On A Mission To Moderate or Absolutely Abstaining? Join us for encouragement, support and non - judgemental chat.

[Amdone123]

So, January is done and dusted - Praise the Lord. Following on from our last thread ( which was initially designed to help us moderate, but for some has - maybe - led to abstaining, thanks to how great they're feeling ), a new thread has been created.
So, if you're looking to abstain or want to moderate, or just need to chat in general, join us here.
Hallo to previous posters - onwards and upwards.

Everyone is doing so well! Im on day 3 today! Im going to see how long i can go AF and then start very slowly only having wine occasionally and no more than 2 glasses when i do. Ive just been diagnosed with high cholesterol so need to take control of what i am eating and drinking.

@bilbodog , day 3 is great. Well done so far.
I think it's a good idea to have a break, as you say.
Are weekends particularly challenging?

@Amdone123

weekends will be more difficult as thats traditionally when i would make more effort in the kitchen and love wine and good food together - but at the moment im feeling quite strong……. So we will see how it goes.

ive got a couple if books on the way too to strengthen my resolve!

Evening, all.
Well, that was a success - only 2 glasses and none bought on the way home.
Tbh, the restaurant experience with 6 children was fun but hard work ! We had a laugh though. I was definitely too tired to get wine on the way home. But, all good.

@Amdone123 sounds like a good balanced evening. I've had a friend over, had a few wines but nothing out of control, watching a bit of telly them off to bed. Feels great being in control doesn't it! Hope everyone else on the thread is doing well.

Hi all, I haven't read everything fully but sounds like you are all doing fantastic!!! @Amdone123 well done on not buying on the way home! Well so I went to that pub dinner ate a lot of food unbelievable amount so wasn't drunk but drank a lot ..not an awful lot and had water alternately and my manager was getting quite drunk and rude but that's her generally she threw up but what I did is when I got home thought I'd have some as DH had been drinking thought there was some left in bottle but no I proceeded to open another bottle and had a glass. Wth?! So no I'm not doing great at moderating then we went out last night too but didn't drink a lot at all but felt exhausted and tired. I had a health issue that kept me up from 1am and it's only after I took a lot of meds like pain meds I managed to sleep plus I had anxiety so not a good combination! I'm really in awe of all of you who are actively not drinking well done as it's not easy and you are all doing fab xx

So far so good here - no alcohol this weekend! Reading david nutts book which is very interesting.

@bilbodog , yay, well done.
Just made a lovely pork and pasta dish in a creamy mushroom sauce. Drank sparkling water. It didn't kill me !

I managed a Saturday night AF - only because I thought I’d have to pick up DD16 later but even after she let me know a friend would bring her home I still didn’t crack. Sunday mornings - who knew?

Well done @Bigbus ! I probably would have cracked so good on you! There has been times where I've got past the witching hour which could be any time after 4pm! And think we'll I've got this far etc. I'm going to try this week to be AF. So 4 days....here goes....

Morning, @Determineddoris , you can do it. Fresh start today, 4 days, one day at a time. We'll ✅ day 1 soon enough.
I had a nearly af weekend - just 2 glasses, so I'm pleased with that.
Was definitely tempted. In fact at one point, I picked both the dog and my purse up and headed out 'for a walk '.
I didn't buy any though - couldn't be bothered!

Everyone is making great progress! I nearly bought a bottle of wine last night, took my purse with me when running another errand but decided against it. My sister was visiting and doesn't really drink so I knew she'd have one glass and I'd end up with the rest then regretting it!

I'm visualising and AF week this week, one day at a time.

Hi all! Sorry for dropping off the thread, drank 5 days last week, half a bottle of wine each time, caught up with me last night and I had that wretched insomnia from 3-5am. Back on the wagon for me today. Welcome new comers

Well done @Manyrivers it's strange isn't it how like your sister doesn't really drink I wish I was a person that didn't really drink if that makes sense?? My mother and mil don't drink either. (Sigh). I just wish it wasn't so hard and thinking about drinking all the time! Thanks@Amdone123 you did really well especially if I had a dog I'd be like let's go to the nearest shop lol as I said before it's always in the house which I think is my downfall ...I am thinking of a lock on my DH wine fridge...but that's quite dire thinking about it!!!! My DH is like oh you don't have willpower oh do shut up dear! Hi @Hohofortherobbers sounds like a good deal of moderating though ? Better than whole bottles but the insomnia is what does it isnt it. All the good things from not drinking are right on front of us...

Day 3 AF - counting the days until Wednesday when I plan to have two small glasses of wine but maybe when I get there I won’t. I don’t really want to be completely AF, I just want to be able to drink a few days a week and to stop after 2 glasses!

Well done everyone just for keeping going on here even if things haven’t gone according to plan.

