It's day 1! Anyone else?

[Thepeppapigfanclub]

I'm 45. I've been drinking a bottle/bottle and a half a night for as long as I can remember with the odd dry January/ Stoptober along the way - but I always end up back on the wine again.

I'm a parent to a 13 year old and the shame that comes with this is crippling. It's not good and I know I HAVE GOT to stop. I am sick of the self-loathing, the fear, the anxiety and the money down the drain. Most of all, I'm worried about shuffling of this mortal coil leaving my child before I should.

So it's day one (again) for me. I just wondered if anybody else has picked this as their day one too for some support.

Any tips for the first week?

Many thanks - there's some seriously inspirational people on here reading some of the other threads - I'm in awe of all of those who've made it to six months, a year and beyond. It feels beyond my grasp.

YOU'RE!!!! 😩😂

@Thepeppapigfanclub I agree. It is so lovely to have this safe space and you lot are helping me stick with it. It’s such a good support. I had rubbish sleep but I feel so good waking up without a hangover on a Saturday. It’s a revelation!

@BoilingHotand50something I am also revelling in the wonder of a hangover free Saturday!

Hope everyone has a great day today!

How wonderful to see hedgehogs!

I slept through until 4 am which for me is pretty good. But I then went back to sleep almost straight away which is u heard of. I AM loving not having The Fear when i wake in the night, nor the desperate re-runs of the late evening and my social media posting through my head to see if i have embarrassed myself!

I am about to head off to the shops to buy up lots of fruit, croissants and charcuterie as i fancy a continental breakfast extravaganza. Both Dcs came back from their separate school residentials and clearly not a fruit nor vegetable passed their lips so we need some catching up to do before scurvy sets in. 😆My older one has autism and some associated food issues and he was very proud of the fact that he did not get food poisoning (some of the kids did it seems) because 'I don't actually eat, mum'. 🙄

Hope everyone has a lovely day!

Wow - that breakfast sounds lush! I am sticking with my fasting so looking forward to eating something a bit later! Hope it sorts the scurvy out!

Happy Saturday all!

Day 6 here we go!

Absolutely agree about waking up without The Fear. That was what started me on this journey. Five weeks ago I woke up, with dawning horror of vaguely remembering slurring on the phone to my bestie, she asked me if I’d been drinking and of course I said no.🤦‍♀️. The shame.
I swallowed my pride and messaged her to say I was sorry and I knew that I had to stop. She was so nice about it.

Good morning! Waking up without a fuzzy head is the best!

I've recovered from last nights tantrum.
Thank you everyone for being kind. I didn't drink, but i really was craving white wine.

Had an amazing sleep - 8 hours without waking.

Going to try and keep my good mood going today.

If only we’d all seen last night how perky we were going to be this morning, we’d have been fine 🤣

I too have recovered from last night’s tantrum. I feel like I’m in good company. Thanks everyone for being there. Tonight will also be difficult as DH is out but I know I can do it. It’s day 20 today.

I was rewarded with a sleep long enough to remind me why I need to be AF. I went to bed early at 10pm. Woke when my son got up at 7am and then slept through until 9. When I was younger I had a therapist who said I used sleep as a form of self sedation. A way of hiding from the world. I wonder if I may be revisiting that coping mechanism. He made me feel lazy and was a shit therapist, so for now if I want to sleep, I’m sleeping.

I have just eaten 6 different types of fruit (and 2 of cheese) and am feeling smug enough to rival the most committed of clean eating gurus. 🍍🍉💃

YY to sleep@MamaGhina . And he does sound like a shit therapist.

Totally true @TimesaChangeling - let’s re-read these chirpy posts whenever we are struggling!

jealous of the sleep but it’s so hot where I am, I have low expectations of sleep at the moment but hope to see an improvement without the 3am fear when the weather gets cooler!

DH and I had a jaunt down the East Neuk of Fife this morning (beautiful area of Scotland if you are not familiar with it.) We bought locally caught scallops, prawns and sea trout for a bbq later and four different flavours of sausage rolls at a nearby market for our lunch. I think I am substituting food for booze! Now back in the garden to chill and eat the aforementioned sausage rolls! Normally I would be moping around the house unable to to do very much on a Saturday morning. I need to capture this lovely tranquil feeing to remind me any time I may be tempted by wine.

That sounds gorgeous. My DD2 said this morning - mum, you seem so much happier when you don’t drink wine! Made my feel really happy.

I took the kids swimming and instead of hiding from the other parents and feeling sick I had my head up high. Then we popped into the church fair and brought some home made cakes. I drove the car without worrying about how much I drank last night and whether it was too early. It felt wonderful.

When it’s cooler I’ll drag the kids out for a bike ride as I’m solo parenting this weekend.

Well done @MamaGhina - it’s great when you feel a tangible difference. You really feel the benefit.

You have inspired me @MamaGhina with the swimming idea. I plan to drive ( ... DRIVE!!!!!) to our nearest beach a good 30 mins away after dinner for a paddle and some ice cream.

I've thought of what my excuse will be for not-drinking at my tricky situation next Thursday. I plan to say something along the lines of ; 'Oh I want to lose a stone or two and find it's better to give up booze rather than food!'.

I may have to tweak it a bit, but that's the current plan....

My seafood on the bbq was delicious and I am enjoying Thatchers alcohol free cider. DH and I plan to watch a film this evening. Hope you are all having a lovely relaxing Saturday evening.

@NewLifeHappyLife how about trying to lose a stone before Christmas? Most people want to lose a bit of weight before the party season begins.

Cooking dinner was easy tonight with my squash in a wine glass. I feel refocused by a good day. Plus I bought myself a treat for tonight as DH is away.

What’s everyone else having?

Oooh @ApolloandDaphne what is the Thatchers like? I have been having 0% beer so far. Might try the 0% G&T too. If only someone could make a drinkable 0% wine!

It's nice. I don't drink loads of cider so it tastes fine to me.

Sounds like everyone is having a good day!

I'm on the alcohol free G and T. I think it's pretty good.

Another hangover free day - although I was sat on the bench on the green earlier and some tipsy ladies gate-crashed it and offered me a glass of their wine. 🙃I declined and said I was going for a run later. A pretty unbelievable lie, but still...😂

@Thepeppapigfanclub well done for resisting. How bizarre they offered you a glass though!

I will look for the G&T then - thanks.

I know...well - it was more a plastic cup but still -what are the odds! Talk about it being everywhere. A test thrown at my feet.

Just checking in - one week done ✅

well done everyone on here for sticking with it. It’s reLly hard to beat the cravings that taunt us at certain times. I agree with @ReadySalty about alcohol being a medication for other problems. I’ve found going AF makes me address these more - for better or worse!

am really noticing that alc is everywhere too - it’s so normalised isn’t it! I refused wine tonight and DH said I was boring so I accepted and threw it away when I went into the kitchen to cook. The joys.