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.

Hi all,

thanks for the support. I've removed last night's posts just because they contained a lot of outing information.

@Sonnet- I LOVE the idea of homemade herbal teas made from your own herbs. This is right up my street and I'm definitely going to look into it, thank you. To be honest my trigger is pretty much anything, as @FeelingLessTiredwrote so well. It didn't start off as a 'coping mechanism' thing last night. I'd done a long drive and had been away for a few days so that was the 'reason' and then I ended up feeling rather sorry for myself! I don't enjoy baths atm because I hate looking down at how horrible my body has become, but I am working on that so hopefully that won't be the case come winter! I am getting back into reading and I do enjoy getting into bed earlier to read, so next time I will do this instead! The thing is, I won't have an urge to drink today, I rarely do the day after. It'll hit again later in the week. Good luck with your drinks party with neighbours. I actually enjoyed a similar thing last week more AF than I have before when I've been drinking. You've got this!

@FeelingLessTiredthat's all so true, thank you. I do love ice cream so maybe I should do the same 😂

the anxiety has hit today and now I'm worrying about all sorts of damage I could have done from drinking last night 🙈

@paintcolourchart sending ❤️. I didn't read your original posts but from your last one, I think you sound a lot like I did. It's a struggle, it's not easy and as @Sonnet and @Seenoevil33 state, we learn something new everytime. I never saw my experiences as wasted, I just tried to learn from them ( especiallythe last one).

Well, happy birthday to me. I'm home now after having a lovely 2 days celebrating - shopping, eating lovely food - Italian, Jamaican, American.
Sat in a great bar yesterday - sun was shining, vibe was lovely, music playing. I saw others with wine but stuck to my sparkling water. Oh, af Heineken lovely and refreshing.
I didn't even want wine - I was having a lovely time and it would have added nothing.
Even ate Italian with a San pellegrino lemon drink.
Spent money on new trainers, clothes, books and presents for my granddaughters.
Day 29, feeling great ( well, tired now), but feeling confident, happy and proud.

@Goandygo enjoy this feelings of confidence, happiness and pride - you’ve worked hard for them and deserve them!

@paintcolourchart i didn’t see your posts either but keep on as best you can! And please try not to hate yourself or your body! We do the best we can in this life - not always easy. You are on a transformational journey and I’m sure that’s the hardest one to make. We are all here to support each other and I and many others are willing you on!

Thanks all. As I'm sure you gathered @Goandygo@Seenoevil33i did have a few drinks last night. Then I ended up including quite a few details in my post that are pretty identifying 🙈 I highly doubt anyone I know will see them, but still, I asked MN to remove them.

@Goandygowell done!! That's amazing!

Happy Birthday @Goandygo !

San Pelligrino lemon is my favourite soft drink.

Hope you are feeling okay @paintcolourchart . We have all been there and possibly will again. The point is - you are trying and more than that you are DOING it! Each win is a win. And each setback is only temporary.

I've joined The Sober Cafe on facebook and it's filled with amazing people with loads of inspirational stories and pictures as well.

Best wishes all.

Morning all!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day ahead!

Oh and congrats on 30 days @Goandygo !

I'm not sure how many days i have. I said earlier in the thread I stopped counting.Now i am sad about that because I'd quite like a marker! So I went back and tried to work it out but in the early days I was having ALOT of speedbumps. So I counted from when I knew for sure I was having a sustained period and will take that number as my 'number'.

So today for me is 20 days. . It's more really but never mind. I'll start with that. So I am 10% of my goal of 200 days! But actually I already know I want this to be permanent. I am calmer, happier, and when I forget what happened the day before I love knowing it's just because I am forgetful, not because I was drinking.

Thanks and well done on 20 days.
I'm trying 100 days in the first instance, so I'm a third of the way, but I'm just taking it one day at a time. Not fretting about tomorrow just living in the moment and enjoying it.
I've nothing on in July, so I'm concentrating on getting healthier.
My next holiday is August and is with a friend with whom I drink - we always have done, it's what we do. Although I met him recently at his apartment to book flights, and we shared a bottle of wine only, so it can be done.
But, I honestly don't think I'm going to be swayed by anyone - I enjoy af beer and my water, I enjoy having zero hangovers and I'm enjoying having my life not revolve round it. To think I used to plan my hangovers - dear god 🥴

Have to laugh.
My birthday yesterday, but was away so lots of family members dropping in with presents.
People always, always bought me wine - we used to laugh at the bottles all lined up.
Today it's lovely creams, perfume, chocolates, euros and money.
No wine in sight ❤️

