Trying to have more alcohol free days

[springintoaction2]

@FeelingLessTired

Following on from your thread of 200 days without alcohol which had filled up.

I posted on that - but of course went back to having a couple of glasses of wine with a meal in the week. Have since had regular blood test as on rheumatoid meds, and found liver function test is raised again - not dangerously so - but not great. So I've stopped any alcohol since 14th Oct.

If anyone would like to join to be accountable on my 10 days in - please do.

This article was quite encouraging...

https://theconversation.com/what-happens-to-your-liver-when-you-quit-alcohol-220490

No judgements from me at all if you're on another attempt to do this.

I’ll join you - I’m also on meds for an autoimmune condition and watch my ALT go up and down too and I’m trying to reduce the times in between that I drink.

I’m probably the worst type of drinker in that I binge a bottle at a time, fortunately mainly only 1 night a week now but it’s too much for my middle aged body to cope with all those units in one hit when it’s already having to deal with inflammation and all the medication on top.

I’ve been going 2/3 weeks in between a bottle but it’s not easy and those first 4 days after drinking are tough, but I can’t ignore this anymore.

How many days alcohol free now for you?

Nearly 2 weeks here. Hoping to get next blood test in before Christmas and no alcohol before that.

I’m only a week in and I’ve got my next blood tests in 2 weeks. So will abstain till then and try and see how long I can go AF. Is your aim to eventually quit or see if you can moderate?

@Catonafreezingfridge good question. In an ideal world - never drink again. But realistically that might not happen.

I'm a fussy drinker and only like red wine that would cost more than £10 a bottle or champagne. Not keen on prosecco etc and wouldn't drink pub red wine - I have soda and lime in a pub.

So maybe answer is to have some very infrequently, but of good quality...

I’m totally with you. I have gone AF for long periods only to go back to it again. I have tried to moderate and failed miserably but somehow this way seems to be more doable and so far I am able to go a few weeks at a time, as long as I know that at some point I can have a drink. I do hope though that eventually I’ll start to wonder why on earth I’m even bothering and knock it on the head full stop!

I get more worried about the effects the older I get and am aware that although I drink less now, I have a life time behind me of pretty heavy drinking at certain periods, that coupled with what my poor liver already has to process with the medication should be enough to make me quit.

@Catonafreezingfridge how did you get on with your blood test? I've got one booked for Dec 11th.

I've had one blip where I had a small glass of red, but didn't even finish it, as wasn't keen on the taste.

Well… 😄 my ALT came back out of the normal range, however, I had had several infections back to back with antibiotics and the GP thought it was the likely culprit. I had it retested a month later and it had come back down into the normal range, but still higher than I would like. I guess really my body is saying it’s time to quit but I just can’t do it! Or I could but I haven’t… I’m still not drinking weekly but when I do, I am doing 6 to 7 units in one hit, which I know is so damaging 😬

You have done so well - how are you feeling, is it getting easier? I bet you see quite a difference in your blood results.

I didn’t want to stop drinking completely but needed to reframe my attitude to it. I went through a couple of years of excessive daily wine drinking and I needed to stop. I got heavy for the first time ever, mentally I wasn’t in a good place . I won’t go into detail as it was awful. I stopped a few times and then went back to it. As I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted. So since August I only drink when I go out - no drinking in the house, so I have drank 6 times since August, I have lost weight and feel brilliant. It is still a journey but I no longer panic about not having enough wine in the house, house is calm and I feel mentally in a great place. I am not saying I have sorted myself out completely but I am in a better place

@rogueone that's brilliant! Good for you.

@Catonafreezingfridge my ALT came back slightly higher than before 😭 despite being basically teetotal for 2 and a half months.

Since the result I've had the odd glass of red wine with a meal and champagne on xmas day. Back to dry January and will try to exercise more. I think I have a fatty liver and methotrexate doesn't help it.

Sucks to be me sometimes 😬

@springintoaction2 I won’t pretend it was easy, I had a daily battle in my head and I definitely had some withdrawals, mainly difficult sleeping, sweats etc. took a while for my sleep to improve. Festive period has been tougher as I have drank more than I have done for months, I recognise the daily rough feeling and now today I plan to exercise and if I have any feelings of drinking I will do a workout - I can see the signs

I’ll join. Had what I intend to be my last drink at home last night. Not a big drinker, a couple of glasses of wine 2 nights a week but I don’t like the fact I look forward to it.

