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.

@88expertprocastinator I often think of it as poison in a fancy bottle. It is really. Enjoy your af sparkling wine / cbd drinks. You can do it - knock that wine witch outta the park.
@Sonnet well done on your 47 days - you've come so far from what you were drinking. I was never a bottle a night gal - more of a binge drinker.
I laugh sometimes at my dh who gives up chocolate for Lent - he barely eats it as it is. Give up something that's difficult 🤣

I'm just on Chapter 4 of the Clare Pooley book and I have to say of all the quit lit I've read, this is by far the most triggering and least motivating!!!

I've just finished it and truthfully it was a good book but you do need to stick with it. I think she was very honest in the beginning about how hard she found it all, but as time goes on the focus does shift a bit.

She writes very well and there is a lot of wit in amongst her angst of it all.

Hi all- just checking in post book club. It all went fine. My not-drinking was clocked and i just said I am on painkillers (for my chronic conditions) and did not like to mix.

I'm about to sort dinner for the DCs and will come back later. Enjoying all the posts!

@Kipperandarthur thanks, I will try and stick with it. It might be that I'm listening to it while I work, whereas all the others I've read tucked in bed with a cuppa at the end of a day. I think the fact I've found sobriety (so far) much easier than expected and it just worries me that this could change. I will keep going with it, I've heard a lot of good reviews on here about it so it must just be me!

I read the book last week @paintcolourchart so I understand what you mean re triggering , at one point it made me crave a large glass of cold white wine 🤦‍♀️
BUT I also suggest you stick with it and see how it pans out… I enjoyed it (hmm am I suppose to enjoy quit lit 🤣) I definitely got something positive out of it 😀

On the subject of quit lit I started a new book last night where the author actually ends each chapter with a fantasy drinking scenario. I've had to put it down (it's in the charity shop bag) as it is massively unsettling.

But I am really loving being sober right now. I wake several times a night as a normal thing and waking up and NOT having to reach back through fuzzy memories of the night before is so so joyous. I am making heavy use of AF ciders though right now. But I'm okay with that as I personally don't find AF drinks triggering though I know it's not the case for everyone.

Hope everyone has a lovely evening.

@Sonnet yes! That's exactly it! I've found that a couple of times with it actually - only fleeting, but still! I weirdly enjoy quit lit too! I've read the unexpected joy of being sober (twice!), this naked mind and alcohol explained. Definitely keen to read more though.

@FeelingLessTired that does sound very unsettling and odd! Is it meant to help you quit?? So pleased to read your positivity for staying sober! There really are so many positives.

Morning!

Day 19 for me.

Yes the book is strange. It's called 'Unwasted' by Sacha Scoblic if anyone comes across it. It may work for other people (her rock bottom stories are very hairy) but I found it profoundly depressing and triggering.

But I am in bouncy sober mode today. Just feeling calm, content and very very proud of myself. I need to top up my stash of interesting cordials today so am planning to splash out a bit on some Belvoir Ginger.

Hope everyone has a lovely day!

@FeelingLessTired well done on Day 19 - I can hear your bouncy positivity ! You're doing great - I think we have similar tastes regarding af. I got some af kopparberg ( strawberry) yesterday from tesco ( 4 for £3). I think they do The Trick on a hot summer's day ( heatwave - a - coming).
My problem is dh has unofficially appointed himself Chief Af Drinks Tester - he's raving about the af kopparberg. Raving, I tell you.

All good here. Doctors yesterday and got me some drugs - feel better already.
@paintcolourchart how did you get on regarding the ankle ?

Keep on keeping on, folks.

Morning all,
just reporting in to say 15 days AF under my belt and starting day 16 in a positive mind set.

Think I’ll avoid that book @paintcolourchart and @FeelingLessTired 😀

@FeelingLessTired thrilled to read how bouncy you feel 😀 I’m currently drinking Belvoir Ginger and lemongrass cordial and totally recommend it 😀

I’ve got a busy social weekend, so just sharing my strategy :
Tomorrow afternoon I’m with a group at Newmarket races and then seeing Tom Jones there after. All instructed to bring a shared plate of nibbles plus what we are drinking. So along with water I will take a bottle of AF Fizz. My friend is driving a group of us and is very kindly offered to let me stay the night at her house. I have declined that invitation so I have to drive back from her house to mine hence doubly insuring I will not partake of anybody’s kindly offered alcoholic fizz. 😀😀

Saturdsy sees a friends big birthday party. Not a close friend more an acquaintance but still very kind of her to invite us. I have offered to drive DH and I, so ensuring I don’t drink! My DH doesn’t really know anybody so we are planning to slip away about 10 pm.

sunday Sees an afternoon drink with neighbours to discuss some joint tree issues. They are BIG drinkers. I will take along some AF drink but if she asked me why I’m not drinking, I’m going to be honest and tell her.

