
We Are The Luckiest

Thanks for starting the thread :-)

I quite liked the unexpected joy of being sobre

And I should have said... well done, OP! It's hard to believe, isn't it? 3 months ago I struggled to have 1 night off, let alone this. 20 days is amazing 🥳

Day 65 here. I love anything to do with the science behind what alcohol does to our brain and body. I’m a bit dismayed by how deeply imbedded alcohol is in our society. All I seem to see lately is alcohol being promoted and glamourised. Photos on social media of booze held aloft. It’s like society is wearing rose-tinted specs when it comes to drinking. I too detest the phrase ‘wine o’clock’, @Hamsham. I saw a book on a low shelf in our local supermarket this week called ‘Why mummy drinks’. I felt saddened that someone is using this as a cheap laugh tbh. It isn’t a good message to send to our children. Mummy has had a long day she needs her wine. Mummy is pissed off she needs her wine. Mummy is needs her wine.

@heatseeker14 Yes I've seen the book you mention! And all the FB memes about mummy needing wine.

Annie Grace says on one of her podcasts that if she could give advice to someone drinking (other than 'stop!', I presume) it would be to never drink when you're stressed. I suppose because of the associations it makes in your brain, chemically.

Now I find I deal with stress so much better anyway. From the brain changes I presume. I could never have done lockdown homeschooling 3 kids (and still working as a key worker) had alcohol been involved.

@Hamsham, I have far more patience now. I am less snappy and have loads more energy. I think I’m a better parent and wife now too. I’ve noticed my sex drive has returned massively. I think that’s due to increased body confidence and having far more energy. It would make no sense to return to drinking, but I’m not fooling myself it will be easy when society returns to normal and pubs open. Too easy to say one won’t hurt then return to old habits.
Well done for staying AF whilst working and homeschooling. 🙌🏻

Thanks for replying @Hamsham
Yes to the reading, long baths, more time, more energy & being a nicer person.
Also thanks for the podcast recs will get on to them

@heatseeker14 totally agree re: why mummy drinks! It reminds me of the 1050's housewives taking "diet pills" containing speed to get through the day & sleeping pulls at night 🙈🙈🙈

I have yet to lose any weight as I think I have been replacing the calories from alcohol with chocolate & ice cream... 😬

The Love Sober Podcast is worth a listen

Day 66 here.

Better sleep and my face looks less puffy. I adore waking up in the morning without that parched, mild hangover feeling. My concentration levels at work is also much better.

On the evenings I am tempted I drink a Becks blue non alcoholic.

I've been on a quest for the perfect AF grown up dink... These are my current favourite AF beers so far:
[[
https://www.nirvanabrewery.com/productgallery/bavarian-helles-lager]]

Also loving posh tonic water with frozen raspberries & cherries 🍒🍸

Dink 🤣

How is everyone doing?

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun, checking in 77 days AF. 🙌🏻 Creeping closer to 100 days. 😊 How are all you lovely people doing?

That's fabulous @heatseeker14 well done you!! I'm on day 32 here.
Still finding it quite easy on lockdown.
We are seeing people socially next weekend & I'm a bit nervous about it if I'm honest!

I know how you feel @SmiledWithTheRisingSun. Some of our friends have said about going to our local when it opens. I’m really not keen on going, but I know I will have to try at some point.

I think I’m on day 45 today. I started off reading The Sober Diaries, then I read The Unexpected Joy and I’ve got This Naked Mind coming today. I have young kids so when they’ve been going to bed, I’ve often been going to and binge watching The Vampire Diaries! It’s a good escapism and stops me craving. I’ve been treating myself to a pizza and chocolate or cookies or whatever I fancy at the end of the week too when the wine cravings really kick in. I’ve tried AF wine and it’s been rank. I have a Lo Bros kombucha instead or yesterday I tried Asda extra special elderflower tonic and it was just like drinking a g&t!

I feel like I’m in this for the long run now. The more I read about alcohol the less I want it in my body again. I’m also really noticing how how many times my friends make references to needing a wine or feeling better because alcohol has taken the edge off and that’s just what I used to do. I also feel angry about how society has made it acceptable to get so drunk and also agree that it seems to be pushed on Mum’s as part of your survival kit. Scary!

Thanks for letting me offload. It’s nice to speak to people who will get it. My husband has given up too but he wasn’t much of a drinker anyway! All my friends and family still drink to some extent!

Hello again @BigKnickers87 👋🏻😄 Did your book come yesterday? I’ve tried to be good with food since I stopped drinking. Getting rid of belly fat was what triggered going AF. I’ve started treating myself to a couple of squares of Green & Blacks salted caramel dark chocolate every so often. 🙂 I have some Nosecco stashed in a cupboard, but have a feeling I will be disappointed! I tried Birra Moretti at the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. 🤗Bit more calorific than Becks, but good for a treat.
Hope everyone is doing well. Such a nice day out there today. Day 85 for me. ☺️

Hi again! It did yes, I’m taking the kids to the coast today so I’m hoping to be able to read it when they’re asleep at night! I had some nosecco and it tasted like perfume to me 🙈🙈 it’s raining here. Hope it dries up soon! Well done on 85 days! What’s your end goal?

When I started out, I didn’t really have any goals, other than to lose some weight. I’ve lost 7 pounds so far, and would like to lose another 3. Ideally I will have a buffer zone so I can have some treats like crisps! I have decided that I like not drinking. I have so much more energy and more patience. So many positive reasons to stay AF. Have set 100 days as something to focus on then will look to get to 365 days. Long term I’d like to be AF free permanently. How about you? Hope you enjoy your family day at the beach. 🙂

Day 1...🤞

Oh god I've lost no weight! Think i've been replacing wine with chocolate