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.

Morning.
@wecandothis2025 well done on Day 5 , you're doing great.
@FeelingLessTired those 3 adjectives - over thinking, socially awkward and anxious describe me, though I didn't know I was all those things til I started examining my relationship with alcohol properly.
Your son is lucky to have you. I had a lot going on as a child ( anxiety, low self esteem), and even though my parents were wonderful, they were not emotionally available.

All good here. Dentist today. Never thought I'd be excited about that.
Hopefully can book in more treatments.
One day at a time, folks - we're doing great.

Oh we ARE doing great.
Even when/if the path may not be smooth we are trying and that by itself is great.

Good luck at the dentist!

Just checking in, well I got through last night and day 3 began well with a 5k run.
Heavy day at work , no desire for a drink as I sip a tonic water in the garden
Thanks for the AF recommendation @goandygo
@feelinglesstired I’m the same, if I don’t have 1 glass and then eat my evening meal I’m not interested in having a drink .
I too have been musing about keeping occupied. I’ve always wanted to learn to crochet so I’m going to squirrel that idea away for the autumn. Also I used to read far more than I have been doing - alcohol and reading don’t go together ! Loved the salt path so want to see the film too
I’ve managed to book into a summer solstice yoga, outdoor swim and sound bath evening on Friday , so that’s Fridays alcohol danger avoided !
We are all doing well - keep on keeping on

@Sonnet well done on Day 3 and I've definitely heard people talking about crocheting - probably something to do with keeping your hands busy.

Dentist ✅ and more next week.
I probably didn't mention this but one thing I hate about drinking is that it's the only time I smoke. I hate smoking. If I wanted wine but didn't have cigarettes in, I wouldn't drink.
I've got about 180 duty free cigarettes and I'm going to get rid of them.
Plus, my lovely new and expensive teeth need looking after.

It's going to be hot at weekend so I'm going to get in the garden with a jug of af concoction, not sure what yet. Probably ginger beer ! I like the bite of it.
And I'll probably buy some af beers and have them nice and cool.
Still not tempted and still no seed planted. No wine witch tapping my shoulder telling me I can't do it.
I can and I will.

aaah a hot weekend glorious!

I might schedule a Sunday afternoon picnic at a really nice park I have to drive to.

Saturday we have an obligation dinner with people I find incredibly difficult to be around- long story. They make me nervous and on edge so I usually drink through any interactions with them. It's hard to explain how and why we have been suckered into a meal with them. So that will be a BIG challenge. But at least I won't spend the next day searching my memory for stupid things I babbled about (I babble around them too). I shall focus my mind on how good I will feel the next day when I have not accidentally said too much or said something stupid!! (That will be a BIG Sober Muscle event).

Hope everyone is well. . Thanks so much for your company.

@FeelingLessTired thank you for yours ❤️

You can do it. It sounds like a good plan you have, mentally, so put it into practice and you'll definitely be stronger the following day.

I’ve read this book and it’s definitely been my favourite, there’s key points in it that I think about most days.

Day 30 and finding it easier quitting completely oppose to trying to moderate.

I had one of these meals this weekend just gone. It was really difficult to sit through, but felt wonderful afterwards knowing I’d made it through!

@starlight128 definitely better quitting completely than moderating. No more mental gymnastics - exhausting.
Well done on Day 30.
I'm so excited to get there.

Hi ladies,

not sure who said it but yes, treating yourself to alcohol because you haven’t drank for X amount of days rings true. Then you end up drinking twice as much to make up for it! 🤢

Ive had a tough emotional day today. I really wanted wine through all the tears and trauma I was feeling in a moment this evening. Was so proud of myself for not allowing the unconscious part of my brain to allow the alcohol to win! The conscious part of my brain fought it off. 💪

Theres been quite a few posts this evening and can’t remember who posted what to tag you. 🥴

Glad you got your appointment to fix your tooth today @Goandygo. Baby steps and all that. Will be worth it in the end.

I have not felt as postive today as I have the last few days but tomorrow is another day! My day starts with yoga tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

@FeelingLessTiredmaybe look at removing these difficult people out your life if this is at all possible. Might not be possible if they are family. So not worth all the anxiety leading up to having to meet up with them!

yes, thank you all for your company on this thread !
interesting about the cigarette link @Goandygo and great you have realised this!

feeling for you @FeelingLessTired , I understand you previously using alcohol to hide behind, I’ve done that too - but you’ve got this! Just think how empowered you’ll feel getting through it without 😀
thanks for the book rec @starlight128 and @wecandothis2025 , I’ve just downloaded it on Spotify.
I had a bit of a eureka moment earlier. I’d had to pop out for petrol (early start in the morning ), I pulled up in the drive and thought I’ll have a glass of wine whilst I cook supper. I then realised I didn’t want a glass of wine at all, I sat and thought about the taste and really didn’t fancy it. All that impulse was is habit! I felt so relieved when I realised that!
kepp going all. I’m si impressed with the strength you are all showing
I’m off for a shower now, book and bed.
day 3 under my belt

Thats so true, the mental gymnastics took up so much time and energy, which I can focus on other things now.

