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

@MollydoggersonIm the opposite, I LOVE to drink at home and romanticise it in some way. Bubble bath, snacks, ice cold wine, Netflix and I am in my element. Tesco whoosh is my best friend. From app to front door I can have wine in about 6 mins, it’s great but also not great. Getting alcohol at the click of a button, as many times as you want, every single day.

Teenagers are judgemental full stop so I wouldn’t worry too much. I have 2 teenage daughters - wow! Harsh! Haha

Currently on day 3 from Saturday night, starting to loose the guilt from overdoing it then with the end of the night feeling patchy. I’ve looked in the mirror saying I hate myself far too much and I want that to stop.

I eat well and exercise regularly - morning person here too - so now feeling more positive about this. I’ve never done a whole month AF since I was pregnant and that seems crazy.

Actually the decision feels like a weight off already, like I’ve shred the compulsion to drink. Ask me at the weekend?! But planning things that don’t require any booze. Let’s do this!

I can definitely relate to the ‘relief’ of making a positive decision and getting started. Day 4 (Thursday typically) is always where it gets tricky for me!

Can I join? Going to start tomorrow.

I did dry January for the first time this year and didn't find it that hard, but quickly rebounded to bad habits on the following months.

I'm currently drinking a bottle of wine 3-4 times a week, slightly overweight and just fed up of feeling sluggish all the time and worrying about long term effects.

@ImFineItsAllFine I think once we get fed up with ourselves it's game over, time for a change. I'm so bored of drinking, feeling ashamed when the recycling gets collected, the money I've spent, the weight I've gained, the bloated face, the eye bags, the excuses I tell myself. Tomorrow I'll be glad it's started, Friday I'll be climbing the walls. It'll be worth it though x

Hello, can I join in? Even though quite a few of you seem to have started a few days early, you busy bunch! I'm on day 2 here.

I go through periods of drinking a bottle of prosecco a night, especially in summer. That's when home alone; if I am out socialising I'll drink more. I actually often do sober spells and thoroughly enjoy them, though my record outside of pregnancy is about 3 weeks. Then something comes up that I "need" to drink for and back on the hamster wheel I go. Wake up feeling rough, swear off it, by evening feel a bit out of sorts and just have one glass which leads to finishing the bottle, have a disturbed night sleep and repeat. I've got a couple of nights out this weekend which feels like a good opportunity to put my foot down and say no to the prosecco because it's too soon to cave in. The rest of the month should be easier.

I find when I do sober breaks I become much kinder to myself. I read books instead of doom scrolling, I make healthier food choices and OMG the sleep! So looking forward to this.

Yes hopefully we'll all feel a lot better. And not fill the habit with something else! I've headed the right way, when I drink it's usually (just) one bottle of wine a night, but in the past it's been a lot more. But it's still far too much. Need to try to get a proper break...and then maintain it!

Home from a lovely day, bought all my supplies on the way home ready to start as I mean to go on tomorrow.

We've got this guys, we're all in this together whether it's for the first time or the last time. xx

Can I please join?

I could have wrote the op’s post, I’m drinking up to a bottle of wine every week night and 2 Friday to Sunday. I made the decision yesterday morning that it needs to stop, especially during the week. So I started yesterday, this is my second night and I can’t lie I missed the wine whilst in the bath but I know I need to cut down massively.

I’d be lying if I said I want to cut it out forever and never have another glass of wine, but I have no celebrations for October and you lot have inspired me to do this.

so here goes to the next 31 days!

Can I ask what you’re all planning on drinking when you’re sitting relaxing each evening, especially when watching Strictly each Saturday?

