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. 💛

Sorry to hear this. I can sympathise as although I have had some good days, I'm very up and down.

Lots of headaches and feeling quite fed up for a variety of reasons.
Having a lot of bedtime woes with my DS (last night he didn't settle till gone 9 and he is 3!) - not being able to relax in the evening and so positive things that I want to do e.g. meditation/reading/yoga or pilates is getting me down.

I need to up my vitamins though, this could also be contributing (they ran out few days ago and I havent restocked but also need to reassess what im taking)

It's very gloomy at the moment though isn't it? I really don't like end of Jan going into Feb..and feel I have nothing to look forward to for ages!!

Evening all. I haven't been online for a few days and the thread has moved fast!

I had a few wines with a friend on Saturday 🤦‍♀️ then came home and had a bit more. I won't lie - I really enjoyed it, but I had a headache Sunday (never ever normally get a headache or hangover).. and I know I had more than I should. And unusually (and importantly) I didn't have that feeling of 'well I've "failed" now so may as well crack open a bottle while cooking Sunday dinner' (that Sunday wine while cooking is a particular favourite). It didn't even enter my head, and my resolve is back.

I may not have completed dry Jan (wasn't technically possible as I started on the 4th anyway...) but I'm quite happy at the moment with AF at the ratio I have this month - 2-3 occasions of drinking and that's it. If I can commit to 90% or more of my months being AF, and only actually drinking on a social occasion and not at home solo, that's a great starting point. Obviously, it's sticking to it and dealing with those months with lots of plans, which I have to really think about. I'm definitely going to drive to more things, for a start. I'm not sure this is in the 100 day spirit but I'm finding the chat, support and posts incredibly motivating so I hope you don't mind me staying around.

@AuraBoraJanuary is so grim isn’t it? However, I went out at 5pm today and it wasn’t totally pitch black. It was pretty dark… but not totally dark. That’s definitely an improvement. I get a little obsessed by the change in daylight hours around this time of year so perhaps this isn’t quite as cheering for you as it is for me 😂

@ImALittlePeawell done for not writing off the weekend and carrying on on Sunday, that’s great progress!

Evening all. How we all doing? Still standing strong in day 28..!! 💪

I had a moment today in the gym - caught sight of myself in the mirror and was pleasantly surprised by how fresh faced I looked. My eyes are clearer and the bags have definitely improved. I just feel better in myself and that’s a huge win for me. I’d been functioning on very little sleep hungover daily from the night before.. not very productive at work and just limping through life. Now I feel more focused and switched on, I’m getting shit done and tackling jobs I’d been putting off for some time. At the check out in front of me tonight in Sainsburys was a woman buying two bottles of red wine and some other random stuff - that used to be me. Tuesday night, don’t really need any groceries but throwing a few things in the basket to glaze over the wine purchase. I actually felt quite sad for the woman in front of me (she may just be stocking up and not like me at all) no judgement whatsoever but it was an eye opener moment.

I’m just feeling really good about this AF life right now! Not counting down the days to the end of January has definitely shifted my mindset-this isn’t dry Jan, this is my reset and I’m absolutely embracing it.

Well done @therockingbird ! What a positive post ❤️

Sounds great @therockingbirdand a needed reminder that I’m feeling good too and enjoying AF life!

Reminder needed as I’m feeling so tired and grumpy this evening!!!

Another day sober 💪 Well done us!

No time to catch up on the thread today but hope to do soon. Good night all!

.

Day 23 I'm on an early shift today. I can drive safely to work. Four weeks ago I would have got an uber then the bus home.

Morning all. Had a situation yesterday that I wanted to share. My very good friends Dads funeral is next Friday and we were discussing the arrangements when she said ( via text) oh you will have a few wines with me won’t you as we ll be into February then.
My first thought was no I don’t want to drink and my second how dare you ask me. Then I felt guilty that I should to support her ( which is ridiculous)
So now I will need to make up excuses and drive etc but also she will have her large family etc round her so won’t notice if I’m not drinking. I expect these situations are to be expected but it did throw me a bit.

Still going strong
Positives for me - far, far less anxiety about 'real' day to day events and " what ifs" - I tend to borrow trouble.
Absolutely always able to drive - for clarity I never drove when I would be over the limit but would miss or delay going places/ feign a headache so someone else would drive, now I am clear headed and can do what I please.
More productive at work and home.
Disappointments - still feeling tired with broken sleep and needing a nap in the afternoon on my days off.
No weight loss as am craving puddings/ ice cream which never bothered me before.
However, neither of the above will be helped by alcohol so my resolve to continue is strengthened.
Keep on keeping on everybody

Hi everyone, I haven't been very active on the thread but I am still here on day 28. I normally do Dry January, but this is my first time not counting down the days to the end of Jan. I only just noticed that the 31st is Saturday, and I do feel glad it isn't Friday. I tend to have more will power on Saturdays after a good rest.

Anyway, for those planning to do 100 days, it will be Tuesday that marks our 33%. (I am secretly - to myself - thinking I may go beyond 100, but don't want to commit to that out loud yet).

I am enjoying some good TV since I have my evenings more free! Industry on Iplayer (very dramatic and debauched) and looking forward to the new season of Shrinking on Apple TV, which is released today.

Morning all! I can’t believe it’s day 28 already. Time is flying. 33% sounds huge @GoodNamesOnly!

I’m still struggling with sleep, mostly due to DH’s snoring I think. When I was drunk I’d just pass out so it wasn’t an issue, but now I’m struggling to nod off because it keeps me awake.