It sounds like you are doing really well too, well done!

Thinking of joining this. Watching with interest. Have moderated hugely this year compared to the rest of my life. But feel like quitting forever might be easiest.

The strength everyone is showing is just amazing, agree with @Sonnet Well done for getting through day 3! 💪 This thread is really helping me. Thanks everyone! 🙏

Welcome @Clytemnestra21Please find the strength to join. You have found us so must be seeking freedom from alcohol. You will be made to feel very welcome and empowered here.

Wow everyone is so busy and positive and just rocking it! This is the most supportive thread for all of us trying to quit drinking - for at least a while.

i have to say I really don’t even think about drinking anymore - I’m so incredibly thankful to have finally freed myself from this habit - and for me, it really was a big habit. For those of you in the early days - feel proud of what you are doing - early days are the worst but add up so quickly and before you know it, you’ll be at 200 days!

@wecandothis2025 sorry you had a tough day. I am so impressed though that you didn't cave. Well done.
I understand also about it getting harder in that the positivity wanes a bit. It's because it's a habit, an addiction. We're used to finding solace in the alcohol - we think it will help, that it's a friend almost. But it doesn't help. Initially yes, but look how better we all feel when we don't cave.

@Clytemnestra21 I realised I had a problem about 6 years ago. For those years, I attempted to moderate and like you, I made huge leaps. The thought of abstaining scared me to be honest but gradually I've realised I just can't drink. I can moderate for a bit, but gradually it seeps into the week and before I know it, it's becoming a problem again.
Keep reading the thread, there's obviously no pressure on you, but if you're anything like me, moderating just doesn't work.

@Goandygo your post to @Clytemnestra21 could have been written by ne!

does anyone else find that daily drinking means they don’t take care of their body, ie face and body moisturiser, nails etc. I’m realising how neglected I’ve become!
plus I have now weighted myself and an 1.5 stones heavier than 18 months ago !!!
I so need to get a grip on this , alcohol for me is the path of doom

today I will not drink

@Sonnet 🤣
As much as my dentist bill was high, it was a drop in the ocean compared to what I've spent / wasted on wine. I could have spent it on myself and I will do from now on.
My sister and I were talking about weight yesterday in relation to me giving up. I do so well during the week, then after a weekend of 2 or 3 bottles of wine and junk food, I'm back to square one.
Losing weight is a big goal of mine. I weigh myself daily and I've lost 5lbs in the last 17 days.
I'm now 13st 3.
I want to be 13st by my birthday ( 2 weeks), which is realistic and 12st 7 in time for my walking holiday ( 6 weeks after my birthday).
I know I can do it, if I continue to abstain. Not if, when.

Regarding the self care bits, stuff like that is on my list for when I'm feeling bored / antsy. Face packs, manicures, pedicure, body blitz - I have so much stuff I don't even need to buy anymore - just use what I've got.

@Goandygothanks love! The emotions and grief of loosing my nan at the start of this journey is so hard, but, saying that, if it wasn’t for her then I may not have been doing this right now, so bitter sweet really! I am feeling so much better! Booked a holiday for October yesterday! The sun is shining and life is feeling better today!

I feel like alcohol has been a problem for me for around 26 years!! I have always drank, from being a teenager and it’s progressively gotten worse. The only time I have managed to stop is when I am pregnant and breastfeeding. Around a year later I start drinking again. Will be so glad to see the back of it for good! Towards the end, before I decided I needed to stop for good I was drink around 1.5 bottles most nights without a problem. I would be up early doing all my usual errands. I had tried to moderate but each time I did, i knew I was kidding myself.

@wecandothis2025 no worries.
Did you never get hangovers ?
Hangovers are enough to put me off for good.

Great that youve booked a holiday. Something to look forward to.

You're only early 40s, aren't you ?
I wish I'd have given up when I was that age. Though, it didn't occur to me to really and I'm not one for regrets - doing it now late 50s is going to be a brilliant move for me.

@Goandygonot always no. Only really when I hadn’t eaten enough that day and mixed drinks or added flavoured gin to champagne or processo!!

You are doing amazing and all your posts make me smile. Keep going.

Well, yesterday I had 15 minutes to kill before the dentist so nipped into a small morrisons as I like looking at reduced items.
I got home and emptied my bag - red wine stock cubes and tiramusu 🤣.

@Goandygo great news on the weight loss , and yet another motivator to stay off the booze.

@wecandothis2025 so sorry to hear about your Nan. I hope you can channel some of the grief to moderate for her, she must have been a very strong woman to quit smoking like she did!
look forward to that holiday and think how much better you will look and feel 😀