The Freedom Thread (Continued) - Enjoying the positives of an alcohol free life *Title edited by MNHQ*

[BunniesBunniesBunnies]

Hello all,

This is a thread for people who have decided that life is much better without alcohol!🤩 These threads were started by @Drybird, and they have changed the lives of many people.

Some posters on these threads have been sober for a long time, and some are only just starting. We are a very friendly and inclusive bunch and we are always excited when someone new joins the thread. The only thing we ask is that our posters have given up alcohol completely. Talk of moderation can be triggering for some people, so this thread is not the right place for that (there are other moderation threads🙂).

I hope to see many familiar names on this thread, and some new ones too! We always welcome anyone to share their feelings, ask questions or simply “check in”🙂

I’d also like to thank @Breathmiller for hosting the last thread (and to ask for your forgiveness for shamelessly stealing your thread title😳) - Thank you @Breathmiller 💐

Thanks all!

Bunnies

Hello just checking in. I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for this space and all of you here

I am still sober. I have bought AF wine and other AF drinks. I really want this as I am now frightened for my health. Since my binge last Saturday I have had this dull ache in the area where I think my liver is, I don't remember having this before

Thanks for replying with that info @Chrispackhamspoodle. I’ve noted it. I’m not for having a Mirena as that didn’t work well for me before, but I will ask about the Everol!
I’m pretty organized now thanks @Touty.
MIL has arrived safely. I’ve got through night 1 of entertaining AF and all is going as well as can be expected.

I’m so glad so many of you are on here posting , please don’t disappear over Christmas. I’m gonna need ya all! I already have a situation sitting heavy with me. DH questioned why I hadn’t got any fizz in for my DM and MIL for Christmas. Now prosecco was my favorite drink. and I had already decided nobody was ever going to be drinking it in my house. However I have since seen my lovely friend (who doesn’t know I’m now AF) and she gave me a lovely looking bottle of Fizz. It’s now earmarked for DM &MIL on Christmas Day. I’m telling you all so that I can tell you all that I’m not going to have any of it. I’m going to have Nozeco. There that is that.

I hope everyone is doing well. Someone up page (don’t want to double check and lose my post) mentioned getting through the weekend and this is helpful, just to see it as one more AF weekend, hopefully with better food. Unfortunately all to be cooked by me 😂. Please all stay on!

@Touty. I meant to say I hope your ache passes ok and you feel much better soon.

Thanks @iamyourequal - I will check in here everyday over Xmas im not going anywhere so we can cheer each other on hoping it's not too stressful for you there now just think Xmas is only really two dsys. My relatives live in another country so it's just me and DH here and no booze in the house. Remember that it's your holiday too and you need to rest too, try not to run around too much.

Checking in . Happy Xmas Eve all

Just checking in! @iamyourequal I totally relate to not wanting your old “favourite” drink in the house! I really don’t mind people drinking around me but I do get a bit twitchy when someone in my house is having my favourite tipple! This is very rare thankfully. If you didn’t want to have to Prosecco in your house at all this would be totally understandable and your family should understand - your health and well-being is more important than their drink for sure. It’s very gracious of you to reserve that bottle for them - massive kudos to you.

I’m feeling quite good about AF Christmas so far. We’re having a very low key Christmas this year which helps. I’ll try to check in on the thread over the next few days. If you are struggling (as we all do sometimes - I had a hairy moment after a difficult work meeting yesterday!) do post. Take a deep breath and play it forwards (or at least that works for me). And think about how bloody smug you’ll feel when Christmas is over and you’ve nailed it👍💪

I am struggling today. Having a wobble. Feeling pretty low and meh.Feeling like a loser that I can't even look forward to a drink to lift my spirits.

Wobbles are normal @Touty. Would drinking really lift your spirits or would it just numb the shit feelings? It was always the latter for me… Have some really nice snacks and a cup of tea, or drag yourself out for a brisk walk. Your feelings are very normal, so don’t berate yourself for them. Take it easy and look after yourself.

