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.

www.anonymoushealth.com/resources/faqs/how-long-for-metabolism-to-recover-after-quitting-alcohol

Have a great day everyone

work beckons for me today but I’ve got my book group this evening.

Thankfully, we have never had alcohol at book group! 😀

That's a really good article @Sonnet. And a good reminder for me to support my body detoxing and my metabolism by optimising my diet. (I will not mention the chocolate twist I ate for breakfast)

The para on how the body slows metabolism down is really interesting. My body must be right at the beginning of repair, but rather exciting really that it WILL repair!

I really enjoyed the Sober Diaries. She says she lost her wine belly reasonably quickly- 6-ish months or so from memory. I sure hope that;s the case for me as well.

Thanks also for the hint about putting frozen fruit into water. I had 2 packs of frozen strawbs in our freezer that I was wondering what to do with. DH had already finished making jam and syrup. So that is what I am sipping on now.

Thanks @Goandygo and well done on the scale numbers coming down!

Great article @Sonnet. So after seeing physical improvements really quickly, today I feel like a heavy bloated mess again. Maybe I was just seeing things before 😂 my HRV has done a sudden drop for the first time since I quit as well. I think my period might be due soon (it's not regular) which will hopefully explain these two things. That article has kind of just confirmed to me to just bear with, changes will come but it might not be quick. It's only been 3 weeks (tomorrow!!) for me, so really I can't expect my body to recovery from regular drinking that quickly. I will get there, as we all will 💪

Have attached a screenshot in case anyone is curious about the data. I've pinpointed my day 1 again (5th July) but I think it's fairly clear from the chart anyway!

@paintcolourchart I think it's normal to have some days when you just feel awful.
I always compare it to dieting. I used to join diet clubs then expect a weight loss overnight. As the Marjory Dawes - type consultants trill, It didn't come on over night, ladies 🎶
Sorry, went off on a tangent there.
Just keep going - you're doing really well. You've had more Feel Better days than not, so the big picture is also useful.
I wasn't feeling it on Tuesday at work. I just couldn't be bothered - I didn't want a drink, I just wanted to lie down in a dark room.
Get through today and tomorrow is another day.

@Goandygo thanks. I don't feel awful as such, just a fat bloated mess 😂 however since posting that this morning it is clear that my period is on its way (sorry probably tmi!) so I think that explains it tbh and I'll just ride it out for the next few days/week/whatever it'll be. It certainly hasn't made me feel like I want a drink because I've experienced way too many highs already for me to go back to before. I'm no longer in the mindset of 'fuck it, I may as well just have bloody wine then', thankfully! I had planned to weigh myself again tomorrow to see if anything has actually come off but I'm going to hold off for maybe another week now!! As @Sonnet said, I also haven't been eating or drinking back in soft drinks all the wine calories I was having so surely at some point the weight will start coming off, surely it's just science 😂 I have been walking and swimming too.

Might have to give the sober diaries a go as well!

Ohhh enjoy book group @Sonnet!

I've just gone on Spotify to start the sober diaries while I work (from home, alone, so no one else can hear 😅).

I've just realised why I haven't read/listened to it yet - in the description it says she got diagnosed with breast cancer. It says that by the end of the year she is cancer free, but I've mentioned on here that I do have anxiety around health issues and I've already worried that previous drinking habits have/will cause cancer or another health problem so just wanted to ask if her cancer features in it a lot? I don't want to be left utterly convinced I've got it and caused it myself by the end of the book 🫣

Yes it is a big part of the book, sorry @paintcolourchart . From memory (which might be flawed) it's the main theme for a good half of it.

Thanks @FeelingLessTired I've decided I'm still going to give it a go. I've just looked her up and she was 12 years older than I am now when she was diagnosed so I think I'll be ok framing it like the is could be my future if I don't deal with it now rather than 'this is me right now' if that makes sense. It's so bad but I'm one of those people who is too scared to regularly check myself, which I really need to work on! I'm just pressing play now, so I'll see how it goes

I hope you enjoy it. I liked it alot because Clare Pooley is roughly my age, and also lives in the same street I used to live in London. Tenuous connections, granted but alot of what she said resonated with me. Mainly how easy it is for intelligent women to fall into the trap of wine o-clock being fun and harmless to becoming a problem. She's got a self deprecating sense of humour. (Actually, she then wrote a novel which I read and enjoyed as well, but can't recall the name of now!).

@FeelingLessTired The Authenticity Project. I remember reading great reviews for that. I'll put it on my holiday list.
See, I'd read that but not The Sober Diaries.

That's it!

Actually, she also said that becoming sober freed up her time to do things she had always wanted to do- like write a novel.

