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!

Day 2 - I want to get out of drinking every day . So day 2 today. My OH is back home now so it’s difficult for me to drink in peace when he is here, he doesn’t drink at all and hates booze. It’s so easy to fall back into the habit of drinking which turns into binge drinking.

I drink spirits in the house but I have really no idea of the units I have as I hand pour, I know that if I drink every night a bottle of say vodka would last me a week which equates ro 40 units, 40 units is too much every week. I need to halve that at least.

perhaps I should go back to drinking wine as it’s easier to control the units; I gave up wine when I went on a low sugar diet 🤔

@Touty I'll swap you ! I wish I could drink vodka. It would be much better for me.
You're right about slipping into bad habits. It's so easily done.
Maybe make that a mini target of yours - 20 units a week.

I have managed a week! Longest I've gone in ages.
I'm planning to drink tomorrow and maybe Monday as DH and I will be off together for once. Probably Friday and Saturday next week too but will attempt to limit the amount I have then as working the next day on both in the afternoon!

@Touty I also hand measure spirits at home, I've tried measuring but it doesn't seem quite as nice so I'm probably drinking more than doubles.

@Freezingfeetwarmheart well done on a week. Sounds like you're in control. I'm hoping to not drink now til Christmas day, so I shall take inspiration from you.

Morning, folks, how are we all doing ? @Bigbus @Coppergate7 @Freezingfeetwarmheart @Hohofortherobbers @Illegallyblonder @Liverpool52 @LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE @Mj20 @Mykittensmittens @Needtokickthehabit @Nowstrong @Swannyb @WouldRatherBeAPieceOftToast , usual apologies!

I've had a quiet weekend after Thursday and Friday shenanigans.
Today is day 3 and I'm aiming to stay af til Christmas day if anyone wants to join me.
I've also put on 3lb so I'm planning to lose that over the next 7 days.
I find it quite easy if I focus and stay positive. Tendency to beat myself up so steering away from that train of thought.

Also, I'm looking after my new granddaughter today. Just us 2 - I'm so excited.

Rather fallen off the wagon over here - somewhat stressed about the coming week as work is going to be insane, then straight into nights before Christmas and turning 40 - pretty sure DH will be uninspiring in the birthday dept....

DS1 has had a surprisingly bad school report, so I have to go in tomorrow and discuss it 😡

Ho hum, onwards and upwards and back to the Kombucha
How are you all? X

Morning all!

@Amdone123 Had a few wobbles but managed to stay clear headed and AF, but I have hit the chocolates and been nibbling bits and pieces a bit too much though and really need to reign that in. So have also put on a few pounds. Am going away tomorrow so will be away from the temptations of my cupboards for a few days.
I'm with you for being AF and losing a few pounds before Xmas. In fact the latter will be harder (for me). I do love my food (and sleep). So good to be having baby time with Granddaughter, enjoy.
@LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE sorry about the bad school report. Really glad that I personally don't have that sort of stress anymore. But I do wish that I will only be turning 40 (also a birthday coming up, clue : erotic year)...exH was also extremely uninspiring, but unfortunately not only in the birthday department. Hence the ex. I suppose I shouldn't be nasty about him, poor devil has passed away. But yay for the Kombucha!
Well done @Freezingfeetwarmheart a week is excellent!

Better get some housework done. Hate going away and leaving a "dirty" home.
Enjoy your day and SSS!
p.s. I also measure everything by hand, hence the hefty doses

Hello all and thanks for tagging me @Amdone123 - I’ve been doing ok. Before I used to start slowly and have good intentions and then cross a line and the Wine Monster would wake up and I’d just mainline wine until it all turned into a big mess. Now I tend to head off at a pace - two glasses super quickly but then later I just get to a point when I’ve had enough and I stop. So far so good! I was thinking the other day though that I sort of miss the feeling of being a bit drunk. It used to be fun! The problem is that I never stopped at that point and then it wasn’t fun and then the next day it was horrendous.

AF yesterday and today. Likely to have a few glasses tomorrow at an event but not too many.

good luck and best wishes to everyone - I’ve been reading all your news. Well done for sticking with it and coming back on here even when things are not great.

@Amdone123 yes I think that 20 units a week should be ample

Day 4 here now for me, have not missed the booze and it’s been a nice break off.
Suffering now though with a UTI 😣

Morning, I drank as planned last night - first night I've had off with DH in a while, and am proud of myself as I stopped at 3 when in previous weeks I have been having 4 or 5!
I have started using the calendar on the "Try Dry" app so I can keep track of how I'm doing. December is looking pretty good for me!

