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General health

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Original poster

So I've decided to give up the booze...

258 replies

LucyJones · 07/06/2010 19:40

And so far my skin has broken out, I feel knackered all the time and grumpy

it's only been since Friday so this is the third day

tell me I'll feel healthily etc etc < eyes up corkscrew>

OP posts:

Supergluemum · 08/06/2010 22:34

I too have given up after a MASSIVE binge at the weekend. I can relate to alot of this and finally think I am an alcoholic- just not how the media portray it.
This time my aim is to not drink again and I feel relieved at the moment. When I've tried to cut down in the past I am pre-occupied with when I will next be able to drink. Whereas now I am thinking this is my life and it's good.
It's day 4 for me and I already look better.
I know there will be tough times ahead but I will ask for support and will mumsnet too for help. Thanks and good luck to those in the same boat!

violetqueen · 09/06/2010 10:37

redredwhine - don't waste emotional energy feeling ashamed - expect you're having a hard time of it if you're tempted to drink early in the day .
of course it only makes things worse ,not better .
I think the habit thing ,tho seems too simple ,has a lot of truth ,so maybe replace early glass of wine with something else ?

desiretochange · 09/06/2010 10:38

Giving the wine a miss myself this week, strange how the habit of having a glass or three creeps up on you. Good luck to all.

bacon · 09/06/2010 12:31

Cutting out our vino due to cost. Really had to cut our food and drink consumption down as spending approx £30 plus some weeks.

Trying to keep it to weekends but I can only take 2-3 glasses before I either feed sick or fall asleep. I mix mine with soda - its lovely. When I go out I try to have more soda than wine - it works.

Also substitute with a nice cold shandy..lovely.

I regularly had a couple of glasses while pregnant I see no problem with that at all. Binge drinking is the problem.

I also found that once you start drinking in the evening you dont do anything else. You veg in front of the TV and eat chocolate. Now with two pre-school children the evenings are when I have to cram in all the chores.

I used to feel absolutely awful int he mornings (not brill now) felt exhausted and much more IBS.

I only see giving the wine up in the week days as a positive move (and saving too).

frazzled74 · 09/06/2010 14:55

how are you all getting on? last night after putting dcs to bed went for a run, came home had shower and just as relaxed as when i have glass of wine so i think this is the trick.I know that i crave a drink the minute the dcs get to bed , i think of it as my reward, so i am going to reward myself with a run or a walk with dog alone. I am also going to start doing things in the eve at home rather than sitting in front of tv.maybe some more pleasurable things like candle making and baking .

Original poster

LucyJones · 09/06/2010 15:02

I've been going to bed earlier which is good too
I'm not giving it up for good, trying for just when I go out to start with
luckily I'm not going out for most of this month so June should be a dry month!
Still not lost any weight though.... Might be something to do with drinking more coffee and eating biscuits with it
good luck everyone especially over the weekend, lol

OP posts:

PortiaNovmerriment · 09/06/2010 23:08

I think it does affect your appearance- since cutting down very drastically, my really severe psoriasis has reduced dramatically. I had no idea the two might be connected, and to be honest I probably drank a lot to cover up my self-consciousness about it. It's only been going on three weeks, but I've lost a bit of weight and seen a huge difference in my skin.

Mouseface · 09/06/2010 23:12

MostlyLurking · 09/06/2010 23:58

redredwhine · 10/06/2010 08:15

Violet - thanks for that. Trouble is, I always have wine in the house for friends etc, so it is so easy to open a bottle. I have started using very small glasses. like sherry glasses, and sticking to one shot. Also I stick to red mostly as it is supposed to be good for the heart.

Original poster

LucyJones · 10/06/2010 12:52

Oh yes I have psorasis too
would be great if it helped that
it'll be a week tomorrow that I had a drink

OP posts:

MissPopOff · 10/06/2010 13:18

Will watch this thread too. I decided to give up this week. Was drinking twice a week, but excessively. Fed up feeling like shit and the weight is piling on. I gave up last year and lost a stone and a half! So am determined to break the habit, which is usually Friday nights and mid week (when DD with ExH). Have had stomach pains since Saturday and my stomach feels so heavy, think my body is asking me to stop!!

