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

fluffyb

Hi everyone

Just thought I would update you on my Kudzu tablets :rolleyes:

The first and second night I cut down from 3 glasses of wine to 2 and it was fine, but I was aware I was 'missing' the third.
Last night though, I had 2 drinks, then sat down to dinner with a third glass of wine poured [I would normally drink this no probs]. I ate dinner, chatted to hubby and it was only ages later when I was clearing away I realised I had still got my full glass of wine there untouched ---- AND I hadn't even thought about it never mind craved it :T :j :j :j
The first 2 nights it may have been 'all in the mind' but last night certainly wasn't

Not so optimstic tonight as I am off to a party and that will be very tough, but so far in the last 3 nights I HAVEN'T drunk 3 x 175ml glasses of wine which is 3/4 bottle/6 units :j :T

If I can cut down a glass every night easily I will then work at cutting out drinking at all for 2 or 3 nights a week until I am within the recommended weekly units.

Also, it was interesting to hear about your LFT results Winebox. Three years ago my hubby had a LFT and it was raised a lot. He was told to stop drinking alcohol which he did. A month later [AF] he started to get severe abdominal pains. Not just on his right hand side but all across his abdomen. This happened a few more times over the next few months and he went to the doctor. It turns out that the medication he was on for osteoarthritis was the cause of the raised LFT and he should have been having regular LFT as the drugs were hepatoxic [?sp] He had not been told he should have been having LFT's. Our GP changed his medication and it was then that the pains stopped even though he had been AF for several months. He still had to remain AF, but was given the ok last summer to start moderately drinking again, He drinks Friday and Saturday night now but keeps well within his recommended units and is now fine.
I think a lot of health problems are partly genetic and like smokers, not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer, but those who are genetically predisposed may do. We did research at the time on helping his drug damaged liver heal and were impressed with what we read about Milk Thistle. We both started taking Milk Thistle and I cut down on my alcohol intake from 1 bottle of wine a night [more at weekends] to 3/4 bottle a night. Now I want to reduce this further

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that so far, the Kudzu are working for me - though I tend to not keep track of how much I drink at parties but it is a good start for me I think :j

ms_london

Ophelia_10 wrote: »

However, I do feel that I am now having to do without the two things that have filled my evenings (alcohol and food) and I am REALLY struggling to fill the gaps this has left. I guess the purpose of my post is to find out how others fill the gap left when they are not drinking? And to work out if I should just give it up altogether being as I struggle to moderate it. I know that we all strive for a life where we are not relying on alcohol but it is so much harder when we don’t have a plan to replace that alcohol with something else. I’d be really interested if we could all post suggestions on what you particularly do to substitute alcohol? I do feel I’m making it hard by trying to kick the two habits at once, but as they are linked, I don’t feel I have a choice.

Hi Ophelia, welcome to the thread!

There is a mix of people on here, those who are cutting down and those who are not drinking at all. I had decided I was going to give up, but find myself waining at times and wondering if I can do it long term, I think I just feel good in my self after a period without A, and then get complacent and think I can handle it, although really, why would I be able to any more than before? (thats just me thinking out loud!).

Well done on the weight loss, are you attending WW meetings?

Perhaps you can substitute alcohol for your favourite non alcoholic tipple, see it as a treat and savour it? As for the time you feel like you need to fill, what are your hobbies/interests? Thats the thing, one of mine has been drinking, although always described it as 'socialising with friends', and my other hobby seemed to be being hungover. Write a list of the things you are interested in and would like to do, these could be home based activities (card making, scrapbooking, hanging about on MSE) or other things (doing a course, gym etc). I know what you mean, it does leave an awful lot of time to fill, but isnt that what life is about living? Sure it is nice to have a drink, but I think if that seems to be your only pastime then you are in dangerous territory.. Just thinking out loud really.

I've only been without A for almost 2 weeks so am writing lists galore of what I want to do/see, and its quite exciting and almost like a new lease of life!

And def, the two habits are linked. No harm going cold turkey until you have lost your weight and then introducing it back in, entirely whatever feels best for you if you cant have one without the other?!

I am SOOOOOO excited, my Allen Carr book on alcohol has just turned up, I might have a day in bed reading it tomorrow (so sad I know, hehe!).

2 weeks since I've stalked my ex. Whoo! :j :j :j

eselt

Hi all- hope all is well. Welcome Ophelia, the more the merrier, our wagon has infinate space so everyone is welcome.

Budgetbabe- OMG I was petrified of the tales of the unexpected music too-if I hear a harpsichord even now I tense up- they are the creepiest things and that music just seemed to seem so sinister- weird.