I’m here too. Just knowing other people are experiencing similar is energising me to stop. Good luck to you all and hope October is as dry as the Sahara for you 🤞🏻 I’m not going to attempt it as my Mum is end stage dementia and Dad has recently passed, it’s also my first birthday without parents on Thursday so I’ll definitely be having one or two. You guys are definitely the tonic I need to help me cut down and deal with the grief. Hot chocolate, Elemis & supplements being ordered tomorrow 🙂

@greengreengrass3 I've been wondering the same tbh, what will I drink now but I've started liking peppermint tea and fancy tonics so I might continue on them but as boring as it sounds I'm hoping just water as I've had a water cooler fitted in my house. I want clear and bright skin asap! haha

@NotOvertheWorstofit Ahh I'm so sorry you're going through it, must be really hard. Do what you need to do to get through it but look after yourself where you can. You deserve the care and attention too. Hot chocolate and Elemis sounds like a dream tbh! xx

I haven't found a good substitute really as the nice AF cordial type drinks are all quite high in sugar which sort of defeats some of the point when weightloss is a potential benefit to not drinking! My basic plan is to have a decent early dinner, or at least some toast around 4pm as I tend to fancy a glass when I'm hungry as I know I'll feel the "benefit" of it more then. So hopefully if I can dodge that and make it a bit more pointless it will be easier

I've tried all the AF drinks etc and they tasted too much like the real thing which made me want actual alcohol so I'll be avoiding them. I really like soda with freshly squeezed lime, it's so refreshing. I've also just discovered iced matcha with blueberry syrup too so I now feel like one of the cool kids haha

I'm in, looking forward to it! I've recently been on holiday and had my birthday so feel all boozed out.

I like an AF beer but they aren’t for everyone. I’ve never known anyone say anything positive about AF wine (aside from nosecco which seems to be better received). I like fizzy water as an easy / slightly elevated drink. Fizzy water with a strong ginger cordial if I’m pushing the boat out. Orange juice and tonic water is nice too.

Happy 1st October! Official day 1 (day 3 for me).

I’m going to London today and staying over (I go down very week but stay roughly every other week) which would normally be a good opportunity to drink but I’ve taken by trainers and planning on running this evening instead. Good luck everyone 😊

Good luck everyone. While it’s simple it definitely is not easy. But it will make us feel amazing!

Morning guys 🎃

Happy 1st October - Day 1 for a lot of us and well done to the rest of you who started earlier. We've got this!

Morning, Sober October friends!

Here we are full of enthusiasm as it’s the first of the month. I suspect we will need to support each other more and more as the days tick by!

I’m another one that likes a ginger cordial with tonic, and a hot chocolate later on in the evening. DH really likes the AF Guinness, if that helps?

@nowinetimeforme- DH sadly needs a lot of care now. It’s been over 3 years. Just in the process of selling our business (which I’ve also been running full time since, we used to run it together, with him more at the helm) but it’s just got too much load and the DC are taking too many of the caring responsibilities to the detriment of their own lives. We’ve had a rough ride in truth, but now I’ve ‘retired’ (that sounds strange as I’m not really old enough!), I can feel a weight lifting at least in terms of physical and mental load. It’s not exactly the retirement we envisaged by any means but at least I’ll be home more and the kids can on with their own lives. I’ve got the headspace for less (no) drinking, hence me trying to move in the right direction for a few months now.

Gosh, I’m so sorry. That all sounds impossibly difficult. However, it also sounds like there is light at the end of the tunnel for you now. You will undoubtedly feel better for drinking less / not at all. Well done for making these positive steps 👏👏👏

Thank you. I think you just go into survival mode and get on with it. I medicated with red wine to make it all go away!!!! 🤣

Ginger cordial with tonic sounds nice. I quite like kombucha too, especially home made if I am organised enough. Because it's sharp I'm not tempted to neck it the way I am with other soft drinks.

I've never tried kombucha before. My drink of choice for today is peppermint tea, fresh orange and plenty of water. I'm going to be a little piggy today and just eat anything and everything I want and from tomorrow I'm going to be start my early morning walks again and eat healthier.

I would love to join you guys! I am in an endless loop of breaking all my own daft rules and just feeling sluggish and shattered. I look forward to catching up later. I hope everyone has a good day 1. Thanks for the thread @KK1983 !