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Alcohol support

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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:
onelife22 · 14/01/2023 07:15

I have only lost 2lb in 2 weeks which I know is a normal amount but I've obviously not had alcohol, I've eaten well and calorie counted and exercised!

Original poster
DancingSober · 14/01/2023 09:37

Sorry about the disappointing weight losses. It is a bummer when that happens.

I haven't weighed myself and I'm trying to just guage how I feel. Like others I feel less bloated and heavy, so I'll take that.

Should have had my gym class again this morning but I was so tired last night that I cancelled. Felt like I'd been run over by a bus yesterday, but that is to do with work and not alcohol (lack of it). Counting down the days till I leave work and have started telling people I'm leaving. Would love to think that will mean they stop adding to my pile, but probably not 😩😂

OP posts:
Coppergate · 14/01/2023 10:06

Hello and welcome to all the new members 🙂

I can understand why you're disappointed at 'only' losing 2 lbs but that really is a decent amount. If you're anything like me the difference is more than 2 lbs (as I would've gained in that time if I wasn't trying to lose!). It will add up!

That is another thing I'm stopping this year - weighing myself. I've lost 5 st in the past and daily weighed (which I prefer to weekly) but long term it just hasn't worked. I know I need to work on my every day habits first and make slow permanent changes before starting anything too strict.

I really fancied a drink when I finished work yesterday - definitely had that Friday feeling (compounded by feeling on top of work now, and having completed the work I would usually leave to the weekend). Very, very glad I didn't though!

I started the process of changing my habits a few months ago - started with my teeth of all things, then what time I get up for work/leave for work, now ditching the booze, sleep and in amongst all of that my habits around thinking - getting stuff done.

It definitely go to the point where if the wine didn't go I had little chance of properly tacking the rest. I know from past experience trying to change everything at once just won't work beyond the short-term so I'm doing it slowly without perfectionism (exception is the no alcohol). I've made two changes around food (work related), many more still to be made...

NoTimeForWine · 14/01/2023 10:09

@onelife22 snap! A 2lb weight loss here and I've also been exercising and eating well. I can feel it though and I totally agree with @Daechwita in that when I weighed in before I was probably dehydrated, so that must make a difference.

For anyone who likes stats my body fat is down 0.5%, my body water is up 0.3%, my skeletal muscle is up 0.3% and my protein level is up 0.1% (yes, I have fancy scales). So that all looks to be moving in the right direction.

It usually takes my body a while to respond to change so I'm happy with that. I'm in for the long haul and I won't weigh in again until 1st Feb.

I brought myself a new pair of sandals for my half term holiday with the money I've saved so far and at the end of the month I'll add a new dress, hopefully in the next size down Halo

@DancingSober shame you needed to cancel the exercise class but I think prioritising sleep and recovery is the right thing to do. It's chucking it down here but I might do a youtube workout at home later, just to keep things moving in the right direction.

Oh and just to add, wasn't it lovely to wake up this morning without that sense of dread from the night before? No dry mouth, no anxiety about my behaviour, no nausea. Usually if I wake early at the weekend I'd have a million thoughts whirling round my head but this morning I felt quite peaceful (until the kids came in).

NoTimeForWine · 14/01/2023 10:12

@Coppergate well done for resisting!!!

Slow and steady wins the race, glad to hear it's working for you Smile

Coppergate · 14/01/2023 10:28

Thanks @NoTimeForWine !

Hopefully your workload will start to taper down now @DancingSober .

I've just looked up the names for the other sober months, as even though I fully intend for the whole of 2023 to be alcohol free I've also found it helpful just focusing on January, and within that just that day of course! I know we don't really need special names but this is what I've gathered so far...

January Dry January
February Fast February
March Leave it out March
Spring - Sober spring starts on 20 March for 3 months
April Angelic April
May
June Jack it in June
July Dry July
August Avoid it August
September Sober September/Stoptember
October Go Sober October/Sober October (Stoptober is smoking?)
November No Bender November
December Drycember

Poor May - any ideas?

Coppergate · 14/01/2023 10:30

sorry...

should be

March Leave it out for lent (22nd feb- 6th April)

earlyraisin · 14/01/2023 10:30

Love this @Coppergate. How about No Way May!?

Original poster
DancingSober · 14/01/2023 10:33

Love that list! Also like No Way May.

How about stay away for May? Or Mocktail May?

OP posts:
Coppergate · 14/01/2023 10:43

Love both of those - thank you@earlyraisin and @DancingSober !

We now have...