ChablisorSancerre · 10/06/2010 15:02

Will keep watching this thread as presently getting through a bottle a night. My temper is fowl and I believe it helps me relax after DCs have gone to bed and become a nicer person around my DP??!!

Not ready to give up yet though....

Chil1234 · 10/06/2010 16:02

I don't want to scare anyone unnecessarily but a good friend of mine Gillian died a few years ago. She was a sociable/relaxing 'few glasses of wine a night' girl... certainly not what you'd call dependent or alcoholic as far as we could tell. Absolutely not a rolling drunk either. But the liver damage was very stealthy, undetectible and, by the time it showed up she was seriously ill and it was basically too late. 43 is no age to go and she left two teenage daughters into the bargain.

There's a reason it's recommended to have 14 units a week max... and a few alcohol-free days each week. I'd recommend to anyone that they just quit for a week and see how it goes. Sometimes that's all you need to break what's basically a bad (but enjoyable) habit.

Original poster

LucyJones · 10/06/2010 16:29

Thanks chil, that's the plan

OP posts:

SydneyB · 10/06/2010 16:39

Chil. Gosh that is scary. Just started 3 nights a week off the usual half bottle myself.

redredwhine · 10/06/2010 16:55

Chil - that is very scary. Last winter I had a liver scan after a blood test showed my enzyme levels were too high. I then had six weeks when I didn't touch a drop - not even a sherry trifle.
At New Year I had a glass, then another and now back to the half bottle a night. Liver scan showed no obvious damage but I was supposed to go back for another blood test in Feb but was too cowardly to go.
I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and one of the predisposers in that is more than three units of alcohol a week.
This thread is quite upsetting really, because it shows how many of us are drinking too much. I am going to make a new effort to stop altogether.

frazzled74 · 10/06/2010 18:36

night 3 without wine, am going to have nice bath and go to bed and watch a dvd, will feel very pleased when tomorrow comes, cant remember last time i went 3 nts in a row without booze.

Original poster

LucyJones · 10/06/2010 20:05

Well done frazzled

I had astressful day at work so got a takeaway - missed my usual with it but am pleased I resisted

my sister and bil also have cut down. She said as soon as he got in from work she'dask him urge wanted a beer so she could open the wine with dinner. But now as soon as he comes in she puts out water on the table for the whole family to have with dinner . It's just little things that seem massive when it's been a habit for years isn't it?

OP posts:

Original poster

LucyJones · 10/06/2010 20:07

'she'd ask him if he wanted a beer' that should say, lol

OP posts:

twinsmum05 · 10/06/2010 22:57

I am reading this with interest, it's amazing how quickly you get used to a few glasses at night, but have been feeling very guilty about it of late especially since me mum got cancer. Have decided to cut out during the week and have one or two glasses only at the weekend. Am now on day 4 and so looking forward to a glass tomorrow. Have been feeling more tired in the mornings, but have hope now that this will pass. Will definitely try and stick to it now, thanks

frogetyfrog · 10/06/2010 23:04

Hi can I join. I have given up wine since the weekend. Feeling pretty shit to be honest but I really felt it was out of control. I was drinking a bottle a night for about 4 nights a week.

Really was worried about my liver. What are the signs of liver damage?

Not sure if I will last though. I was hoping to give up for about three months or so for a complete break.

Feel tired and grumpy.

lilolilmanchester · 10/06/2010 23:12

Well done Lucy and thanks for starting this thread. I written on several similar threads over in the past but now really, really need to cut down. Can I join in with you all please? Am on 4th alcohol-free day. No obvious side-effects yet (good or bad).

I'd heard about giving up alcohol being good for complexion - but interested that people have written about other skin conditions. I'd never had eczema until the past couple of years, but have developed patches along with flaky scalp. Do you think that might be due to excessive alcohol consumption??

lilolilmanchester · 10/06/2010 23:37

inspired by some of the non-alcoholic suggestions made on here, I've started this thread to try to get some more ideas....

BitOfFun · 10/06/2010 23:41

Will check it out in a sec, lilolil.

Frogety- that was about what I was drinking. I would have two or three nights off. My liver was tested when I had to start these new tablets, and it's fine.

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