Calling Time on Wine - 100 Day Reset | Thread 2: One Day at a Time - Together

[therockingbird]

Welcome to Thread 2 of Calling Time on Wine 100 Day Reset 🍵

If you’re here, you’re doing something genuinely brilliant. This reset isn’t about perfection, shiny lives, or pretending it’s easy. It’s about choosing ourselves one day at a time, even when life keeps lobbing chaos our way.

We’ve already proven we can sit with hard evenings, bad days, stress, boredom, celebrations, and still not reach for wine.

Thread 2 is about keeping the momentum going, supporting each other, being honest when it’s tough, celebrating the wins and remembering why we started when motivation wobbles. Clearer heads. Stronger bodies. 💪

So pull up a chair, grab your tea, water, or AF alternative, and keep going. You are not doing this alone - and you are doing so well. 💛

I understand where you are coming from.
I journalled a bit last year and all so positive early on.. then all went downhill later in the year.
I havent really written anything this year - not quite sure why, but prob cause I only really have the evening after kida are in bed,and then I catch up here and then want to switch off - TV or book. And im lazy :)

@AuraBora I think I was supplementing my energy with alcohol, because I always feel lively when I have a drink. I've just googled it out of interest and it is a thing known as 'sobriety fatigue'. It seems to be an American term but still, it's a real thing. Reading up on things like this really makes me concerned about what alcohol was doing to my body and although I'm not committed to being AF beyond the 100 days, the more time goes on I think I'm becoming almost a little fearful of drinking again, but yet I still don't want to imagine that I won't ever drink again. It's very confusing. Anyone else feel like that?

Chucking the wine away was weird but it felt like a good step. There's still plenty of alcohol in the house but having the open, perfectly chilled white in my face every time I opened the fridge was starting to feel unnecessary. I thought several times 'oh it's only a glass, I may aswell finish it' but I know for sure I'd get a taste for it and I'd move onto other stuff.

Reading the old journals was interesting I was going through my divorce at the time and dealing with a tough situation at work all that has passed now and my life is quite settled especially now I'm not drinking and creating unnecessary chaos.
I will more than likely face more challenges and I know from experience that drinking will only make matters worse.
I'm trying not to think too far ahead but I'm definitely not drinking until my next blood test. By then I'll have gone 120 days.

I'm using the Trydry app and find it really useful, but haven't used it as a journal.
I cooked my roast dinner and my eldest DS joined us. I'd normally have had a bottle of wine whilst cooking and wouldn't really have enjoyed the meal. It was nice to be completely present and not worried there wouldn't be any wine left for me to drink alone when everyone had gone.
I'm in bed with my sleepy tea, all my pots are done looking forward to waking up sober tomorrow.

Morning all on day 40 - woah. I am hugely proud of myself to have got this far.

Just did my weekly weigh-in and there was no loss this week. It’s a bit demoralizing but I’ve lost 11lb in six weeks so can’t really complain.

Now having a smug sober coffee in bed. It’s mad to think we will soon be halfway through February. It’s noticeably lighter in the mornings now. Happy Monday folks!

I went out for a lovely meal at a pub with famiky this weekend and had a flavoured tonic when usually I'd have a large white wine. Felt fine about it and enjoyed being sober and the best thing was a good night's sleep and no waking up wondering what I said. Worth it!

Morning @freshstart2026 ive not weighed myself for years but I know I've but weight on because I've had to go up a size. Might dust off the scales out of curiosity.
I've made a coffee just enjoying that whilst I plan my day. I'm off work all week and it will be my first week off not drinking so I plan on being productive whilst I've got some momentum more sorting and organising is the plan.
DS3 needs a new mattress and I can buy one with the money I've saved which is a lovely feeling.
Wishing everyone a happy sober Monday.

DS3 needs a new mattress and I can buy one with the money I've saved which is a lovely feeling.

That is great @Icecreamhelps 🙌 It feels SO good not wasting a fortune on alcohol doesn’t it?

I also have a day off work today so it’s another day decluttering and sorting for me too. There’s a long way to go but I feel I’m making progress. I’ve got rid of several binbags of stuff (mainly clothes that no longer fit the DC and toys they never play with).

Good morning all. Day 41 of the 100-day reset.
Honestly… who even am I? 😅

Last night my son said: “Mum, you’re basically two-thirds of the way there already… will you stop completely?” That stopped me in my tracks as I haven’t given it any thought up until then. Is this the end of me and alcohol?

