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

Sandypan

18/21 for me tonight

Not drinking really helps me to sleep better and that is the biggest positive for me. When I have a good night sleep I am more energised and able to get through a stressfull day at work. If I do wake up and can't get back to sleep I have a banana and that seems to do the trick, can't remember what's in it but all natural!

chucknorris

Muser1 wrote: »

Looking for a bit of advice from you lovely lot!

Sooooo...Oh has admitted to having a drink problem. I knew I guess but putting a label on it seems to make it more real.

He's quite positive at the moment. Feels better for talking to me and is determined to quit. He's investigating new hobbies to give him a focus.

Today is day 3.

What can I do to help??

It is a bit early to say what I was going to start this post with, which was 'What did the trick for me'. That would be a bit arrogant, declaring victory after only 7 weeks, and also massively underestimating my opponent (alcohol).

But it did help me immensely to go onto websites that predict your longevity, when you input various lifestyle factors including your alcohol consumption. I don't have any links, but they are easy enough to find. I deliberately focused on the worst one that I found (to put it into context I'm 57), it only gave me only another 20 years to live if I continued drinking as I was, but another 33 years if I could get down to 21 units per week. My lifestyle is otherwise extremely healthy, I run, cycle, hike and swim, eat plenty fruit and veg, try to not eat too much processed food and red meat, and I don't smoke. So alcohol really stands out as my one bad vice. What those websites don't tell you is what would the last 3 to 5 years be like, I'm guessing not that good, so that 20 years might have only been 15 years of good health!

Obviously I am a long way from an ultimate victory, but I have started well, and I have got my average over the 7 weeks down to only 22.7 (from about 90) units a week, my weekly target is 18.8 units (2 bottles of Blossom Hill, soft and fruity red). Obviously (with an average off 22.7 units) I have been over that some weeks, but I am nevertheless pleased with my performance. I know that I will occasionally exceed my weekly target, which is why I track my average, I am hoping to get my long term average down to 21 units, despite the odd hiccup.

Honey_Bear

Hang on in there Alex. It gets better.

Chuck, yuo're doing really well! Good on you.

23/31 please, Shaggy.

gien

nothing to report form here - I had a glass on wine last night but nothing excessive and we put the cork back in on half a bottle left.

I have to pick my sone up at 10.30 tonight so I have to remain AF until then, so probably won't have anything.

piggles1

I managed to get through the Apprentice last night without anything to drink so left it alone for the night and had none at all It was tempting, but I thought if I did it once I can do it again. I'll add it to the ALDs but maybe next month I can have an AFD target.

chucknorris that's good going. I daren't check my life expectancy because it might scare me. I wonder how long a person has to stay at the lower level for old indulgences to be rubbed out.

gien it's a good feeling to put a bottle back unfinished.

6/8 ALD please shaggy

maman

gien wrote: »

I have to pick my son up at 10.30 tonight so I have to remain AF until then, so probably won't have anything.

Stay away from that bottle gien. that would be a huge waste of an AF day. Either go straight to bed or put the kettle on.

piggles1 wrote: »

I managed to get through the Apprentice last night without anything to drink so left it alone for the night and had none at all It was tempting, but I thought if I did it once I can do it again. I'll add it to the ALDs but maybe next month I can have an AFD target.

:T that's really great piggles, well done you!! I find it best to plan in advance when I'm going to drink and when I'm not. It's not a foolproof method as very occasionally I have a 's*d it' day where I give in but it helps me mostly. It can be hard around early evening but the later it gets in the evening the less likely I am to drink as I don't want to let myself down (or others on here strangely). Over time it does get easier I promise:).

AlexLK

17 for yesterday and this evening.

Piggles: My sleep problems aren't anything to do with drinking, at least I think not. For the past 2 years I have significantly cut down.

piggles1

maman wrote: »

:T that's really great piggles, well done you!! I find it best to plan in advance when I'm going to drink and when I'm not. It's not a foolproof method as very occasionally I have a 's*d it' day where I give in but it helps me mostly. It can be hard around early evening but the later it gets in the evening the less likely I am to drink as I don't want to let myself down (or others on here strangely). Over time it does get easier I promise:).

thanks maman one of the things that stopped me was I'd already said on here I'd planned it! I don't normally say what I'm about to do in case I don't do it.

And yeh I agree once it gets past 9pm it's much easier to not bother for the last hour or so, even if I don't actually go to bed at 10ish it feels too late to ruin a good AF evening and start.

piggles1

AlexLK wrote: »

Piggles: My sleep problems aren't anything to do with drinking, at least I think not. For the past 2 years I have significantly cut down.

Ah I see. It must be really frustrating to not sleep properly. I hope you find something that starts to make it a bit easier

shaggydoo

Morning :hello:

1 more ALD for Thursday.



Shaggyx