Sober October - Plan Ahead

[notroundthebend]

I managed dry January, even did Feb! Then the virus hit and I went backwards with the wine drinking and it's really got to stop. So sober October it is (and beyond)..! So, Thursday will day one 🙌 join me if you wish.

Hi all,

Not much to report here. Had a really bad stomach ache all day yesterday and took to my bed with a hot water bottle in the end. Cant think what caused it other than some frozen berries I'd had the night before, just defrosted in some yoghurt. Reading on t'internet - apparently they can cause stomach upset.

Still a bit sore today, but nowhere near as bad.

Apart from that just same old same old. Day 25 for me and still no desire to drink. I'm thinking I'm going to try and carry this on for as long as I can after the end of the month, but don't want to make myself any promises and then not stick to them.

Are you going to their house Cha? Can you be the driver? Sorry about your tummy upset Fanny, hope you're recovered now. No other covid signs? I heard a stomach ache can be an early sign. I'm OK, I have noticed DH and I chat more, we have better conversation now in the evening and we laugh more. Maybe sobriety, maybe a coincidence, but all good here

@FannyFernackerpan hope you feel better soon!

@Hohofortherobbers good idea! Except I don’t actually drive. It would be handy because they live across town. I just went for it though, and told my friend, and she was fine with it and happy to make the non alcoholic punch she serves to kids and non drinkers at Thanksgiving. So that’s all fine now!

It’s nice to be able to plan things for the next day after a night out, knowing there is zero chance of a hangover. 😇

Hi all,

Another booze free day - it will be four weeks for me on Sunday. I can hardly believe it.

I bought a new kettle today and inside the packaging was a £50 voucher off a case of wine (12 bottles) from Virgin Wines. I thought it was too good to be true /some sort of con - the wines would be mega expensive to start with, but they're not. It's a genuine deal and a case of good quality wine with the voucher off is a bargain.

A month ago I wouldn't have hesitated and bought a case to stock up for Christmas. Now I'm thinking ... will I even be drinking at Christmas?
Is a booze free Christmas a real possibility? Only time I've ever had one as an adult was when I was pregnant.

How are others thinking? Are you planning on carrying this on after the month is up, or are you just treating it as a break from the booze?

I think I'm going to carry it on, it's daunting to say forever, but I might just see how long I can do. It sounds silly but I have really lovely wine glasses and I look at them and think what a shame it will be not to have them out again. Maybe I can drink my cordials out of them though. Is it just us 3 here now? Any lurkers?

Hello...I'm a lurker. I've been doing Sober October and also plan to do No Drink November. I desperately needed a reset. I was drinking so much I was getting physically sick from the hangovers the next day. I honestly didn't think I could go even one week without booze, yet here I am. Nearly at the end of a whole month. I have been able to go out for four mile walks with my dog, get up at six and have a coffee (I can't drink coffee with hangovers as I feel they dehydrated me even more) and watch some great documentaries in the evening instead of drinking myself into oblivion.

I wish my DH would have joined me as he has been drinking more lately...he has promised to do November with me. I actually hate alcohol.

A lot seem to have fallen by the wayside Hoho but welcome Teatime!

I think I'm going to try and keep going as well. I honestly haven't missed wine at all, so it would be crazy for me to start drinking again just because I've reached a certain date.

So yes, let's start a No Drink November thread when the time comes and see who signs up?

Great idea Fanny. It would be great to get online support with other women who are trying to cut back or cut it out.

Yes, not sure I have missed it either. And for once I have LOVED the mornings....they are by far my favourite time of day now.

Welcome Teatime! Well done on your achievement so far, definitely up for no drink Nov. I've found this thread really motivating and would like to carry on

Hi Hoho and thank you! You all have done brilliantly too!

Hi @TeatimeAtCloppa!!

Not sure if I will carry on into November but am determined to see October through. It’s not so much I’m a daily drinker, just when I do get going, I sometimes can’t find my off switch. So I am treating this as a reset.

My skin is looking very good and I’ve lost a couple of lbs, but can’t say I have more energy or sleep better - am still rubbish at mornings! So looking forward to a bit of a lie-in tomorrow.

I’m a lurker. I’m on day 23. I’m finding it easy enough but I do miss it sometimes. I find evenings can be really dull. I’ve got youngish children who wake very early and I work nearly full time hours so I’m knackered once they’re in bed. Wine is an easy relaxing treat. I’d love to motivate myself to go to the gym in the evenings like in my pre kids days but I can’t see it happening.

Things I’ve loved- better sleep, no guilt, no headaches. No nighttime doom feeling, no racing heart. No internal “should I, shouldn’t I” re buying/opening a bottle.

