The continuing support thread for living alcohol-free. Everyone welcome.

[Blackberryblossom]

Hello and welcome to the alcohol free support thread. Many thanks to @wendywagon for holding the reins on the last thread, and to drybird for starting the original thread about 3 years ago.
We’re a broad community who have all chosen to live alcohol free for good. There’s support here whatever your stage on that journey. Whatever you’re going through, someone here will have gone through it too. Don’t be shy about posting, we love all the successes of whatever shape and size, and have all been there too when things get challenging.
Thank you too @rep22 @onewildandpreciouslife for offering to back up host too. I thought there was someone else but I can’t find the post.

Great posts @WendyWagon and @REP22 - I need to remind myself of the fading affect bias, the first two drinks always fun, the third bottle of vino not so much.
I have had a real laugh with a very funny friend who I saw at a party too- she made me cry with laughter, haven’t laughed like that for years and not a drop of alcohol involved. There is a lot of social conditioning about drinking=good times- it’s hard to challenge my thinking about this sometimes. These posts are a helpful reminder.

@WendyWagon please go to the Fringe with your own show! I live in a city not too far from Edinburgh and have seen some questionable Fringe warm up shows passing through this summer...

Thanks @threeandmeandthedog 💗
You're right. I had forgotten how good it felt to have a good hearty laugh at something while sober. I remember it being quite a revelation to me, and a very good one.

Having said that, an Australian tourist I met at the end of my recent holiday laughed SO heartily at the relation of my perverse and bizarre misfortunes that he hurt himself. Perhaps you can have too much of a good thing. 🙄😉x

Doh. Please can someone stick a post-it on my forehead saying “you struggle with milestones”? Why do I forget this EVERY time? I’m still on holiday, and getting “glass of white wine” envy (spoiler: it was never one). Felt very bad yesterday because I was focusing on how much I used to drink when I was here (been coming with the kids for 10 years, and every cafe was an excuse for a glass of something). And last night I figured out I wanted to drink just because I was bored.

Was just about to post on another alcohol support thread about the “mourning” phase when the penny dropped.

(day 499 btw)

Blinking heck onewild. Tomorrow is a big day. That's £5k saved (well it would be for me plus add ons). How do you feel?

Congrats @Onewildandpreciouslife ! Well done on spotting the anniversary trigger!

You lot have made me smile at the end of a lovely but busy day. Thank you.

I'm not sure on fun, for me I think the wine goggles made me think that I was having more fun than I was. I know if I asked dd if I was more fun drunk or sober she'd definitely say sober because I can be fully present with her.

Interesting thoughts on ‘fun’ and alcohol. I was a drink at home alone on my own type, but I am certain my children find it much nicer to be around a present and not hungover mum!

Day 25 for me - feeling ok!

Oh yes. In the eyes of the dc it's definitely better. My dc are adults now but my ds is tea total and he is proud of me.

And I agree, our assessment of our own fun-ness while drunk is not exactly objective!

Thanks @WendyWagon and @Blackberryblossom .

Mainly I feel lucky - lucky that I stopped when I did. The positive difference being sober has made is huge - most noticeably in how much less anxious I am.

And I can trust myself more. I don’t have to worry when I take on a commitment that I might be too hungover or tired to do it properly.

I am still learning about myself. I have a better understanding of why I behave and think in certain ways, and am getting better at challenging when I respond to things in an unhealthy way. I am much more at peace with myself.

Good morning troops.
One tea down.
@Onewildandpreciouslife big congratulations 🎊

The DH and I cracked open the Martini AF last night, excellent stuff. A nice change from the faux gin. It was on special in Waitrose.
When the DC were at school I use to serve Cinzano and lemonade in big jugs with ice and lemon at my lunches. People use to laugh but they all secretly liked it (70s kids). I might try it out on people without saying owt.
I also recommend the new Ainsley Harriot rice and peas. I normally make my own but these packets just do us (mind you it reminds me of the Victoria Wood sketch on individual fruit pies!).
Two more weeks of just the two of us then the DS will be home for a year. He's super bossy so I am preparing for standing my ground (mind you if I fall over he can lift me up like Arnie! ). Mixed feelings tbh.

Checking in on day 9. Hope you are all doing well. Have had some lovely AF drinks. Adding a little fruit and ice seems to cheer them up! Have bought Rachel's Holiday to read as recommended by @WendyWagon in an earlier post so looking forward to reading that after finishing my current book.

Hi everyone,

50 days today and almost like clockwork this is where I've fallen off the wagon in the past. Tonight I will have finished a huge personal project that has taken 2 years. And the urge to ask hubby to grab a bottle on his way home from work hit me just now.

Instead I'm reminding myself that the only reason I'm finishing this project tonight is that I've done more work in the last 50 days (lots of late nights!) than I did in the rest of the 2yr period (no exaggeration).

Also reminding myself that later this eve. instead of working on this project I can watch tv, read a book, or do all the things I've dreamt of over this last busy month because I'll be sober and awake. If I drink now my evening will finish at 9pm as I'll be knackered and nodding off.

