Day 1 starts tomorrow and I need all the help!

[Blondefancy]

hello everyone! Ive always wanted to start a thread on this as I’ve been in denial about how much and to what extent I drink. I’ve always really liked a drink and I will find any occasion to do so, whether that be in a good mood or bad. I just can’t do it anymore, I feel shit when I do drink and I feel like i can’t be there for my kids when I do decide to have a couple of glasses at bedtime. I lie about how much I drink and try to cover it up, I drink a bottle of wine one night and then swear I won’t drink for another 2 nights - I won’t cave in for a night but then instantly make the same mistake. Averagely I don’t drink to copious amounts but I drink frequently enough to where I question what the hell im doing. I enjoy life and want to get on with it alcohol free! Every time I swear I won’t drink I just end up caving in or simply forgetting that I made this promise to myself. I have 2 beautiful kids and a lovely partner yet I drink wine in the evenings and just wake up feeling like shit - just wondering why I still continue to do it. I want tomorrow to be day 1 and would love it if others are on the same page.

Hi Blondefancy! It was by chance I found your post about day 1 (though I know it's not still day 1 for you now) as yesterday promised myself today will be my day 1. It was supposed to have been yesterday but still had some wine left and the temptation was too much. I don't drink every day but for the past week have been marking drinking days on the calendar (otherwise I conveniently forget how often I've been on the wine) and in the last 8 days have drunk on 4 of them. And it's not just a glass of wine with my evening meal! It's anywhere between a bottle and a bottle and a half of wine. On Monday afternoon though I went 1 better and shockingly drunk 2 bottles of wine over the course of the afternoon and early evening. Yesterday I felt the worst ever and swore I'd never drink again...until the evening when still feeling rough I came across another bottle and thought 'hair of the dog' well it worked but this morning can see what a slippery slope I'm on if I carry on like this. The stupid thing is is that I feel so much better when I've not been drinking. I think I view the wine as a well deserved treat to myself. But it's not much of a treat the next day when I feel like crap and look even worse! I liked the idea of having some skin care treats instead that I can use in the evening. Anyway, how are you finding it now? I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for support and inspiration and try desperately not to cave!!

Well done for coming over and joining us!! 😁 yes I’d love to know how others manage to get through hot summers without a glass of wine or G&T! 😳

Never beat yourself up about it when you’re trying your hardest to cut down! I’m definitely known for just drinking on any occasion, it doesn’t help my mum is exactly the same! So I’m sure it’s where I’ve gotten my habits from. Day 5 and feeling stronger! My face feels less puffy but the real test will be the Friday night. Even though I’m a stay at home mum I will still mark the weekend as a time to have a few in the evenings, but it makes me not want to do anything during the day so I force myself to? Which can’t be fun for the kids. The biggest challenge will be going out for a meal and not having anything alcoholic. I find I’m drinking more tea but am so much more hydrated 😂 xx

hope everyone else’s sober days are going well! 💕

Yes @Blondefancy ffffffriday night!!!
im going to go to bed at 6.30 😬

I am day 11 now and my skin feels so much more hydrated and less puffy, my sleep is better and I am feeling much more positive! Just have to keep this up as I know when I feel better I am more likely to think "one wont hurt". I have a 2 week holiday coming up soon and am trying to think how I will get around not drinking with family as this would be the norm in the evenings, hotel seems to have nice AF cocktails so hoping to have lots of these and wake up fresh everymorning. I definitely don't miss the hungover lethargy each morning!

Who is feeling tempted today?! 😭 when it’s a really stormy day outside like today I always look forward to a glass of wine whilst watching some crap TV! I went food shopping today and didn’t get any booze! So we have none that will tempt me in the house (aside from some mulled wine leftover from Xmas which is not very appealing!) well done everyone for getting this far and even further! I have got lots of chocolate stocked up incase it’s needed 😭 x

Getting closer to the weekend is getting a bit harder, I have more energy now as well and I am starting to feel in a party mood. Just going to keep telling myself how good I feel waking up with no hangover!! Eat the chocolate and don't feel guilty for one second 🤗

Ah hang in there :) can you plan something nice to do for when littles are in bed(or whenever wine usually comes out??) i’d give some suggestions but mumsnet helpfully reloaded so lets just try and get this little para into the ether eh?

-different flavour herbal tea
-facepack / different smellies from a gift you’d opened but forgotten about
-a puzzle, or any sort of “occupy your hands” knitting? Crochet? Drawing?
-a really yummy dinner!!

I read this is nice as f* cocktails and thought to myself - yeah that would be hard to resist!!!
then re-read it and understood! Made me chuckle.

Feeling very tempted today / this weekend. Thoughts of ‘is it really that bad if you only drink once a week?’ etc. Will be fine tonight but going to dinner at a friend’s tomorrow where the wine will be flowing! Stay strong everyone. And take each day at a time!

Some of you sound like you're doing brilliant. I failed yesterday. I'm aiming to not drink in the week at all and only have a small amount with weekend evening meal (only Fri & Sat), but DH walked in with a bottle of wine and that was it - I got 2 glasses out. I'm trying to encourage him to get back to not drinking at all, he can go for weeks and weeks without anything and get himself really fit and well looking. Well, that was about 8 years ago. He's 50 now and doesn't exercise, his diet is shit, he drinks to try and destress from a stressful job and basically seems to be turning into Homer Simpson in front of my eyes! Worried he'll have a heart attack eventually.

So we both need to cut it right back, but it's very hard when one of you walks in from picking up ready meals or whatever cos you're too stressed and knackered to cook then says "I got this too - I need it after the day I've had."

Taken the child to the museum. They sell wine in the cafe. WHHHHHY. The sun’s out, it’s Friday afternoon, and those perfectly packaged mini bottles look so bloody tempting.

Oh gosh! I know right! Don’t do it Ho, you’ll feel crap and it’ll be so much harder to look after wee one if you are tired. Fizzy water, yum!

Yup - it’s the witching hour.. or two hours… if I can make it through until 8 without caving in I should be fine.
But right now it’s 5.30 and I keep thinking “one won’t hurt”
it’s only day 5 ffs.

can I go to bed at 5.31pm?

So last night I did have ONE glass of red wine (was very happy it was just the one!!) and now back to not drinking! I didn’t actually want anymore after 5-6 days of not drinking! Am at least proud I got that far as it’s a first!! Will dust myself off and march forwards to get past 6 days! 👏 I can’t beat myself up too much otherwise it just makes it worse 😭

hope everyone is doing good today!! I’m sorry for letting the team down 😭 I am in bed with the cat drinking herbal tea 🍵 rock on!

I totally get what you mean!! If there’s anywhere with the option of a sneaky glass (as long as I’m not driving) I’ll dive in!! I had 2 glasses of wine once in the theatre before a mr tumble show 😭