The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 11

ChocolateCupcake

Shaggy - My target for January has to be 31 days or I won't have completed the Dryathlon.
Its rather daunting to see it written down though!

x

tracy_36

Hiya

Yesterday was AF, so made it to 9/10 AF for Dec - appalling really
I am going for 31AF for Jan, have sponsored a few people for Dryathalon, I am joining them in spirit!!
Wow on the STOP button Shaggy!
Tracy x

satchmo1

19/10 AF so far, and it may be a dry end of year as DH is poorly with a cold (man-flu jokes notwithstanding, he does have to be very careful as he has COPD).

limadelta

It’s been months since I last stepped out of the corner where I’ve been lurking all year, so I thought I’d just pop my head into the room to say ‘hello’.

Tomorrow it will be one year since I last had a drink – and whilst I don’t often post here, I do have this thread to thank for that. If I hadn’t stumbled across you all back in January then I’m sure that countless bottles of wine would have been drunk this year (not to mention massive amounts of money spent) and that a glass would be in my hand right now. It was during my usual ‘alcohol-free January’ that I found this thread and having read back to the beginning, plus a couple of the old threads, I took up the recommendation of Allan Carr’s book and (as annoying as I found it) it turned out, for me, to have been the best investment I’ve ever made.

There have only been two minor wobbles during the year. On my birthday and on the day that we finally completed the sale of the-house-that-I-thought-would-never-sell, when I felt that I ought to have a glass of something fizzy by way of celebration. However, on analysis, it was purely a feeling of ‘surely I should’ rather than any real craving. It soon passed.

I still read the thread constantly, and will be forever grateful for what you’ve unknowingly done for me this year


All the best for 2013, everyone!

kittiej

Hello would it be OK if I join please?

I will go for 30 AF days please in January allowing the 1 day for my birthday.

I really need to cut out this unnecessary addiction and tbh I just don't 'feel' like drinking anymore.

graemecarter

kittiej wrote: »

Hello would it be OK if I join please?

I will go for 30 AF days please in January allowing the 1 day for my birthday.

I really need to cut out this unnecessary addiction and tbh I just don't 'feel' like drinking anymore.

Welcome Kittiej

I also have an addiction to alcohol, and while it's not 'necessary' , it is what it is and I have to deal with it. I wish I didn't have it, but I do have it, and that's that.

While I enjoy and get a lot from reading this thread, an internet forum is not wholly sufficient for my recovery from my alcohol addiction. I need other things as well.
If you don't want to drink any more but do find yourself picking up that first drink, then please reach out for help.

I found myself that I could never keep the targets I set myself for not drinking. If I said to myself that I wouldn't drink for a month, I would not be able to achieve that and I would change my target to 'not drink for a week'. Then maybe it would change to 'not drink Monday to Friday' .
That's a classic sign of my alcoholism - I would change everything so that I COULD have a drink.
If my non-alcoholic friends were trying to lose weight and set themselves a target of no booze for 50 days, they would achieve that. I would change my weight loss target or alter the amount of food I would eat so I could have a drink.

It's no longer like this today - it's been over 5 years since my last drink, and I don't want a drink today.
The problem was never alcohol. The problem was me. My alcoholism is centred in my mind. It was the sober me that always picked up that first drink.

Good luck with what whatever you do.

cazzyd

30 AF days I am going to aim for, with 1 day being tomorrow

mummy2threeboys

Some really postive stories here xx Im laura 35 and have 3 wee boys, i probobly do drink too much tbh, Ive signed up with dryjanuary too ! I know how wonderful i feel not drinking after just 3 days so much more energised and happy! Ive already cut down . Good luck to us all xx

Wanna_Bee_Free

Hi everyone, been catching up on here and wanted to say how impressed I am with all the people clocking up lots of AF days in December.

Shaggy and Mackeroo, you are so great for doing the challenges on here - thank you both! Shaggy, please can you put me down for 10 in January?

My month has been totally out of control, drinking way too much. No injuries but at least 3 very bad hangovers. I want to wipe the slate clean on this year's drinking and go for a fresh start in 2013.

Happy new year to one and all.

maman

:wave:to posters old and new. Some great, positive posts on here today. It's making me feel really energised!

I'd like to say a great big



to Shaggy for motivating us with the monthly scores and to mackeroo for the School Night Challenges.

For those of you just joining us (and anyone lurking who's thinking about it), this thread will really work if you want it to. I've been here for some years now (I think it's three) and have turned my drinking round from a bottle+ a night to sensible, social drinking plus a minimum of 10 AFDs a month. I joined to cut down and I'm delighted to say I have. Along the way I've lost loads of weight and gained loads of £££s!

I could probably stop using the thread and go it alone now but I won't. It does me good to see the AFDs mounting up, it boosts my willpower and acts like an extra conscience IYSWIM.:)

Please put me down for

10AFDs for January, Shaggy.

Happy New Year to you all!