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?

well done gibb - stay away from the booze will check in with you over the weekend

'Ello 'ello 'ello!

Day 8 and all is well. Didn't even feel tempted last night despite that bottle of vodka in the cupboard and dd1s friend bring a bottle of wine to say thanks for having her over.

Feeling good today! Looking better than I have for a LONG time!

Hope you have all behaved yourselves.

Why yes, I did behave myself.

Brilliant news on the weight loss gib.

Found it a bit harder as I was working in the bar last night and I'm used to coming home and having a glass bottle of wine to unwind.

On the plus side feeling soo much fresher in the mornings.

Good luck for your Saturday night everyone

That's brilliant trixie

You must have LOTS of self control being able to work in a bar! Are you working this weekend?

Couldn't get out of it -
had to have a small glass of pink fizz at LUNCHTIME as Dh bought it for me especially, not having been made aware I was abstaining, nor having noticed so far (our suppers this week have been rather fragmented)- also didn't want to get into conversations about influence of Mumsnet.
Anyway I did say I was having a drink on Sat right at the start of this thread to allow for these tricky situations!

But you will all be glad to hear that it made me feel a bit tired and badtempered! Despite being only one glass.

So no more alcohol till next Sat

lol swan Hope you enjoyed it!

Well, I decided last night that for this to work long term I need to learn to drink in moderation. Which means weekends only, preferably just Sat night. So had two glasses of wine last night which I really enjoyed (more than usual) and that will be me until next Saturday. Feel absolutely fine this morning and know that I can stick to this.

I think that trying to do completely without for the whole month was making me think about it more, just because I couldn't have it iykwim. So knowing that it isn't completely banned will help me to be happier the days I don't have it as will have something to look forward to at the weekend!

Sorry, rambling... does this make sense or am I copping out?

oh dear, Gibb, don't drink just because I've drunk something!!
I think I genuinely don't have that susceptibility (one drink leads to another etc) anymore, but I DID. Even when I was pregnant with ds1 I used to drink a small tonic glass of red and but I think it takes quite a long time to get it out of your system, so I would just hold off completely till the 30 days are up to show you can do it.
I think giving up for Lent a year ago showed me that I really didn't need it.
If you like I won't drink anything next Sat either!

Still haven't drunk anything since Sat's small glass!
How are you fellow abstainers?

Hi everyone
Not sure if I should be on here but I thought I'd join to offer support. I dont drink alcohol at all. Or coffee. Gave it up years ago as I had bad reaction to even the smallest amount.
I like to think I am saving lots of money and also my liver!
Well done everyone, I do think people take alcohol for granted nowadays and cant imagine life without it - but it can be done!

I have renounced alcohol for 7 days so far - can I join in?

I am really hoping for better skin, but so far I don't think it has worked . I am getting a bit more done in the evenings but I'm not really noticing a lot of difference tbh. Still, I am saving cash which is one of my main missions!

No RubyRuby it is not too late, all welcome and anyway first few days are hardest.
Some of us have a drink on Sats

I have several friends who have never drunk much at all, usually because they learnt to drive at 17 and were constantly ferrying their drunken friends to and from parties. I can't say they are any less sociable or funloving nor [whisper] any healthier really.

BI think I just want that drink to be an optional rather than compulsory part of my diet.

BI = But

Ruby you made me !

Thank you Ruby
It seems I am a wuss with chemicals all round - last I tried it even decaff gave me the wibbles.
And I loooove the smell of fresh coffee too...

Hellooooo! Sorry I haven't been around the last few days. Work Mon and Tue and never get the time to get on MN until Wed!

Ooh lovely to have new people Well done Podrick! Ruby please do join us. Just jump in wherever you are!

Well I did have some wine at the weekend, sorry Swan but it was only two small glasses and have been good since then

Skin looks so much better and feeling great! Head is very clear.

madameovary that's very encouraging. It's a bit scary about never having a drink again... not sure I COULD do that. But perhaps that's the problem - it became so much of a habit that it's a hard one to see round completely.

Interestingly, was talking to a friend last night. She had a really serious drink problem for a few years. Just couldn't see it despite all of us telling her and were watching her destroy herself. Was horrendous.

Anyway, she hit rock bottom about 6 months ago. Was admitted to hospital. Got PROPER help and counselling and has not had a drop ever since. Am so proud of her. She has completely turned her life around and says she feels so fantastic she is never going back there. Considering what she used to drink every day, giving it up must have been so so hard. If she could do that, then surely I can give up the little I used to drink, before it gets out of hand.

So how are the rest of you doing?

WELL DONE RUBY!!!!

A couple more days of that and you will be positively bouncing out of bed in the morning! That's the most significant way it has affected me

still abstaining here. no idea what day it is.
Well done RubyRubyRuby, and Gibbberish

Oooh it's Friday already! Where have you all disappeared to?

Will need some help to get through the next few days. Have a party to go to tonight at my sis house, and there will be plenty of wine flowing. Will drive I think.

I really felt like a drink yesterday, to relieve stress and lighten up. I know I would have seen the world through different eyes after one small glass of pink fizz, BUT I stood firm, partly because I knew that by 11.00 I would have just felt woozy not relaxed...

You can do it Gibbberish, needing to drive does really help concentrate the mind as well, so much easier to tell people I'm driving than I'm abstaining!

I think it nice to think that after a while we CAN have another drink whereas imagine if you had an alcohol problem and really had to make the decision "never again".

I know swan. That's what worries me a bit though. I don't know if I COULD say 'never again'. Does that mean I do have a problem? Surely if I could take it or leave it that would show I didn't...

Maybe I am overthinking this. I like a drink. Just need to not like it quite so much

Anyway, yeah am def going to drive. That solves tonight. Just the rest of the weekend to get through then

What are you up to this weekend? Any socialising?

All dcs centred socializing at the moment, although I suppose after ds1 party on Sun we will be getting out the white wine and beer for the parents...
Dh does a lot of socializing [drinking] at work so he is not affected by the ban...and is relieved to spend weekend quietly at home. Usually I have to drag him to the pub!