alcohol overindulgence

[Inky]

I've always been partial to the odd drink or two. I was practically weaned on it. None of my family are alcoholics but all drink (probably quite a lot). Always a beer or 2 with lunch (even brunch), not to mention every evening.

During my pregnancy I found it quite difficult to abstain, and almost impossible while I was breastfeeding.

Now I find I'm drinking quite a lot (on average half a bottle of wine every night). The thing that brought it to my attention was I was trying to loose weight but found it impossible to not drink. Is this just because of the strain (I am finding it quite difficult at the moment - at home full time, although I do have something to go to with the kids every day), no time off, not very helpful & very over worked dh, no family for help. Or does it sound to you like I'm a raging alckie?

I rarely wake up with a hangover but always wake up feeling shit, mainly due to a lack of sleep. I could solve both problems (ie too much booze & not enough sleep) by going to bed as soon as I put the kids down, but then I don't feel like I've had any chance to unwind, have any peace or adult conversation or any break from work.

I have no self control - I can't just watch one TV programme - I'll stare at any old rubbish all night, nor can I have just one malteseer - It has to be the whole (family pack). I can't just have 1 drink it always ends up being loads.

Any helpful & un-condemming comments/advice please.

Inky, I've one child, a 16 month old daughter. You don't have to cut back on your social life at all, me and dh manage to get out every weekend. I usually go out with friends on a Friday and he will go out on a Saturday, we go out as a family on Sundays! One of us will try to remain sober in case anything happens with dd, for instance on Friday night she was up all night with snuffles and a temperature.

I know what you mean about babysitters and waiting for the phone to ring, but dd usually sleeps right through without a problem, and the more often you have a sitter, the more confident you get in leaving them. After all, what's the worst that could happen? The world will not be thrown to chaos just because you've gone out for the night!

Saying that though, I am definitely going to cut back on the alcohol, I didn't realise we could only have 14 units. How about we all set our own personal targets to aim for and go for that? If we drink more than our target we have to confess all on Mumsnet. Of course, allowances will have to be made for Christmas and so on.

So a merry christmas followed by a non-alcoholic new year seems to be the general consensus here.

I've been meaning to post this thank you for ages, and here is a good place to put it.

Kia, months ago you posted a tip about hangover cures. You said as well as taking something to mask your headache, try a Berocca tablet dissolved in water. It was tops for stopping that morning after feeling. I tried it and you are so right. I went from a being a virtual zombie to a proper functioning mother. I have had reason to rely on it a few times since, and every time the Berocca has done the trick. So a big, big thank you Kia. And as with all good tips, I thought I'd pass it on.

Tigermoth, I could use Berocca too - only occasionally, mind! - where do you get it, please?

I just went back on my non-alcoholic weekdays - I am sat here drinking a bottle of wine! I had a blazing row with dh about a pheasant!
I'll try harder next time.

Tigermoth - think I'll be buying some in time for this weekend!

You can get Berocca from Boots. The tablets are full of vitamins and dissolve in water to leave a mildly fizzy orange flavoured drink.

Lizzer, if you can't get hold of some, I'll bring mine along on Saturday.

Headed to Boots in a bit but it is possibly the smallest branch ever and may not stock it! So if you don't mind Tigermoth....

Pamina I did this smiley face by 'accident' on the 'virus' thread so worked out how to do it. It is fantastic isn't it and I'm going to over use it completely now! You do it by putting a colon : followed straight away by a capital 'o'

he, he ,he!

Oooooooooh! Right everybody, you all said you were cutting down in January and I wondered whether you had Thought I'd resurrect this thread since I just had a laugh reading it. Have to admit that I haven't had a drink in two days since I've got a terrible cold...

I'd also like to keep my drinking down and lose some weight so wondered if anyone was interested in keeping tabs along with me this month? I know a friend who stopped drinking for a month and lost a stone...

I now only drink once a week thanks to the diet. Unfortunately its usually a bottle of wine so I'm going to work on cutting that down as its the alcohol that puts my weight on. When I got pregnant I lost loads of weight in the beginning because I stopped drinking.

Just to add something about Berocca - if you take one before you go out, one before you go to bed AND one in the morning - bing! No hangover!

