No Alcohol March 2024

[NoAlcohol2024March]

Day 61 2024

60 days AF so far in 2024

I made it to March nearly a quarter of the way through the year!

I am struggling but battling on.

The benefits physically and mentally are worth it.

Good luck in March 2024 for those of us hanging in on the AF journey.

“As a drinker, life for me was always about when I was going to allow myself the next drink (and then recovering from it); sober, life is about everything else, and everything else is better and easier.”

Bookmarking this quote. Insightful.

So many of us going through the same thoughts.

I keep thinking about when I gave up smoking. I gave up 6 years ago after smoking for 26 years - and I had tried a few times before I managed it but always tried social smoking (moderation) and then failed completely as it crept back up. When I realised I couldn't do that anymore I gave up, and now don't miss it at all. I expect, and hope, that drinking might be the same - which is why I'm debating whether it is forever...how nice to not even think about it, and everything else instead.

@Thelittlestranger Well done on the smoking quit! Nearly ten years for me now, though I vaped until 2018.

The big difference I found was: everyone congratulates you for quitting smoking! They don't say 'Aw, come on , just one... don't be boring, we're all having a smoke... it's Friday night/my birthday/your birthday/Putin's birthday/Easter/Christmas/St Swithin's Day...'. They don't sidle away from you at parties because you don't smoke or keep asking you But why? Whyyy? 😜

But in a way it's even cooler, because you get to feel a bit different to the common herd when everyone else is sloshed and you're clear and aware and capable. It's a different buzz, but it's a buzz all right!

Hi everyone. Well done for keeping at it. I hit my original goal of 100 days yesterday but I'm going to stay AF at least for now because I know I'm crap at moderation. I could always go without just fine if I didn't start but I'm a binge drinker really. Often till blackout.
I still struggle with drinking soft drinks though. There are hardly any I like and they don't really feel "special" so I'm still spending on the AF alternatives quite often. So that's annoying because it's still a waste of money. But at least I'm spending it on something that isn't also poisoning me at the same time

Congratulations on hitting your 100 days @Samsond 👏

I personally don't view the AF drinks as a waste of money. I've kind of reframed it as an interest and almost a hobby and look forward to deciding what to have at the weekend. And yes, we are not poisoning ourselves in the process!

Morning all. Have caught up on posts from the past couple of weeks and understand how you're all feeling.
Still AF, day 84. Really difficult at times but I know, from a lot of past experience, that moderation just doesn't work for me as others have said. A drink or two and I'd be back in a bad place before I knew it.
Wishing everyone well whatever stage each of you are at

@Samsond congratulations on 100 days! That's a great achievement 👏🏼

@Compash you are absolutely right about the smoking. And about standing out from the crowd. I think you have to embrace it - rather than shy from it. I'm proud that I'm not drinking right now.

Just sitting for a coffee during a lovely long walk with the dog, somewhere completely different. Another two miles to go, but I'm not sure I would have bothered before...

Hello - I’m a year down the line now - 15 months AF and it is so much easier now than it was. I too put on weight last year after giving alcohol up but then proceeded to lose 3 stone from about May onwards, when I cut out the extra chocolate etc that I’d allowed myself.

I’ve now done alcohol free holidays, a wedding, a christening and a funeral, as well as Christmas and 2 new years.

I feel so much better and have been told I look 10 years younger. I no longer fancy alcohol and see it for the addictive poison in a pretty bottle that it is (yes I’ve read and digested lots of quit lit which was very helpful).

I love the fact that my anxiety is so much better and I sleep so much better too. I don’t have to plan my weekends around hangovers and know I won’t embarrass myself or upset anyone else.

I now feel able to look ahead and feel excited by the fact that I’ll never drink again. I feel free. Good luck all and know it gets much easier as time goes by.

Thanks @SaltySeaCat I loved your post.

I'm not managing with being AF. But I am still lurking and am grateful to be inspired by everyone else.

Thank you @everlastingpanini. I wasn’t really sure if I should post or not but looking back to last year, I think I found this period quite difficult but then it got easier in about May.

Just checking in… 53 days for me. That’s fantastic @SaltySeaCat you’re giving us an insight to how it finally feels. @Samsond congratulations on 100 days… wishing you all well wherever you are

Checking in also. Day 90 here. How's everyone else doing?

Still here, still going!

I had a bad craving last week, it was on a dog walk past the local country pub - lovely mild evening, people even sitting outside ‘enjoying’ their drinks. The urge for a G&T hit me hard. Fleeting but hard!

that night I had a drinking dream, really shook me! In the dream I’d picked up my friends drink by accident and took a big swig of G&T not my lemonade. I quickly finished it and felt SO guilty- I had ruined sober 24!!!

woke up with the guilt then a lot of relief when I reminded myself that I hadn’t drunk any alcohol last night or since last year, it was just a dream.

Im having a blood test this week as despite sleeping well I’m feeling exhausted all the time, they are checking my hormones to see if it might be early menopause symptoms.

