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.

@HorrorFan81 how did you give up sugar though?! I'm properly addicted 😫

The Minecraft Movie made us all laugh today! Much needed. Happy Easter everyone.

@ForeverTipsy I went cold turkey a few years ago. After a week or two I honestly just lost all cravings for sugar. My diet is high protein, lots of low carb veg and healthy fats and I'm not fussed about sugar anymore. My only sugar came from alcohol and I'm feeling even better since I decided to take a break from that. Day 62!

Hi everyone and congrats to @ForeverTipsy and @BezMills. You’re all doing so well.

im at 13 weeks tomorrow and no thoughts at all about drinking. Love this new person I feel that I’m becoming just from stopping one simple thing! A long long way to go but for today I will not drink.

Hope everyone has a great Easter.

Thanks @Seenoevil33 and well done on your 13 weeks! Love that you're loving the new you ❤️ And you definitely didn't give up anything simple...giving up alcohol is very hard imo.

It's a relative's special birthday on Monday and we're having a party. There will be pressure for me to drink, but I've already said I'll drive. Not drank since Tues and not planning to until next Sat. Have updated my apps and was pleased to see the NHS one, after retaking the questionnaire, tell me my risk has gone from high to low now I've severely changed my habits.

Hi. You're all doing so well, Congrats!
We're just back from a few days away, we got a bottle of red half way through our stay & I've only had a couple of glasses from it. Brought the bottle home with us, still a third or so left. So pleased with that.
I've been invited for drinks with some friends tonight & am in two minds. I honestly don't think I'm in the mood for a drink. But I've also got FOMO. 🤦‍♀️Which I know is bloody ridiculous!
Haven't decided what to do yet, but I'm leaning to making my excuses & not bothering.

I'm off out tonight for a 40th, happy to just sober mingle for a bit then get up the road for an early night

@BezMillssounds like a good plan.
I genuinely think I just can't be bothered today! Might just have a bath & an early night!

What did you end up doing @ERN79 ? I know what you mean when sometimes you can't be bothered, but have a tinge of FOMO!

Well done on making a bottle of red last that long, too!

Hope you are all well!

I spent the afternoon / evening round at a friend's house in their garden. I would usually have a drink whilst getting ready (at 2pm) then drink all avo and evening. Often the end of the evening would be v fuzzy, or even result in a blackout as I'll have moved from gin to prosecco to wine. Not drinking today was really hard, but my friend had some good 0% stuff in so had a couple of 0 gins and a 0 cider. My husband was getting a bit tipsy and asked if he was being annoying. He wasnt, he was cute. He then said that I wasnt any different to normal (ie when I am drinking) - the only difference is that I won't 'go off a cliff' at the end of the night, which was really good to hear. Slightly paranoid my friends will find me boring now 🙈 I left earlier than I usually would and now happily at home listening to a podcast, happy about how good I will feel tomorrow rather than my usual dehydrated, nauseated shell of myself which is the norm after days like today 🥳

Great work with the red @ERN79 !

@HorrorFan81

Well done for a successful sober social mission!
I do feel a bit like that too - that maybe I'm going to be less sociable or not mingle as well sober. I was out last night but ended up coming home at 8 after sneaking out a side door! I just didn't feel like staying so I left.
I guess in some way the booze helped my social endurance because I could always stay for just one more drink. Just one more NA fake beer doesn't have quite the same temptation tbh.

Morning!
@ForeverTipsyI stayed in, the FOMO lost. 🤣
I just wasn't in the mood. Also didn't want a hangover or hangxiety today, I'm doing a roast & my Mum is coming. Last hangxiety lasted for a week, can't hack that. Its a nope from me!
I saw Snapchats of the evening around 9.30pm & they were clearly hammered, which actually made me happy I'd made the right choice!
Plus I ended up at like 2am sorting out an egg hunt for my kids, so that would've been out the window if I was drunk! 🤦‍♀️

@HorrorFan81thank you! Unintentional, but still a win! 🍷 x

So my DH ended up getting pretty drunk last night - more than ive seen him in a long time. I don't know if not having to look after me let him feel more able to 'let go'. But he is really unhappy with himself (and v hungover today) and is now joining me in the rest of my 100 days which is nice 😀

Hi all
@HorrorFan81 you are doing great! I’m glad your DH is joining you - wish mine would, but he is trying at least.
@ERN79 look how productive you were instead. I can’t believe how much time I wasted sitting around drinking. I find even when I go out now, I’d it’s a bar etc, I want to leave after a few hours now.

