How long does it take to break the habit?

[FlyingHighandDry]

Have named changed for this because my last username was alcohol related.
Woke up last Saturday morning with a stinking hangover and it just dawned on me that I don't want to feel like that anymore!
I was drinking on average a bottle of wine a night and felt sluggish and crappy the next day which then made me reach for the wine again at 6pm to get me through the evening.. and on it went for far too long than I want to admit

So I stopped drinking on Saturday.
I'm now 5-6 days in and my question is how long did it take for the 'craving' to stop for you?
Crunch time for me is 5:30 pm when I would get home from work and automatically open a bottle to drink while I cooked tea to unwind.
After tea when I'm sat in the lounge I don't think of it again. It's just while I'm cooking.
I think I'd got in to the habit of cooking=drink wine time.

Anyone who has given up or cut down and knows what I mean would you mind telling me if that feeling goes?

The trick I found was to replace the drink - for me it was after dinner and we started drinking tea instead (non caffeinated). More recently with my new dp we slipped into bad habits in lockdown and last summer decided no alcohol Monday to Wednesday and not to buy multiple bottles of wine. I've also made a habit of making tea at 4.30 ish to reduce the desire for a drink before dinner, realising partly making g&t at 5ish was because we thirsty. We are wfh so was too easy to slip into bad ways last March.

My tip is to substitute with something you really like - you deserve a drink to unwind, just doesn't need to be alcoholic

Thanks @mootymoo
I've been sipping on sparkling water instead which helps but I feel I'm drinking gallons of the stuff!
Will add some nice cordials to my shopping basket.

why dont you get some cordials and soda water, have it in a balloon glass, ice, garnish etc will feel like something more than just a soft drink. or they sell non alcoholic gin now too

Around 30 days. At first I hated not feeling buzzed in the evening and it was so hard. Now I cannot ever imagine ruining my evenings by drinking. I love having so many more quality hours in each day and of course being hangover free. Always.
I thoroughly recommend reading Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck. It made the process a lot easier. I'm annoyingly anti alcohol now. I silently judge even moderate drinking

In answer to your question, around 30 days.
You will look back on this as one of the best decisions you have ever made.

I'm on a couple of the alcohol related threads here and can highly recommend reading and posting, as everyone is very kind, supportive and non-judgemental.

I also second having some lovely cordials, the elderflower ones are suitably posh and grown up, especially with lots of ice, slice of lime or lemon etc.

If you need more motivation, then the free online 30 day alcohol experiment with Annie Grace is fantastic. Also the Allen Carr book The Easy Way To Control Alcohol.

I was where you are now. Fifteen months ago, I realised I couldn't cut down and stopped altogether, with the help of the lovely people here. I feel like a different person, happier, more positive, more in control, it's the best feeling ever.

Good luck.

I'm doing the 100 days. The only thing I do alcohol like is if I'm cooking I put fizzy juice in a wine glass. A lot of people seem to have the zero per cent alternatives. Personally if I want the wine that much I'll just have it. I'm also planning nice snacks and buying in chocolate etc I'd have probably eaten it anyway but this time I really look forward to it. I am certain I'll drink again but to sacrafice the change in my skin, face and improvement on sleep it would have to be for a very good reason.

I used to do the whole bottle a night thing. Over time it crept up...and up. To the point I’d get anxious that I hadn’t purchased enough to get me ‘through the evening’ or to reach that ‘buzzy’ stage. One bottle didn’t cut it anymore.

I finally stopped drinking three years ago. Have been sober ever since. The first few weeks/months were hard. By 3 months it really stopped bothering me.

I’ve lost 3 stone 😊. I’ve gained......nearly 4K in my bank account - I was spending on average £30-£40 a week on wine, when I stopped drinking I set up a standing order which took £30 a week from my current account to my savings account.

I also joined AA for a few months (but found it depressing), however they recommended a bowl of sucky sweets - it replaces the sugar your body craves from wine. Chocolate limes worked for me.

I’ve not had alcohol for 5 weeks and I don’t really think about it now. For me it was after I finish work, which as I’m now wfh was 4.30/5pm. Again, after dinner I wasn’t so bothered but would often carry on anyway.

I sometimes pour a slimline tonic in a glass with ice while I cook to sip on and that feels like I’m having something special.
For me, not drinking helps me stay on track food wise too so I am feeling a lot healthier than I was 5 weeks ago.

My bf is a recovering alcoholic and 2 years sober so I have no excuse really!

Thank you all.
I'm now on day 7.
I wake in the mornings feeling wonderful, clear headed and wide awake. Not like I used to most days when it would be a struggle to get out of bed and I'd be fuzzy headed for ages.
I need to remember how good I feel in the mornings to get me through my 'craving hour'

Thank you for all your suggestions.
I've downloaded both books to read.

