Forever Free - a life without booze, 2020 onwards.

[Drybird2020]

This thread is a supportive place for anyone who no longer wants alcohol to be part of their life.
This is the 4th thread in a series. I started the first 30th December last year and have been sober ever since. I couldn't have done it without the tremendous support other posters have given me.
Previous threads are linked below and are useful reading for anyone starting out, as they are full of useful advice, suggestions for reading, and strategies for managing the tricky times. Plus you will see how similarly alcohol affects so many of us, and track the journeys of people who are successfully making the change and embraced a new and rewarding life.

Thread 1
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3781133-Anyone-else-stopping-completely-in-2020

Thread 2
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3810419-Still-stopped-in-2020-a-thread-for-anyone-abstaining-from-alcohol

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3910349-Staying-Stopped-Alcohol-Free-permanently

The only rules are that you are committing to an alcohol free life, and that you have stopped drinking before you begin to post.

If anyone would like to use the new thread to (re)introduce themselves and give a wee summary of where they are at, please do!

@iamyourequal I'm sorry you're all down with the dreaded covid, and hope it's over soon.
@Bluefishing welcone back and well done making a good start. The first part is tough but it's totally worth it. Now I look back I realise how long I was feeling bad about my drinking and wanting to stop - years! I stopped and started a few times before deciding that permanent sobriety is the only way for me. I simply can't lead a happy life with alcohol in it.

@Hangingover and @BunniesBunniesBunnies, congratulations on your milestone! Smashing it, not smashed. 😁🎉🥤🥧

Congrats @BunniesBunniesBunnies and @Hangingover! Hope you feel better soon @iamyourequal.

Day 60 here! Had the odd "why cant I be normal?" moment too so really helpful being reminded what alcohol really is, thank you! @hangingover I think we have the same bunnies!

Hang on in @bluefishing, I like to think of previous attempts as my practise runs, all helpful! And all getting there eventually x

Thank you so. I’m very grateful for everyone on this thread for inspiring me, in their own way.

I had a lovely day! Paddle boarding in the morning, swimming in the afternoon and out for dinner with my husband. I don’t celebrate it publicly as such but on a special milestone day I like to make sure I do nice things just for me😊

Good job @NeedAUserNameAllTaken

This thread is such a lifeline isn't it. I feel so comforted knowing you're all there if I need to vent about wanting to be full of wine and Valium.

Bloody boiling in WA today (35 all week!). Am going to the nudest beach with DP, hurrah! Is everyone still smashing their fitness goals? I'm doing 30 mins cardio and 45mins weights really comfortably every other day now, it's terrific. Have muscles and everything!

Morning all, crazy week at work and still recovering from that today (getting too old for 17hour days) but thankfully no temptation to drink so feel that is another bridge crossed 😎
@Hangingover yep pretty happy as had a health assessment with all boxes ticked and some metrics i did really well (killer...”for my age”) but I am shallow enough to love the validation and good to know that exercise and diet can offset a few dodgy genetics so far at least 👍🤞
Was very happy to be AF as liver function was tested and all good 😎

Hello everyone and congrats bunnies on your milestone! I am 50 days AF today woodwoop!

Went out for a few drinks and a meal with DH last night. Happily drinking diet cokes and sparkling water and then drove home, which was great given the weather 🌧

So good to wake on a Sunday morning without a hangover. The novelty will never wear off

SlantyBaws well done, huge achievement. Bunnies your milestone day sounded perfect.

6 days done, very pleased. I have realised if it’s in the house I will drink it so that is really key for me. Luckily there is just one type of wine I can’t resist, everything else can be sitting right in front of me and I am fine. This thread is also key in making me feel accountable.

I still associate all happy things with my tipple but I suppose if I get enough days under my belt that will fade.

Benefits so far, I feel calmer, no waking up with catastrophising and anxiety. Negatives I feel a bit flat in the evenings.

Hope everyone has a good Sunday. I am really glad I am doing this.

Well done bluefishing at getting through Friday and Saturday night. I always feel great when I've sailed through a weekend. Feels like a bigger achievement than the weekdays for me anyway.