Phew.. takes some planning this AF lark 🤣🤣

@Sonnet well done on Day 15 - you're doing great.
It does take some planning, you're right. It's a good thing we recognise it though - imagine being left high n dry ( no pun intended ) - so easy to just say one won't hurt. As we all know, it's never one.
Even though I said I wasn't buying af drinks, I did find myself buying some and that was to be prepared.

That's a really really big few days coming up @Sonnet. I agree with @Goandygo it's good to be prepaid and to plan. Ensuring you are the driver is great. That's some serious sober muscle building right there!

Day 20 for me tomorrow and in preparation (and inspired by @paintcolourchart ) i bought this rose quartz heart.

@FeelingLessTired it's beautiful - love it ❤️

Just popping on quickly before I go to (non boozy) craft club - I love this @FeelingLessTired!!!

Will check in properly later - hope everyone is good! Some serious flexing going on here! 💪💪💪

It’s gorgeous 💕

@FeelingLessTired beautiful necklace and congrats for day 20.
survived party no problem.
@Sonnet busy weekend but I like your planning for success.

I haven’t read any quitlit yet but think I may order some to see me through without a clear target in my mind. Am I committing to not drinking again or will I be happy to have one or two on occasion? Still trying to decide but no longer horrified by the thought of never drinking again!

@88expertprocastinator well done on the sober party. Hope you enjoyed yourself. Interesting about the no longer being horrified at the thought of never drinking again. That was always one of my biggest hurdles, but I have to say, I'm over it.
I know many now sober people who just don't bother having even 1 or 2. They say, What's the point ? And I have to agree. I drank mainly to get drunk anyway and 1 or 2 is not going to do that. I did enjoy the taste, but I can definitely live without it ( the taste - there's always cheesecake).

Hope everyone is OK. I'm off now for 4 days, going to rest my arm and hope it improves otherwise I can't see the point of a walking / activity holiday. Tablets making me so tired - I had to come home from work early yesterday.
Good news is if I do go away, I'm still on this course of tablets and therefore no alcohol whatsoever, so I know I'll still be af.
I didn't think I would drink, but I was a bit anxious as to how I would react, this being my first proper holiday since going af.
Anyway, keep on keeping on everyone - we are smashing it 💪

Thanks everyone for supportive comments! I am wearing my necklace proudly.

Congrats on the sober party @88expertprocastinator !

Hope you have a wonderful break @Goandygo and that your arm heals.

@Goandygothey just said it was a sprain and gave me exercises to do. No one has actually thoroughly checked it though and I haven't had an x ray 🙄

@88expertprocastinatorwell done on your sober party! Some serious sober muscles being flexed there!

I feel the same about the idea of not drinking again - it doesn't scare me anymore. Actually, weirdly, the idea of having a drink scares me a bit because I don't want to go back to my old bad habits.

@FeelingLessTired you absolutely should wear it proudly! I ended up ordering 200 days worth of crystals stars, so I've got 24 arriving next week 😂 they only cost me £23 so wasn't too bad and I am enjoying seeing them slowly build up. Time for another tomorrow!

Attaching a screenshot of July's TryDry app - aiming for 100% yellow and 5 new crystal stars for August!

Hope everyone is having a good Friday!

Also attaching my HRV for July (day 1 was July 5th) and June for those interested - you can see June was quite erratic whereas July isn't and doesn't have sudden low drops!

Your HRV results are really quite something @paintcolourchart . It's fascinating to see such a tangible change.

Congrats on such a sea of yellow for July as well!

Hi again- sorry, yet another post from me. I like checking in.

How is everyone? Also, friends who may be lurking and worried about coming back, as mentioned upthread- please know there is no judgement here. We are indeed a tribe as @Goandygo says, no matter where on the path we are. ❤

We have a big festival in our town this weekend. It's always been a big drinking thing for me so I was a bit triggered when going down to get stuff for dinner. But I again resorted to an AF beer and an ice cream and it passed. But i did the whole bargaining thing with myself 'will I, won't I?'. Honestly I think most of my body right now is made up of ice cream. But, I'll deal with that another day.

Absolutely exhausted so i have sent the DCs off to have their evening showers and then I will go myself. DH is in a very tired phase right now- and suffers from insomnia anyway so he is planning to be in bed within half an hour. I will join with my tea and Jason Vale's 'Kick the Drink' book. I have read it before and his relentless positivity annoyed me but now I find it's just what I need and am enjoying.

Hope everyone is well and fine. Have a wonderful evening!

@FeelingLessTired good evening !
Well done for swerving and settling for an af beer and ice cream. You're getting really good at this !
I wouldn't worry too much about the ice cream - do what you have to for now. I had a star bar for breakfast 🤣 ( I needed food for a tablet, but couldn't stomach toast - I don't normally eat til 11am ).
I'm having an early night, too. I have to be up at 2am for the tennis 🎾

2 am tennis??!! Now that is committed!

Sleep well, @Goandygo