On a mission to moderate or absolutely abstaining, no judging, keep on being strong, new thread autumn 2024

[Nowstrong]

@Amdone123, @Freezingfeetwarmheart , @Bigbus,@Flumpywoo , @FiveShelties , @ForeverTipsy, @Hohofortherobbers,@Jbob1976,@walliedug,

Wanted to post and old thread wouldn't let me, so took the plunge...
Please tag everyone, don't want to leave anyone behind.

Still AF here and even starting to enjoy it. Nearly 2 months. Will write proper post later..
Hope you are all doing well. Stay strong. Wet vibes, 'cos it's raining.

Adding tags : @Bigbus, @40andlovelife, @enoughisenough4, @Liverpool52, @mumzof4x,@NextPhaseOfLife, @Peridot1, @Swannyb, @SisterMaryLuke

Thank you @Nowstrong ! I hope everyone is doing ok x

Morning. Thanks for the tag/adding me, I'm sure most will find us over here. I'm just going to pop my three biggest reasons for moderating (high days and holidays only, and not getting blind drunk) and my favourite app, book or podcast here as my first post.

Maybe others could do the same? Be a lovely first page of sharing similar concerns and inspiration!

1. I need better sleep. Perimenopausal and sleep isn't great; alcohol makes it worse
2. Breaking generational cycles for my children. I come from a long line of depressed alcoholics on both sides of my family. It stops here for me.
3. I want to lose weight, particularly around my middle. I know carrying excess weight here is linked to poorer health later in life, and I'd like to be here as long as possible.

Favourite tool is the Drink Aware app, as I can track habits/trends when logging alcohol and it's not as binary as the NHS Drink Free Days one.

Have a good day all!

Good morning all, thanks so much for the tag, @Nowstrong

I'm still dipping in and out of thread.

It's been nearly 6 months AF for me now, and I'm still enjoying the AF life. Work is very intense and stressful and I dread to think of how the wine-me would be dealing with it. It could have meant some very tetchy situations and likely some bad decisions. I've found the clarity of being AF makes even tense situations easier to manage.

DH did accidentally give me a prosecco instead of a Nosecco last week. I took a sip, looked quizzical, decided it tasted funny, realised the error and gave it to him to drink!

So no slippery slide thinking might as well continue. Think that's a big win.

I'll go and look through the old thread. Hello new joiners - it's an amazing community here. I've had such great support, you're in good hands.

Morning All.

Thanks for the new thread @Nowstrong

@ForeverTipsy that's a great idea.

1. Weight - I piled it on last year due to injury but then struggled hugely to get rid of it despite returning to pre-injury fitness levels, purely down to the drink and the second order effects of binge eating when hungover. I am getting there now.
2. Losing days - I don't mean to blackouts but just feeling rubbish after a heavy night, far too many weekend plans lost to that.
3. Boundaries in my working life - I work in an area that has a huge drinking culture and whilst there's generally limited pressure on those who choose not to drink or moderate their drinking, my weak spot is being carried away far too easily when the opportunity presents itself, which is all the time.

My aim is to get to a good place with moderation. Something I have definitely achieved in the past so I know I can get there.

Hope everyone is doing well today.

Good morning everyone - hope you are all doing well. Just completed 60 AF days. Am off to Bordeaux today and I will be partaking in some wine - would be rude not to in wine country! Hopefully, I won't get too giddy and make a tit of myself. Keep up the good work.

Good morning and thanks for the fag @Nowstrong

Morning, thanks for the new thread @Nowstrong !
Into day 5 for me. Struggling to narrow it down to just 3 reasons but I'll have a go!

1. Better sleep. When I drink I wake up several times a night and never feel quite rested the next day. I love feeling more clear headed when I haven't had a drink for a while!
2. I want to look better! I'm not getting any younger and I think it's been showing on my face more lately, and I've been struggling to shift a stubborn couple of pounds.
3. Financial. I've been spending a daft amount each month on whiskey. There are much nicer and more useful things I could be spending it on!

@Nowstrong thank you for the tag and the new thread.
@ForeverTipsy I also use the DrinkAware app, very useful and shocking sometimes.
My three are:
To lose a few more pounds.
To sleep better.
To drink responsibly.

@SisterMaryLuke we were in Bordeaux in May, fantastic historic area, we loved it. Enjoy.

Hello all, I am finally in a good place to try and stop or seriously moderate my drinking habits. Last night I did not have a drink. I drank apple squash instead. I survived.

My history is that I drank at least 1 to 2 bottles of wine a night or half a litre of gin. My work, life, depression has been really suffering. I have chronic health issues too but obviously I am not helping myself by constantly drinking.

I am determined to try and help myself so would like to join you all.

Day 1 completed.

Thanks @Nowstrong

My three reasons:

1. Sleep - definitely better without alcohol
2. Life lessons - both me and my husband come from big drinking families and whilst I still want to be able to a enjoy a few drinks every now and then, I want to teach my daughter that you can still enjoy yourself without alcohol. I want her to grow up able to moderate and realise hangovers aren't always worth it.
3. Health - Alcohol temporarily raises your heart rate, plus all the other downsides it has on your body. So I want to be healthier and put less poison into my body.

