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

[Determineddoris]

Hi all,

Can't believe the last thread has already filled up!

Thank you to all of you for the incredible support shown in the last thread especially @amdone123.

Everyone is welcome! This is a safe, non judgmental space.

Sorry about my inability to tag everyone but if others can that would be great!

@Mj20 you're doing brilliantly. So sorry to hear about your dad. Don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we just need to escape and let loose. And unfortunately, alcohol helps us.
❤️

So pleased to report I have no hangover. And, I achieved what I set out to do : I only bought 1 bottle, I ate, I didn't smoke too much and I drank beer, then diet coke.
I'm beginning to think I'm getting better at this moderating lark.

Good morning all. I managed my weekend away last week without any embarrassment- I did drink but slow and steady. Sometimes I miss being quite tipsy but I don’t enjoy the hangovers. This week I managed 3 days AF and moderated on the other 4 - less than a bottle each day (sometimes only half) which for me is good but still needs to be less. I’ve been thinking a lot about health and being around for my kids (they are 17,15 and 12) and I really need to make some more positive changes in my diet and exercise. I’m not going to beat myself up over Christmas - nice things in moderation - as others have said, attempting moderation leads to failure and a general ‘fuck-it’ mentality! But 2024 will be my year of health! It will just be gradual!

Morning- well I drank as planned on Friday then yesterday managed to only have one in the pub and two back home, happy to report no hangover today!

Going to have a go at going all week without a drink now, working nights next weekend anyway so hopefully won't be tempted!

@Freezingfeetwarmheart it's nice to not have a hangover! Well done on only having a few.

@Bigbus gradual is definitely best. I started about 6 weeks ago, aiming for a pound a week. I've lost 8lb and the only real thing I've done is said I can't have more that 2 bottles of wine a week. And that rule wasn't really for weight loss, it was for health, etc.
Food wise, I've just been mindful.

I was just looking at my journal and hopefully I'll only have 5 days in December when I'll drink ( 2 of them Xmas day and nye). I'm really happy with figure. I've had a good start to December, so pretty determined to keep it up. I'm hardly inundated with party invites - thank god 🤣

Morning, folks, how did we all get on at the weekend ?

I'm pleased I only drank Friday and only 1 bottle. I was tempted yesterday but more to just get dressed and go out, not really for a drink.

I'll only drink Thursday now, at the funeral and I can't go mad, as I'm working Friday - double shift and I'm on my own ( which I quite like), so I'm going to be really mindful, not buy any on the way home, etc.

Bad weekend but I was away for a work xmas party and while I did overdrink I did not do anything stupid. It was a great weekend but I can feel in myself today I need to go AF this week. There is a bottle of wine in the house but I didnt touch it last night even though I had intended to (I had beers instead but normally i drink everything in the house so that is something) and I am currently feeling optimistic about the week ahead - mainly because it will be super busy.

Best of luck to all x

Oh also I stood on the scales this morning disgusted that after all my hard work of two years ago losing 3 stone that I am up half a stone in recent months.

@Needtokickthehabit it soon comes back on when we start drinking. Try to stay af this week like you say, one day at a time.

@Mj20 Sorry to hear about your dad. Look after yourself x

I slipped up last night. Had half a bottle of wine, a couple of beers and then in my infinite wisdom a large vodka and coke. I don't even like vodka and coke. Going to have a nap and hopefully will feel better when I wake up.

Morning all! Had a brilliant weekend in Brussels with my best friend and we got wet, over tired with walking and cold. Had a few good laughs and drank only 2-3 beers (had to, because when in Belgium....). Diet wise not really good. Chips with mussels, a take away at the hotel (too tired to walk back into town). Sunday ginormous breakfast with brilliant bread rolls and smoked salmon and anything else you could wish for. In the day rolls, crisps and a waffle. I actually feel as if I'm confessing my sins 😂

Anyway, weight wise it has gone up very slightly (obviously after eating all that). Mostly water retention from flying and alcohol in the beer, don't really know but wishful thinking makes it easier to accept. Back to the pool today to get rid of all those toxins. Will be eating healthily all week and staying AF. Have a lunch on Saturday, but will be driving so again AF. Even booked myself into aqua sport on Sunday morning to catch-up a bit of my slack.

Next week definitively AF until Friday, as going away with my non drinking gentleman friend. I will be driving there and back. So that has me AF until at least Friday 22nd when I get home. After that I will enjoy a few glasses of champagne, but will try to steer away from red wine as much as possible. I've stocked up on some AF beer too. Will make plenty of soda water and I've got some Gimber in the fridge.

Have an official request for the various Wine and Alcohol Witches : go away on holiday somewhere nice for the Xmas period. That would be OUR Xmas present.

@Mj20 very sorry about your dad, life is very often very shitty and around Christmas I often feel that it hurts even more, anyway, all my best wishes.
To @Amdone123, @Needtokickthehabit, @Bigbus, @Freezingfeetwarmheart, @WouldRatherBeAPieceOftToast and everyone else, keep going. SSS, or least try to and have a good day.

@Nowstrong wow, Brussels sounds amazing. Your sins are officially Forgiven.
What's life for if not for having fun and enjoying yourself.
You sound like you've got it all sorted, really balanced.

I'm feeling like that atm, like I'm not thinking about it like I used to. It definitely holds less appeal. Yes, I enjoy it, I like the taste, but it's no longer the main enjoyment in my life.
Mainly because I don't want to feel awful.

