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.

Oh no @Goandygo what happened to your shoulder?

Am sure the grandchildren will keep you busy today then! How old are you? Little ones are such hard work aren’t they. That’s another reason we need all the energy we can get! 🥴

It is actually amazing how much weight falls off when you stop drinking isn’t it! My weight goes straight to my belly, bum and thighs. I think in 6 weeks it will have all come off I don’t eat too many treats! Like I said, I won’t be buying any,

Ive been making shakes in the morning. Today I did 1/4 of cucumber, fresh ginger, fresh pineapple, few spoonfuls of Kefir yoghurt, coconut water and some blueberries. It was delicious and liver and gut healthy too!

I meant how old are they not you!!! Fried brain today. Have been constructive but have done a lot of crying.

Oh and I put a banana in the shake too! 😋

@wecandothis2025 shake sounds delicious. Go you !
Awh you're bound to be emotional - just let it out.
Granddaughters are 9 years and 15 months - they're so lovely and yes, I often need a lie down when they've gone. I veer in-between doing science experiments with the older one and baby shark for the baby. And yes, need my energy ( 57 btw).

I hurt my arm and shoulder when I broke my fall - 2 weeks ago now. It's not broken obviously or fractured, just hurts when I do too much. As I've still got a bump on my chin, I'm hoping it will all heal soon.
I don't mind having treats when not drinking - not too many, but I need something.

Oh no! Sounds painful! Did you fall when you had been drinking? I always have lots of bruises on me. No idea where half of them come from! Usually on my legs and knees. I did break my foot once while drunk and another time I fell over and a piece of glass healed inside my leg which i had no idea about!! Thought there was some grit in it but when I went to have it removed they found it to be a piece of glass! Couldn’t believe it!

I am so exhausted. Cleaned all the loos and sinks, showers, floors. Have done a food shop. Didn’t do my walk and couldn’t fit it in today 😩 I have yogi sleep/ guided meditation this evening at 6.30. Mostly my problem is I don’t have enough calories in me for all the running around I’ve done today. Going to try and get wait for dinner time and eat a meal then and have a little extra. Have not been to yoga in forever and a bit self conscious about getting into leggings and a t shirt. I’m so pale at the moment too so need to get out the fake bake at some point!! 🤣

Aawwww, that’s a fairly big age gap. I have 3 girls and mine at 20,13 and 3!!! Honestly, we were not expecting our youngest! She was a complete surprise! I am 40 and my DH is 60 this year!! 4 girls in the household is ALOT 😂😂

@wecandothis2025 wow ! 3 girls is beautiful. I've only got 1 son - he's 36, light of my life ❤️

Yes, I fell after drinking. I hadn't even had that much, and I'd eaten, but the road was very slippy and I think it was a combination of things. Definitely worsened by the wine though, not gonna lie.
I'm waiting for my teeth to be fixed too. Was supposed to be Tuesday just gone but now it's Tuesday coming. I can't wait to be back to normal with no wine in my life, just being as healthy as possible for my son and granddaughters.
Gosh, you've done a lot today. I'm tired reading it 🤣

I have a piece of glass stuck inside the palm of my hand. For years now. (About 10). I really ought to get it removed one day.

the shake sounds lovely! Today I bought hair vitamins as due to one of my chronic conditions my hair has started to fall out.

I have 2 DSs 15 and 13. Also the lights of my life. ❤

Should you get your shoulder checked out @Goandygo ? Hope it feels better soon.

I did get to the cinema in the end. I saw The Salt Path which was kind of gentle and nicely distracting. Home by 6 with the DCs. I have had a shower and flossed my teeth so am on the wind-down before bed. Hate the 3 am worries.

Hope you all sleep very well and peacefully.

@FeelingLessTired my arm has got better. It's just this week I haven't rested it - I know I did too much at work ( I'm a cleaner).
My teeth were my first priority so I put the arm on the back burner. I should have gone to A n E but I just couldn't face it.
I'm off now til Tuesday so I'm going to rest it properly.
Thanks for asking.
I'm fed up today - can't wait to get front tooth sorted. It's getting me down now.
Good news though - I still don't want to drink.

Yes! My girls are mostly OK 😆 they could be so much worse! I have to dye my hair more often than I used to now though!! 😂😂 My husband has a 31 year old son too.

Ouch! That sounds like it must have really hurt! I think sometimes things can take a while to heal. I would give it a month and if it’s still the same go and see your GP. You’ve definitely got the right thoughts there doing it for your son and granddaughters. 🥰 Your tooth will be sorted before you know it, but I know what you mean about it getting you down.