Hi all, sorry for being such an infrequent visitor here, just popping back in to say I'm still weekday AF and drinking quite moderately weekend. Love my sober sleep. Sure it'll go to pop next week but back on board for Jan x

I'm not the best sleeper anyway being a shift worker but there was a marked difference between the sleep last night after 3 drinks - when I woke up after 4 hours for ages (this is actually explained in Professor Nutt's book I'm reading, it's when the alcohol wears off and the withdrawal wakes you up). Although it didn't feel like it at the time I definitely slept better during my week off the booze!

@Freezingfeetwarmheart yes, it's interesting. I used to sleep OK when I had a hangover - I'd look forward to bedtime. Now I find I don't even sleep well then - in fact it can last 2 or 3 nights. I sleep best when I abstain completely.

I will try not to drink until Christmas now, then I will have a few drinks Xmas eve.

@Touty that's my plan. Well, waiting til Christmas day but I'm struggling already. Nearly bought wine on way home from work, but stayed strong.
My family have also arranged an impromptu gathering this Saturday. My plan is to just drink beer, but I'll struggle.
I think one day at a time is best for me.
It's day 4 tomorrow of 10, so that's a positive.

Congrats to all that have stopped or moderated. Sadly for me I have not. I got a recent diagnosis of something and struggling with that and still thinking of my ex which still hurts. I masked it yesterday with 4 beers and a bottle of wine, went to bed early and now up to face a new day. Today WILL BE my day 1 AF. I want to stay off it till at least Saturday. I have a goal and need to achieve something Saturday morning that will take up all my time and energy and I need to focus on that and not bloody wine. I have taken a librium this morning so the determination is there.

@Needtokickthehabit keep posting. We're all here for you.
It's not easy, so one day at a time. ❤️

Hello, hello! 👋

I have been away. I drank every day but I had no hangovers. DH and I stuck to our rule of only 1 bottle per meal. I’m very proud.

To be honest, I’ve eaten and drank that much in the last 4 months (and put on a tonne of weight too 🫣) it has given me enough motivation to stop drinking as much…

@Amdone123 I plan to stay AF until Christmas Eve, but may be sober Christmas Day.

My new rule of no hangovers is working well. It means I’m not totally depriving but I am drinking much slower and it’s working.

@Amdone123 how was one on one time with little one?

@Swannyb yes, I think the target of no hangovers is a great one. It involves drinking slower, eating, maybe alternating - I'm going to try that this Saturday.

The new baby is absolutely delightful. She's perfect ❤️

Day 5.
Still struggled a bit last night but I'd purposefully left my purse at home, so that helped enormously.
I did eat too much rubbish when I got in though - salt n vinegar pringles, nuts and a mince pie. Better than drinking and being hungover though.

I work with my sister and she's bed bound with this awful cough / virus, so I'm doing her work too. I don't mind as I really enjoy it, and I'm happy to be feeling healthy and fit, but the 'reward' aspect is alive n kicking.

I was thinking earlier about how I dislike myself when I'm drinking. I'm not nasty, quite the opposite. I remembered 2 messages I sent to my sisters in law after the funeral.
God, I'm cringeing - they replied with a heart ♥, but I know they'd be thinking, amdone is drunk !
Even though this is making my toes curl and I'm definitely feeling uncomfortable, I'm holding on to it - I don't want to get drunk / drink wine on Saturday.

Well I had a drink tonight, it was boredom driving me to drink, not craving.

Actually reading that I think I’ve had an epiphany; perhaps my drinking is not actually about the booze, it’s more about relieving boredom 🤔

I'm doing less well now - I WAS planning to drink on Sunday and Monday, but was thinking maybe 3 on Sunday and 2 on Monday.
Ended up being 3 on Sunday and 4 on Monday.
Then in Tuesday my sodding heated sock batteries weren't properly plugged in so hadn't charged, so I had a drink to warm my feet up. Just the one though!
Finally had a day off now. Really wanted one all day but resisted and now glad I did. If DH had wanted one I definitely would have joined him, and it turned out he was thinking the same so it's a good job neither of us said anything as we are complete bad influences on each other!

@Freezingfeetwarmheart that doesn't sound too bad, overall ! It's a difficult ( and cold) time of the year. I think in December the best we can all do is our best !
@Touty I was thinking exactly the same regarding boredom. I was walking home from work - thank god, no money on me and I thought I'm just bored. Not in the moment bored, but bored overall.
Yet, this doesn't make sense to me as I'm perfectly happy. I think there was an element of FOMO - everyone else seems up to something.
I hate winter, really so it's probably that.

Day 6 here and I'm at my target of being less than 13st - only a pound, but it's less.
The last 2 nights have been challenging though. I really wanted a drink.

I think that at avoiding hangovers is what has really helped me - I have almost a fear of being hungover now! I sort of seem to run out of steam where before I would be necking it. I’m struggling a bit with staying AF but managing to moderate so I’ll call that half a win!

@Amdone123 boredom is a big problem for me, but it’s impossible to keep oneself busy all of the time, I jut need to learn to sit with being bored and uncomfortable 🥴