Abstaining from alcohol for a month. Anyone care to join me?

[gibbberish]

Have decided to have NO alcohol for 30 days for the following reasons:

It has become too much of a habit to have a drink in the evening

I haven't been sleeping properly and I know I sleep better if I haven't had a glass (or four) of wine

I am feeling exhausted throughout the day and look like a hundred years old due to not sleeping properly

It's too flaming expensive

I am keen to be healthier

I want to lose weight for the summer

So this is it. Commitment time. Day 1.

Is there anyone out there who wishes to do the same?

I want to join up!!

Gave up smoking 6 weeks ago and as a result my white wine drinking has been steadily increasing...

My skin is horrible, I feel very tired/ irritable and I have gained 4 pounds - not good at all...

Today will be day 1 for me (also helps that the wine rack is currently empty after last night's mini binge)

Hello elenor and london

This is great! The more the merrier (and that's merry WITHOUT any units).

biwi I'll certainly still be here in June. Month ends on the 15th! Well done on having 3 days free in the meantime

Candide keep me updated about wrinkles I seem to have a bit more colour in my face. Doesn't look as 'grey'... might be wishful thinking though.

London well done on giving up smoking If you can do that you can do this!

elenor hope the gym goes well. It will give you extra incentive to keep going because you will feel so pleased with yourself! I went to tap dancing for the first time last night Was surprisingly VERY hard work!

swan, that's interesting re your blood sugar levels. Something I never even thought about. Do you think that's why you have a headache or just the toxins getting cleared out?

scatty and elenor, agree with the comments re alcohol and depression. I'm sure my mood has lifted this week - but that might be because my ADs are having a chance to actually work

Day 5 and is going well. Sleeping great. Skin looking better. Feeling happier in myself. No headache although can't face tea or coffee for some very odd reason Can't think what that could possibly do with it.

Anyhoo got half a bottle of wine in the cupboard which I am thinking of pouring down the sink because it keeps shouting at me...

Wow that was a big post!

Oh forgot to say dh didn't have a lager last night First time in absolutely ages. Must be rubbing off on him!

Morning. Had to get up at the unearthly hour of 6.45 as am off to pick up dd1 from airport.

Fairly bounced out of bed as soon as alarm rung Usually in the morning it takes me until 6pm to wake up lol.

Hope you all were good last night.

bbl

Hi Gibberish,

Well done on your bouncy morning! I am , you are doing very well!

I have failed already am ashamed to say!

DH "surprised" me with a quick meal out last night.....was spicy food and it just seemed downright churlish to refuse a nice glass of wine!

So, hey ho, today can be Day 1 (again)

lol London. At least you returned! Meal out sounds lovely

I failed AGAIN last night too . Finished off the small glass that was left in the weekend wine bottle . This is harder than it seems.

I think that maybe the answer, gib. Not to have the stuff lying about. .

Yeah, if it's not there and you have to physically go and buy some, then there's less chance you will give in.

dh drank the rest of that wine last night so we have nothing in the house now and I have forbidden him to buy me anything!

Gib - I was hoping to look LESS pink or should I say puce!

I am now on day 4 having got through a tedious day yesterday which involved a couple of unexpected domestic stressful situations - the type which take up a load of time and you end up feeling you have achieved nothing.

Woke up this morning feeling terrible - as if I could have slept another few hours. However at least I couldn't blame it on over indulgence.

Totally agree with all that's been said about alcohol making you feel depressed - its so easy to be grumpy with kids when you are a bit hungover and then feel guilty and miserable. Also with clearing drinks from house although not always easy if DP not on the same regime. 1/2 bottles are the worst - so easy to just pour out a glass without thinking.

Anyway am just about to pour out large glass of diet coke and tackle some washing up before treat of the week - The Apprentice.

lol the word 'puce' always makes me laugh for some reason

Hope you have a better day tomorrow candide. You are doing really well!

I've found it helps to have a glass of cola or fizzy water in the evening. Helps with the habit side of it... even better if it is in a wine glass! I can make believe

dh drinking lager atm Doesn't help.

Aaargh I want to have a drink!!!

Step away from the wine glass gib! Just think about fluffy kittens or teddies!
Day 2 and still on the wagon, felt a pang of temptation late afternoon, went swimming with DD and forgot about it.
I did go to the gym and slimming world (for the first time) yesterday. Was a bit scared to go to SW but the natives seemed friendly...
Night to you all, take care.

i seem 2 look 4 any excuse 2 drive me to drink.not good not healthy.just so sad at the moment.just lost my cat after 16 years.he was well looked after.just sometimes stress and other things take over.we have 2 other animals .

Thanks elenor . Well done with going to SW and the gym! You'll be a whole new person before long!

