On A Mission To Moderate or Absolutely Abstaining? Join us for encouragement, support and non - judgemental chat *2024*

[Swannyb]

@amdone123 @mj20 @touty @Hohofortherobbers @Coppergate7 @bigbus @colouringindoors @wellitywellness @Atacamadesert @Freezingfeetwarmheart @WouldRatherBeAPieceOftToast @Hohofortherobbers @mickandrorty @Mykittensmittens @afaloren @NoTeaNoShade @CrackersCheeseNoWinePlease @LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE @Needtokickthehabit @OhShitImNearly40 @Nowstrong @enoughisenough4

£6 in M&S outlet
Nothing fancy!

@Freezingfeetwarmheart
That's a good philosophy

I remember a weight watchers leader once saying, if you drop your phone, you don't then stamp on it
So one bad day shouldn't write off the week

So one drink doesn't mean the bottle

Good to still have you with us @Touty
Im still AF, having dinner with friends tomorrow night, but someone has to drive so may as well be me. They're not big drinkers, they'll probably have just 1 beer each so no great temptation.

AF#12 Alcohol is yet another thing I waste money on

Not sure how long I'm going to keep up this AF# thing. Feels like it might be like a babies age - days for the first two weeks, then weeks until four months...Might be getting carried away here - longest in recent history is 21 days. Think I'll swap/stop at 2 weeks.

My big two-page-to-a-day diary arrived yesterday! Going to retro-fill some of it with basics and then the plan is to record as much as I can be bothered in an ad-hoc way. Not really a feelings one - have an online for that. Mundane shit really. What I actually did (eat, spend my time whatever) rather than what I plan to do. Try and get some different habits and patterns going. Obviously my alcohol consumption will go in it too.

No solo drinking sounds like a very good plan @Nowstrong

Hope you enjoy your dinner with friends @Hohofortherobbers - so much easier not to get stuck in when those around you aren't either.

Hope you don't have to declare an extremely bad day clause @Freezingfeetwarmheart . DH had a couple of 'meetings' like this (assuming similar issues) with his parents. It is hard.

Hi all!!!!
m just caught up in everyone’s news! Lovely to see so many familiar names @Bigbus @enoughisenough4 @Hohofortherobbers what day are you now? And well done @Swannyb on your moderation! I think @Freezingfeetwarmheart and @Coppergate7 are still A/f? But anyway everyone seems to be doing well!!!!
Hope you enjoyed your night off @Amdone123, sounds like you had a plan which I always find helps! @Touty its lovely to hear from you too. I’m sorry you’re feeling so rubbish, sounds like thinking about alchol has become all consuming. I hope AA helped??? And I was wondering if the doctor could help? Sending you so much support!!!!

so I’m day…. 19!!!! Can’t quite believe it! Not sure if @Swannyb or @Coppergate7 said it but everything just seems to fall into place when I’m sober! I feel great. I thought I may drink last highly but hubby away and I wouldn’t drink alone! So I continue! I’ve been listening to lots of sober podcasts recently and I’d really recommend!!!

hello to some of the newer names too @Hello2024 @Tilllly @afaloren @colouringindoors @Mykittensmittens

have a great weekend all xxxx

Morning all.

I tried sentia last night in a bid to locate an end of the week marker which actually does help with some sort of neurological shift or tangiable sensation.

it was…..weird! It was distinct, and made a shift like having that first drink does but in a different way. the CBD drinks give me that ‘down the limbs’ sinky feeling, but this was more mental, woozy. It’s short lived - goes after about 30 mins and it’s bloody expensive, which is why for me it’s even more of a treat/only go to at the weekend. But yes, it does something. And it tastes very adult - sort of a mix of Dr Pepper and aniseed and rose and benilyn!!

Morning all. My sleep is still horrific so I took a pill last night so I got a better one last night. I’m still going strong although I can feel the novelty wearing off and this morning I’m not quite as grateful for my clear head as I was last weekend. I think it’s called fading effect bias so I will need to find a way to remind myself!

Morning, all.
I drank 1.5 bottles and smoked. I had a lovely evening and I ate, so I don't feel too bad.
I won't drink now til Friday though another af weekend ( like last weekend) would be good.

Morning all. Still dragging myself through the days at the moment - no sign of any mythical pink cloud on the horizon for me as yet... Getting a lot out of writing the blog though (my way of killing time in the evenings...), so at least there's that!

Today's post is all about alcohol and the brain - the first of a two-parter, given that it's a pretty hefty subject!

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/13/dry-january-13-alcohol-and-the-brain/

Lunching in Wetherspoons

Having salad instead of panini and chips, so having a gin with it but gone for a single, not a double

@wellitywellness I have really enjoyed the last couple of days of you blog (giggling at the guest appearance from Kriss Kross), you have a way with words and the science/physical stuff speaks to me!