I plan to stay abstinent until our holiday in February and then only drink holidays or when out for a meal which isn’t often.

I see the damage of alcohol in my job and I’m on a health drive so both good reasons to rebalance my relationship with alcohol.

I’m joining too. I have a complicated relationship with alcohol which lately has turned more into spirits and I can drink quite a lot. I don’t drink daily and mainly at weekends and can go weeks without but when I have a drink I can’t stop at one or two.
I have about a third of a bottle of gin left from Christmas (had 2 700ml bottles) and my plan is to still have this at end of January. I also have 4 bottles of wine left so if I really want a drink I will have a small glass or some egg nog that I have leftover from Christmas (one of my favourite nostalgic drinks)
Last year I had an alcohol free Christmas which backfired at end of January so I don’t want to fully say I will not have a drink but I know the spirits are a big issue for me so if I feel tempted I will dump it.

thank you for that article @springintoaction2 - at 45 my health is a worry for me and this article made me feel better .

I know the feeling.It’s so hard trying to be more mindful of drinking when life is already tough thanks to chronic illness, and in my case I am also clinically extremely vulnerable, so my evenings out to have a drink are very few and far between - normally the summer, which just adds to that mentality that I deserve a drink at home once a week. But I’m now done for the Xmas period and drinking and will get back on board for dry January too.

Welcome to everybody else - your stories all sound so familiar!

Day 2 of no alcohol, baby steps but feeling good. Also started tracking my calories and did some HIIT and strength training so feeling positive about the upcoming months. We have holiday mid April so that’s my target date to feel better.

Nice to have a place where we can check in

Can I join please? I am 45 and feel lousy when I drink. I did Dry Jan last year and managed about 33 days dry which I felt better for. I actually haven't drunk loads over Christmas but its more than my body can handle. I didn't have a drink last night or tonight but am not sure if I will have tomorrow night or not. If I do it will be the last drink for a while. I have the gym most mornings as it starts back tomorrow and I want to be ok to start again after Christmas off

Welcome @Fundays12

Thanks.

Happy new year! How did everyone get on? I had two glasses of egg nog and a small glass of wine, not even a bit tipsy haha. Woke up feeling refreshed and feeling positive about the month ahead.

Happy New Year! I had a glass of wine but that was it, I have been a bit ill and this was a very different New Year to many others. Had a nice time with my sick husband and watched the fireworks and went to bed.

i have signed up to 31 miles in January to focus the mind. I don’t do dry January , I just want to stay having a healthy relationship with alcohol. I am glad I was ill as it did help tbh- so I am still on my journey

@rogueone sorry you were ill but sounds like you had a nice evening despite that. I’m same and not saying I will do dry January but will definitely reduce my drinking, it’s my birthday month so would actually be nice not to drink on my birthday

Totally over did it on Tuesday evening, so an AF one for me last night and therefore on to day 2 of dry January.

I didn’t over do it unit wise over Xmas, although managed 14 units that week, but my body is definitely paying the price and it’s time to get it a much needed rest.

Happy New Year All and here’s to hopefully a good one!

Hello I’d like to join please! I love wine (too much) and it’s become a daily habit which I need to stop. My plan for 2026+ is to not drink Monday - Thursday except for special occasions (birthdays, holidays, going on a night out with a friend which is very rare these days with a 3 year old DC). Small steps but I hope achievable and long term. Depending on how I fare I may forgo it at the weekends too but will see! I want to be able to stick to this and not fail, so hopefully posting will keep me accountable.

Happy new year! I worked a night shift last night so AF by default. My last alcoholic drink was Saturday night and not planning a drink until our holiday in February.

Hoping my sleep might improve, I don’t drink loads but my sleep is awful.

Happy new year. I had 2 baileys on hogmanay and haven't had anything since. Alcohol really makes me feel rubbish now so I am doing dry January. I did it last year and felt much better for it.

Hi all is this thread still open? If so I’d like the moral support!