So sorry to hear about your poor cat mother3. Is really devastating when you lose a pet isn't it? Unfortunately alcohol can make everything seem so much worse as it is a depressant. Could you join us and try and break the habit? It does help when you have others encouraging you.

Well I RESISTED last night Was the hardest night yet. dh was drinking and I was so tempted. So poured myself a big wine glass of blackcurrant squash and that did the trick! As long as I have something in my hand that seems to help.

Day 7

Guess what? I have lost 4lbs!!! Can't believe it! Have also been watching what I eat but am sure this has helped because I KNOW I put weight on with wine.

Also, decided last night I would have a long lie this morning as had nothing important to get up for. Woke at 7.00 wide awake. By 7.30 couldn't bear to stay in bed any more so got up feeling great! And am managing to stay up at night long enough to actually watch the end of programmes. Is all good!

So scatty, swan, candide, plonkety and london how are you getting on?

Morning gib and well done! 4 pounds lost already too, that's amazing!

I DID NOT drink last night!! Hooray! Like Candide, I watched the Apprentice and drank diet coke [smug emocion]

Well done! That's another day under your belt!

You well deserve to feel smug. It's pretty hard going!

Right. I'm joining you ladies as I've been thinking about doing this for a while.

Fed up feeling crap the morning after drinking and all those little glasses add up money wise through the month.

Also gave up smoking after Christmas (well done London) and started again after a few drinks one night Want to get off the ciggies again and know the only way I'll be able to keep my willpower is abstaining from alcohol.

Had a drink last Sunday and haven't touched a drop since. Very unlike me. I'm usually a couple of glasses of wine a night kinda girl. So starting day four already

It's gonna be hard though as I work part-time in a bar!!

Great some of you are seeing good results already though.

So glad Ben was thrown off Apprentice. He really bugged me with all that Sandhurst nonsense.

trixie so glad you have joined us

Well done on being at day 4 already. The positive thing is that you gave up smoking before so you can definitely do it again. And alcohol too.

Agree about Ben. He was a numpty.

Hi ever growing band of tee totallers.

Apprentice got me through last night - those high heels for babies were bizarre weren't they.
Yikes - realised yesterday was only day 3 for me not day 4. So here goes day 4 report.

Felt a bit perkier this morning and have trundled through the day nicely although that last glass in the bottle of white in the fridge is looking pretty tempting. Have been staving off temptation with all manner of unhealthy snacks - Pringles, crisps, nuts. However am consoling myself with fact that no alcohol means less calories so can compensate with some fatty substitutes. Anyway maybe fatter face will be less wrinkled - or maybe will just end up wrinkled and bloated

Kids in bed and I too am on the downhill slide to bed time. Am reaching for a nice diet coke and am planning some quality time with my baby vegetables in garden.

Keep going ladies - you can do it!

Hello, everyone, feel a bit of a fraud really as experiencing no problems with withdrawal at all. Except for last night when we had something with chilli in it,and the cool beer in dh's hand looked a very tempting accompaniment.
Anyway, abstinence continues day 6 is it? One day less than you Gibb.
Felt much less tired by afternoon today, although still fell asleep in dd's bed at 8.00pm...
Ate rather a lot of cake as well.
But lots of water rather than fizzy drinks or juice or endless cups of tea.
So here.

Haven't found it particularly difficult myself either swanriver.

Had an urge last night for a minute when I worked out how much we are scarily paying out in bills every month and DH decided to drown his sorrows with a few beers.

I stayed virtuous however and had a hot chocolate. Bets on my friends think I'm pg again by the end of next week

Very of your green-fingered ability Candide. Alas, I manage to kill every plant I own and my garden is a wilderness I have given back to nature.

Roll on the weekend. I know I'm going to find it harder than during the week but am going to treat myself to some nice squashes and fruit juices at the supermarket tomorrow, chanting "my body is a temple" whilst avoiding the alcohol aisle.

How is everyone else doing??

Everyone seems to be going strong! Very pleased.

Was VERY tempted last night as dh bought me a bottle of vodka after I had specifically said I didn't want anything.

Anyway, fortunately I am not hugely keen on vodka so resisted any urges to have some. Am quite that I think about it quite so often though. When it gets to evening and we are getting rid of the girls to bed, it always crosses my mind that I can finally relax with a nice drink. Shows how much of a habit it had become. Not a Good Thing.

Have lost another pound Liking THAT side effect!

Hi everyone!

How you all doing?

Well done Trixie, glad you are taking it in your stride, good luck over the long weekend, I hope the squashes do the trick!

I'm Day2 - last night was dead easy - fell asleep in front of the X files! This weekend could be more challenging though..

Now that's a good tip london - wear yourself out through the day so that you are too tired to drink at night!

Can't believe it is day 7 already