200 days alcohol free- anyone wish to join?

[FeelingLessTired]

Several years ago, under another user name I did a 100 day alcohol free challenge and alot of people joined me on MN. It was before covid, so a long time ago!

I really appreciated the support and lasted 120 days in the end. ironically enough DH joined me IRL and he just continued on and has been teetotal since then.

I was reading Annie Grace back then (I think) and her recommendation was that if you slip, to then challenge yourself for double the time- hence I now wish to start and achieve a 200 day challenge.

I'd love some company if anyone wishes to join me!

I have a funeral today and plan to drink J20 with tonic water. The deceased was a good friend of DH's and although he was in his early 70s drinking definitely played a part in his extreme fragility over the past few years. He's been really ill for a good ten years I think.

I have set out a spread sheet with my alcohol-free savings. In the last week i have definitely reduced and have saved just shy of £50 already (since the beginning of April) as we have had a fair few dinners and lunches out. I look at what I would have drunk (sauvignon blanc here and there) and when i have not had it I add that cost to my spreadsheet. That does help to inspire me because COL is biting us hard right now.

Yesterday was my 100th day alcohol free, I don’t know how much further I want to go though. I was never alcoholic I just wanted to feel a bit less tired and I was training for London marathon (which I gave now pulled out of). I don’t intend to be teetotal, however I also don’t really want a drink. It’s weird. It isn’t as ‘massive’ as I expected I think, I’m just doing it. I dont really know how I feel about it.

I couldn’t work out from your post, are you just starting today? Or have you already done some days?

Hi @thenewaveragebear1983 . I have had a couple of AF days in early April.

Today is day 0 though because I did drink at the funeral (It ended up being a tough one which I know is an excuse) and I had a glass of cider at lunch today. Tomorrow is Day 1of 200!

Good morning Day 1!

I have told DH about my 200 day challenge (he does not drink anyway) and have planned to go and get myself some San Pelligrino lemonades as they are my favourite. Plus will drive to our nearest beach for a picnic tonight.

Bring it on!

I really like the trip range of drinks, they have some lovely flavours but I especially like the elderflower and mint. I’m not a fan of alcohol free subs, they are too sweet for me. My dh bought a bottle of wine for me yesterday, I did sort of ask him to as it was such a lovely day, but then I did decide in the end not to drink it. It’s certainly a lot harder to resist when it’s actually in the house!

I'll look out for the Trip drinks. I've not noticed them before. I agree about AF drinks being too sweet often- I quite like Becks blue though so might get some in. When I was AF last time one of my favourites was mixing ginger cordial with tonic water and that was nice and spicy.

Some months ago I treated myself to a pretty star necklace and promised myself that if I got to 100 days it would be my reward. So that is sitting there waiting.

@thenewaveragebear1983 did you lose any weight or find it made any difference physically in any way? I have an autoimmune condition which is causing my hair to fall out and I have heard that not-drinking can have beneficial effects on hair growth (my condition is still medically untreated because we have not found the right combo of meds yet).

@FeelingLessTiredi have lost around 10lbs this year although to be honest I thought I might lose more by not drinking, I’m saving 1500 calories a week! When I first stopped I had real sugar cravings and I think that is quite normal from what I have heard anecdotally. It’s a lot easier to stick to my calorie allowance without alcohol, it’s made me realise that I just never ever did before

Can I join you? I'm on Day 13 - had some bad liver results - probably due to methotrexate for rheumatoid. I'm trying to follow a low inflammation type diet as can't take methotrexate for at least 2 weeks.

Obvs alcohol is off the menu until ALT result has come right down. 100 days sounds like a really good reset - and maybe more after.

Thanks for the idea!

Day 260 here. For life. Enjoying Sentia drinks, definitely feel a quietening of my brain.

@FeelingLessTired have you a link to your necklace 'reward' ? Sounds like a plan

I was only ever a moderate drinker but did dry January and stayed dry. I suggest you use the try dry app to replace your spreadsheet. You input your baseline drinking habits and state whether this is at home or in hospitality settings so it can work out your costs savings when you record dry days. You can see the savings on your dashboard set out as money, units and calories.

Yes I am hoping to lose some weight, I can't recall if I did last time, tbh!

I actually eat really healthily and in quite small portions so have often thought if I stopped wasting so many calories then I would be in fairly good shape- so we will see! Re sugar cravings i know last time I went slightly crazy over packets of wine gums so need to watch it this time.