Not doing so well these last two weeks, no major incidents but alcohol every night, today I went to town again and had 3 drinks whilst waiting for the bus back, ridiculous really, ive thought about getting a taxi back to avoid having to wait for the bus in the bar, but it’s an expensive taxi, but it’s something I’ll have to think about.

I can see I’ve put weight on from drinking, going to have to reign this in.

Morning all! Still abstaining but still thinking about it a LOT. I'm thinking "oooh at Xmas I can have x number of glasses of champagne". I really need to not be thinking like that. Of course, at the moment I'm happy as I'm AF, being very active, losing weight (a little) and looking better. Also feeling better. BUT I'm still thinking about having a drink or about not having a drink. Drink is in my mind too much.
Arrrrggghhh!
It's a complicated process and just goes to show how much alcohol affects the mind.
Pissing it down here. Hope you all have a good day. SSS

Moderating not abstaining currently.

@Needtokickthehabit well done on moderating. Keep going.
@Nowstrong similar thoughts regarding it, although I do think I'm miles better. For example, I used to think about it and just do it. Now I think about it a bit longer, and ask myself why.

I'm at the funeral tomorrow but not the wake. Yay. I thought I'll just get wine on the way home and have a drink at home. I probably will still do that, but only 1 bottle, though really there is no need to do it at all.
I have thought about it though. I know I won't get drunk as work the next day, but I'm happy having 1 bottle.

Hi ladies!

I am cream crackered! Had a horrible head cold over the weekend which made me feel uber dizzy and light headed (made Santa's grotto an interesting experience). So since joining you lovely lot a few weeks ago, I've had 2 glasses of prosecco for a celebration and a glass of wine last night (which I didn't massively enjoy tbh).

Enjoying the improved sleep and clarity.

How are you all getting on? X

@LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE that's great - you've done really well. I love the improved sleep too.
I'm doing well. Day 5 but I'm likely to break it tomorrow, but I'm ok with that.

Hi all!ty for your kinds words @Amdone123 @Nowstrong @WouldRatherBeAPieceOftToast ty for your kind words. Things still the same. I’m feeling ok. Trying to move gently and take things a day at a time! So a/f since Friday, which felt like a blip was actually 3 glasses of wine! No big deal! Must be kinder to myself!!!! So I’m 25 days I’ve drank once in a very moderated fashion. For my mental health I’m abstaining as much as possible!!!!!

nice catching up with everyone! Lots of success stories do well done guys!!!
take care everyone! Catch up soon xxx

Sorry for awful spelling in above message! Exhausted

A bottle of white last night before dinner, a bottle of red during and after. I think I am just going to post what I drink at night on here from now on and then read it back to myself and trying shame myself into stopping.

Morning - into the second day 5 in a row for me now! I wouldn't say my sleep is particularly improved though, although it's not any worse. Hopefully I am getting quality rather than quantity! I blame the dregs of the sinusy thing I still have.

I read the other day that a bottle of Baileys is the same amount of calories as 7 Big Macs - this will help me not down another litre of it at Christmas!

Sorry for your loss @Mj20 - you are doing amazingly considering!

@Amdone123 hope the funeral goes well.

@LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE you're doing great!

@Needtokickthehabit one day at a time. Try and remember how you feel this morning when you want a drink later or tomorrow, easier said than done I know well!

Just wanted to pop on to say hi to everyone!

Been swamped these last couple of weeks - spike in workload/underlying cold/death in family. Just been getting my head down and trying to get on with it and very little/no attempt to have AF days.

Got a much needed day off today. House needs some tlc, lots of errands to run, more work to do...and I've done very little so far. I'm hoping that having the day off will mean I can pass on the wine tonight (and tomorrow), could do with having a bit more energy by the weekend as I need to travel (drive) and an early start would help.

Morning all! I'm being good.

Nearly had a blip last night but Horlicks won against the WWs. Nearly running out and can't get any here, so will have to find an alternative for my hot milk evenings. Not too keen on too much chocolate. But will experiment with my own mixes of melting chocolate with added spices in my milk. Will be like making AF milky cocktails.
Saying that, I did eat a few chocolates yesterday, that isn't a good idea for the diet but all AF, so I'm still good.
Next week I'm off to see the Xmas markets in Strasbourg and area, so that will keep me busy, also being with my friend, so that is a nice run up before Xmas. We won't be spending Xmas or New Year together. Too complicated, as we are both pretty busy with our respective families, so we spend what time we can together and enjoy it.
My plan (I like having a plan, I like making lists too) is to remain AF until Xmas eve, enjoy a couple of glasses of champagne, then back on the wagon until just after New Year's Day, normally I won't be celebrating the NY, can't be bothered. Unless an interesting option appears.
Extremely cold here. Good frost on the roofs and cars outside. Blue sky, no snow for Xmas (yet).
Wishing you all a good weekend. Stay SSS!!!

Morning all !
@Nowstrong that all sounds great. You're doing really well. I love a plan too. And lists. I have a list of lists when it all gets too much.

Not so good here. Drank at the funeral. Fair enough. But yesterday hungover I drank again. That's 3 bottles over 2 days, but more worryingly, yesterday I recognised my old self - drinking and smoking on a hangover. I was doing so well.

Anyway I'll put it behind me and get back on track. Af now til Xmas day. And my December run is good. And it will be at the end of December.
I'm still down 9lbs which I'm really pleased with and I've actually felt really happy when af.