Sober October - Penguin huddle and chat

[goldfinchonthelawn]

@brightspice has a great thread going on how to do Sober October with a difference, with inspirational actions to take each day.

I'm on there but also fancied a general chat and penguin huddle for anyone up for it, so as not to hijack that focused thread with other stuff.

penguin huddles came about on a Dry Jan thread a couple of years ago. If you feel like a drink and struggle, come to the huddle and we tuck you up in the middle and surround you until you feel ready to waddle off into sobriety again.

Yesterday I had cranberry and soda while all around me were dirnking gin and wine. I loved waking up with a clear head.

Here are some penguins for Day 2.

I really wanted wine as yesterday was challenging but after my first glass, I decided I also want to do this so tipped the rest down the sink, had a lemonade in a wine glass (I like a wine glass!) & went to bed! So have woken up feeling good

Thank you very much PaperWhite!

I feel like I’ve stumbled across something really good by chance and have such a strong urge to share my discovery - like finding an amazing laden fruit tree on a forest walk - I’ve eaten myself full, filled my rucksack and carrier bags and I want to seek everyone else wandering through and tell them to get in on the bonanza- it’s far too much to keep to myself!

I think I'm avoiding all social situations but maybe I just don't enjoy their company! Does that make me unsociable though?

@Soberoct maybe you just prefer other ways of socialising? I think the premise of alcohol-based socialising is pretty uncomfortable anyway - like away days at work- suddenly being expected to let your guard down and be natural with people you don’t really know- you have to be extremely extroverted or have a deep sense of trust in yourself to navigate that sober.

@RuLu I think you did something amazing by having the presence of mind to stop yourself going into autopilot with that second glass. I have found it really helpful to think about what it is that I actually enjoy and get out of it. I too love a wine glass with a stem - I love the whole ‘special treat’ thing about it. I also love the feeling of ‘ooo a lovely cold bottle of beer’ - grabbing the bottle opener and popping off the top -especially sitting down with a slice of pizza to watch a good film. I now realise that I enjoy all the paraphernalia and ceremony around alcohol rather than the alcohol itself and it’s so amazing to have all these AF alternatives, so we can have all the good with none of the bad.

Go you @lifeturnsonadime!

Well done @Cherrymix!

I finished watching Karen Pirie on ITV hub yesterday. I really liked that - dunno if anyone else is into their crime dramas.

Thanks everyone, I had a sober birthday!!
Im currently not experiencing any cravings, which is nice.

@Bookaholic73 belated happy sober birthday!!

@EndlessTea thank you so much for the post about 'as good as it gets' I had a real moment off the back of your post this morning, looking at the most amazing tree whilst on a dog walk. (Sounds batty I know!) Usually on a Friday, I'm shuffling along head down and hoping I don't run into someone I know. This morning, I stopped and gazed in almost wonderment at the vivid colours on this tree I must walk past all the time... I thought 'wow, this is as good as it gets!'

1 week in and no real cravings so far - it's almost a relief to make the decision and not waste the headspace arguing with myself. Have a lovely Friday Penguins... stay strong!!

Yeah - first sober Friday night for me in a long time. I'm doing SOCT to reset my drinking habits. Was thinking about drinking/not drinking during my last hour of work, I avoided the CoOp on my way home which is my usual Friday evening port-of-call and after two cups of tea, the feeling of wanting an glass of cold white wine disappeared - plus I wasn't going back out in the rain. I have new flavours for my soda stream so I'm going to work through them. I avoided the mindless snacking too. Feeling positive for tomorrow night - and the rest of the month.

I'm not sure I deserve to be in the huddle anymore, I had wine on Thursday night AND way way too much last night.
I'm so annoyed with myself. I can't understand why I can't seem to have the willpower to stop.

I'm planning a sober evening tonight. Will I do it? Who knows 😐

Don't worry @PaperwhiteTheGhost if you can do tonight do it!are you out anywhere? Have you got it in the house? I think we are all going through similar things!

