New Year Challenge - 100 days alcohol free. Anyone want to join?!

[S2P78]

Hello,

I know very well that my drinking has crept up to unhealthy levels in recent months again due to a difficult relationship period. I feel how low alcohol is making me, and it adds nothing to my life. I'm 44 and I really want to stop.

Would anyone like to join me in a 100 day challenge from 1 Jan? I managed 80 days last year and felt amazing, but since then my drinking has increased to really unhealthy levels and I feel really rubbish again.

Let me know if you might be keep to join for support!

Thanks.

Day 200 alcohol free complete!!! Next step to get to 300 days !! 😀😀😀

That's impressive @crystalarter13 👏
Here's a link to an article on answering the dreaded question:
alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/2019/the-why-dont-you-drink-question

I'm thinking of strategies for the weekend, like saying to myself, if I cave I won't be able to focus on that new game on my phone or read my book!

@earlyraisin thanks for the link - helpful! I've got back into reading this week and I'm LOVING it! I'd never do that when drinking...even after one I can't focus that well.

Saturday morning and feeling good - not missing waking up a bit rough 😂

This helped ... did my weekly shop as a Click & Collect, so wasn't tempted to venture down the booze aisles.

So far, so dry.

V impressed with 200 days by @crystalarter13

Please share book recs! I've just started My Child and Other Mistakes which is funny so far. Usually like gripping psych thriller genre though.

Excited for the AF journey ahead! Hopefully this thread will last the year

@frostyfours I'll look that up! Oh I'm reading lots of Quit Lit stuff around alcohol - like Alcohol Explained etc, but also want to read more in general!

I've started having drinking dreams which is messed up! My brain is clearly trying to cope with not drinking!

I’m on day 15 and not caved yet, in fact I haven’t really been tempted so far. I have a school reunion coming up which will be my first big challenge I think.
200 days is very impressive!
I’m suffering with insomnia still unfortunately - really hope that settles down…

Thank you feel so much better for it x

Thank you 😊

I'm in the insomnia club too and it sucks.

I'm also doing Low Carb Boot Camp. Although giving up alcohol is my no. 1 priority, sugar is definitely the vilan! I don't know how much sugar is in a glass of wine, but it will be a lot. These are hard habits to break. I hope everyone is OK. At the moment, I'm craving sugar like mad and need to sleep. Unfortunately, I'm at work, and it would look odd.

I'm going to grab a herbal tea 😬

Thank you im definitely trying for 300 days now 😊

Yes! Please may I join? I'm currently on Day 10. I really want to banish the booze from my life. It's been creeping up over the years and I'm now about 5-6 bottles of wine a week. Stressy day = wine, numb things out = wine, bored = wine, sad = wine, happy = wine, celebrate = wine. I have had episodes of blackouts over the past few years too and they terrify me, I am scaring myself and just feel my family deserves better. I don't think it's doing my mental health any favours either.

This isn't my first rodeo.

I did Dry January, grudgingly, 2 years ago and managed it but only did it to prove, y'know, I'm not an alcoholic. Couldn't wait to get back on the wine, obviously I'd moderate and stick within the 14 units and never embarrass myself .... oh hold on, of course, I broke all my rules, over and over.

This time I've looked forward to Dry January. I've not missed drinking; I've had the withdrawal headaches but have been rewarded with the quality sleep the last few nights and going to bed with a clear conscience. The thought of drinking again scares me. (The thought of not drinking again scares me too, which is why we do one day at a time!)

I would love to achieve Dry January; 100 days; 1 year; total sobriety. (Well, actually, I'd love to be a moderate drinker, one of those annoying "take it or leave it" who has a glass of champers on special occasions...but clearly that's not me & unlikely to ever be me).

So here I am. Let's do this!

Hi @Steppered 👋
I can't moderate either. It's not in my nature, and things take a very bad turn when I'm drinking. It's not worth the pain for me.

I was triggered yesterday as I dropped my phone and realised I didn't have it when I'd gone onto the supermarket. Cue massive anxiety. It was dark and wet, and I ran out dumping the shopping basket and back to the car. It wasn't in the car, but on the floor near the boot when I'd got my bags out. Phew. I just panic when I don't know where my phone is. Everything is on there, even though password secure. I then thought, what would I do if I'd lost it? Pretty chuffed I didn't calm myself with a drink when I got home.

