motivation/ encouragement needed to quit drinking for November

[Feckinlego]

Hi guys, would really love your help. For the past year I seem to have gotten myself into the bad habit of drinking 4-5 nights a week. I'm drinking 2-4 bottles of wine per week, far too much!
A bit of background, we'll I've 2 children age 1 and 7, and an amazing dh. I work part time, 2 nights per week. Me and dh work opposite shifts so dc don't need childminders. So I'm on my own a lot with the kids.
Reasons I give myself to dtink:
Stressful day with dc
Going on nights the following night
finishing nights for the week
weekend
big one- to avoid dtd with dh(sexdrive completely gone after last birth though was never great)
for the past few months I've been having periods every 2-3 weeks, with resulting horrific black moods, to the point I'm wondering if I'm actually depressed.
I'm functioning ok, house clean/dcs fed dressed played with etc. Dh doesn't think I have a problem but I do, so I thought I'd start with a month off to see how I get on.
any advice greatly appreciated. I'm off on to work but ill try post when I can xx

Yeah we will, I think it's a blip, but one that won't be resolved until New year which adds further financial pressure.
I'm liking forward to my lemon cheese cake later cos no matter how many calories i consume, it's nothing like 1.5 bottles of wine worth, and I won't be hungover, and it won't hurt my liver.
All in all a good day, despite the money stuff.
Dont think I would want non alcoholic beer. When I drink beer it's cos I want beer. Hmm. What a messed up thinking pattern I have.

The counselling must have been tough going choochoo, u deserve that cheesecake! It's something I've always thought about doing but don't think I'd ever have the nerve. Did u find it helpful?
I laughed when I read that about loving a glass of red with masterchef catkisser, I'm obsessed with cooking programmes but I'd never have a drink watching one, every other programme yes but for some reason I need tea with the cookery shows!!
I had loads of energy today, got lots of housework done and chased after 2 kids in soft play. Usually I'd have my head stuck in a magazine. Poor kids wondered what got into me!
We're all doing well. Early days I know but hopefully we'll carry it on xx

Second dry night. Happy.

Good on u Matilda! Me too ??

Just about to leave for work (ugh.)
One poster hit it on the head up-thread - "no-one ever wakes up and says I wish I'd got pissed last night!" You don't, do you? Last night I really fancied a drink bu this morning of course I've woken up feeling ten times more pleased because I didn't.
Have a good day everyone!

Morning. Had three alcohol free beers at pub last night., and have a bad headache this morning. Very annoying.

Good going everyone.

Day 4 today . Still in a good place about it all at moment, but that's because I still feel alcohol saturated from the last few weeks. When that feeling wears off, it'll be harder, I know.

Have a great day everyone. Keep up the brilliant effort.

The counselling was the first of 5-9 sessions. It was fantastic and I cried a lot less than I thought it would. Really mad how all things in my life link up.
Anyway, would have been an excuse for a drink normally but I didn't.
Tonight's the test. Dp will suggest wine, just a bottle to share. I want more non drink sleep (though it's still crap, but that's why I want to stay dry this week) so thankfully there is still half abottle from the weekend, I'll suggest he has a glass from there and that'll be him happy for the night hes so not like me that's the plan anyway, I'm very worried I don't have the willpower.
How's everyone else?

You can do it ChooChoo, does your DP know you're cutting down? May help to get him on board so you get support not sabotage?

Another night off for me but DH had a beer with our meal and I was really tempted. This weekend is going to be a real challenge so I'm going to stay off it during the week.

DH is going to be away for the next 2 nights and I would usually drink whilst he's not here, but I'm going to keep strong. I might take the beers out of the fridge, they're not as tempting when they are warm.

Have decided to tell the ladies I'm going away with that I'm dieting and so cutting down, I'm sure they will be fine - it's me who will be the problem!

That is annoying Bowlers, but you've taken a step to break a habit which is great.

I had a headache yesterday, I wonder if it's our systems detoxing?

He knows in as far as I want to save money. But he won't mind at all. I'll probably approach it with him later in the week.
Must say my head's a bit foggy, all for the greater good I'm sure.

I'm rubbish, if I said I was dieting, I'd hit the vodka and soda

I was thinking though, I find it hard to stop once I've started, so when we go out Saturday night, I'm making the first two drinks soft ones!

Morning ladies. Everyone did great again last night. Sods law on the headache bowlers arm! Was it the alcohol free beer?
You're worrying about your weekend are u elvish? Don't let it ruin your fun. You may well be fine and naturally cut down, esp after a dry wk.
Today I'm feeling pissed off/bored. I'm always a bit like that midweek and the urge to drink starts. Sometimes I last til thur, sometimes not. But the thoughts of feeling like this all month is killing me

Hello girls - thought I would have a check-in.

After my weekend binge I had nothing to drink on Monday night (wasn't difficult though as I still felt crap).

Last night was the true test because I love to curl up on the sofa with a bottle of wine and Holby City. I made do with a large cup of tea.

It's the latter part of the week which will be difficult in terms of abstaining 'cos DH is quite a heavy drinker and not having a drink when I know he's going to be -pissed- merry is going to be very hard to take!

Anyways I have done two nights. It's a start

I really want wine.

Are you still there, ChooChoo?

I do too. 65 minutes talking to NatWest. Don't do it though - you can do another day!

Yeah still at work, tough day. I'm Off to an exercise class, then shopping, then cooking so I think I can do this. Will be off radar for a couple of hours but will check back later.

Ok!
You can do it though - don't spoil the good effects of the class with needless wine. I've got alcohol free beer - it's pretty fould and still worht 2 syns on SW!!

Stay strong ladies. Think how much better you will feel in the morning with another booze free day under your belt.

CatKisser I always feel that alcohol free beer should be calorie free too, it's like the universe's bad joke that something can be better for you on one measure but still bad for you on another

Yup, Elvish and I've just opened another. Ah well. I'm "allowed" 5-25 syns per day and have averaging at about 6, so I'm not going to beat myself up.
Pub quiz tomorrow and I'm going to drive to ensure no drinking or overspending.

Hello all. Just checking in after the sort of afternoon that would normally have me reaching for booze. But I have an exercise class later, which I missed last week, and will feel guilty about if I miss again (even though I hate every minute of it!).

This is that horrible time of day when I'd be pondering a glass of something, but I actually don't feel like it at all today. Last night when my mum came round I had a glass of red with her, but that was it. No temptation to have more. Think I'm still under the weather from Sunday's bender...

Good luck this evening choochoo and everyone else. We can do this

Well done with last night Corky, I think that there are some little habits that we won't miss - as long as we give ourselves chance by not doing them for a bit.

Evening corky sounds like it's going well. Lots of you lot seem to do exercise classes - I think I need to look into that. What kind of class is it?

Quite, Elvish, it's all about getting into new (and preferably wholesome!) habits to replace the old ones.

Catkisser tonight's class is spinning. I haven't been doing it for long so I'm still at the stage of thinking to myself "agh my god I'm going to pass out/fall/off the bike/die" within five minutes. It's only half an hour long, but boy am I unfit!

But otherwise I totally recommend exercise classes with which to distract yourself/give your endorphins a boost. The trick is finding one you enjoy. Spin may not be it

I run, swim and do yoga and weights. I have done the sum total of none this week after arriving there tonight forgetting my stuff. Has put me in a shit "may as well have wine" mood, but I won't.

Had a bad day at work today - stress does not even begin to cover it.

I still haven't reached for the bottle though

Drinking diet ginger beer and eating Bonfire Night Burgers.

Good luck to everyone - we can do it!!