That also resonated with me. Not the novel-writing bit, but because I feel alcohol has taken so much from me in terms of time and energy. My passion for life was swirling at the bottom of the glass along with my self esteem.

Not now. . New life.

@FeelingLessTired I am enjoying it so far, thank you. Wow that's so strange she lives on the same street you used to! I bet you know a few people she talks about. We don't have the Motherland kind of wine mum culture up where we are (yet, anyway!), and I am so glad. It really stood out when she said one of the other mums said they should go for a drink to catch up and when she said she wasn't drinking atm the other woman walked off and said to let her know when she was back on the booze! I am so glad we don't have that battle. Saying that, DS isn't yet in school so maybe it's different then.

Yes definitely about the time. I have 3 whole evenings extra a week now which I can spend actually relaxing rather than thinking I am with a glass of wine, or I can spend it revising for exams I've got coming up later this year. Part of the reason I was feeling stressed is because I feel like I've got too much to do atm (don't we all!) but the answer is obvious isn't it - don't drink and free up that extra time!!

We moved from London when DS1 was about 3, I think. Now in a small popular tourist area, in a village. The Mum wine culture was very big here- still is I imagine, now the Dcs are teens I don't do much socialising with other parents. But all of our 'circle' is mainly older professionals winding down to retirement or retired people and it is INCREDIBLY boozy.

You stand out if you do not drink, and people enquire why. Thankfully we have managed to largely avoid the worst of the social bit (I am not a very social person) as we had DCs and our DS1 has learning and medical needs so everyone knew we did not go out much. So most of my drinking was at home. Still I have managed to make a fool of myself on more than one occasion.

I can off the top of my head think of 3 people in our circle who do not drink. DH. A friend of mine who is in AA....

And me.

I am starting to enjoy thinking of 'strategies' to not drink as we have a few social things coming up. One cocktail party I have contacted the hostess and offered to hand things around and wash up afterwards. That will keep my hands busy. Also AF cider- no-one notices. I find that they will notice if you drink a soft drink and comment, but not notice if you drink an AF cider or beer. It's been 7 years observing DH (who drinks AF beer) to realise that.

I'm quite looking forward to a summer where I am hydrated, can recall everything and don't have the anxiety I always have after an event.

Day 13 for me.

Congratulations @paintcolourchart on your studies and forthcoming exams! That is such a massively positive thing! I bet you will rock them.

Morning all.

I get your social environment @FeelingLessTired , it sounds very much like ours. I can only think of one friend who doesn’t drink. I didn’t really have the Mummy wine culture but mainly because the DC’s school pulled from a wide area so driving was always involved.
thsnk you for the AF drink tip.

i have a quiz tonight , always involves alcohol so I’m driving and taking AF fizz.

I came on to post this last night but Mumsnet was not playing ball:

Well you have to laugh 😂

I have been in my book group for over 11 years. At its conception it was agreed it would be “ no alcohol” to keep the conversations on the book being discussed (cake is a must though!)
So, tonight for the very first time there appeared a bottle of Prosecco 😀 To celebrate a members “big birthday”
you will all be pleased to know I had sparkling water 😀😀😀
Day 9 complete ✅

Well done on the sparkling water! That sort of thing might have completely thrown me. We have our book club next week. It's always a big drinking thing, but I am taking AF fizz.

Hope you enjoy the quiz. I love being the driver at things now. I get such a sense of freedom about being able to drive at night!

@FeelingLessTired well done on Day 13 and I agree regarding af cider and beer. People in my environment will still ask why I'm not on the wine but I'm ok with that.
In my immediate family, I am the only one who drinks. In fact after the last family gathering when I was drinking wine and everyone else tea and coffee, I did question myself - I was just doing it because...
@Sonnet yes, as @FeelingLessTired said, that would have thrown me too. I'm good at planning ahead, playing it forward but I'm not sure how I'll be in that scenario. I'll take inspiration from you. Well done ! ( I love sparkling water ).
I got up at 11.30am. I cannot remember the last time I got up this late.
I did have strong painkillers at 2am ( 🤦‍♀️) - so possibly they knocked me out.
Anyway, it's Friday and I love, absolutely love, not equating it with wine ❤️
Keep going, folks - you're all doing brilliantly.

You are doing brilliantly too @Goandygo

Good that you slept so long. You must have needed it. Hope that your pain has eased also.

