DRY 8!!!!!!

[CheesyNachos]

Hello! This is our 8th! thread for those who are abstaining from alcohol and for those who want to abstain. :) We love newbies and lurkers. We have people who have been DRY for years, for months, for weeks, days, and hours. :) ALL are welcome. We have heaps of tips and we offer support at any stage.

DRY 7 the previous thread is here...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2347295-DRY-7?

Morning all.... what plans for the bank holiday?

I am going for a swim this morning, then taking DS to soft play while DH competes in a cycling road race (he is obsessed). Then a cocktail party tonight at a friend's house. I plan to take some expensive soft drinks from Waitrose as a treat to myself.

Hope everyone is well.:)

I'm going to go for a nice long walk. No other particular plans.

Been crazy busy with garden, hen runs ( 6 different set ups to clean out now !) and preserving stuff from the garden. Also shopping for DD to go back to school - she has grown 2 inches in 6 weeks!
Archery tomorrow and then off to see a film :)

I've not been craving too much, although I sort of did yesterday when I felt overtired after a strenuous walk. I ate an apple and some watermelon for some sugar and I think that helped. I also had a short, easy walk in the evening as I'd spent all day after the hill walk in bed.

Tiredness is a huge trigger of mine too mutton.

Took the los the fair yesterday with a chum and their dc. Good fun even if it did result in a very overtired, grumpy dd last night. Not sure what to be at today. Considering going shopping as mine have also shot up but not sure I can be bothered :)

Just noticed the date - 8 months today!!

Hi, could I join you please?

I have known for a while that my drinking was unhealthy, but any attempts to stop or cut down failed, so I pretended it wasn't a real issue.
In recent months I have tried again to cut down, even stopping for a few days, but it never lasted, the drinking always increased with the most flimsy of excuses.

So now, I thought if I "committed" on here, actually wrote it down, I might have more of a chance. I've got a hypnosis MP3 that I plan on listening to next week, every day, when the kids are back at school.

I need to stop drinking. I have to do this.
I am terrified of the health impacts my drinking has had, I want to make a change.

Thank you :)

HuevosRancheros welcome :)

Welcome Huevos :)
Cheesy Went to SW4 festival yesterday and not a drop of any substance apart from Red Bull, tea and chocolate passed my lips Faithless were fab! Booze was EVERYWHERE!! The only thing I missed and craved? Having a fag Another sober first done and not just survived but aced as had beautiful moment which I'll share on my blog later this week which made it all worthwhile Am absolutely shattered today so no plans - apart from maybe a nap :)

Hello there Huevos! (huevos rancheros is one of my favourite breakfast dishes!)

It's good to make yourself think about your drinking, I think. Some people quit all at once and some attempt to cut down/manage to cut down/go on and off the wagon for a while before quitting entirely. It's good that you're doing this.

feel awful. been drinking. need words of encouragement

Hey yellowfloss, big hug to you. What's been happening?

You feel bad right now because you're hung over and have the booze blues. I know that feeling well!

Welcome Huevos. You have taken a really important first step. Well done. I tried to cut down for years. Tried everything - not drinking spirits, not drinking during the day, not drinking alone, only drinking weekends, you name it. Nothing worked….. I suspect most on here are the same. You are in good company and I promise you - if I can do it then so can you. I was putting away around 2 bottles of wine a night by the time I quit.

Thank you for the welcome :)

Today was not dry, I had two glasses of wine at lunchtime. But I always knew that would be the case, we were with family, and I didn't want to raise eyebrows or have questions asked about why I wasn't drinking. I'm not ready to admit to anyone else that I have a problem, not even DH. Which is ridiculous, I know. If I manage to stop for a couple of weeks, I think I might feel confident that I could give up for longer, so not worry about telling people. That sounds daft, I think I don't want to announce that I have a problem and then not be able to give up, and feel people are keeping an eye on me. But that is probably what I need.

Sorry, that was all a bit rambly

But tonight will be dry, and tomorrow, and hopefully for a long time after that.
One day at a time :)

Reading it back, that doesn't make sense.
Ok, so I had a drink to appear normal today, but I could have just nursed one over lunch, not have two. But that's the problem, after half a glass, a second is always going to happen. I've tried just one a night, or just drinking at weekends, but it never works. So I just have to go cold turkey :(

You can always tell people it's for weight loss or a detox or something.

"People", yes.
But not close family I don't think. Although maybe.... just better not stuff my face on Pringles while I say it!
Weight loss would be a definite bonus!!

Hi Huevos

Im going to be frank- that was just one of the many reasons I used to delay the inevitable along with its sunny, rainy ,Im happy, sad etc!

I just said alcohol isn't making me feel great atm ,am too old for pregnancy rumoursthank goodness and that was that.
No one batted an eyelid or pursued it
Its also "normal" not to drink alcohol, Im on about day 50 something and I feel great, its life changing .

Huevos I know EXACTLY what you mean about not wanting to announce it and then 'fail'. I am v. private about the whole thing. The only people who know why I don't drink are DM, DH and 2 friends. And I've not had a drink for 4 years. I find people aren't that surprised to be honest. I say things like 'it just doesn't agree with me these days' or 'I am trying to be really healthy and if I have as much as one drink I fancy a cigarette so I need to just avoid it'. Detox excuses work well too, but the others are easier for friends & family. Also that way it's not awful if you fall off the wagon.

Pink - yes, I know, it was just another delaying tactic, but I do honestly believe that if we hadn't gone over to the in-laws for lunch, that today would have been Day 1.

I have two kids, 7 & 5, and I'm nearly 40...so people could jump to the wrong conclusion about my abstinence and keep a watchful eye on my stomach!!

It's very hard, isn't it, to imagine never drinking again. I'm veggie, but at least I could eat meat again if I wanted to. I'm currently turning vegan, slowly, and am trying to find the most tolerable alternatives to milk, cheese etc. I couldn't just cut those things entirely from my diet, I need a decent cup of tea in the morning! And it's the same with drink. It's not just the warm, numbing, comfortable feeling you get with a drink. Fact is, I love the taste of red wine and am very sad at the thought of not having it again. I can just about convince myself that decent tonic with ice and lemon is refreshing, and nearly as good as a G&T, but nothing comes close to a Shiraz :(

Sorry for the moan.

Huevo best get yourself to Waitrose and pick up a bottle of AF Torres. All the taste of a good red without the hangover I don't say never or forever - it's too big and scary, and the rebel in me immediately wants to kick against it. I'm coming up on 2 years and don't plan to drink today or tomorrow but who knows what will be happening in 10 or 20 years time? Keep it in the present - it makes it easier :)

Wise words Lucy, very good advice I will remember over the next few days/weeks/months - thank you :)

And I shall indeed get myself to Waitrose :) I've had the white Torres before (previous quit attempt), but not the red.

AF Red Torres is lovely BUT the glycerol in it can give you scarey runs about 3 hours later :( I literally shat myself one night as a result :(

AF Torres White and Rose do not have the glycerol so not the same effect and are v nice as well :)

Sorry if TMI but thought I should warn people :)

glad thanks for the warning!!