I’m more productive.
My head is clearer at work, even though work is still tough and keeps on giving.
The difference is me. My mindset has shifted. It doesn’t all feel so doom-and-gloom anymore. I can see solutions instead of just problems.

Mornings are easier. My patience is better. I’m showing up properly - for my kids, my work, and myself.

I don’t have all the answers and I’m not making bold declarations. But I am proud!

If you’re struggling today: remember your why?

If you’re quietly wondering what comes next, you’re not alone.

One day at a time still counts. And 40/41 days is no small thing 💪💛 I’m so super proud of us all.

I said this weekend for the first time 'I've stopped drinking alcohol' and no one was interested in the least. That was good for me - this is my thing and I'm the one doing it, no one is watching other than me. My achievement and my business - feeling good about that!

Similar thing happened to me. Wasnt a huge announcement - was out with friends and brother asked if I wasn't drinking i just said, 'havent since xmas, just not agreeing with me anymore'. That was it. No fuss or bother. Id really angsting about how to approach it. Mad isn't it.

Day 40! Hard to believe given the amount I used to drink every week!
Like others I am very tired,but attribute that to my fibromyalgia. I've lost some weight and look less puffy and bloated. Next target is 50 days.

Day 40 for me. I'm so so pleased with myself. I haven't gone this long without alcohol (well wine) since I was pregnant.

I don't think I've lost any weight - I've been eating my weight in biscuits - but hoping to knock that on the head this month. My skin looks better to me.

I feel a ton better- more positive generally. Not feeling shame and guilt about drinking is lovely. I've a ton of doctor's appointments set up and instead of dreading/postponing I'm facing them. I took my own blood pressure a couple of days ago - instead of being high as it usually is, it was normal. I'm hoping that will be the case when I go back to my GP in April (she told me in January that if I stayed off wine my blood pressure would drop by itself).

Every single person who posts on this thread has helped me reach these 40 days.

Onwards!

Well done everyone on reaching day 40! You’ll be half way there before you know it. I’m still here - still not drinking (I’ve had a couple of drinks on a couple of occasions this year but it hasn’t sent be back to old ways), I feel like I’ve had a genuine shift. I’m sat here thinking how great my skin feels thanks to my new skin care regime. I’ve lost a couple of kgs. Life is not easy but it feels genuinely more manageable. Thank you all for your amazing support. Xx

Sorry to say had a real wobble today.. actually I poured myself a tiny glass of beer (DP had open can in the fridge) and had a few sips - then didnt have any more!
I had an awful day for a number of reasons - mainly DS behaviour and just felt wiped out this afternoon and at the end of my tether.
Im so glad now I didnt go any further but it's upset me that I wanted a drink so badly...

Just to say - my DH has always said if I prefer not to have the booze around then he will make sure it's not in the fridge etc.. but I didn't think I was at all tempted.
I told him and he said he could get rid of it/not have it lying around but I do think I just need to get used to it. I made a mint tea and after 30 mins or so I felt much better and the moment had passed.

@AuraBora I would say well done for not carrying on drinking the beer- don't underestimate what a change in behaviour that is ( I'm guessing).
I have never liked beer but have had a couple of zero beers recently as I got tired of tea and I don't really like coke/ lemonade etc.
I've come to realise that however difficult/ boring/ upsetting the day, however tired/ poorly I feel alcohol would not improve the situation at all and I would feel cross with myself for the waste of time/ money and interrupting my yellow cups on the try dry app- it's a grown up version of a sticker chart and the little girl in me likes it 😉

@Iamateadrinker
Thank you! Yes that's exactly it. I played it forward in my mind.. I thought "I might feel better momentarily if I drink this beer,but I won't stop at 1.. ill carry on. And then in an hour or so,and for the rest of the evening, night and beyond ill feel totally shit about it..."
So that was it!

P.s. just to say, I feel this scenario is quite different to those who've had a drink socially. It was very much a "want to drown my sorrows" moment and i know that I have to learn proper/bettwe coping strategies as alcohol solves nothing!

Huge well done @AuraBora for being so restrained and not pressing the fuck it button!

@Iamateadrinker I also love my yellow cups on Try Dry. You’re right, it is essentially a sticker chat for grown-ups 🤣

Day 41 here and have had a dreadful sleep due to DH tossing and turning and waking me up. As I always say though, the tiredness is far easier to cope with when I’m not also battling a dreadful hangover.