Not sure how I feel about carrying it on. Reading the above, I absolutely should but I find myself looking at the app and being pleased that I have so little time to go...

Hi Cha and Banana. So much of what you both say resonates with me. The not being able to stop (one drink is too many, 100 drinks not enough kind of thing) and yes, the racing heart. My heart would actually buzz as I woke in the mornings...like a mobile phone was vibrating inside me. So when that began to happen I knew I had to make serious changes.

Welcome banana, well done on the 23 days! I was going to buy an alcohol free Red wine today but looked at the reviews online and they were 100% dreadful. Can anyone recommend an alcohol free wine? I'm sure I won't get something very close in taste, but just reminiscent and palatable would be good. Really want to use my nice wine glasses

I'm the same Tea, Cha and Banana. Could never have just one drink. Once the bottle is open the bottle gets drunk.

I've tried the alcohol free red wine Hoho and it's like sour piss. Disgusting!

The best alternative I've found is the grape Shloer drinks. They do red, white and rose and it's just lightly sparkling grape juice but it absolutely looks the part in a wine glass. No-one would know you weren't drinking wine.

To be honest, the rose doesn't taste that much different to any lightly sparking Rose wine (to me anyway), although I'm a red wine drinker.

It's only £2.20 a bottle and is quite often on offer where you can get it for a quid. I usually buy a few and put them in the wine rack when it's on offer.

www.shloer.com

I second Shloer. The taste is good, especially compared to non-alcoholic wines. Although....I do feel sort of like a kid again at the Christmas table when I drink it.😂

@Hohofortherobbers afraid I have never found anything even approaching a palatable alcohol free wine! They are even worse than the beers.

I love Schloer but am trying to find non booze drinks that are not a) full of sugar or b) full of sweeteners. Am definitely onto a loser!

When I drink alcohol, it’s always wine and gin for me but if I’m looking for an alcohol free alternative, I always go for alc free beer. It is the only thing that actually tastes like it should.

Hello! I'm still here. I had another bottle of the Natureo alcohol-free rose wine tonight, it's really nice!

One week to go, I can't believe how little I've struggled given it was my birthday this month and I've had a few nights out. I'm definitely going to have a glass of wine next Sunday but won't be going back to several times a week.

Well, the spooky movie night was fun, and I enjoyed myself without drinking alcohol! Glad I’ll have a clear head tomorrow.

@BananaSpanner which alcohol free beers do you like? Any recommendations?

I had a becks blue last night, I really wanted a drink that wasn't sweet. I honestly couldn't tell it wasn't the real deal. Really enjoyed it. DH had one too for the first time and said the same, and on the odd occasion he drinks, he drinks beer. Whereas I am almost always red wine

Agree Becks Blue or Heineken 0.0%

I felt a bit flat and down in the dumps last night, and did think longingly of having a Saturday night bottle of red. The weather is shit, I felt shit, the telly is shit, sick of watching crap on Netflix and youtube, and had no motivation to do anything work wise, craft wise, self wise, so just slobbed out.

However, it dawned on me that I would feel even shitter if I drank. After that euphoria feeling that follows the first , I would have ended up drinking a whole bottle (at least!) and then feeling really, really shit today, probably anxious as hell, disappointed with myself and stuffing my face with sugary carbs to try and compensate for the hangover.

So I didn't drink and although the weather is still shit here, I feel ok. Also did some inspirational reading this morning which has made me feel even more determined to keep going. One of the things I found really interesting was this week-by-week guide from The Priory which shows exactly what happens to the body when you stop drinking. Apparently it takes the liver 4-8 weeks to recover, but even after a month liver fat is reduced significantly.

I also didn't realise that for every alcoholic drink you have you lose four times as much liquid as you actually drank? I knew it made you dehydrated but I didn't realise how much.

A thought-provoking read ...

www.priorygroup.com/blog/benefits-of-giving-up-alcohol-for-a-month

Oh and the sun's just come out so I'm off for an invigorating Autumn walk around the park!

Well done on last night Fanny! That article was very sobering reading (excuse the pun). Isn't it crazy how alcohol just affects every part of you? Liver, brain, heart, nerves, kidneys, eyes.....even your hair? I dread to think what shape my liver is in. I had a liver test a couple of years ago when I was pregnant as I had pins and needles in my fingers and hands, but it came back ok. Think it might not be the case now though.

I feel a massive craving today for only the second time this month. Not least because of a chat with my mum earlier. I always feel so upset when I speak to her...this isn't down to mum but really down the news she gives me of two of my sisters whom I no longer speak to. I'm not sure why this always affects me and makes me feel so tilted.

I won't give in. Going to sip tea and watch Columbo and give myself a facial. Families, eh?