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.

Thanks @ForeverTipsy ! No hangover today and had a good evening despite a couple of dark clouds over our heads (DH is continuing to find his parents very difficult and we saw them yesterday. They aren't particularly at the moment - it is all historical damage and he simply doesn't like them). Hoping to grow in maturity and wisdom so we can manage these situations better with less emotional angst and better boundaries!

Morning all! I hope that you all had a lovely Xmas day. I did and I didn't. One of my lovely friends has passed away and today is her funeral. So so sad. I did have a couple of glasses yesterday, not as a coping mechanism but as a "sod it" sort of way of being sad and angry. Didn't get drunk or tipsy. Just had a coupe of glasses with one of my daughters and a granddaughter (the only one old enough to have a drink), we didn't even finish the bottle. Went home and didn't have any dinner (was too stuffed) and decided an early night would keep me out of any harmful thinking and drinking.
So I'm devastated about the loss of my friend and a bit angry with myself at drinking. But I'm the minor matter/problem here.
So it's onwards and upwards. Back on track for me.
Going to be such a sad day. I'm nearly crying just thinking of it. Must get a grip as her family and daughter are going to be in need of strong people around them today. Will have a good sob and then have a shower. Wash it all out.
Wishing you all strength and health. Stay healthy for your loved ones, as we are all but mortal and our time here can be short, no need to shorten it. Sorry for the not very optimistic post. Life can be a bitch at times. Lets work hard to make ours better. X

I'm so sorry @Nowstrong . Life certainly can be a bitch at times. Wishing you strength and peace today 💙

Oh, @Nowstrong , that’s so sad. But respect for not drinking loads. I hope today goes as well as it can 💐

@Nowstrong I am so sorry to hear about your dear friend. I hope the funeral went as well as these things can go. Please don't beat yourself up for having a couple of glasses of wine yesterday with your family. Progress over perfection and all that. And well done on going to bed for an early night instead of carrying on. Life can indeed be a bitch sometimes 😞

Is anyone else still tracking their drinks over this period? I've had 29 units in the past week, and 13 of those were yesterday. I didn't get drunk at all, just a steady flow of bucks fizz, prosecco, bit of white, bit of red, bit of port then Baileys in front of Gavin & Stacey (was really hoping we didn't get bought a bottle, but alas we had a 1ltr bottle gifted to us). App says I consumed 764 calories yesterday, and that's conservative as couldn't work out Baileys so logged it as port as similar %, and we all know Baileys has way more calories. I feel like I've put on about half a stone in a week.

Feel absolutely disgusting today ! Allll that food and drink yesterday. So have had an AF day today. Hosting tomorrow and I'm going to try and get rid of lots of wine on friends (we have half a bottle of prosecco open from yesterday - with one of those pressure stoppers in it. Quite proud of that as Xmas 2023 ForeverTipsy would have polished that off yesterday for sure).

Anyway, just thought I'd give you an update and check in and see what others have been up to?

@Nowstrong sending huge hugs.

@ForeverTipsy No I don't tend to when it's a holiday. I've been relatively pleased with my resolve during the week and so when it's something special I find not berating myself actually helps me moderate.

Christmas Eve aside. 😳

Morning all!. @Liverpool52, @ForeverTipsy, @BannedWagon and @CopperGate15, thank you for your lovely messages of support. I stayed strong and did not drink. Came home with a couple of friends and we had coffee and cakes to warm up and chat. Needed something sweet to change the mood.
In the evening had an AF rum and sparkling water. Was really nice. Hot milk and honey in bed. Lovely sleep. Now on AF day 2. Onwards and upwards.
Busy day today. Sending lots of positive vibes to all. Stay strong.!

Hey Everyone, how's it going? Well done on sticking to AF drinks and cake the other day @Nowstrong . I hope you're bearing up ok and keeping busy is helping.