This thread again! Arghh! Makes me feel instantly guilty! I admire anyone who is trying to cut down. I don't find that drinking a couple of glasses of white a night puts on weight though, so I have no insentive to give it up! However, I am going to have to stop soon, when I try to get pregnant, so I am enjoying my last few weeks with great gusto! Soon I'll be back on this thread hoping for lots of support when I give it up!

Hello - my name is Charliesmummy and I am a Gin Drinker.

That's it - I have said it, OUTED. And I love it, I need two in the evenings one before bathtime and when one it over !.

Thank you for listening.

Right Jessi, let's encourage each other. I have about 8-12 lb to lose and it may not sound much but from my body it's bloody near impossible now!! I've lost some weight since January but need lots of incentive to get rid of the rest (I'm 5ft 11+in). I've got a big birthday coming up at the end of March and I WILL lose my flabby-flubby tummy by then, my little baby is a very tall 2 and a half year old now so I've no excuse. I had a miscarriage in November 2001 and really do hope that we can soon fall pregnant again, maybe me fulfilling this long punished but maybe inevitable GOAL will happen now, at last. I want my body of 3 years ago back but don't want the punishment.........

Hi mommy, well, I hadn't been drinking for 3 days or eating much, since I had a terrible cold. But managed 4 glasses of wine last night while watching Sex and The City and reading a book. I know that equates to about 600 calories, which is half my allowance since I have a stone 1/2 or so to lose, so not a successful day!

A friend just emailed me with her diet, which is to eat nothing but apples until the evening and then have whatever you want. She's lost 5lb so I'm sure it works, but I don't think it's very healthy! Today I haven't eaten anything but only because I got up at 11am and had a 2 hour bath! (ds is away with his dad). I think my old dieting habits of no fat, lots of fruit and veg, v. little alcohol and some lean meat and fish will work if I can manage to follow it. Don't know about you, but I find calorie counting really hard...

Hello my name is Rhubarb and I drink lager and red wine, and bitter, and Guinness, and well, lets face it, anything under the sun! Probably about 20 units a week.

I'm doomed aren't I?

Thought I'd add my twopennies worth. I'm not afraid to admit that I like a drop of the old Devil's poison, but I have cut back (a bit!) since Jan to help with my weight loss plan. Sadly as we all know, booze is full of empty calories (even if it does do just the job)

re the empty calories - does anybody out there know exactly how many empty calories there are in one pub-measure-size (1/6 of a bottle?) glass of fairly beefy red wine (12.5-13.5%)?????
I'm not sure I really want to know but it might help gee me up!

OK Mommy you're on! I'm sure you'll do it by the end of March, thats a good month. My problem is that I don't eat during the day (except occassionaly abit of ds's lunch)Have a big meal at supper, washed down with a few large glasses of wine. I need to TOTALLY change my habits, which is a bore as I'm not overweight at the mo. However, I realise I am not maintaining my weight in a healthy way, and the wines got to go. Arghh! I dread this so much but if I get pregnant (healthily) in return then its not so bad really!

About 100 I think Jahn, for a pub measure.
About 300 if you come round to my house...

...and if you come to my house the measure can be up to half a bottle I've got some of those 'serious smell the tones and bouquet, etc' red wines glasses but I do abuse them when they come out I must admit.

Anyway Jasper, Jessi, Rozzy, Wickedwaterwitch (or anyone else please ask if interested) could Mumsnet please give you my E-mail address and I'll keep in touch with you direct - lots of support needed!!!. I was doing so well up to last weekend, I had lost about 7lb in total over a few weeks and felt really good in certain clothes, ie some trousers being just 'that' bit looser, anyway I've been off work all this week and although I had planned to be busy doing stuff I've had a chest infection (ALWAYS happens I'm ill when off work) so can't be bothered to do anything but keep dropping off to sleep, beetween the normal routine chores that is.....can't slip.....

Hi all. I well and truly blew it last night. Went to a friend's house and had 2 glasses of wine and then went out to the pub with friends and drank another 4? 5? with soda so I don't feel quite as bad as if they had been straight glasses. I'd only eaten 2 marmite sandwiches all day though so maybe I won't have blown the diet too much. NOT the healthiest way to do it Todays hangover means that theres no way I can face any alcohol tonight...

Wickedwaterwitch - Don't worry, I'll be drinking your share tonight!