Jo, sounds like you've turned a corner, really hoping it will be the last one for you- you've tried so hard over the years, its time to give yourself a break- giving up alcohol is tiring, saps your energy, causes you anxiety and worry- I remember when I last stopped and I was shaking and my legs were twitching and the adreneline from anxiety and panic was nearly unbearable, I thought enoughs enough, I'm worn down by all these attempts to give up alcohol- then of course a bit of common sense and clarity kicked in and I finally realised I could banish all these struggles which caused so much distress if I stopped drinking- then I wouldn't have to keep giving up- simple really, but I am a simple soul and it took a long time to realise this!


I hope I have now given up having to give up, but as Bis says (where are you Bis?) constant vigilence.

It'll be 28/28 for me this month please, and 31 for march. Thankyou so much to the scorers in Jan and Feb- brilliant job.

eselt

Oh meant to ask FluffyB- where do you find Kudzu- went in the health food shop today and they don't stock it- did you get it online? Thought I'd give it a go, every little helps I suppose?

Bismarck

Ophelia_10 wrote: »

Been reading this thread for a couple of days now and it has certainly given me lots to think about. Firstly I’d like to say well done to all those who have joined the thread in an attempt to address their concerns around their drinking. Big congrats to all who have achieved their AF targets.

Secondly, I ought to introduce myself a little. I apologise for using an AE but I have a family member who reads the forum and I would not like them to come across this particular thread. Like many on this thread, I began my relationship with alcohol many years ago just after my son was born. I got to know another girl who lived close and regularly drank wine and it became my ‘norm’ to drink with her and this extended to drinking wine when my son was in bed as a way of closing the hectic day and relaxing and also feeling that I ‘deserved’ it. My son is 21 now and those habits formed when he was a baby are still with me today ! It’s been shocking to realise how long it’s been. :eek:

My wine consumption has been up and down during those years. Sometimes only at the weekend, sometimes every night. However, more recently I have been aware of my unhealthy relationship with the wine. I have steadily increased from a bottle of wine on a weekend, then realising that I can easily drink ¾ of that on a Friday, so then needed to get another Saturday as the remaining ¼ would not be ‘enough’ for a Saturday night drink. Of course, then I would have some left over from that bottle for a Sunday and sometimes for a Monday night too. And then I got so used to having wine in an evening that this naturally extended to Tuesday’s (‘Cos I’d had a busy day) and Wednesday (‘cos it’s a mid-week treat) and then Thursday (well...it’s nearly the weekend anyway now so what difference does it make) !! So, I was easily drinking 3 bottles of wine a week and had been doing so for a long time.

However, I joined WW in January this year as I really felt I needed to lose a stone or two. Once I started having to be careful about my ‘points/calories’ I realised I could not fit in 3 bottles of wine and lose weight (well, guess I could have cut out the food but that would be silly – :rotfl: ). So, I’ve had to limit myself regarding the wine and I have successfully lost 10lb so far.
Now.....my problem is that I really do struggle with the whole ‘shall I have a glass of wine’ thing in that it has been VERY hard to cut back on the wine, but I also have recognised how the wine has affected my weight loss efforts. When I have allocated my points and allowed myself to have a glass of wine, I know that it weakens my will power and I do get very hungry and crave snacks. To be honest, my ‘pleasures’ in life and my entertainment has been drinking a nice cold bottle of wine and munching my favourite snacks of an evening. I would look forward to that all day during work and I absolutely love to do that ....but, I recognise that the results of that are not what I am happy with.

However, I do feel that I am now having to do without the two things that have filled my evenings (alcohol and food) and I am REALLY struggling to fill the gaps this has left. I guess the purpose of my post is to find out how others fill the gap left when they are not drinking? And to work out if I should just give it up altogether being as I struggle to moderate it. I know that we all strive for a life where we are not relying on alcohol but it is so much harder when we don’t have a plan to replace that alcohol with something else. I’d be really interested if we could all post suggestions on what you particularly do to substitute alcohol? I do feel I’m making it hard by trying to kick the two habits at once, but as they are linked, I don’t feel I have a choice.

Molly Polly – would love to hear your suggestions as I know that you have successfully lost weight and given up alcohol. Sorry if I missed others....I’m not entirely familiar with everyone’s name yet or story.

Apologies for the long thread but wanted to share a bit about me and it was cathartic to write it all down amongst like-minded people.


Thank you for reading if you got this far. Looking forward to getting to know you all and reading your suggestions. :T

I always fee l guilty when I do this...I pop in, see a load of posts and skim them and one catches my eye....this was longer I suppose...and mentioned an AE.

