No Alcohol 2024 February

[NoAlcohol2024February]

Checking in for February 2024 now Dry January is over. Feeling positive for an AF February and the year ahead AF 🤩

Well done everyone, we are doing so great. Proud of us. Good luck for this weekend. Hope you all have nice things planned.

Well done @DJer24 holiday AF I’ve not faced that yet. A quick hotel stay after dropping DS at Uni but not a proper holiday.

This AF journey is making me feel more disciplined in myself so I’ve downloaded this fasting app and I’m going for 18 hours. Will have a swim in the morning too. Dug out the teapot and DH who usually brings me a cup of tea in the mornings will use this with some speciality tea and no milk. Hope I can make it!

Normally I would be on the wine, nuts and crisps by now. Not anymore though.

Checking in for day 50!

Me too day 50.

@Xelda day 50! I feel so proud of myself and all of us who have made it so far. I never thought I would make it this far.

My mindset has changed. Took my parents shopping and they stocked up on gin, wine, whiskey and expensive tonic. Normally, I would stock up too swapping whiskey for champagne as I don’t like whiskey. But, I didn’t need to. I felt so happy about my trolley not clinking in the car park. My bill was much less too. My parents can’t go 1 day without a drink of alcohol. I realised they’ve been using ‘live for the day’ and the threat of nuclear war since I can remember (going back 40 years) to justify their daily drinking. Now they are in their seventies they are stuck in their alcohol dependence and it’s their way of life. I don’t want to be like that. I want to be able to free myself from the hold alcohol has on me. I think this year may just do that for me.

Checking in for this week. Not going to lie I had a drink on Saturday. We did a club night. Not something we do very often at all these days so I just went with it. Had a good night but did not enjoy the hangover at all! My god. I thought I would be really gutted that I had ruined my AF streak but I’m not too bothered. I’m a grown up and this is a choice. I can’t force myself to stay AF I can only do it because I choose to. I really don’t want this to be the start of a slippery slope to drinking more often. But I can see what people say about moderation. A little voice is saying well we can just do this every now and then. But then you get the questions in your mind. How often exactly and what occasions will you drink for and what occasions won’t you drink for. I can see how moderation just gets complicated. I did really
regret wasting yesterday. Anyway there is my confession. Will you have me back 😂

Don't beat yourself up @Atacamadesert and go for it again.

A dry weekend for me and I'm starting to wonder if this might actually be it forever. I'm losing the 'want' to drink. Out with friends on Friday and family on Saturday for meals and very happy to drive both nights.

The reaction from people is always interesting - my best friend asked if I was ever going to drink again. When I said I didn't know, she was like 'i hope you do!' which made me reflect a little as to why people say that and how she perhaps thinks that I won't be much fun anymore.

I've also realised that I don't really enjoy loud busy pubs and places when I'm not drinking. My stress levels on my Garmin go through the roof.

Forgive my musings, this thread helps without boring others!!

Of course @Atacamadesert I hope anyone else who has had an alcohol drink feels like they can stay in the group. It’s not about perfection it’s about the mindset. There is no way I could be AF if I went clubbing. I am the triple gin friend to everyone else’s single (I never partake in rounds). I know 100% if I drank again now I would get hammered. Everyone’s goal within the AF year is different. My DH and 18 year old DS in his first year of Uni is doing it too. Neither of them want to be the first to drink alcohol so it’s a collective family competitiveness that gets me through some of the worst cravings.

In March we can check in and state current Dry Day streaks and also Total Dry Days since 1st January 2024.

Hopefully, anyone that’s drank alcohol still feels they can return if they want to start a Dry Day Streak again.

@Thelittlestranger @NoAlcohol2024February
yes loud pubs and clubs for many hours on end or not something that can do sober I think. I would have been fine with the food and then the band in the pub but the clubbing bit needed booze quite frankly!

I agree and I’m realising that the guilt and anxiety the day after keeps me in the loop of just saying sod it I’ll just carry on drinking it’s just part of me.

I know the minute I pick up a glass of cold champagne I will love and savour it. I just want to not get to opening the second bottle and thinking I’ve just spent £80 chugging fizz down my gullet. I have a wine air thingy that could make the champagne last til the next day but I have to drain the bottle.

I have a confession to make too. My DH just messaged me and said he may have to stay overnight in hospital after a day surgery. The first thing that went through my mind (after him being okay) was I could have a drink without anyone knowing! I’m not ready to moderate🤣

Checking in.

half term week was a challenge as it was all go go go and juggle without any ‘reward’. Immediately reframed that word to ‘restraint’ and felt better.

life still goes on if I drink or not but what I do know is it would have been much much harder this last week if I had taken a drink. It’s never one is it.

been having some crazy weird dreams recently. Not particularly pleasant ones either! I’m presuming that is another stage of the brain clearing out and re-wiring. I could have done without the sexual dream about my manager !!! Completely out of nowhere that one 😳.

im a bit short fused today. Hope that passes!

well done everyone and if you’ve had a drink so what - it’s a marathon not a sprint, don’t punish yourself it’s a tough crowd out there.