Evening all,

im slowly cracking this - a very brief flash of how nice a glass of wine woyld be … but it was quickly gone
if you’d told me three weeks ago I would have stopped daily drinking I would not have believed you !
no social events Friday or Saturday and we go on holiday for 11 days on Sunday. I’m not too concerned about the holiday believe it or not as I’m with family and I would have been the biggest drinker. My eldest DD is expecting so I’m happy to stick to AF cocktails to keep her company. I’m sure I’ll have the odd pang or two but really want to keep on track.
@paintcolourchart I keep mulling over what you said about not liking your body in the bath at the moment. I think self care works both ways, well it does for me. By soaking in the bath, a nice body scrub followed by a moisture lotion regularly improves the look of my skin so then it motivates me to care for myself and not drinking is the biggest part of that .

Your gifts sound lovely @Goandygo !

Ironically I came home last night to a gift wrapped bottle of wine left on my doorstep. There is no card or anything so I have no idea who from but I have a suspicion. It would be usually be empty already but is sitting on the worktop until I know what to do with it.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday @Sonnet ! AF cocktails sound great. And just think- you will have the energy to really enjoy your holiday to the full!!

Morning ladies! Glad to hear you are all on top of your game and smashing this!

Happy belated birthday to the wonderful inspiring @Goandygohope you had a lovely birthday weekend, at peace from alcohol.

Today will be day 20. Feeling as postive as ever. Have been out to eat a few times with no desire to drink wine. Had a refreshing AF cocktail instead. Really enjoying waking up fresh every morning. My anxiety is practically nonexistent now. My nightly acid reflux has stopped! I used to get it really badly on an evening if I was fighting myself not to drink that day!! Skin is actually improving now! My breakouts are starting to heal and fade and my forehead has more of a glow! I don’t feel my skin looks as old, so all in all a great start!

My parents are coming over this weekend. Haven’t seen them for a while. They’ve been on holiday for two weeks and mum has been busy sorting out my late nans estate. Parents live 2.5 hours away, they are coming up for my little ones birthday party this weekend. They don’t know I’ve stopped drinking. They will definitely ask me why i am not drinking this weekend! Mum is quite loud and has no filter so might be a challenge dealing with her, especially if she makes comments about me not having a drink! I will have plenty to do to keep me busy ready for the party though. Mum doesn’t really drink that much and she’s never liked the amount that I drink. Hoping she keeps a mouth shut 😆 but we will see!

Hope you all have a great day and you are all enjoying the sunshine!

Wow that is quite a list of positive benefits @wecandothis2025 !!! 20 days!

My biggest positive today is that I got paid. All my direct debits have come out and I have paid off my credit card and I have much more left over than usual- to the tune of some £300. Which is delighting me completely!! I need to be quite frugal this month as we have a big long haul holiday in August and this is a very good start.

Re your mum- I hear you. Are you triggered by AF beers and wines? You could just sip on an AF something and pretend....- I quite like the Sainsbury's own sparkling wine- there's worse out there anyway- and there is a large range of AF beers that are quite good. DH tells me the AF Guinness is excellent.

There are some really hefty painkillers I have been prescribed for my fibromylagia- and you really can't safely drink on them. I've used that as an excuse in the past 3 weeks- (twice) - but i am not sure an excuse liike that would work with a parent who is more likely to be alarmed! Otherwise with this heat i have used 'I'm feeling quite dehydrated so I'll stick to soft for now'.

Hope it goes well. xx

Good morning @FeelingLessTired thank you! Just hoping I can keep to this long term! This is the goal for us right!

Excellent! Great to see a little surplus in your account!! I’ve been looking through my DDs etc this morning too 😂😂 That sounds like a brilliant plan with cutting back until your holiday. Sounds amazing. Where are you going? I’ve booked Tenerife for my DHs big birthday in October. We’ve decided not to go away in the summer holidays. We were away to Spain in March and October holidays costing us a fair few so staying put in the summer. Just hoping the weather stays nice for us in the UK!

I think AF drinks like beer and wine will trigger me. I haven’t tried it yet. I could do a lime soda or something like that and pretend I’ve got gin in I suppose! Don’t think my mum would be any the wiser! 😆

Bitter sweet about your pain meds, but always good to have a solid excuse in these circumstances to stop people going on and on about it! Luckily they are only coming Sunday morning and staying over until the Monday morning. So they may just think I’ve drank on the Friday and Saturday!! They usually come Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning! I’ve usually had a skin full on the Saturday night and make them a full English with a disgusting hangover on the Sunday morning 🤮xx

Wow loving the positivity on here this morning! Love your list @wecandothis2025and your gifts sound lovely @Goandygoand have more longevity than wine would have done!

