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.

Hmm. I was just reflecting that I am actually a massive ball of rage at the moment. Like nearly unhinged. Some of it may well be hormonal for various reasons but I am not a chirpy bunny and really intolerant.

i think weight wise it’s always quite hard to identify but all of the choices will come good in the end. It might take a while, like a car in first gear, but it will!

I agree that it will make a difference eventually. I think I have like a menopausal bloat going on because my jeans feel uncomfortably tight but otherwise fit. As do my tops. I keep reminding myself it’s not about the number on the scale it’s about eating good food and enjoying it. Enjoying other things in life. Sleep. A film. A walk. The simple things that I just couldn’t enjoy with a glass of wine in my hand. Finding my enjoyment elsewhere.

Had a strong craving earlier. Got a feeling I will struggle to sleep because I've done a lot of decorating and I'm sore. The bedrooms nearly done though. Just need to hang pictures, curtains and put furniture back. Doesn't help I'm sleeping on the sofa. I can't stand the paint fumes. So now I'm looking for a takeaway. I don't know what. I know I'm starving. I've had that many lately, I'm bored of them so I'm struggling to pick but I really can't cook tonight. I'm too tired.

@CoffeeLover90 I’m sending you loads of good sleep vibes! Well done on nearly finishing your bedroom, what an achievement! Are you close to any shops? Might be time to start working your way through some microwaveable meals 😆

I was on another thread today and saw some people mention this one ❤️ people who don’t post but read and follow. It made me feel a bit… proud. Thanks to everyone who listens to my rants and musings.

Day 13 of August done. What a team effort!

Hello! I’ve been rubbish, both online and in real life with drinking. But I had to come on and post that you @AFmammaG should be feeling so proud. You’ve been immense and so supportive to all newcomers.

so, I am back from holiday in two days time on Thursday and keen to start a new dry streak.

I know moderation doesn’t work for me so this time I’m aiming for a decent dry streak!

D4 today. Well done everyone so far.

I’m still a ball of anxiety. Got so much on at the moment and I’ve exams coming up in October that I need to knuckle down for! I’m finding black tea is helping, it’s got that bitterness almost that helps take wine craving away. Good luck today everyone 💪 we can DO this!

Well done! For me it's fruit juice, probably because I have the fruity wine, clenches my thirst quicker and of course it's much healthier.

I like an innocent smoothie as it feels like a treat due to the cost and I convince myself it’s healthy 😆 in reality it’s probably the sugar hit that helps with the cravings.

Good morning @Limeandsoda2023 and welcome back. This really is a bumpy ride. I’m so focussed on doing the whole of August. I feel so much better after a couple of weeks off. Please do join us when you are back. The more people commenting the better. We are not alone!

@Cantdoitallperfectly day 4 is awesome! I really hope you start to feel a positive affect on the anxiety soon 🤞

Thank you @AFmammaG

DP had a box of wine delivered. 16 bottles. I’m NOT touching it. Annoyed but determined!

Thanks @CoffeeLover90
good luck with getting decorating finished ✅

Oh I'm having a day off today. My shoulders can't take it haha. I've put the bedroom back together. Only a little hint of paint fumes in there so I've opened all windows in the hope I can sleep in my bed tonight!

Someone mentioned microwave meals, I can't find the comments now, as an alternative to take away when I'm too tired to cook. I've never found any I like. Curries are either too bland or hardly any chicken. I got a lasagne from Iceland, was like slop.
If anyone can recommend any nice ones to try I'm open to suggestions? Would be cheaper and healthier than takeaways.

My day 4 as well - i have never really posted on MN before - or even followed it ever. I just want to do whatever it takes this time to be successful and happy. I am still a complete ball of anxiety and not functioning properly at all

I think M&S meals are delicious and you can get them pretty cheap if you go around 5pm. They have some good deals on too.
Aldi salad items are good, chop them all up into a huge bowl and sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt, croutons and coriander.

Thank you, I'll give them a try. I don't have an M and S near me but know I can get their stuff on acado.
Don't mind paying a bit more as still less than a takeaway!

Day 14. I have ear ache. Random, not something I've had often. So mind hasn't drifted into craving today.
Made a to do list, ticked everything off and still fitted in a walk today.
Feeling good today. Ear ache aside.

@CoffeeLover90 Not sure where you are based, but you could see if there is a 'Cook' shop near you. They specialise in frozen meals. They are a bit pricier, but like you say, cheaper and healthier than a takeaway! They do deliver too.

Welcome to my world 😭

I think you said you had read some of the posts on here before joining. If so you’ll see my DH loves a glass of red wine. Fair enough. He has his bottle, is content, can function the next day, doesn’t stay up on his own etc etc but sitting next to him on a Friday night when he is drinking and I can smell it. Well it’s hard.

Getting my treadmill has been game changing. I get on it before he even opens the bottle as a distraction. I just walk. Not even breaking a sweat but I know the steps count and most important, it takes my mind off wine while he drinks. I have a little stand where I place my tablet and I read MN. It’s becoming a new habit and although I haven’t seen weight loss, I honestly believe it’s good for my mental health.

@CoffeeLover90 it was lazy me 😆

I know ready meals aren’t healthy (just in case anyone thinks I think they are) BUT they are cheaper than a takeaway, you can chuck them in the freezer and they are fairly quick. My top tips…

1. the meat is yuck unless you go for Tesco finest or the equivalent. The cheaper they are the worse the quality of meat.
2. check you can microwave them before you purchase. Foil tin? Most likely to take 45 mins in an oven. Plastic tray? You’re good to go in like 5 minutes.
3. look at the traffic light colours on the front of the pack. Some of the Tesco ones are all green. I’ll link my favourite.
4. good for offers. Tesco often do a 2 for £7 on their ones. I put one in the fridge and one in the freezer.
5. if the portion size is too small bulk up the meal with a garlic bread/popadoms/prawn crackers

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/312709342
All green in terms of sugar and salt.

Just noticed it’s £7.50 for 2 now. Fucking cost of living!!!

@Blueberrypancakebreakfast welcome! So sorry I didn’t see your post yesterday. School holidays are slowly draining the life out of me.

It’s so good to have someone else on the same day count because it feels less lonely. It really is a rollercoaster of a journey but well done for getting to day 4. Feel free to rant and rave here, there’s no judgement. We’ve all been there. The anger. The despair. The hope. It’s pretty exhausting. But then you get to the good sleep and the peace and you realise how awful you felt before.

It’s taken me so long to change my viewpoint from not drinking as depriving myself of something. To seeing alcohol as a poison. I used to think that was so dramatic! Poison. But it’s actually true. I honestly think my body was starting to fail before I joined this thread last year. The horrendous hangovers, where I was puking up nothing. The massive vein on my forehead bulging in the morning. The bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. The constant anxiety of being discovered and the silent shame 😢 honestly, life is so much better now.

And I will add in case you haven’t spent hours reading the whole thread 😆 I’m not on day 1000 or anything. I’ve done a few 6 week periods and then one night out where I drank and then say another month etc. I’ve really struggled. Partly with accepting alcohol isn’t going to be a regular part of my life anymore.

That said, I’ve done sober holidays. I’ve done nights out without drinking and I even drank 6 decaf coffees while my friends drank 6 large glasses of wine (at lunch). So… I’m on day 15 of August and still taking it one day at a time. Feeling really positive about the future and where I am on the journey.

I hate decorating. I hate it. I hate everything about. Hate it.
Day 15
Full of hate.