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.

@User415373 for me it’s not having any temptation at home. Open spirit bottles are always tempting for me. I do have some wine but it’s not in the fridge. I keep reminding myself that I can do this and I don’t want to end up becoming dependent on alcohol. Also, have a soda stream at home so been having sparking water with some fresh lime squeezed in for a grown up style glass of water 😅

Well done on bypassing the tins of gin! I always have a couple of these in my fridge as they feel less bad than the measures of gin I pour for myself.

I will really try to stay dry tonight. The sad thing is although I will enjoy it for an hour or so, the evening will pass and then I’ll just be sluggish and annoyed with myself. I have loads to do tomorrow and want to wake up with a clear head so I just need to get through that critical hour where I’d usually be pouring a glass and sitting down then I’ll be fine.

Agree with not having temptation at home. I don't have any wine in the fridge and no mixers to tempt me to the spirits.
It's the social side I struggle with the most. Until recently I've been working in a pub on a Friday evening and with everyone else obviously drinking, someone always offers to buy me one or I'll get myself one towards the end of my shift (the landlady encourages it!).
I feel like I really burn the candle at both ends with my full time job, another part time job, having kids, hobbies and volunteering and so when I have the opportunity to drink I want to make the most of it if that makes sense.
I've just sacked off the pub job so that removes that temptation.
@gumpyforest well done on bypassing the gin! In general I think the way alcohol is pushed in supermarket is terrible and just adds to the problem.

@User415373 @gumpyforest how are you both getting on? I’m glad it’s the weekend. It will be an Alcohol free one for me

edited to say it will be from hoping it will be 🙂

Sorry for the radio silence! I did manage to be alcohol free on that Sunday (went to the cinema with a friend, she actually offered to buy me a glass of vino at the cinema but I did decline in favour of a Diet Coke), so that was good but I then was pretty rubbish this week and had wine two nights out of four. Next week is my DH birthday so will involve some champers. During the day we are doing a football stadium tour and lunch after. I have zero interest in football but he should enjoy it 😅

Hi thanks for checking in. I managed to wait until Friday but I have drank two bottles of wine over the weekend. It’s an achievement in one sense as I was drinking a lot more throughout the week last year but even so, I know it’s not great and my sleep has been terrible all the weekend. It’s actually amazing how much better I feel when I’m not drinking and yet I still want to do it on a weekend. I still see it as a treat.

Hi all. Hope you've had a lovely weekend!
I also drank this weekend. I had 2 glasses on Friday night and probably 3 on Saturday. I am disappointed in myself but I know it's baby steps. I also still see it a treat and definitely use it as a coping mechanism which I know isn't healthy.
I'm going to get up early to workout 3 x days this week and also have a long day at the office on Thursday so that'll put me off the night before.
A drink on the weekend is likely as we have a very rare night of a babysitter so dinner might be on the cards.

@gumpyforest I think many of us are in the same boat. Treating alcohol as a treat, something to look forward to and unwind with. For me personally it’s the quantity when I start I sometimes struggle to stop at a reasonable amount. I know if I put my mind to it I can have one or two glasses but I need to work out why in some situations I just want to continue. It always makes me feel like crap the next day and the guilt is awful. I know it’s not healthy.

@User415373 how has working out gone for you this week? I’ve been increasing my workouts for the last month and really enjoying them. So much easier to workout without drinking the night before. A dinner oit sounds great! Enjoy ☺️

I managed well this weekend. I had a few moments of thinking I should put a bottle of wine in the fridge but resisted! It’s my birthday next week and I’ve decided to have some nice steaks at home and we’re going to cinema . It’s mid week so it’s a good reason for me not to get a bottle of red. Also DH doesn’t drink at all so when I open a bottle it’s hard to not keep going back for more….this is despite me having one of those wine saver cork devices. A birthday is not an excuse to drink a whole bottle- maybe if I feel like I want a drink I’ll get one of those half bottles from M&S. I’ll see once I’m in the shop.

