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

gien

Yuk!!! I have had a bad day which ended in take away pizza and wine
I got stuck in a field in the car and was rescued by a very lovely man who took a good while to help me when it was cold, dark and very muddy. So, I will be picking myself up and starting again tomorrow.

satchmo1

6/31 AFDs for me tonight.


I had a good start to the day, but my mood has gone downhill from this afternoon so I'm off to bed now.


Glad you're ok Gien, that must have been scary.

Honey_Bear

Ellsbel wrote: »

Just wondered - those of you who've been AF for a while, have you noticed an upturn in energy levels or wellbeing at all? I've been feeling rotten today, and whilst I don't expect miracles, it would be great to at least feel a bit less lethargic!!

I work at and from home and it's just as well because for the first two weeks of going alcohol free, I was so exhausted I could hardly get out of bed - literally. After the first two weeks I'd get the occasional day when I had enough energy to be the one who made the early morning tea and on those days I'd have energy most of the day. The following couple of days were always pretty bad, energy-wise, and then the cycle would repeat. That went on for another fortnight or so and then gradually the two 'off' days became one, so I had two relatively energetic days followed by one 'rest' day. The lack of energy was like a hangover without the pain.

I've never had a huge amount of energy or stamina, so I just get as much done as I absolutely have to do first as soon as I can, and then nibble away at the other jobs I know are going to take a lot of time and simply have to be done whether or not I've got the energy to do them.

After the first three months of going AF I felt like a different person, able to just keep chugging along most of the time, but more than happy not to do a huge amount if I didn't want or need to.

My sleep was very badly disrupted after I stopped drinking for the first week or so - horrible. I put an earpiece in from my digital radio and listen to Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra and the World Service because I find talking soothes me and the more I want to listen to a programme the faster I go to sleep. After about 10 days my sleep stabilized completely and now I sleep through almost every night unless I'm too hot or the dog has a disturbed night. (I love not having to get up in the middle of the night any more to visit the bathroom.) I still listen to the radio because I just love it!

I eat a lot less than when I was drinking, and I'm losing weight despite the mince pies, Twink's Hobnobs and maltezers when I get sugar cravings. I indulge myself, but I've been eating relatively healthily for a long time, other than when I drank too much, when I would just keep on eating ... and drinking. I don't snack between meals any more and I don't get the ghastly energy-slump at 3.30pm every single day that I used to get, which may or may not be related to the not drinking - I suspect it is.

I've charted my AF journey on this thread from Day One which, if knowing what someone else experienced at any stage might be helpful, started on 27 July - my first post is on Page 129 on this thread and I've posted every single day because it's part of my staying sober rituals. I hope it helps someone - reading back it certainly helps me.

6/31 please, Shaggy.

It's OH's birthday today which would have been a great excuse for over-indulgence in the olden days for me (and him, actually) and would have included champagne, wine and if I was feeling really stupid, G&T. Tonight was lowkey - his choice - dinner with another couple at Wetherspoon's and the chaps have gone off to watch footie at a pub, the other woman went home to their dog and I came home to ours. Thinking back to last year, do I miss the drinking? Not even remotely. It's a huge relief, to be honest.

judi24

Hi can I join in please? I did dry January last year and although I haven't officially registered this time I just wanted to get myself back into some normal routine and cut back on rubbish food and alcohol again! I will not make the full month as a) I'm late starting (started on Sunday!) and b) I have a family wedding on the 23rd and I will be having a few drinks then! So I am going to aim for 20/31 - so with today It will be 3/20.

Doshwaster

Checking in with 2/25 tonight.

I slipped yesterday. I was in London for a meeting and ended up having a beer while waiting for the train more out of boredom than anything else. However, today my dry-ish January starts properly.

AlexLK

4 for tonight.

Ellsbel

Thanks, Honey bear, I find your posts really helpful:)
I'm very much the same in never having had huge supplies of energy, in fact it gets me down at times, but I absolutely had that struggle to get out of bed that you describe today and I'm ashamed to say I achieved very little other than the essentials - like feeding everyone! I'm hoping that this improves significantly!
I'm very much like you on the sleeping front, too - I sneak in an earpiece and drift off listening to Radio 4, or one of Melvyn Bragg's History podcasts more often than not:) - in fact I'm off to bed to do that right now.

stoplurking

Evening all. Please may I check in with 3/18 please Shaggy.

Thanks

joanne109

I just remembered something I did this evening which I wouldn't have done had I done my usual opening of the bottle on closing the front door.

My son came home from school with very muddy shoes and together we cleaned one each.
As we were working together he commented on what fun he was having (he's 12).
So glad I didn't drink tonight

Goodnight all.

Jo

Shaggy, I think I previously updated myself to 5/30

Iwillsucceed_2

Hello All!!

Wow! I am so impressed with myself! In new year's eve the only drink I had was a glass of champagne to celebrate 2015! since then I haven't had any drink at all! In fact, today I had lunch with friends, they all had drinks except me!!
Regards,