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.

Oh well done @BulldogMumma ! I am missing the numbing effects of alcohol, I must admit. My brain has been all over the shop this week and it was so tempting to numb it with a bottle of wine.

What's your favourite hot chocolate? I'm about to make myself a Whittard Cookies and Cream one 😋

Morning all! Did something really silly and had a whisky yesterday evening. Don't really know why. An urge. A "go on, have one" moment. Really. enjoyed it and said to myself "you've got this under control, you deserve another one", so I did have another one. Did stop there. Felt light headed and pleasantly relaxed. Went to bed and had the most dreadful night's sleep you can imagine. Feel really off, tired and sorry for myself this morning. Lesson learnt. Whisky does not like me. Whisky is no good for me. Alcohol is a poison.

So I'm washing all the toxins out of my body today and I'm really AF for quite a while now.

Perhaps I needed a nasty reminder? Was I feeling over confident? I don't know.

The result is, I suppose, positive, as I'm even more determined to continue my battle against the booze now. As it is a battle. Or a war. I just lost a battle, but I want to win the war.

This just goes to prove that even after quite a while managing to be AF, then have a few, then being AF again, doesn't protect me from urges. I'll just have to curb them as much as possible. Perhaps I should worry less about my nibbles and concentrate solely on being AF?

Hey ho. Back to work on myself I go. The Whisky Witch thought she could get her foot in, to widen the entrance for the Wine Witches. Well, I'm not having it. Detox day today. Then back to AF. Hopefully until at least Xmas (said that before I think, hangs head in shame).

Wishing you all a pleasant weekend, misty here, but should be sunny later on. Winter is slowly settling in. Stay strong, 'cos it ain't easy.

@ForeverTipsy I like any hot chocolate to be honest I'm not fussy 😂
I woke up this morning feeling glad I didn't drink last night and I'm more productive at work today. Then it's just tonight to get through

@Nowstrong whiskey is my weakness! I completely understand. It feels so good at the time - so nice and relaxing, like a hug from the inside out. But, as I keep having to remind myself, it's only good for that moment, while you're actually drinking it and immediately after, and the bad sleep and the morning after is more bad than that initial moment is good!

Day 9 for me now- the longest I've gone in a while! My relaxing evening drink is currently a warm drink consisting of two teaspoons of Horlicks and two teaspoons of the white chocolate Options. I'm starting to wonder if I can keep going past the month now, I feel like I'm gaining a bit of momentum. I am highly unlikely to be doing December completely booze free, but I am definitely seriously considering just not buying any more whiskey.

I also want to send my condolences to those who have lost loved ones due to alcohol - I myself lost two formerly very close friends to the stuff. Both former regulat drinking buddies at different periods, and people I hadn't seen in a while due to distance but expected to at some point, and then suddenly never would again.

Good morning misty world.
I like the description of a hug inside out. That is exactly how having just one (max two) drinks feel to me. So perhaps I need more real outside hugs...
Managed to get back into the AF swing without any pangs or urges. However I have noticed that I'm becoming a drink counter. I'm not judging, just counting. Funny really. Perhaps an inner thought of how many I would have had by then, against their 1,2,3...
Slept brilliantly. All seems back to AF normal.
Mentally, I feel fine. Trying to focus less on the nibbles and more on my stomach exercises. I'm starting weights, slowly, and have been told that my back is getting quite muscular. I would like to not have a back six pack, but perhaps a minor front one. Perhaps even just a flatter stomach.
Big family Sunday lunch today. So will be very busy feeding the starving flock. Then clearing up the mess. Might go and see the ducks if the mist lifts, with a digestive walk.
Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday. Try to love yourselves. x

Morning, well I never! I was AF last night. I drank as planned Fri night. We were going to bday drinks for a friend an hours drive away and had the offer of a lift, also dh hardly drinks so he would happily also drive. But it's really his friend so I just decided I'd be the driver. Feel very proud of myself.

@forevertipsy I'll definitely do dry Jan. Will plan to maintain my moderation through Dec.
Be back with you for a Tues-Fri next week

Well done @Hohofortherobbers ! Always feel proud of yourself.

Hey all
Well last night was a big fat failure I ended up having wine after a stressful day. I felt a bit rough this morning despite drinking only a few glasses so I'm wondering if my tolerance is lower already?
Anyway feeling rough this morning just reminded why I need to be AF. I'm not beating myself up about it, slip ups happen I'll dust myself off and carry on.
Tonight's plan is hot chocolate and a Christmas film with the kids.
Hope everyone else is doing okay x

Afternoon, day 10 for me, and I am really feeling in a good headspace at the moment and wanting this streak to carry on - trying to be really mindful and not self sabotage like I normally do!

I've got more energy, my stomach is flatter and I do believe my face is looking a bit less dried up and wrinkly!

I've never woken up feeling glad that I drank, but I always wake up feeling glad that I didn't drink.

@Freezingfeetwarmheart "people I hadn't seen in a while due to distance but expected to at some point, and then suddenly never would again." This is heart-breaking, I'm so sorry. Such a stark reminder about how short and precious life is. Congratulations on your 10-day streak, that's fantastic. Glad you are noticing the benefits.

@Nowstrong this resonated with me; "Felt light headed and pleasantly relaxed." I found it interesting on Saturday when you said you'd felt disappointed in yourself for having two whiskies. I thought you'd done well to moderate, actually? It's so hard not to beat ourselves up when we've enjoyed one or two drinks. I'm trying to do that now.

@Hohofortherobbers well done on volunteering to be Des Driver! I'm doing that Saturday night. Hard not to feel totally smug afterward hey?! ;-) Will be doing Dry Jan for sure (it's both of my kids' birthdays, but I want to show them you don't need alcohol to celebrate).