Day 10 of being AF and I'm pleased with myself. I know I'm breaking my sober October for a day on Sat and that's ok, as I'll be ready to get back on it on Sunday. Need to put strategies in place so that I don't overdo it and regret it next day!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Thanks for the new thread! I'm here and AF, slept well last night and looking forward to another good night tonight.

Well done @Turtlesea.

I have done 3days AF and very pleased with myself! Sleeping really badly though so hopefully that will improve quickly.

It's so annoying when we have bad sleep despite being AF, isn't it? I also had a horrible headache Sunday morning, and then another this evening. I've not drank since 30th Sept ffs. Not fair.

Morning all! So I forgot to put my three main reasons to try to continue being AF.

First is sleep, SO much better. Can't remember when it was so good. Even after a bad night, I wake up in a better state than a good night when drinking.

Second, sorry if too much info, but my intestinal health. More regular, no more urgent runs to the loo and, for lack of a better word, better quality "results".

Three, more energy. I'm a lot less lethargic in the evenings, even when it was an AF one. Whereas before I would always say that I'm more of a morning person. Now I actually manage to do things in the evening too.

All this did take about a month to become stable, so I am really encouraged to continue. Mainly because my sleep quality does seem to have changed a lot in my day to day life. More energy. Less negativity. Permanent clear mind.

Tomorrow I'm off to blighty and I won't lie and say it will be a breeze (ha, ha). I'm really worried about the way my sister will react to me not drinking at all. Will do my best not to be bullied into it. Feeling strong for the moment. Will keep you informed and will read this and previous thread for strength and motivation.

Stay strong. Positive vibes to all.

I managed day 2. It's funny, as long as I drink something else, I am not craving the wine/gin (at the moment). Sleep last night was awful, I have such a headache today. I have added no alcohol to my home delivery for today but added Ribena and a cordial.

I really want to get my head back to a good place. To be more proactive and to learn to love my job again, after all, that's what pays the mortgage and I would be devastated to lose my job even if it is my fault.

If is absolutely not fair😀

Today is my 4th AF day, it has seemed much easier than I anticipated although that could be famous last words. I have planned to drink over the weekend but sensibly (for a change).

Enjoy your trip @Nowstrong

I slept brilliantly last night! Had a wild vivid dream but was solidly fast asleep. So so worth being AF just for the sleep!

How long have you been AF? Looking forward to sleeping better 😀

Hi @FiveShelties , aiming fir 3 nights out of 7 AF. Tues, Wed, Thurs. The difference in how I sleep is astonishing. For me straight away.

Room for a not so little one?

I'm currently day12 AF. I'm looking to try and moderate. I'm fed up of waking up after a heavy night with beer fear unsure what I've said and if I've offended someone.

I usually only have a drink at the weekends (Friday Saturday & Sunday so technically half the week) and occasionally through the week if we have an occasion.

So far I've got through one weekend and 2 midweek meals without a drink.

We have a holiday at the end of the month though and I will have a couple but I really want to try and not go silly.

6 days and just into day 7 for me now!

@Hohofortherobbers I have been sleeping great all week, not even needed to take a sleep aid! It was the same the week before last when I had a week off too.

Welcome @MammaGnomes ! Even thinking about the beer fear fills me with dread, it used to be a regular occurrence for me - hoping to never get it again!

Thanks for the tag @Nowstrong. I've just completed my second week of 4 AF days. My resolve is strong - partly because I'm beginning to see that the days when I do drink are not giving me very much in the way of enjoyment. Also partly because I'm watching this thread and know that I'll be reporting back to real human beings like myself, not an app! It really helps.

My three reasons for moderation are health, health, health. I'm in my sixties and have been sluicing vast quantities of cheap lager through my system for far too many decades. In the immortal words of Father Dougal McGuire, "I'm scared."

Like @FiveShelties, I'm sleeping really badly on my AF nights. That's because I generally use alcohol to knock me out, or at least relax me. It's quite hard getting to sleep without it. Still, I'm going to keep going keeping going.... It's great not having a hangover in the morning.

Positive vibes to everyone. We're on a good path!

@MammaGnomes I can relate to everything you said. I'm out tomorrow night with a big drinker and I'm planning strategies to pace myself, as I know she'll keep topping me up. I want to try and have water alongside my alcohol or have a soft drink in between but know that it doesn't always go to plan when I'm living in the moment and having fun. I just don't want to get really drunk and the next day be a right off with all the hangxiety that comes with it. I just want to get a bit merry and have a fun night without saying anything stupid etc. So here's to us aiming to moderate and not having any hangxiety/beer fear!

Good luck tomorrow @Flumpywoo you've got this! Have you tried alcohol free drinks? I had a couple of AF beers when we went for a curry last week and then had AF Gin at our book club and I didn't feel like I was missing out. I'm considering getting some Gin for my holiday in a couple of weeks.

I refused red wine tonight with my steak dinner. Very proud of myself