Calling time on wine: 100 days sober - starting 01/01/26

[reset100]

My wine drinking has slowly spiralled into a daily habit and I’m calling time on it. No drama, no rock bottom - just the realisation that it’s become a crutch and I want out of the swirl.

From 1st January, I’m committing to 100 days sober and I’d love others to join me. This isn’t about moderation or “just weekends” - it’s about a clean break and supporting each other to go completely alcohol-free for the full 100 days.

If alcohol has crept in as a daily default, if you’re tired of negotiating with yourself every evening, or if you simply want a proper reset with people who get it, you’re very welcome here.

No judgement. No pressure. Just accountability, honesty, and support.

Can totally relate to this! I don't have issues with food or smoking, it's only this bloody drinking malarkey!

Morning all! Just back from the gym again - amazing too see that for many, many people, waking up with a hangover and unable to do much other than lick their wounds is not normal! I’ve spent a lifetime thinking those people were missing out rather than the other way around.

I’m hosting a big get together this afternoon (not a boozy one so looking forward to it) so I’ve only had a chance to skim read but am loving @SwiftyFifty post! This sort of stuff is right up my street and for me anyway, so important for me to understand why I drink like I do.

On a similar note, I listened to a podcast in the gym on the role of dopamine in addiction. Specifically, why many people drink more/relapse when things are going well - this is me to a T.

The doctor explained it’s because Dopamine is a regulator of pleasure and pain (pain being in this case, lack of pleasure/anhedonia/feeling meh about everything). For some people, when things are going well, their body produces more dopamine naturally, but only in short bursts. The pleasure/pain balance is like a see-saw so you don’t go back to level, the see-saw tips into pain. So you then crave your substance to feel pleasure again. It made so much sense to me because this is exactly how I feel. I really crave alcohol when I am looking forward to things like holidays and of course the family getting together on Christmas Day when I went overboard.

On a slightly different note - I had a fall out with DH because I tried to explain this to him (he always says he can’t understand why I drink so much when things are going well) but he just looked uncomfortable and said he thought it was a lot of “psychobabble” despite this person being a bloody neurobiologist! This from the man who can’t even open an email attachment! I got so upset and started crying which he then accused me of “taking it out on him”.

I’ve calmed down now and reflected and DH has been generally amazing but his way of coping (love language?) is to make a pot of soup and tidy the house when I’m drinking. I guess I’ll just need to find someone else/MN to talk about this with!

Anyhoo other than that I’m feeling great. Got to get up now and do dinner for 10 but I’ll be back later. Happy Sunday everyone xx

I've just listened to They Think It's All Sober and I like it. They acknowledge they're a couple of middle aged white blokes into football and want to bring in all kinds of folk into the podcast so it appeals/helps everyone. Thanks for the tip!

It's worth looking into what alcohol does to the body, to help change the mindset from going without, to doing something positive for yourself. I like the Andrew Huberman podcast. It's a long one so maybe good for a long walk or a drive. It makes you realise that alcohol is not a lovely gift or reward to yourself. It also helps you understand how the last drink you had is making you want the next one and reinforce your decision to not have it https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ebY3WNejLNbK47emgjd1E?si=SAFrdS2STTioXrKwNV441g

I’ve just bought wool! I remember the last time I did this I bought some and knit evert evening. It’s quite compulsive cheap and totally keeps your hands occupied! My poor friends all received scarves of various quality. I bought three large chunky knit for 18 quid. I baulked but then thought that’s two bottles and this will last much longer, not cause me suffering and I will ( hopefully) have something tangible at the end!

Still struggling here. I manage to distract myself for a while then go back to thinking about wine.

I did do a 5-minute chore that has been on my list for ages but I never got round to it. A tiny thing but a win nevertheless!

Oh god, I listened to this last night 😱 it’s pretty terrifying (which is why we all need to listen to it!). I was going to share the link too.

You amazing people. We are doing it. I’m feeling strong today. I’m tired but it feels so good to have a clear tired head instead of a hungover regretful head. I’ve been for a walk, and am helping my DC get sorted for school tomorrow, cranking through a tonne of laundry and feeling proud.

It is very hard. I try to accept that I've thought about it, and if I wake up wishing I had had a bottle last night then I will have one that evening. But that's never how I feel when I wake up.

Hi all. Day 4 all but done - thanks for this thread!

It's our civil partnership anniversary today so DP and I went for a dog walk and a meal at the pub where we had a family meal after our ceremony back in 2020. Had a massive roast and a lovely mocktail. It was somewhat weird not to feel like having a snooze afterwards, probably because I hadn't sunk half a bottle of prosecco!

Got a bottle of 0% Freixenet chilling in the fridge which we'll have later on. Might even have a glass in the bath while I read my book. Reading is something I had all but given up in favour of zoning out with a G&T and Netflix in the evenings, but I've suddenly rediscovered my concentration. This is a great thing.

Onwards!

Anyone else sitting in front of a logburner thinking they could murder a glass of bubbles or a gin an tonic.

@GinintheBin congratulations on your anniversary.

This Might sound weird but it helps me to brush my teeth . The taste of toothpaste puts me off ..
Or a nice hot cup of tea?

Agreed @SoberAndSerene although I prefer mouthwash to brushing my teeth as I find the taste lasts longer.

