The Continuing Support Thread for Anyone Trying to Lead an Alcohol-Free Life Spring 2026

[REP22]

Hello and welcome. I’m glad you’ve found your way here. We are a bunch of people who are trying to give up and keep off alcohol. No judgement, just honest support and kindness.
The original thread was started by @drybird2020 in 2020 and we have plenty of veterans and newer members who can offer advice and signposting. You are welcome here, whether you post several times a day, once or twice and then never again, or if you only just come to read but have no intention of ever posting.
Whatever your stage on the AF journey, and whatever you’re going through, someone here will have gone through it too. Don’t be shy about posting, we love to celebrate your successes of whatever shape and size - and will support you when things get challenging. We get it, we've been there too.
All we ask is that you’re genuinely trying to abstain. We don't encourage moderation-only here, as it can be triggering for some to read. If you’re looking to moderate your drinking rather than quitting it altogether then MN has another long-running and very active moderation/abstaining thread that’s always near the top on the alcohol support board. Lots of fine support there from those worthy people too. Keep trying. Sobriety may not be easy - but I guarantee you that it is worth it.
I started trying to give up drink in 2018, succeeded (mostly) in 2019 but had a few “wobbles”, one of which led me here in April 2023. I still struggle sometimes but the posters on this thread have been an absolute godsend of wisdom, support and encouragement, along with my dog - known here as Sid (not his real name), and they keep me going. I hope you find strength and comfort here too. This thread and its wonderful posters has been a lifesaver to many, and have certainly seen me through many good and not-so-good days.
These books were particularly helpful to me and I still go back to them from time to time: The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley (Amazon - Sober Diaries) and The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray (Amazon - Unexpected Joy). Others have found This Naked Mind by Annie Grace (Amazon - This Naked Mind) helpful. There are Apps that help track your AF journey, including Reframe and the ones I use, I Am Sober and TryDry. Podcasts can also be helpful. I have found One for the Road by Sober Dave to be a good listen. But different things work for different people. Feel free to post and ask. There is solidarity, wisdom and support here. This is a safe space where your voice will be heard, understood and valued.
Warmer weather is coming. Keep an eye out for that first daffodil waving in the breeze, and make yourself at home. It's going to be alright. x

Congratulations, @WendyWagon. I don't count days, but my original Day 1 was a Bank Holiday, so I don't forget it as it comes round. It is also the anniversary of the day I met the long-suffering Husband, so I'm never going to forget it.

This time round my Soberistas membership tells me I am on day 59. I'm not sure how to look at that though, and as I think I've said, I don't think it's relevant, really. In some ways I feel better than I did the first time I stopped, and in others a lot worse. It all feels a bit of a lottery, but obviously it all depends on biological reality, not days on a calendar.

I have marked when the six and nine month anniversaries will come round though, as if things decline to the point of needing a transplant, they will be critical. I'm not sure if I would qualify anyway, but they are something of an incentive as they get closer. I think there is something in the blood that lingers for 6 months or more, so doctors can tell if you are lying about abstinence. I am doing what I can to avoid that scenario from coming round, but one never knows.

Today is a day of rest. It's icy outside and I'm not going out. I am half expecting a mattress topper to arrive today, in which case I will spend time sorting out the relevant bedroom so there is space to fit it. If not, I'll leave it till tomorrow. I plan to cook a lentil moussaka later, and I need to adjust my grocery order, as it arrives tomorrow. I also need to make progress with the jumper I'm knitting, as I've ordered a kit to make a fair isle scarf, and will want to cast it on when it arrives.

I've booked to see Hamnet on Saturday afternoon. I haven't seen any reviews of the film, but I enjoyed the book.

@ShyMaryEllen I'm a sucker for fair isle. I missed out on the pink Boden cardi.
I was being tight with myself.

My new armchair has just arrived so I will be able to get up. Not too ugly.

Afternoon shipmates. Lovely to see you all.

Congratulations on your 4 years @WendyWagon - you have been such a support to us all.

