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.

Thanks @Seenoevil33 , I must admit about 5 minutes after, I had a wobble. But all good - I'm committed to this now, and this is what I want.

That is an epic bit of Sober Muscle @Goandygo . Good on you. (I suspect my grammar is a bit dodgy the previous sentence but I am sure you know what I mean!).

Love the idea of a craft evening @paintcolourchart!

I am considering going to a wildlife sanctuary this weekend, inspired by your trip to the safari park @wecandothis2025 . Too many of my weekends have been either spent drinking or grumpily accompanying children around areas of local interest wishing i could start drinking. My oldest is 15 and i honestly could weep for the time I have lost.

But, ... 'Don't look back....you are not going that way' . Words to live by for me at the moment.

Sober sex.... well, still have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

I have told DH I am Not Drinking. He's noticed of course but has said nothing. I just said to him casually that this coming Saturday (when we go to the tricky dinner with friends) if he could buy the hosts a bottle of wine while I buy the flowers. I said i can't physically buy the wine because it will trigger me. He gave me a hug and said 'of course'. He knows how much i have struggled. I had hideous PND with DS1 and self medicated but have always dipped in and out of serious depressive episodes which i also self medicated through. DH hates me drinking. He's been much more - well- relaxed- the past few weeks if I am honest.

Night all. ❤

Oh- and my favourite book about being AF is Holly Glenn Whitaker's 'Quit Like a Woman'. It's quite sweary, but is very well-researched and she is brutally honest.

@Seenoevil33I actually can't even imagine being 5 months sober that's absolutely amazing! Did buying new trainers help? Hope you're feeling better now. hmm sober sex. Well not a very regular occurrence of late - mainly just when we've had a few we've been sleeping separately a lot lately because DH snores and I sleep so much better solo.

@FeelingLessTiredI love this! We have done the opposite lately and I took my 3YO out of bed (he wasn't asleep 😅) to go and watch the sunset which he loved 🥰 we are planning a later evening tomorrow and going to the beach for summer solstice. What you just said about weeping for time lost resonated with me. There have been times I haven't joined in because I've drank too much the night before. I'll keep that in mind if/when I get tempted.

Craft evening was lovely. It's not one of those ones which is booze orientated, we've never had booze at it which I'm really glad about. We overran a bit and usually id be itching to get back so I could go to the shop before closing for wine, how pathetic I track on Try Dry and for some reason Thursday nights seem to be a very regular thing. I actually don't know why.

@FeelingLessTiredright there with you with self medicating and PND. Well done for recognising buying the wine would be a trigger and how lovely and supporting of your DH 🥰

Morning, all.
Day 20 here and feeling super positive about being af , but slept dreadfully ( the weather I think / restless), so feeling miserable.
But I'd rather be miserable than miserable and hungover as I think @Seenoevil33 alluded to - being grumpy is better than being hungover and grumpy.
Have a great day and Let's conquer the weekend. Leave that wine witch to stew in her own filth 🤣

Morning all.

@Goandygodo you have chance to get out for a walk or just time in the fresh air today? I always find that helps. Appreciate it might be too hot where you are!

i've gone for a walk this morning, a habit i got into a few weeks ago and enjoyed. Back before DH starts work and then don't have to think about building it into my day and I can listen to a podcast and prioritise myself for a bit. I definitely feel more positive every time I go for a morning walk (normally I'm not a morning person) but I've not gone since my disaster last Friday (partly because of my ankle!). Also not been sleeping great, since last Friday 🙈 not so bad once I'm off but taking a while to get there!

im already looking forward to our beach trip this evening, would usually be counting down to when I can pour a glass, especially outside in this weather.

Hope everyone has a lovely day!

@paintcolourchart I could walk yes. I enjoy walking, can walk for miles so I'll try today.

@paintcolourchart the new trainers did indeed help!

@Goandygo 20 days is awesome. And yes I love the idea of conquering the weekend.

the problem I have, is that I have s much more energy now - turns out that drinking close to a bottle a night doesn’t help with energy levels - so I feel the need to be constantly doing things. Grass cutting on the agenda today and maybe a trip to a garden centre. I’m also only 15 minutes away from Peggy’s cove in Nova Scotia so may pop there for a lobster roll and some relaxation….

@Seenoevil33 I understand. It's great to have more energy, brilliant. It's finding a balance isn't it - and a different way of relaxing.

evening all.