Just dropping in quickly to share something trivial. Went to a cafe today and they were advertising 'Virgin Expresso Martinis'. It was expresso coffee topped up with tonic water. I thought 'why not?'. Pretty dreadful, as you may expect!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

@FeelingLessTired

It really does sound awful 🤣
I saw gin n tonic sorbet in Farmfoods 🤣

@FeelingLessTired I'm counting myself lucky that the mum wine culture doesn't seem to be a thing here, I can only imagine the states I would have got myself into! We don't go out much either these day, but it doesn't stop home drinking. Well done on 13 days! Thanks, I do feel massively behind with the exams atm but hopefully I can catch up over the next month or so!

@Sonnet so typical your book group involved fizz this week! Well done to not giving in and well done on day 9! Are you finding it beginning to get easier or not yet?

@Goandygo you must have needed the rest!! Hope you feel better for it.

So today for the first time since week 1 where I did have a bit of a wobble in that I thought 'well it's been 3 weeks, maybe I can just moderate tonight'. But then I realised that I know that won't be the case, and from there it would be a slippery slope. DH did kind of make noises about it too but I told him he could go ahead but I wasn't planning to (I don't think he will either).

I made it to my localish crystal shop today! I bought a couple of amethyst bracelets to cut up so I could use the crystals to replace the tiny ones, and 3 large amethyst crystals which will represent a month each. The shop assistant commented that I must love amethyst 😂 obviously I did not say it's because it means 'not drunken' or 'not intoxicated' in Greek!

Photo attached of my larger daily crystals (23 sober crystals from this month with 2 drinking ones), my third star (so 3 weeks today!!!!) and also of the 3 larger monthly ones, although they have gone in the drawer for now. Not too long until my first one though! This week's star is Tiger Eye, which means courage, protection and personal empowerment apparently.

Ansolutely knackered today - always am just before my next cycle so it'll be a hot shower, cosy pjs and crappy tv on the sofa tonight for me!

Hope everyone has a peaceful Friday evening.

P.S @FeelingLessTired that sounds absolutely revolting!!! 😂

PPS - sorry for such a long post!!!

Yes the drink was pretty gross. But it amused me really. I got all the way through it. The little pastry though was lovely. It had chocolate inside.

I really love your stars @paintcolourchart . Love the actual visual reminder of real success. I know the feeling 'I have been so good, i can moderate now'. That's what I felt last time ... and all the last times. I always think 'this time it will be different' and it simply isn't. I have no off switch at all.

Best wishes to everyone on the thread - posters and lurkers alike. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. ❤

Hi everyone,
Gosh how dreadful that drink sounded @FeelingLessTired , well done for getting through it 👍
Hope your sleep fortified you @Goandygo , your body must have needed that healing sleep.

loving the crystals @paintcolourchart . You’re on a roll with this AF lark 👍

I had a quiz night last night - what a dreadful selection on AF drinks on offer… my DH came back with orange squash that was fluorescent in colour 🤣
anyway I manfully ignored my friends rose chicken wine and had tap water instead 🤣

Was up bright and early this morning for an 8.15 Pilates class followed by a cold water swim 😀

What are everyone’s weekend plans?

It’s a dull one here , although I’m looking forward to it. Catching up on garden and house jobs.
tonight I’m planning a soak in the bath and a takeaway followed by my book and an early night 😀

@paintcolourchart Im not sure about finding it easier, it’s an odd one.

What I am absolutely thrilled to pieces about is knocking the Home drinking on the head, even including my holiday slip up I have not drunk at home since the 14th of June. That’s absolutely unheard of.. I’m so determined not to do that that I feel quite safe while I’m at home. I’m more concerned that I will crack in a social situation.. as an example I’m going to a big birthday party next Saturday night. It is a function hall type of place and there will be a bar but I don’t know how well served they will be with AF alternatives. I also don’t know many people there and actually I’m quite shy. So will miss the first couple of drinks to bolster my confidence.. But i’ll tackle a strategy for that next week. I’m not gonna overthink it….
Happy AF Saturday everyone x

@Sonnet that is a long time since you've drank at home. Well done. Drinking at home was where it all went downhill for me. And that made it worse when I went out too - underestimating how much I'd drank, getting home, etc. All a nightmare.
Regards your social event next week, yes, tackle it when it's a bit nearer ( it's tricky though because in many ways you have to be prepared. It's a fine line).

For the first time in a long time, dh are on our own today. We've just said how lovely it is ( we do miss the little ones, but it's still nice !).
We've had a bath ( not together), a lovely brunch and now we're relaxing.
I'm still amazed at how easy I'm finding it. I don't and I won't become complacent but even earlier on when dh suggested a few drinks in town and our favourite restaurant, all I could think was how much fun it was going to be choosing af drinks.
It's like I've had a personality transplant.

Enjoy your meal and AF drink selection @Goandygo