Don't know where I'd be without this thread.

Nice to see you again @mumzof4x - I hope you're doing OK.

Strength and courage - especially to everyone struggling. It won't always be like this. It will be alright. x

Hi all! Thanks for setting up @REP22, appreciated

Feeling good here. One year anniversary is fast approaching and I feel so proud of myself for getting this far and for having such a shift in mindset over the last 12 months. Looking back to when i first decided to 'take a break' - the thought of actually quitting terrified me. Now the thought of ever drinking again does!

Here and clinging on still, IWNDWYT shipmates 💜

Well…I had a GP appointment this morning where they unexpectedly did my BP and weighed me. Both were more than they should be. So even more now, I have a reason to change my life and habits.
End of day 2 today and despite being a tubby health risk, I’m feeling good 😂🫣

When I was drinking I had high BP and cholesterol and was clinically obese. Now healthy bmi and BP and cholesterol all in range. Haven't changed my eating really - was all booze!

@WhatMaggieDid I was pushed to stop by high blood pressure and my BMI was in the obese range, I’ve lost very nearly 2 stone since September and 90% of that is due to stopping the alcohol. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. Now I’m just overweight but it’s moving in the right direction

@REP22 you won’t believe this but I got slimmer of the week with only a 1/2lb loss as nearly no one had lost weight the week before over Xmas to be eligible. I do love a sticker!

@WendyWagon huge congratulations on 4 years and 37kg that is an incredible loss!

@Lavrander thank you so much for hosting the past 2 threads, so so happy I joined in, I really do think it’s made the world of difference, checking in here.

@Becky3825 yay! You can do this! 2026 is your year!

@ShyMaryEllen I am starving and the weather is terrible, I wish I could have a piece of your lentil mousaka sounds delicious x

Oh @WhatMaggieDid , they caught you at your worst, measuring that after Christmas! But now you can amaze them at your next appointment because after a few weeks, the weight suddenly starts coming off!

It's not just the calories in drink - focusing on that never worked for me, I'd just cut back on food... 🙄 It really seems to be with how your body processes the calories - you can eat more and just burn it off because your body isn't busy detoxing itself.

I hope you found it motivating - perhaps it's a lucky chance they checked you, gives you a good baseline to work from... 😄

@FiloPasty that’s amazing and very comforting!
@Gribouille I did say to the nurse that it was lucky she didn’t weigh me this time last year, as I was a stone heavier then 🫣

I’ve been AF on and off this year (and find my diet improves dramatically when I’m not drinking) so there’s been some positive effect. I just need to be consistent now and I think that’s the warning I need. BMI was 27.5 🥴

@FiloPasty All the love to you 💜, you have been so supportive and have so much in your own life to balance and handle. You are amazing Filo, really and truely just so inspiring too. Thank you for your kind words and remember we are all here for you too 😊

I had a health screen late last year and my blood pressure was lots better after just a few months of non boozing. Have also lost a stone without trying since July last year.

@WendyWagon- what a difference four years makes. Congratulations!

The reviews of Hamnet are very good @ShyMaryEllen- think it will be a big Oscar contender. Interested that you don't pay attention to days, or at least it's an interesting point of view about the relevance of it. I've paid a lot more attention to how I feel this time around and I think focusing closely on that and the support here is a huge help. However there is just a bit of me that just doesn't want to break the streak that keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Lovely to see all the activity. I used to be all over the rest of this forum but find myself engaging less and less. Much nicer on this little ship with all of you.

IWNDWYT

Interestingly I did Fast 800 Keto for several months back when I was still drinking. I did reduce my drinking alot as I didnt want the calories but on weeks when I had even a glass or two of wine I didnt tend to lose, even though I was eating 800 calories on 6 days out of 7 and the wine didnt take me anywhere near a maintenance calorie level. My body just wouldnt lose fat if it had booze to deal with
I ended up losing 40lbs over 7 months then moved into maintenance. I was eating well and moving loads - but was back to drinking 2-3 times a week and the weight started creeping on again. By January I was back up by 10lbs. So I started again, lost 20lbs and got to my ultimate goal weight. Thats when I stopped drinking completely. And despite eating ALOT of chocolate, cake, crisps etc over the last 10 months I havent put any of the weight back on. I'm very active, which obviously helps but not drinking 1000s of empty alcohol calories makes it a million times easier!

