Tips for former party girl quitting the booze (again)

[NewbieSoberista]

Determined to not drink. I know I need to stop it. I'm not a classic raging alcoholic, but I definitely drink a bit too much. I can go a while between drinks but lately I've been getting what I think might be withdrawal headaches which has honestly freaked me out a bit.

I used to be a bit of a party girl and would binge drink and act right a twatty ladette, but have become more civilised now I'm a proper grown up with job and responsibilities, but I do think I'm prone to just having one or two too many.

Anyway, just posting for tips to get me through the early days and how to resist the "you're not so bad you have to quit" mentality (which is usually my downfall) and some practical tips for the headaches etc

Do you like reading? Books always help me when doing anything new.

try Allen Carrs book on cutting down drinking, or ‘Alcohol lied to me’

all the best.

Thank you - yes I love books and audiobooks, so will definitely try some quit lit

Switch up your routine a bit.
Avoid pubs and bars.
Drive places in the evening.
Cinema.
Exercise.
Early nights.
Walk.
Read.
Eat some really good food - you'll probably be craving sugar!
Non alcoholic beer etc work for me - but they don't work for everyone.
Try some books - The Sober Mind and Quit Like a Woman. I've seen them get really good reviews.
If you're on tiktok there are a million sober accounts with hints and tips.
I'm not drinking at the moment for medical reasons and finding it really hard!!

Also some Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate!

Do you have anything that needs doing at home? DIY/painting/sorting the wardrobes out? Do them.

Thanks so much. I love all of these tips and am definitely going to use them.

Do you need a velvitiser for the full Hotel Chocolat effect? I've heard good things about those. Might see if there's a sale coming into summer

Recommend the velvetiser- got me through Dry Jan.

I just started using the ‘drink aware’ app and it has already helped me drink less. 550 calories in my usual evening drinks ! Ouchie !

CBD cocktails can help

I've got a Nespresso milk frother thing. You should treat yourself to something with all the money you're saving on booze

I'm the same op. I quit last summer after getting so drunk on holiday, I was getting fed up with myself. Fed up feeling crap and hungover, and not being in the moment if you know what I mean, as soon as I get tipsy I kinda check out a bit, probably a stress reliever but it just doesn't work. Marketing has a lot to answer for, I thought a drink was relaxing me but really it's not. I would recommend following sober curious type pages on instagram, they're so good. Driving everywhere too, it's been great driving to weddings, nights out, you have a great night, remember everything! Save money, and no faff getting a taxi at the end of the night. Then the next day too, not losing any precious time to feeling crap with a hangover. I would definitely recommend it. If I'm going to a party or dinner I have one drink and stop there and I've enjoyed it. I second the books and nice foods etc idea, I definitely feel better, calmer and happier giving up getting drunk. Go for it Op!

Hehe I like this theory

Thanks 😊

This is so encouraging

This is a great thread. I'm in the same situation. I've been invited for day drinks today as the sun is shining. I've been out & purchase nozecco. I'm also conscious that my 2 girls often see me with a glass of wine as our social circle always seems to be about food/alcohol which starts early evening as we all have kids.

I do like a glass of wine I just want to take back control. Good luck op. Thanks for the book ideas I'll have a look at some.

I second driving everywhere including offering to drive other people. I have teens who need to be picked up at night, which keeps me focused when I’d normally be opening a bottle on Fridays and Saturdays. I also find I am sleeping much better (quality and quantity.)

When you're out, have a default drink that you always ask for if offered, something that you know will be available in every bar eg orange juice, coke. Then, when you're offered you say that drink without giving the matter any thought- that's your drink. Otherwise you have a few seconds trying to decide and those are seconds in which you might either waver and think about asking for an alcoholic drink, or someone might try to persuade you to have one. It's the danger zone, so leap over it by having an easy go-to answer.

This is genius. Just out for lunch and it took me about 40 seconds to say what drink I wanted 😂

Oh that's a good point and good idea. It's those few seconds then you say ah I'll just have a white wine. Good to have a drink idea ready

Good idea to have a default drink but I've started asking what non alcoholic options there are available - went to dinner this week and they had loads including non alcoholic prosecco which I would order every time over gross diet coke and usually carton orange juice!! Also asked at another bar at a work event and they had zero beer.

