Sober October Challenge

[KK1983]

Good afternoon 😊

As the title suggests, I have decided to give 'Sober October' my all and go alcohol free for 31 days. This challenge might be a walk in the park for some but this is going to be HUGE for me. In the past 12yrs, I can't even remember the last time I have even gone a week sober, let alone a month!

So, I am a daily drinker. I have 1-2 bottles per day, sometimes more over the weekend. I have a successful job and a beautiful life but my drinking is becoming more of an issue that I ever thought it would be. I think about it more than I want, plan days around it and spend far too much money on it. Alcoholism runs in my family so i'm aware of the signs which is why I need to get a grip asap. I want to be able to moderate.

If you saw me in the street you'd look at me and think I have my shit together. I have the house, the kids, the marriage, the job - the lot! Drinking became a friend when I had none and when I was lonely after my daughter was born and my husband worked nights. Now drinking feels part of my personality, people know me as someone who loves a drink, the life and soul and I used to love that but now, I'm bored of myself.

I have tried to go sober several times but I get to day 4 and give in after finding any tiny excuse to reward myself. Night 1 always feels a bit rough. I role around the bed for hours on end and get a little anxious but nothing too bad. Day 2 I feel hungover without the fun the night before. Day 3 I cry a lot and become quite irritated. Day 4 - I quit! Not this time though, I NEED to do this and I WILL do this.

To help me along the way I have started taking the following vitamins:

• Vitamin B Complex high strength
• Live friendly gut bacteria
• Vitamin B1 500mg x2
• Iron
• Biotin & Zinc
• Vitamin D & K2

Can any recommend anything else or have any tips to help me along the way?

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Kate x

@Springadorableits done, it was a blip, put it behind you. And as someone else said, you acknowledged it and said it.

Yes. And yesterday. I trying to fill myself up on coffee - if I eat in the mornings it just maids me ravenous all day

Good Morning guys - DAY 4....

WOW - how wild is the weather?! Storm Amy is really asserting herself!

I slept so well last night despite the rain smashing against the windows. 8hrs and 20mins of crazy dreams. My sleeping heart rate has dipped by 8% too so the benefits are starting to show already. Win! 🌟

I'm in work until late so hoping I'll work through the cravings. I've also started my period so my mood is a bit flat but nothing a bag of malteasers wont solve.

Have a great day guys, we're doing so well xx

Don't be hard on yourself, you at least tried. There's no way I could have gone out with friends and not a few wines. You've still got a couple of AF days under your belt which your body will be grateful for. Today's a new day!

Whoever suggested these to me - THANK YOU! They’re so nice 😍

Me!!!
The moment I have a drink, I have no interest in food, until the hangover kicks in the next day.
My body is clearly missing the wine calories and wanting it in other forms.
Woke up feeling groggy and actually thought I was hungover, until I remembered I wasn’t!

Well done all - including @Springadorable as you've not given up at the first hurdle. I've had many a trip and slip, and although I'd like to say there'll be no more, I most certainly can't guarantee it!

@Youngatheart00 That has happened to me before, feels like you’re hollow. So I did some research and have massively upped my protein. It keeps you full and apparently diminishes cravings

I have to say, the 00 wine i had last night wasnt absolutely horrendous. Obvs nothing like the real thing but ok. Up the protein, loads and loads of water for us all too!!!

Love those zero things- they and good for hydrating when you are off alcohol (know from bitter experience!)

Sometimes i find plain water just goes straight through me- those things helps your body hold onto the liquid.

It’s actually one week for me today as I started a little early after a binge.

I am so over alcohol. I literally cannot be arsed with it. I know I can do a week, a month etc I’ve done it before. I’d love to commit to a year and see how I feel next October. Fully give myself a break.

Hi everyone!
I’ve been following the thread as I’m on the same journey and resonate so much with you all. I was drinking at least a bottle of wine at home every night. Never had an alcohol free day.
I started a few weeks ago (after the bank holiday weekend at the end of August) and have so far only had one glass of wine at a meal in a restaurant.
Here’s what I know so far:
I still need a substitute. I’m drinking at least a bottle of Nozeco every day. It has to be really cold and it’s not the same as Prosecco, but I like the way the cold bubbles hit my throat.
When out, I’m drinking alcohol free cocktails. Pepsi and J2O, etc. weren’t hitting the spot.
I’m sleeping better and waking up earlier.
I’ve lost loads of weight, despite Nozeco having 26 calories per 100ml. I must have been getting so many calories from my wine.
People have commented that my skin and eyes look better.
I’m using the NHS Drink Aware app. It keeps me motivated.
I’m just taking it one day at a time. Weekends are still particularly hard.
Good luck, everyone. It’s been lovely to realise that I’m not alone. I was so ashamed of myself.

I feel like my belly is a lot bigger than it usually is today (never small). Im hoping this is some sort of temporary side effect of something

Welcome @CosyAutumn you’ve done amazingly well, inspiration for the rest of us.

