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

Hey all

just wanted to say it’s great reading your updates! I have been feeling terrible after hitting the wine hard at the weekend knowing that October was on its way!

I decided to splurge and buy women the Gillian Anderson G Spot drinks after seeing them plastered over social media as a good alcohol alternative…. Probably not worth the hype FYI, Trip or the Home bargains CBD cans are better and much cheaper! But still better than wine.

I feel I have found my tribe with people who are drinking a bottle or more of wine in an evening… I was getting to 2 or more on my “wilder” nights and thanks to deliveroo I didn’t even have to get dressed to go to the shop!

Lets keep going 💪🏼

So far so good. I've not had any cravings really but I've been busy and still in work until 9pm so that helps. Looking forward to a shower and getting in bed.

You doing ok?

@itsendgame G spot drinks? 👀 I'll have to look these up haha

I haven’t really had any cravings but I think if I hadn’t had “practice” days off in the summer I’d be climbing the walls by now. Is anyone else feeling absolutely shattered? I feel like I’ve been hiking all day long

Luckily no deliveroo around here so pjs help

Yeah I'm tired now but prob due to lack of sleep last night. Hoping I get a few more hours than last.

The more the merrier! We are definitely not a "oh I totally over did it last night, I had 1.5 glasses of wine" group. I think most of us seem to be sitting at around a bottle or more a lot of the time. But, that just leaves extra room for improvement! And every day off we give ourselves is proportionately a big deal for our poor long suffering bodies.

Few things I've noticed today -

• My make-up isn't sitting as nice as it usually does on my face.
• I seem a bit bloated overall
• Craving sugar
• My skin seems dry

I’ve been dragged down to the local shopping centre (chauffeur for my tween and her friend - eith dog in tow) so no danger of me reaching for yhd wine yet. I am listening to Radiohead though, whoch id making me feel a bit melancholy

@KK1983 I notice this. I find I have to drink a tonne of water (probably around four litres a day) for a few days to off set it. I think as our faces become slightly less bloated the make up doesn't go on as smoothly?! Or at least that's my theory 😅

Get yourself a fancy soft drink and some snacks to nibble on to take away the cravings.

@Springadorable hahaha you're probably right. Got eye bags like a ball bag today 🙈

Chugs ALL the water

Day 2 ✅

@KK1983 try some rehydration stuff- booze does weird things to our hydration levels

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HIGH5-ZERO-Electrolyte-Tablet-Performance/dp/B003AIF4Q4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_maf_1?crid=167TAXI8DHMH3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.shz_OMu1P_C6_JPmy9eC_kN3kkMPOhtg7w6ACRWjkukc9RAzZoxyQHHvazw0qUqKnAwer30Rtyqw_KFVHZs11CtuVCm8riyagO12PCvkr0Gv3wTqq4lW3Y2lk9irF5kN1iccrXKh2aKFJLg3gR2cu2yNjgWBDyS7MGME3ImknbrbCPowx67ACu1ZHp77-XRFMAqO4a-8G_c6i4MX3vzCWg.iSdNQpkXL7K9ClHIkW10jTNPH2omJl5wbbx_2KQ_Klo&dib_tag=se&keywords=zero+rehydration+tablets+with+electrolytes&qid=1759432918&sprefix=zero+rehydrat%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-3

Thank you, I'll try them. I wish I could drink water as fast as I could wine.

Hi everyone. I had a crap night sleep too and woke really early for a long frustrating day at work. I go to an exercise class after on Thursdays and get in late (normally to enjoy a stiff drink 😞). This is difficult resisting but I know I need to get used to it.

I have so much in common with you guys! The recipes that ‘need’ wine; the taking 3- 4 days not drinking and then right back at it until the next Monday at least…. I’m so grateful for this thread. I’d probably have already caved if it wasn’t for coming on here!

let’s hope everyone sleeps better tonight x

@HazelHolly Stick with us, we can do it!

I am so glad everyone has joined and everyone's offering support and ways to cope etc, it's a huge help and a lovely non-judgemental group.

I did wonder whether talking about it would make me crave it more but not yet.

x

I think acknowledging that we would like to rather than trying to bash that thought down and losing and then thinking fuck it, I'll have a glass as I can't stop the thought seems to be helping for me.

This thread is definitely helping, I think I probably would have caved yesterday left to my own devices.

How is it that alcohol is a diuretic but makes you retain water? I have been going to the loo all day long

Checking in for Day 2 ✅

I think it's because your body basically panics that it's getting dehydrated and clings on to as much water as it can

Ah that’s makes sense

How've you found it?

I’d like to join you all if that’s ok. Just hopped into bed at end of Day 2. Was awake from 3am and then went to work tired. I don’t know about anybody else but I had/still have a dreadful headache all day that nothing will shift (the irony). I slept for an hour when I came home from work as was so tired but wish now I hadn’t as probably wont sleep properly tonight. I can resonate with every single poster on here too😞

Evening, Sober Friends!

@nowinetimeformethat must have been tough to watch or be aware of re your fathers drinking during childhood. No need for embarrassment. I don’t think we fully understand how familial patterns and behaviour shapes future habits. I’m sorry you went through that. And yes, probably do need some form of therapy about the last few years. Taking a step away from work has been a huge help and that’s only just literally happened so I’m going to sit with that for a bit and then explore what I need emotionally after that.

@dumplinggirlthere won’t be any judgement promise. They’ll just be glad to know. They will have dealt with everything before, many times.

Another dry day done. Once I’ve eaten I'm fine.

Danger zone tomorrow folks, it’s Friday and it’s day 3 for many people and it seems we are all pretty much guilty of rewarding ourselves for good behaviour! Let’s keep each other company this weekend.

One thing I’ve read, and it’s probably too early in the month to mention but if folk do have a drink, then is good to flip the narrative and rather than think we’ve failed, or are back to square one, think of it a bit like a diet - one piece of cake doesn’t mean it’s ruined. So saying ‘I’ve had one drink in 10 days’ is so much more uplifting and positive than ‘I’ve had one drink, I’ve failed’.

I’m another one that’s had to move myself gradually to this stage over this year, I’ve had so many dry days and even on days I’ve had a drink, it’s been just one or two. I’m embarrassed to think how few (if any) dry days the previous years have contained, and definitely not just one or two…

I’m off to bed, feeling itchy and probably won’t sleep but I didn’t drink so a win. The positivity on this thread is amazing. It’s early days but we can do this.

Goodnight everyone