January Dry January
February Fast February
March Leave it out for lent (22 Feb - 6 Apr)
Spring - Sober spring (20 Mar - 20 Jun)
April Angelic April
May No way May/Mocktail May
June Jack it in June
July Dry July
August Avoid it August
September Sober September/Stoptember
October Go Sober October/Sober October (Stoptober is smoking?)
November No Bender November
December Drycember

coodawoodashooda · 14/01/2023 10:53

I bought af lager and had one last night. Feels amazing to get up early and feel like I can manage everything. I also think the commitment of the year makes things easier too. The wine witch doesn't get so much of a say. x

Yellowshirt · 14/01/2023 15:11

@coodawoodashooda which AF lager did you choose? I've not tried any yet so I'm looking for tips.

onelife22 · 14/01/2023 20:05

Had an...oh I've done so well maybe I should just have one drink with my mum this evening. I would usually have quite a few drinks with her. She didn't even offer me one this time as I told her I was doing dry Jan last week. I would have said no if she offered but it wouldn't have been easy to do.

Coppergate · 15/01/2023 09:18

@onelife22 - that's great - glad your mum is really supporting with this by not asking!

TimeAndSpace · 15/01/2023 09:24

That little voice keeps popping up now for me too. “One will be fine” blah blah. 😡Then I remind myself that I have been here before and that there is so very rarely “one”. I can manage these thoughts quite easily at this point. The danger comes a little later when several weeks/months have passed and that little but very dangerous voice chirps up. That’s why we will all need each other well beyond dry January and into Drycember as the little voice game is like whack-a-mole!

TimeAndSpace · 15/01/2023 09:26

@coodawoodashooda I like Heineken zero best. I have tried several!

HappyHealthy23 · 15/01/2023 09:47

TimeAndSpace · 15/01/2023 09:24

That little voice keeps popping up now for me too. “One will be fine” blah blah. 😡Then I remind myself that I have been here before and that there is so very rarely “one”. I can manage these thoughts quite easily at this point. The danger comes a little later when several weeks/months have passed and that little but very dangerous voice chirps up. That’s why we will all need each other well beyond dry January and into Drycember as the little voice game is like whack-a-mole!

Yep. I haven't had a craving since last Saturday's massive one, but i was so glad this thread was here then.

@onelife22 well done on resisting temptation last night!

Original poster
DancingSober · 15/01/2023 09:56

Morning all!

Well done for resisting @onelife22. Saturdays seem to be tricky for some of us (me included).

I'm also struggling when I have a more stressful day, as I am tempted to think "fuck it". So that's just weekdays and weekends I'm finding tricky 🤣

Will stay strong and look forward to the day I don't miss it or think about it!

OP posts:
DottyDry · 15/01/2023 11:23

Morning everyone. I'm still ploughing on AF.
Hope you're all getting through the weekend. I agree, Saturday is definitely a weak spot.

I felt a bit flat and bored yesterday, even though I had loads to do, felt too tired to do much. On a happier note, we had a games night (well hour) with the teenagers, something we'd never usually do when drinking. It was a laugh and made me wonder how many other times we'd missed while necking wine at the weekend.

Anyway, Friday I created an anonymous Instagram account. I've found it useful following others on a sober journey. And I needed to remind myself why I'm not drinking. My name is DryDottyisDaydreamin on there. My reasons are pretty personal but there you go. Least no-one knows me I hope 😅.

Metalhead · 15/01/2023 12:06

Morning all, the sun is shining here for the first in weeks ( at least that’s what it feels like), so I went out for a run this morning! And when I say run, I mean a very slow shuffle… 😆 I doubt I burnt many calories, but it’s made me feel like achieved something nonetheless.

Original poster
DancingSober · 15/01/2023 12:29

I've requested to follow you @DottyDry! I've done the same as you and created a new account so I can follow sober/dry pages on the sly 😄

OP posts:
Original poster
DancingSober · 15/01/2023 12:31

Well done on the run/shuffle @Metalhead. Better than I've done this weekend. Been pretty lazy, although my step count on my shitty Fitbit dupe (shitbit?) has been ok. Even on my lazier days I seem to get me steps in which is reassuring when I cba to do proper exercise

OP posts:
coodawoodashooda · 15/01/2023 12:34

Yellowshirt · 14/01/2023 15:11

@coodawoodashooda which AF lager did you choose? I've not tried any yet so I'm looking for tips.

I probably like, 'blue' the best.

DottyDry · 15/01/2023 12:39

@metalhead glad you completed your run, you're much more motivated than I can muster.

@dancingsober thank you 😊. Hoping that when I'm craving, especially when the drinking memories have faded a little, I can have a quick reminder of why I stopped in the first place. My memory has a very good way of telling me it wasn't that bad and I can moderate - I can't.

Coppergate · 15/01/2023 12:57

My exercise this weekend was gardening - just back from the second tip run. Feels good, pretty sure I wouldn't have got all that done if I was drinking in the evening. Oh and bonus is I enjoyed it!

Well done @Metalhead ! Glad you enjoyed games hours @DottyDry ! I've got a fake name on instagram and facebook, for similar reasons!