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 !

Slim it was in the Telegraph Magazine on Saturday.

Another AF day, and feeling OK - starting to think about my holidays and alcohol. I don't drink too much on holiday as we have the DCs with us, but generally a cocktail and then a wine with dinner. So I'm thinking mocktail and then soft drinks, I just need to find some lovely mocktails, any ideas?

Lizzy - I'm a total yoga novice - so I'm all about the falling over. But I am aware that I feel happier when I do it, so I'm going to keep on!

Day 4 of yoga done. It feels like not drinking is the easy bit - the keeping on top of my happiness so I don't want to drink is the tricky bit... (that's probably extremely obvious, sorry to be so lame everyone)

Sorry Girls - there was talk of a fab sounding pomeganate mocktail earlier on on the thread...

Girls - Mock tails - good quality fruit cordial and sparkling water's good as not too sweet. Mint cordial, sparkling water and lots of ice is ace when it's hot.

Although it's a few weeks off, I'm thinking about holiday too - self catering but my MIL (who comes with us) always has half a bottle of red with dinner. On the other hand - SIL (also with us) hardly drinks and DH says he's happy to be dry too so I should focus on that shouldn't I?

A 'triffic Tuesday to you all.

Morning all!

Slim here's the link to the telegraph article: www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/daniel-radcliffe-on-alcoholism-starving-himself-harry-potter---a/
It's very good, he comes across as wiser than his years.

Girls I have to say I'm a sucker for a virgin mojito. In fact I might go and get some limes today and make some tonight.

The wine witch was back with a vengeance last night, the cow. No idea why, but it was a major wobble. I had to drown her under 2 bottles of becks blue and 3 cups of that salted caramel green tea. Worked eventually.

Well done finnish on your yoga, I've always fancied having a go at that but I'm horribly non-bendy so I've never plucked up the courage to try. I've been to the gym this morning and done a session with my PT who is clearly a git and now I'm utterly broken. I'm sure it's good for me but it doesn't feel like it at the moment!

Got lots to do today so it's going to be a long one. Have a good day folks!

Morning all, struggling with a nasty summer cold here, feeling a bit rubbish and got the dentist to look forward to on Thursday to sort out my broken tooth - it's all joy!! But at least I don't fancy drinking.

The pomegranate mojito mocktail was made by a friend of mine from a recipe on the bbcgoodfood.com site and it was delicious. Am going to get all the bits and do it myself over the summer. Might not be something you could ask for in a bar though. It's got mint in it like lizzytee suggests - very refreshing.

Lizzy the key to all these things (work dinner, holiday etc) is, in my opinion, planning. If you can decide when you will arrive i.e. early or late, who you will try and talk to, what you will drink (with a back up in case the first choice is not available), what you will say f anyone a) offers you wine or b) asks why you are not drinking. For the holiday several mocktail options written down with any unusual ingredients take with you.. plan plan plan... It really helps..

pillow hope the trip to the garden center was fruitful (!!) 30 days is FAB - that's a whole MONTH can you make a list of the benefits you have felt ?

cooee funny how that craving can strike from nowhere isn't it! Is the trainer new or someone you have been with for a while ?

Can really recommend Seedlip for an adult drink ...

Hi jojo and glad and everyone else

I'm feeling a bit Pink cloudy today - no idea at all why, but am enjoying it!

Morning all, thanks Coee for the link! It was a good read. Good for DR to be so open about it.

Mocktails- I like Belvoir ginger cordial with ginger ale, crushed mint and some lime. It tastes really spicy. I agree lizzie about planning being key. Have a 'cut off' where you can say right, home now, bed now whatever. Ilike being designated driver where possible but that does sometimes mean that you have to sit around tapping car keys while people are getting hammered and you just want to go home. That is a total pain in the arse.

Glad you are pink cloudy lily You deserve it after the past difficult few days!

Finnish what is this Yoga Camp? I have seen lots of mentions but can't find a link?

Hi Glad

It's a yoga course on youtube.

There's just something great about Adrienne - she seems to work well with sobriety!

I'd love it if you joined in with me - we can encourage each other to keep going when it gets hard (mentally hard to make time, once I've started I don't regret it!)

Thanks Lily and Slim

Yes, planning makes sense. Kind of saying to the wine witch "I'm awfully sorry but your name's not on the guest list and we don't have a place laid for you. You are NFI. Bye!"

