Anyone gone teetotal after heavy drinking..if so how did you do it and for how long have you kept it up ??

[no1andno2]

Anyone ? I need some help and fast..........

do you know I have a wine rack full.......its the reverse for me. Its there . I could have it if I wanted too but will not because I had enough this weekend and I like myself more than that!

Hi everyone, just been reading through this thread as am preparing to cut out alcohol during the week (for Lent but maybe beyond that...) as am getting quite concerned about how much I knock back every evening, day in day out.

Thanks for links to that Drinkulator thing - just done it and it was a real eye-opener. (so much that it's made me a bit tearful tbh - this bit "You are not only drinking far too much, more than enough to have silently developed cirrhosis, but you also have addition risk factors for liver disease." has scared the pants off me and am sitting here drinking huge glass of water to make me feel better about my liver...

Anyway, just wanted to say that this is a great thread and it's really good to know that I'm not the only one who's struggling a bit. Some of your posts are really giving me hope that I can cut right down and get things back on track.

welcome bellabelly you are most def not alone. If you read my threads at the beginning you will see I was too scared and all the other emotions we all feel.

I had 12 days without and then drank again over the weekend. In may ways I wish I hadnt but I knew it would make me miserable if I didnt feel I could have a sensible drink with DH on a family weekend away.

Back to abstinence now though. I just keep focussing on the hangovers that I dont have and that makes me feel better.

Good luck and keep posting here for support.

xx

I don't feel very well today and I've been very tired and feel a bit sick. I've told my gp that I'm addicted to nicotine lozenges, but nothing about my alcohol intake.

We live in the sticks, so if we have no booze, well there is no booze. I think there may be some in the shed, but it needs some pretty heavy duty determination to get it - the sort of determination that comes with being pretty drunk.

I'm trying quite hard to be more sensible, and my god it's boring. I'm getting more used to not drinking during the week. It's just the weekend I've really got to crack now.

BlaDeBla - I'm addicted to those lozenges, too. It's a bugger. Keep trying to go cold turkey and I just can't do it!

Well I'm having a nice cup of tea and feeling virtuous. And Lent hasn't started yet!

Im having a cup of tea but god I want a drink. DH being very supportive and not drinking either.

I am just concentrating on the weeks now. Will only alow myself to drink on Fri / sat night but then I can have what I want. Hopefully the taste for it will fall away.....

We were watching a programme about the vineyards in Bordeaux.... it made me really, really want a glass. Silly thing to watch at the moment really.

Anyway. I didn't open a bottle. If dp had asked me, I would have said yes, like a shot. But unusually he didn't, so another sober evening. Struggling though.

BH I am the same. If DH had suggested it would have been the green light to go ahead but he didnt and I darent...........so another sober night for me too.

how is vereyone else doing ?

xx

hello everyone - sober last night and feeling quite positive about staying that way think its more linked with my weight issues though I just eat what I fancy when I have had a drink and need to lower my cholesterol !! Keep at it girls (and any men on this thread!!)

I haven't been doing that great since I posted.

The box of wine was bought on Thursday and I've had at least two glasses out of it each night since. It's such a coping mechanism for me. I suppose like some people would reach for the biscuit tin, I reach for the wine.

I'm rarely drunk. Last time was New Years Eve and that all went horribly wrong!

I guess I'm not ready to give it up yet

Hi there Forever - good to see you back on here.

It is such a habit, isn't it. Is there anything that you can drink instead? One friend of mine has her first drink of the evening as a tonic (without the gin) but in a nice glass, with ice, and lemon, and sometimes a slice of lime. She says sometimes that is all she needs and it stops her going from one gin, to 2 gins, to opening the bottle of wine.

Of course that doesn't work the same way with wine, but is there something you could try instead? It may not work for the whole night, but if it reduces you intake by one glass a day, then that's something perhaps.

You seemed so pleased and strong when you posted last week. What helped you to feel that way? What was the impetus for you to start on that 5 day period of no drinking?

Please don't let yourself feel sad, but don't give up on giving up - you never know when that feeling will come upon you again!

Keep posting on here and let us know how you are doing.

BH thats what I do. Mix it as though its a G and t but without the G.

Girls I feel good. Now nicely into the routine of not drinking sun to Thurs just allowing myself Friday and Sat night and taking massive dose of Vt B12. Have joined the gym and I am raring to go.