Hi,
The exercise isn't going great. I aimed to get up at 5.30 to do it but my kids have been waking when I get up (they are usually awake at 6 anyway) and I start work at 7. My youngest isn't sleeping either so my nights have been disturbed.
But, tonight was the first evening I've been my hobby and not had a drink. I'm meeting friends on Friday so will drink then. For me it's about stopping when it's sensible and not going overboard because I 'deserve it'.
I hope everyone else is getting on well!

Finding it so hard (impossible) to not turn to wine when things are tough. Had a week that would test most people’s resolve (devastating young close family member funeral, two upsetting personal medical appointments plus vets for senior dog) don’t know how to extract wine from making me feel better when things are tough, with the fact that wine is hurting me. It’s so hard. I’m really struggling this week 😔

Very sorry to hear that you’re having a rough time. I get that alcohol can act as a crutch in sad or stressful times but it’s also worth remembering that any pain you feel will still be there once the booze has worn off. Probably accompanied by a hangover. When my dad passed away I had a good few weeks of staying up late into the night drinking loads and getting even more upset. It was such a horrible time but objectively I can see that drinking didn’t really help, maybe temporarily but I couldn’t have carried on like that.

For the past few weeks I’ve stuck to Fri- Sun drinking and have got through two bottles over the weekend which is still 17–18 units a week but significantly less than I was doing. It’s just about building new habits and trying to keep busy in that hour after bedtime where I’d usually reach for the wine. Once that danger hour has passed I’m actually ok. I have no spirits in the house (gin and tonic with ridiculous measures used to be my second go to drink after wine) so that’s been a big reduction too.

@Dogladycrazy I’m so sorry to read about your week. That is a lot in a short period of time and as alcohol can be quite numbing I can see why it has been hard to stay away from it, however as Gumpyforesr said, the pain will still be there the next day and you need to allow time to process the tragic loss and any other bad news and prognosis you’ve had. Please don’t add guilt about having a drink to that. Is there someone you can talk to when you feel like alcohol is the only option for you? Can you try and distract yourself with something that you enjoy, like a bath or a walk or whatever it is that gives you joy.

I know this is hard and I have been there, especially after losing my mum. I’ve abused alcohol for too many years and 2026 is my year to really tackle this. Keep posting here.

@gumpyforest sounds like things are going well with sticking to weekends only. It’s these steps that will hopefully reduce overall drinking and maybe eventually not having a drink every weekend ?

@User415373 totally understand when the little ones get you up so early. It’s hard to find time for yourself and to get exercise in. Don’t worry about it and this is just a phase and it will get better. Well done on not having a drink at the hobby you go to and I hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Thank you to grumpforest and tryingagain2026, I really appreciate your support. Hope you’re both doing ok xx

Well, as predicted last week was a bit of a write off. However today is the start of a new week and I’m feeling a fresh sense of determination. Let’s hope I can maintain this!

I have some Tripp drinks on standby plus alcohol free gin if I fancy a treat. My danger hour weirdly is more when I’m cooking dinner - I like to have a glass (or two!) when prepping a meal (part of my end of the day / wind down ritual). Felt somehow civilised but clearly isn’t when it is bordering on everyday.

For those who have been successful at reducing their intake, please could you share the pros and benefits since you’ve done this? Might help focus my mind!

@Goldleafcat yay to a new fresh start to the week.

I haven’t had a drink since New Year’s Day and can honestly say I feel great. I am
sleeping better, less bloated overall and have lost 5lbs this month. As I’m not drinking I’m eating better and exercise is much easier for me so these are all little victories for me

I forgot to say that it’s not been easy - I’ve been craving a drink most days and especially at weekend. I’ve had to be really strict with myself. On Saturday I was moving some stuff and found a bottle of Malibu and I was tempted to have that as it’s sweet and coconuty. I resisted and dumped it down the sink, there wasn’t much left but I didn’t like the temptation . I hope DD wasn’t saving it for when she’s home from uni 😅

Thank you @TryingAgain2026that’s a fantastic achievement. Wonderful to hear. Amazing to lose 5lbs too!

