No bender November

[Grandpianoplayer]

Having failed utterly with Sober October, I wanted to start a thread for anyone who was doing a sober November. 1 day in. Went to a friends party. Managed to not drink. Big tick!

Hi @GrandpianoplayerI am still here!
I have only had a drink on one day in November and that was a celebration. Felt ropey the day after.
I have been using the NHS drink free app. It is literally putting in whether you have had a drink that day and what did you drink but it really makes you think about why you want a drink so I have found it helpful. I look at it every day when I am thinking about drinking.
Probably won’t work for everybody but has put things in perspective for me when I look back through my week.

And well done on your sober days. Seems like you are doing really well

I didn't see this thread before. Going off alcohol in November has long been a thing in Ireland, maybe for Catholics elsewhere, not sure. It's a remembrance of the dead, but of course also gives the liver a break before Christmas.

21 days down, 9 to go. I thought November was meant to be short month!

I’m doing NOvember too. The first few days were hard, once the Halloween buzz wore off. It’s easier now but it’s worrying how much I struggled around bonfire night.

Hoping it might show on the scales too 😬

@WhySoManySocksYes my hope is also to lose some weight. I’ve lost a few pounds already.

I didn't realise this was a thing but I've been doing it too. Mainly to try and shift some weight which is creeping up every year and also to try and feel less groggy and tired in the mornings.

I've allowed myself to have a couple of drinks if I go out or we have friends over but cut out all non social drinking as it had just got to be a habit I didn't really think about. Finish work, pour drink to relax. Bad day, have a drink to unwind. Good day, have a drink to celebrate.

It's been easier than I thought and though I'm trying not to weigh myself too often I've definitely lost a few pounds as my waist is fitting my clothes better and my belly is flatter. Sleep quality much better.

I'm going to try and stick to this as an ongoing lifestyle choice. Moderate social drinking only. Hopefully more sustainable than dry January and then back to old habits.

January is not the month to go dry (quite apart from the first 6 days being part of Christmas). I try to be moderate anyway, and live in the country so usually if I'm going anywhere in the evenings I'll be driving so can't drink. I'll go off it completely again for Lent (so next year from February 16 on). Yes, I looked it up.

How is everyone doing? Is anyone keeping on with it after November?

I’ve decided to sort of keep it up as I haven’t found it too bad. But as Xmas is coming up with quite a few parties to go to I am hoping to moderate.

Yes, I have managed, but I am really looking forward to little glass of something tomorrow!

20 out of 30 days without booze! The point for me was resetting so I feel that's achieved a bit. Not having to go dry but being able to go "nope, not tonight". Let's see if it continues.

Well done. Re-setting is good. Did you manage to find an alternative non-alcoholic drink for that 'phew, now I can sit down with a glass' moment? I went with tomato juice with a slice of lemon and splash of Worcester sauce, or a glass of cold herbal tea (not as nasty as it sounds).