I went to yoga meditation which was really nice and relaxing and I’m going to book it again. Came home, had a shower, flossed and brushed my teeth now lying in bed watching Corrie 🥴😂😂

Oh no @ your hair falling out! Are you eating enough protein in your diet too! Collagen is good and bone broth is even better. You can make it yourself (which can be hard keeping up with supply) or you can buy it in Holland @ Barrett I used to drink a cup or two a day, which I need to start doing again. The chicken bone broth from H & B is amazing. The beef one is nice in stews and in cooking and I haven’t tried the fish one and not sure I want too! 🤮😷

Thats brilliant you got to go to the cinema! Glad you enjoyed it. You will have to plan something nice again soon! Nice to have something to look forward to. Hope the 3am worries don’t happen for you tonight.

It’s only been day 2 for me today and I only had a slight thought about having a wine, when I was cooking this evening! I obviously didn’t as I don’t have any!! 😂😮‍💨

@wecandothis2025 thanks, yes, I'll definitely get help if it doesn't improve.
Interesting what you said about cooking and wine.
I always drank wine when cooking but I gradually weaned myself of it. Now I drink sparkling water. I also always drank wine when watching sports but again, weaned myself off it.
The reason I'm saying this is that because of previous attempts to give up, I actually have lots of weapons to finally succeed.
Eating out - I stopped ordering a bottle of wine. Had 1 glass and stopped buying more on way home ( that bit was difficult at first, but I did it).
I stopped taking my purse to work in case I was tempted on way home.
Lots of playing it forward - how will I feel tomorrow if I drink today ?
Holidays were the only obstacle but I'm even feeling confident where they're concerned.

oooh- not taking a purse is a great one!

I slept all the way until 4 am then gave up. But I was asleep by 9 so not too bad. But it was a solid sleep.

Wine while cooking is a trigger for me too. Last night I just shoved sausage rolls and wedges in the oven and made a salad for the Dcs and figured that I might need to have a little period of time where I have to do the easiest option. The bonus is they were overjoyed at the meal! My plan for next week is too pick them up from school each day. They usually take the bus and I am usually home before them and that is when I would have my first glass.

We are out tonight and I am going to drive. Even though DH does not drink I'll still drive. It's a Big Birthday but my birthday friend is in AA so certainly she will not be drinking either!

Best of days to you all.

Good morning ladies.

Woke up around half an hour ago. Went to the loo and have a really runny nose and feel bunged up! I think it’s hormone related. As alcohol is a hormone disrupter I find when I stop it affects my sinuses! This happened before when I stopped drinking and it improved and I barely ever had to blow my nose in the morning. Have any of you experienced this before?

Gosh @Goandygothat sounds just like my life used to be! The ordering a bottle because you know you would want more than one glass of wine when out having a meal, buying a bottle on the way home too 😩 When ordering a bottle of wine when eating out the waitress used to ask did we want two glasses 🥴🥴🤣🤣 As I said before, my DH doesn’t drink so he would never drink any!

Glad you managed a solid 7 hour sleep @FeelingLessTired that’s brilliant. Perhaps you could make time to try and have a nap before you go out this evening. That’s a great idea about you doing the driving! Even better that the birthday girl won’t be drinking either! It’s all a challenge but you can do this 😊

I have neighbours coming over this morning so that will be a nice distraction. They have not long moved to the area and don’t think they have friends or family here. They have a little boy the same age as my LO and they will be starting their new pre school nursery together in September. We live rurally so it’s so nice to have someone with at least one child around here! The woman is pregnant too which is amazing as no talk about going out for drinks and such like! She’s due in August. The little ones can play and we can chat. Nice morning distraction while my DH is at work.

That’s lovely that you plan to pick the DC up. All this forward thinking really helps keeps our minds focused doesn’t it.

Going to try and have another hour now before my LO wakes up! Have a lovely day and keep doing what you are doing! 🥰

All good here.
Granddaughters came for an unexpected visit aka breakfast - made my day as I woke feeling a bit fed up.
Anyway, best foot forward.
Still no desire to drink ( I have to be very wary of that seed being planted), but this morning I actually pictured it as ethanol - a glass of poison.
Long may that continue.

Evening all.

Interesting about your sinuses @wecandothis2025 I had not realised alcohol was a hormone disrupter!

