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

maggiem

Thanks Honey bear for your comments, I think I have wilfully ignored the amount of sugar in wine especially for years. I am just trying to cut down so have had wine Friday and Saturday night and will have some tonight. But I have managed to reduce the amount, probably still over recommended limits (have ignored those too) but still less than usual so I am taking this as a little success.

I was also interested in your comments about suddenly being able to give up a habit. I can't explain why Tuesday I chose not to have a drink whereas for the last 18 months I have tried to cut down thinking most mornings I won't drink tonight then by 6.30 not able to resist. I did manage dry January but felt I almost drank more in February.

I have 3 nights in a hotel next week so am hoping to have at least 3 maybe 4 AFD on school nights although I know it might be harder with colleagues who are used to me drinking wine. Like Maman I just want to drink less rather than give up completely but am hoping to have an AF January.

Lovely day here on the South coast, freezing Cols but sunny, my favourite weather so hope everyone else has some sun too!

Honey_Bear

maggiem wrote: »

0I think I have wilfully ignored the amount of sugar in wine especially for years. I am just trying to cut down so have had wine Friday and Saturday night and will have some tonight. But I have managed to reduce the amount, probably still over recommended limits (have ignored those too) but still less than usual so I am taking this as a little success. .

It's a huge success. Think about drinking in terms of a juggernaut going up the motorway at 70mph. How quickly do you think you could put the truck in reverse? The tendency with alcohol is to very gradually drink more, and more frequently. By cutting out one drink, just one, what you've done is a big step, huge in fact, and if you then decide not to drink on an evening when you used to, that's even bigger. Keep up any of that new behaviour and use the juggernaut analogy to be really happy with what you've achieved because slowing it right down is a great start to changing habitual behaviour, particularly if you're finding it destructive.

As to ignoring sugar consumption in booze, anyone who has a weight problem who carries on necking the booze while saying they're dieting is going to find themselves struggling. I know just how easy it is to fool oneself about this because I did it very, very successfully for a full decade and it never once struck me as being in denial about anything.

6/30 please, Shaggy.

debjay

4/15 for tonight please.

CuppaTea

1 more for me pls Shaggy.

cathybird

Evening all, I didn't drink last night and won't tonight, so that's 4/15.

cathybird

Just wish to add, wow, I am 25 away from my yearly target! That feels close!

Barny1979

4/20 AFDs today

cathybird

Morning all, beautiful autumn morning out this way, 5/15 for me please.

Honey_Bear

cathybird wrote: »

Just wish to add, wow, I am 25 away from my yearly target! That feels close!

Oooh, exciting! I hope you breeze to it, CathyBird.

1.4 kgs down in seven days, purely by cutting out everything with added sugar in it and not eating a vast amount of fruit instead but I'm still eating some dried fruit when I think I need a very quick energy burst. I'm very, very surprised by the loss as I don't go to the gym, I'm not walking the dog 3 kms a day any more because of his health problems and the only exercise I get is housework. It's not a big house but it's on seven different levels (three floors so stairs everywhere) but it's a lot more of a loss than I would have predicted. Just goes to show how much cr*p I've been shovelling in.

7/30 please, Shaggy.

Eltee12

Morning All


7/30 includes today. Am extra pleased with self because went into the pub on Saturday for lunch, came out again at gone 9pm AND NOT A DROP OF ALCOHOL PASSED MY LIPS!! Have to admit was fed up with cola and coffee by the time we left.


El