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

[Deleted User]

Mornng everyone 14/31 for me please Shaggy.

Although I chose to do Dry January it's also been forced on me this last week after I was prescribed painkillers for this stupid trapped nerve in my back. I know it probably doesn't sound logical but it feels like I've almost been cheating because the choice to drink has been taken away from me rather than rely on willpower alone, not sure if that makes any sense lol :rotfl: anyway with or without meds it does feels good to be almost halfway through the month and AF

cathybird

Morning all, 11/21 for me please.

Arkers

Good morning everyone,

14 AFD for last night please.

Arkers x

Honey_Bear

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Morning lovelies :wave:

Happy to report I'm on 13\31. Last night was a struggle though. I really fancied a glass of wine. A packet of almonds didn't stop it either. I'm sure nuts contain far more calories than wine, by weight, so I'm not helping my fat tum situation.

*sigh*

Honestly Dizzy, the only thing that might work is sugar and even then probably not if you've had a carp day and the normal go-to solution is a glass of whatever. I think Fake Plastic Twee's quote 'Get comfortable being uncomfortable' puts it very succinctly - if it were easy to do all the time we wouldn't need to do it. It sounds hard but it's not that bad compared to some things that could happen to us.

I'm also getting very interested in the Law of Unintended Consequences. I've always thought of them as the bad things that happen as a result of making changes, but I'm finding quite the reverse about a lot of things. It makes life rather surprising at times, a lot more exciting opportunities seem to present themselves and I realise I have been very stuck in the ways that I look at evertything, see things and think about things.

No-one's boring, Lovesale, everyone's just contributing what they want to say and if numbers don't appeal to you that's fine. It's all helpful. There are lots of different reasons everyone here has decided to tone down their love affair with booze and I find it very helpful reading about all of them. I never saw myself as slob but I certainly gave my self-respect a battering!

Happy birthday Smiley! How lovely, something to look forward to.

It sounds as though your sleep is improving slowly, Roland, and I second the approval of the lack of snoring if I may be so bold and personal. My OH's is always louder, longer and more ggggrrrrrrr when he's had a skinful.

Thanks for that piece, Maman. I haven't logged in to the paper to read it, but it provides a healthy and very welcome balance to a piece in the Dailie Male the other day, where someone referred to people doing dry January as 'sanctimonious.' People who 'know' why other people choose a particular course of action are particularly dim in my view - anyone reading this thread would realise straight away there are hundreds of different reasons for choosing not to drink for a few weeks, and they're all valid. Sharing how life-enhancing a change in behaviour can be is a positive.

I don't think it's cheating at all, Frey'sMum. You're not drinking, that's all that counts.

15/31 please Shaggy.

maman

Welcome to new posters and good to see you back fakeplastictwee.:)

Deleted_User wrote: »

I know it probably doesn't sound logical but it feels like I've almost been cheating because the choice to drink has been taken away from me rather than rely on willpower alone, not sure if that makes any sense lol :rotfl: anyway with or without meds it does feels good to be almost halfway through the month and AF

I understand what you mean but see it as a bonus/silver lining to your back pain.:)

loveasale wrote: »

I will in time do the old target AF days ,,, at the moment I'm happy writing my feelings down ,, I hope I don't bore you all too much !
:rotfl:

Not boring at all. Target free is one way of doing it and although chalking up AF days is a helpful measure, any form of cutting down is helpful.


I've been posting on here for years. That's not because it doesn't work but precisely the opposite. It's the gentle accountability I like and a quick post is worth it to keep me focused.


I was out driving last night and as I drove home (about 11.30 p.m.) I consciously thought of the thread and decided that a cup of tea was the better option for a nightcap. Decision made before I got indoors and put the kettle on.


7 AFDs please Shaggy.


That's mu first smiley, target of 10 in sight and plenty of month left! Result!:D

loveasale

Today I am having a day in doors and hope to do more of my de cluttering,, I'm going through a divorce ( another lame excuse to drink!) and will have to move in the not so distant future,, so I'm trying my best to tackle all the rubbish, tut, and unwanted goods I've been hoarding for years,
I'm going to have a wine today ,,, but tomorrow I among to do a AF day and hope to do 3 next week,,,,
Little steps and and all that ,,,,,,,

maman

loveasale wrote: »

Today I am having a day in doors and hope to do more of my de cluttering,, I'm going through a divorce ( another lame excuse to drink!) and will have to move in the not so distant future,, so I'm trying my best to tackle all the rubbish, tut, and unwanted goods I've been hoarding for years,
I'm going to have a wine today ,,, but tomorrow I among to do a AF day and hope to do 3 next week,,,,
Little steps and and all that ,,,,,,,

Well done! I think it helps to have a plan and choose when to drink rather than just have wine every day habitually (which was my starting point:o). My plan is to not drink on school nights unless it's a social occasion like eating out or having people round.


Good luck with the decluttering. Have you read the Marie Kondo book 'The Life-changing Magic of Tidying'?

loveasale

No I've not read it but it keeps 'popping up ' so I think I will have to,,, oh my days I have so much junk,, problem is I'm really house proud and tidy , all my clutter is hidden in sheds , loft, garage and cupboards ,,,,somethings are going to my ex , other bits I'm giving away , and then the tip,,
I know I should sell somethings ,but at the moment I'm doing a lot of charity shop drops,, well my son is ,, that way I don't have time to change my mind and keep it all!
Yes no drinking in week for me ,, starting tomorrow , but I'm at a family meal on Tuesday night and restaurant is walking distance . So I will have a wine,,, funny if I had to drive it wouldn't bother me as the choice would taken away from me !

maman

loveasale wrote: »

No I've not read it but it keeps 'popping up ' so I think I will have to,,, oh my days I have so much junk,, problem is I'm really house proud and tidy , all my clutter is hidden in sheds , loft, garage and cupboards ,,,,somethings are going to my ex , other bits I'm giving away , and then the tip,,
I know I should sell somethings ,but at the moment I'm doing a lot of charity shop drops,, well my son is ,, that way I don't have time to change my mind and keep it all!
Yes no drinking in week for me ,, starting tomorrow , but I'm at a family meal on Tuesday night and restaurant is walking distance . So I will have a wine,,, funny if I had to drive it wouldn't bother me as the choice would taken away from me !

Me again.:)
The book is worth a read for the basics but can be a bit 'airy fairy'. MK believes that we shouldn't keep anything that doesn't give you joy which I think is OTT. I prefer the William Morris 'Have nothing in your house that you do not believe to be useful or beautiful'.


Good luck with your tidying and I agree about sending things to CS, be kind to yourself.

Sandypan

Afternoon everyone and especially welcome newbies.
8/22 for me today and really happy to report slept right through the night last night, whoo hoo - full of energy today and feeling good.
Watched a good documentary last night on Sky Atlantic called "Risky Drinking" it followed 3 people who were at different stages of being alcohol dependant, very interesting and definitely worth a viewing if you can get it on catch up.