The freedom thread ( continued ) Riding the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life!

[Adm1010]

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🙂).

We are a supportive welcoming bunch. No question is ever to “ silly “ and their is generally someone around if you are struggling

So just come here to chat or vent or check in . Whatever you need as you ride the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life

Thankyou to bunnies for hosting the last thread.
And here’s to the next 40 pages

Welcome @Borrowbox

Checking in 🙌

Thank you for the friendly welcome. Currently distracting myself through the evening of Day 4, fell asleep on the sofa earlier as so exhausted so now wide awake. Feels like I now have more of the evening to distract myself. Seem to be obsessed with reading all the positives of giving up. Trying to appeal to my vanity and looking at weight loss and skin benefits atm!

75 days! Having a tough day. The memory of the negative effects wears off more quickly than the rest. Best get some more quit lit!

My teenage dd now knows I have given up. She said she doesn’t like it when I drink - I am different and she finds it unsettling. There have been a couple of times she has witnessed drunken behaviour she shouldn’t have. So that’s it - I can’t go back now - or how can she trust me? What kind of behaviour would I be modelling to her? I need to keep focusing on this. It has gone on long enough.

Newmum738 well done for 75 days! How are you feeling today?

Borrowbox I have lost weight now although I probably ate a bit more to start with. But now it’s easier to not binge on fatty carbs because not hungover and craving them.

Evening . Checking in

Incredibly busy stressful work week . But I’m here . Not drinking .

Hello, checking in. Day 5 and last day of the working week so normally a "justified" reason to have wine (as opposed to Sunday to Wednesday when I would feel ashamed but still drink anyway). Been quite hard to not be grumpy with the cravings, but seem to have pushed through for another day.

Welcome @Steppered and @Borrowbox and all other newbies I may have missed (😳 ).
Big congratulations @Newmum738 on your 75 days!

I’m plodding along with no exciting news. I am feeling a bit of pressure from DH ads he thinks I’d be fine just having a few with him weekends and holidays. I know I need to stay strong and say no, as all evidence to date has shown I can’t only drink on weekends, it creeps back up. I will admit that I do miss having drinks on Saturday nights though. I really thought I’d be past this by now. It’s a bit depressing and frustrating. How is everyone else doing?

I hope you are doing well @Breathmiller, not seen you about in a bit. Busy lives of course!

Hello, checking in.

I'm afraid things are not going too well and I have had a number of slips but no binges or major episodes.

I'm not sure how long I'll be away from "home" for, possibly until end of month.

Morning all.

Well I am going to be honest and say I thought about leaving this thread. I had a slip Wednesday whilst at a business dinner.
Problems with my new contract and I felt deceived. I had three drinks but I declined more. I watched another lady at the table and she could have sunk more. It was enlightening. I slept like hell people.
I am not sure what today will bring, I came home to my DH having bought Gordons 0% so perhaps i will be ok with that. Must buy a fancy glass and some ice.
@Touty
I dont find each day easier. I am too tired for a bindge but I do dream about wine. Its hard but every AF day is a blessing to our booze ravaged bodies .

Morning all, I am sorry to hear that you are struggling @SavBbunny @Touty It is really hard when presented with life and social situations. You are right though, every day sober is a massive step.

Sorry you are feeling pressure too @iamyourequal I think you are being really strong. I would definitely give in at this stage, and you are right it would not stay at 'just' weekend. How long have you been sober? I found the book Alcohol Explained really good and my husband read the summarising conclusion which showed him the thinking. I don't know if that helps? He isn't that invested in me drinking though. I sometimes wonder how I would have been if he had a problem and gave up. I like to think I would have been supportive but have a horrible feeling I would have wanted them to drink alongside me.

Morning all. Hello and welcome to newbies.

Sorry some people are struggling but if you want to stay AF just dust yourself off, be kind to yourself and carry on, you can do this

Hello all, haven’t read all the latest messages but just posting to say welcome to newbies and to send strength to anyone struggling. Will catch up with the thread properly later.
Hang in there @Touty and @SavBbunny

I've been away from the threads for a bit as just been so busy, but I wanted to check in and say I've made it to two months alcohol free! It's been easier than I thought, but also still thinking about alcohol often, which I hope keeps subsiding.

