Gain support, strength and motivation from each other as we continue to aim for an alcohol free life, one day at a time.

[Goandygo]

I've started a new thread @feelinglesstired @paintcolourchart @88expertprocastinator @Legssses
We're all at different stages, but we all want the same thing.
I'll post more tomorrow as it's late and I'm feeling tired, but I'm excited for tomorrow and for getting those af days achieved.

Also sorry I never replied to your lovely supportive post @88expertprocastinator!

The spain this is so funny and something I would definitely do. I am a lover when I have had a few not a fighter so thats something I guess. My day one is Monday as I am away this weekend. I just want to NOT reach for a bottle every evening and need to change my habits. Not getting any younger and the calories are starting to show for sure.

@Needtokickit oh I'm a lover not a fighter, too. I give it all away 🤣
@paintcolourchart I know what you mean about not being out of control. I was out of control a few years back - it's not good.

Hi all- lover here too (followed swiftly by weeper ).

managing okay today so far. Usually weekends are lost to alohol but instead I have bought some garden plants, made a lasagne and have bought a tester pot of white paint and painted over some chipped paint in the kitchen. Feeling good.

One day at a time- I keep forgetting that. I am SO all or nothing.

Hugs to you all.

Having a green tea at a cafe local to us and there is a man early 40s wearing a three piece deep purple pinstripe suit and a striped silk tie and trilby hat. He’s with his young daughter and I have seen him around before. I was thinking earlier that when I have eased up energy and funds on booze then I should focus on developing a unique sense of style… he’s inspiring me!!

Omg
Watching the tennis - got some pimms
I have just nearly did myself a Massive Injury
When will I learn ?!!

Football and beers here this evening and already half a bottle of wine in. Tomorrow has to be day 1 of dry even if it is only mon to thursday.

Morning, tribe, how are we all doing ?
I'm back to taking one day at a time. Sunday was a bad day , and Monday I felt awful. Ate so much rubbish. But Monday and Tuesday have both been af, and yesterday especially I felt great, compared to Monday !
I'm looking forward to today, in general. I noticed on Monday that I was feeling quite anxious - drinking definitely does this to me.
Football tonight. But it's on so late ( for me), it's not an issue.
We were invited out but I'd rather stick to.my routine 😇

Every night a bottle of wine. I don't even want it half the time it is literally a habit but I can't justify it anymore I need to stop.

I've had times when I've been exactly like this. I always described it as being on a treadmill I couldn't get off.
Do you buy it in ?
I stopped taking my purse out with me. I still do that now actually. I know it can't work for everyone and people have cards on phones but it works for me.
Or does someone else buy it in ? Could you ask.them not to ?
My sister messaged me the other day to say someone had bought her a bottle of wine. She doesn't drink and said she'd bring it to work. I just asked her not to. I don't want to drink mid week anymore. It makes me feel rubbish.
Could you start afresh tomorrow?
One day at a time?
Just don't buy it. If your mind is drifting towards it, think of something else to do to distract you. The days will mount up, and the benefits will convince you it's worth it. Hope some of this helps 💪

I buy it. I am the one the buys I cannot blame a single other person. Im drinking the last glass in a bottle now and not even enjoying it anymore.

@Needtokickit ok, then do you think you're strong enough to not buy it ?
What could you do instead of buying it ?
Save the money somewhere you can see it - put it towards something nice ?

There are so many things I could be doing but at this point wine I associate with everything. Cleaning, cooking, reading, chilling out. Its just become such a habit and I NEED to stop it.

Again @Needtokickit I've been there. I associated wine with lots of things. Gradually, I've broke the habit.
Cooking - I have a glass of sparkling water, or an af beer
Sport - I've actually found it easier to not drink. I no longer miss anything because I'm.in the kitchen smoking
Being happy - I often drank when I was happy. Now I remind myself I'm happy because I'm NOT drinking
( I'm not perfect by the way - it's been a long time and a lot of reflection to get to this point).
I still can't manage to not drink on holiday 😣

My determination has set in and I want to be booze free at least during the week. I have plenty of things going on. That is a good idea to sub the wine while cooking with something else, maybe a non alc flavoured cider in a glass of ice or something. It won't be tomorrow anyway as it is Saturday... I will come back in on Sunday for a stern talking to though.

Hi all
great to hear from you all and to see that most of you are having some successes - it’s a marathon not a sprint!
I just passed 17 months af and feel like I’m finally in the stage where I don’t think about it anymore.
@Needtokickit i completely identify with your post about associating alcohol with everything else - if it was after 6pm then I had a glass of wine with me.
what I have learned is that this thing takes a lot of willpower. Nothing beats one day at a time @Goandygo made some great points.
at some point - probably after a month or two the habit will be broken but you will still probably want to drink. I read somewhere that the nice hazy feeling of relaxation that you get when drinking is actually your liver becoming overwhelmed by the alcohol - that stark reality was enough to stop me picking up a glass.
I am sad that I can’t drink responsibly and stop after 1 or 2 - but unfortunately I can’t so for me drinking is off the menu.
@FeelingLessTired you sound positive and like you are seeing some of the true benefits of not drinking - it takes a while, but we can all get there…
@paintcolourchart how are you doing? You were making great progress so I’m hoping you’ve achieved a level where you don’t feel like your drinking is a problem for you.

Oh and a quick ps - DH is still trying to moderate- most weeks he doesn’t drink sun to Wednesday which is obviously an achievement. He does drink Thursday to Saturday and I basically write off every weekend evening as he’s gonna be asleep on the sofa with a glass in his hand by 10pm. What a waste for this kind fun loving intelligent man - I am learning to not judge and ‘let him’ as the saying goes - but it is so hard

@88expertprocastinator well done on 17 months af - truly inspirational ❤️

One advantage of this weather is I cannot stand the thought of drinking. Not like me at all but I'm already not sleeping well and have a banging head that the thought of exacerbating it, is making it a no go area.
I have a few targets for my holiday too. I know I won't be abstaining completely but I'm definitely having thoughts about how I can make it healthier.
Hope we're all ok ? 🔥

So I did have a drink last night but only the one which is a rarity for me. Like you the heat kills me slowly and I was just too tired but even the one night and you can feel the benefits of waking up totally fresh. Such a busy day ahead today and there is a bottle of wine in the cupboard but I am going to try and promise it to myself for tomorrow night instead.

@Goandygo good to have a plan for holiday but try not to overthink it! I was very nervous doing holidays without alcohol but it’s actually no different to doing it at home - I also have much more energy without drink so got to explore and fit loads more in.
@Needtokickit i got to a year by basically promising myself a drink tomorrow if I really wanted it - I never did - literally as simple as that - I won’t drink today was the only promise I made.

reading about your heatwave as I shelter inside after 2 days of torrential rain- summer is late coming for us in Canada!

@88expertprocastinator thanks ❤️
Aahhhh rain - I could dance in it right now. 🤣

Hello @88expertprocastinator@Goandygo@FeelingLessTired @Needtokickit and everyone else.

Sorry for slow reply! Been a (good) busy week. I'm getting better at having longer stretches between, so this week and last week I 'only' drank once with a week between BUT when I did drink it was too much. So sort of progress but also sort of not. I just don't know why I don't have a stop button.

I've been finding joy in other things though which helps. I am still losing interest but for some reason it still has this pull?!

How is everyone else doing?