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

graemecarter

Imelda wrote: »

Thanks Miss Piggy,

To be honest I think the idea of cutting down scares me a little! I just don't seem to be able to stop drinking once I have had two or three- so in my mind I should just not drink anything. But I know the issue isn't there when we have a meal at the weekend as we will, at most, share a bottle of wine.

So, I think I am going to limit myself to drinking wine, with a meal and only at weekends (with one exception for my husband's birthday next month which falls on a week night).

I have consulted my calendar and that means I will have 21 AF days out of 28 BUT on the non-AF days I will limit myself to a maximum of 2 average glasses/ half a bottle of wine.

This probably seems a lot but it will mean not drinking at over half the social events planned in Feb. Next week alone I have two meals out with friends that would usually mean a bottle of wine at least on each occasion, I will NOT drink at them at all.

Then I have a weekend at the in laws- that will be a challenge!


Thanks again xx

If you think moderation and cutting down will be hard, maybe you should try only drinking on certain days, like you suggest. Good luck whatever you do - don't be afraid to change your gameplan mid way through.
I finally realized myself that when I enjoyed my drinking, I couldn’t control it , and when I controlled it, I couldn’t enjoy it
That's why total abstinence works for me - I make bad decisions when I have drink inside me

Bismarck

got my suspicions about some relatives but there's little evidence that far back!!

no one immediately springs to mind anyway as having that kind of problem but I hope setting a good example for my kids will pay off....

nearly there folks...28/28....

funny...just using almond essence to do some baking and had the URGE to get some amaretto.....it was a really strong pull....quite something....wish green veggies had the same lure.....:rolleyes:

take care...

Needstochange

Hiya friends :wave:

Working away tonight and after a really good day at work I will be breathing deeply and thoroughlty enjoying a glass of wine. Yesterday was AF so I have hit my target:j :j :j Thanks everyone and looking forward to continually challenging my alcohol intake in Feb

graemecarter

Needstochange wrote: »

Hiya friends :wave:

Working away tonight and after a really good day at work I will be breathing deeply and thoroughlty enjoying a glass of wine. Yesterday was AF so I have hit my target:j :j :j Thanks everyone and looking forward to continually challenging my alcohol intake in Feb

Not you personally NTC, but could people please refrain from saying they had a lovely drink, beautiful cold beer, etc.
That glamorises drinking, and we want to remember why we are on this forum - because things were getting a little out of control/unpleasant.

Sorry - I should say people can post what they want, and of course they should, but they may want to give a little extra thought to the people reading this thread who may be struggling not to drink this day.

eselt

Hi all- welcome aboard Imelda, sounds like you have a plan which might work for you, good luck with that.

Winebox- even though I haven't drunk (except for my one off blip) since Dec 17th 2007, if you are recording units saved, prior to that I was drinking 2-3 bottles of vodka a day- no idea how many units that is but the potential to do well on the units saved is massive- I've never thought how many I used to get through a month, must have been hundreds- christ I've had a lucky escape, but it just crept up on me, then a couple of crises tipped me over the edge into the twighlight zone nightmare of alcoholism- should have got more productive help for my problems that didn't involve sobbing into the bottom of a glass, but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing..........

TRC- so glad you are feeling the benefits of AF living, the thing I still can't get over is how your motivation returns and depression lifts and you just feel so much more alive and positive about things- that feels better to me than any experience I've had when blotto on alcohol.

Best of luck tonight everyone.

the_rugby_coach

You're right Eselt. I'm also not sure if it is helping with my debt free wannabe ambitions or vice versa. Either way, both are helping to lift my mood and of course the drinking will help my debt free ambitions too

TRC

budget_babe

Hi Guys,

Gosh need to re-read the posts tonight as I need to digest what has been said.

Winebox: yes Danielle is Ronnie's daughter, its on all the spoilers and she had the matching locket. We saw her throw it in the slater's bin. (Hope she got it back out though). The significance of the locket is that Ronnie always wears it around her neck with a pic of baby Amy in, the matching one has a pic of a young Ronnie in. Can I just add can someone please get rid of Archie he is vile, (Think his days are numbered) Good. :T (I admit it I watch soaps, there its out) :rotfl:

Back to af, I will post my target by Friday but I am in a quandry? Can't decide to go with 23 or 28? It is my best friends birthday in February and I'm driving her mad not drinking at the mo. But this is about me and not anyone else, I've managed well stayng af in January and I'm worried if I get the taste again so to speak then the "Crazy button" will get switched on. ???? It is amazing the amount of people who say they could not contemplate staying af, it really shows just how much alcohol controls us all and make's us believe that we need it. So sorry for rambling on but still deciding and thinking of ordering Alan Carr's book instead? Hugs sweetheart and take care. xxxxx

So dear Lurky the gist of all that my friend. is that I am now on 28 afd's, have you decided re: your total yet? Hugs xxx

Polaroid hugs and take care. xxx

Hi Imelda :hello: and everyone else, hope you are all ok? xxxxx

So my friends off to digest these posts, love n hugs. BB xxxxxxxxx

Pippilongstocking

Hey guys
Not managed to catch up on it all yet. Will read more in a mo, works manic and I haven't caught up properly.

