DRY 16

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If you're quitting alcohol for a brighter sober future come and join us here. A very welcoming bunch supporting each other every step of the way.

Link to Dry 15

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2726334-Dry-15?msgid=65047780#65047780

Two weeks done. Just wow.
I've read that 'endurance badges' can get a bit tedious, but right now NOT for me.

for you both nottoday and BGJ. Good work on your new PB too!!

Loving a quiet Sunday evening as another sober weekend comes to a close. Contented sigh. Heading into my third week of sobriety.

Folks, if you think about it, having completed a week means that all seven days have been completed, is any Saturday really that different from any other Saturday?.....is any Weds that different from any other Wed? - so we have done the hard part of each singular day (the first one) ...we now need to do every Monday, Tuesday, weds etc as they come.

Throughtheviolets, BGJ, nottoday wow such amazing achievements everywhere!!! Incredibly empowering isn't it? I bet you all feel over the moon and so you should! well done

Hi Loubilou09

It’s been ups and downs, the first 6 months there were more downs - I had bad headaches for the first 4 months (they have disappeared now). I replaced alcohol for sugar, so at first I put on weight.

I do feel amazing. Not only am I incredibly proud of myself, I feel good physically, I feel mentally quick, my memory is razor sharp. I also found myself searching for a meaning to my existence and did some amazing self development courses which have helped me to meet the real “me”. I would never have gone on this journey if I was drinking.
I have the same friendship groups, but I don’t go out a lot as I have small children. They are all respectful of decision.

I have started new and very adventurous projects in my career - I have kept them up.

My weight has dropped from 9st 4 to 8st 6 (I am 5ft 5) so I didn’t need to lose weight but clearly have.

I still have cravings, but they are nothing like they were. My weak moments of Friday night cravings are even disappearing. It’s quite incredible how much of your craving is down to habit.

To everyone on this thread, keep on, your doing brilliantly. I will write more when I have some more time, but the results are well worth the hard work X

Morning folks,

Really shocked myself this morning, up and out for a guided meditation at 7am this morning - not continually hitting the snooze button and dragging myself into the shower - one of the only things that gave temp hangover relief.

Cup of coffee and now settled into work - so much done already and it's only 9am. Why did I ever drink?

Hello I've been lurking for a long time and your posts are so inspirational! I'd love to jump on board if you will have me... I really want to go alcohol free. In the past I haven't drunk every night but I have trouble moderating when I go out and always end up drinking too much and then suffer for it the next day, hangover, tired - and my worst side effect is being snappy with the kids. I feel like I'm wasting so much precious child time because I'm too tired/grumpy to do stuff with them. When I drink at home it's about half a bottle a night but even that makes me tired and grouchy the next day, and I always want to crack open another bottle the next evening to take the edge off the day. I feel like I'm going round in circles.

But I'm anxious about the days ahead... I'm on day 2 technically, though I only decided last night that this is it. Christmas .... How?! We are going abroad to visit my parents and they are big drinkers, and I feel like they won't understand since I've never had a "problem" with alcohol in their eyes.

And I'm worried about my relationship with my husband (though he isn't a big drinker anyway) and that I'll be somehow ...less... If I don't drink. I'm quite shy so I often use booze to help me over that... And then become a bit ... Wild... And hate myself for that.

I really really want to be fun and sober! I want to wake up in the morning and not be stroppy and stressy with the kids because I'm tired and snappy because I haven't sorted their stuff for school out... I want weekends to be fun times and not just wishing the day away to get to the evening to put them to bed so I can have a drink and it all start again...

Sorry for the ramble but just wanted to post here to try and keep myself on track.

Captainladder, welcome...trust me you won't regret going af. And you won't be less to your DH either.

I never had a drinking problem either, I've heard of people like me being described as practising alcoholics, I wasn't practicing, I was bloody good at it, drinking problem, put anything alcoholic in front of me and I drank it - no problem!!!!

My problem was stopping and staying stopped!!!!

I used to wonder if there was an 11 am at the weekend, I never saw it usually because I was drunk or hung over. Alcohol robbed me, emotions, time with kids, peace, all it could, who would want to go back to that?

Sorry rant over - re Christmas and how? The last time I looked Christmas lasted for 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86400 seconds, break it down and there isn't one of those that you need to drink in.

I have two bits of advice, take each day as a day, one day at a time.

Don't lift the first drink, the first drink gets you drunk, not the last - don't take the first and you cannot take the second third fourth etc.

Hi all. V pleased to hear of all your amazing achievements. I'm going to bow out now, although I shall probably lurk occasionally. I seem to have discovered my off switch - I have no idea how, perhaps through this thread, perhaps through necessity.