Anxiety sucks.

@earlyraisin Anxiety does suck, and alcohol doesn't help so well done on not drinking!

@Steppered I could have written your post. Totally hear you and yes, let's do this...I'm really determined to make a big change now.

Just about to listen to this.

Sorry you had a bad day @earlyraisin , losing your phone is definitely one of those freak-out moments isn't it.

I just wanted to share something I read last night, it was from "Sober on a Drunk Planet." He did AA 12 Steps and was talking about nourishing your mind, body & soul.

Something I struggle with is spiralling when something stressful happens, it is a huge trigger for me to drink. This really resonated with me, I hope someone else can take something from it:

"Acknowledging a higher power means understanding that you can only control what you can actually control.

It could be as straightforward as acknowledging there's a whole bunch of stuff you personally have no power over.

Failing to accept that there's a higher power leads you to try to control situations that are out of your control. This can cause nothing other than frustration and anger since you have no power over the final outcome."
**

Just wanted to come on and recommend the podcast ‘sober awkward’ it’s really helping me and is absolutely hilarious! For the first time I’m excited about sobriety!

@funnyoldonion Thanks! Love a podcast reco! I'm listening to Sober Stories. I need a funny one!

Oh no, I'm going to a gig tomorrow, there will be beer to swerve! If I go into the bogs and message on here you'll know I'm needing you to tell me to hold the line.

Hi, I was wondering if I could join you? I’m currently also on a Dry Jan thread on Chat, but I’m now aiming for 100 days+

I started on NYE so it’s day 15 for me. Before this I very rarely even had 1 day off, and my drinking had ramped up to regularly be over 10 bottles of wine a week (as a pp said, 1 bottle a night was no longer enough) It seems ridiculously obvious but I made a list of all the different aspects of my life and how content I am in each of them (mental health/ physical health/ appearance/ wealth/ work/ home/ self improvement etc) and there is not one aspect that can’t be hugely hugely improved by stopping drinking. For full transparency I also have a primary aged Dd who is my main motivation too.

Im actually very surprised as so far bar day 1 I haven’t really had much difficulty going without alcohol. The first couple of nights I had to push a few “I’ll just pour myself a glass” thoughts out of my head, but considering how much I was drinking, and how I managed to convince myself out of any days off prior to this, I was expecting to find it harder. I know there will be tests around the corner, and when the novelty has worn off my enthusiasm might wane, but I’m very very grateful for an easy start.

Like others on here I’ve been enjoying reading in the evening for the first time in ages. I bought myself a stash of page-turned thrillers which I’m ploughing through. I’ve also read/listened to some quitlit and have more on my wish list.
sleep is so much better, as are my energy levels both at work and home.
Ive lost weight (although I have a lot to loose) and although my skin is still problematic, it’s definitely benefiting from no alcohol. So far what’s not to like?!

Im really impressed by how well people on here are doing /have done in previous challenges. Ultimately I want to go more than 100 days too, so will hopefully be adding extra goals in towards the end of this challenge.

Have a lovely weekend everybody.

Welcome @FlightDeckBuckarooo !

Please share your page turner books. I get fed up with so many I start and never finish them.

Loving being fully dry again, even though I was only drinking at weekends really it was on average 10 units a time, which is officially a binge drink. Just two weeks completely clear again and already feeling sparky, not groggy at all even when woken up by my 4yo overnight, so much more tolerance and patience.

I so wish not drinking was more the norm!

I'm in, I could have written your post.

I'm on day 2 so a little behind!

I am the same - not wine but similar units. I thought I would really struggle but I haven't found it too hard yet. I have however got a horrendously upset stomach and I'm shattered all the time which may be masking cravings, but I am just taking it day by day.

Hello, I’d like to join the gang! I started on NYD so two weeks in and feeling as if this might be possible. I’ve done Dry Jan before, and did 79 days in lockdown once, and def aiming for 100 days this time.

I’m just so sick of it all, the hangovers and anxiety. Which comes anyway but isn’t helped by booze!

Im also enjoying reading again! As far as page turners go I’ve read a Lucy Foley (the Hunting Party) and Holly Seddon (woman on the bridge) so far this year and would def recommend! I agree with @frostyfours do share your recs too @FlightDeckBuckarooo !

Thank you @Persephoned I'm adding to the list!