WB please put me down for 20/28 in feb. Gives me weekend options although I think I would rather do nothing, don't want to demotivate myself either. Trying to be honest with myself (no mean feat)

Jo nice to see hear you and you Eselt - waving to you all Miss P, TRC and Lurky Bis MP GC etc etc etc etc. I have told a couple of close pals as well I have found a place to get some support - they are so amazed as well that folks are so honest. you are all such good motivation xx

I don't especially have a prob with folks saying they have had a nice/enjoyed a glass of wine etc (sorry GC nowt personal) I don't think it glamourises (sp?) it - I just think folks are being honest and I like that. This is the only place I have ever been honest about my drinking ever. I respect the fact that I can be whatever I do and not be judged.

We are all responsible for our own actions - just IMHO. Nowt personal GC but I respect your view totally but its nice to say you enjoy a glass of wine if you have.

I have an alcoholic father and lotsof other members of the family who are/seem to have a prob interesting link But then again maybe I might be looking for an excuse for my behaviour? Tired and thoughtful xx.

Away off for some tea.

All I honestly know to be true is this, before I found this thread the idea of one AFD never mind a week or even about half a month was never something I could have imagined.

I know now when I feel 'hungover' when previously I didnt it was just normal to feel rubbish.

I no longer shove down two paraceatamol every morning when I wake up after a crap nights sleep. I don't need to shovel food into myself late on when I have the munchies (anyone else noticed how much 'snacking' has stopped.)

Sometimes now I am even not paranoid about my behaviour and actions most nights. who have a phoned, who have I embarrassed myself with, did they know I was drunk?

To you all I think I owe you so much, acceptence being the main part of it.

Enough blethering - catch you soon. xxxxxxxxxx

ps keep up the reeet grand work pets
pps sorry lurky couldnt resist

Pippilongstocking

graemecarter wrote: »

Not you personally NTC, but could people please refrain from saying they had a lovely drink, beautiful cold beer, etc.
That glamorises drinking, and we want to remember why we are on this forum - because things were getting a little out of control/unpleasant.

Sorry - I should say people can post what they want, and of course they should, but they may want to give a little extra thought to the people reading this thread who may be struggling not to drink this day.

Re read again, can see what you are saying. Its a toughie I have great respect for the additonal thougths for folks (like me I hasten to add) who find themselves struggling and I can get that, but also love the honesty here.

I guess its all about individual perspective and mines changes throughout each day.

See no help at all am I??/ Sorry for my big (humungous mouth)

Just wanted to say to you all keep up the great posts and your hands firmly on this wagon. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx appreciate it always xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

dancook

I am 26, maybe what I have to say is too extreme for the topic of discussion, but at least I can cover all aspects of my experience with alcohol.

Since christmas 2008 I have not purchased any alcohol and I will not go out my way to drink.

Christmas 2007 was a very different story, I had not long split up with my fiance, we were going to have to sell our home and I was very stressed at work. This lead to heavy drinking, it got as bad as drinking 4 litres of gin in the course of a week, and copious amounts of home made wine.

It was easy to drink because it made me feel better (short term), and because no one was there to tell me not to. But drink causes depression, which leads to drinking - it's a vicious circle.

In early Feb 2008 I had bad stomach pains so I drastically cut down on my drinking for fear it was my liver. A few days later i experienced paranoia and intense hullicinations - I was terrified, and I found it difficult to speak to my parents about because it just felt silly. Following these episodes I went to see the doctor who told me it was delerium tremens, after that I kept off the alcohol for many months, when I did start drinking again it was much more casually.

Over the time of my heavy drinking and high levels of stress, I got bad acne over my chest and shoulders, I wasn't able to start a course of roaccutane because my liver was functioning abnormally because of the alcohol. I have noticed more recently alcohol does have a noticeable affect (to me at least) on my skin. It's very clear at the moment anyway.

Aside from all this... Alcohol costs money, it slows down your metabolism and increases your calorie intake!

From now on I will rarely drink at home unless it's a special occasion.