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

I started a little early so it’s been 20 days for me now. I’m hours away from 3 week mark and I am pretty chuffed has to be said.

I do feel calmer- my anxiety is in check. My hunger levels are less and I have more consistent energy. The crazy dreams seem to be calming down. I think my skin is a bit less red. Doing ok at work and my focus is better.

I don’t think I’ll be tempted this weekend because I’m doing wellness related stuff with a friend and a bit of shopping.

For those who have massively cut back please reframe this as an enormous success. It is amazing to go from one or two bottles of wine per day to one bottle every 2 weeks. That’s life changing. Keep going!

@BountifulPantry Take a bow! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

All those positive changes as a result of not drinking will make you continue to carry on. That's amazing, I hope you're really proud of yourself x

It's not a failure - at most it's a blip but tbh I'm not sure it's even that. 2 weeks between drinking is massive!

Waiting for NHS appointments in the WORST in terms of stress, glad you got good news and be kind to yourself about having a bit of a wind-down.

You are all wonderful. I was feeling pretty disappointed in myself, but you're all totally right. I've drunk so much less than I usually would, and the bad sleep and grogginess today was unusual rather than my standard operating level. This is such a lovely supportive thread. We've got friends down this weekend and I'm all set for some sober fun!

How is everyone’s Friday evening going? I picked up an alcohol free rhubarb gin which is quite nice, and stuffing myself full of chocolate trifle and crème caramel whilst pinned under the dog and watching MAFS UK.

I can’t move because of slumbering dog so can’t put the rest of the trifle back in the fridge - that’s a legit excuse to eat the whole lot, isn’t it?

@Fiftyandme definitely!! I'm also buried under the dog and can't possibly move her!

@Fiftyandme hahahaha

I'm just dying my roots and having an oasis. I'm also OBSESSED with 'Graze marmite crunch'. It's honestly like crack to me, can't stop shoveling it into my mouth.

Morning and happy weekend!
I wake up so much earlier at the moment - currently watching telly in my pjs with a cup of tea.
Wouldn’t say I feel bright and breezy, but glad not to have had a drink last night.
I was watching the Charlie Sheen documentary on Netflix and thinking about the power of addiction. I think he’s lucky to still be alive - in comparison, our bottles of wine are nothing compared to some people’s struggles, but it still takes up so much head space!
What’s everyone got planned for today?
I’m going to have my hair cut really short because it’s gone really thin and it looks truly awful.

Morning everyone. Happy Saturday! Im back to day 2 today as I had the few drinks on my day out on Thursday. I think something has shifted in my mind, I didnt particularly want them, didnt feel great physically yesterday and now am thinking what's the point? I think teetotal life might be the way for me

Morning all

@KK1983- marmite is already crack for me, add in crunch like graze and it’s got no chance of lasting more than an hour. It’s so flipping expensive though, isn’t it?

@CosyAutumnIve been using Champo for my hair - I’ve been using it around a month and it certainly seems to have slowed down my hair fall. The Ordinary Hair Growth Serum seems to produce some pretty good results - I’ve seen a fair few before and after photos from reviewers that look impressive. After I’ve given Champo a good six months I may switch to The Ordinary to see if there’s any difference (because it’s around half the price of Champo)

@dumplinggirl - I’m starting to feel mildly put off too - yesterday I was trying to decide between a bottle of real Sipsmith that was in special offer (50th birthday weekend) and a rhubarb and ginger alcohol free gin - when I imagined the taste of proper gin I felt put off. Fingers crossed some kind of aversion therapy is occurring in abstaining.

Today I’m off to collect a bunch of free veg from local Olio participants, and I’m making a Kerelsn veg curry with paneer and a parsnip and butternut squash coconut soup.

I want to go somewhere with epic views and combined with Autumn colours in a forest with my dog before we have a storm blow in to remove all the leaves, but I’m not sure where to go. Anyone got any suggestions? I’m in the midlands and don’t mind driving for something fabulous.

@Fiftyandme, what brand is the rhubarb 00 gin? I like the sound of that!

It’s this one - check out the gorgeous bottle!

@Fiftyandme, oh looks fab! Must find it

@Fiftyandme, did you mix anything with it?

I’m partial to Aldi Mediterranean light tonic (Fevertree dupe) with lime. Right now I’ve got big standard Tesco lime flavoured tonic - poor substitute.

Morning all,
I've woken up with a stinking cold and feel hungover without the drinking. Hardly seems fair. I'm in work until 9ish so I'll be in survival mode until then. I don't feel horrific, just meh. As long as my DH doesn't catch I'll be fine. After all, we all know they suffer the worst 🙄😂

@CosyAutumn my hair is also bad. It's thinning at the front and really brittle. I'm a month into taking these and like most things, you need to give it at least 3 months. Glowwa Hair growth.

@Fiftyandme I'm marmite obsessed! I love it on crumpets topped with a slab of melted cathedral city extra mature 🤤 Wow, your parsnip and butternut squash coconut soup sounds incredible. I may have make that tomorrow for when we get home from the pumpkin patch.

@dumplinggirl Just shows what staying off alcohol really does for you. I wont ever drink every day again, I don't want to and I certainly don't miss it. I never thought I'd think that.

@KK1983mind yourself but especially mind you DH 😅. Man flu wouldn't be conducive to your alcohol free days now

@KK1983 My hairdresser literally just recommended the same product! Thank you! I’m going to order some today!

Hahahah Honestly, there would be zero AF days if he gets sick. Why are they bad wimps?!

I dont know but the dressing gown of doom would surely be produced

Oh man, didn't realise there were Marmite Lovers lurking on this thread. You think you know someone... 😂
It's my birthday today and so far I have got up at 5.20am and ran a half marathon in the dark and wind (weirdly felt like a treat, I'm actually losing my mind) and then took the kids out with DHs family while he went off to see friends for the day. But it's actually been really nice. We did presents and cards before he went and the kids have gone for a granny sleepover so I'm chilling with the dog and will join them this evening for a bit. I might squidge in a nap though.
The leaves around me are amazing at the moment so I totally get the idea of driving to somewhere good. What about Sherwood Forest @Fiftyandme Lots of deciduous trees.

Hahahahahaha oh 100%

@Springadorable 😂

Ahh Happy Birthday! A half marathon is amazing, I honestly wish I could do this for fun and enjoy it. Sounds like you've had an eventful day already. x

Thanks @KK1983 ! Well I never used to think of it as fun but now that I have kids a 5am start and two hours alone feels like a good choice 😂

That rhubarb fake gin looks delicious...birthday treat incoming!!

@Springadorablehappy birthday!!!