No alcohol in 2024

[Noalcohol2024]

I gave up alcohol for an entire year 10 years ago and I am going to challenge myself to do it again in 2024. Anyone want to join me? I won’t lie I found it really hard. However, it did help me reset my habitual drinking. I feel ready to do it again. If anyone else feels a year off alcohol is something they want to do then join me on January 1st. I am going to take the next few days being honest with myself and reflecting on why I feel this challenge is something I need to do. Anyone who starts on January 1st with me can include their reasons in the introduction (if they wish to). I have a big birthday this year so I know it will be a challenge on that day as-well as Christmas and New Year 2024 but I am determined.

Come on in @pandosadick habe you started already? If so how's it going?

I’m a few days late to the party but started today! I’ve always enjoyed having a few glasses of wine in the evening but feel it’s getting to a point where I struggle to go without it, am not sleeping well, putting on weight and my skin is dull. I’ve been drinking well above the recommended limits and feel the best way for me to reset my habit is to stop altogether. I would love to manage a year but need to try to get through the first few weekends first!

Good morning! Feeling positive at the start of week 2 - even though meetings after work and parents evening ... I'm a teacher in Sussex. Drinking plenty of ginger tea and treated myself to fancy lemonade from shops / a third of the price of my usual vino. Wishing you all strength and happiness

@unbelievablescenes I had a two hour siesta on Saturday - unheard of!

Made it through the weekend! I thought yesterday was going to be tough as going to friends for lunch and she loves a wine, but actually it felt lovely to come home and not want to slob on the sofa after a boozy lunch and actually have energy to play with my three year old. Friday was really tough though but I made it. I'm still waiting for the 'leaping out of bed' feeling though, I wasn't expecting to feel so awful in the mornings still.

Week one done ✅

Feel so much better and more positive about the year ahead. First night last night I didn’t have to get up for a pee. Slept straight through from 11 til 830! Not done that in years.

@pandosadick welcome to join looking at your post you posted quite late and many on here would have been asleep because this AF journey effects us differently. It is helping me sleep so much better. It sounds like you are ready to try and be AF for 2024. Most of us have committed to a year because we are alcohol dependent and although we may not be physically dependent we picked a year long goal to hopefully change our mindset when it comes to alcohol.

Looking forward to hearing about everyone’s first week successes AF.

Week 2 and I’m feeling optimistic.

Checking in. Day 7 for me as I started on the 2nd.

Well done to everyone here.

@Susieblue18 everything you have listed for your reasons I’m seeing improvements in after only one week. I’ve lost 5lbs in weight this week (I have a few stones to lose) and this is without following SW 100% as I wanted to concentrate on no alcohol for the first week.

Thinking about what to do going forward.

Once everyone’s checked in after week 1 I will try and make a list of those of us who are going forward into week 2.

May make a new post for Week 2 No alcohol 2024 also as think it may keep me motivated to see the weeks in the title.

Anyone’s who’s had a slip up is still welcome just so long as you are still on board for the AF 2024 goal.

Im in 🙋🏻‍♀️ . Day 8 today .

Away for a couple of days with friends
Every time I've done this with this particular group I have broken a long streak thinking I would carry on AF when I have got home, only to find I continue to drink more than I want to for weeks afterwards.
This time I have managed the first night with soft drinks and definitely won't drink tonight as driving home early tomorrow!
Well done me! I think it's a breakthrough

@Iamateadrinker well done so hard to resist when we are with our drinking buddies. Like you the reason why I committed to a year is because I would always negotiate with myself if I drink tonight I can do more AF days next week or next month however, this never happened and I just continued drinking and drinking. Stay strong tonight the drive home will be so much easier.

Still in for the year... or longer. Day 8 for me 

@pandosadick hope you're still keen to join? I don't think there are a huge number on this thread so replies can be slow. But I know it can feel disheartening when you really need someone and try to reach out. How are you feeling today?

I've been silently watching from the outside. My alcohol intake has been abysmal for several years and is only getting worse. I decided to do Dry Jan- all is going well bar a Friday night slip up. But, if anything, the resulting hangover (which has never been so bad before), has put me off drinking ever again!! So, I'd like to think it'll be more of a long term abstinence/life change rather than a month's one.