Just checking in to wave a hello. Despite my user name I am feeling very tired indeed and will start winding down for the evening. Hope everyone is well and the lobster roll was delightful @Seenoevil33!

Well, a different evening for me tonight and thoroughly enjoyable! We didn't get home from the beach until gone 9pm, then I put DS to bed and joined our friends for drinks. We didn't go for the whole evening because we had already planned to go to the beach, and I offered one of the other couple going a lift home as they live in the middle of nowhere so usually one of them has to drive. They took me up on it and by the time I got out of DS's room it was 9:45pm, so I did a mad dash to Tesco to get my 0% wine before 10pm 😂 I'm in Scotland where you can't buy alcohol after 10pm from a shop, and for some reason this extends to AF as well. Never did I think I'd be rushing down the booze aisle minutes before closing, sober, for AF wine 😂

I'm just back from dropping my friends back home and currently sitting in the garden with a hot drink hoping to see the bats that are about and using a bat sound detector my friend lent me today. Will not wake up hungover tomorrow, had a lovely evening. Alcohol wouldn't have added anything to the evening but would definitely have taken away, and tomorrow too. I'm calling that a win!

How is everyone else doing?

@Goandygohope you are feeling better? Did you manage to get out?

@paintcolourchart that is some result ! Well done.
So interesting when you mention what would alcohol have added as I was thinking the same yesterday.
I drink out of habit. I've been doing it for so long, I don't stop and think.
It doesn't make any occasion better. In my case, it makes it worse.
I didn't get out, no. My arm hurt yesterday so I was a bit worried about it. If it still hurts Monday, I'll have to go to the gp. Tennis was on so I just watched that.
Still motivated, still not wanting to go near the stuff.

@paintcolourchart huge well done!

@Goandygo sorry you’re still in pain but happy to hear you (both) sounding so resolute. It’s so freeing to just take drink out of the equation.

@Seenoevil33 I was thinking yesterday that I just want to get back to normal minus the wine. Once I'm fully recovered - teeth finished, arm sorted, bump on chin gone, I'm never making myself ill again.
To think, I used to give myself a hangover at least once a week - I've wasted so much time but I'm really looking forward to a life without it.
In a month's time, I should be raring to go !
( apologies to you all if I'm sounding miserable - I'm a terrible patient).

Hope you feel better today @Goandygo . Good idea to go to the GP - if not fractured you might have done some damage a physio can sort out.

Your evening sounds lovely @paintcolourchart !

I've been up for an hour- just sitting quietly with the window open and listening to the squiffly snores of a small tabby cat.

Taking the Dcs for their swimming lessons (I have to get in with DS1 as it is a class for children with SEN and adults have to be in the pool with them). I hate swimming but again am trying to not miss out on anything life has to offer from Here On In. Have the tricky social event this evening but will take some deluxe soft drinks and will 'lean in' as they say. I'll need a solid nap beforehand though.

Hi all, glad to see you are all doing so well and so motivated! Well done! Day 10 here and still feeling as strong as ever with the decision to not drink. Have been doing a lot of yoga and went to sleep meditation last night which was amazing.

Had wine free sex a few times and yes, interestingly feel a massive difference!! Also felt “more up for it” than I would if I was drinking, but I’m at ovulation time so that might be why!! 😆😆🥴

It’s the first day I have nothing planned! DH works until around 3.30 on a Saturday. Might take my DC to the local mini zoo. It’s a gorgeous day so lots to do in the garden.

I’ve woken up with a sore throat this morning, far too much using the air con in the car and fans on at yoga and at home! Anyone else have this problem? 🥴

I can’t believe how much better I am feeling overall. I’m starting to lose my sugar cravings too and ate a lot less yesterday and haven’t woken up starving. Those that said your skin improved, in what way? More or a healthy glow? Or less blemishes? My face has broken out terribly and I’m wearing pimple patches on the areas to try and speed up the healing! It’s driving me mad! 😮‍💨

Sorry to hear that your arm is still giving you peblems @Goandygohope the GP can get you sent for an Xray ASAP.

What a lush evening @paintcolourchartbet you are so chuffed with yourself. I took my daughter’s friend home last weekend and Monday evening, when I wouldn’t have previously even thought about doing so because I would have been over the limit. It felt very refreshing doing it too! Funny how we now get such joy from doing the things that wouldn’t have been possible with wine.