Congratulations on day 2 @ThatCleverFox!
And welcome @mummygranny welcome aboard!
And fanfares and trumpets galore to you @WendyWagon on 4 years and for sharing such an inspirational update! You’re an absolute legend and I’ve appreciated your consistency and kindness to us newbies as we have bounced in and out under various usernames!
@Gribouille thank you for sharing the long term benefits of sobriety. I hope I too will get to the point of stand-up/-slappy fighting people who say I’m boring sober or that sobriety itself is boring. I just know I feel better than I did boring or not! And I hope the coming days are kind to you. And I’m very happy you’re feeling positive about it.
@WhatMaggieDid good to hear better sleep is coming for you! Even better days to come!
@ShyMaryEllen I hope you are doing ok. It sounds a really worrying time. You’ve been very kind in responding to my early day asks on this thread and sharing has really helped me dig in on sobriety. Do update on Hamnet. I haven’t read the book or seen the film.
@FiloPasty congratulations on the weight loss. It’s very motivating to see the general improvements in health once we cease the booze. I just feel more like DOING things these days. Although the weather is diabolical today here!
@Becky3825 lovely to see you here as always!
I hope everyone has a peaceful evening. After a 7 day work week I’m ready for a day off!
Solidarity to all those sailing with us. Some of our vessels are more sturdy than others! Some of us are bailing out our leaky tubs while others move onto more comfortable and stable ships! But let the wind and waves take us forward! This thread has made the biggest difference to me sticking with my quit. I truly cannot thank you all enough.

@HorrorFan81 that's blooming impressive! And fascinating how the alcohol likely affected your body’s ability to lose weight even on a pretty restrictive diet! How active are you if you don’t mind me being nosy? I try to be active but think I could do more!

The weight loss progresses are really inspiring to read. Congratulations on Slimmer of the Week @FiloPasty - I bloody LIVE for those stickers, though it's been many a week since I've earned one. We've got the new books where SYNS are now SWIPS (apologies to non-SW-goers). SWIPS indeed. I said to the group that it makes us sound like an S&M swingers club. 🤔😉

Am posting with the last vestiges of back-up power - we've got a total power cut here now. No idea why; the weather hasn't hit us yet, but everything is completely down. Been dead for over 20 minutes now. Candles have been lit and now gritting my teeth to performance-coughing from M. Right in the middle of Traitors too. Sid is livid.

Hopefully see you when it's back up. Until then, strength and courage brave and wise friends. xx

@Carpetburn I slowly upped my activity levels last year (I started from zero after 7 years of chronic illness) and am now on 15-20k steps a day, 3 heavy weights sessions a week (about to move to 4 - each 45 mins), an hour of pilates and two 30 minute cardio sessions - sometimes running, if not then a mix of rowing, stairclimber and incline walking.

Stay safe, @REP22. I hope you and Sid are snuggled in for the night.

@Lavrander I think when I say I'm not interested in the days, I mean that after 59 days (or whatever it is now) the last time I stopped I would be in a different situation health-wise from the one I'm in now. It may have ben better, or it may have been worse. It is perfectly possible for someone who's been sober for 10 years to be physically far worse than someone on Day 12 - there are so many variables involved. My situation is a bit different from most, in that I am very interested in the extent of my liver damage. That is mixed up with anger/disappointment at myself for letting the 'better diagnosis' go to my head, and thinking it would be ok to have an odd drink. My drinking was nowhere near the same as it was before, but it was creeping up to once a week or so. Someone with a healthy livhereer drinking at that level would be unlikely to have harmed themselves, but despite mine not being cirrhotic it was compromised, and it was enough to push mine over the edge. I will get an appointment with the liver nurse in Spring. There will be bloods taken and I'll get an ultrasound as usual. My plan is to ask for another fibroscan then. I don't think I'll get one on the NHS, but if not I might arrange one privately so I can make comparisons and maybe push to speak to a hepatologist (I currently go to the gastrology department). I read somewhere that you can only do that at your first appointment (which was years ago) but I can ask.

