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.

@Goandygo i have faith that you will realize that you’ll have a better time without drinking. 30 days is still early - are you absolutely sure you could just have 1 drink? I doubt I could and where will that take me?

the old me would have given anything to be just where I am now - I’m sure that’s the same for you - so don’t go back xx

@Seenoevil33 thanks ❤️
I'm fine today. I even thought through the night how much I don't want to go back to how I was. Picking up a bottle of wine on the way home from work ( I'd think I could just have a couple of glasses - yeah, right), then when that ran out messaging my husband to bring me another bottle. Falling out of pubs in broad daylight, getting drunk at civilised family gatherings, spending all day in bed having to eat junk otherwise I'd be sick.
I could go on.
No, I'm not going back.
I'm doing great without it.

Hey all. @Goandygo yes you are doing fantastically well without it! I read in The Naked Mind book that when alcohol has become a problem in someones life and you stop, restarting again is a slippery slope and we find ourselves in the exact same position as we we’re desperately trying to get ourselves out of! Our brains and now conditioned to fall back in that trap because we have already been there and done that and your brain remembers it. I tried to post something I found useful yesterday but it didn’t accept it! Will try again! X

This!

@wecandothis2025 thanks, and yes that really does make sense.
Sometimes it's because it's all you know, that's why I need to write down all those awful times that happened because of drinking. It's not a pleasant list, or easy to write but I do need it.
When I think of all the times I have abstained and gone back on it, I literally went back to how I was.
That's why Just One doesn't work because it drags you back in. Nature of addiction I suppose.

Also, that's why I need a contingency list. If I'm bored for example, what can I do ? If I need to reward myself, what can I do ? Etc, etc.

(I'm looking to buy some crodino ( similar to aperol but af ). Apparently mixed with nozecco or tonic water and garnished with a slice of orange is lovely).

Yes, exactly. It drags you back in and in no time at all you are back to drinking two bottles of wine a night. If a friend told you they drank one bottle of a wine a night, what would you advise them? Never mind two bottles! I hadn’t ever thought about it like that before. We had a problem with our washing machine today and my husband had to pull it out to get to the pipes. It’s all connected in underneath the utility sink and he pulled out an empty bottle of champagne that I must have hidden! 🥴🥴
We are here for you and we understand what you are going through and if you need to write it down here to remind you of those awful times then definitely do it. I love your honesty. I don’t think I can be that honest just yet. It makes me feel sick and ashamed the amount of times I’ve been drunk and done something completely stupid. It’s taken over my life for far too long and I don’t want it to continue. You’ve got this.

I’ve been making lemon waters and putting them in the fridge. So delicious and nice and cold too! 😋

As for rewards, I’ve been and bought myself a few things each week. Two new sets of earrings this Monday, a few tops last week and I’ve been treating myself to some chocolate every day! I just need it in my life at the moment more than ever. I know you e said you like to watch your spending but treating yourself whilst you go through this is so important. I treated myself to some nice magnesium salts the other day too to have in the bath when I get around to it. X

Love that quote - just what I needed today so thankyou

Morning all. xx

25 days. Hope everyone is fine and well. xx

Not much to report here. Love the idea of cold lemon water. I have been trying out odd soft drink combos- tesco cream soda- no. Rubicon passionfruit- perhaps.

Loving the idea of sober rewards.

Best wishes to you all.

I’ve been thinking a lot about AF alternatives and also agree they would make me go down the alcohol road again. For me the association of treat/alcohol will still be there.
i find them useful for a “special occasion “ but other than that I will stick to softs

This resonates - thank you for posting

I think we all need to treat ourselves , alcohol was the treat at the end of the day for me so I have to replace it
a new book, chocolate, a new mug for my herbal tea, bath oil, body oil have all been my treats over the last few weeks

I meant to say :
I am so so happy I am not drinking !!! 😀😀😀😀
I feel “free” this morning

Morning, folks.
I definitely reward myself but, and this may sound corny, the best reward is feeling proud !
You're right @Sonnet there is a feeling of freedom.
I'm off today. I was thinking this morning that ordinarily I'd nip to the shops to get 2 x wine, 4 beers and snacks ( to the tune of £35 - honestly, I am saving so much money).
I'm not wasting money anymore.
Day 34 I think ( this is different for me too. Having to think. Before I kind of dragged myself through abstention - sort of ' hanging on ' ).
Feeling good overall.

