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.

I didn't enjoy the wine on Friday either. 😣

I’m now 67 days sober- it’s gone so fast.

Major challenge yesterday- my first ever Xmas work do 100-% sober. It was actually great and I’m enjoying being normal today not feeling horrific and obsessing over what I said to who.

Hi all
still here still sober, still travelling ….
back home in less than 2 weeks and can’t wait. Keep on trying @FeelingLessTired @Goandygo - we have come so far and have so much further to go x

@BountifulPantry it does go fast, doesn't it.
Well done on Day 67 - that's brilliant.
I think the first few days go quite slowly, but it does then become sort of normal.
Congratulations on the sober works do. No hangover and no anxiety are up there for me on the best things about being sober very longgg list.
Keep going - you are smashing it 💪

Awe thanks this is so sweet.

Checking in for my 200 days

Keep going everyone!

@hannah258 well done!
It's a fantastic achievement 🥳🥳❤️

How are we all ?
I fell off the wagon yesterday. Had a stressful morning, though I can't really blame that.
Feel awful today - eaten rubbish and drank copious amounts of diet coke.
I've worked out that I've had 184 sober days out of 190, so that's cheered me up ! (97% success!).
I'm out next Saturday but I'm going to have af perroni and lime🤞

Hello all,

@Goandygo still here, still damp rather than dry but I feel like I would like to go back to dry again. I was so happy, positive, and felt so healthy in the summer when I kicked it completely for a couple of months. Sorry you feel so awful today. Tomorrow is a fresh new day although if you're anything like me it might take a bit longer to recover after periods of abstaining. I've just done my calc and if I take it all the way back to the day after I hurt my ankle, where I had a false start, I've had 158/176 days sober, so 90% success rate. So not perfect, but a huge improvement. And the most important thing is my attitude toward alcohol is changing.

I've got an evening catch up on Wednesday with a couple of friends - just a quiet night in. Undecided whether to drink or not tbh.

Well done on 200 days @hannah258!!

Day 1.

I'm tired. I'm fed up. I cant do it anymore.

@FeelingLessTired get day 1 done and dusted, then you're off.
One day at a time 💪

Have you read/listened to any quit lit stuff?

Just asking because I tried multiple times to quit on my own and couldn’t do it. I listened to a few quit lit books (whilst still drinking) and it kind of made me feel a bit sick just at the thought of drinking. Hard to explain but it kind of made go off it a bit & it feels like I’m using much less willpower than the other attempts. It’s a bit like part willpower and part knowledge if that makes any sense, but it seems to be working.

Congrats on 200 days @hannah258 are you doing anything to celebrate?

@FeelingLessTired you know you can do this! Sleep a lot, be kind to yourself x
sorry to hear a few of you are struggling lately but it makes me happy to hear your af days and success rates - and let’s face it, at the beginning we would have been happy with a few days sober!

I have 39 days left until I reach 1 year, but I’m still wrestling with the idea of not drinking ever again. Not sure that was my goal but like @paintcolourchart said, sober I feel so happy healthy and positive. Do I want to risk all of that for an occasional wine?

Hope you all have a good end to the week - I fly home on Saturday (been away for 2 1/2 months) and am looking forward to my own bed …

@88expertprocastinator nothing like your own bed.
Regarding future abstinence, I think it all depends on whether you can stop after 1 or 2 glasses.
That was my target originally but it's more complex for me. After a couple I crave a cigarette and then I don't stop.
The smoking is a big a problem as the wine for me - something I've only just realised.
So I'm best saying no wine.
Af lager or even normal lager, I don't smoke.

@88expertprocastinator
I had a lovely mocktail at a restaurant to celebrate. I know what you mean about battling with never drinking again, for me it’s too final and too much to accept. I’m aiming for a year now and will probably just keep moving the goalpost. Good luck for your next 39 days!

Well I went for it last night. Feel absolutely shit today!!

God, its awful isn't it.
Be good to yourself today - ❤️

@paintcolourchart take it easy today and then try to figure out how you want things to be in the future - we all have blips so just put it behind you now

Saw this and think it’s a great way to look at it

Thanks all. Tbh I think I am actually ready to quit for good. I was supposed to go to a Christmas meal this afternoon and I cancelled because I feel so shit. I do feel a bit better now but earlier I was googling 'can a hangover kill you' which is quite frankly ridiculous to get myself into a state that I'm asking those questions out of a choice I made last night.

DH left half an hour before nursery drop off today. I didn't feel comfortable driving so I phone my FIL. How embarrassing. I don't think I want my 'rock bottom' to be any lower tbh. We had a lovely night last night but I know it would have been just as nice if I'd have taken some AF drinks instead. I know this because of all that practice I did in the summer!

I did kind of have it in mind to have a damp Christmas rather than a dry one but honestly it just isn't worth it for me.

Oh no did I kill the thread 😅 sorry for my downer!

Recovered now and feeling positive! How's everyone else doing?

@paintcolourchart no fear, still here 🤣
Glad you're recovered and feeling positive.
All good year. Had a Family Get Together yesterday and for the first time in forever, I remember getting home.
I wasn't completely af - a mix of af lager, lager and 2 gin n tonics.
Big improvement 😇

Morning, tribe, how are we all doing?
It's so difficult at this time of the year. I always thought I didn't drink much at Christmas ( it was the rest of the year that was the problem), but I'm struggling. Was tempted yesterday. It was so miserable here, just rained all day.
Anyway, if I'd had no blips, I'd be 200 days today. As it happens, I'm 193 days out of 200, which is still great and I'm pleased overall.
One day at a time for me, definitely and I'm meeting a friend Saturday, who doesn't drink so easier, but I'll still need a plan 💪

Still here - finally back home and enjoying every minute. @Goandygo the only plan I ever make is that I’m starting with an af drink. Tbh after the first I never ever want alcohol - it’s that initial decision that sets it for me.
@paintcolourchart i read a lot of the af boards about moderating and as far as I can see it’s pretty close to impossible to do for people like us (who have had problems with drinking). I’ve always felt that total abstinence is the easier path (and watching my DH struggle every week to cut down has reinforced this view…) I just know that I could not stop at 1 drink or 1 night if I open myself up to drinking again.

@88expertprocastinator welcome home ! 🤣
Gosh, that plan of starting with an af drink has actually worked for me before. Didn't realise til just now.
Thanks ❤️
( also, we're eating straightaway in a pub famous for pies. Once I'm stuffed, I never want to drink either).