I'm rambling. when I started being teetotal I had a very basic spreadsheet and filled in a cell in green for every dry day. I couldn't bear the thought of having to put a red one in and spoil the green page, so I fully understand where you're coming from. It's just that my current circumstances are such that I have different things on my mind, ITSWIM.

@Carpetburn and others - I don't mind answering questions about liver-related things from regulars. There have been a couple of times when I've felt that people dropping in, asking how much I used to drink then disappearing were using my situation to reassure themselves, and I'm not keen on that. Not because I'm secretive, but because people's bodies are different. FWIW I drank a bottle or two of wine most nights. Far too much, but not at the litre of spirits stage that many people survive after years of doing it. The point is that the quantities are neither here nor there, really. There are so many variables with this.

@FiloPasty the moussaka was a HelloFresh one, and it was one of their better veggie recipes. I will save the ingredient list and make it when we stop getting the deliveries again.

Hope you get your power back soon @REP22 and congrats to all of you on the weight loss. Really hoping for some here in due course. Barely recognise myself in photos these days, not that I was ever that small to begin with!

Wasn’t traitors great tonight?!

Im still on holiday so apologies for the brief post. I’m still AF though and very pleased with myself. There are (surprisingly) loads of AF options here so I’ve been able to sample a few I may not have tried before. I don’t want to say too much incase I ‘out’ myself in RL (which has happened before on MN and caused a lot of drama) but I’m back home over the weekend.

You're absolutely right @ShyMaryEllenabout the variables. Whilst it's easy to try and compare to decide whether 'we' are in danger or not, the point is that you just don't know until you do. I do see what you mean as well re time sober as well. Have you looked at going private sooner or is there no point yet?

And yes traitors was brilliant tonight @TheMentalMentalLoad. Glad your holiday is going well. I couldn't believe all the AF drinks on the menu when I went; had never looked at that section before!

I don’t think there’s much point, @Lavrander . There is no treatment available- just management of some of the symptoms- and sober time can make a difference, so I want to get 6 months or so under my belt before asking for a fibroscan. I am not a fan of private healthcare - I think that care should be based on clinical need before ability to pay - but won’t mind getting a test done for my own peace of mind. Of course that could backfire quite spectacularly, couldn’t it?

I agree about Traitors! It was an excellent episode!

Wow @HorrorFan81 that is impressive. I try to do 10,000 steps but in these dark windy nights I revert to the sofa! But I do go to gym consistently now so it’s all progress!
@ShyMaryEllen thank you. You are so right in terms of we just don’t know what our bodies can manage-everyone is different. I used to agonise internally over every twinge in the vicinity of my liver but it didn’t stop me as there were always people who were “worse”.Its not about units per se-although when I did tot up mine realistically I was pretty horrified as I’d underestimated by about a third. But whether it’s a glass or a goldfish bowl every drink for me causes terrible anxiety, poor sleep, a poor mood and physically feeling crap. And it seems to take so many of us- myself included a few goes on the merry go round before something clicks.
And on that note I shall retire until tomorrow my friends!

Day 2 in the bag! I’m a dog groomer and although I had one very difficult grooms today I nailed it. I have never groomed under the influence but have never felt I was working at 💯 as I had been drinking the night before. Today I felt present rather than getting tired and irritated - dogs can be hard to work with - I was focused and relaxed 🐶🩷

I was really pleased with myself and then DH went and spoilt it. I asked him if he had bought me some more AF wine from Adii and he said “no, there’s a bottle of your wine in the fridge” i.e. 12.5% Sauvignon Blanc 😡