Anyone giving up alcohol for Lent?

[wintertime6]

I tried dry January, I definitely cut back a lot but wasn't completely dry. Then it seems to have creeped up a bit over the past couple of weeks. I feel like I need to show myself I can actually do this!

I'm doing couch to 5k and should hopefully complete it around Easter time, so think I'll see if I could give up alcohol for that period as well. And hopefully see benefits from both.

I'm not entirely sure I can do it, but I'm going to give it a go. Anyone with me?

🙌🏻😇💚

I'm in, too! I did dry January and it was transformational, but I never intended to give up.completely. I've started again and the cost and the headaches are making me rethink. Sadly, I don't enjoy it like I think I used to.. an unintended consequence! And my weight has shot up. I think Lent is a good timeframe to pull myself back together. I actually enjoyed dry January so looking forward to this

Morning all, great to hear such determination- it's just what I need. Day 4 today for me. Early rise at 5.30am, but at least am not hungover. Was once again fretting about the weekend, but had to remind self that my alcohol free weekends in Dry January were the best ! Plus, found out yesterday that I can have my jab Saturday morning, so am thinking/ hoping that I don't want to put poison in my body after that.

Yes count me in.January I cut back to 2 units per week.Inspired by this I'm doing dry Feb.For me it was just a habit tbh.I love a challenge.

I’m not struggling which is weird 😬

Hopefully everyone is well and feeling motivated to continue through the weekend. Like most people it's the time I usually find the hardest, I think it's just something to do, there's only so much of being in the house or going for walks I can handle sometimes! But trying to focus on waking up hangover free, now that I'm in my 40's my body just can't deal with it any more.

Was up early this morning and got a run in before work and have felt pretty good all day, determined to keep going!

Good luck with first Friday eve of lent—I’m drinking ginger beer, lime and cream soda, surprisingly nice! What’s
everyone else planning to drink tonight?

I've just arranged to sell my last 8 cans of lager for 2 quid less than I bought them for (phew). They've been threatening me all day. Hoping that'll help me get through Friday night without a drink.. all I need to do is not go to the shop...... Hope everyone else is doing ok!

How's everyone doing tonight? I enjoyed a cup of tea earlier ☕️ Work was a bit crazy today and I came home with a really fuzzy head and actually the last thing I wanted was a glass of wine as I knew it would only disrupt my sleep and make me feel worse even worse tomorrow.

DH has cracked open a beer but he's someone who can easily just have one or sometimes two. I could never do that with wine. If I opened a bottle it would rarely have any left at the end of the evening, which is partly why I need to do this. But it's not actually bothering me. If the weather's ok in the morning I might try and go for a run. But I'm definitely looking forward to a good sleep tonight.

Morning everyone. Hope the start of the weekend ( Friday night), wasn't too challenging for you all, and you managed to tell the Wine Witch where to go. I didn't want wine, as am under the weather, and I won't want it today either, so all good.

Hi everyone I've had one unit all Feb.Tbh I had one of my pets PTS weds on a grey rainy day and almost reached for wine but didn't.😊
I didn't start drinking until my late 30s then only a few each week.
One good thing is I've lost the bloated tum feeling and my jeans fit better which is great.
Onwards and upwards.

Can I join please? I gave up booze in Lent 2020 but fell off the wagon a week into lockdown (2 weeks off Easter Sunday 😠). My sleep was so much better whilst not drinking so looking forward to some rest over the next few weeks!

Anyone got any good alcohol replacements? I enjoy San Miguel 0% beer but haven't found any good "wine" yet. I've been looking at Amazon's alcohol free gin offers and I'm thinking I might just drink tonic water!

@Zampa, what is your poison ?! I drink too much wine, have found alcohol free wine ok ish, but sometimes a trigger if that makes sense. It depends on my mood. I enjoyed nosecco and beesknees was lovely..they were both good for gatherings, as I pretended to drink ( I know!). I've never really drank lager, so the alcohol free versions I find ok, as I have nothing to compare with ( hope this makes sense!). Alcohol free perroni is delicious (not cheap, £4.50 I think, tesco), but Bavaria (home bargains, £1.99), hits the spot for me.
I've found alcohol free wines a waste of money, tbh. I enjoy sparkling water with lemon, and if I put it where I can see it, I drink it. Plus, it's good for me, and I always notice my skin looks great after a few days. And the better quality of sleep helps.
I think it's probably trial and error, see what works for you. I will say that the good thing about af drinks is you only want 1 or 2 !

I'm in. I was giving up caffeine too but cracked in that already. DH rarely drinks which helps. Noone has noticed that I am not drinking.

@Amdone123 I think that you're right to stick to water. I worry that substitutes are just a crutch anyway.

My DDs love virgin strawberry mojitos so maybe we'll make lots more those!?

@Zampa, they sound ideal for Summer x

I'm in. I have 100% been drinking too much, almost every night. I'm sick of feeling horrible and eating shit, not to mention the money I end up wasting on take out cos I don't want to eat healthy.

I'm the heaviest I've ever been and am really bloated, it's just been confirmed I don't have endo so I can't even blame that.

I had a bitter lemon with lemon slices last night and it was lovely.

Tonight will be tough for me cos I'm having a day of cleaning and even though it's Sunday and work in the morning, I'd usually cave and get a bottle of prosecco to sit down with at the end of the day!

But, that will not happen today.

Good luck to everyone

46 sleeps with no wine. We can do this. 4 sleeps completed already. Well done❤️

Tonight will be tough for me cos I'm having a day of cleaning and even though it's Sunday and work in the morning, I'd usually cave and get a bottle of prosecco to sit down with at the end of the day!

Solidarity! I usually do "wironing" (ironing with a glass of wine) on a Sunday night with some trashy TV. Habits are hard to break!

zampa we can do it! I've found myself coming to bed at like 8pm so I'm not tempted to drink.

We can do it!! I've downloaded an app that will help me keep on track, I'm 100 hours sober! Whoop

Can I join? Tried a few years ago. Lasted just over a week! However this time around I am SO motivated. Feel like I need to take back control over some aspect of my life as literally everything else, thanks to COVID/lockdown, is determined for me.

Also think I’m best not substituting. I tried a bottle of alcohol free wine last night (Hardy’s Chardonnay) and found it pretty vile. Also worry too about that becoming a crutch.

Find I’m going to bed earlier & sleeping a little better. Win, win.

Ha @maldivemoment, I tried that last night too!

I seem to remember Eisberg being alright but I've not drunk it in 3+ years.

It's going to be interesting to see if I lose weight. Food and drink have been keeping me going through this lockdown. I've lost all motivation to exercise so hoping no alcohol helps in some way.

What is it about a roast and wanting a glass of wine after.It must be association.

Hi everyone 💚
Friday night was hard. Today is quite hard too.
I’ve given up fags and booze and I’m fasting (eat one meal a day).

My sleep is terrible 😬

But all in all I’m managing (just)

It’ll soon be a week.....we’ve got this!!!!

@CautiousBlonde, yeah today is hard for me, too. Sundays always were, though. I find them so boring. Have been so tempted to drink but I know the disappointment/ hangover tomorrow will be greater than the craving today. I don't want to drink out of boredom anyway. Probably a good thing we're in Lockdown ( first time I've said that!), as if pubs were open, I'd be in one.