The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 2

Aaagh

I've been reading on and off since the start of this thread. Everyone has done brilliantly, whether it's stopping altogether or cutting down considerably.

I set myself a target of 60 units for the month and went past this on about day 14 and felt a bit of a failure.

I think perhaps my target was too low. I have just gone through my expenditure sheets (set up in November to track how much I spend primarily on groceries and wine) and my spend in December was £245 on wine (and another £50 on 30 November, so that was December drink too), no house parties so this is just for the two of us and doesn't include a few nights out we had and Christmas Day at my parents. So far this month its £82 and there are six bottles still in the rack.

Obviously, it's not just about the money, but it really made me think about how much I was putting back, what it's doing to my body and how much I could save.

graemecarter

jo1972 wrote: »

Hi all



I will not be drinking today and that's as far as I'm going to go at the moment, hopefully I will be happy to join you all in Feb, if you'll have me. I will obviously still be sticking around and checking out your progress, you are all doing great.



xx

That's the best way of doing it Jo.
I still wake up and say to myself "Today I will not pick up a drink"
I don't say this week, this month, etc.
I can get through one day without a drink - I cannot swear off for a lifetime.
Just for today - "Just for Today I will try to live through this day only and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that appals me for I do not have to keep it up for a lifetime."

paybacktime2008

Af for me today. I have a bit of a theory why everyone...myself included...is finding it a bit tricky at the moment. I've mentioned self sabotaging behaviour before but my theory is this. We have all done so well, that little voice that says....'Ah but you'll never keep it up'........we drink to show it that we haven't got a problem...that we can take it or leave it...to poke a stick in it's eye and say ....... look at me i can have a drink and get back on the wagon just like that......Next time i hear that voice i'm going to tell it to !!!! off.

23 af days for me.

budget_babe

Hi Guys,

Hmm feeling that a few words tonight is inadequate.

Thanks Ra watched the Ed Mitchell programme, just so glad that he is not drinking. As you said a couple of days ago though if you pick up a drink then .........
Gc as you also said: your past becomes your future .......

Winebox love and hugs to you, take care xxxxx

Jo thinking of you, please take care and your beloved Dad will be watching over you. Take the time that you need, we are always here. Hugs angel xxxxx

Polaroid sorry you are feeling down today, me to. the alarm went off this morning and I REALLY did not want to get up. But I did and toddled off to work like a good BB. Thought I'd be feeling alot better with not drinking at all, disappointed that I am not losing weight to. Never mind its Boxercise tomorrow. I'm sleeping awful as well, guess I should have a burst of energy sometime soon? Hugs xxxxx

So signing off now, Btw I am a Dragon in the Chinese sense. Do ya know what I can hear Lurky tittering as we speak, another afd Capt L, glad your back steering this ship. Hugs xxxxxx

P.s still no Grey P and Eselt you are not about today as well? Hope you and everyone else is ok? Hugs xxxxxxx

fedupandskint

AFD for me today making number 14/21. I am an Chinese Ox by the way so it is my year. Except it doesn't feel like it.

the_rugby_coach

winebox wrote: »

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: !!!! heart rate increases......

Yeah I'll give it a go...my main reservation is that I go awol every weekend so will have to play catch-up with scores on a Monday but if everyone's happy with that I'll do it. In fact I'll miss Feb 1st, oops. Erm, I'll have to just copy wot you do, I have no imagination. Might try & put in money saved too? think TRC suggested that.

Can't take the credit for that one I'm afraid winebox but thanks for offering it :T

If I work on the basis of a fiver a night I've saved well over £100 this month. And that is probably a conservative estimate cos if I was on beer and wine, or out in the pub, a fiver wouldn't have lasted very long

TRC

p.s. 25/26 for me Captain Lurky

the_rugby_coach

jo1972 wrote: »

Hi all

I'm afraid I shall be leaving the AFJ challenge, cos it's all too much pressure for me to be counting the days at the moment, plus I'm failing miserably which is making it all the more likely to continue failing as I have no self esteem or confidence at the moment.

xx

Do whats right for you Jo We'll save you a space on the wagon

TRC

maman

Hello everyone. It all seems a bit gloomy on here this past few days while I have been lurking through my non-AF weekend. I think you are doing amazingly well with all the carp many of you have had to deal with in life along with giving up/cutting down. Just think as almost all of us were drinking every day before starting the challenge then any AF days is better than we were doing before. Welcome Aaagh, I too find saving some money quite motivating along with all the calories that I haven't been pouring down my neck!

All I want to do is break the habit of drinking everyday for no reason but that it's become a bad habit. I'm happy if I don't drink on ordinary weeknights at home. If I can keep that up then I'll have made excellent progress.

11 AF days for me Lurky, please.

Bismarck

paybacktime2008 wrote: »

Af for me today. I have a bit of a theory why everyone...myself included...is finding it a bit tricky at the moment. I've mentioned self sabotaging behaviour before but my theory is this. We have all done so well, that little voice that says....'Ah but you'll never keep it up'........we drink to show it that we haven't got a problem...that we can take it or leave it...to poke a stick in it's eye and say ....... look at me i can have a drink and get back on the wagon just like that......Next time i hear that voice i'm going to tell it to !!!! off.

23 af days for me.

self-sabotage.....interesting....I think it's sometimes the risk-taking part of us, the bit that wants to show there's no problem and we can stop any day.

I look back and think that I really was the best person to mess things up...and yet I'd think the problem was everyone else. I'm astonished at how humble I am compares to the arrogant selfish **** I was sometimes.

take care everyone....remember this is our journey, our life and not a dress rehearsal!

Pippilongstocking

Hiya all
AF yesterday so hopefully today as well.

Thanks for the kind words Miss P - xx and reading all this makes me see that others feelign the same which is reassuring - xx

Hugs to Jo and hope you will be lurking about - you have acheived loads this month xxx

Waves and keep up the good work everyone. I stumbled at the weekend, but half on my feet now - someone gave me a couple bottles of wine as a pressie - I wish they wouldn't but then again they don't make me drink it do they??

So Captain L anohter AFD for me - think I am on 15 now? Need to double check my diary x