Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Alcohol support

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Alcohol free in 23

638 replies

DancingSober · 31/12/2022 11:25

Hello!

This is the thread for doing a whole year alcohol free beginning tomorrow (although some have started a bit early).

This isn't a moderation thread, so it isn't for cutting down. It's absolutely no alcohol for the whole of 2023.

That said, slip ups happen and I will not be throwing anyone off the thread if they have a blip, (or several blips), but please don't post if you're planning to have a few drinks here and there, as it may affect people who are struggling to remain AF but want to.

Tagging everyone from the initial thread:

@SerialMover
@Metalhead
@nancydroo
@blondie87
@TooSunny
@Preparedforjobnottolast
@thenewaveragebear1983
@limitededitionbarbie
@afaloren
@hashbrownsandwich
@Wantmyownbed

I think that's everyone, but please join if you want to (it's open to everyone) and huge apologies if I have missed anyone with my tagging.

OP posts:
Original poster
DancingSober · 07/01/2023 19:31

That does sound stressful @HappyHealthy23. Well done for not giving in and drinking. I have to confess I felt closer to cracking this evening than I have yet so far. Must be something in the air!

Glad your soup was the best ever! What sort of soup was it please? (I love soup 😂)

OP posts:
HappyHealthy23 · 07/01/2023 19:44

Thank you too, @rothbury . It really helps to have people to listen. 🙏

@DancingSober It was only leek and potato, with some bacon on top. Dd loves leeks, the tiny weirdo. 😄

Original poster
DancingSober · 07/01/2023 19:53

That sounds amazing. I too love leeks...and potatoes...and bacon, so that would be a winner with me!

OP posts:
rothbury · 07/01/2023 20:01

The soup sounds amazing to me too!! There's something very comforting about it isn't there?

I am so sorry your DH is unwell Happy

Don't be afraid to ask for help - favours from friends and family.

SnowAndIceLobelia · 07/01/2023 20:30

That soup sounds very good. I hope your DH gets better very soon. Thanks

I found tonight hard as well. I had a mid afternoon slump and nearly reverted to boredom drinking. But I ended up doing some house chores and got through it.

coodawoodashooda · 07/01/2023 20:47

I love getting up and driving without giving it a second thought.

HappyHealthy23 · 07/01/2023 21:01

Thank you all, I appreciate it. I'm off to bed, almost 7 days AF.

Maybe today being the first normal Saturday night of the year is what made it so difficult for some of us. Onwards and upwards!

Original poster
DancingSober · 07/01/2023 21:32

coodawoodashooda · 07/01/2023 20:47

I love getting up and driving without giving it a second thought.

Yes, same! I remembered at about 9.30 last night that I'd forgotten to pick up a prescription and it was good to be able to just go straight down to collect it.

I'll be in bed soon enough I think. Night all!

OP posts:
Wantmyownbed · 07/01/2023 21:56

I'm a single parent and don't have my kids this weekend so knew I would really struggle.
Normally I drop them off, get home and put a film on, make some yummy food and drink myself into oblivion, so to distract myself I decided to do something challenging and climb a mountain with a friend who is always up for that sort of stuff.
We planned on watching the sunset but it was just cloud and rain at the top. It was only about 400m but still, I loved it.
Another reason for me to continue being AF, my mate doesn't drink and is really super fit so I was a bit embarrassed that I lagged behind. I'll get there.

congratulations to us all on reaching at least a week x

onelife22 · 08/01/2023 09:10

@Wantmyownbed that's brilliant. Well done. I feel the same about the things I've done this week. Feels so great to achieve more and keep me motivated x

blondie87 · 08/01/2023 09:39

I’ve been in bed poorly all weekend so not even thought about a drink!

I’m feeling really committed to this; just a bit worried about impact on social life but at the end of the day I’m sure people will be mostly indifferent to the decision!

SnowAndIceLobelia · 08/01/2023 09:54

I think I am definitely a boredom drinker. I am feeling quite itchy about it all today.

SnowAndIceLobelia · 08/01/2023 09:56

BUT (I know i bang on about this, I'll stop soon... promise) I have added up what i saved this week. Granted we were away on holiday for the week and ate out twice a day where i might usually have had a lunchtime glass of wine (so that is not the 'normal' state of affairs) but I have saved just on £130.00

That is really quite incredible! (And no wonder I usually come back from holiday broke).

Original poster
DancingSober · 08/01/2023 10:20

Morning everyone!

@Wantmyownbed that's really impressive. Great to have a sober friend irl too for doing things like that with.

@blondie87, sorry you've been poorly. Hope you feel better soon.

It's pouring with rain today. I've been moving furniture around in our living room to try and make it a bit more user friendly. It always looks a bit nicer to me when I've loved stuff too. Not sure why that is.

@SnowAndIceLobelia that's a good saving! I know I can't come home from a night out these days with any change from £100. It all adds up, including Ubers because I can't drive if I'm drinking, plus all the rounds of drinks I end up buying when I'm feeling a bit too merry 🙄. We all buy rounds but it's a lot and we end up drinking way too much that way as everyone wants to get a round in.

Hope everyone is ok and having a nice morning.

OP posts:
Coppergate · 08/01/2023 10:59

I made a cosmopolitan mocktail last night https://mindfulmocktail.com/virgin-cosmopolitan/ - it was good! I also made DH a regular cosmopolitan. I'm looking forward to trying out mocktails of some of my other favourite cocktails over the following weeks and building up a repertoire...for if I ever entertain at home again, and a bit of weekend fun.