I hope it’s that or vitamins but my paranoia whispers ‘maybe it’s your innards finally packing in after the years of being a piss head’. ..

keep going everyone 😎

We're nearly there, OP - less than a week to go!

@Limeandsober I had a very similar dream! Downed a glass of wine in my dream not realising what it was - didn't really like the taste, and when I worked it out was so disappointed with myself!! Hope the blood test results are ok.

@SaltySeaCat lovely to hear a tale from the other side of a year..

Hi all- struggling mentally here but last night I made us an 'American Feast' for dinner which was chicken wings, dirty wedges, sweet corn and drank very cold iced tea which completely hit the spot!

I have to keep reminding myself that once I am past the witching hour of prepping dinner and eating it I'm fine.

Hope everyone has a good day.

That sounds awesome @everlastingpanini and I hope you feel mentally better soon.

I've been busily planning some nice food and treats for over the Easter break. Thinking about it, I haven't thought about/wished I could drink once. Must be progress.

81 days here.

Really appreciating the clarity of mind, the sleep that’s not disturbed by the 3am wake up, the lack of grumpiness, the ability to drive to collect children/teenagers at any hour, the mooching about in the early morning with a cuppa in the garden.

I’ve gone out for dinners and lunches and remained sober. I’m enjoying SanPellegrino drinks and really loving going to bed with herbal teas.

On a health note my doctor has wanted to put me on blood pressure tablets. She encouraged me to lose weight and cut down on alcohol. Well she was right - my blood pressure is now about 115/78. I have to go back to her but I fully expect that I will have escaped lifelong medication.

Hi all and Happy Easter weekend. I hope everyone is doing well. Well done to those who have been tempted but have stayed dry! I am 100 days + now, I have stopped counting. Not really tempted at all but still feeling a bit flat and "is this it?" I don't think I'm much fun on nights anymore and my desire to do anything in the evening is a fat zero because I don't want to hang out with drinkers. Is that terrible? I don't want to be a hermit but I just do not enjoy the drunk chat any more. Saying that, I miss my mates and although Ive tried a few nights out, I always go home after a couple of hours as they get more drunk...

Ive also put on half a stone as have replaced vodka with chocolate and crisps. I need to tackle the weight gain. I have a holiday coming up and am toying with the idea of a limoncello. Hopefully my spark will come back. I feel pretty boring and dull being sober!

Anyway, good luck all for the rest of Easter. We have got this!!

Well done @wannabedry I'm over 100 days too now (we started together but I was using a different name then) I'm finding evenings pretty boring too really. I've only been to the pub a couple.of times but done a few meals out with mates and that's better.
How's everyone else doing?
Have just signed up for a distance learning course to give me something to do rather than vegging in front of the telly of an evening (which was ok while drunk but I bloody hate now)
I also have done a couple of yoga / meditation classes which I LOVE but they're a bit tricky to commit to because DH gets home quite late from work and I need childcare but I am going to try and do them every now and again.
I feel like I have so much TIME now. I want to try and do stuff that I've never got around to. I'm even toying with the idea of getting my nostril pierced 😂.
And the best thing for me is that DH has decided he wants to give up too. He went out on a work think last week and had a few drinks - I think maybe 2 beers and 2 wines or something, so not loads - but he said he felt so crap for the next 2 days that he's done. Which is going to make things so much better for me if we're on the same page.
Anyway keep.going everyone. It's spring now. The clocks go forward tonight. There's so much to look forward to 😁

Congrats @wannabedry and @Samsond on reaching over 100 days 😁

Sounds like you are doing a good job of working out what you want to do with the extra hours in the day you have gained @Samsond. This really is a journey and we won't have all the answers at once. I've been filling in time walking, cooking, playing computer with my DS, watching films, cleaning/organising, reading etc. I totally hear you @wannabedry regarding nights out with friends. I don't have an answer, but I know I don't actually miss drunken nights out, they were just an anxious mess for me. Also, I know for a fact my spark doesn't come from being pissed - in fact I'm rather boring and repetitive. I do feel that the longer I go the more happy I am to show my true self, and that person likes going for a meal, a walk or a cinema trip with a friend better than going to the pub.

@HoldingMyselfAccountable that's awesome news about your blood pressure, what a win 🏆

Sorry everyone I've just read back my post and realised I sound like a chirpy, perky CBeebies presenter! Must be the sunshine today going to my head.

Nothing wrong with seeing the gains @Samsond !!

@TeeNoG - getting to know your true self really resonated with me. It feels exactly like that.

Beautiful day today - I have just stocked up on San Pellegrino, crisps and chocolate to see me through...

Hi everyone! I’m jumping on to see if someone is going to create a thread for April? I’d like to have a dry April and could do with the support.

Happy Easter everyone…. Spring has arrived and a bloody huge well done to everyone, especially through the bleakest sodding months of the year. In those immortal words of Frank S….. if we can do it there, we can do it everywhere (ahem)… it’s up to us ….AF….AF. I think I may have overdone the chocolate.
Yes please… let’s carry on. (60 days)