Yes re waiting around - happened at a party about a month ago. Drove there as I knew if I didn't I'd drink lots and stay out late. Left when the bulk of people there were not making much sense (though in an entirely good natured way)

Thanks Finnish :)

Hello all

Just checking in if that is ok? Another Day 2 alcohol free. Determined to make it stick this time.

Hi Godot, welcome. Of course its ok ! well done on Day 2, each time you have tied before teaches you something and adds to your courage in trying again. Just take it a day, or an hour at a time... There are lots of fabulous sober people here - and lots of great advice and support x

Lily x

Lily it's great to hear you sounding happy x

Morning Gordot, we've been waiting for you :)

Day 5 of Perpetual Yoga

Hope everyone has an amazing day

DAY 29!!!!!!!!!

Oh gosh I am so happy and pleased. It's been a shite week and I had a work thing yesterday which is normally very very boozy. I always come away with an evening hangover, feeling crap and rewinding everything I said in case I was pissed and stupid. Which I normally am.

I did it all sober. I was nervous, but I realised my choices were 1. be a bit nervous and do it anyway or 2. be a pissed idiot and embarrass myself. Once I have got it into my head that choice 3. have a glass or two of wine slowly over the whole afternoon in order to be relaxed and sociable is just entirely off the table for me, it was easier not to drink.

And I did such a good job too. I really did.

finnish thank you for posting this:

It feels like not drinking is the easy bit - the keeping on top of my happiness so I don't want to drink is the tricky bit...

That is SO TRUE. I think I have to work harder to destress, to cherish myself, to rest and reward myself and to make myself happy.

It's so strange: I look back and feel ashamed when I was drinking, but now, after nearly FOUR WEEKS (!) I am starting to look back and feel a bit sad too - all that harm I did to myself, and how lost I was. I can feel sorry for that person and see she needed some care and cherishing rather than just feeling loathing and shame.

It might be different tomorrow - but today I am feeling very good.

Off to the garden centre!

welcome godot I love your name.

Sorry not to welcome you before - I missed your post.

Day 2 is great. I'm in the early days too. Just watch out for the benefits in these first few days: hair, sleep, skin, the puffiness on your face. I know they are shallow things, but for me seeing such a rapid transformation (within a week - easily) made me realise how much I was poisoning my body and how how desperate my system had been for a proper break and proper hydration. Use a measuring tape on your waist or take a picture of your face today and again in three or four days. It will help motivate you.

x

pillow, I just wanted to say WELL DONE. Great achievement, and read back your post, and compare it too the first ones you made. You have done SO SO well.- Can you see the fantastic progress ? ALL that is down to NOT drinking ... Huge

Lily x

Hi all

pillow so pleased you sound so content.

Day 37 for me. It's getting easier. Reading lots of sober blogs and listening to podcasts.

Keep going everyone.

Hello all. Another early wake up feeling great so I have been up and productive in the sunshine for hours :) If this is a pink cloud I embrace it as I am getting so much done!
Just checked the tracker on my phone (which I had mislaid on the screen by putting it in with another app oops) and today is actually day 200 for me. I can't quite believe it but I checked and yep it's right ( even allowing for the one evening I had a small lapse a few weeks back,)
Day 200 😂

Waiting for godot lol lol lol 😂

lily I do feel content today. I suspect I will still struggle - I'm not so daft to say that after four weeks I have it cracked and don't need to think about it anymore - but I am seeing the benefits and understanding my past behaviour in a more compassionate way, and that's a real achievement for me - I was beating myself up mercilessly when I first joined this thread. I suppose I haven't done anything drunk and stupid in a month, so I've been able to give myself a bit of a break from the shame and self-loathing, just as you said I would.

To mark my 30 days tomorrow I am going to make a list of the benefits and post it here to encourage others and for myself to refer back to when I have more hard days, which I am certain that I will.

Thank you xxx

glad which app do you use?

Thanks for the welcome all. Much appreciated. I have a shocking head ache today, which I am guessing is withdrawal related. I have been drinking probably 50 units a week for maybe 3 years now... So some physical withdrawal is inevitable :(

Some great progress on here ladies. You are all doing great. onewhite and efc I remember when you joined - you've come so far.

Welcome godot - keep on posting. The support here is wonderful.

All ok here. Getting my hair cut and coloured today. Usually colour it myself so this is a treat. Looking forward to sitting still for a bit xxx