I am also finding that a glass of just tonic water sipped, for me, works as a substitute to a gin and tonic.

I am starting to feel anxious about my work assessment next week and that is making me want a glass (bottle) of wine. Logically I KNOW it won’t help me at all - but I just want to escape these anxious thoughts.

Other than that I’m feeling pretty flat but otherwise okay.

@freshstart2026 do you journal ? I find writing it all down helps. It's not for everyone but something to consider ?
I've had a great day. Drank becks blue at the meal, and by the time we went to the pub, I was too stuffed for anything.
We've left them all dancing and have come home to hot chocolate ( it's mainly young ones in the pub ) and cheesecake.
I know I can do this.
I just have to take it one day at a time and not overthink !
Day 3 ✅

I love this ! 💪

What is it that's worrying you particularly about the assessment?

Arrrhhh! Been hard one today..! Cooking a big roast, I would normally have a glass of wine/prosecco with the music on in the kitchen. It kept popping into my head 🤯 I’ve managed not to drink but the wine witch is well and truly calling me tonight!! This is night no.5 for me and I’m absolutely determined to ride it out this evening-playing forward.. I’d feel absolutely terrible tomorrow if I did crack. No no no that is not happening!!

11 sneaky signs the booze is wrecking your body before it gets obvious
👇
Over a year alcohol free after 45 years drinking. These signs were there. I ignored them. Don’t.

1. You’re tired all the time despite “sleeping.” Not just mornings. All day. Alcohol sedates. Doesn’t create real sleep. No REM. No recovery. Body’s exhausted trying to process poison nightly while pretending to rest. That’s not normal tired. That’s chemical exhaustion.
2. Stomach issues you’ve normalised as “just how you are.” Bloating. Acid reflux. Irregular digestion. “I’ve always had sensitive stomach.” No. You’ve always drunk alcohol. It’s eroding gut lining. Disrupting microbiome. That’s not genetics. That’s damage.
3. Skin that won’t clear up no matter what you try. Redness. Dryness. Breakouts. Tried every product. Nothing works. Because problem isn’t topical. It’s systemic inflammation from poison. No cream fixes internal damage.
4. Memory gaps that aren’t blackouts just… forgetting. Not drunk forgetting. Sober forgetting. Where you put keys. What you said yesterday. Details vanishing. That’s alcohol shrinking brain. Damaging memory formation. Before it’s obvious enough to scare you.
5. Anxiety that peaks mornings and you can’t explain why. Wake up anxious. No reason. Just dread. That’s glutamate rebound. Your nervous system recovering from being sedated. Every morning. That’s not anxiety disorder. That’s alcohol withdrawal. Daily.
6. You’ve gained weight you can’t shift no matter what. Trying everything. Nothing works. Because alcohol is empty calories plus lowered metabolism plus disrupted hormones plus increased inflammation. That’s not age. That’s poison.
7. Wounds heal slower than they used to. Cut takes weeks. Bruise lingers. Body’s healing capacity compromised. Immune system suppressed. Resources diverted to processing toxin instead of repair. That’s not getting older. That’s getting damaged.
8. You’re sick more often than people around you. Colds. Infections. Whatever’s going around, you catch it. That’s immune system on its knees from constant poison exposure. Can’t fight normal threats. Too busy fighting alcohol.
9. Your face is puffier than it should be. Not fat. Puffy. Inflammation. Water retention. Vascular damage. Especially around eyes, cheeks, nose. That’s not your face. That’s your face on poison. You’ve just forgotten difference.
10. Blood pressure creeping up doctor mentions casually. “Little high. Watch your salt.” It’s not salt. It’s alcohol. Raising blood pressure. Stressing cardiovascular system. Every drink. Doctor won’t say it directly. Too uncomfortable. But it’s alcohol.
11. You feel older than your age and blame everything except drinking. Joints ache. Energy low. Recovery slow. “Just getting older.” You’re not. You’re chronically inflamed. Constantly poisoned. Perpetually damaged. Remove poison, watch “age” reverse. Had all eleven. Every single one. Blamed genetics. Age. Stress. Bad luck. Everything except poison I was voluntarily consuming. One year sober? All eleven gone. Every one. Not genetics. Not age. Not stress. Was alcohol. Whole time. Your body’s screaming. In subtle ways. Before obvious damage. Before diagnosis. Before crisis. It’s telling you now. You’re ignoring it. Like I did. For decades. Q: Can’t these be other things? Yes. Could be. But if you drink regularly and have several? It’s probably alcohol. Get honest. Q: When do they improve after quitting? Some weeks. Some months. All eventually. Body heals when you stop poisoning it. 11 sneaky signs. Before it gets obvious. Before diagnosis. Before too late. Your body’s warning you. Listen. Save for when you’re blaming everything except the poison. #SoberBeyondLimits #sober #soberlife #health #fyp

I have at least seven of these :(

Im with you op. We went out for food and I went to order a beer as dh was driving! I didnt i ordered a diet coke! Its hard to break habits

@reset100 I always drank whilst cooking, then a while back I started drinking either af wine or beer or sparkling water in a glass. It took a while but now I never drink when I'm cooking.
Well done on Day 5 and for resisting.

Wow! @SwiftyFifty EXCELLENT post ! Thank you