I've given up alcohol for January and ......

[sandyballs]

.... I'm full of cold, very spotty, I have greasy lank hair and I feel like pooh . I'm even more convinced that a couple of glasses of good wine a night keeps the bugs away and boosts your immune system.

Just thought I'd share this with you

I think a glass of wine is really good for you and these days have a glass of wine four or five nights of the week but if you feel your drinking is a problem then a month off is a good thing too, if nothing else it would help determine the level of addiction.

i've been booze free since new years day

and i think i feel better

honest

Oh dear, had two glasses last night .

We are considering an amnesty for one night tonight

I am rather enjoying life off the booze, I am embarrassed to admit.

In fact DP and I were discussing booze management techniques long-term yesterday (after a meal out during which he drank beer and I drank water). I do like booze but it's also the only drug I could seriously abuse.

Oh I'm on the other drink free thread and have not had a drink since 3rd Jan. And the 2nd was only 1 small glass of wine. I do feel better for it.

Cd, haven't you already had an amnesty? Hmm? Or is it someone else I'm thinking of?

no no that was the first!

We managed four nights off last week - but then have just had four nights back on .

We didn't drink loads on any one night, but I do feel really kind of sleazy now.

I make good resolutions in the morning, but once I've finally finished putting the kids to bed at night all I can think of is racing down to the kitchen and pouring myself a glass...

Any tips for avoiding this?? Apart from staying late at work and avoiding the bedtime rush altogether?

errr....giving up altogether? Chopping your hands off? Sewing up your mouth? Taking metronidazole so you vomit copiously every time you drink?

Sewing up mouth quite appealing, that way would get out of having to read entire chapter of Harry Potter to DS1 as well...

Dino - you sound just like me....

I'm the same as you Dino. Whenever I cut down or give up completely I clean my teeth as soon as I've finished eating to stop me wanting a glass of wine. Or I sit in bed reading in the evenings as I usually drink wine and heat crisps etc in front of the TV of an evening!

I honestly don't understand this.

As long as you're not downing a bottle of wine each every night, then where's the harm in a calming glass when you've put the kids to bed?

Life's for living, this isn't a rehearsal, why deny yourself something you enjoy? Is it a british thing, to feel virtuous about making yourself miserable?

Obviously, If you are a drinker with a problem, I'm all for supporting you to get it under control. But if it's just a relaxing glass then, why not?

yes but like some of the others a glass for me ends up being 2 or 3 and to be so reliant every night isn't very healthy imo. Even if you have a glass a day they do suggest you have 2 alcohol free nights a week. When I was drinking I always went over the 14 untis a week recommendation

I think it's 21 units now they revised it up a while ago

Yes I agree, if I could stick to one glass a night then I wouldn't feel the need to stop drinking for a month twice a year!

And like all these health recommendations, in 2 or 3 years they'll say something different.

I enjoy a glass of red wine nearly every evening, but occasionally just forget to have one, esp as dh is away and I regard having a drink as a social thing.

Often don't bother if I've eaten with ds before 6 p.m.

I honestly can't imagine steadily sipping thru a bottle to myself .

Agree with compo and CD. In my "real" drinking days I was a pretty heavy drinker too.

I also find nowadays that it takes a comparatively small amount to stop me sleeping and make me feel grotty next day.

Agree with Dino (just for a change)

I adore it when people agree with me .

Especially if it's about drinking.

oooh Dino I SO agree with you

Am going to try cleaning my teeth after dinner tonight - see if that puts me off.

I agree with Dino too.

I've given up drinking at home. I still had a glass of red when we wnet to friends for lunch on Sunday, (and quite a lot of champagne and red wine and Sauternes and port on saturday night ), but I've stopped opening a bottle after I've put the kids to bed. Mainly because I wanted to ensure I could, and I was feeling grotty in the mornings after just a couple of glasses.

We eat dinner after the kids are in bed, and I tend to drink sparkling water with lemon with my dinner. I will then potter in the kitchen ather than immediately sink into the sofa with the remote control or a book (which was my wine pouring cue). If I do get a hankering for a glass of wine, I have a couple of pieces of high cocoa dark chocolate - wine doesn't really go with chocolate - and a cup of cammomile tea.