I did a little payday supermarket shop yesterday and got a few AF choices in. Normally the only AF things I drink are teas and water, but thought it might be nice to have something different chilled in the fridge for the inevitable sunny evening when I fancy wine in the garden. Ridiculously I considered the cost and unhealthiness of the AF choices, then I gave myself a check and realised that they are cheaper and not as bad for me as wine! I cut some lemons into slices and put them in the freezer so they'll feel a bit more 'eventful' 🤦‍♀️

@Sonnet3 weeks is amazing! Well done! Yeah, I know the bath thing sounds silly 😂 I used to be size 10-12 before I had DC 3 years ago, and now I'm 3 stone heavier, so it's quite a change! The obvious answer is to just do something about it of course, which I am working on. Hopefully by the time winter comes I'll feel differently about baths.

looks like lots of holidays coming up soon - hope everyone has a lovely time!!

I’m beginning to understand quite why I cracked open the wine so often in the week
I logged onto Work at 7:20 this morning and I am just now stepping away to have a quick break

It’s just one problem after another, and I’m often dealing with half a dozen things at one time. I just feel so frazzled.

That large glass of wine at the end of the day (which of course never stops at one) feels like it’s needed to calm me down.

It’s just a habit because it doesn’t actually calm me down and then makes all my other life admin I’m supposed to do in the evenings not happen

Interestingly, I’ve been using that at the back of my mind since mid morning

I've just had a big argument with my mum and now all I want to do is get drunk tonight. Ffs, why is this my default??

Do you want to talk it through with us @paintcolourchart ?

(My mum is a trigger too).

Evening, folks.
@paintcolourchart hope you're ok ?
Do let us know how you've fared - no judgement here from anyone.
(And yes, my presents certainly will last longer than wine ! )
@Sonnet you're doing so well to think you were drinking daily. It is such a bad habit - there were times I drank and didn't even enjoy it. I think you'll be ok on holiday.
@wecandothis2025 you're doing brilliantly too. I love that, 'At peace from alcohol '......it definitely is peaceful - on so many levels.
We're similar - my anxiety has reduced and I've not had acid reflux since I stopped. Let's keep going and see where it takes us.
@FeelingLessTired thanks for the af sparkling wine recommendation, I'll try that.

All good here. I've been so busy today. Granddaughter, walked 15k, dental treatment last hurdle, shopping then work.
I'm shattered but looking forward to a good night's sleep - I'm glad I've got over the hurdle of rewarding myself with wine after a busy day.
Keep going, folks. Do your best, it's all you can do.

Happy canada day to you all! Didn’t have a drink to celebrate (I don’t feel Canadian so not missing out).

I am with you on the reduced anxiety-mine was low level but frequent - hardly have any now. So great to read how great you all are doing - too tired to tag you all today - but it’s amazing how quickly you can quit this thing.

I’d like to feel that I can have the odd drink but not going to risk going back to how I was. I actually do not miss alcohol at all so why bother?

@paintcolourchart life happens but drinking won’t ever make anything better - that’s quite hard to grasp in the early stages, but eventually you will get there and will not want to give up the gains you get from being sober. Try to delay at least until tomorrow and the feeling will be gone!

@Seenoevil33 that made me laugh - Canada Day. In days gone by, I'd find any day to celebrate / reason to drink - I'm surprised Canada Day passed me by.

It's strange about having The Odd Drink. A couple of close friends / family members have said maybe I could do that in future ( they're very supportive - I think they're just wondering....), but I'm with you.
What's the point ?!!
And, in all honesty, I drank to get drunk, to escape and I never want to be drunk again.

Morning all. Mad busy day today so a quick wave and back later.

I'm wobbling today.
I don't want to drink today, or tomorrow, not even Friday.
I'm just thinking about The Future Without.
I sort of knew this would happen. Once the shock of the fall has reduced a bit, and the memory less vivid.

Dh has booked a table for our wedding anniversary Sunday.
Actually, writing this, I can have af beer ( like last time and I really enjoyed it. They also do mocktails so I'll have one of them).
And carrot cake for desert.
I can do it 💪

You can do this @Goandygo , look how far you’ve come - energy , no acid reflux . Play if forward and think how great you will feel in the morning !

@Sonnet thanks.
Yes, I do believe in myself, just the odd wobble.
I've already gone over 30 days and the last time I did that was a long, long time ago.
I start to think I'm not going to have any fun anymore. I know this is irrational - I know I'm better off af.
My sister just suggested low alcohol wines but they wouldn't work for me - I'd be going back down THAT road again.