Day 1 or 1000 all welcome on the tulips and snowdrops thread 🌷

[AFmammaG]

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/4930949-tulips-snowdrops-and-another-day-1?page=40&reply=134961706

Ladies I’m making this new thread as we’ve gone up to 993 posts on the other thread and I need to link it before we fill up!

Will post a proper into later.

@Nitflux 247 days, that’s incredible. Especially considering everything you have gone through. It’s so amazing to hear that the clarity from not drinking has given you the strength to make such a huge life change. Onwards and upwards from here <3

@CoffeeLover90 well done on attempt 6. I hope you have something nice waiting for you at home after your long day!

I’m just back from a week away in Rhodes, Greece and I managed my first alcohol free holiday since I was a teenager! It was hands down the best holiday I’ve had. Being present in the moment, hangover free and feeling at peace with myself are just some of the positives. There were one or two moments where I felt a slight urge for a nice cocktail or an ice cold glass of rose but they went as soon as they came. I am now 3 days shy of 100 days and have never felt more proud. Off out this afternoon for an early birthday meal at the Ivy. I’ve looked at the AF drinks and they have a trip cocktail which I’m looking forward to trying!

Wishing you all well, whichever stage you find yourself at right now, we are all trying, one day at a time

Thanks, everyone. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been moments when I’ve wanted to get absolutely shitfaced, but I know how bad I’d feel the next day - physically and mentally - so that’s stopped the urges.

Good on all of you for even being on the thread. It takes courage!

@Gratitude24 that's a big, brilliant step to have your first alcohol free holiday!! I managed a ski trip in March - and felt very similar to you.

Evening all, sorry not to have been here for a while. I am away on my hols at the moment and I have, for the large part, been fine. I drank once on getting some quite bad news (which is just an excuse I know but I was f’ing cross, sad and tired) and otherwise all okay.

I also just saw a photo of myself from about 2 years ago and Oh. My. God. I looked like someone had packed a chipmunk into my face, it was just awful! I was so bloated and balloony that I could have lifted off straight away with a bunch of tourists in a basket beneath me! And that is a not inconsiderable motivator to keep going! Vanity for the win…

Oh my goodness @TimesaChangeling, yes a photo can do that to you! What motivation. Sorry to hear about your bad news but no need to let that blip write off the holiday!

It’s Monday and for the first time in a long time, it’s sunny here! Yay! I’m feeling motivated to have a good week. I need to tackle the junk food this week. It’s too much! Wish me luck!

Wishing everyone on here a fab week!

Thanks @AFmammaG. there’s an absolute abundance of food here! So I am tackling it, just not quite in the same way I think you are…

@TimesaChangeling it was looking at myself when I decided to make changes. Heaviest I have ever been, looked old and wasn’t happy. I am on holiday and did have one glass of rose last night but then stopped as I wasn’t interested in going back to old habits and have got used to feeling alert.

When I look at some of the pictures of me with the kids I cringe a little at the lines on my face. Years of drinking and smoking showing themselves ☹️
Theres one photo in a frame and I absolutely hate it. Desperately want to hide it away but I don’t. It’s a good reminder.

Attempt 8 successfully completed.
This is the furthest I have been yet, I feel down, sluggish, tired and no motivation. Tackling diet this week, a little at a time. Reducing caffeine too.

I weighed myself today. 10 stone but at 5ft 3 I can't carry it. I'd say a good 2 stone of that is only on the stomach and hips. I look like a lava lamp.

Bought some new clothes with the money I saved!

Yesterday was a productive day but I'm not feeling optimistic. Last Monday was productive but the week flew down hill.

Going to aim for 1lbs a week weight loss. A daily walk of at least 30 minutes. Start the skin care routine that I had but deserted. Will be bouncing back by the time little one returns to school.

Also, big thing, added to the waiting list for counselling. Arranged through the private health care at work. Because I think me not being able to cope with my own emotions, putting too much pressure on myself and the self hatred that's developing is the trigger.

@CoffeeLover90 part of my journey this year included talking to a counsellor for the first time. I found it super useful. I got rid of a lot of resentment and stress.

But also, day 8 is fantastic - tackling no booze is a big thing. Be kind to yourself and I hope you don't mind me saying, do what you need to to get through. It's taken me six months to drop the extra food I was eating instead of having a drink.

@Thelittlestranger thank you. This was my attitude at my last attempt. I took comfort from food instead and to be honest that helped. But I wonder if the tiredness etc may be linked to diet and lack of exercise. I expected to feel a lot better by now, than what I am. And thats making me think what's the point? Doing something to help change how I'm feeling may give me that extra push... or it maybe a step too far, in which case I will have no shame in ordering a kebab 🤣

Hello everyone!! How’s everyone been? I read through some people’s posts, but mostly just lurking in the background.

