200 days alcohol-free- the second thread!

[FeelingLessTired]

Hello!

1000 messages snuck up on me on the first thread!!

@Goandygo

@paintcolourchart

@88expertprocastinator

any anyone else who wishes to join or return you are MOST welcome.

The aim is 200 days AF and/or beyond. There is no judgment here and we are supportive of all of us who wish to change their relationship with alcohol.

I stopped at Day 43 and have been drinking since then but am committed to getting back on this wonderful wagon.

Look forward to the next thread with all our wonderful MNetters.

Hallo, all.
Yes @paintcolourchart start today if that's best for you. You can do it.
I'm on holiday too and even though I only arrived on Saturday, I haven't drank too much at all. We've walked for miles and eaten properly. Not smoked either.
I'm going to start new year's day, feeling pretty determined. I want to get back to how I was feeling before.
And I've put 7lb on, over Christmas 😣

Hello all, wrote a fairly long post and then lost it! Anyway...

How's everyone feeling about tonight? My plans have changed slightly - we were going to see fireworks but now we have been invited to a small NYE party so we're going to that instead. I know I'll have just as much fun (if not more) AF because I've gone to a drinking event in the summer and had just as much fun AF as I did the year before when I was on the Prosecco.

My morning walk friend asked how I was feeling about Dry Jan this morning and I replied 'excited' because I am! Obv I want to go further than Dry Jan but it's a start. @Kipperandarthuri'd have hoped that by 167 days I wouldn't think about it anymore, but maybe that's too soon. Do you think about it in a different way? I remember around day 30ish it was more like a thought I could bat away than an actual consideration but then I made the mistake of having some one night and that was it. I'm not been back to my old habits but I haven't been dry. 167 days is amazing!

Going to tidy my dressing table this afternoon and reset all my crystals. Also going to reset my Sobriety Counter app but going to keep Try Dry so I can look back on this year.

@Goandygo I swear you're always on holiday 😅😅 hope you're having an amazing time!! I saw you pop up on the other thread earlier - I've been following that too and almost did post!

HNY everyone.
I actually feel as though I turned a corner in being on holiday in a party atmosphere on New Year’s Eve and coping with it all on a few AF beers and sprite.

lasted until after 1.15am and it felt ok. It made me realise I can do it and can go into 2026 continuing to enjoy an alcohol free life.

Battle on through and it does get easier. It’s also fabulous feeling great this morning.

HNY!!

Wishing you all a great one.

Happy new year, tribe
I'll check in later, just got in from a longggg hike.

Hi everyone.
So last night I had 1 glass of wine. Pleased with that, pleased overall really as my holiday was relatively successful too.
Today is a bigger challenge for me. Family arriving soon.
Anyway, one hour at a time 💪

Happy New Year all!

@Goandygo one glass is great! I've never been able to stop at one, and that is why for me none is best. Hope today is better with family. Out of interest why do you feel today is more difficult? Is it a stress management thing or more of a habit?

Had a really lovely time last night. Adding booze into it would not have improved anything but instead I would have spent the night preoccupied with when I was going to top up 😳

What's everyone's plan of action for the year? I'm initially aiming for Dry Jan, which last year I failed and it felt like such a challenge but now I've had lots of practice being AF in 2025 it doesn't seem as daunting. Then I'll be looking ahead to 1st March as that's the same amount of time I did in the summer. My final exams are that week so that will carry me through to past my previous 62 days, and then by then I'll be looking ahead to 100 - easy least, right?! 😅

Hope everyone had a lovely NYE no matter whether you were AF or not. We've got this 👊👊

I;m day 2. Woke up finally feeling a little better today.

Game plan- well @Goandygo 's one hour at a time seems okay for me right now.

to you all

Going for Dry Jan and hopefully an AF 2026.

I really need somehting to do in the evenings.

Thinking of doing a new activity for each month to keep my hands busy. So maybe knitting, then sketching, then something else. So far my lofty ideas are remaining just that.

@paintcolourchart I knew I'd drink yesterday. In answer to your question, it's definitely a stress management thing. Family is lovely but I forget how loud it all is. Plus, I've had a lovely break with dh, but it's time to get back to normal 🤣
I only had 2 glasses of wine and then an aperol spritz in the pub, so not too bad. Sometimes I think I can moderate, but best to abstain really.
So, it's my Day 1 today.

Hi all
happy new year and here’s to a healthy 2026!

managed to stay af - wasn’t hard on nye as we stayed in but out on 30th with friends and declined an invitation to carry on into the night - I find I have a shortish window before I get bored when out with ppl drinking. DH doing dry Jan (yay) so understandably grumpy today and apparently didn’t sleep well.
@FeelingLessTired lively to have you back and well done on restarting x
@Goandygo you seem to be moderating well - no idea how you manage that - I defo wouldn’t stop at 1. Plus I always remember Alan carr from giving up smoking - if I could have just 1 I wouldn’t have spent thousands on cigarettes …
@Goandygo im planning on just carrying on as I am. I’ve thought long and hard about whether I can relax a bit and have the odd drink, but I just really don’t feel ready. I honestly think I would be right back where I started in no time at all.

anyways day 349 today and I am so very grateful to be here and sober and happy - it seemed so completely unachievable for me - and I’m not sure I have it in me to do the hard work again so safer to carry on as I am.

@Hedjwitch congrats on starting the year being kind to yourself - we really are giving up a poison and despite my misgivings, it is possible to live a great life without alcohol - one day at a time has worked so well for me and really helped me hang on when I was struggling. I can drink at anytime - just not today!

@Kipperandarthur isnt it great to feel free of something that was dragging us down? That feeling of getting up with a clear head rather than dread! Well done enjoying a sober New Year’s Eve!

