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.

Hoping everyone is doing ok today

Something I am finding helpful is forcing myself to do other things when I would usually drink. My main habits are to drink on a Thursday and Friday evening, starting after work (so maybe 4pm) and then binging til the early hours, sitting up watching crap on Netflix. Ive started booking myself into gym classes on those evenings instead which is breaking the cycle and I never want to drink after I work out. And it has the added benefit of getting fitter!

Friday afternoon will be a challenge this week - meeting a friend in london for lunch and some tourist stuff. Usually id have several drinks with lunch (and she definitely will). I dont know whether to send a pre empitive 'im not drinking at the moment' message. Or not, in case I decide to drink 🙈

@YoghurtPotWashingMachine i use trydry app which I find useful enough - it logs basic info and doesn’t bombard me with spam!

@HorrorFan81 id probably just wait until I got there to not make a big thing of it, but I make a pledge every morning that I will not drink today.
Obviously I can choose every day whether to make a pledge but once I’ve done it, I don’t break it - long way of saying be clear in your own mind whether you actually want to drink or not….

Day 80 for me and I will not drink today!

I like that. Thank you

DH away with the kids tonight and v tempted to open a bottle of red to enjoy with a scary movie but I am on day 53 and I will also not drink today

Hi everyone. How is everyone?
Nearly a week on & I'm still very anxious. Though a lot better than I was earlier in the week. Thankfully!
Still absolutely determined not to be in that state again.
Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine!

Hi @ERN79 good thanks! Have had a couple wobbles recently. Yesterday was difficult and I could have murdered a drink tbh. But I got through it mainly by eating all the snacks
Today is a good day. No work, taking DD to her swimming lesson then the Minecraft movie. Pizza for tea.

@BezMillsif snacks get you though go for it! My diet has been awful this week, but I felt like I needed the comfort food.
Sounds like a good day ahead. Saw the Minecraft Movie the other day, bonkers but funny!

Heading to london to meet a friend for lunch. The restaurant we are going to has my favourite ever drink on the menu. But I WILL NOT DRINK TODAY

Sometimes snacks are needed!

Seeing Minecraft on Monday. I love Jack Black and Jason Momoa so I'm looking forward to it 😃

The movie was amazing fun, little cameo at the end from a great English character actor

Hey everyone! I've been reading but not had a chance to reply properly sorry, as we're away on holiday.

To the poster who isn't feeling all energetic, fit and strong and healthy etc. I never really had that either. I think it's partly due to feeling my feelings more, as no booze to numb them, and partly due to slightly poorer diet as I was treating myself with sweets, desserts, chocolate etc instead of alcohol. I'm now pre-diabetic ! So hoping once I've got stuck into my NHS course, lost a few kgs and exercise more I'll feel better.

Well done to everyone moderating and everyone abstaining, I've really enjoyed reading what you're up to. Socialising is hard when all your friends are drinking and getting drunk, I agree.

Well...drum roll...I have reached my target of 100 days!! I'm feeling really confused though. Don't know what to do later this evening. Kids want me to carry on my streak, dh just says he's proud of me and well done (but I think is looking forward to having me share a bottle of wine or a cocktail with him now). I'm 90% sure I'll have a glass of wine or cocktail tonight, and will moderate using the Drink Aware app going forward. It worked for me Sept - Dec last year.

One day I'd like to do 6mo, but just not ready for that yet I don't think.

100 days is great work, well done, and if drink tonight, savour every drop!

Well done everyone on your alcohol free/moderation journeys, your all doing so well, you are all my inspiration.

Tomorrow is my husbands birthday and we are going to a michelin restaurant which we both love and to be honest, I will be drinking, I’ve chosen the wine pairing / taster menu whilst my husband will just be on the normal taster menu.

I found I’m now counting drinking days rather than non drinking days, it’s changing my mind set and that way of looking at it is working for me.

I’m not really missing the booze but I do genuinely want to drink on special occasions and you know what? I’m ok with that, there maybe a day when I decide to stop altogether but in all honestly I’m not at that place yet, drinking a couple of times a month is a million times better than the heavy daily drinking I was doing for years. I hope you all have a great weekend in the sun 🌞 whether you choose to drink or not xx

@alcoholfreelife that sounds lush to be fair! I've popped out to the local with DD as a friend wanted to meet up and I'm solo parent this weekend.