Last Thursday we had a big celebration and I nervously accepted a glass of champagne. That was all I had. Since then I have spent time with others who were drinking and not been interested. On Saturday we went out for lunch and I had 2 small glasses of wine, then stopped.

I am not drinking at home and will only have a glass or 2 if out, and not every time. I'm feeling confident that I can be normal - something I've wanted to be for years.

Good luck to you all :)

Cupoftea - come back to us once a month and update us would you? It would really really help me make some longer term decisions I think.

Someone I know thought that they too found their off switch but a few weeks down the line it turns out they didn't. First few times out was a glass and then stopping, then two glasses, then one night a week just when out and then of course 2 nights in the weeks because a) it's a Friday and b) its a Saturday. They say that all the game playing/deliberating/thinking about it has come back in their head which is exhausting.

A lot of forums/blogs/sites say that people just can't moderate if they have previously have experienced a problem but I do think there are some out there that maybe can? Maybe you are one of those

Thank you Loubi, I hope so

Cupofteaandtoilet I think Lou has said it best, and sincerely hope you have found the off switch,

I think you will have some sever challenges ahead, esp with the xmas temptations.

A few friends had been discussing issues earlier today and most alcoholics go back on drink in January, they think they have solved the prob because they were able to get over Xmas without a drink.

I sincerely hope you can return to normal drinking though.

Hi all! Hope you don't mind .... And obviously this is just my opinion ... But as a longterm AF (over 11months) I would rather not have monthly updates about successful or unsuccessful moderation.

Cupoftea all the luck in the world for your future and of course if you decide that becoming *Dry" is the way forward for you after all, please promise you will come back to us straight away
Lou I'm sure you could PM cup for updates and of course there is always the moderation Brave Babes thread which is specifically for moderators, whereas this thread is for those who are Dry or those who's intention it is to completely abstain.

Of course, this is just my opinion but as far as I'm concerned, our collective sobriety deserves to be protected.
When you get to my stage, you will still get the Wine Witch whispering in your ear, I guarantee it.
I for one would prefer not to have those whispers magnified.

KOKO Sober Warriors

First Monday when I have weighed the same as I did on Friday..... Hopefully I won't spend all week diligently loosing the weight I've put on over the weekend, only to repeat it week after week after week... Despite the odd treat here and there to compensate/distract from the lack of alcohol!

Feeling utterly shattered with a thumping sore head, but think that's a combination of late nights/poor sleep more than lack of alcohol - I guess head aches could well be withdrawal of some sort...

But only temptation is to take two paracetamol and head to bed early with the kindle. Trying to be kind to myself... L'oreal, I'm worth it!!

All of our journeys are different, all of us are different - I like it... As mother would say 'it would be terribly boring if we were all the same...'

Onwards glorious darlings.....

LikeaHurricane - very valid point and very insensitive of me to ask for updates - DOH!

As you were.... cough

My intentions are the same - I intend to stay dry

Lou I don't think for one minute you were being insensitive .... supportive and interested yes, but you are definitely not insensitive.

yes I see the sense in not having controlled drinking reports, for the reasons Like says - I feel rock solid right now but I may not in 2 days/weeks/months etc and I, for one, probs won't wish to hear drinking detail. And thanks lou for not demurring.

BGJ be the kindest to yourself you possibly can be. My method was vast quantities of comfort food! And of course the jelly babies....

Evening all...

Day 20 today. Ive noticed that I seem to have an all or nothing approach to stuff that isnt just relating to the alcohol.

Yes exercise is good but since I stopped drinking it's like yay! Up at 05.30 for an early morning swim, go to work, come back and yay! Lets go to karate. Or Zumba. Or riding.

Same with food. Lets eat healthy! Ive eaten so much fruit that my abdomen now has it's own postcode. and Ive farted so much the dog is sulking.

Thing is, then I end up extremely tired and hungry and then I want a drink to pick me up...

I might go to AA...

Hope everyone is well - I'll just go and catch u

Up

Knackered - hi there! How is the sleep thing going for you? I'm now on day 15 and the sleep is still erratic. I seem to do my best work around mid-morning! Think it's the nicotine still. Is it easier for you at all? Give me Hope!

it was chocolate milk tonight, a rare treat...... lush!!

Hi Nottoday!

My sleeps not too bad Thanks! I'm having drinking dreams and wake up in a panic and am waking early too - but am ok getting to sleep. Still feel like crap in the morning though!

You must be two weeks now? WooHoo!!

yes just into week 3. I had a dream I was smoking...had a cig in my hand and stared at it.I could have cried...until I woke up! YAY!!!!!

Oops - missed you saying it is now 15 days Really Well Done !!

There IS that great feeling when you wake up and realise though