Day 15 for me - that is OVER TWO WEEKS! My head has felt clearer, my skin has LOOKED clearer, my sleep is better- and I braved the scales this morning to find I am 4lbs down from last week and back at my happy weight again! So going to try my best not to drink after the ILs next week. The day of reckoning will probably be Thursday.
DH is doing well with cutting down too - he has only had 3 drinks all month and that is what he would have had in one night and for several nights in a row. It's easier for me when we're on the same page as we really can be a bad influence on each other.

Is there such thing as an alcohol-free drink that tastes like fine Kentucky Bourbon? That is probably asking too much!

@Freezingfeetwarmheart thank you! I try to write these in a way that sticks in my own brain box - I don't recall 90% of the science stuff I've read already, but as long as the key messages hammer home then job's a good 'un hopefully!

Hello all! So day 3 AF it is. Apart from that, really boring mundane trying not to nibble, trying not to drink, gah... always no; no; no. Well I suppose it is self inflicted so shouldn't complain.
@wellitywellness I am enjoying reading your blog, keep up the good work. Interesting and slightly spine chilling all the facts. That I do need to know.
Enjoy the weekend! SSS (Staying Solo and Sober)

Just had a lovely walk and often I really enjoy a drink and then dinner to nicely round off the day. This trigger is not about stress or making myself feel better but about feeling good and wanting to enhance the high by having some alcohol. We would often go to the pub early doors after a walk and have at least 2 pints/2 large glasses of wine before eating. I’ve asked my other half to have one of his beers before we head out today as 2 lime and sodas when you are starving hungry is nowhere near as appealing! I won’t lie I’m really tempted but I just keep saying to myself that if I do drink then I never get to find out what happens if I don’t.

Well, I’m feeling good. Stayed AF last night and all signs point to me staying sober tonight too. I’m in my pyjamas already so I can’t go to the shop! DH is going out for dinner tonight (away for the weekend) but has promised to stay dry so I’m not alone. We had a nice phonecall earlier. I’ve made a fire and going to have a good dinner shortly.

Everyone’s sounding really positive! Lovely to read xx

Hello, I’m still abstaining. Tonight we went out for OH birthday and I didn’t drink.
@Mj20 I didn’t go to AA in the end, two reasons, I don’t hear back from the organizers and then I felt like I just couldn’t face it. Part of my thinking was has it really come to this?

but I want to go and I will go. I have to see this through. This is it for me, the end of the road with drink.

Morning, just home from a bad shift at work- would normally have a drink but have decided not to - it won't change anything and would just make me feel guilty on top of it!
If I can cope with that I MAY be able to cope with the ILs on Thursday, but am sort of hoping for so much snow that we can't go 😈

So... day 16!

@Touty thats a great start to your abstaining. You can do this.
@Freezingfeetwarmheart well done on Day 16 - that's brilliant. Hope it snows for you 🤫

I was a tad hungover yesterday, more tired than anything but it wasn't pleasant. Though, I have been worse and at least I had energy to play with the children ( grandchildren and great nieces), and look after the 6 week old responsibly ( with help from dh. I'm no Mary Poppins), so it was a brilliant day.

I'm back af now. Sundays can be a struggle for me, but not today.

@afaloren you're doing really well this weekend. It's like you're creating new habits. It all sounds so lovely, too.

AF#13 I can drive anywhere anytime

I'm getting to the point where there isn't much to say about being AF, on a day-to-day basis it has become the new norm. I know there will be a lot of alcohol challenges ahead but for now I feel like I've cleared enough 'space' to baby step some other changes so it is time to shift focus. I know if I don't make progress elsewhere then that will lead to being back on the wine every night...

@Coppergate7 a good point. How are you doing with your mini challenges ?
I think I should aim for an af weekend. I know I've done them before but I don't find them easy. The more I do, the easier they'll be.

@TheBuggerlugs hi and welcome!
Yes, lots on here are feeling exactly the same. For some, it just seems easier to abstain than moderate.
Personally, I'd love to abstain but I can't, so cutting back it is.
I think when you drink, and it ruins your sleep and those feelings of self loathing invade, it's absolutely awful. Been there many times.
So, day 1 for you. You can do it, keep posting.
We' ll help you ❤💯

So day 13 for me. All is going well - the 0% spirits (Tanqueray and Captain Morgan Spiced) and 0% beers have definitely helped. I wasn't sure about the spirits to start with, but I've got used to them now, and it's good to have something to drink in the evening that isn't just (yet another) glass of water.

But I'm still not sleeping any better. Last night was awful, and not helped by DH snoring. Unfortunately other than the sofa, there isn't another place to go and sleep, or try to sleep as DC have the other bedrooms. I was really hoping that by being alcohol-free for this long, things might have improved. Still, I suppose there are still almost three weeks to go.