Well, it's the 29th, so 3 x more nights of possible booze before my Dry Jan/100 Days Sober begins. Sensible me wants to have another AF day today; I had one yesterday too, and Boxing Day. Ended up having four glasses of fizz Friday night, over the course of entire evening (would normally have been about double that) and barely slept a wink! I was exhausted yesterday, hence wanting to be AF and get some decent sleep.

Not-so-sensible me wants to go on a rampage and finish the Cider, red wine, port and Bailey's we have in the house before 00.01hrs Weds...! DH is putting in a valiant effort. I was bought red wine for Xmas, which I will either re-gift or stash down in the shed for April...! We have champagne to enjoy NYE but I'm worried it'll keep me awake all night again. Seems white wine stimulates me massively, whereas red wine has more of a sedative effect.

What's everyone else up to?

Hello all I used to post on these threads as Bigbus but accidentally used my old user name when this new thread was started. @SisterMaryLuke i noticed you did the same but were able to revert back to this name. May I ask how you did that? I’d like to go back to Bigbus!

Anyway I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I have continued to track my units and there have been quite a lot! But nothing like previous years and I’ve enjoyed myself without feeling out of control or worrying that I haven’t done something I should have done. Planning a big weight loss effort in the next year (time to fitten up to be around for the kids longer) and that will inevitably lead to less alcohol - I think this may be the best path for me. Instead of thinking about cutting down alcohol I will concentrate on the positive of being more healthy.

Good luck all

DrFroggy - if you go into your account (the little person icon), then settings - this will let your change your username.

Hi all. I've dipped in & out over the past year or so.
Would like to go AF I think. I drank Saturday night, far too much & still feeling the after effects. Tired, guilt, anxiety. You know the drill...
So hello everyone. 😊

Thanks @SisterMaryLuke - mine just keeps telling me that I have to use the first username I used on this thread, even if I change my name in my account. Perhaps I will just have to be Dr Froggy from now on. I fresh start is never a bad thing!
Hello @ERN79 👋

I’m hoping that I’ve just started a decent stretch of AF…Circumstances make it easy for me not to drink tonight and I’m pleased to be going with that - an early start to dry January.

@DrFroggy not sure how, but I mostly use my phone and it automatically switches between my user names depending on which thread I'm typing on. Maybe it's different on a laptop 🤷‍♀️

Welcome @ERN79 you're in safe hands here.

I'm having an AF day today, ahead of the final blow out tomorrow night getting rid of any/all remaining alcohol in the house. Ended up finishing a bottle of red last night (it was 2/3rds full). Have just discovered Belvoir Farm ginger cordial mixed with sparkling water and ice. Delicious! Will be having those, or the elderflower one, with fresh lime as my weekend treat drinks in January.

I shall be getting some Belvoir Farm ginger cordial and some sparking water today - thank you @ForeverTipsy !

I am very pleased this morning I was AF last night. Helped along by stepping on the scales to see a drop down. I very much intend to stay AF tonight and go into January with two AF days under my belt.

The Belvoir Farm range are on offer 2 for £6 in Waitrose at the moment! So I got an elderflower, too. Really enjoyed that refreshing long drink last night, and no sweeteners or nasties in it either (I'm working up the courage to watch that Irresistible BBC programme with Dr Chris Van Tulleken covering UPFs, as know we consume too much in this house).

Well done on starting Dry Jan with two AF days under your belt!

Thanks @ForeverTipsy ! I walked to Waitrose with DH this morning and only realised I forgot to get some when I saw your post when I got back! It was heaving so not inclined to go again.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it prompted me to start an Ocado order (now sorted and cordials and sparkling water coming) - the plan being to have a regular slot every week and then only walk to Waitrose (which is very close to us but we usually drive still!) for top-ups. Another NY habit started/re-kindled - I've signed up for smart pass so hoping it will become an ingrained habit this year unlike my ad-hoc attempts before.

I have many more habits I want to embrace this year. One step at a time though...as ever getting off the far too frequent wine drinking is #1 and then after that the others become easier somehow...we'll see!

