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 !

Thank you so much ,both, @Mj20 and @Amdone123for the lovely enquiries x
My equilibrium is returning, and I feel much more positive. I have been for a run, and Pilates, and thinking of healthy eating again- all the things that alcohol wipe out!
Life coach sounds fascinating- well done for being proactive. Are you hoping for total abstinence?
MJ20- you are an inspiration!

@Buntyforgirls, I think I am aiming for total abstinence. I don't want to do it anymore. Don't get me wrong before I had those thoughts that I'm ok and not that bad blah blah but I know I am that bad really! It's worth a try - anything is!
Glad you're feeling a bit better. Alcohol really does wipe out all those good things. I have to keep remembering how much I miss out on when I'm hungover. I'm getting off the treadmill for good ! I was thinking earlier I'm 54, I could live hopefully another 20 years - do I want to carry on with these mental gymnastics or try a different tack ?

I got as far as three days in and fell off the wagon! So now I'm just going to keep checking in and getting as many AF days as I can. That's better than giving up yeah?

@youboozeyoulose, 3 days is great. Just keep trying.

Morning all ! Hope you're all good. Well I received a sample meditation from the coach yesterday. I listened to it to gauge my response ( I believe some people are more susceptible to hypnotherapy than others), and I enjoyed it. It actually helped me put some niggly problems into perspective. So I'm going ahead with the 90 min session. I feel really positive about it. No desire to drink today and yesterday someone gave me a bottle of wine to say thanks and I ( discretely !) passed it on to someone else.
I know it's only early days regarding the coach but I honestly just feel better. I think it will work long term but if it doesn't, I've tried !
Have a great day everyone !
P.s the package online was £180, but the coach thinks I'll only need 1 session so it's going to be £95.

@Amdone123 very interested to hear how you get on with that.

Have a good day everyone. I feel like having a drink tonight because I have so much going on at work. But I'm not going to! I'm not even sure I actually want the drink. It's like I feel I have to if I'm even the slightest bit stressed.

@youboozeyoulose, the sample meditation link the coach sent me to try was about stress. Just relaxing and getting rid of negative thoughts. I found it really useful. I'm sick of getting stressed in my stupid job then having a drink when I don't even want one ! ( sorry if I sound all evangelical! I think you can facilitate calm apps that are quite reasonably priced. Would you try them? ).

@Amdone123 Yes I would try them. I have some mindfulness recordings that come with my Fit Bit and they do seem to work. I was listening to a control your alcohol thing on YouTube, the guy doing it though had a very strong Northern accent and it kept distracting me!

Well done on the strategies @amdone123. I'm becoming very predictable, disappearing off to have half a bottle of wine Fri, Sat and Sun nights then back on the wagon Mon to Thurs. Chalking up my AF days, did 13 in August, so planning for at least 14 in Sept, hopefully more (a potential 18 if I stick to it). I have the Try Dry app, so any of you guys use it? It counts the number of dry days this week, this month and this year. Very motivating!

@Hohofortherobbers, that sounds good. Well done. If you achieve 14 days in September, you're heading in the right direction. 18 is brilliant, too. I've seen that app yes, it's good.
I think that although I have shown I can moderate, I've just had enough of those times when I get carried away ( Saturday for example). I'm going to try this hypnotherapy - I really want it to work but I'm nervous and I've been a bit antsy this week. But the session is booked and I'm also looking forward to it.
I had to talk to my ds because I need him to take the dog when I'm having the therapy and I thought he would laugh or say something to put me off ( I haven't told him exactly what I'm doing but he's got an idea....why else would I need the house to myself for 90 minutes, unless I've got something dodgy going on !), and he didn't bat an eyelid but just said he'd pay for it. What a star!
I'm open minded and willing and wanting to change, so here goes!
Hope everyone else is OK. Weather here is beautiful, but strangely not drank or been tempted. ( it's a bit strange my username is I'm done. It wasn't intentional. When I joined up, I was trying to put in Andy Murray - my hero, but mumsnet allocated me this username. But without sounding corny, I really am bloodeh done).

Hi all!
Just been catching up on all the posts from the week!!! I’ve been A/F all week, tonight I’m on 2nd glass of rose will finish the rest tomorrow! I feel in a good place with everything! @Buntyforgirls I’m not really an inspiration… in all truth I’ve been moderating for years but every now and again I over do it, have horrific anxiety etc etc! So until I carry this on for a sustained period it’s still very much debatable how well I will do! But hey I’m trying my best and I appreciate your kind words!
@Amdone123 well done for trying an alternative therapy! I can’t wait to hear all about it! And your husband sounds amazing/so supportive! @Hohofortherobbers I think your doing a great job! Moderating, plenty of A/F days and some great targets! Good work :)
Sorry if I’ve missed anyone!!! But I hope everyone on the thread is doing ok! Here’s to a good (moderated/mindful) weekend! Xx

