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.

@wecandothis2025 so sorry to hear about your nan.
I hope you don't mind me sharing this and comparing the loss of my dog, but it may help.
My dog was pts last year. I was absolutely devastated - grief can physically hurt, as well as emotionally.
I found that when I drank, I just lost all control of my emotions, of sense of processing it. It made my 'journey' so much worse. When I wasn't drinking, I was able to rationalise, know that I did the best I could.
Drink never helps any situation.

Keep focusing on those reasons why you shouldn't drink and keep posting here - we'll help.
Day 1 and you can do it ❤️

Thank you @GoandygoSo sorry to hear about your dog. I hope you managed to grieve properly and it’s all a little less painful for you now. This is what happened to my grandad last year. He died and I found myself drinking and blocking all the emotions out. I don’t want this happening again.

I am going to keep reminding myself that when I was pregnant with my daughter over 20 years ago, my nan gave up smoking. She was a heavy 40-60 day smoker and she did it! So can I!

Thanks for the advice encouragement to you both.

I have not long been to the kitchen and poured the wine that I didn’t finish down the sink!!

I am so so sorry for your loss @wecandothis2025

And for the loss of your DDog @Goandygo

Hugs to you both.

❤

@wecandothis2025 that's a great start pouring the wine away.
I've done this many a time when hungover because I know if it's there, I'd drink it the next day and the cycle would continue.
Think of your nan being so determined, focussed, giving up smoking. Do it for your nan ❤️

@Goandygothanks. Luckily I am not hungover. Had 3 glasses last night over the course of around 5 hours. I normally would have drank quicker than that and more but in between uncontrollably sobbing I didn’t want to drink too much as it would make me feel worse. I haven’t told anybody I am doing this either. Don’t want the pressure. Haven’t even told my husband. He has been teetotal for over 10 years. How many days has it been for you @Goandygo?

I have been telling myself that I need to do this for quite a while now. Just needed to action it and I think this is as good a time as ever. 🙏

12 days today.
I'm not really counting days like I used to - I just know its the 12th June today ( bad accident 31st May - last time I drank).
Of course I'm aware but this feels different to all the other times when I'm not sure I meant it. Hope that makes sense !
I'm just never drinking again.
Same as you, really, especially regarding Action. I'm not telling everyone either because actions speak louder than words.

Also not telling anyone here. DH has been teetotal since Boxing day 2018. We both overdid it and he said 'that's it'.

He's unbothered though. He stopped and he does not think any further about it. I'm trying to channel that vibe.

@Goandygothats amazing. Do you feel you have gotten over the worst of it now?
I am glad you feel different. So do I. Onwards and upwards!!

@FeelingLessTiredmy husband gave up just like that. He says on a very rare occasion he sometimes wishes he could get rat arsed but it’s not worth it! We works on a Saturday too so can’t be hungover in work! We definitely need to channel their vibes!! 😊

I have friends who struggled to give up, but once they did and got over those early difficult days, they say it gets easier and they don't think about it either.

@Goandygothats brilliant that you have friends that have managed to do it. Encouraging.

I gave up smoking around 10 years ago and never look back so I’m hoping I can do the same this time!!

Fresh ginger and mint tea is getting me through this evening. I’m exhausted. Hope I sleep half ok tonight. Alcohol definitely knocks me out initially, and then come 3-4am I am wide awake 🥴

The important thing is I have not drank alcohol today!! Lonngggg way to go.

I have just looked into and booked 3 yoga sessions to keep me on the straight and narrow from tomorrow until next Wednesday!

Hope everyone else is feeling positive and managing ok. 😀

I am drinking ginger cordial and tonic water.

I had a flashback of a (very) recent time when I did something stupid and made a total fool of myself publicly.

Ugh.

You've had such a rough day @wecandothis2025 .

It is nice? Never tried it! I’m just trying to drink detoxifying drinks at the moment to try and help the process a little and still get the essential electrolytes too as I’ve not eaten too much today. Had no appetite given the stress.

Oh god I have loads of flashbacks of some of the things I’ve done whilst drunk! I bet yours are fairly mild compared to mine!! 😩😩😩

Looking forward to day 2 tomorrow! X

@wecandothis2025 same. Knocks me out initially then I'm awake 3am with quite bad anxiety. Was thinking today though that even though I didn't sleep brilliantly last night ( too hot I think / menopause), I'd rather be tired than hungover tired.
Also, you may have a long way to go ( we all have), but you've come a long way in making this decision and having a shot, so well done and well done for not drinking today.

@FeelingLessTired I've done that so many times before......not drank, perfectly sober / happy with my decision then....bloody flashbacks. Sometimes they used to knock me off track and I'd have a drink to console myself. Not anymore. I'm owning it all, warts n all. I've been an idiot at times and put myself in danger but it won't be happening again.

I'm still determined. One day at a time and they all mount up.
We can do it - knock that wine witch outta the park ❤️

There's a great thread on here about af drinks - sorry don't know how to link, but there are some brilliant ideas.
I just drink sparkling water. I might have af perroni or af kopparberg if out for a meal, but mainly I just love water !

Considering what you have been through today @wecandothis2025 I truly think you are awesome.

I love ginger cordial. I prefer the Belvoir one but it is spendy (although I never minded spending on booze). This time I have the Bottlegreen one. I have it with tonic or sometimes if I really need a bitter kick I have it with ginger ale as well with a spritz of lime juice.