This is the necklace. I finally took it out of the box!

It would be lovely to have you join @springintoaction321 !

I also have rheumatoid arthritis but am not on any medication right now. I've finally been referred to a consultant after going back and pushing my GP for about 2 years.

@Grenoble124 love the idea of quietening my brain. I have used alcohol for years really to manage depression and anxiety and over thinking. I'm exhausted.

Thanks @WorriedMutha ! I had forgotten about the try dry app!

I started well but it got hard this afternoon. My standard Sunday is to iron the week's clothes and to drink prosecco.

I am mainlining lemon lemonade though.

I also suspect my house will be very very clean and tidy in the next day or so.

I have probably saved £5.49 if I had bought the prosecco from Aldi- but lunch Sundays there is often a phb visit and 2 glasses of wine- so easily £18 there. i am hanging onto that! (I spent £24 on potted plants today at B&Q ..... much more sensible and long lasting!)

Autoimmune disease, especially arthritis and alcohol are not a good mix - I speak from experience. Your body and brain will be thanking you for this break. Keep in your head all the positives and why you’re doing this; weight loss, better mental health, feeling healthier. You’re doing so well!

I'm on about day 700... 2 years without drinking and all it took was a massive stroke. Ha, keep going. Saving the money is a good idea.

Good morning! Day 2!

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my thread.

Off to our 'Big Town' today with the DCs for lunch and the cinema. I would ordinarily have a glass of wine at the restaurant (£13.00- extortionate I know) and perhaps one at the cinema as it is one of those deluxe ones for £9.00. Yet I complain that the tickets cost what they do! Funny how I never seemed to register the cost of wine. (Obviously I do not drive to the Big Town - it is a short bus ride).

It got hard last night for me but I ended up having a shower and going to bed quite early. Slept badly as usual.

Hope everyone is well and I appreciate the thoughts and tips from 'the other side'.

On Day 17 here - not been tempted yet. Also going strong on no sugar input. I've lost 2lbs - which is nice for my knees.

The blood test is booked in for a week today - so I have everything crossed the ALT has come down.

Oh that is brilliant @springintoaction321

I hope so much your blood tests are good.

I am Day 1 again. (For full and honest disclosure). We were away and I had a 'stuff it, I am on holiday!'.

I AM committed- back to it now.

Hi all! Can I join? I did a year back in 2020 so really should do 730 days 😂🤔 but that seems a huge number. I was setting 100 days as my aim which includes a family holiday to an all inclusive resort on day 60! So having that 200 in mind might be helpful and I like a goal that feels like achievable work. I do want to stop forever anyway - I've tried moderation and it just kept creeping up and up and up and whilst I did roughly stick to it I was always wanting more or to start earlier and earlier. There's a freedom in taking that away! I'm starting day 4 today and so far doing okay apart from the horrible anxiety I've been experiencing - I used to use wine to self medicate so it's no suprise really it's hitting me hard.
Hope everyone else is doing ok. Thanks for the add.
Oh and beautiful necklace.

I am also on day 4 today and going to aim for 200!

I managed exactly 100 days last year, but then it fell apart when I went on holiday!

Think I’m going to re-listen to Annie Grace and look for some nice non-alcoholic drinks.

Hello!

I had forgotten I had started the thread tbh!

Welcome!

I'm on Day 3 - so some hiccups but still trying....

I think the first few weeks are the hardest once we get through them @FeelingLessTired it'll be much easier easier. It's much more annoying to go back to zero the further you are.
Hi @starlight128 great we are on the same days!

I love the Corona AF, actually can't tell the difference and fentiman's ginger beer. In trying wild idol fizz when it comes, hoping it will be good 🤞

@FeelingLessTired , I'll join you !
I was actually on a long standing thread on here and the support was brilliant, but I lapsed and don't really want to rejoin there, as its probably moved on.
Years ago, I was drinking about 5 bottles of wine a week. I managed to get it down to 1 a week and felt great. Gradually I'm now going back up - I blame the weather, but I always blame something else.
Anyway, day 2 for me.
I really want to give up as I feel so much better. Plus I've got 2 big holidays this year ( bucket list type), and I'll fare better when I lose weight.
I always lose weight when I abstain. It comes off quite quickly so I'm holding on to that.