It's good to read everyone else's story and progress.

Checking in. Well done on getting the first week done everyone.
I'm 25 days AF today so a quarter of the way to my original goal of 100 days. Planning on doing the whole year though. Have definitely noticed a reduction in anxiety levels which is great.

Checking in! Day 8 for me!
Keep going everyone 💪

Day 8 here also. Struggling to get to sleep at night. Other than that, beginning to feel the benefits.

Checking in (Yesss!!!)
Very very proud to have made it through my first proper weekend.
I'm utterly shocked at how hard I'm finding it.
I knew I was drinking way too much, too often, but I always made the excuse that I could go without if I wanted to. That turns out to be a big fat comforting lie.
I need to switch my mindest from feeling like I'm missing out to the fact that I'm giving myself a wonderful gift. I'm not there yet, but I am still here, sleepless nights, temper tantrums, chocolate and ice-cream scoffing and all.

As with some others, the quit lit isn't really doing it for me. I know all the medical facts (I've just chosen to ignore them) and I haven't been sacked/ done anything illegal/ set fire to a friend whilst pissed (although I did make one awful twat of myself at the Christmas party 😬) so I'm not really relating to the stories and then evangelical rebirth.
I rarely go out, but as above, trips away with friends are hideously boozy... my main vice is binge drinking in my kitchen to the point where I say stupid stuff to my ever so lovely husband and wakeup with terrible anxiety, a cracking hangover and feel like a total arsehole through and through and go to work feeling like utter shit.

Anyway... this group is BRILLIANT! you guys are the first thing I check in with each morning, every time I have a wobble, I read this thread and if I feel like I might truly crack that day, write something.

As I have not drunk all weekend... I'm rocking slightly for a glass of wine on a Monday.
That's pretty much a first, but I know it's just the fear of letting my comfort blanket go.

I am learning so much by reading your journeys, so a massive thank you from me (day 11)

Are you still about? Definitely happy to talk/help/support if possible.....! There aren't that many on this thread, so it probably isn't the best place for immediate support, that's all, especially at night.....people seem to pop up at random times, sometimes after long gaps! Not sure where the best place to post if in need of a fast reply...... even the main alcohol support board doesn't seem that busy, but probably busier than this specific thread..... and hopefully at this time of year it will be especially busy! How are you?

I'm on day 10, and the hardest thing is still the shit sleep! Already take magnesium citrate (still don't sleep, but good for the bowels!!), b vitamins.... think it is just a matter of time, but will try magnesium glycinate in the hope it may be better...

Not anticipating any cravings until Friday, and planning a swim as a distraction then!

A late joiner, but a joiner nonetheless! Decided to give it up for the year on NYE - grew up with alcohol a big part of my life from my late teens and even though I've been a strictly moderate drinker for a long time, I get more frequent headaches from less alcohol (think age and hormones have changed how in process it) and feel like it takes up lots of my headspace deciding when/where/how much to have even in small amounts. Feel great and don't miss it at all yet!

I am waiting for my dinner to cook so will list as best I can if I’ve missed you off let me know.

This is everyone who has checked in today who wants to progress to week 2 No Alcohol 2024.

I know we have some that have done more and some that have done less but I’ll just list names who check in on Mondays and who want to progress through the year AF.

Doesn’t matter if anyone has a blip because the ethos of this thread is to commit to a year AF and it’s best to get back on the wagon asap with help rather than feel you can’t come back to the thread.

Week 2 No Alcohol 2024

@halfthesun
@idontknow54789
@Bittercup
@pavillion1
@Iamateadrinker
@whereaw
@Grumblygrey
@Jeffsmeffsmiff
@VanLife33
@Hunsterbunster
@glindathegoodbitch
@ThisIsASeaplane
@ellyo
@Noalcohol2024

New starter @Susieblue18

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone please just post tonight and I’ll add you to the list.

Hello! :-)

Hi, I'm on day 31. Feeling quite good and positive! Have avoided the booze over Christmas and a few social occasions. No physical benefits yet but I was more of a binge drinker so didn't drink every day or even every week. My problem is group situations. I have no off switch.

Hello @Jeffsmeffsmiff - nice to see you here too and well done on what you have done so far ☺️