DRY 13

[lilybetsy]

This is the thread for all those who are living, or committed to living, life free from alcohol.

I will quote a sober poster "I'm fitter, slimmer, richer, happier & healthier"

Go sober warriors !

At work so very quick post - Matron hope you are okay? I sincerely hope whatever happened last night hasn't tipped you over. Sounds horrible and not what you need on holiday

Matron, hope you're okay.

Day 31 here, and going strong. We're having lovely weather, warm and lots of sun. In the past, I would have seized this as an excuse to have a few cold drinks in the garden in the evening, but happily drinking sparkling water with a slice of lime instead.

As a result, I am full of energy today. Dropped DD1 (4yo) to playschool, walked to the shops with DD2 (2yo). Got home, did day 8 of yoga camp, picked up DD1, spend a while in the park on the way home. Got through three loads of washing to dry outside, sorted out the DDs' wardrobe, plus various other daily chores. No way I could have done all that in the past, because I would have been nursing a hangover.

I am embracing sobriety and enjoying life.

Thank you.

I am OK in fact I think it was the pressure that needed to burst for me to move on.

There is no doubt that my family and friends are now well aware that I am sober for good.

Bit of an ugly process but today I have been renamed Frank as in Frank Skinner.

Most of the morning has been spent naming famous sober people. I have now got everyone I love behind me and cut ties with those that don't.

Hello everyone. Matron it sounds like whatever has happened needed to happen. You've always said you struggled with your family of big drinkers, so it was always going to be hard being around them whilst trying to stay sober. At least now they know, and there's no need to pretend you are drinking just to keep everyone happy.

Back from a few days away in Forrinland, was great but my word the booze when you are travelling is just bizarre! I had never noticed it before. The free drinks in the airport lounge were the first thing I noticed, people knocking back beers at 7am. Then the booze on the aeroplane. Then the complimentary bottle of wine in the hotel room. It all felt very strange and not a struggle exactly but weird. Anyway I found a good local AF beer, even got FIL on it. He isn't supposed to drink much with his medication but finds it hard as the habits are very difficult to break. Had a great time, much more energy than I normally would.

Hi to all especially those struggling Howbad, vxa how are you doing today? Rose well done! Things will get easier from here on! Welcome dr and hi to beginner! I am a couple of days behind you I think. I'll have to check the 'I'm done drinking' app as I don't keep count anymore.

to us all!

Hi Matron. Sorry about your tough night. Do you want to talk about it?

I'm afraid I haven't faced my family yet. Not sure how to do that.

I had a drink-pang today after a good day. I had a tough meeting to run this morning and I did it well - in front of a new senior staff member whom I've never met before. I got pulled into his office by the CEO afterwards to be told how well I'd done it. He also asked if I was ok because of "stuff at home" and I said: Yes. He said: good. look after yourself. If you need time off, take it. I said: thanks.

then I walked off, thinking I AM A FUCKING ADULT. It was hard not to fist-pump. I have wasted years of my life allowing emotional relationship crap to get in the way of THINGS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH. I have been crap in meetings because some stupid man isn't talking to me, or been late to work because I have been drinking with some stupid man; I've been miserable on nights out with my friends because some stupid relationship is going wrong and all sorts of untold nonsense and I am NOT doing it any more. this is my life and I am not drinking and I am going to do my job and love my kids and have a good time outdoors in this weird british crazy spiky weather and THAT IS IT

Anyway when I got out of work later I thought: good day. I should have a drink! then I thought, no I shouldn't. Dickhead. this is working because I am not drinking.

great to hear howbad, well done you for catching the sneaky wine bitch trying to creep in there

howbad well done on your meeting and not drinking!

matron sounds like a very tough but much needed turning point.

Everyone else hope you all have a quiet sober Friday.

I'm not drinking today. I have something to get up early for tomorrow and I will be doing that with a clear head and energy, not a hungover, need to get the train because I'm still over the limit, bed tempered hungover head.

efc I'm not sure if I read your post right. Have you got a hangover ? Are you ok ?

Vxa2 I had to read it 3 or so times too but no I don't think efc is drinking it's just lack of commas in this sentence! She is saying she is not going to drink tonight as doesn't want to get a train tomorrow due to still being over the limit if she drinks tonight...

Sorry it's not lack of commas just reads badly

Oh good. I can see that now. I was worried X

Hi vxa and lou sorry to confuse!

No hangover here- I'm playing it forward to ensure I don't drink tonight!

I have nearly 2 weeks of AF days now and feeling good from it. Just know the weekend is a danger spot!

I have a 10k run on Sunday which will keep me focused. Last long training run on Tuesday with dh. He's still drinking and for the first time ever I ran better than he did!

Have a good day everyone

Morning all

Still AF, but got a cold, and really feeling I'll with it! Trying to rebrand yesterday in my head, from grr, you achieved nothing yesterday to yay, yesterday I allowed myself to be ill, without needing to poison myself to justify a day of crap tv on the sofa.

Skipped yoga camp for the first time. Will carry on with it though.

Todays goals:

Remain af
Yoga camp
Bath

Should be able to manage that!

Oh good. I was worried about you efc.

Yesterday was slightly better but today I feel crap again. I am over nine weeks sober ffs !

I am still taking the Acamprosate and Sertraline so I don't think there is much I can do medication wise.

I have done 3 spinning classes this week and quite a bit of walking too.