50 days slantybaws fantastic!!

I have been counting in weeks and was 5 weeks last night then realised that's 35 days in which feels gooooood!

Last week of work this week then a week away for my 50th. I'm looking forward to walks along the beach and good food with my family. And waking up the next day with no birthday celebration hangover.

Badly want a drink tonight. Someone has gone missing from the beach. It's so unbelievably sad. Makes me want to hold DP so tight and never let him go in the water again 😢

Oh hanging that's awful. Is it a youngster?

No I don't think so, the wave they were on is a big one. Sorry I don't know why I wrote from the beach, i meant they were in the water. We went surfing all afternoon just down the road and saw the helicopters circling and when we got out someone said they had been looking for them since this morning. It's dark now. The news says someone saw them "in distress". I know anyone losing their life is terribly sad but I have literal nightmares about this happening so my heart absolutely bleeds for the family waiting for news.

Oh thats terrible to be so near to hanging.
Yes, hold DP close.

Sending a hug @Hangingover x

Sorry for derail again. The man was found safely isn't that wonderful ❤️

Hurray, that really is fantastic news! Glad the hear it, @Hangingover.

I'm currently running through all the reasons I need to get up, and failing to act on any of them. Happy Monday everyone.

Such a relief hanging. Yup happy Monday everyone. No running here, just coffee 😆

Few @Hangingover what a relief he was found. It’s my nightmare too (husband also surfs).

@Drybird2020 I’m doing the same right now, still in bed😂

@Hangingover I forgot to reply but yes, my fitness stuff is going great at the moment! I run, cycle and swim mostly. I’m stronger now than I was before kids, crazy!

So glad he was found hangingover . The family right now must be overjoyed.

I am up and about after a quietish but lovely weekend which was needed after a busy week. My yoga practice was lovely this morning, standing on your head is so much easier when not standing on a fuggy head. 🙃 and I feel myself stronger. Walking more and generally feeling fitter.

I visited my daughter yesterday who was on a two day hangover after a celebratory Friday night. And i was so glad that i wont feel that again. She doesn't do it often these days as she is out of her student days but you could tell just by looking at her. Her usual healthy glow wasn't there. She is a runner and goes to the gym , and of course has youth on her side so she will bounce back easily but I was surprised how obvious it was in her skin and eyes. What a strange thing we do to ourselves in the name of fun? Maybe (hopefully) being AF will become the norm more and more.

Selfishly I was glad I read this thread when you had good news to update us with @Hangingover - what a relief for the family - thanks for the positive end to the story.

@Breathmiller - the longer I don't drink the odder the whole drinking thing seems to me...I was working on Friday, very busy, lots of time pressure and external stresses as well and the "supervisor" who was in charge of the whole thing was incredibly hungover and as useful as a chocolate teapot. I thought what a complete muppet - even in my drinking days I would call that unacceptable but now it seems madness.

My yoga practice was lovely this morning, standing on your head is so much easier when not standing on a fuggy head

Remember this feeling well. I used to do dharma on Saturday mornings; made me want to throw up and I always thought people could smell booze on me.

Has anyone noticed since giving up they have become really sensitive to the smell of alcohol? A lady spilled her wine in the camp kitchen yesterday and the wave of smell that hit me was incredible!

Hi everyone one, 1 week done, feel good. I need to lose weight and join you all in exercising at some point. Hot day here, plan is to shampoo the dog in the garden and wash all his bedding. Have a good one.

Yay!! Well done at a week done bluefishing fantastic achievement.

Good job bluefishing

I used to adore bathing my old pooch. What sort is he?

Thanks all. Hangingover he is a boxer. Easy going gentle fellow but very strong. He is fast asleep now and grateful for the scrub. What was yours?

Bluefishing I have logged on and just read your post first, without knowing it’s about a dog. Hilarious 😂.
hanging what a relief the surfer is safe and well. Feels like the only good news in ages. Congratulations everyone on the milestones. Hanging together here. Just feels like a stinking bad cold now. Certainly don’t feel like drinking that’s for sure.