I've just been shopping and bought a sparkling 0 per cent Chardonnay to get me through Eurovision. I've made excuses to the party invites - i really think I'd just crack. Maybe it'll feel easier in a few weeks. Also picked up Clean Co W to try as a whisky sour with lime and ordered super fancy cocktail cherries. Will have to report back on that one!!

Going to dig out my mocktails recipe books.

@Barstools123 and @snoozingbaby1476 good luck to you both too.

I have had two fancy ice teas today one was watermelon and the other was peach hibiscus (which I preferred). I might try and make some ice tea at home actually. I've never made it (but am a fan of the hot version). It's quite tanic which I like (as reminds me of wine or tonic 😬) and I'm sure some teas are meant to be good for you so that would be a vast improvement on booze

Sober nights out are wonderful - you feel like a real adult. Drive yourself practically to the door : especially good in winter.

Really enjoy seeing your friends and properly listening to them and remembering stuff and being a good friend yourself.

Driving yourself home in the warm, amazing quality of sleep, strangely well off because you didn’t booze and then you bounce out of bed the next morning thinking what a nice time you had and don’t you feel WELL!

I order sparkling water with lemon for my drink.

the times I missed it early on was a glass of wine while cooking for me and the husband on a Friday night. And sometimes on a weekday evening when the time is crawling but 8pm is too early for bed (btw it isn’t! Just go up with a book).

Thanks @Tramma.

I'm beginning to think though, that the reason I started drinking so much to begin with was because I actually don't like nights out! I like daytime activities and I think I started drinking loads to get through nights out and then the nights out became all about drinking and I was the one getting everyone to go out. All a bit sick really when I think about it.

I am wondering if my future social events will be daytime things. Trying to wrack my brain for things I truly enjoy without booze and it's things like walking, afternoon tea and early nights with books. Maybe I need to try some sober nights out though and maybe I'll actually enjoy them

So glad I found this thread - quitting alcohol has been weighing on my mind recently. I’ve been listening to a podcast that Anna Mathur shared on Instagram and it is eye opening. It’s by Huberman Lab and called “what alcohol does to your body, brain and health”. It talks about how some ppl have in their dna the ability to drink and drink and still feel great. Well that’s me - I’m not an alcoholic by any means, but I know that my body doesn’t have a natural off switch when it comes to booze. I envy those who do! So I need to be my own off switch and be more aware. I don’t think cutting down will work for me, hence I’m now thinking of going sober.

Breakfasts / Brunch (earlier than lunch, not the bottomless brunches of all afternoon variety) are great for socialising. Even the hardiest social boozer tends to baulk at a glass of red wine with their croissant. Except at the airport - something I can’t say I ever went for 🤮.

People who say they couldn’t possible meet friends sober don’t even notice they’re socialising sober over a cappuccino and avocado on toast because so much of it is habit and norms.

love Huberman alcohol episode. See also the Louis Theroux alcohol episode on TV somewhere. It’s not in the US, it’s right here!

Ok so the 'Noughty' sparkling Chardonnay was passable and better than drinking orange squash during Eurovision.

Tried the Clean Co whisky replacement - it's obviously not as good as actual whisky but still nice to drink in a tumbler with ice.

I gave up drinking in the new year after a period of drinking far, far too much and feeling fat, unhealthy, lethargic and pretty much shite.

My best tip is to concentrate on the benefits. For me these are -
Money - I used to spend about £45 a week on drinks. Since I gave up that's £855 saved. Not drinking is like having a pay rise.

Feeling healthier - I was hungover a lot of the time and now every day I wake up feeling wonderful. Why did I do that to myself all those years? I use my energy to exercise and my aching joints and wheezy chest (that I'd worried about for months) have completely gone.

Weight - I've lost just over 2 stone since Christmas.

New clothes - my old clothes didn't fit so last week I bought a shed load of new summer clothes with all the money I'd saved.

New clothes is an amazing incentive. I happen to love clothes even more than I do wine. I've actually just ordered a few bits.

I'll check out the podcast too 😊