When I was af, I spent a lot of time reflecting. I know I bought too much in, I know I started too early, I know I didn't eat enough ( if anything), etc etc.
So, now when I do appear to be moderating I'm still thinking. Asking if I'm really enjoying it, have I eaten, am I thirsty, how will I feel in the morning etc.
I think that's why I'm doing OK moderating. Having said (all !) that, I still want to abstain. It's the best way for me.
This month I was hoping for a quiet one. But we have 2 Big Birthday celebrations - and both are my (equally) favourite relatives.
But, I'm going ahead with an abstention head on. Af perroni and lime.

@FeelingLessTired that sounds great. It's sort of different for me because I've had my evenings taken up with so much study stuff for ages, so I have a stack of hobbies I'd like to get back to/start that I've not been able to do, so hopefully that'll make it a bit easier but mindful I could get complacent. Knitting is already on my list too. Can you already knit? I learned about a year ago but can do basic things fairly confidently. Also on my list is cross stitch and embroidery as well as self care stuff like a lovely bath. I got lots of bath stuff for Christmas including a bath shelf I asked for - I honestly had the best bath ever the other evening and took my book in with me which I've never done before because I've not have anywhere to put it that's dry. I guess it's just nice things that are pleasant that feels like a treat/opportunity in place of drinking. Have you had any other ideas yet?

@Goandygo mine is 100% a stress management thing too. I'm hoping it'll be easier now I'm not so intense with the study stuff as I can spend my evenings doing real stuff that actually relaxes me and is enjoyable. Before I felt like I didn't really have time to do anything consistently. You've been doing so well and you stopped at a decent level without being excessive. I would call that a win but of course be mindful old habits don't start to creep back in (like the did for me after I broke my streak!).

@88expertprocastinator I feel the same as you in terms of abstaining indefinitely. I'm really starting to see that wine doesn't add anything to my life at all and I know I'll be much happier without it, I was for those two months in the summer. 349 days?? WOW! Almost a year!

Oh also forgot to say - I've just looked at my percentage of dry days across 2025 and I was dry for 80% of it! Pretty pleased with that tbh as I didn't get my act together until summer and then starting slipping beyond day 62. Given me a bit more confidence actually

@paintcolourchart 80% is fantastic. I wonder what mine was.
I didn't stop til may 2025, then had 6 months ish. December wasn't perfect but wasn't dreadful.

Morning, tribe, how are we all doing?
I've got day 1 done and dusted. I did have a thought whilst doing the online shop yesterday but cast it away.
I'm definitely aiming for 100 days.

Evening @Goandygo - was feeling positive today. Tidied my bedroom including my dressing table and reset my crystals for counting days/weeks/months. However DS has been very trying today and I can feel myself thinking that a glass of wine will help relax me. I know I need to fight that thought off but it's going to be hard!

How are you doing today? Well done on day 1. Day 6 here for me so tomorrow I should get my first star (all being well tonight 🫣).

It's funny - NYE didn't feel like a challenge at all. It's the home 'unwind' wine that's the issue.

How's everyone else?

@paintcolourchart yes, you make a good point there. Sometimes we're prepared for those Big Events - it's the other times we lapse 🤣
Well done on Day 6.
I'm feeling positive. I know I can do it because I've done it before. I know circumstances were different but I still did it. I didn't die abstaining either.

Well it was touch and go but I didn't give in! Week 1 tomorrow. @Goandygo up until this point I did feel like 'I know I can do it because I've done it before', especially the going out sober but now I think this time is going to be harder than in the summer. Time will tell!

@paintcolourchart another good point !!
It's so complex.
I succeeded after my fall because it was all fresh, plus later on in the year I was taking medication.
But yes, in other ways, I do feel better equipped.
Time will tell indeed, but well done on yesterday. Day 7 for you - you're doing well 🙏

Hi all,

sorry for no posts. I had a strange and unsettling event on Friday where I was contacted by someone to say that someone had been spreading defamatory and false information about me in our town. So Friday night I was a bit beside myself, yesterday I approached a number of people who had been told these lies and addressed the full on. Plus discussed with DH what we do about the person responsible and if we seek legal advice (she has form, not just against me, but others as well). So my attention has been taken up by this a bit!

Today i am also meeting with a couple of people about the same issue (I basically decided to not stay silent, but to make it known far and wide that I was aware of what was being said).

The meeting is at the pub and there is no way I am not going to have a glass of something I am afraid, so back on it tomorrow.

But, in other news, one of the women who works at the supermarket whom I have become friendly with was telling me proudly how she has been sober now for 15 days and has saved £200 already (granted, it's been the festive season so perhaps more potentially spendy than usual) and how excited she is about it. So that motivated me about putting my shoulder to the wheel this month as well.

Hope everyone is fine and well.

Congrats for all the great successes on the thread!!

@FeelingLessTired wow, that's terrible. Good for you for not letting it slide.
Hope the meeting goes well 🙏

@FeelingLessTired wow that sounds horrendously stressful. Of course I don't know what the situation is but generally with these things it feels so much bigger to you than everyone else, so try and keep in mind that in other people's eyes it really might not be a huge deal whatever was said, and you are totally right to set the record right.

@Goandygo can you talk to me a bit more about your journaling? I've been floating on the other threads and seen a few people suggest it (including you I think?). I know I've asked you about it before so forgive the repetition but I'm considering it a bit more now. Do you do it every night before you go to bed? Or randomly in the day? Is there a structure to what you write? I think you said before that you don't read back on it, is that right? I know it's all personal but just looking for a bit of insight.

Not got a desire to for wine tonight, which is nice. I will be putting my first crystal star up this evening. Yesterday I didn't think I'd make it at one point! Sounds really pathetic after just a week doesn't it 🤦‍♀️