Hope you are all feeling positive too.

xx

Hi all...yes thats what I'm doing. Been running every night for last 2 weeks apart from Monday.
Feel so energised.
Vit B does really help. Drinking tons of water. If I'm having a negative day...I do things like save the ironing for that night...have sex(LOL!)...order stuff from next!!! Before you know it..it's 9pm and it's wind down time before bed.
I agree though...you need to have a tasty beverage to hand at that moment when you decide if it's a dry night or a vino night. Mine is expensive apple juice. It's suposed to be very good for you. I hate squash.
Those that are struggling...don't give up...if you are drinking less and having nights off...thats got to be better than drinking TOO much every night surley?
It takes time to break the habit...I felt like it took me months. Christ..I'd been drinking a bottle of red a night and bit more at weekends for over two years...so I consider myself...doing well sticking to the gov guidelines!! It's very hard..especially with all the pressure us women get(sorry guys)
But being a mummy..a cook, a cleaner, for me full time worker, dog walker, good wife(including keeping the bedroom stuff alight!! LOL) IT's hard hard work. Are we all agreed on that??!!!

Vit B is fabulous. I haveny has do much energy in years.............and brighter coloured wee either!

Ive even got DH on it !

Keeping busy is good. But also giving yourself some time out is also good.

In true all or nothing style I am in full on detox diet mode. No alcohol since Friday. Mostly eating veg, drinking LOTS of water, apple juice, peppermint tea. Trying to give my system a break. Still feeling a bit knackered and shit tbh, but guess that's not surprising given the enormous lifestyle change...

Just hope I can keep it all up

BH, thanks. Your words are very encouraging.

I'm not sure what changed my mindset. Probably what Eastgirl said ;) DH is away right now and I'm left running the house and looking after the kids on my own. It's just too easy to reach for wine when you need to chill out.

So I gather Vit B is something I should be trying? Can any of you advise exactly what to buy? I'm not very good at swallowing big tablets though, so that always puts my off vitamins. I take the chewable ones I give my son LOL!

Hi you are all doing really well. I am a regular on the alcohol threads but don't always post (although read every post!) as I just have nothing to add really. I have been a long term drinker both DH and I love wine. Did not drink for the whole of Jan and god knows where I got the strength from. Unfortunately since Feb 1 have gone back to my old ways. Every morning I say I won't drink tonight and then by the afternoon I feel really good and read for a drink so in the evening wine is opened. DH is just as bad so there is no motivation to stop from him although he did not try to encourage me to drink when I had Jan off. I think I will try Vit B tabs as n1andn2 it has obviously done you lots of good. Looking at your original post and now your posts each day you have done wonders. Well done! XX

Yes, good point Flowertop...

WELL DONE n1&n2! You've come a long way. Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration!

And there's are lots of great tips that have helped me here Flowertop, especially having something yummy to drink other than wine and stopping for a few days in the week (even 1 or 2 as a start).

However, I do think having DH / P support in this is key. I know I can't say no yet when there's an open bottle around...

its hard but Im focussing on trying to be healthy. I did think I had blown it when i caved in this weekend after 2 weeks of abstinence but Ive proved I can go back to none during the wek so I am feeling very good about that.

Its bloody hard. I really wanted a drink on Monday night and i scoffed half a choc orange instead!!!

Vit B really does help if you are coming off alcohol. No need for expensive tablets, though - Marmite will do the trick just as well.

Also, if you find strategies of cutting down, starting later, alternating drinks and soft drinks, swearing off for a week or a month, drinking only at the weekend, etc, still aren't doing the trick, PLEASE don't dismiss AA until you've given it a go. If nothing else, it's anonymous and free. Nothing to lose ...

Good luck to all, however you choose to go about it.

I'm definitely inspired by all your successes! I to will go searching for some Vit B. As Lent has officially started, DH has offered to support me and go beer free too! Do you think we might end up killing each other?

Well I've gone 2 days. I feel completely spaced out and finding it difficult to concentrate. I guess in a similar way to giving up smoking....Has anyone else had this....?

My doctor gave me vit B strong. You can buy but over the counter. It's quite expensive. But imagine it's all the B's in there.
I was on two tablets 3 times per day!!!!

Tonight's going to be my first alcohol-free night! Am looking forward to waking up with a clearer head tomorrow morning...

how did you get on bellababy? hope you are feeling good.

i struggled to resist last night and felt quite low but i held out and so feel very proud.

how are you cb , lulu?

keep posting.

xx