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.

@Sonnetthat still sounds like progress as you weren't drunk/out of control at all, and a holiday is a huge challenge! It's like a series of 'events' to go to AF but all in a row 😂 I think you did very well, especially as your hol was two weeks! This is the first time for me I've realised that I absolutely cannot moderate, up until recently I kidded myself that I could but there's been far far too many times I've shown myself that I can't. I'm not saying you can't, your relationship with alcohol sounds different to mine in that once I start I can't easily stop so for me it's just better not to start! But if you find that you can't moderate you are in good company here. I think you'll be surprised after your AF night at the neighbours' tonight how pleased you feel tomorrow and how you will still enjoy it (I've had an AF night with the neighbours recently). We are here if you have any wobbles!

We are going home today. My crystals have all been delivered - yay 😅 I'm feeling really good, definitely less bloated, skin a lot better and much more positive and happy. I think I do actually look slimmer too, my mum said so as well so I'm curious to step on the scales but also don't want to demotivate myself in case it's not less! But even if it isn't, I definitely am started to look better.

Hope you enjoy your garden with a book @Goandygo !

God I love a carvery.

Everyone is doing so well. :)

I am out tonight and have volunteered to be designated driver. I honestly don't think I look all that much better but think m y hair is thicker. I am taking hair vitamins though also.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

@Seenoevil33@Goandygoand anyone else who's on a good AF stretch - just wondering if you have a smart watch have you noticed an increase in your HRV since quitting? Just noticed mine is fairly low and wondering how long it might take to see a change (I've not been wearing my watch for the last week)

@paintcolourchart sorry I don't have a smart watch and I don't know what that is !
I've just googled - still don't understand. Is it to do with stress reaction?
Would I see anything tangible ?

@GoandygoI think it is something to do with stress but it's also meant to be an indicator of health but varies to person to person, with ranges also changing amongst age groups. I also had to google when I spotted it on my watch and I did start to explain what it was on here but stopped in case everyone knew but me 😂😂 anyway, I saw something on Reddit where people's HRV had increased (a higher number is better) after stopping drinking. I shall wear my watch again and see if mine changes.

I came across an app today called Sunflower which looks quite good. You basically 'plant' a sunflower in a field (on the screen) for every day you're sober. I haven't got it yet because for me it is quite expensive (~£15 a month) but mentioning it here as it does look good!

@Goandygo

Sorry me again 😅 (I'm stuck on a long car journey!).

Just came across this which has some really interesting comparison graphs:

https://www.triathlete.com/nutrition/a-nutritionist-shares-what-a-month-of-no-alcohol-did-to-his-body

I'm afraid I don't have any kind of watch so can't help.

My bucket list watch is a Cartier tank. I worked out I could afford to buy myself one after 14 months not-drinking savings if I put my mind to it. That is literally a sobering thought. 😆

But I love the idea of having an actual record of health improvements so will read up on that.

Back in a mo- off to read @paintcolourchart 's link also.

ETA- a second hand Cartier- not new. Even I wasn't drinking a new-Cartier watch amount!

Interesting link @paintcolourchart ! My resting heart rate is very high. Round about 72 (just did my pulse). That might be interesting to chart.

I'm just back home and have put my watch back on charge. Will report back!

I had to laugh - I opened my crystal parcel, and they absolutely tiny!! Not quite the idea I had in mind 😂

@paintcolourchart oh no ! Hope you're not disheartened and it will still work ?
Reminded me of those temu orders that are much smaller than expected 🤣

I'm going to have to go back to my gp for some painkillers. Shoulder is very sore. I'm just grateful one, that there's no real damage, just tissue and two, I think in the past I'd have pressed the feck it button and gone back to normal, ie drinking.
But it's a painful reminder of how I do not want to be, and a real motivation to get it sorted and to be as healthy as I can be.

So sorry about your shoulder @Goandygo

Shame about the crystals @paintcolourchart !!

Morning, tribe !
Hope you're all ok. Thanks @FeelingLessTired shoulder still twingeing ( is that a word ?), but I feel better knowing I can get stronger painkillers on Monday. No need to suffer.
Had an eureka moment in the bath this morning. Perhaps it was an epiphany ( but eureka / bath is better 🤣).
Anyway I was thinking that my 'flat' moments are not really flat. I felt content, rested, in control - I felt good that I didn't have a raging headache and a need to Go Find Carbs to make me feel less sick.
I'd rather 'flat' than remorse, sickness, regret when looking at bank account.
My skin is also glowing ( I'm very vain by nature, so this is a massive motivation).
Have a great weekend, folks and keep 💪.

Morning all,
3 days AF free behind me !
no cravings or longings, not even interested !
so sorry to hear your shoulder is still giving you pain @Goandygo, hope you get some relief with the stronger painkillers . Is it tissue damage?
how are the teeth now?

How disappointing @paintcolourchart
about the crystals… can you reimagine a use that will work for you ?