I hate the flashbacks. I hate the morning after anxiety. I hate the relentless negotiation with myself about 'will I or won't I?' drink.

And its expensive. And makes me tired, sad and fat.

Not like the stupid fancy advertisements that pretend alcohol is sophisticated and fun then!

@FeelingLessTired so true. It's lots of fun.....til it isn't.
I think it takes so much, yet gives so little and I remind myself of that a lot.

What an amazing way to look at it @Goandygoit certainly does take so much and gives so little!

Thanks ladies. I just need the focus now and obviously to abstain for good and not relapse. My nan hated alcohol and what it does to people. So I know she would really want this. Fortunately she didn’t know about it… or maybe I am kidding myself!!!

@FeelingLessTiredyes me too! The anxiety and the negotiating! Exhausting. I used to battle most of the day whether I wouldn’t drink or not.

The anxiety in the middle of the night is awful. Hopefully I won’t get that tonight. All these things you ladies are describing have been things I’ve hidden and kept to myself. Have never admitted it to anyone.. ever. The tiredness, sad and fat are true to what happens to your body too! Gross.

Im sticking with water. If I can’t get at least tipsy on something that smells like alcohol or reminds me of alcohol then I’m not interested. I don’t think I could even try it if I’m honest. It would be too triggering and would make me want to drink!

The last time I was AF for a while I made heavy use of AF beers. I have since been diagnosed with gluten intolerance though so no more.

My aim is to have a 'special' drink at the witching hour - another one I like is lemon cordial with tonic water - then move onto water. Better for my waistline!!

Morning all.

Hope everyone had a good and restful sleep.

Just in case it is of interest to anyone- I have started taking Milk Thistle supplements. It is supposed to help support and overworked liver. I use the fizzy berrocca types ones (I get from Holland and barrett) and put it in fizzy water and it makes a really refreshing morning pre-coffee drink.

Today is a half day for me so i am taking myself to the cinema too see ''The Salt Path.'' Then picking the Dcs up from after school clubs. It's all about distraction today!

Best of days to you all.

Morning! @FeelingLessTiredI hope you managed a restful sleep too. Mine wasn’t so bad really. A lot of crying initially whilst cuddled up to my DH. When the lights go out the reality and grief of loosing a loved one comes flooding back. Despite that, I had a surprisingly good sleep.

Glad you enjoy your drinks, lemon cordial sounds lovely too. Definitely better for the waist line! I need to shift at least half a stone. Suppose it could be a lot worse.

Going to go for a long walk this morning after dropping DC off. Try to tire myself out. Got lots of cleaning to do today. Booked yoga this evening. It’s a sleep/meditation yoga though so hope it does the trick and helps me sleep better tonight.

interesting about the milk thistle. May look into that. I started taking a liver supplement for a few weeks last year and worried it could do more damage than good. After all the liver would already be under stress trying to process all the wine. Now I’ve stopped drinking I may start taking them again. Just had a look at the website and this is what they contain - Our liver health capsules contain milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, schisandra, burdock and artichoke. They are from a company called Cytoplan which I’ve used for around 3 years and found them to be brilliant.

That’s a lovely idea going to the cinema! Let me know what “The Salt Path” is like! Enjoy 😀

Hope you good too @Goandygoand have things planned to keep you busy today and over the weekend!

Pre-bedtime yoga sounds good!

2 stone to lose here 😅

never mind- this is a lifelong change for the good of my physical emotional and mental health and I know the weight will come off.

Glad you had a good sleep in the end @wecandothis2025

DH has potentially thrown a curve ball into cinema plans as he might need the car, but if that does not work out I will find another useful distraction.

I’ve just lost a lost post. Arghhh.

You will lose the weight! It will obviously take a little time. You are probably holding onto a lot of water too so it will eventually go. I lost almost a stone last year when I stopped drinking for 6 weeks. I felt great. We then went on holiday with the kids and some friends and it all went to pot.

Thats a shame about the cinema. I am sure you will be on a mission to find another distraction! I did a lot of walking in the 6 weeks booze free period last year and walked of a morning in a place there want many people. I started doing some motivational talking to myself 😂 and it really helped. Spoke about the week and everything I was grateful for. Also about avoiding situations or going out to eat until I had overcome the worst. I even used to talk through what I needed to get done and things I wanted to do, even if it was just clearing out the kitchen cupboard under the sink!!! I found it really helpful and I’m going to start that again today. Put the cinema back on your “to do list” and set yourself a timeframe in which to do it if you don’t manage to get there today! 😀

Morning, all good here.
@wecandothis2025 I have a very quiet weekend planned. Dh working and grandchildren busy ( they're coming today instead of all day tomorrow). Usually, I would think wine, cooking, chilling.
I'm doing all except the wine, and more importantly, I don't want wine.
My arm / shoulder was hurting through the night - it's been nearly 2 weeks since the accident. Bit worried about it.
@FeelingLessTired I've got 20lbs to lose, too. Great news for me though - as soon as I stop drinking, the weight slowly but surely comes off. That motivates me so much.

@wecandothis2025 night time is the worst when you're grieving. You're all alone with your thoughts even if you have got someone with you. It will get better - it just takes time ❤️