I'm feeling a bit odd that some folks have a DFW get together and I need to not go because staying anonymous is so important to me in this context..also they go for a few beers and that would be OK to a point but not my cup of tea!...if you see what I mean.

anyway - what do you do with the ling gap that is created if you don't drink - something that does you good or helps those you care about.....

a follow on from my past is that I'm studying again and I was on my way to it recently when I had the thought:

Sometimes when I'm struggling to do stuff and it's really brain-taxing, I find it frustrating now that I can't up a gear by not drinking....almost like when I was drinking I was content that if I failed it didn't really matter because I was p++++d and that meant I'd not giv en it my best shot so it wasn't a personal failure.

This got me onto the the thought that sometimes we drink so we can do stuff (or not do it) and blame it on the booze....hmmmm...

Still leaves me now with the uncomfortable feeling that I can sometimes give things my best shot and mess up...and I've just got to accept that.

Anyway, time's up....28/28 for me for February...well done to the poster who's nearing 3000 days or so....it does get easier...this is my path and I'm fine with it...by the time I get to 6 years, he'll be nearing 10!

I was reading about Gazza this week and he's making progress...reminds me that I should read Tony Adams' book sometime....

time's really up...take care everyone...

Needstochange

sorry budgie it took me a while to save for his little roller:D

Tough one tonight in NTC household, sick of tea, and have turned down a good night out because I knew in that company I would have a drink. Feel a bit of a billy no mates now but hey at least I reached my target.

budget_babe

Needstochange wrote: »

sorry budgie it took me a while to save for his little roller:D

Tough one tonight in NTC household, sick of tea, and have turned down a good night out because I knew in that company I would have a drink. Feel a bit of a billy no mates now but hey at least I reached my target.

Ntc Love it :T Just hope Dear Lurky appreciates the sacrifice, btw where is he? He really needs to know what time is it. (Chicco time of course :rotfl:) :T Well done on reaching your target :T As to being billy no mates you have loads on here and tea is quite nice you know. :rotfl:
Btw I am on the special occasions thread, looking at gift in a jar ideas. I gotta tell you I am already planning Christmas and I'm getting quite hooked on the whole crafting ideas. My Ds will tell me that it is just another one of my fads, (he said that when I joined the gym, but has had to admit he was wrong over that :rotfl:)
Lots love matey xxxxxxxx

jo1972

Evening all

Well done NTC :j you might not be feeling it right now, but imagine how great you're gonna feel tomorrow when you know you've done your target AND you're un-hung-over'ed!

It's funny though, I felt amazing earlier today, liberated and free (sounds corney but there we are) then earlier this evening I was back in craving'dom which turns me into a completely different person.

Went to Toysrus which was great, got the car washed at the hand wash place which felt great, something I've meant to get done for weeks then after shopping OH went off to the pub with his mates and I was alone :eek: and going home to the house to spend the evening alone :eek: :eek: one good thing was I had the 2 small kids in the car, but as I went to Tesco I could've easy (oh so very easily) slipped a 4 pack in the trolley. Those beer bells were like big ben. Got very irritable when I got in so quickly busied myself cooking and trying to get the kids new toys out of their plastic packaging (that almost drove me to drink, I needed scissors and a knife just to get a doll out of a box!!! :mad:). But here we are again, I've done it, I have absolutely no idea how I managed it, especially tonight as there's no one here to see me drink and I'll be sleeping before OH gets home so can't even get caught out.

So I've hit my target of 14/28, half a month, I can't believe it! I don't know if I really deserve a jumper really as I didn't actually set my target till earlier last week!! Although, in my defence, the target was set before any mention of jumpers

Good luck to everyone on the last night of Feb, I hope you all achieved what you wanted to. Log in lurkers and let us know how you are. Good luck to all for March. Thanks to WB for scoring so beautifully, good luck to NTC for next month. Thanks to you all for the amazing support you've given me and others. Blimey, it's like I've won an oscar!!!

xx

jo1972

Oh, forgot to say. OH bought me a Nintendo DS in Toysrus I used to use DS1's one but he lost it (don't ask) and I've been pining for it, actually only on my sober nights. So OH bought one for me for a (very) early birthday present. Got it home and DS1 has been on it all night and I've not even had a go yet!! Thought that is a great way of keep myself occupied. I don't think OH realised that it's worth it's weight in gold....obviously didn't tell him this and why!

Pippilongstocking

well done jo xxxx

you have a Nintendo DS

I have a shiney diary xx

All good

Well done me dear on resisiting the clanging of the bells xxxx