Does anyone have any goals for February (other than staying sober of course)? Thanks to not drinking I’ve got quite a lot done in January - including a fair bit of household admin, medical appointments (including a long overdue smear test) and money stuff I never had the energy for due to hangovers. I’m also pleased with my weight loss. For February I’m going to continue on with the 5:2 diet but also start work on my skincare (I have quite spotty skin) and make sure I floss every evening.

Here’s to another sober day!

@SwiftyFiftythats tricky - I probably wouldn’t make a big deal now of the fact you won’t be drinking. As you say, on the day, she probably won’t notice and if she does I doubt she’ll be too bothered. Where is the wake? Will you be able to get and AF beer? Good to have a plan around what you will drink I find (maybe not necessary for you though).

Morning all! Feeling pretty perky today, it’s not raining 🙌

is anyone noticing they are drinking fewer AF drinks? I was having an AF beer most nights and the last few nights I’ve not really thought to. That feels like a bit of progress - whilst I am not going to get worked up if I ‘need’ an AF beer to stave off the nightly wine habit, I also realise it would be better for that not to be necessary (iyswim).

Wake at a pub! I think she will be so distracted thst she won’t notice I’m not drinking. I can also use the driving as an excuse. The good thing is that I would have used this before as an excuse to break my af stint as I was “ helping a friend “
I remember when a previous party animal stopped dribking ( she never drank at home and was a lightweight out but still) it only took a few months / nights out before people just recognised her as a non drinker. I think if you dip in and out that’s the problem but if you do it for a while and just announce you don’t drink anymore then hopefully people will just accept it sooner rather than later.

Yes, so good to see the sun (finally!) I’m feeling positive because February is in our sights. I imagine January must be the hardest month in this process and we’ve nearly done it 💪

I find AF beers really helpful for social situations but can mostly take or leave them at home. If I was having one every night it wouldn’t bother me though - they’re AF (or near as damnit) after all!

So you’ve answered your own question from yesterday @SwiftyFifty! Which is that I guess we all need to be mentally prepared for the inevitable assumption by other people that it’s business as usual, booze-wise, from Feb 1. Otherwise you end up having to react in the moment and it’s easy to get a bit flustered/defensive about it.

Can totally relate to the feeling of letting other people down somehow if you’re not drinking. My birthday’s coming up and DH has planned a few days away for us, which is lovely, but I can tell he’s preemptively disappointed that I probably won’t be drinking. Which I understand - I’m definitely better company and more lively with a few wines inside me, and this would usually be the point that I’d cave because it feels unfair on him.

But I’m going to try to stick with it this time. My approach is “I’m not saying I’ll never drink again, but I’ve set a goal for myself of 100 days that I’d really like to achieve and I think will be really beneficial for my health”. Framed as a kind of challenge you’re undertaking, with an end date, makes it more difficult for people to justify knocking you off course.

And when we get to 100 days hopefully everyone will have got so used to us not drinking that we can redefine our approach to it however we choose, without feeling under pressure to justify ourselves.

Also, I posted previously on the thread about how I’ve been wavering over whether to continue not drinking in February. A dangerous voice in my head was whispering that if I complete Dry January, that’s a big achievement and I can go back to drinking in February.

For accountability I’m saying here that I’m fully committing to Dry February, no ifs no buts! 💪 💥 💪 💥

Oof - feels good (but a little scary) to say it! 🤣

@EnjoythemoneyJane "I’m definitely better company and more lively with a few wines inside me, and this would usually be the point that I’d cave because it feels unfair on him." I would question whether this is actually true.... are you actually better company? Often people like us to drink because they want to drink and you probably are better company to a drunk person if you are drunk. I have had some absolutely wonderful nights out with friends when we have all been sober and I feel like I was great company on those occasions.

YES @freshstart2026 - you've got this 💪

@freshstart2026 I was also thinking at the start that I'd probably just do dry January and that would be good enough, 100 days is quite a big (and scary) commitment isn't it?! But surprisingly, I'm not ready to break my streak. Today is my day 29 so I'm almost at 30 days and I'm not dying for a wine, I can't believe it! So I'm with you, Dry February here we come.

@2026x, I think in my case it’s probably true unfortunately 🫣!

I 100% agree that it’s possible to socialise happily without it - lots of meet-ups with friends are centred around walking or coffee, and those conversations are always lovely. I just haven’t yet mastered the art of transferring that to parties/dinners/evenings out, which feel like they need a different energy.

If an occasion requires a bit more social oomph, I can’t seem to muster up the required ‘happy, chatty’ vibes without the artificial boost that booze gives me, and I definitely feel more yawny and less up for it when I’m not drinking. Instead of feeling excited and looking forward to whatever the evening brings, I often find I’m battling tiredness a couple of hours in, which makes me less-than-scintillating company, and I start getting asked if I’m ok or why I’m so quiet. Hence DH’s disappointment, as we undoubtedly have more fun when we’re out if we’re having a few drinks.

But this is something I need to grapple with. For every night where I’ve been quite the social butterfly and the queen of fun, there’s been another when I’ve been a sloppy embarrassment, chatting crap at people, or DH and I have ended up arguing heatedly over some random inconsequential thing. And my biggest downfall is I can never recognise in the moment that it’s starting to tip from pleasure to poison, and that I need to slow down or stop because it’s about to get messy. Mind you, if I had that inbuilt ‘off switch’ I probably wouldn’t need to be on this thread …

🙌💪 @freshstart2026 - you’ve got this!