@BulldogMumma I'm joining you on the feeling crap after a few glasses of wine. I'm early 40s and my tolerance seems to be getting lower and lower, perhaps it's hormones. I've updated the Drink Aware app this morning for accountability, expecting to be told off, but I'm still on 11 units, so under the recommended 14, which cheered me slightly. Well done for not beating yourself up.

I managed to win the battle of the urge Friday night, succumbed to one glass with dinner Saturday and felt proud...then last night drank a bottle of wine and now feel tired, headachy and generally down in the dumps. How quickly I forgot that the short-term buzz and relaxation leads to low mood. Trying not to dwell on it, what's done is done. What's frustrating is that I noticed how much I loved the first glass; my shoulders dropped, I was energised and happy...and thought "I should stop now". But really didn't fancy drinking anything other than the rest of the bottle. Urgh.

OK, gearing up for a big one here. 4 AF days this week Mon-Thurs. I can do this 💪
Drank last night, slept terribly and need to get straight back on track with an early start to my AF days this week.

AF and heading to bed

Day 2 for me of AF I'm 37 with 2 small kids and found myself
Drinking more wine in the evenings the last year or so just to de stress but I'm already noticing the difference. I didn't wake up at 3am this morning terrified I'm going to die or feeling just guilty and when my 3 year old has had tantrums today I've been so much more patient and just felt like a better mother for it really.
My reasons are
1.My kids are still small I don't want them to always remember me with a glass of wine in my hand on the evenings. 😂🙈

2: health , my dad died recently of early onset altziemers and I really don't want to make my risks of developing it any larger!
So glad I found this thread. I will have a drink this weekend but I really just don't want to drink in the week anymore.

I've downloaded the book the sober girl society and I'm really enjoying it and it's what really cemented my decision yesterday.

Challenge this evening. Attending a meeting in a bar. Planning on an orange juice with lemonade 😬

Good luck @Hohofortherobbers

Thank you 😊 Made it through safely on just the oj and lemonade

Well done @Hohofortherobbers !

Morning all! First frost of the winter here. Still AF, so my little blips of the other day are being ignored (well guilty conscience is trying hard) and I'm trying to forget about them. I'm leaving today to join my son somewhere sunny, for a few days, he's just stopped smoking so it'll be a nice mother/son/ex addicts time. I've told him, without going into too much detail about my struggles, that I'm going AF. He totally approves, saying that as I'm getting older (which is true) I should really take care of my health. Lots of sport/action/fresh air and healthy diet.

My sister is going through a health scare at the moment. Even though our relationship can be trying, I do love her and hope that all will be fine. This scare could also be caused, enhanced, by alcohol consumption. So crossed fingers for that too.
Well done on all your AF days to @Hohofortherobbers , @verabarbleen , @Freezingfeetwarmheart and keep up the battle @ForeverTipsy .

Sending positive, even though a bit chilly, vibes to all. Keep up the good work.
Stay strong and love yourselves. X

Well done everyone on the AF days!

Day 13 for me, think this is the longest I've done for years! And I'm not actually finding it too tough, it just feels right at the moment. I am being tempted - my heated socks have broken, I normally would have caved and got some whiskey to warm me up! But then I realised a new pair of heated socks costs only slightly more than a bottle of whiskey, and will last me at least a year instead of a week, plus no headache/bellyache in the morning....So I am still sober and the socks are on the way!

I am starting to feel generally healthier, hoping to build on this feeling. At the moment I am not wanting to jump straight back into drinking on December 1st and hoping that continues!

I'm failing miserably. Drank most of a bottle of red last night. Slept fitfully. Too hot. Bad dreams. Dehydrated. Woke with a headache. Why do I do it? 😥Not working at the moment which doesn't help. Can sleep off the hangover during the day. Will be different when I'm working again.

Off to the pub with a new friend tonight for a couple of planned drinks. Ditto tomorrow night. Then will attempt a sober weekend (def won't be drinking Saturday as I'm designated driver).

Well done all of you staying sober atm.

Staying alcohol free since Halloween, just a quick question, those who are trying to abstain, do you use alcohol in cooking?

I find myself avoiding some meals I used to make regularly just in case.

Hi all, haven't been on here for a while because sober October didn't go well. Started off good and got to day 12, where I had pre planned to break it for one night. Then a few days after that broke it again and carried on like I would a normal month of drinking. The last two weeks have had more days drinking than not, and last week was 5 days out of 7, so now I'm back on the moderating again as I can't carry on like that. Am currently on day 4 AF and want to do 7 days. Might even try to get to 11 days, as after that I'm away for the weekend. But if I do 7 I will be pleased with myself.

Hope everyone is doing well. I did read all the posts earlier but now forgot who said what, so can't tag!

I don't tend to use alcohol in cooking so hasn't affected me. Can see how I might waver if I had a open bottle in hand at mealtimes though
I'm here day 4 AF, wine with visited me briefly this evening but I had plans which involved driving so easy enough to ignore. I'll drink this weekend but will be back next week for more AF days.
Anyone using the Try Dry app? I like completing it daily and eating my mood, sleep, energy levels etc. Easy to see how the wine affects all these things when it's recorded

Yes I use the Try Dry app as well, it does help. If I see lots of grey I think sort yourself out, woman

Morning all! I'm enjoying the nice warm weather and pleasant company. Lots of walking on nearly empty beach. Early nights. Sleeping well and no nibbles. And, still AF and even enjoying it. Never thought I'd say that one day.
So, I'm enjoying the feeling while it lasts.
Sending lots of positive vibes. Wishing you all strength on your journey, be it abstaining or moderating. X