Wishing you all a happy and AF Saturday

@Sonnet that's great....didn't you have a gathering last night ? What did you drink?
Yes, it's tissue damage.....the teeth are great, thanks 😁

Morning all,

I just had a hair cut and it was soo nice not to be hungover as I usually seem to be whenever my hair cut comes around - I've even been known to cancel on the day because I've felt too shit (and obviously still had to pay!) so this was great. My face didn't look as awful as it usually does in the hairdresser mirrors either 😅

So my HRV has risen from 41 to 51, which is also great! Could just be an anomaly of course but will keep paying attention.

Stood on the scales today and the numbers haven't changed, but I'm sure I do look a bit slimmer! Maybe it's just wishful thinking 😂 Next week I will my focus back to weight loss.

Attaching a picture of said crystal failure 😂 the tiny purple amethysts were supposed to be marble sized so they would still drown the two blips I had at the beginning of the month by this point - I even used the smallest glass I could find and they still look insignificant 😂 the whole point was that the dry days together would look significant and the slip ups would be visible on their own but not as much throughout the month! Then next month the aim was so have 100% amethyst with no slip ups. There are a couple of localish shops I can try - should have just done that to begin with!

Also in the background of that pic are my two stars for 2 weeks dry! Very pleased with this. These are the random selection ones and the blue is blue soladite which apparently means tranquility and emotional wellbeing and the other one is green jade which apparently means inner balance and connection to natural energies, so both quite fitting really!

Sorry to hear you're still in pain @Goandygo my ankle is getting better but I have accepted that I can no longer keep my head in the sand about it and I'm going to call next week to get it checked. Just hope it's not too late 🙈

Hope everyone is ok! Love seeing everyone's updates.

Also curious to hear how you got on last night @Sonnet- remember if there was a slip up we have all been there so please don't feel like you can't post if that's what happened 💪

Well even though I’m not a fan of AF drinks I did take some AF Prosecco - Fizz Zero- it’s the only one I like, it’s quite botanical in flavour.
so had some of that and explained I was on a break from alcohol at the moment !
wasn’t even tempted…
Got the big do tonight but driving, so that one’s in the bag 😀

a bummer about the tissue damage, it can take a while to repair! Go easy.
great news re Teeth! 😀

@paintcolourchart I see what you mean about the crystals … they are rather in your face in comparison 🤣
sorry to hear about your ankle, best get it checked…
the scales may not show but you will definitely look better in the face - no more wine face - it’s where it shows first!
You’ll have a row of stars soon 😀

@Sonnetwell done!!! Driving tonight will take the 'should I/shouldn't I' mental gymnastics out of it too so you can just get on with and enjoy your night. Fizz Zero sounds good, I'll have to take a look at that.

That's true. Surprisingly the scales staying the same didn't unmotivate me at all, because I do feel better. I didn't even put any make up on when I went to the hair dressers this morning either. I don't normally wear lots but I do usually wear foundation any time I leave the house! I 'only' ordered 4 of the stars, so 4 week's worth and I was worried that was too optimistic but I'm already halfway there so best order some more soon!

Remarkably still no desire to drink. I honestly can't believe it!!!!!

@paintcolourchart I love the stars, and I see what you mean about the crystals - try a local shop like you say. It's a great idea though.

Even though my arm / shoulder is sore, I am so glad I got it checked out. Honestly, relief was massive.

Evening all, sorry me again 😅 just thought I'd report back on my HRV...

The pinpointed date is Day 1 for me (5th July). You can see it looks quite erratic up until that point and then it starts the level off and now it's increasing (a good thing!) and my average for today has gone up to 59. There is a wide gap between two of the points because I didn't wear my watch last week, so there could well have been dip then and I didn't know, but the dots before I stopped wearing my watch are way less erratic! Interesting to see how it will change in the coming weeks...

About to brew my lemon balm tea and pick up an old cross stitch project, so a nice chilled Saturday evening here! Hope everyone is doing ok on a Saturday night.

@paintcolourchart thanks for that. It's really interesting to see all the benefits. Previously I've only concentrated on a few areas, but there's obviously lots more.
I know I experience a vast decrease in anxiety - massive, actually.
Chilled evening for me, too.
The af corona is nice. I can see why people rate it, but it's not for me.
My search continues......I spent less time looking for a husband 😊

That's really interesting @paintcolourchart ! I think an apple watch might be in my future....

I LOVE your weekly stars.

Day 8 for me since my slip up. I'm not shifting any weight so plan to have a water fast today until dinner time. I used to do one meal a day which i actually managed quite well. Might need to re-do that for a bit. We go on holiday in 21 days. My parents trigger me re weight as they are intense about what everyone weighs, who is fat etc. And i have to wear a bathing suit. Gah! I know i shouldn't care, but it's deeply ingrained.

Hope everyone has a good day.

My search continues......I spent less time looking for a husband 😊
🤣🤣🤣

how interesting re the HRV, I have an (inherited from DC) Apple Watch that I don’t wear much - maybe I should to investigate this 😀
Well I did it!! The big party and no alcohol.
TBH it got rather dull watching drunk people, and as for the drunk conversations….
i also had an appalling nights sleep as I saw lots of people I don’t usually see and it was all going on round in my brain 😀 But I’ll still have a productive day today 😀

Onwards and Upwards - Day 4 under my belt!
Have a good Sunday all