Tulips, snowdrops and another Day 1!

[MamaGhina]

New thread as promised. I’ll pop on later to tag everyone as I wanted to get this link on the old thread before it fills up!

Link to the old one for any new joiners:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/4877066-its-day-1-anyone-else?page=40

Well I did lapse (shocker, it was coming all week). I was okay with it before I did it. And I am really glad now I did. Why? Because even though the first two glass perhaps were lovely, 3 onwards was not. And I felt sick and bilious, acid just washing around my stomach. Really useful because it has removed any notion that I want to do it again and removed any romantic notions associated with it. So I am happily back on the wagon knowing I prefer it and I don’t have to endure any more of the should I / shouldn’t I struggle.

Onwards and upwards!

Yes I had another blip on staff night out. Has four cocktails and felt utterly awful the day after. Happily back on the wagon now!!

Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks for all the support and wise words over the last few months.

Morning @BoilingHotand50something and everyone else! Merry Christmas!

I hope, whether you are here and actively posting or lurking and hoping to get back to it after Christmas, that everyone has a wonderful day.

Happy Boxing Day! So I survived the Santa Wrap, the panto, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day without a drink. To be perfectly honest, things felt a teeny bit flat, but I was very happy to feel good on Christmas morning and not needing a Bucks Fizz as hair of the dog and to keep me going. 113 Dry Days - feels like a huge achievement for me!

Hope everyone is ok.

Well done! That is a huge achievement! I am very happily back on the wagon with none of last week’s anxiety about all of it which is great. It was the impetus and the contrast I needed to say that it’s no longer “not sure how long I am going for” to “I am giving up permanently”.

@TimesaChangeling glad you have made a decision and have found peace with it, I’m not quite there yet.

Merry Christmas everyone. I feel pretty bad for neglecting the group but also a bit relieved to see it’s been quiet on here. I didn’t want to talk about drinking for fear it would knock off course anyone still going strong and I felt a bit weak for just saying fuck it over Christmas.

I did drink Christmas Day. I can’t even say I enjoyed it that much or that it was worth it. My sleep has been broken and for the first time, I’ve had that itchy feeling on my skin.

So I climbed back on the wagon yesterday and didn’t drink. Hopefully that will be me back on track for the foreseeable. I hope everyone is doing ok and I fully intend to come back and be a better OP from this point forward 😇

@TimesaChangeling funny you mention that acid feeling in the stomach because yesterday I didn’t drink but I did have heartburn for the first time since I was pregnant. I was lying awake last night wondering if it was caused by the Christmas Day drinking.

@BoilingHotand50something massive congratulations on day 113, honestly so inspiring. There is hope!

Hello

I'm still here, still drinking.

Appointment on 4th Jan to pick up my prescriptions ready for detox on 8th January.
I can't wait for this dark period of my life to be over.

Morning @smegley thank you for the update. It is a dark period of life, that’s for sure. All the negative things drinking brings is unwritable, there aren’t enough words. Well done on booking the detox in, please keep us up to date with how it goes.

Day 3 here. I went for a run yesterday. It’s funny how alcohol becomes the most important thing when drinking and everything else gets neglected. I haven’t run in ages but in September, when I was dry, I was running regularly. Not something that is enjoyable with a hangover.

Glad the detox is coming up @smegley and that you have a date now to focus on it. It will really be worth it even if it is hard at the start.

Nice to see you again @MamaGhina and tough conditions to run in (unless you have the tailwind!)

@TimesaChangeling the weather was awful. It kind of made me feel alive though 😆

@smegley please keep checking in with us, it must be daunting but as you say, the start of a new chapter.

@MamaGhina getting back to running is my next thing to tackle, I used to love it and like you, felt alive running in the rain - skin is waterproof was my favourite saying.

I'm still plodding on, have become a bit too reliant on AF beers and fizz over the festive period - too easy to say that it's all fine because it's AF but as a wise woman on here said, it is glamourising alcohol (and is still full of sugar) so need to get back to just drinking flavoured water again.

Hope you all have a lovely Friday

@MissSmith80 I think the benefit of stopping far outweighs the sugar in AF drinks. Well done for sticking with it, it’s not easy. I’m aching after my run, definitely need a couple of rest days. Don’t want to injure myself.

@MissSmith80 I think whatever works is the ticket. AF drinks made me realise that what I need is the ritual of a drink rather than the alcohol. Having an AF drink in a nice glass weaned me off alcohol. I have still managed to lose nearly two stone since mid July and have reaped other health benefits. Having said that alcohol is severely overglamourised and its side effects on health are brushed under the carpet.

@smegley I have thought of you over the holidays and wish you the best of luck and every success on the next stage of your journey.

I have had one or two glasses every day since 23rd December without feeling the need for a third. We are out tomorrow night and then I am aiming for dry January and a 3 or 4 pound weight loss in January.

Christmas was a bit odd as the family was split due to MIL's frailty. DD and I got back late yesterday. It was a 6.5 hour drive both ways - should have taken 4.5!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and that everyone is looking forward to a happy and healthy NY.

I’m actually looking forward to January, somehow I always manage dry Jan with ease. I’ve done it every year for about 10 years now. I saw a thread in chat and I might join to lurk and read the tips.

I have never bothered with Dry January before but feel I need it after my Christmas tinctures.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4972319-dry-january-2024-been-overindulging-drinking-crept-up-want-to-begin-a-healthy-new-you-this-way-please-all-welcome?page=4&reply=131816885
Link to the thread if anyone fancies it, the OP is a long time Dry Jan poster and a bit much more active then me 😆

The AF drinks are what has got me through Christmas without alcohol. I am enjoying Nozeco and the Natureo the most. We were gifted a red wine and a Prosecco but these have remained unopened thus far. I am still two stone down on September so I am fine with them as a treat but am going to have to wean myself off them in the new year which is quite funny really.

I was just gifted some wine and there was a look of utter surprise when I said Um, I have given up! To be fair, they will go back to a good home so it’s fine. I think my dry Jan will consist of trying to wean myself down on the sugar as well which has been a bit monumental of late.

I'm back on day 1, had a blip over Christmas but managed 51 days before that! Back in for dry January starting today. Really aiming for 100 days AF. Felt so good during the 51 days. Sleeping was better and more positive. Last few days have been a bit meh so looking forward to being AF again rather than dreading it.
I hope you are all well and enjoyed Christmas.

Good to see you back @SummerScoop I am sure you won’t be the only one who has had a little blip or have purposely paused their sober journey.

Happy New Year to everyone - whether you are still dry, planning to be dry, happily moderating, happily drinking or whether you are lurking and plan to join us in the future. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread in 2023 - you have helped me more than I can say.