The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 13

New_Me

Thanks for the support Honey Bear and Cathybird.

I've taken a Movegb trial for £1 which gives me lots of gym access so I'm planning some more active evenings to create new habits.

+1 please Shaggy for tonight

maman

Honey_Bear wrote: »

Don't beat yourselves up New Me and CathyBird - there's plenty of time left to rack up the numbers. Because you've posted the drinking isn't mindless, so that's a positive, too.

I'm another who had a dreadful week last week but I'm taking heart from your comment HB. All my drinking was planned, it's just that we were very busy socially. This week looks quieter so I'm hoping to add a few more AFDs.


Another plus is that I had very few treats by my (albeit rather strange) way of reckoning. What I'm trying to cut back on is snacking in the evenings on chocolate or crisps when I've had my dinner and I'm not even hungry. As we were eating out most evenings last week then it didn't happen. I think I only had chocolate once. Unfortunately, eating out did mean that the meals weren't as healthy as I'd have liked.:(


Anyhow, new week and new start.


4 AFDs please Shaggy.


Welcome back chad. When you mentioned the lard it reminded me of a turn of phrase used by GP. Not sure if I'm on the right track.:)

Baileysonice

Hi everyone

Long time no post and its back to that time when I need to grab my drinking by the throat and get some moderation back.

In a nutshell I am back to drinking every day and am sick of the groggy horrible feeling on a morning. As i get older I am also starting to sense some health problems round the corner as well which is scary. So thats the negative and the positive is that I am ready for change again.

So today will be my first AF day for as long as I can remember again I am calling today as I am determined to start well. One little phrase that I remember from here last time is that you will never wake up regretting not drinking but you will often regret drinking.

Lots of reading to do both on here and generally about the health effects which is increasing my motivation

I know I am mid month and I dont really want to call a number yet as I think if I do drink once I end up giving up totally so target free will work better for me. Looking forward to catching up with all your successes

1

debjay

11/21 for tonight please.

mackeroo

4 AF please Shaggy

As planned returned to fat class last week, I asked the leader not to tell me my weight as I knew it would depress me and I would probably head home and pour a glass of vino. So I'm oblivious to the number on the scales but returning and being motivated to get back to goal has helped me have a sober Thursday fri sat and this evening. I opened wine last night, always struggle on a Sunday as the roast is cooking, over the eve had 2 large glasses which left 1 in the bottle which I poured down the sink so no temptation later on or this eve.:(

CuppaTea

+1 day please shaggy.

Welcome back Baileysonice! Love your username.

Honey_Bear

Welcome back, Baileys and Mackeroo! :wave: It's true about the waking up thing - I still love, love, love waking up without a headache, or feeling groggy because I've over-indulged and I don't mind getting up any more. I used to put it off as long as possible, so that's a huge change for me.

Towards the end of my drinking days I realised I was dreading nights out because I knew I'd drink more than I should and that would inevitably mean I spent the following day feeling carp. At one point I worked out that due to nights out with friends that I didn't feel I could get out of, I had one day in a week that I [STRIKE]would[/STRIKE] might actually achieve something given that I'd totally accepted that I lived with a permanent hangover. Not a humungous one, just enough to sap all my energy and require ibuprofen.

Ah, Maman, those times when the social whirl keeps us eating and drinking more than we know we should, and the wrong stuff to boot. I still eat some wrong stuff, though, even without the excuse of booze.

17/31 please, Shaggy. I hope the hols are going well.

ManPants

Now at 10/31 AF

Nice weekend away where I stayed off wine & prosecco and was designated driver daytimes to stop any participation in daytime drinking. I did have a few G&T's each night we were away but measured them and started drinking at least an hour after everyone else had to avoid any mishaps. I guess I could count those as Low Alcohol Days but I prefer to recognise my no Alcohol Days. I'm starting to think the car may be my best friend with keeping me off the booze. My companions are normally so ready to drink themselves that my driving and not drinking barely passes by with a comment.

I have successfully managed to get OH on a diet starting today so with this will be a massive reduction in his drinking. Last night he only had 3 large Gins & half a bottle of wine so that is already considerably less. If only I can get him to quit smoking too! Tonight we have already discussed an early supper and a stroll out and no alcohol.

Honey_Bear wrote: »

There is, of course, a slightly different way of looking at the jollyjapes. You assaulted the bride's mother and best man, and then insulted a female guest.

There's a tendency to avoid recognising actual behaviour when booze is involved and call it 'just a bit of fun.' I'm pi$$ing on your parade here and I'm fully aware of how judgemental I sound, but as long as I thought about my drunken behaviour as excusable, I carried on doing it.

Thanks HoneyBear. I wasn't regaling the story to illustrate how funny it was but actually how truly awful it was. And not just that incident; endless other ones where I have woken up and been told about terrible things I've done all due to alcohol. I often had no recall of them. I have had to similarly remove myself off social media due to witty comments - under the influence - that are so close to the knuckle they are bordering on offensive. Waking up in the morning and not gasping in horror at what I've done is wonderful.

Off to do some gardening then the gym.

Have a great day everyone.

M.P X

maman

ManPants wrote: »

Nice weekend away where I stayed off wine & prosecco and was designated driver daytimes to stop any participation in daytime drinking. I did have a few G&T's each night we were away but measured them and started drinking at least an hour after everyone else had to avoid any mishaps. I guess I could count those as Low Alcohol Days but I prefer to recognise my no Alcohol Days. I'm starting to think the car may be my best friend with keeping me off the booze.



I have successfully managed to get OH on a diet starting today so with this will be a massive reduction in his drinking. Last night he only had 3 large Gins & half a bottle of wine so that is already considerably less. If only I can get him to quit smoking too! Tonight we have already discussed an early supper and a stroll out and no alcohol.

Sounds like you did well MP:T. I think it's so much harder when you're away with friends than at home and more in control of the situation. Like you, I don't record ALDs but I am aware of them which makes me feel better. My aim was to have some AFDs and to be able to manage 'normal' social drinking so ALDs fit well with that.


Putting off having the first drink can work well. Obviously by cutting down but also sometimes I feel that the later it gets in the evening the more cross I'd be if I 'wasted' a potential AF day for the sake of an hour or so. Good luck with OH tonight. perhaps an early night is called for.;)


Good luck at fat club mackeroo. I make a point of never weighing at home (threw out the scales in disgust and never replaced them). Now I'm at my target weight I go to fat club about once a month to check but use my clothes to tell me how I'm doing in between. Clean jeans can be very unforgiving.:(


Yesterday was a far better day for me both food and drinkwise. Hopefully today will prove another.


5 AFDs please Shaggy.

New_Me

Weigh in last night at WW, and lost 1.5lb, therefore motivating me to stay AF more. It really is my downfall, it's not just the calories but also the snacks while drinking and being tired, so less active.

Yoga this morning and Tai Chi planned for tomorrow night, with boxercise Thu night, so hopefully will have another 3 AF to count this week at least. Maybe writing it here will help me stick to the plan!

Early call of 6/10 for tonight please Shaggy