@Blackberryblossom @pantherinapantsuit I'm telling myself HF not AF - makes a big difference! This is my 4th weekend now and thanks to the improved AF drinks range in all the supermarkets, I don't feel much like I'm missing out. I'm reminding myself of all the things which are better this way. We are having Xmas dinner today so have been cooking & sipping wine all day. Probably after the first one I would have felt tired and tetchy but obviously I feel fab because so can drink what I want and it doesn't affect me. Very happy about that!

@Touty sorry you're finding it hard today. Sending strength and resolve to you xx

Sounds great @Newmum738! What is HF?

@BunniesBunniesBunnies Hangover Free!

Hold steady @touty. As someone on here said (sorry, rubbish memory) if it was that easy then we'd all have done this ages ago. Bunnies has some great ideas up-thread.

Happy Christmas @Newmum738! Can I ask what AF wine you have please? Always on the look out for recommendations!

@BunniesBunniesBunnies , sorry to hear about your difficult meeting. Hope it's all well behind you now.

I am on the sofa with dd, catching up on Christmas Masterchef. Then I'm going to mix up something lovely in a very pretty glass. Happy Christmas Eve everyone.

You are so not a loser @Touty. You have this in hand. I’m sorry you feel meh, that’s not good. I can send my MIL to you!…lol. All going ok. Took her out for long walk this afternoon. I’ve run out of the small talk already….can’t even have a stiff one to keep it going this evening.
Thanks at @BunniesBunniesBunnies. Sorry you had crappy day at work. Well done staying strong though. I’m calculating my parents arriving 3pm tomorrow and the prosecco will be am empty bottle by 4pm. I will feed them all, drive them home by midnight and feel super virtuous. Have a lovely Christmas everyone. X

Checking in 🎄

Hi everyone
I am reading if not posting so much.

Great to see the usual support for and from everyone here.

I'm currently waiting on PCR results due to a close contact. As long as it comes tomorrow then Boxing Day plans with adult children and grandson will be fine. Crossing fingers and toes.

Whenever it's just the four of us we choose to do a slightly different Christmas Day dinner and keep the traditional dinner for Boxing Day. This year is French.

It's nearly all made and/or prepared and ready to go tomorrow. So, a nice relaxed Christmas Day for us.

Keep going everyone. You will have a wonderful Christmas without alcohol and the feeling afterwards that you did it is honestly the best!

I have been feeling so good this week. Feel like something has lifted emotionally and looking forward to a brighter year ahead. Definitely looking forward to a good chunk of time off work. My last 2 holidays - summer and October I had health issues so this is bliss to think I have a couple of weeks with no work.

So, wishing you all a Joyeaux Noel fellow Freedomeers. I'll pop in over the next few days to check in with you all.

[quote Newmum738]@BunniesBunniesBunnies Hangover Free! [/quote]
Ace!!

@Blackberryblossom I have some classic Nosecco and an M&S AF Merlot which is pretty good. I also got a mixed case of AF beers from Beerhawk which has been fab. They taste good, lots of reputable brands with their own AF versions. Definitely recommend if you like beer.

Hello everyone, I'm just swinging by to wish you all a marvellous, Hangover Free (

@BunniesBunniesBunnies yes, I suppose numbing rather than lifting is the best way to describe it

@ new mum thanks

@iamyourequal you can send MIL here for a couple hours to give you a break, my DH loves to talk so he will entertain her lol

So I’ve eaten and feeling a bit better. I think I will have to start eating earlier to deal with the cravings.

Best wishes for HF/AF Christmas, everyone! Today was a potentially hard day with the first celebrations with my family, but I just told myself and everyone I'm not drinking, and that was that! I couldn't even get tempted as I'd already made the decision not to drink! I know there will be harder days ahead, but I was concerned about today being a hard day and it didn't transpire, so yay! Plus, my husband is really impressed with my not drinking (it's only been like two weeks - I'm not setting the world on fire!, but I think he is impressed with how serious I'm taking it).

@Breathmiller loving so much about your post. I have all my fingers and toes crossed your test drives tomorrow and is all negative and you can proceed with your good self into boxing day family celebrations. Thank you for all the support you give on here and for your honestly and generous spirit and open heart. We salute you 💜

Merry Christmas everyone 🙌

*arrives

@excitedemmi girl done good 💪

We are proud of you ! 💜