Hubby and I have been keeping to our drinking “schedule” except one day when I wanted some beer after a long hot day of gardening and small children. Wasn’t worth it in the end.

I completely forgot about Dry July also. A bit sad I forgot but also not sure I’d be able to do it at this rate anyway. Cue the excuses!!

Attempt 10
Just quick to say no change in myself really. Yesterday I had a strong urge. I came very close. I feel better today knowing I overcome it.
Today I don't feel optimistic about anything else.

Ah sorry to read your post @CoffeeLover90, it is hard, especially in those first couple of weeks when it just feels like deprivation (not sure that is the right word) but depriving yourself of something you think will help.
Well done on day 10!

I agree with @Thelittlestranger about tackling one issue at a time. It can feel like overload otherwise and I don’t want to set myself up to fail. You put weight on? Then you can lose it. All in good time.

Hi @SadMama87 so pleased to hear from you and happy to hear you are still with us. I know every now and again I put a message on a bit like ‘Is anyone there’ but there really is no pressure to post. That’s why I tend not to tag people on my posts unless I’m replying. It’s not because I’m not thinking about you ☺️ I’m just trying to be careful not to make people feel on the spot.

Hello everyone! Sounds like people are chipping away at it and doing ok. It does get easier - I promise. I can remember the early days of it being a big deal clicking on ‘I stayed dry’ on my app whereas now I am completely forgetting about the app and having a drink doesn’t come into my head. Now I have updated the app, I appear to be on day 312!

keep going - it gets easier and it is worth it!

Attempt 11. Which is day 12.
Fighting the crave today. Terrible day. Running out of chocolate. Terrible day.

@CoffeeLover90 you have got this. You really have! It took me quite a while last year to start feeling right again. I don’t say that to put you off but more to reassure you that just because you are not feeling brilliant yet, it doesn’t somehow mean you are failing! And even when I was still feeling exhausted and low - my health check up showed a massive improvement. And work started coming together again and then all sorts of mini magic started happening which alone and individually looked like nothing at all but together meant that I suddenly looked up one day and realised just how far I had come.

Please don’t be disheartened.

well done @BoilingHotand50something thats bloody marvellous!!

I am coming to the end of my holiday and unusually quite keen to get home. I have missed routine and the pooches and tbh I feel like this has been one of my duller excursions. Lesson learned that AI holidays are probably not my thing (I haven’t really done one like this before).

I also think you are doing amazingly well @CoffeeLover90.

I went to the dentist today and there was hardly any bleeding. Usually it’s a bloodbath 😭 that’s got to be a combination of stopping smoking in February and drinking less. Feeling pretty chuffed.

300 days @BoilingHotand50something is such an achievement. And I agree @TimesaChangeling sometimes we need to work through the crap to feel the benefit. My biggest plus is sleep. I just can’t beat the feeling of sleeping through the night and waking up feeling refreshed. That doesn’t get old.

Attend 13
I feel a little tiny bit more determined. This may be down to the obvious couple of inches lost from belly. Which was mostly bloat. Skins looking a little better too.
Not much increase in energy or mood. Putting that down to diet and lack of fresh air... thanks rain!
WHERE IS THE SUMMER??

Where is the summer indeed 😭 @CoffeeLover90

Really glad to hear that fire in your belly is returning (along with the bloat reduction). 2 weeks of no alcohol is fabulous and I’m sure you’ll start to see some other benefits very soon.

@AFmammaG I do think the bad weather is having a negative impact on my mood. The places we would usually walk will now be a mud bath. But I've kept to 5k steps a day and diet hasn't been as bad. No takeaways, still having chocolate or sweets so I don't feel 100% deprived.

Tried a vape. That did not go well. Liquid leaked into mouth as I inhaled. It was a disposal. If anyone can recommend one I'd be grateful. Stopping smoking is next on the list but using a vape to cut down first.

@CoffeeLover90 I ordered these from vapehub. Just put in another order and they arrived so I'm not worried about it being a scam. The first one from another company was not disposable and every time I inhaled, liquid sprayed in my face 😆 and there was no smoke.
I haven’t had an actual cigarette since February. I will admit to you I do miss it. The smell. Plus the ‘experience’ isn’t the same, but my teeth are whiter. My gums bleed less and my chest feels better. All in all I would recommend.

Reading it back that didn’t sound like a great review! But go for it! No ash. No cigarette butts. Less shame in my experience. I still hide my vapes from my children but feel better about it.