@dumplinggirl I feel bloated too but probably because alcohol sends everything through me, sorry if that’s too much information. I’m hoping my digestive system will adjust soon

@CosyAutumn That's amazing, well done! 🌟👏🏻

@dumplinggirl Same! My digestive system has stopped working since I've not drank so I also feel a bit more bloated around the stomach today but less everywhere else. I'm sure it'll all get moving soon x

Good morning all,

I'm approaching 1 year sober! (13th oct)
I am by no means an expert, just a normal mum who ended up in a situation where I was drinking 2 bottles of wine a night!

Had many many many day 1s!

If anyone has any questions, especially the early days, then I'm happy to chip in. Of course, tell me to bugger off if not wanted! 😅

1st night out, 1st holiday, works do, family/friends heavy drinkers..... been through them all. I've done a sober birthday & Christmas too.

You ladies are doing amazing! & for those that have tripped up, its a lesson. Honestly, I wouldn't have got where I am without them. I actually dont regret any slip ups because they are what keeps me sober now.

Argh, we only have one child in for dinner so DP suggested going out. I said no because I know I’ll cave if we go out but now I’m so tempted to change my mind and say sod it I’ll start again tomorrow. That’s a really bad idea isn’t it?

Well done!!

I honestly can’t remember the last time I went longer than a week since I was last pregnant - and that was over a decade ago.

How’s it going all?

Still feeling yhd after effects of Amy here - aboyg to go on a blustery but colourful walk - has anyone else noticed that yhd colours seem brighter on the trees yhis year?

Sorng yhd morning opening my 50th birthday present to myself - TFS adventure calendar - Actuallg rather underwhelmed by it - wishing I’d just plumped for a bottle or two of my old favourites.

Happy Saturday all

Huge well done to you, what an accomplishment 👏🏻👏🏻

Depends on how you'll feel about it tomorrow. I have a funeral on the 13th October which I haven't completely ruled out drinking from, I'm just going to play it by here. If it's something you fancy doing, it's one day out of the month which isn't bad at all. Do what you feel is best for you!

I'm looking at things per day. I'm £60 up and I'd have drank 6 bottles of wine since Oct so im doing good so far. x

Can I ask about energy levels? Im exhausted after one week… tell me it gets better.

I think objectively yes, this is a bad idea if you want to stick to being AF for October. However, it really depends how you think you will feel tomorrow (as @KK1983has said) and also what your goal is.

I’m actually not too bothered about October per se but I joined this thread because I thought it would be a great way to kick start a change in my drinking. I thought (correctly) it would be a great way to connect with lots of other people who are focusing on changing their drinking too (whether for them it was just a month challenge or a longer term plan like me) and we’d all be at the same stage. For me personally I feel like I need to get more abstinence under my belt before I can start thinking about moderate drinking but we are all different and whatever you decide you can turn it into a positive story by making sure you don’t let it return you back to old habits. good luck with the dilemma 😉

Thanks for dropping by! It’s great to hear about your success, well done 👏

Do you know what made your last ‘day 1’ stick? Was anything materially different or was it just the accumulated efforts that ultimately came good?

@dumplinggirl@Todayisanewday75

i have just asked chat got about retaining fluid after stopping drinking. I weighed myself today and although I don’t know what I weighed a week ago I’m pretty good at estimating my weight; I was about 3kgs heavier than I was expecting (which I assume is fluid).

Some info for you;

Yes — it can be quite normal to notice water retention after giving up alcohol, especially in the first days to weeks. Here’s why:

• Alcohol is a diuretic → it makes you lose fluids and electrolytes through frequent urination. When you stop drinking, your body may try to “rebound” by holding on to more water and sodium than usual.
• Hormonal regulation → alcohol suppresses vasopressin (the antidiuretic hormone). When you stop, vasopressin levels normalize, which can temporarily shift fluid balance.
• Liver recovery → if your liver was under stress, fluid balance and protein regulation (like albumin levels) can fluctuate as it heals.
• Inflammation and glycogen stores → when you stop drinking, your body restores glycogen in the liver and muscles. Glycogen binds water (about 3–4 g of water per 1 g glycogen), so this can make you feel puffy or heavier.
• Improved appetite and diet changes → sometimes people eat more salty or carbohydrate-rich foods after stopping, which also encourages fluid retention.

I then asked how much is typical -

Good question — the amount of water retained after stopping alcohol varies a lot depending on your body, drinking history, and diet, but there are some ballpark figures:

• Glycogen restoration alone can account for 1–3 kg (2–7 lbs) of water weight in the first week or two, because each gram of glycogen binds several grams of water.
• Salt intake rebound can add another 0.5–2 kg (1–4 lbs) of fluid if your diet changes or if your kidneys are readjusting.
• Some people only notice a bit of puffiness (like rings feeling tighter or mild ankle swelling), while others can see the scale jump by several kilos within days of quitting.

In most otherwise healthy people, we’re usually talking about 1–5 kg (2–10 lbs) of temporary water weight — noticeable but not dangerous. It usually levels off within a few weeks.