Hope you are feeling less fed up @Goandygo

Just returned from our night out. I drove. One person asked me why I was driving when DH does not drink and i just said 'I lost rock, paper, scissors'. But I did not feel a single yen at all for a drink- probably helped by the fact most of the party guests had come from an earlier lunch party and were not making alot of sense. I had a couple of lemonades, and a pudding and all in all feel quite chipper and proud of myself. I am going to hold onto that feeling as much as i can- because I want to 'build my sober muscles' as i heard it once described.

I am about to have a shower and to crawl into bed. Hope everyone is well and fine.

@FeelingLessTired that's a great result, well done. I'm loving The Sober Muscles - I'll remember that. I'm also building an arsenal of weaponry to combat any situation - sounds like I'm going to war. I suppose I am 🤣

I'm feeling tons better thanks. Rested and slept a lot and feeling positive today.
Woke up this morning and compared this feeling to how I was feeling 2 weeks ago - battered, bruised, upset - it wasn't worth it. Never will be.

I also had a flashback of going on holidays with friends and throwing as much wine as possible down my neck. I was always proper greedy for wine. I'm pleased to actually take it off the table, literally and metaphorically -

Day 15 for me. I said I wasn't counting but it feels quite good to do so.
By my birthday at the end of the month, I'll be 30 days. What a brilliant present to gift myself.
Hope everyone else is OK - one day at a time and be good to yourselves ❤️

That's another thing I was thinking regarding wine.
When I first started, I got a high, loved that feeling. But as the years went on, I was needing more and more to get that High.
It's a proper addiction.
There were times I wasn't even enjoying it.

21 weeks today! The sun is shining and I am not hungover- life is good

@Seenoevil33 21 weeks is fantastic, well done.
Oh yes, plenty of sunny days I spent in bed, hungover - grim.

Tried to write a post but it loads and loads and doesn’t post it for some reason. I’ve screenshot my last message so I don’t have to write it all over again! 😀

Hopefully it will work!

@wecandothis2025 oh, I'm definitely honest. Even in real life 🤣
Glad you had a lovely day. We've stayed in but its been nice.
Hope your cold clears up - get an early night with a hot lemsip. Sleep solves pretty much everything for me.

Arsenal of weaponry- I like it!

My arsenal today- after work to drive myself to the beach about 40 minutes away- read my book, have an icecream then go and pick up Dcs.

I am definitely starting to sleep better quite well until 4 -ish then dozing.

Good on you @wecandothis2025 for the safari park and sunday roast in!

Wishing you all the best of days.

Hi everyone,
please can I join you for support.
you all seem a friendly non judgy lot who have achieved a lot.
im 57 and need to give up the alcohol.
i drink on a daily basis - a couple of glasses , plus more at the weekend . It’s taking its toil on my body, mind and life!
I did not drink yesteday
and today my mantra is “I will not have a drink today” - thank you for whoever posted that above 😀 it really made its mark on me.
i have a yoga class at 6pm which is my Witching hour!!

@Sonnet hi and welcome onboard.
I'm same age as you - I'm thinking we're probably quite similar.
Well done for not drinking yesterday. Sundays were notoriously tricky for me, and I often caved - definitely boredom was a trigger.

Yes, I posted that mantra. I got nothing else at all from my AA visit ( lovely people just not for me).
So, if you can not just 'get through ' the day without it ( I think the terminology we use is really important), but enjoy our days without it (so looking at the positives), those days become weeks and hopefully it gets easier.

I'm still determined. My lack of front tooth and still sore arm being a constant reminder. When I'm back to my lovely self, I'm still staying off it.

This morning I thought that all the other times I'd attempted to give up, I'd had moments of panic. What will I DO though ? ( it was definitely a hobby for me), but there's lot to do - I've made a list !

( one more thing - bank balance healthier, too. I've not even used my card the past 2 weeks as I don't need to 💰).

Have a great day everyone - oh, the scales are a pound down from Friday. They're usually 2lbs up, at least, when I was drinking.

Hi @Goandygo
Yes, I really do think we’re quite similar.
I’ve been trying to understand what my triggers are. I often say “boredom,” but when I look at it honestly, I’m constantly busy – there’s always a long to-do list, plus so many things I’d like to do just for me. So it doesn’t quite make sense that boredom is the real reason.
That said, I have noticed that my drinking has become more frequent as my children have grown up and, now that I’ve finally reached the empty nest stage, it’s shifted again. I think for me, it also marks the end of a busy working day – almost like a signal to switch off and relax.
This time of year, that usually means a slow walk around the garden and then settling into a chair on the patio with a glass of wine or gin. But it never stops at just the one glass! I definitely associate alcohol with relaxing and unwinding.