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

Objectively, is that enough of a reason to have a drink, and how will you feel about having a drink in the morning? I mean that without any judgement, as we all have our own personal reasons for choosing to not drink at the moment.

For me, we sold our business of 25 years this week. I want to get a bottle of expensive champagne to share with the family to mark the occasion (mixed emotions). But I really want to get a longer period of non drinking into my system before we open it. But, that said, I’ve been ‘practicing’ at this for a while by vastly reducing my drinking anyway this year, and I’ve gone past the ‘fuck it - it’s hot/raining/birthday/stress/weekend’ period. We are all different 😊. So for me, that wouldn’t be enough now, but there have been plenty of times when it has been!

Great idea!

@nowinetimeforme - it’s the health effects of drinking (or not drinking) that motivate me the most to keep going.

Thanks @Manchestermummax3, it’s great that you’ve posted. Did you just get to the stage where alcohol just wasn’t serving you in any way whatsoever or a specific reason? I’m assuming you’ve decided that moderation just isn’t right for you? I can see why, many folk just don’t have an off button, so a ‘stop’ button might be the best option 😊

Theres so much association with alcohol and celebrating isn’t there?

Yeah, this is a big priority for me too. It’s my MH right now but the impact on my physical health for the future scares me.

Honestly, I was sick & tired of feeling sick & tired.

I was having more negative experiences than positive. I was drinking alone, in secret, hiding how much i was drinking.
I was joining in with all the "mummy needs wine" jokes.... "thank fuck its fri-yay!"
Only that was secretly my every night. I was fed up of feeling ashamed & anxious.

I could always get 3-5 days done so my day 1 was really sort of day 6/7... thats when i had to really be strong. I ate.... a lot! 🤣 I always considered myself a savoury person but the sugar cravings were insane! I got through haribo & chocolate like crazy! Went to bed early, read as much quit lit as possible.
I always tripped up on my 1sts.... so holiday, night out etc.... once I had forced myself through one, I realised actually it wasnt half as bad as I told myself, I did have fun, or if I didnt, booze wouldn't have made it better.
You've got to go through each situation to realise how great it is without booze.
I joined some fb sober groups. Not sure if im allowed to 'advertise' here but its been my rock.

I think I've answered some of your question in my reply to another poster.

Yes, moderation was impossible for me. By taking it off the table you'd be surprised how much mental freedom you give yourself. Even if you say, im just not going to drink this week....

There is no argument in your head of should I, shouldn't I? Maybe only 1 or 2, maybe if i have 1 with my meal then have a soft drink, maybe have 1 drink then 1 soft, only wine, only beer, no mixing.... you get the idea lol

Also you have to remember that you are not you when you've drunk. Its designed to be addictive. 2 drinks in & you're not negotiating with a sober brain anymore. That fuck it button becomes huge!

I promise you that I've had more fun, celebrated more, experienced, learned, grown & finally began to like myself more in the last 12 months than I have in almost 40 years!
It is the best thing ive ever done. You never hear a sober person saying they wish they could drink again do you? There's a reason why.

I'm following this thread & cheering you all on! 👏 Especially those that have tripped... because they are learning the most important lessons.

Congratulations @CosyAutumn your post is very inspiring! Good on you.

Well done on a week @BountifulPantry

I gave you a ‘clap’ but apparently that means ‘thanks’, not well done 🤦‍♀️

Evening girls, how are we all?

Day 4 is kicking my arse and I feel p*ssed off about it and I feel very meh the past 4hrs. The craving is so strong to the point I wanted to cry. How pathetic is that? Crying over the thought of not having something like alcohol! Tbh, I think it was more than I need to be in this position full stop and as predicted, day 4 is the worst for me. So again, I've left work early and came home for yet another bath and hot drink. Don't think I've bathed so much in my life but I always seem to end up there when I'm craving in the evening.

Hope everyone's ok ❤️

Well I've also had a bath, and then a chocolate trifle. With extra custard. So I'm clean, fat and sober 😂

@Springadorable 😂 😂

I'll be the same in about 10 mins haha

That sounds tough. Can you grab some really nice food , something of your most favourite food?

Hope you get a good nights rest

Evening all.

Day four nearly I over for me.

After a 6k blustery woodland walk I made it home and am in yhd middle of cooking a roast and watching a guilty pleasure on TV.

I picked up a bottle of alcohol free pink gin frok Aldi - with decent tonic and lime and ice it’s pretty nice.

Looking forward to a decent nights sleep but I feel strangely wired this evening - hopefully a roast will help me feel sleepy.

Hope everyone’s evening is ok

@Fiftyandme I feel a lot better now I'm home thank you. I work around alcohol and had to host a party today where people I know where there. I got offered drinks from everyone but then I started feeling like - "Why can't I have one? This is stupid, it's just one" but it's never just one. It's one glass, one bottle, 2 bottles, shots. Then i feel rough tomorrow and might need a curer at lunch time because why the hell not? After all, I'm off work. These are the habits I'm trying to break after all. So I smiled and once it was all ok I've back doored it haha. Doesn't help I'm hormal today too but I've rode the wave - I'm all good. x

How's your day/night?

@KK1983well done for getting through that day!!!! You will be so glad in the morning. Very tired today, had a nap a while ago and woke up and made myself a coffee without thinking. Hope that doesn't keep me awake tonight. Will have a glass of my 00 wine and watch something stupid. Well done to all

Glad you’re feeling better.

Day was pretty good - better than yesterday.

The hour+ walk was great with my dog.

Planned tomorrow with my youngest. Museum visit, dog walk, banana bread making and Halloween decorating all planned - if I can get her out of bed!

Heard from my eldest who is currently in London

Still feeling wired - even after a Sunday roast dinner. Craving a stodgy pudding and custard - Tescos is a two minute drive from me…..

What are you watching - I’ve got The Vampire Diaries on

Starting normal people

OMG I am so jealous you are watching this for the first time. I have watched this series 5 times and still cry. It's amazing! x

@KK1983, ooh im excited now

What's your go to pudding? I'm not usually a sweet tooth/pudding person but if I had to it would be a chocolate elcair or profiteroles - something like that.

Profiteroles are right up there, salted caramel ice cream (just remembered I have somd in the freezer!) Sherry trifle, chocolate trifle, jam roly poly, steamed syrup sponge and custard, pavlova and red berries, peach cobbler, apple pie and cream…you name it, I’ll eat it!

I’ve just totted up how many extra calories I’d havd drank tonight if I’d had proper gin instead of zero alcohol gin…a whopping 310 extra calories and 7 units of alcohol, and I’d have likely had a few more too.

I’ve never heard of it. What genre is it?

Hahahaha

I'm more of a cheese, crackers, chutney, crisps kinda gal. I can hoover that stuff up in seconds!

I dream to think how many cals I'd have had extra. Prob about 2000! 🙈