Great to be able to park the car in a 2 hour spot and know 100% I'll be sober to get it home (been known to have to come back for the car first thing next day aftegedeciding to drink now and deal with the car fetching tomorrow )

I think sometimes in terms of being good to "Tomorrow Me". You know how it is, sometimes one decides that Tomorrow Me is just going to take a hit for the team!

It is nice to wake up as Today Me knowing Yesterday Me did me a solid.

I'm on my way home from a lovely afternoon in London. I didn't have a drink at lunch and I've realised how much that decision has impacted the rest of the day

If id had a drink at lunch I definitely would have had at least one more. Then I would have wanted to go for another drink after lunch, rather than the lovely walk and gallery we did instead

Now, on the train home I would be drinking cocktails in a can from M&S. Then when I got home id probably open some wine

But I had a lovely lunch without the cocktail, had a really fabulous afternoon with my friend - we talked constantly it wasnt like I needed a drink to lubricate the conversation and I feel like I was freed from the constant need for another drink

Today was a good day. And I chose not to drink.

Hey all. Just checking in. Hope you're all doing OK.
🙂

14 weeks! Which means on Weds it will be 100 days.

I've definitely had a few wobbles, and this weekend I hammered the snacks, but I'll take it

Hello all, I’m brand new to this whole site and would like to join you! Today is Day 3 (but not for the first time) of not drinking, at least secretly. I’m going to catch up on the thread now X

Welcome @WartFace 3 days is a good start. It's how it always starts. I think one day hardly counts, two could be a fluke, but by 3 days you're on a mission. Keep on with it

Thank you @BezMillsx

Hello everyone, how are we all doing? I'm back from holiday, 3kgs heavier despite it only being 7 days and B&B! (though it was a very nice hotel with a very lovely breakfast buffet; we made the most of it !).

I ended up celebrating my 100 day success with a couple of alcoholic cocktails and really enjoyed them. I then successfully switched to water with my meal, and had no headache or hangover the next day - hurrah. I had a few drinks on holiday as wanted to sample the local wine with dh, and really enjoyed it. The most I had was three glasses (think they're 175ml measures) and a prosecco, and I sneezed SO much the following day as forgot the sulphites (or maybe it's just the alcohol?) aggravate my rhinitis.

Like a PP, I'm now going to count the days I drink, rather than the ones I don't. Still going to track my units using the My Drink Aware app. I really hope I can moderate.

@HorrorFan81 how was the Minecraft movie? I'm hoping to take the kids to watch it tomorrow. Well done on enjoying a day out in London with your friend and not drinking (I was reading your post and nodding away, as the 'old' you sounded just like the old me re: cocktail at lunch, then wine, then a nightcap at home etc).

DH wants me to go back to sharing a bottle of red with him every Sunday but I've said no, I'm happy to at least try and not drink at home for the foreseeable future. 100 days has definitely reset those habits (fingers crossed).

Wow that sounds amazing @ForeverTipsy

I hit my 100 yesterday and I'm pleased with myself. I've been very regular at the gym feel quite a bit fitter and stronger.

I'm sure being off the sauce has helped a lot with consistency.

I loved the Minecraft movie, it was ludicrous in a good way

@ForeverTipsy the movie was fun. My 11yo with ASD was in absolute heaven 😀

Had the nicest week off with the kids. Usually I'd be making the most of not having to work by 'treating' myself to G&T and wine most nights then feel sluggish and shit during the day with the kids. Instead I am getting to bed early and having great, full days out then going to the gym in the evenings. Not drinking is definitely having a big impact on my energy during the day

@BezMills I'm also loving getting stronger at the gym. I have so much more time for it now evenings arent taken up with drinking and mornings arent spent hungover

9 weeks on Sunday 💪

@BezMills wow - congratulations on your 100 Days Sober!! Amazing! I'm in awe of your gym sessions/fitness, along with @HorrorFan81's. I did actually go to the gym twice on holiday, which was a first. Was meant to start my diabetes prevention course next week but it's been postponed, which is annoying. Can't wait to start my new diet, get some support with my weight, try new recipes etc. House is full of sweet treats and I have very little willpower. Sugar is my last nemesis, but determined to beat it as would love to have more energy for things like exercise (fingers crossed). I sleep for an hour or two every afternoon at the moment...let's hope I can swap naps for jogs!

@ForeverTipsy I definitely noticed a big difference in my energy and hunger levels when I gave up sugar. Well done on the gym on holiday! Hope you get on the course soon 🤞