I so want to make potato and leek soup now! Glad you pushed through and had another AF night last night @HappyHealthy23 - hope your husband recovers soon, it must be so frustrating not being able to get answers/solutions from the doctor.

The first twinges of getting irritated by DH's drinking are emerging. He is showing no sign of questioning his drinking at the moment, which is par for the course. He hasn't encourage me to drink though or questioned why I'm not so that is good. It has only been a week though. I know challenges are to come...

Original poster
DancingSober · 08/01/2023 11:11

That looks delicious @Coppergate!

I haven't made any mocktails yet, but maybe will next weekend. I've made a fauxjito with ginger before and that was really nice.

OP posts:
HappyHealthy23 · 08/01/2023 12:53

Thanks @Coppergate , it's been ongoing for about 4 years now though, so I'm not expecting a resolution any time soon.

That sounds brilliant, @Wantmyownbed ! What a lovely idea!

I like the sound of your mocktails- I might see about getting myself the fixings for one.

I've been for a run this morning and cleaned the house, and am now thinking about where I can take dD for a long walk. Grateful to be AF today.

NoTimeForWine · 08/01/2023 17:20

I made it through the first week! We all did! Well done everyone!

The headaches are still coming daily but I was wondering whether they were sugar related as the diet is going really well (surprisingly). I have a beach holiday booked for February half term and I'm determined to not only be sober for it but also to wear my swimsuit in the pool and try not to worry about how I look.
I know cutting out the wine will help with the stomach bloat but I'm also hoping some of the changes I'm making to my diet will give me a confidence boost.
DH has lost 7lbs this week. How do men lose weight so fast?! His target was to lose 9lbs before the holiday so looks like the changes to our diet are working. I'm only going to weigh myself once a month because I don't want to become deflated by a number on a scale and I know my body has a lag, so any loss takes time to materialise as a number.

The exercise isn't going so well. I'm prioritising sleep at the moment as I feel like that's an area really affected by drinking and if I'm tired everything goes to shit anyway Blush

I have my first real challenge tomorrow. I'm going to a dear friend's funeral. I have offered to drive and move people from A to B but it's so local I could easily leave the car and drink at the wake. I won't though. She is one of the reasons I joined this thread and committed to try and stay sober the whole year. She had issues with alcohol for a long time.

Original poster
DancingSober · 08/01/2023 17:46

I'm so sorry about your friend @NoTimeForWine 💐. That's very sad.

OP posts:
SnowAndIceLobelia · 08/01/2023 18:18

So sorry about your friend @NoTimeForWine Thanks

onelife22 · 08/01/2023 20:16

Sorry to hear about your friend @NoTimeForWine but she would certainly be super proud of you this week, especially if she had issues herself ❤️

onelife22 · 08/01/2023 20:20

My husband told me he was proud of me this morning which I thought was nice. Not just for the no drinking but all the other things I achieved this week (exercise, diet, early starts, doing my hobby). All of this wouldn't have happened if I was drinking. I would usually drink on a Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday too...

DottyDry · 08/01/2023 20:34

I'm sorry about your friend @notimeforwine, I can imagine the funeral and afterwards will be challenging sober and all the more reason to try for a happy fulfilling life without hangovers.

I wonder if it is the sugar withdrawal. I've replaced wine with cake and biscuits so have had no headaches at all. Also still fat!

Today has been tough really, l find weekends make me want to relax with a glass of wine. But it would have always been at least a bottle, and the craving soon passed and feel ok now.

TeeNoG · 08/01/2023 21:38

So sorry about your friend @NoTimeForWine. I'm sure your friend would be so proud of you for the effort you are making.

I woke so incredibly grumpy this morning, due to a bad sleep caused by husband be annoying, fidgety and have dreams that made him thrash about. I know it wasn't his fault, but I'm awful without sleep. Just grateful I didn't have a hangover too.

Went to the gym this afternoon and that actually made me feel brilliant. Then I made cake with my son, cleaned the kitchen and got everything ready for Monday. I'm definitely enjoying getting stuff done rather than sitting with a glass in my hand.

coodawoodashooda · 08/01/2023 22:02

NoTimeForWine · 08/01/2023 17:20

I made it through the first week! We all did! Well done everyone!

The headaches are still coming daily but I was wondering whether they were sugar related as the diet is going really well (surprisingly). I have a beach holiday booked for February half term and I'm determined to not only be sober for it but also to wear my swimsuit in the pool and try not to worry about how I look.
I know cutting out the wine will help with the stomach bloat but I'm also hoping some of the changes I'm making to my diet will give me a confidence boost.
DH has lost 7lbs this week. How do men lose weight so fast?! His target was to lose 9lbs before the holiday so looks like the changes to our diet are working. I'm only going to weigh myself once a month because I don't want to become deflated by a number on a scale and I know my body has a lag, so any loss takes time to materialise as a number.

The exercise isn't going so well. I'm prioritising sleep at the moment as I feel like that's an area really affected by drinking and if I'm tired everything goes to shit anyway Blush

I have my first real challenge tomorrow. I'm going to a dear friend's funeral. I have offered to drive and move people from A to B but it's so local I could easily leave the car and drink at the wake. I won't though. She is one of the reasons I joined this thread and committed to try and stay sober the whole year. She had issues with alcohol for a long time.

I'm sorry too. I hope tomorrow is manageable for you.