Also reminding myself that I want to be fresh for a planned day out with the kids tomorrow, an outing that will cost about £150 with travel with is a huge amount for us at the moment - yet I've prob saved about £400 in 50 days since quitting drinking so it's like a 'free' day out.

Instead will treat myself to a big dessert and a cosy eve - and not ruin everything for the sake of a 20 min buzz.

Well done to everyone.

@Rachael2023 well done on 50 days it is a real milestone and not one to celebrate with booze, think how amazing 100 will feel! I also found and do find playing it forwards helps, how will i feel when i wake up tomorrow both physically and also mentally... that usually puts pay to any craving.

@SummerScoop well done on day 9 double figures from tomorrow on...

@WendyWagon sorry you've been having such a rough time. Glad to hear you sounding more positive today.

I have been inundated with family visits, which has been nice and also hard at times. Looking forwards to waking up with just the nuclear family in the house tomorrow... so is the dog!

Hi sober gang. Well done @SummerScoop - double figures tomorrow! @Rachael2023 60 days - epic!

I am day 26 today. I had to double check my ‘I am sober’ app countdown today as I feel like I suddenly jumped up in days and it will soon be 4 weeks. On previous attempts I remember hanging on for dear life and then realising I was only on Day 3.

My witching hour (5-7pm for me) seems to go by without major cravings. Wondering if the staff at my local supermarket are thinking what has happened to me - I was a daily regular in there with my clanking bottles in my basket. I bet takings are down 🤣!

Congratulations to everyone on a midweek milestone, and especially to @Onewildandpreciouslife on 500 days today! That’s amazing. @Rachael2023 it’s quite sobering (!) to see how quickly the savings mount up. Enjoy your day out tomorrow!
I took dd shopping today, and we took the bus rather than the train. Even while I was scanning the lunch menu for AF options I still had a hopeful voice in my head saying “you don’t have to drive back from the station, you could have a cocktail”. I do wonder sometimes how long that voice takes to go but I suppose it’s had literally decades of practice. Anyway, I had a 0% beer and it was just right.

@Onewildandpreciouslife wow and sorry I don’t know how I missed your big 500 🙌💪 that’s amazing.

See you here at the 1000 mark 😁 although I hope to be posting between now and then!

Morning shipmates.
I am up and feeling better leg wise. The DH and I set to on the storage yesterday. I was singing the music from DIY SOS. We chucked paperwork from 2003!
Lots of plastic toys too (my DC are 20/24! ). I was so relived this morning as it is raining again and things were getting wet.
I was active on the obesity thread yesterday and there was scant mention of boozing. I eat at least 25% less now and the DS reminded me how I use to eat all the crisps whilst necking the wine. I honestly don't feel as fat but it's still taking ages to come off. My son said you'll be slim by 60! I hope its quicker than that. Mind you I imagine that will be his wedding date. I want to look fab for that.
China sorting today and the big bath and body company meeting Friday. Hopefully the takeover will get agreed for September.
Have a good day my friends.

Day 7 here. Onwards and upwards

Happy belated 500 days @Onewildandpreciouslife

Amazing achievement - bring on quadruple figures hey? 😁

Every milestone is an achievement. A day, a week, a month - it is all a start towards to the ultimate goal.

Hello all. Day 28 for me today, so working on that 1 month milestone now. Struggling today with a rather miserable health issue (the kind where it hurts to sit down, or do pretty much anything!) so that has me very maudlin and catastrophising about it escalating for our up coming holiday. I do this a lot, and I suppose there's where the wine came in. Reading a book instead. Rachel's holiday. I found it slow to start, but really enjoying it now. Hope everyone is well x

4 weeks today @carlottacandle , that’s excellent! I hope you feel better soon. I enjoyed Rachel’s holiday, and also the follow up.

Morning all.
A slightly longer sleep. Still getting hot so I think I am still going through the change!!
I have been doing an experiment on food waste at home and now only shop for three days' food. The rest of the week we eat out of the cupboards/freezer. It is saving us money and I don't get tempted in the corner shop. We had a massive amount of tins and packets (the husband does the grocery shop and buys in bulk). Obviously the supplies will run out in the next few months but it is a healthier diet.
Has anyone else noticed a change in taste buds?
Off to pick up the DD later. Not raining yet!

Morning all.
Back to work after my break - bleuh. Still, only a short week.

Well done on day 7 @Thestartofsomethinggood . How is this time feeling? I hope you don’t mind that I noticed you get to about day 10 and then restart. That’s absolutely not a criticism- I had sooo many day 1s before it clicked, and it’s good you keep trying. But you’re doing the hard part over and over again (to quote the Obstacle Course - see below!)

Are you able to put into words what happens to break that run? We will all have been there, and may be able to get you over that hurdle. Whatever, keep posting!

I haven’t posted the Obstacle Course by Clare Pooley for a while, but it’s so true that I think it’s worth posting again

The Obstacle Course

Well lads I had to post this.
The hospital wanted me to weigh myself and I have lost a stone since I moved! I am bloody estatatic.

Awesome work @WendyWagon ! 👏👏