Even though it's only been a week, I have lost 4 lbs! I need to shift about 3 stone so this is another massive positive.
Like you said @Sunshineandflipflops not drinking means I'm not reaching for the crisps/ cheese / bread etc as well which was another downfall of mine.
@maddiemookins16mum Well done on your 3 stone loss and I love that you have saved the money.
I did only drink NZ Sauvignon Blanc and the cheapest I could find that was about £6/7 a bottle so between £42-49 a week. That is shocking

Hi @FlyingHighandDry, reading your post we are on the same boat or similar. I also drink Sauvignon blanc and spend exactly the same amount of money like you! So when I read your post initially I though "Did I write this when drunk?!"

I am not miserable or depressed, but juggling between work and household is not easy and the GCSE situation on the top ...

I drink wine when I cook - I do not enjoy cooking and wine makes me go through the whole process ...also I enjoy the taste of a good wine like other people love chocolate and sweets. Nice wine is part of a good dinner in a nice setting with friends ... to reiterate I love the taste of wine and delicious cocktails too ...

I followed the alcohol free challenge by Annie Grace and remained sober for about 10 days ...I read the easy way by Alan Car, but I cannot "kill the big Monster" as it is controversial with my taste. At the moment at least I am not drinking every day, but the weekends are difficult.

I am fed up that I cannot just have 1 drink and as both Annie and Alan are saying - I just have to cut off completely.

On day 1 today ! I am reading how many of you have completed 30 days and even years and admire you!

I do re-listen to Annie and Alan Car on a daily basis to change my mindset.

Physically I do not crave it and if I am in a different setting I do not even think about wine. Replacing wine with something else did not help much either - tried that too, just water etc. do not taste as nice as chablis, sauv or chard.

Completely agree that you have much more quality time with your beloved ones and that you feel more energetic, motivated etc. look better, when not drinking; saving money as well is a deal breaker!

I love a Sauv Blanc, but I'm another one who drinks far too much of it. I can't just have a glass or two, but have to finish the bottle, and sometimes open a second , which obviously needs finishing within a couple of days as it can't be wasted!

I'm now calorie counting to lose tge lovkdown excess, and I reckon cutting down the booze will make a big difference.

Going to try and avoid alcohol entirely, or honestly log it on mfp to be accountable!

@SissySpacekAteMyHamster Same here - if I start a bottle, I will finish it and if weekend - open a new one!
I do not have issues with calories, although wine keeps me out of overeating as it contains so much sugar!
On day 2 today ....

Try Smart recovery.

@randomer

Try Smart recovery.

What is smart recovery?

I actually downloaded an app on my phone that motivates you to quit.

It is the best so far I used, currently on day 5. The funny thing is I decided to do it on Friday, when usually this is the opposite I drink the most Fridays and weekend.
Some days I drink alcohol free beer and it does help. I also got LivPro suppliement, which helps with liver cleansing, but also if you drink one 175 ml glass of wine you get headache and it puts you off.

The app is I am sober.

Not wishing to be rude, but if you search Smart Recovery, you will find information.

Hi everyone.
Just coming back to this with an update.
I am feeling very pleased with myself.
It has been 24 days since I had that 'what am I doing' realisation.

The cravings are still as strong as ever when I am cooking but as soon as we have eaten tea I don't think of wine again.
I took some advice given earlier on the thread and have been drinking sparkling/soda/tonic water with cordials in a nice glass.

I haven't abstained completely but I am happy.
I had one glass of wine last Friday.
Normally I would have finished the bottle and looked for another.
Instead, I took my time to enjoy the wine and I actually stopped at 1 glass! That has NEVER happened!
I know I will struggle with moderation and I know I still have a long way to go and could easily go back to drinking every night if I gave in but I'm still feeling strong.

Also - I have lost 8lb!!

Well done @FlyingHighandDry x

@BooksMusicSnacks thank you!

That is brilliant flyinghighanddry.

Thanks @whatisforteamum
I'm still plodding on here.
It's still not getting any easier - the craving for wine is still there!

I found myself drinking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights last week but then had a stern word with myself and haven't had any since.
I am looking forward to a glass tomorrow though.

I am feeling much better in myself and have lost nearly a stone! (I do have 4.5 to lose though so not the greatest achievement!)

Well done, sounds like you are doing very well, we all have blips.

I went from having a drink 3-6 nights a week,to 1 night, had a blip this week with the bank holiday but hoping to get back on track again now and may abstain fully for April.

Does anyone else actually put on weight when not drinking? I found myself craving much more food and actually gained 2 kg. I hope this is temporarily.

@randomer

Try Smart recovery.

Tried. Useless.