On my third AF evening now. I'm going to put my [long-awaited and much needed] productive day of deep cleaning/decluttering down to being AF for a couple of days now. Feel positive and fairly motivated for a change!

Hope everyone else doing is ok?

Happy new year moderators! I'm going to do dry Jan so will be here and also on the DJ thread too.

Happy New Year! I've started it with a stinking cold - boo. Haven't stopped sneezing in over 12 hours now, rubbish. Immune system no doubt compromised by the excess of alcohol I've had over the past week.

Bring on Dry January 💪

Hope if shifts very soon @ForeverTipsy !

Ended up down 'spoons last night for food - mainly to get DH out of the house for a bit. Had one of their 0% cocktails and then sugar free lemonade. Thankfully came back then. Endless alcohol free drinks are way too sweet...and water way too boring? Anyway, I did warn DH that now I am AF don't expect hours of leisurely pre-dinner and post-dinner drinks...I need to up my conversation before I can cope with that.

Happy New Year!
I only had two whiskeys and a glass of Baileys on New Year's Eve which is good for me!

I won't be doing Dry January, however I have made it my new years resolution to:

1. Only drink at weekends
2. If I want whiskey, I have to measure it
3. The Extremely Bad Day Clause still stands, but it has to be EXTREMELY Bad, not just a slightly stressful day at work or something.

This should be enough to make both my liver and my bank balance a bit healthier for the coming year! And I'm usually pretty good at sticking to New Year's Resolutions!

Happy New Year! Even if a bit late...
Been an extremely dry one up to now, which is good. On NY's eve was with a friend and her family, they had been through a bit of a health scare with her son (which has fortunately been resolved and all is now in order), so was very quiet. We had an AF cocktail to nearly welcome the 2025 in. Nearly, because we were all tired and I went home at 23h00. Was very eery walking (not far) along an empty and very silent path, then the public lighting went off (it goes off every day from 23h00 until 05h00, electric saving and anti light pollution), that got me trotting...

Since then, been tidying cupboards and the freezer. Sorting stuff out. Trying to get not nibbling into a habit. At least there are no Xmas biscuits or chocs laying around anymore. That does make it easier.

Been back to brisk walking too, fresh air and all that... This weekend is a BIG birthday for me, I know that my DC are up to something, as I have been ordered told, to be ready on Sunday by 10h00... So might have a glass of fizzy to celebrate.

Then next week driving down to Spain to spend a week with a friend, lots of walking her dog on empty beaches, chatting and catching-up. Lots of traveling planned again
for this year, so all should be good.

@ForeverTipsy hope you feel better soon. @Freezingfeetwarmheart I used to set myself a lot of rules to begin with, and that really helped me. @CopperGate15 I sometimes add some sparkling water to the too sweet mocktails,, yes have to buy 2 drinks though. Makes them last longer and also makes the water less boring. Walking to get shopping is a good idea. Too heavy to carry bottles are not bought.

Wishing you all a lovely day (it has snowed here during the night) and a good start to dry January to those who are attempting it. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves, we are all only human and even moderating a lot is good for us and our liver will love us SO much more. Stay strong! And sober...

@CopperGate15 well done on a dry trip to Spoons! Did you mean to type conversation in your last line? I thought it might be a typo, but then thought maybe you find conversation much easier when you're drinking?

@Freezingfeetwarmheart those sound like achievable goals 🙂And you did amazingly on NYE - well done!

@Nowstrong looks like you've had a productive time of it lately; you put me to shame! I've been in bed for three days with this awful cold. Just about getting some energy back now so cooked a meal for the family for the first time since Tues. Envious of your trip to Spain next week; sounds idyllic. How exciting that you have a big birthday on the weekend and that the family are surprising you! You'll have to let us know about it next week please (and enjoy that fizz!).

I've been enjoying lots of that ginger cordial made with hot water and a bit of lemon; really soothing when you've got a cold. Now drinking the elderflower diluted with fizzy water and served over ice. Not missing alcohol as am too ill.