Mindfulness, Moderating and Not Texting In The Kitchen !

[Amdone123]

Morning all..hope you're all ok. Well I had busy weekend. I didn't quite stick to my plans : I drank Friday evening ( didn't eat), and drank last night, too. I don't feel great today but I am looking forward to having a break. I know I want to get back to being af and all its benefits.
I was thinking that I am able to stay in and not drink. My next step will be going out and not going mad !

@Soberoct , awh, thanks. Had a great day at work and felt tempted on the way home, but I was actually really hungry, so could have been that. I understand that feeling of being fed up with it, I just miss it sometimes. Anyway, I've eaten and I'm going to get in bed with a hot chocolate and a mince pie. @Mj20 , well done on Day 3. I'd join you this weekend but I'm going away so probably not. Though, I was thinking last night, I don't know why I feel I should drink just because I'm away......I'd love to have just a couple of glasses with my meal Saturday afternoon. There will be 4 of us and apart from my dh, who'll have a couple of beers, the other 2 are teetotal, so that should make it easier.

Evening All. I have feel I have finally picked the right day to stop. Feeling good so far.

I drink and smoke far too much at least 100 units a week & 20 cigarettes a day. I have tried a few on and off days to make sure I did not have any withdrawal symptoms and the only ones I felt were emotional ones.

My aim is to not drink unless socially. I live on my own and it is the easiest thing in the world to have a bottle of wine every night along with G&T's at the weekend. It's done through boredom and loneliness I suppose.

Anyway I decided it was high time to put my health first. As a consequence I shall be better off financially each week too.

So day 1 for me.

@Amdone123 I've been thinking about mince pies ALL day. It was frosty here the other morning and it made me feel all festive. I went to bed really early again last night and don't regret it but I still feel exhausted and would like a drink but I'm going to try and get to Friday this week. DH is on board too. I've started on sertraline again and I'm pretty sure that's what's knocking me about.

Well done on getting started @NitOnePearlOne with the money you are saving could you plough it into something to keep you busy in the evenings to take your mind off drink/cigs?

@NitOnePearlOne , hi. Well done on day 1. You sound very positive and pretty determined to stop. Good for you. Keep posting here and we'll help you as best we can.
I definitely understand the drinking through boredom. Boredom is a danger zone for me.

@TripleTipplePipple , opted for a viennese whirl instead ! 😋
Awh, just keep resting and sleeping if you can. You obviously need it. Good your dh is on board. I have a friend who tries really hard to give up, but her dh drinks every night, and as a result, she just finds it really difficult. I think I would !

Welcome @NitOnePearlOne ! Good luck on your journey! This is such a lovely place - really supportive so keep
sharing!
love the idea that @TripleTipplePipple suggested about the saved money!!!! And @TripleTipplePipple sounds like you’re doing so well! And @Amdone123 you’re sounding super positive too!!! Don’t blame you for not joining me this weekend if you’re out and about!!! I’m Christmas shopping Saturday so won’t be tempted to on Fri and then hopefully Saturday I’ll be too exhausted 🤣🤣🤣 anyway keep up the good work everyone 😘

Good morning. I am here. Just. Had an awful night's sleep. I am still determined to get to the end of my Day 2.

@TripleTipplePipple I tried hard to think what to do so I actually went out and bought all the wool, a new knitting bag and a pattern to keep me quiet in the evenings. I haven't started it yet but I hope to this weekend. I think I am using most of my energy in making sure I get through the first week of this.

@Amdone123 , @Mj20 and @TripleTipplePipple thank you for the welcome.

@NitOnePearlOne , sorry you didn't sleep too well. I think others have said on here that it can take a while for your sleep patterns to settle. I suppose it makes sense really. It's a little different for me as a proper night's sleep is the first thing I benefit from when af. ( I do struggle due to the menopause but that's another story !).
I'm just grateful I don't 'wake up' hungover.
Well done for getting day 1 done. Day 2 today, so one day at a time. You can do it.
Do you plan to keep a visual record of your progress, or is that not for you ?
I tick each day I've done, it motivates me.
You've got the knitting there for when you're ready - it's a great idea. ❤️

Morning, everyone. Hope we're all OK. Well, day 10 for me today. I'm not finding it too difficult. I slept well last night and woke up feeling happy and positive. I'm sat in bed with my dog, drinking tea and listening to the rain. It's moments like this I have to embrace because this is why I want to stop binge drinking. When I compare this feeling to how I feel 'the morning after the night before' ( anxious, tired, sick, lethargic to name a few delightful emotions), stopping is a no brainer.
I must admit I had a little seed planted last night that I'd have a drink this Thursday. I don't know where it came from or why, but I'm now working on eliminating that seed !! It's hard though.
Have a great day everyone.

Hi all, well done on Day 1 and Day 2 @NitOnePearlOne it's hard. I find I really fixate on needing a drink for several days then the urge goes.

And well done on Day 10 @Amdone123 that's brilliant. I bloody love listening to the rain. My favorite thing in the world is being in a caravan in a downpour. Dont ask me why but I sleep like a baby 😂

I managed a Day 2 but have had a prosecco tonight. I'm ok with that though as this is about cutting back. My goal is to stick to Fri/Sat but having two days off last week and this week again is as good of a start as I have made recently so it's fine. Next week I'll try and make it to thursday.....