Tried some AF wine this evening, it’s disgusting

@PaperwhiteTheGhost just don’t give up trying, that’s what’s important.

I'm home alone for the evening. I've managed to get home without going via the shops so no wine in the house. I'm just about to get in the bath with a hair mask on so that'll kill a bit of time.

Thing is, I don't WANT to be killing time. I want to enjoy my evening, just without wine. And preferably without staying up all night on my phone, like I did last night!

Dont give up @PaperwhiteTheGhost try and treat every lapse as a learning experience.. feedback not failure. What’s triggering you? Is it one of the obvious (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) is it FOMO? Reward driven? I think if you can work out what’s driving your cravings you’ll be able to better match your response without white knuckling it.. what ever you do, stay in the huddle!!

@Bookaholic73 I hate NA wine too but Becks blue and Sainsburys low alcohol cider is nice!

Just had a lovely evening with friends drinking M&S sparkling elderflower from a flute! No one had a clue & I wasn't smashed at the end of the night!!!

No wine for me! I'm ever so proud of myself.
The craving went away once I was in the house and settled. I had water with dinner and then a cup of tea- the later it got, the less I wanted a drink.

well done @RuLu and @PaperwhiteTheGhost. I hope everyone is having a lovely sunny Sunday.

Ive made some flat pack furniture and sewn up my sons school bag (it was starting to look like a colander!) Both tasks far more pleasant hangover free!

I managed to say no to a friend offering me champagne on Friday and today I was hosting a Sunday lunch and stuck to water when there was lots of wine on offer, so ffeling pretty good but have fallen off the wagon once. I am not going to feel guilty about it. Just back into the huddle, knowing I've had way less wine than I'd have had if I hadn't joined Sober October. Hope everyone else is doing OK.

I had some wine with Sunday dinner at my MILs, mostly because they'd all think I was pregnant if I didn't! Nowhere near as much as usual though.

@goldfinchonthelawn that's a great way to think of it. I have definitely drunk less than I would have if I hadn't found the huddle.

I'm on a late shift tomorrow, going to aim for a whole week AF this week. I really think I can do it now that I've managed 3 completely AF evenings 😊

Hello! Can I join please?

Hi @Meezer2 its a bit quiet on here today but you are most welcome! I hope you’ve had a nice evening. x

Hi @Meezer2 and welcome.

Hi @Meezer2 welcome! What are your goals have you already managed AF until now this month? Many haven't so don't fret but I'm AF this week until Saturday !

Morning @Soberoct good to see another early riser (when did 6.10 become a lie in?!?) Better with a clear head though!!

what are you up to on Sat? Are you giving yourself a golden pass/ticket?

I know right @Stircrazyschoolmum have you got small children ? Nowadays even if I didn't have the children I'd still wake up early! Sleep is better without alcohol though 100%. Literally nothing is going on in my life on Saturday haha my h is going out tho but I'm doing well as I didn't drink all last weekdays and only sat and sun so hoping to continue...

Well I slipped off the wagon on Saturday night friends surprise birthday it's reminded me that I can't seem to moderate wasted a whole Sunday back in the huddle 🥺

After a two week holiday and a family wedding in September I felt my body needed a break so my last alcohol was 29/10.
I am 59 and although fit and active my weight is creeping up, I am a 12/14 and want to be a steady 12!
So weight loss is a factor, I also wanted to test myself.

We went to friends for supper on the 1st, I had no problem as it was my turn to drive.
Then a trip to Oslo, again no problem as wine is eye wateringly expensive.

Home now and have just received an invitation for drinks at the weekend, I will take some alcohol free lager.

I am feeling great in the mornings and enjoyed our break away more for not drinking, I really think I may limit myself to just 4 days a month in the future.

We have at least 100 bottles of wine in the house and every kind of alcohol you can imagine so the temptation is there all the time.

Never mind, nothing wrong with a slip up. Hope you had a nice time. Back into the huddle with you 🐧