@BezMills as usual, you are smashing it. it must feel easier for you now.

@ForeverTipsy how are you getting on? Did you stay sober?

im creeping up on 100 days next week and will celebrate by just carrying on as I am. Off to visit friends next weekend (a short flight away). This’ll be a test - will worry about that later but for today I will not drink.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

100 days is amazing @Seenoevil33 !

I hit 67 days today. I downloaded the I Am Sober app just to track things and according to that I've saved about £1000 and 46000 calories in that time 😲😲😲

I have a friend coming over for a horror movie and usually I would have a couple of gins before he gets here, then we would have a bottle of wine each. Often I'd have another when he goes home. But tonight I have been to the gym instead of pre gaming and plan on drinking tea and my fancy new ginger drink I treated myself to. Might splash out on some crisps or popcorn 🍿 🤔

Have good Thursdays everyone!

Morning all! I went to a good friend's for dinner and drinks last night and was sensible with wine. Feeling good this morning, though had a vivid dream that I'd got horribly drunk, talked waaaay too much (old habit I'm trying tonight kick), and stayed out till 6am! Clearly an anxiety dream. I was actually home at 10.45pm and in bed for 11pm.

@HorrorFan81 how was your film night with your friend? Well done for gyming it instead of gin-ning it! Did your friend still have a bottle of wine? I'm not sure I would have the resolve not to join them for one tbh.
And how's your dh getting on with joining you on the Sober train? I liked the I Am Sober app for the motivation, but am now just using Drink Free Days and Drink Aware.

@Seenoevil33 oh wow, how many days/months is your new target after 100 days?

Have good weekends everyone.

I stayed over with Bulgarian friends, who know me as a ferocious drinker, and was offered whisky immediately! This was going to be a challenge and I gave myself maybe evens to crack and at least have a little rakia.
Actually it was easy - I turned up with a pack of 0 beer and we just had a nice evening. They were on whisky, and Jack Daniels Apple*, which I sniffed and declared it "smelled nice". No shed-made rakia was on offer so I dodged that bullet, and my sober run is still intact!

*(what fresh hell is this, was my unfiltered thought)

@ForeverTipsy well done on having a few drinks but keeping it low key. That's my goal I think after my 100 days. That dream sounds 🙈🙈🙈 though

My friend did open wine and only drunk half of it, now it's sitting on my side since neither me nor DH are drinking 🤣 tbh I wasnt really tempted - once I put my mind to something I tend to be pretty determined and I know I want to hit my 100 days now (70 tomorrow!)

Will check out those other apps thanks

@BezMills that sounds like a great night! I'm definitely finding 0 drinks helpful in that they let me feel like I'm still partaking in the ritual of drinking. But without all the side effects...

Well done Team! 💪 You're all doing fantastic.

I went to my friends last night, the one from a few weeks back, big drinkers. Everyone in the garden drinking. I drove & didn't have a drop. Went at 5pm & left at 8pm. Had a few 'oh have a drink' but I declined. Nobody gave me grief so that was good. Also didn't feel like a spare part, still enjoyed it sober. Who knew! 🤣
And I feel good this morning, slept well for the first time in a week. And am just walking back from week 5 of C25k.
I am however out for dinner & drinks tonight, so i am drinking but hoping to moderate! Wish me luck. X

Good luck @ERN79 !

Good luck @ERN79 ! You've got this 💪

We'll see eh! 🤣 Thank you!

You are all doing so well 👏🏻