Hi all, hope you are all ok! @NitOnePearlOne you sound very determined go for it and knitting sounds fab to take your mind off it! I bought one of those beginner crochet sets and it's just sat there as I gave up but what I did do was some colouring and some other forms of art which helped me cut back rather than not drink at all. I know what you mean @Amdone123 about going away doesn't always equate to drinking for me it's always been the same like 10am flight oh we are on holiday let's drink but my DH is the same. There was 2 holidays I went and didn't drink I don't know how I did it tbh. Why did I have that much willpower back then when kids were even tinier? I am slipping up so not having just 1 glass but whole bottles again. Last night was prosecco. I'm out Saturday night. I was making people.laugh at work yesterday and they said oh the Christmas party should be fun once you have had drinks in you you will be hilaioris but really? It's not the drink that does it it's personality but I've always lavked confidence. Sorry too much going on in my head. Thank you for being a safe space guys. @Mj20 @stoppingnow @Whitecistus and anyone else Ive not mentioned hope you are all well X oh and well done @TripleTipplePipple for day 2 you should be proud as it's the first few days which are the hardest!!!

Morning all ! @NitOnePearlOne , how are you doing?
@TripleTipplePipple , I think that sounds like a good plan. So long as we're in control, I think is the main thing. @Soberoct , I had a brilliant day at work yesterday too, never stopped laughing. And I know what you mean about drinking and socialising. I'm the same. If you met me, you wouldn't think I lacked confidence, but in social situations I definitely do.
So, 1 bottle of wine last night for me. Don't feel too good this morning but never mind. I'm still cutting back. I actually wouldn't have drank ( I was craving it though ), then dh said he was popping to the shop for electricity so I asked him to get me one. Funnily enough, I wouldn't have gone out for it myself. I always think that's a good thing.

Well I did day 2!! I have to admit I went to bed at 6.30pm though. Snuggled up and listened to an audible book. So I am now on Day 3!

I have someone coming to stay Saturday night and they neither drink or smoke so I am safe there.

Feel very head in the clouds today.

Thank you everyone for cheering me on.

Hi @Soberoct thanks for checking In. I had a drink Friday and Saturday but nothing since.
Still get the odd urge to have one but I’m trying to replace looking forward to booze to looking forward to something else. Like a new book and hot bath…. doesn’t always work but I’m definitely having more AF days than I’ve had in a verrrry long time

@NitOnePearlOne , yay ! Day 3 - you're doing great ! There's nothing wrong with going to bed at 6.30pm. I do the same 🤣
It's warmer in bed. My downstairs is open plan ( sounds fancier than it is ), and lovely and cool in summer. Winter, not so much.
Great that your guest doesn't drink or smoke. I'm spending the weekend with people who don't drink. It's going to be much easier to moderate.
Keep going. One day at a time x

@Whitecistus , that's great that you're having more af days. That's my aim. I've had some great months recently. I think October I did 27 af days. I like that figure because it's roughly just 1 day a week having a drink, which is manageable to me. I don't think December will be challenging for me either as I don't really do Christmas.

@Amdone123 ditto. I’d like to get to that place too.
27 days AF in a month is fab well done you. It’s always Friday and Saturday that I feel like having one but I don’t mind that if I can stay AF the rest of the week, i just wanted to crack that daily habit

Yes I get the daily habit thing @Whitecistus that's what I want to do I find myself drinking all week and then thinking it's the weekend now and dh drinks only at weekends so the nice bottles come out! One friend said oh it's Friday you have to have a drink I'm like thinking no I don't. I have anxiety too not majorly but drinking obviously doesn't help and I was a bit moody this morning and now I'm coming down with something so I'm not drinking tonight ! 27 days is fab it sounds fab 1 day a week out of the month @Amdone123 I'm hoping to go easy Saturday night as it's a big party big birthday but the next day I have to be up and out early for kids activities but that's never stopped me getting sloshed before !!!! Because I'm feeling unwell I won't drink I drank vitamin c but sometimes I think oh a whisky might help my throat (my DH says it will lol he's not good with any of this)

Well done on day 3 @NitOnePearlOne wow!! I wish I could crawl into bed at that time but my kids don't allow it. Dh bit unhelpful at the moment too.

@Soberoct , hope you're not getting that horrid bug that's doing the rounds. My dsis has been so bad with it this week - she said her throat is really sore. Eurgghhhhh, I hate winter. I often drink whisky with lemsip when I'm ill 🤒

Hope yer all doing ok tonite. So I drank again, I feel like a bit of a failure comparing to how alot of you are doing but said I would post and be honest it might give me a kick in the ass to catch up! @Amdone123 love how you can do so many nights AF ,that's my dream but for me at the moment it seems I'm the opposite, I'm lucky to get the few days AF a month! Here's to me starting tomorrow, I'm just going to set a goal of even 5 days. And then if I get that far hopefully il keep going! I smoke too so they seem to go hand in hand, so dunno whether to give up one bad habit first or go cold turkey and see how far I get! I've booked a counselling session too, think it might help as I've suffered a lot of health anxiety with a long time! Not sure if that will help but Wel see how I go! Best of luck ,ye sound like yer all doing so well x

@stoppingnow , you are doing well. You've recognised the problem, you're addressing it, you're trying ! Don't think of yourself as a failure, you're anything but. Also, I may be a bit further along but 1 thing I've learnt is to be kind to myself. I fell off the wagon the other night, but I just went with the flow. We're only human, we can only continue to learn ( incidentally, I won't drink any of the Christmas cupboard baileys when I run out of wine, everrrr again !).
Keep trying, you'll get there. Your counselling session is a great idea - well done on being proactive.
One day a time. ❤️

Hey @stoppingnow I haven't done well at all! I think I've had 1 af day in the last few months. Even though I was sick yesterday I thought a shot of whisky would help but it didn't! I did then look for more booze but thought no sober you are ill woman!!! I am feeling a bit better but no rest for the wicked unfortunately!

@Soberoct 🤣🤣, that made me laugh.

Thanks @Amdone123 . @Soberoct 😂😂 😂 that gave a laugh too !