I’m also targeting day 50. I know this challenge isn’t about counting down days, but what a milestone that will be! 😮

Something I’ve been thinking about this morning is: how do “normal” people drink? Do they go to the pub on a Saturday and just have one glass of wine (two max) or a pint, and alternate with soft drinks? Then not drink later at home and abstain for the rest of the week until the following weekend?

By comparison, on a Saturday I would have a few glasses of wine at the pub then the best part of a bottle during the evening at home, so probably having about 15 units in total in one day 😱 I’d probably have 0.75 of a bottle on Sunday.

I’m asking as I would love to be able to drink like a “normal” person eventually, but right now I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to.

Morning, had a dreadful night's sleep last night woke up for the toilet at 1am then stayed awake for about an hour with terrible pain in my left hip. I finished my book last night first book I've finished in years.
I've been feeling a bit meh the past few days not depressed just flat. I've also had a little bit of low level anxiety with find things that need fixing around the house that I've not dealt with or noticed whilst I was drinking daily.
@AuraBora great work in recognising the urge to just drink to numb your feelings. I can imagine that wasn't easy.
@Iamateadrinker I log my day as drink free in the morning on the trydry app it helps my resolve I've already made the decision not to drink that day. I love getting that little tea cup every morning and seeing how much money I won't be spending.
I was looking through my bank statement for December the amount of uber eats or tesco whoosh deliveries for wine late at night really stood out. Of course I couldn't order just wine so there would be random stuff I didn't even need.
I've not ordered any in 36 days.

I’m asking as I would love to be able to drink like a “normal” person eventually, but right now I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to.
@freshstart2026 I ask myself this quite a lot. I try and look back at my past because we all mostly start out as normal drinkers. Before my 40's I didn't really drink, it just crept up on me I started using alcohol to cope with stress and now what I know was perimenopause a glass of wine after a hard day at work was relaxing and felt sophisticated.
I am now thinking that it might no longer be possible for me. At the moment having a drink scares me.

Morning all.
I too tick the day off first thing- telling myself I’m not drinking today in advance. The point I want to get to is to stop thinking thst I’m not drinking and then “ remember” that I’ve not updated my app and gleefully fill in a week or ten days. I think that would be a very positive shift from the daily “ I’m not drinking” thoughts to just acceptance.
Feeling so tired, low and flat and was positively fuming in work yesterday for no reason. I’m not attributing these automatically to having given up alcohol though.
Im looking forward to my dr call next week where hopefully they can advise something to get my iron moving around my body as I’m unnaturally tired. I have never slept better though which is ironic as feel more tired than when I was slugging a bottle of wine daily.
And yes re the Whoosh delivery! Literally searching through the cupboards thinking what do I need so I can order wine and it seems totally normal at nine pm to suddenly need white rice and loo roll!!

I also spent a fortune on Whoosh deliveries and Uber Eats - both buying wine and then takeaways the next day to soak up the hangover. I’ve only inputted the amount I spent on actual drink in the app, but if you added in takeaways it would be a lot, lot more!

@freshstart2026 I think a normal drinker drinks differently depending on the circumstances. I think my DP is very 'normal' in that when he was younger, he drank more, now he's older and we have kids the cost benefit analysis is different so he drinks much less. He has the odd beer at home. He will rarely (almost unheard of) have 2. If his brother stays with us (he drinks a fair bit more than my DP) he might have a few beers (probably not more than 4 in an evening) but that might be a few times a year. Likewise on the rare occasion he gors to the pub, a 'big' night out would be 4 pints and again that might happen a handful of times a year. For him, drinking is a non-issue, he likes a drink but he absolutely doesn't want to be hungover and he is reasonably health conscious so he drinks infrequently. Drink does not fill any hole for him or act as any kind of a plaster or a distraction. It's simple, it's uncomplicated - he enjoys it but he doesn't need it, it's not a problem not to have it. I suspect he almost never thinks about it. So he's my idea of a 'normal drinker'.

I think the problem for people like us that it's hard to drink normally without being prescriptive because our brains are not normal when it comes to alcohol so we can't rely on ourselves to drink normally - we have to set rules. Have you read / listen to Adrian Chiles The Good Drinker? It's interesting. He has drunk a lot his entire life but cut down significantly after getting some concerning results from a liver scan (I think). He now logs his intake and keeps it below 30 units a week. That's obviously more than the guidance but he has decided that's a risk he is prepared to take because he really enjoys drinking. I guess the point here is he hasn't just said 'I'll be a normal drinker now' he has rules, and he actually has a whole section on rules different people use to moderate.