No more drinking in the week ... anyone want to join me pls .

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Just that really .
I'm getting married later this year and so need to cut down on the alcohol on the week. Mostly for my physical and mental health but also for my bloating.
I drink every night at the moment amd it's a habit I formed during a really stressful couple of years (job) and now I've managed to change jobs and I just need to stop the drinking but it's hard.
I managed Annie Grace 30 days AF and actually enjoyed it but that seems ages ago now.
Anyone up for joining me from Monday ( I'm on holiday this week ) so we can be accountable / provide an bit of hand holding and support please ?

Hi I could have written your post ! Can I join too please?? Has anyone got
Kids? How do you cope when not
Drinking but having a lot of stress ! Hope everyone ok !

I'd like to join too please. I had what I'm calling a damp January (only drank at weekends unless I was out midweek, which hardly ever happens), which was an improvement on the very wet December but I want some continued accountability from now on.

I'm going to join you if I may? I could easily drink every night once I've got dinner done, sitting on the sofa watching something- I think it's boredom that drives me to it. I'm so bored of winter and working and having to come home and cook and all the rest of it. Wine makes me feel so much better. But I can't do it on weekdays anymore. I'm in!

Oh after an enjoyable dry Jan (much to my surprise), I don't want to drink in the week. So yes please. I'm in!

Yes I am in. Same old story of lockdown creep up then nightly bottle of wine. Sometimes more when stressed. Was a creeping thing. Have done two nights now drink free and feel great. Same as others have got lots of treat worthy sparkling drinks in for evening meal and then have bought a load of Pukka herbal teas. They look amazing in the cupboard and I pick and choose which ones I want of an evening. In the long run the outlay on those will be more than made up by savings from wine. Also share an evening mint tea with my teenage son. My teenagers I am sure noticed that I was drinking too much and now without saying anything I am just soft drinks and tea so far this week. Have to keep it up or liver problems coming if not already there.

'How do you cope when not
Drinking but having a lot of stress?'

I hear you. It's so easy to reach for the booze when life is tough - it feels like a treat, or a crutch, or a break, or something that will dull the pain / boredom. I try to remind myself that when I'm stressed, what I NEED is as much sleep as possible, and to exercise every day, and eat well, and booze interferes with all of that massively for me, so I'm actually judging myself that drink is doing me any good. It is very tough, but gets easier with practice. You form a whole new habit of not drinking in the week

Kidding myself, not judging myself!

I use the NHS drink free app and managed the whole of January but get very twitchy around 6pm. What non alcoholic drinks do you all recommend?!

I'm in! Have managed before for a small amount of time but always fall off the wagon, usually around Wednesday x

Here's a thought for you all to consider. What if there were no wagon?

I say this as we talk about falling off the wagon and that always makes me feel as though it's BUMP there we go again. We were being carried along and now that's all stopped. Now we need to get up off the floor and climb back on the wagon and get it going again. Exhausting after the 9th, 10th time.

But what if there were no wagon?

Because then when you slip up, when you drink when you didn't intend to, when things don't work out as you imagine, you're not falling to the ground.

You just stumble a bit. And that's OK. Because you're learning something new.

And then what if at each stumble you could ask "hmm, what happened there?" and learn just one tiny little thing about your drinking or about your triggers or your relationships or whatever.

And then armed with that little bit of knowledge you continue along the road under your own steam.

And you keep practicing and you keep learning and you keep practicing and you keep learning.

'And then what if at each stumble you could ask "hmm, what happened there?" and learn just one tiny little thing about your drinking or about your triggers or your relationships or whatever.'

Love this. Great idea to get curious about your behaviour, instead of judgemental

Well tonight was a challenge but survived the evening wine free

I had two tonic waters and a Gu pudding tonight but resisted the wine! Wahoo! So that's 3 nights no wine this week which I'm v proud of. I really did want some wine today and that wasn't helped by hearing radio 4 talk about the deliciousness of red wine and all it's (relative) health benefits on their Just One Thing programme today.

Still, another night down and I'm sure I'll feel clear headed tomorrow.

I'd like to join please, I'd started already and then discovered this thread. I'm mainly struggling with the boredom, I can't go out and distract myself because partner working at night, and it's dark, wet and dull. I got in the habit of just having a glass with telly/book, but want to change to just Fri/Sat. The nightly glass use to help soften the bored, groundhog feel of winter evenings.

How is everyone doing? I'm on plan - drank over weekend but sober yesterday and plan to be until Friday. Ideally I'd drink less over weekend but definitely progress on opening a bottle every evening.

Last week went well, and only drank on Friday night in the end. Breaking the habit, but substitution with chocolate 🍫

Yes please count me in! I started following a tough bereavement and kept telling myself jt was temporary but it's been a few months and now I can't seem to stop.

I'm doing ok, but I seem to be eating more the weekdays when I'm not drinking, so bang go any plans of weight loss!

Hi, can I join? I did my first 5 days alcohol free last week and back AF since Monday but It seems harder this week, might have to mix up my soft drink options. I’m also dieting so feeling doubly deprived!

I'd like to join too!!!

Relate to so many of the above comments. Really want to get back into good habits and just drink on weekends. Any tips from those who are already doing it other than have good non alcoholic drinks in house?

Morning ... op here and big apologies I never came back. Had a few family issues to deal with which seem to have plateaued now.

How's everyone doing ?
I will not be drinking this week and am a bit nervous about first day but know that I have techniques that work . Oddly enough I really like a 0% beer ... 99 calories wasted but it's there if I really want it .
Otherwise water / water and more water ! Slice of lemon or cucumber goes well .
Am on the fast 800 too so no choice now really if I want to look good in my wedding dress .
Thinking healthy skin, better sleep , more energy and definitely feel amazing in the mornings .
We can do this ! X

Well done everyone here. DH and I have really had cut alcohol due to his blood tests showing slightly raised liver levels, cannot believe that there are nearly 3 units in a pint of beer and glass of wine. I got DH 0% peroni (by mistake) which he drank all over Christmas and never knew, now he knows he says it’s horrible.