I’m actually on Mounjaro (since Nov ‘24) and whilst I’ve had success losing weight interestingly it has done nothing with regards to ‘wine noise’ (not sure that’s a thing!) (I’ve read about people suddenly giving up all sorts of addictive stuff like compulsive shopping / drinking and what not). I still love shopping and wine. And food, albeit less of it. I guess we are all made differently!

This week I have managed to achieve my goal of not drinking Mon - Thurs (at last). My sleep has definitely improved and I think I’ve managed to stave off a horrible cough my DH and DC have. I was going to have some tonight but I’m going to an event that I’ve decided to drive to (too cold to walk!) so I will probably be booze free tonight too. Will enjoy some nice wine on Saturday. I went back to read the article on the first page of this thread which has helped my resolve too.

Happy Monday all. I didn’t have a drink Friday night either, due to that event which I drove to, so that helped! I did drink on Saturday night, but sadly overdid it and felt like death yesterday morning. 🙄

@Goldleafcat interesting about mounjaro and wine noise. Wouldn’t it be magical if it worked that way!

I also drank this weekend, one bottle of red over 3 days so could have been worse but wish I hadn’t! New week for us all.

It is indeed a new week! I’ve just downloaded the NHS Drink Free Days app and logged what I had / didn’t have last week and this week. I’ve seen Try Dry recommended too but not sure I want to bamboozle myself with lots of different apps.

Apparently loads of people have stopped drinking whilst on Mounjaro. Sadly not me. Then again I don’t want to be on it forever so I need to find ways to do things under my own steam.

Hi everyone bit of an update. DH and I haven’t had a drink since Saturday so this is the 4th day :) and quite an achievement for us! However it has left us in a bit of a dilemma…when those of you who have done so well not drinking for a while, is your intention to stop altogether or be able to have one or two when you fancy but then stop? I only ask because I’ve been listening to Allen Carrs Easyway and it’s really made me think. Our intention going forward was to not drink Sunday to Wednesday, and be able to have a few Thurs Fri and Sat but be in control and know when to stop. But he basically says that by not drinking for a few days and fighting the cravings each day, which is the hardest bit, when you do have a drink again you are then just feeding the addiction / giving in to the craving, and will have to start all over again on Sunday. So you’re undoing all your hard work from Sunday to Wednesday. And getting into a cycle of doing that every week so it would never get any easier. So my question is if we didn’t drink for the 7-10 days it takes for alcohol to get out of our systems completely, would we then still have the cravings? And be starting all over again from square one if we then had a drink? Or is it like a reset, so we could decide to just have a couple from then onwards? We don’t want to stop completely but we do want to limit our drinking and be in control of how much we have and when. Is this possible? Or once you’re addicted to something does it mean you’ll always be in this cycle or fighting cravings and giving into cravings? Hope you’re all doing ok btw xx

Hi everyone, I made it through January alcohol free and my original plan was to stay dry until we go on a cruise this Saturday. I’ve since been contemplating staying dry longer term but I’m a bit undecided. I think I’ll only know once I’m on the ship.

i feel better for being alcohol free, wake up clearer headed and my workouts are easier. I lost a lot of weight last year and no extraneous calories from alcohol is helping maintenance!
i guess I feel like your dh @Dogladycrazy, that I’ve done the hard bit and I’m reluctant to give that up just to go through it again!

@Doyouthinktheyknow so well done for dry Jan, and hope you have an amazing time on the cruise. Please post again after and let us know how it went? Xx

Thank you, I definitely will update how I get on….🤪

We’ve done the 4 days and are increasing it to 5… :) it’s breaking the habit that I think is the issue for me, as I would tend to have my first glass when cooking our evening meal, but if I can distract myself then (I call it the devil’s hour) and then distract myself continuously thereafter 🤣 I’m getting through it. So is it just a habit? We definitely fell into the ‘wine o’clock’ routine during lockdown.