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

[LucyJones]

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>

i understand having done the 'a few glasses' every evening thing when unhappy in a job and yes it was to escape / sedate. now am breastfeeding, but altho my partner drinks alot
i find i just cant have more than 2 small glasses or i feel crap and i feel guilty with those - only maybe twice a week-as baby gets a bit tetchy with it.! but i think it keeps me sane and our local breastfeeding counsellor even recommended it!

OH AND SHOUld add that it doesnt help when supermarkets give cheap booze deals during football/ xmas / etc

Yes it's tricky when most of the country are having boozy bbqs at this very moment

LucyJones I used to drink 2 or 3 glasses of wine most nights - 4, 5, 6 or more at the weekend... and the w/e is Fri/Sat?Sun,, isn't it?

Nowadays I dfon't drink at all during the week and rarely have more than a glass or 2 at the weekend.

I take more exercise, too. I've lost quite a lot of weight - though I eat less too so it's not just cutting down dramatically on drink.

I'm 5'9" and 11 st 10lb which is healthy. I have hit 15 stone in the past.

off the wagon again, when I was doing so well. Must try harder.....

Don't let a small setback discourage you. Every day you go without drinking you're improving your health. You'll probably find that you can stretch the 'dry' periods longer and longer between days when you do have a drink. All the time you're breaking the habit so that's good.

As for 'trying'... here's a great quote from the fountain of wisdom, Yoda. "Do or do not. There is no try". In other words, if you think ahead and actively make it happen, it'll happen.

lilo - don't give up keep trying.

I've lost 2 lbs so far and am still eating a load of junk

I'll have done 2 weeks by Friday.

Chil is right, it's breaking the habit

I can forget about alcohol for 3 or 4 days, but I drink too much, and I think I ought to stop for longer. I don't like the way it makes me feel, and I don't like feeling that slightly bit crap.

Join us silentcatastrophe, once you get in the swing of it it does get easier!

trying again this week! Thanks for the encouragement!

Ooh good luck!
I've realised I'm a bit scared to have a drink now because then I'll have to start from the beginning again. As though I feel the time gone before the first drink won't count. That's worrying isn't it?

I know what you mean. Had nothing at all most of last week and a couple of drinks on Friday. But went a bit mad Sat and Sun so maybe nothing at all is the way to go for me too. You're doing really well LucyJones - with your own drinking and with encouraging others - well done, and thanks!

Thanks

good luck tonight

there are several things that I thought were because if the booze but doesn't seem to be the case :
my skin still crap
still bad tempered a lot of the time
still find it hard to get up

but it's nice having two weeks of no painkillers

You should probably look at your diet next. Fatigue, skin problems and mood-swings can all be influenced by nutrition levels. If you're low on iron or vitamins you can quickly feel 'run down'. Alcohol interferes with the liver's ability to process toxins and it can also prevent your body absorbing all the nutrients from your food. Some people offset the calories from alcohol with an inadequate diet as a weight-control method - obviously not a good move.

This week aim to get at least 5-a-day vegetables and some fruit on top. Take a daily multivitamin with iron as a safety-net. Cut back on any non-alcoholic nasties like caffeine, artificial sweetners and heavily processed foods. Throw in some daily exercise in the fresh air (a brisk walk, for example) and you'll probably find it all helps.

I too am cutting down on my weekly intake - no booze since Saturday, and have been out with the DDs bike riding every night since Saturday instead of swilling the wine back. Really my aim is to half my weekly intake so that it's more in line with guidelines (or below them, in fact!).

This is a very inspirational thread - thanks all and good luck

I haven't drunk so much this week - nothing last night and a bottle of beer the night before, and one the night before that.

I come from a heavy drinking family. Alcohol is available almost by injection, and a certain level of pissedness is normal. It is not easy to break the habit of a lifetime and all that goes with it. Now that we live out in the sticks (sp?) it is much easier to drink less simply as it's less available. I do feel Sooo much better after a bit of a break! I need to break the cycle of drinking = happiness. I enjoy alcohol, but would rather it didn't get to take too much advantage of me.

Ok guys. Finally got my 15 month ds settled (dd gone (4 yrs) since 7.30.) Am seriously hoping that this is my last glass.

Am in tears writing this as this has been going on for way too long. Not convinced that I am an alcoholic as have been hospitalised with 2 EMCS for 6 days at least without a thought of a glass of wine. But as soon as I get home it's a different story.

My Mum has been stuck with us recently (we live in Ireland and she is from Manchester) and the looks of disdain I am finding really hard to come to terms with.

Anyway my point being I am (hopefully) having my last glass of wine. If I appear tomorrow please help me not go to the shop and spend another €10 that I can ill afford....

lilolil i recognise your name from where we obviously come from!!!! hopefully we can name change soon to something sober?

I didn't have a drink today

Bump. please..!! Can't be the only one in this position.....

Mostly lurking well done!!!!!!!! Fingers crossed we will be in the same party tomorrow..... Ah well donexxxxxx

I cannot remember the last time I didn't have a drink

go for it guys!
once ypou stop it's hard to start again I've found

I gave up drinking last year, October or November. I regularly think how glad I am. Really, on a weekly basis, I feel better, it's more convenient, cheaper, I know my body is healthier even the days when I don't feel it iyswim. I don't miss it at all and am so glad I did it.

For me, I now look on it exactly the same as smoking and no way would I consider taking that up again.

I found Allen Carr's easy way to control alcohol v helpful, but once I had that smoking/alcohol link in my brain it's really made me convinced for me it's the right decision.

Best of luck to anyone considering this or wanting to try. Really it is harder to give up than smoking and I wish you all all the very best. If I can help in any way do ask.

Glad I checked in this morning, those last two posts are very helpful.

I have someone coming round tonight who will be"expecting" me to drink, what do I do without fessing up that I am trying to quit? I know I sound pathetic but have NEVER attempted to stop before.