@Bigbus , well done on Day 3, that's great. See how you feel Wednesday. You can always use it as an experiment ; see if you can stop after 2, then that's progress. And if you can't, you've learned something there, too.
I'm away Thursday and Friday - I know I'll drink then, but I'm definitely making plans ( in my journal and head ) - thinking of ways I can reduce my intake.
I'll definitely eat, as I'm with foodies, we'll definitely walk so that lessens time in pubs. I'm taking lots of sparkling water for my room. And healthy snacks.
Hope you managed to sleep @Hohofortherobbers , and how was day 1 @Determineddoris ?
Hope you're ok @Mj20, @indieray @onelife22

Had a tough couple of days. Monday evening I drank quite a bit after receiving some disappointing news, and of course regretted it! Yesterday I felt tired and depressed, my usual after drinking the night before. AF yesterday and intend to be the rest of the week. Onwards on my sober mission! Hoping everyone else is doing well.

Could I join you all? Have been drinking far too much since late last year, after giving up for about two months. Why did I give up giving up! Have had a few weeks since here and there when I have been dry, but need to have a good break. My plan is to give up for at least some of Lent (not religious, but thought would be a good time to try!)

@Tenderstem , hi and welcome. Course you can join us - the more the merrier.
It's a good idea to give up for some of lent. Do you have a plan ? How many days you'd like to do - I will probably try to abstain in March.
@Manyrivers sorry to hear you had disappointing news. Just keep trying, you've been doing really well.
I had a bottle of wine last night. Was thinking how I used to always buy 2, but I don't anymore. Strange how that happened. Anyway, I feel ill today.
I've eaten a load of rubbish, too. And after my 12 days of being af / moderating, I've lost 5lbs. Unbelievable.

Hi can I join please? I've been drinking almost every night for too long. I know it's bad for my health but I enjoy it. It helps me relax (I have a lot of stress in my life and have experienced a lot of trauma). But I think I'm at risk/on edge of addiction. I don't drink in the day but do look forward to drinking in the evening. My tolerance has gone up and i can easily drink a bottle of wine. I want to try and only drink Fri and Sat nights. Night 1 tonight. Have eaten waaaaay too much, but no alcohol.

I miss the fact that drinking kills time in the evenings

Good morning all. Hello @colouringindoors i have definitely been there - there have been times when I’ve been drinking a bottle of wine 4 or 5 nights a week and sometimes more than a bottle at the weekends. It’s so easy to creep up. Maybe they should make wine bottles smaller! I also can get bored on evenings when I’m not drinking and so many things are linked to drinking. Even having a bath makes me think of taking a glass of wine with me! Sometimes I just go to bed early instead. Wishing you luck with your plans.

I managed to stay AF from last Friday and then last night had a drink as planned. Had planned two drinks but ended up one G&T then two glasses of wine later, so still ok I think. Any evening when there’s wine left in the bottle the next morning is a win!

Best wishes everyone

Hello @Amdone123 @Hohofortherobbers @Determineddoris sorry i disappeared!!! Things have been manic!!!

not much to update you all on… I’m still AF!!!! So that’s 2 drinks in…55 days!!!! (Wow- just counted it up time is flying) and my current streak is…. 21!!! It’s really funny but it’s become more normal not to drink than it is to drink!!!

hubby and I are off for a tea out on Friday night… so I will indulge. Planning a max of one cocktail and one glass of red!!! Feel really confident with that and also that the relationship I want with alchol is becoming a reality.

i had a dream last night ghat I got really drunk and woke up with the dreaded hangxiety!!! Really don’t miss that!!!!

@Amdone123 it was lovely reading how your doing!!! Well done!!!!! And you too @Determineddoris @Hohofortherobbers sorry to hear you had the horrid symptoms we all hate so much!!!! You did such a long AF stint I hope you’re being kind to yourself for the blip! @EnoughEnoughnow nice to “see you again” you got this!!!

everyone else @Bigbus @Manyrivers @bilbodog (and anyone I’ve missed) nice catching up on your journeys!

xxxx

Hi @Mj20 , no worries ! It's hard to post when life gets in the way, but you're still here. And smashing it by the sounds. 55 days is fantastic but what's better is your reset with the drinking. Absolutely brilliant.
Hi @colouringindoors , welcome. I understood every word of your post. I sat here nodding my head. I enjoy it too ; the purchasing, the looking forward to it, the relaxing - it was at times like sitting with a friend. Still is, I suppose.
But it's when we start worrying about our health, I think, that we have to make a few changes. It is hard, but when you get an af stint, it's worth it.
Well done on Day 1.
How much will you plan to have a weekend?
Keep posting anyway ; we'll help. ( oh, the killing time issue - can you make some plans? I always clean the house !! ).
Well, I'm off on my 2 day walking holiday shortly. I know there will be food and wine, so I'll get back af Saturday.

Thanks so much @Bigbus @Amdone123 Really appreciate it. I would like to stick to one bottle split over Friday and Saturday nights. But I'm rubbish at stopping half way through a bottle. My mood is really bad at the moment and I'm really hoping reducing alcohol helps. I would go to be early but I don't like going up at the same time as my teenagers (and ASD dd doesn't like it cos she wants to fall asleep before I start snoring!)

Well done on the pp AF for 55 days!!! Good luck all.