@Limeandsober sexual dream about your manager! I bet that was awkward.

I had a weird dream about being in America sitting the SAT’s (I think) but not being able to and saying to the teacher I want to go back to the UK and do A levels! I’m 50 and I did my A levels years ago.

I wonder if it’s weird parts of our brains coming alive again!

Checking in also. I must say, I rather like the weird dreams, though I'd draw the line at enjoying one about a sexual encounter with my boss 😂.

@NoAlcohol2024February what you said about your husband being away overnight is so relatable. My husband works night shift sometimes and it was always my favourite time to drink as there was no one there to see what I was doing......

Late check-in, still here and dry!

'my best friend asked if I was ever going to drink again. When I said I didn't know, she was like 'i hope you do!' which made me reflect a little as to why people say that and how she perhaps thinks that I won't be much fun anymore.'

If I'm honest I do sometimes wonder if I'm not as fun without! I get much more chatty and bubbly after the first one or two (sure it sometimes goes downhill from there but not always) and I've no doubt this is some of the reason alcohol has been so appealing over the years. Sad really!

I haven't really tested the being out with friends AF yet. I am definitely quite 'boring' in the evenings at the moment though, in bed by 9.30/10 (up early with DC). Anyway, going with it for now.

Also checking in! Day 51, had to just look it up. I'm feeling like it's just becoming second nature and not really thinking or focusing on it which is great! Am paying more attention to looking after myself, skincare, healthier food and drinks, exercise (when I have time but still very busy)! Had a lovely half term with the kids including a weekend away. Definitely won't be going back to drinking anytime soon!

I'm still getting some strong cravings at times but I don't feel in any danger of actually drinking even though we still have some alcohol in the house. Also, I'm using an app with a calendar and sometimes find a few days can pass before I remember to tick the days off which I'm taking as a sign that I'm not obsessing about it!
Hope everyone's having a good week so far.

Checking in late,. sorry!

Still here and still dry! Feeling good 👍

Day 51 here too 😃 I feel shit, my life's a mess but I'm sober and optimistic I'd feel worse if I was drinking 🤣 I genuinely feel alcohol staves off bugs, never got ill when drinking. Hey ho!

Checking in as well. Day 68 and still AF.

Checking in, day 52 for me. Well done everyone, I especially admire those that have been on holiday without drinking, I'm nervous about doing that in the summer.

I'm feeling really good on the whole, I've lost some weight and really enjoying weekends without hangovers.

I saw DH drink less than a bottle of wine over Friday and Saturday night, he even left some in that bottle and didn't drink on Sunday. I just would not do that. Even now if I let myself have some it would be more than half a bottle I'm sure each night. I can really see how easily I could go back to it.

@BraveMaeve your DH has good constraint I can’t leave a drop. I’m ashamed to admit that I opened a bottle of NA wine and I had to finish every drop in that bottle too! I thought to myself I’ll never change 😂

Not long til March now!

I'm afraid to say ... This evening I've caved.

Im having a can of Stella from the fridge 😭

It's been a shit day and the devil on my shoulder won by saying why deny yourself this one simple pleasure when everything else has been shit.

Ergh I dunno how I feel about it tbh. I feel bad I had not enough self control
But at the same time, I feel cheered up after a shit day that I have something to enjoy.

@VanLife33 honestly, I have nearly caved so many times! My DH was in surgery and all I could think about was that I can have a glass of wine in secret if they keep him in overnight!

I don’t think I would regret it or feel guilty because for me these feelings just make me want to defy myself and drink more.

Enjoy and savor it now you have opened it. When you’re ready ask yourself what your goal is now?

Have you tried the 0% Guinness it is so nice chilled. Maybe have a NA alternative ready next time and try this first before the Stella.

Whatever you decide. This is your journey and you’ve come a very long way and changed your alcohol habits already. Maybe this is enough for now.

We are here. Always x

Thank you so much for your reply!

Im not going to lie, I did enjoy it. And it did take the edge off my horrible day.

I'm just surprised I gave into myself so easily.. and so soon. I genuinely thought I'd find it easier as I'm not naturally a massive drinker any way and haven't really missed it up until this point

It really was just a complete fuck this shit moment and to just rebel a bit!

I will accept it as a part of the journey and move swiftly on towards my goal of being alcohol free!

I will definitely look into 0% alternatives for days like today though!

Honestly, thank you so much 🙏 x

The Guinness 0% is delicious I use to have a bit of blackcurrant in Guinness when I was younger but I prefer it without now.

Corano 0% with a wedge of lime is good too.

@NoAlcohol2024February how is your husband doing?
I must confess my partner being away is a trigger for me although he’s not usually in surgery.