I had the moment of “shall I have just one” , but thought about what it would add to the day - nothing- so had a lime and soda instead!

so not over the craving yet, but handling it 😀

@Goandygo and @FeelingLessTired - great progress I do love ticking the days off.

been sooo busy with works in the garden - hot and sunny and haven’t thought about drinking.

@Sonnet handling the cravings is all we need to do - I occasionally get a fleeting moment but it literally lasts 30 seconds now!

Day 166 done.

This is a brilliant thread. 👏 🥰

My sister has just given up alcohol (she was drinking a bottle of wine a night) but she can't seem to find a drink which has no alcohol which tickles her taste buds.

I suggested lime and tonic water but she's not keen

Any ideas? 💜

Day 166 @Seenoevil33 ! That's amazing!!

Day 26 for me.

@chatgptsbestmate I guess if she prefers sweeter or dry/bitter drinks.

If she is fine with AF drinks then there are some terrific AF beers around. The AF ciders are also good.

But I like;

• ginger cordial with dry ginger ale- spicy!
• Really spicy tomato juice with tabasco, salt and pepper
• Good quality orange juice with tonic
• as above but with pineapple juice
• soda water with a large squeeze of lemon juice (I use the squeezy bottles you get in the baking section)... I think I have at least a tablespoon of lemon
• Last week I trued ginger cordial with coca cola- unexpectedly interesting

I guess I like bitter and tart flavours really.

Morning all.
I'll catch up properly later as I'm rushing to get ready for the grandchildren.
Was really tempted last night. Badly. I'm blaming Wimbledon and seeing everyone with flutes of champagne !!
So glad I gave my cigarettes away as drinking is out of the question without them.
Anyway, I slept great and I'm ready for combat.
Day 35.
💪

Good Morning ladies. You are all killing this AF lifestyle! Time just seems to be flying! I thought it was really drag. Before I gave up drinking I used to think, “ I wish I could give up for just a week, it’s only 7 days away”. 7 days used to feel a lifetime! Now that I have actually stopped a week just flies!

Day 24 for me. Interested to see if my hormones regulate and if things change or stay the same. I’ve been having a 27 day cycle religiously and should start my monthly today. I used to wonder how I was so regular drinking all of that wine. I’m 40 so nowhere near menopausal yet. Anyone else similar age that has the same or different experience?

Skin is still improving. Energy levels are amazing. Decided to do my first run in over 4 years yesterday! Felt amazing after! Going to yoga every weekday evening. If someone would have told me this was my life a month ago i would have laughed very hard at them. I am so grateful for this new journey and I really think we can all do this! 💪

@wecandothis2025 what a great post! I can feel your energy and positivity jumping out from the screen.

i used to sorta pity non-drinkers - if only I had known how good they fel, I’d have quit a long time ago too,

@Goandygo well done - you resisted and youre fresh and full of energy for your grandchildren!

Morning all, you're all doing amazingly! Inspirational for sure.

So theres a reason I've been off the thread this week - I'm afraid to say I've fallen off the wagon a bit 🙈 on Tuesday I did end up drinking (after my mum row). I went into town to find something to wear for an event yesterday and ended up feeling really shitting about myself and my weight, and I definitely drank to just self sabotage that night. Really pathetic I know. Then after said event yesterday we went for a meal with friends and I ended up having wine. I've had twice the government 'guidelines' this week. Not good.

I really do need to draw a line under this now and get back to it. I'm excited to feel how all of you are feeling! 👊

You are still with us @paintcolourchart . And that is something.

Good to see you. xxx

@Seenoevil33 thanks. Yes, I'm glad I resisted. Even though I was struggling a bit, I still knew I wouldn't drink, if that makes sense. I just have wobbles every now and again.
Congratulations on your achievement so far - 166 days is brilliant.
@wecandothis2025 agree, great post - you are smashing this. Time really does fly doesn't it. I could often do af weekends ( well, just 1 - never quite got to 2), and that always amazed me that it was 10 days. Now, I've done 4 I think.
@paintcolourchart you're back here, that's all that matters. You had a blip and coped with it the only way you know. I've done it many, many a time. It's just a matter of moving forward, one day at a time. I also think it's important to not beat yourself up - I did that in my early days but then taught myself to just accept any times I'd caved. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Well, grandchildren have gone. Had a lovely morning til the last 5 minutes when the 10 year old gets giddy, and starts flinging the 2 year old around 🤣
Dh got me chocolate and diet coke for this pm, so I'm all set. No cravings today. In fact, yesterday was strange - I never started drinking in the evening ( was always daytime), so why I fancied one at 6pm, I've no idea.
Anyway, keep on keeping on, folks ❤️