@FeelingLessTired good luck with the swimming! Nice to be making the DC smile isn’t it. Hope your event this evening goes in a flash and you won’t have to worry about them for a long time ahead! 🤣 You will smash it! 👊💪

Morning, all.
Thanks for all your concern regarding the arm. It's nighttime it throbs a little but it might be because I'm awake, frustrated I can't sleep, so I dwell on it.
Anyway, best foot forward today. No plans and still feel strong mentally regarding being af.
@FeelingLessTired sending you 💪 for this evening. Report back as soon as you can - you can do it.
@Sonnet your big day today isn't it ? Again, let us know how you get on.
@wecandothis2025 I should try sleep meditation !
Your sore throat will be due to the air con probably, lots of af liquid today.

I think it can be annoying when you expect to look and feel great having made this momentous decision to quit ( it's a lot like joining a diet club and expecting to be slim overnight), but it's a process and the habit didn't form over night.
In my case, it's been 30 odd years in the making.
I do feel better overall and I'm glad I'm af today.
Have a beautiful day, everyone ❤️

Honestly it was a much more fulfilling evening than if I'd have just let myself sit and drink too quickly and get too pissed. I agree about it making every occasion worse @Goandygo- every time I don't drink I'm really glad afterwards that I haven't, and every time I do drink I really wish I hadn't! When I write it down like that it's crazy how many times I have chosen to drink.

@Goandygoi'm sorry your arm is still sore and you are still worried. I'm the same way about my ankle too. It's been a week now and I can't properly walk down the stairs yet (although there has been an improvement) and my knee is starting to hurt now too (presumably because I'm not walking properly?). I think I'd better get it checked out too 🙈🙈 I did go for my morning walk yesterday as it's not so bad on flat ground in supportive trainers, but I think I'm going to have to hold off on the walks a little longer to rest it. Really annoyed with myself as I love walking and it definitely helps me with weight loss which I'm in desperate need of.

Today I plan on solid studying. I've got a paper to write which isn't due until October, but it's a lot of work and I'm feeling uneasy about not having started it yet, so that's today's plan. My PIL's house is free so I'm going to head there to get on in peace and quiet (I have a 3YO at home 😅).

Hope everyone has a lovely day! Am I right in saying I don't think we are all UK based? Not sure if the sunshine is everywhere but hoping everyone has a lovely and relaxing Saturday x

@paintcolourchart sorry to hear about your ankle still being sore. In your case, it's been a week so I'd expect another week tbh.
I bravely googled regarding my arm ( I say bravely because Google normally has you dead in 30 minutes), and it said 3 to 4 weeks is normal.
I can understand this as I still have a lovely bump on my chin and it's been 3 weeks today.
You can see some improvement so that's good. I think the knee hurts because you're compensating in that area - I'm no expert but from past experience, I think this happens.
I'm Manchester, incidentally, born n bred ❤️

@Goandygothank you for this. I did Google and saw 2 weeks as well, but I just expected a bit more improvement by this point. I'll leave it another week and see - I can walk I just don't want to be doing any further damage. I broke my hand about 7 years ago due to being drunk, and it still causes me issues now - I actually wasn't 'out of control drunk' that time but it definitely wouldn't have happened had I been sober would be so annoyed with myself if I had continuous issues with ankle and hand because of booze incidents, so I'm really hoping for a full recovery! Hopefully after a week we'll both see an improvement.

I just braved the scales - 1lb down which isn't too bad considering I've not been able to do exercise to offset some calories, but still significantly slower than the week before. Anyway, my BMI has dropped into the next number below which I'm really really pleased about!

@paintcolourchart that's brilliant - I've lost weight but scales same today. But I haven't put on and it will come off.
( I think that's what I'm annoyed about - if I've done long term damage through being drunk).

I know @Goandygoits more annoying because I am 40 with more spots than my 20 year old and 13 year old put together!! 🤣🤣🤣 You are not far from me then! I’m Cheshire!

@paintcolourcharti also have a 3YO so I know how you feel! 🤣🤣 No rest for the wicked!

Just checking in, will catch up properly later , still AF FREE 😀😀
struggling a bit this eve, just poured myself and elderflower with tonic, cooking supper - sweet chilli salmon, stir fried veg, rice, I’m then planning to water the garden, have a shower and catch an early night with a good book. I didn’t sleep well last night
It’s my big hosting day tomorrow … but I can do this , got lots of AF drinks lined up 😀

today I will not drink

@Sonnet ahh sorry, thought it was today.
You're still doing great.
And yes, you can do it.