Today I am giving up alcohol.

[mylittlescarypumpkin]

It's been creeping up since I left exP.
To the point where it's every night. Sometimes I look forward to it all day.

It's not good for me, it's messing with my head, and I've started to put on a bit of weight, too.

I'm not expecting it to be easy, and wondered if there's anyone else in a similar position who would appreciate some support along the way.

[southeastastra]

it's easy at the beginning of the week, gets harder by the weekend! i'm going to bar (lol) myself from this site though after 9 cause that sends me a little crazy and makes me sup more

[LouMacca]

Well done so far everyone!

PP - of course you had to finish the wine left in the box. It would drive me mad thinking there was wine in the house and I couldn't have it!

Really wanted a glass of vino last night - instead got a wine glass and filled it with ice and water. Had 3 of those instead (wasn't quite the same and went to the loo twice in the night!)

Am out with the girls on friday night so will be having a couple of -bottles- glasses. If I can get to thurs nite without having a glass I will be really chuffed.

[LouMacca]

Well done so far everyone!

PP - of course you had to finish the wine left in the box. It would drive me mad thinking there was wine in the house and I couldn't have it!

Really wanted a glass of vino last night - instead got a wine glass and filled it with ice and water. Had 3 of those instead (wasn't quite the same and went to the loo twice in the night!)

Am out with the girls on friday night so will be having a couple of bottles glasses. If I can get to thurs nite without having a glass I will be really chuffed.

[scattercushion]

Hi all,
I'm two weeks into a month of being on the wagon. It's been hard but do-able. I decided I needed a break from the old boozo as it was definitely becoming a habit. Usually four nights a week, and drinking heavily at weekends. I think I went to social events BECAUSE I could have a drink. When I mentioned giving up to a friend she says 'ooh yes I think I drink too much - we open a bottle on Friday, finish it on Saturday and THEN open another bottle on Sunday' I just did a hollow laugh. Anyway, what I've found really helpful is non-alcoholic lager, particularly the Bavaria brand. It's palatable and still feels a bit like a treat. I even hesitated to drive after drinking it, it's so convincing!

[Phoenix]

Well done everyone

Ice water in the wine glass is a good idea. I find one of the hard things is having nothing to do with your hands iykwim so i'm having a glass of juice or coffee instead of a lager.

Good luck for tonight everyone

[Phoenix]

Something to hold in your hand i mean.

[Phoenix]

Having nothing to hold in your hand i mean

[LouMacca]

Lol @ Phoenix - know what you mean!

I might try some non-alcoholic wine - anyone tried it?

[scattercushion]

yes I've tried the Eisberg Cabernet Sauvignon - hahah it's nothing like wine, unfortunately. It's more like red grape juice with a vinegary top note. Looks good in a wine glass tho.

[LouMacca]

Thanks. Will give it a miss then.

Yep I always have the Tesco flavoured water in the fridge. I do really like it but can't seem to manage more than 2 glasses at all time.

[BlaDeBla]

Can I join you too? I didn't drink last night and I expect I won't drink tonight, but then it will probably start to build up by about Thursday. It's a problem because I'm beginning to enjoy it too much, and I am seeing a pattern of too much too much of the time! I'm addicted to nicotine pills which is embarrassing, and I don't want to be addicted to alcohol. The low alcohol lager sound worth a try. The last time I drank it it gave me a hangover. Have the brewers sorted that one out yet?

[scattercushion]

BlaDeBla - I go for the non-alcoholic rather than low alcoholic ones.

[jesuswhatnext]

ha ha! - i just got through another lunch break without wine!!!

am absudly pleased with myself

am saving money too!

[hammouhouseofhorror]

100units I didn't follow a diet, but did my own thing. I was going to put a thread in a diet topic thingy in case it helped anyone... if I do I will put a link on here tomorrow.

[LuLuMacGloo]

Hoorah - had a wine free night last night. Had a lovely bath instead and strangely didn't miss the vino. My theory is that we all have a 'wine/gin/whatever' hour in the day when we are suddenly desperate for a drink. Mine is horribly early (cooking dinner/homework @4.30) while others have a 7pm/kids in bed moment. If you can ride out that moment then the urge passes. I can do it if I have a wine glass of grape juice /a coffee/a bath - before I know it it's gone past my witching hour and the urge has passed. If I give in though, I'm sunk.

Roll on tomorrow for another wine free day.

[Chardonnaylover]

can I join in? I went on the dependent drinkers thread for a while but when I wasnt improving stayed away from it.....but I need to try again.

I probably drink about two thirds of a bottle of wine per night, more at weekends so it ends up being 5 bottles per week plus a few gin and tonics and maybe a port or something - when you tot it all up its about 60 units a week. I have done this for 10 years now and have no idea how to stop. Every morning I wake up full of good intentions and every evening either work has been a nightmare or the kids have wound me up so much on the days I am home that I feel like I deserve a drink - and then I end up having another and another etc. I rarely feel drunk as I dont like to be out of control (I used to get that drunk years ago)but still drinking 4 times the recommended limit cant be doing me any good.

I will try really hard tonight to just have fizzy water, might try that bath trick and have a soak with my book instead of drinking....

(goes without saying that I did not drink when I was pregnant just incase it sounds like I have drunk solidly for last 10 years!)

[mylittlescarypumpkin]

How is everyone doing??

I am developing a diet dandelion and burdock habit but I guess that's healthier! I seem to eat less too, so that's good.

I felt awful this morning - dd up lots plus having funny back pains lately - which made me thing how much worse I might have felt. I am amazed how relatively easy this has been so far even with a fairly rubbish week.

[LouMacca]

Hi mlsp - dandelion & burdock? I've not had that for years!! Pass some over

Glad you are finding it ok. Its so easy to have a drink if you are having a crap week. DH has taken DC to karate so I've just poured myself my usual ice and water. Bought a big bar of choc as a treat for me when DH goes to the pub later to watch the football.

Am seriously thinking about staying off the wine when I'm out tomorrow night

[janjas]

I think drinking tends to be a habit rather than something that I rely on to get me through the day/evening. I agree that you need to find something to do when you would normally have a glass or wine. My hard time is same as lulu, about 4.30-5 when I'm making tea. If I can get past tea time, I can be ok! Had a wine free night last night and so far so good for tonight!

[southeastastra]

i am desperate for a drink tonight, have such a bad cold, it would be medicinal ;0

[BlaDeBla]

Well, I've had about half a bottle of wine tonight... Pretty much the first hurdle. I'm knackered - I had a writing crit today, which went better than I had anticipated - really it went well, which was encouraging. I cycled home on my newly serviced bike, whizz whizz.. I am so tired now and thought I felt more like a drink than I do. I think for me, it is a passing thing. Perhaps it would be more useful to channel that time into work and a new habit?!!!

[latermater]

Hard tonight to sit across the table from DH and the open bottle, especially when today was a corporate "team bonding" day at work which is enough to drive anyone to drink. But I did it - one night at a time.

[southeastastra]

blabla what are nicotine pills?

[BlaDeBla]

It's nicotine replacement. I stopped smoking just over 5 years ago, and about a year ago started taking the NRT so I didn't smoke.