Waking early. Have stinking headache today which won't go. Sorry I am continually moaning. I should think myself lucky but I can't snap out of it

Rushing around again so haven't got time for a long post but glad to hear all is well with you Matron.

So many achievements from everybody! From early morning Yoga sessions, to foreign trips and holidays, managing social and stressful situations sober, in-law visiting, work stress, relationship stress and just life! I am sure all of us thought that could NEVER happen to us but here we all are - huge pat on the back to everyone

Sorry to those who are not feeling too great . I seem to have crushing headaches most afternoons and I have no idea why - I am drinking plenty and sleeping plenty and not eating carbs at the moment so its a bit of a mystery .

Last night was VERY difficult, I always knew this week was going to be tough but last night was a white knuckle ride from the train journey home from work. I think it was because it was the last night of the children being away, it was 22 days, a friend who is doing this with me caved the night before, I was hungry and then my husband went out for drinks with some friends and I knew I could join them very easily.

I uuuhhmmed and ahhed and ahhed and uhhmmed but in the end I went to bed with a cup of tea

Good luck for the weekend warriors!

Day 32.

Cheers for us all remaining AF and sending encouragement to those who need it.

efc, isn't it amazing how not drinking has such a huge impact on performance when doing exercise? And not just not drinking the night before, but actually staying dry. I've seen a huge leap in my ability in the last month.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here. The weather is amazing. There's going to be at least one barbecue. But I am not going to drink.

Just back from two hours in the park with the girls, it was lovely.

DD1 is spending the day with her auntie tomorrow, DH is meeting his brother and his kids with DD2, so I've pretty much got the entire day to myself. I'm planning on getting up early, doing a 15k hillwalk in the morning, then popping into town. It's the port festival this weekend and there's supposed to be a bunch of tall ships. Love looking at them. Treat myself to lunch at some point.

On Sunday we're planning to go somewhere nice for a picnic. On Monday we'll go for breakfast, then DH has some plans so I'll probably bring the girls to the park again.

It feels great to be able to make these plans for the long weekend, knowing I will feel great and well rested. Nothing will be made difficult by hangovers.

Lou, what a great victory! Well done on doing the right thing and choosing tea over alcohol. It's exactly those sorts of situations that can be so hard.

Another Friday night -or t will be when I get out of work - and another weekend. Day 84. I can see 100 coming nearer - and I believe I will get there too !

There is a 'school reunion' on tomorrow. I'm feeling a lot of pressure to attend. I don't want to. Will be seriously out of my comfort zone and not able to drink to take the edge away from my social anxiety.(What would happen if I DID drink is that within an hour I would be pissed, but would drink a LOT more and the whole thing would get very messy. I might fall over, I would probably forget parts of the evening. I would come home in a taxi pissed and write off Sunday with a mega hangover) This IS NOT going to happen.

So I am minded to make my excuses, although a small part of me wants to see some people ....

New Seedlip arrived on Weds and I tried it last night. Was quite disappointed in that I didn't think it tasted of anything really :-( This may be because I have a heavy cold / hayfever and a very limited sense of smell !

The feeling of ennui has returned, along with 'cant be bothered' and 'whats the point' about pretty much everything. Cant think of one thing I want to do this evening - except perhaps go to bed... But I have there kids to feed and stuff to do. so bed will be postponed...

grumnp

sorry to hear you are also a bit down vxa - any better today ? How are you Matron ? I hope things are settling for you . and howbad you are perceptive and intuitive and I think you will FLY without DP and alcohol - really fly, and achieve more than you could have imagined

Happy sober friday

Lily x

vxa three spin classes in one week- you are definitely winning at the game of life! We are all awesome. I've bought some v lovely AF drinks in waitrose today including a new fruit cordial which is cherry flavoured. And some wine which says it is 0.5%. Is that OK for me do you think?

Personally I wouldn't drink the 0.5% stuff. I just can't drink full stop. It's a pain but I feel better being absolutely alcohol free because I know exactly where I am and there is no chance of me starting to think "well if I can drink that 0.5% wine I would be OK with that 2% beer and that 4% spritzer". I wouldn't have boozy puddings either.

Sorry that's not very helpful.

Sorry beginner I'm with vxa on this one. I think 0.5% is too much. For me that's 'low alcohol' not 'alcohol free'... I would be worried it would start me down the road of 'moderation' again ....

Having said that I do drink Becks Blue - although that says it is "not more than 0.05% " I figured I would have to drink so much to get any alcohol effect that it was safe, and I don't have any urge to drink lots of it.

Lily 🌷

Feel off thread as had my head down writing that assignment but I've sent in the draft so phew!
vxa I think I might know which blog you are talking about and I had to stop reading as was too triggery for me and suggest you do the same [flowers[
Now off to catch up on the rest of the thread

Well done Lucy bet you're glad that's finished!

Felt shocking all day, have gone to bed with a cuppa. At least I know it's not self inflicted and so can wallow properly! Hopefully I'll be feeling better in the morning. I really need to start doing some more exercise. Inspired by you lot I have downloaded a running app. It's been nagging me all day. I feel we may fall out soon.

Wow it's been busy :)
Matron sorry to hear you had a rough night but sounds like progress was made
Welcome DrPiggle! Congrats to all those hitting milestone numbers - whether days, weeks or months
Lily new Seedlip alert here plus I talk a bit more about that week-end
Off for curry & glass of Botonique