@Mj20, such a lovely positive post to wake up to. You really are doing brilliantly and you are an inspiration. You've come such a long way. I know I don't know you personally but it just goes to show up how you were so anxious and worried when you first posted your own thread to now. Too much alcohol is a terrible thing !!
Hope everyone is doing OK. I've not drank since Saturday, was obviously hungover Sunday but kept away from it all week as I just can't be bothered. I've been working, exercising, playing with the little one and even thrown a bit of housework in. Also because I've not been drinking I've not been eating too much rubbish ( had a treat last night but definitely less calories than 2 x wine). So I feel lighter.
I'm apprehensive about the session. Looking forward to it. More worried about the Zoom call failing ( I'm rubbish with technology and have never had a zoom call !!). But the actual therapy I'm ok with. I've been doing the sample meditation to build my muscles so to speak and it works for me.
Have a great weekend everyone. Stay strong and c'mon Emma !!!! ( apologies if that a bit random. I'm a massive tennis fan )

@Hohofortherobbers Thanks for suggesting that app. You're right, it is very motivating :)

Evening all ! Hope you've all had a good weekend. I'm on day 8 and it's been quite easy. Am not sure why, though I have been meditating for 20 mins a day. Just listening to the recording really and breathing!!
Had a slight craving today, but sundays have always been difficult. It didn't last long. Then I thought I can't actually be bothered buying it, buying cigarettes etc. Plus if my granddaughter was coming round, I don't want to be smoking etc. I wouldn't in front of her, I'd go out with the dog but I still don't like doing it. I've got loads done this weekend. It's actually been really nice. Better than last Sunday when I lay in bed and ate rubbish all day.
A glass of champagne would have been nice when Emma won, but I settled for a peppermint tea. Rock n roll !

Happy new week, everybody!
Such positive stories to share!
I am muddling along, one day at a time, sometimes AF sometimes a few glasses, and avoiding binges_ my dreaded event.
Good luck with the therapy, sounds interesting @Amdone123. I have been listening to quit drinking forever audio hypnosis- hoping that will help too.
Enjoy the week all!

Fabulous sleep last night, feeling positive and full of energy!
Hope you are all good too x

Thanks for the post @Buntyforgirls Managed another night AF and going to try and get tonight in the bag too.

I too had a great sleep and have so much more energy. Have a great day everyone!

Hi all!! Lovely to hear some positive messages @Buntyforgirls @youboozeyoulose and @Amdone123!!!

All is well here! Moderated over the weekend successfully and back to A/f this week!!!!
I’m using a new app which is great for tracking the data! It’s Drinkaware! I went back and inputted everything from this thread (alchol free days etc) and it really helps build a picture! Out of 37 days I’ve tracked 31 have been booze free and none classes as “binge”! So I’m really pleased with that! Just thought I’d recommend it as it’s a great tool!

Hope to catch up soon xxx

@Mj20, that sounds great. Well done for your moderating weekend! @Buntyforgirls and @youboozeyoulose, good to hear you slept well. I bounced out of bed today - day 10. I'm feeling great. A few cravings but nothing much. I also woke up in the middle of the night a bit panicky about what I'm doing! I wonder why I can't just leave well alone but the hangovers after bingeing are really painful and I don't want to feel like that again, so tomorrow is D day.
I'll let you all know how I get on.
Keep going, folks, you're all doing really well.

Thinking of you tomorrow @Amdone123 and can’t wait to hear all about it! Your doing so well and this can only help!! Xx

Does anyone else feel really tired a few days after giving up drinking? I've been in bed early the last two nights and am having an early night tonight. I feel like I can't keep my eyes open.

Also annoyed at myself because I had a beer this evening. However, it was a 275ml Becks, so I'm going to try and consider today a win.

Massive well done @amdone123 and also to you all for moderating well on the weekend. I was away for the weekend, had my usual half a bottle Fri, sat and sun. Not sure what cane over me, maybe the change in routine, but couldn't resist opening another bottle last night, so half last night and the rest tonight... Not a great start to the week. Must do better

Evening all ! You're all doing really well. You're having a go and that's the main thing. @youboozeyoulose, don't be annoyed with yourself for having that. I think that's good ! I can't comment on the really tired feeling because I'm always lively when not drinking. I have heard other people say this though. Do you think it might take a while maybe?
So, had my session this morning. It was really good. It was 90 minutes ; the first 30 minutes we had a chat and then we did the meditation part. She's a lovely, funny, really likeable lady so I was comfortable and relaxed throughout. We looked at visualisation, coping strategies and the importance of breathing !
One of the visualisation exercises was to imagine you're at a crossroads and it's 5 years down the line ; what do you want to see / not see. I found that really moving because all I could think of was my granddaughter. She's 6, in 5 years she'll be 11.id like to be here for her if I can.
I hope I've given you all a snapshot. I've definitely not done it justice. It was very effective. I'm taking one day at a time, I've got my recording ( the coach condenses it to 15 minutes), and I'm going to listen to it every morning. She said I should try for 100 days and I was surprised that I felt enthusiastic because tbh, that would have scared me before. I know what I want now. It's really clear.

Congratulations @Amdone123 for pushing your comfort zone and doing something so productive. I felt tearful when you said about your granddaughter. Your love for her really shines through! I really hope this helps you to become the person you want to be. Xxx

I’m feeling a bit down tonight- non alchol related. Just feeling a bit stuck and sorry for myself! Nothing an early night won’t cure I’m sure.

Xxxx

@Mj20, thank you.
Sorry to hear you're feeling down. I usually get an early night too. Tomorrow is another day !