Sorry to hear people are finding it a tough week @SavBbunny one day at a time - I hope you stick around here
@Touty keep focused on the changes you want to make and know will make you happy long term.
@ChampooPapi how has your week been? Keep checking in it’s great to hear from you.
Welcome all newbies or returners it’s good to know people keep finding this thread.
Checking in at day 200

I love reading about all your milestones on here, it is so inspiring! Huge congrats to @AlloftheTime on 200 days! Are you doing anything to mark the occasion? Congratulations too to @excitedemmi - so glad it's going well for you, I was wondering how you were getting on. And @Newmum738 on 75 days. It's amazing how fast the days stack up in retrospect. Congrats also to all the new posters, everyone who's counting in the 1s or teens... it does get easier!
I have just finished a and am going to sit on the sofa with my guitar for a bit. This week was funny, there were a couple of moments when I found myself thinking that in the same situation two years ago I'd have been pouring a glass of something at the earliest opportunity.
@SavBbunny and @Touty Hope you are both ok .

Sorry to all those struggling . Keep going , one foot in front of the other .

Well done @excitedemmi fantastic achievement

Hello everyone 👋

Hopping aboard if that's OK.

I did most of dry January, then tried to moderate.... I failed to moderate! I have been AF (again) now since 1st Feb. I've signed up to sober spring, but starting now; it's meant to be 92 days from 20th March. But really, my plan is to remain AF for the foreseeable.

Well done on the milestones^^!

Evening all. Have had a large Gordon's 0% and it's quite nice. I have a bottle of Nosecco in the fridge.
Today I started reading Allen Carr, Control Alcohol. It seems logical. No media lifestyle so far.
I slept through last night and I don't want to lose that. As my crusade involves weight loss the AF drinks are much lower in calories. Weigh in tomorrow

Thanks for the good wishes all! Tough one tonight but thankfully had some Nosecco in the fridge. Now treasuring the fact I am not drunk or asleep which I would have been if it had been the real thing!!

@Blackberryblossom - thank you! Nice question too
Had a takeaway and a zero cider as it happens 😊

Congratulations @excitedemmi and @AlloftheTime on your milestones.

Sounds like a lot of people having a tough week but making it through which is amazing.

I am about to finish Day 6 (a lot earlier to bed than my normal Friday nights). Just so tired but really pleased. Managed to challenge all of my cravings today. First sober Friday in a very long time

Lovely to read everyone's plans for their AF Friday nights! I'm getting some sort of takeaway (being discussed with dh as we speak) and will have a lime and soda in a minute. I am on day 11.

Thanks @Borrowbox and congratulations on your first sober Friday in a while! You will feel so pleased when you get up tomorrow morning. Your coffee (if you take it) will never have tasted so good! I’ve been AF since 1st Sept bar a few sips of DH’s drinks here and there, mainly over a challenging Christmas. Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ve listened to William Porter online and may try the book next. I cope fine most of the time but will admit I am a grumpy shit this week (hormones and awful toothache).
I have been dieting too since early Jan and it hasn’t really work. 5 weeks of going to a silly diet club and I have only lost 4lb. I couldn’t believe what masses of food everyone else seemed to be eating with great weight losses and mine was minimal and such bloody hard work!
You guys are great but I haven’t had a word of encouragement from anyone in RL about any of this, going sober or losing weight and it gets me down sometimes. DH attempted DJ and I was so supportive making early dinners, meals he wouldn’t miss wine with, making fruit teas and soft drinks etc. I feel I get no support back.
Anyway, sorry for moaning on here in a Friday night and I’m sorry that you’ve had wobbly weeks @Touty and @SavBbunny. Back at it I say!! From here on in! How is your trip @Touty? It sounds like you are reevaluating what home is?

Congratulations to @excitedemmi and welcome @GoodMuse.
Have a nice weekend everyone, busy day on thread sorry if I’ve missed stuff x