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

Baileysonice

Flying_By wrote: »

Thank you for your kind messages of welcome. Hoping to cut down - can easily manage half a bottle of wine on work nights and know I am not functioning on all cylinders the following morning. Weekends see a bottle going down each night - blighting what could be two days when I should be achieving something worthwhile around the house/garden/with friends and family. At more or less exactly this time each day I feel the need for the sweet hit of a couple of gulps and from thereon in can sup merrily away until falling into bed, reading a few pages of a book which I won't remember the next morning and zoning out completely! Right now is definitely my danger time so hoping typing this will help to numb the pangs. My habit has become entrenched over many years - I do occasionally manage a dry night or two each week - but I am worried now about the long term damage I have might have done - and of course, as you get older it gets harder to bounce back! Here we go then, I'm in! Hopefully will start declaring some alcohol-free days before too long.

Hi Flying By and welcome to the gang I could have written that post exactly myself a few months ago and I have to say that joining in here and doing my favourite skool night abstenance has really started to change those ingrained habits. I still drink at the weekend although much less and that is something i am looking at as well due to lost precious weekend days (the hangovers are even worse when you have had 4 days off and on a lot less drink!)

Good luck with whatever goals you decide to go for - for me I started off with target free and just reported the days I did manage and now I opt for at least half the month which works well for me.

So Monday has gone well and I am now on 5/15 please shaggy

arsenalbarnie

AlexLK wrote: »

Today has also been AF. Thus, I am able to declare 10/25.

arsenalbarnie: I do not know your situation but must confess my relationship with Mrs. K. has been so much better over these ten days in every way possible. Perhaps, an extended AF period (both of you trying) will help yours too?

Am able to declare 3/12 Thank you for your kind words Alex. Am definitely going to put in an extra effort this week.

maman

satchmo1 wrote: »

9/24 AFDs for me. Still got a water infection, so feeling pretty bad, but at least I haven't aggravated it by continuing to drink as I would have done in years gone by.

Ouch! Go for the cranberry juice and gallons of water!

debjay wrote: »

7/20 for tonight. Going for SNC this week and not drink until Friday night.

That's my aim too.:)

Wanna_Bee_Free

maman wrote: »

That's very noble of you. Thanks!;)

There are always those who find it difficult to post regularly and then appear with a big clutch of AF days to celebrate. But anyone who's slipped into lurk mode because they haven't done too well, remember it's not too late. It's never too late to make a change.

Thanks for being the guinea pig for us on that one! Trying things so we don't have to made me chuckle!

I have been catching up on the last few days but when I read this decided to post again as it felt odd coming in with a few all at once at the end.

I managed 3 last week, Monday to Wednesday. Almost feeling normal some nights not to even think about it which makes the whole debating society a lot easier. Thursday I fell off the wagon spectacularly well. Downed a bottle to myself even though it was supposed to be an AFD.

I made another one last night, so I'm up to 4/14 for Feb please Shaggy. Well done on losing your Christmas pounds!!!!! Are you planning to lose more by July or maintain now? You've done sooo well!!

I have had a lot of insomnia recently and have a cold since last Friday and an upset stomach on Sunday. I am pleased that I hit target two months in a row, spending a while on here has definitely helped.

System

Do you know something...I just love you lot, your happy, your sad and your sucess stories :kisses3:

I managed another AF night and I definitely, definitely could'nt have done it without knowing I had you crowd to chat to about the success or weaknesses I have when it comes to that ole glass/bottle of red.

All the advice and tips I have received on here are the reason - so please, please everyone (even the newer people than me) take a bow :dance:and grin from ear to ear knowing that you have really helped another person start to cut down after nearly 35 years of constant drinking.

Anyone lurking...say hi...you can do it too

Shaggy 5/20 AMAZING AFs

** Think before you drink **

Guinness-Cat

6/21 AFD's as of last night.

sukeyboo

5-year_plan wrote: »

Do you know something...I just love you lot, your happy, your sad and your sucess stories :kisses3:

I managed another AF night and I definitely, definitely could'nt have done it without knowing I had you crowd to chat to about the success or weaknesses I have when it comes to that ole glass/bottle of red.

All the advice and tips I have received on here are the reason - so please, please everyone (even the newer people than me) take a bow :dance:and grin from ear to ear knowing that you have really helped another person start to cut down after nearly 35 years of constant drinking.

Anyone lurking...say hi...you can do it too

Shaggy 5/20 AMAZING AFs

** Think before you drink **

Lovely post 5-year - I know exactly what you mean - people on here are so inspirational .


I am declaring early for tonight so that will be 5/12 for me please Shaggy

thrifty79

Hi there, I'm been lurking for a few months, and have been reading posts daily as I find them a real help in motivating me and can identify with a lot of what is written.
Since Nov, I've felt that a lot of my habitual drinking has been curbed especially during the week, and going all-out on a Friday night. This has been an ongoing process since we moved to a rural area a couple of years ago. We did initially carry on with the habits after moving, but in time the need has reduced, as I've felt more relaxed and there just isn't the drinking culture when there's no one else around. Previously living above a shop in a town meant that a fourpack and a bottle of wine between two, turned into another bottle bought on impulse, not to mention the many bottles of Baileys bought during Decembers gone-by as it felt Xmassy..
Having been on JSA since last year, and receiving some odd-job money, the thought of spending close to a tenner on wine when I've just worked physically hard for it, is a no-no, and so it's felt that I've been on a JSA-induced-Detox.
When I was working fulltime, Wednesdays were a real danger night for me and I was close to exhausted throughout the working week, Saturday was write-off, and then Sunday was close to normal, before the whole thing started again. Being off work with little money has meant I no longer feel the need to 'destress' every night, which has been very revealing in showing me how I have reacted to stress in previous years.
I have found a job which I'm starting soon, but feel more optimistic that I can recognise exhaustion and stress if I encounter it, and joined the leisure centre in January in anticipation of working again, to help me channel my energy into something positive, and to filter some money in a more worthwhile direction. I'm not going to set numbers of days AF as I have been fine so far just to think to myself that I just have a bottle on a certain night as a treat.
Having just visited London, I can safely say that I feel happier in a rural area, as the bars are just more tempting there, more invitations to go out and drink I imagine, as well as a feeling of trying to keep up with others. If I visit a pub around here I'd probably be on my own, more often than not, and it would take an hour or so to walk in lanes to the nearest shop/pub - not very tempting in the rain/dark. I make sure no alcohol is at home, and at nights when we're in, we're in.
My husband has been on board with this too, and a favourite is a glass of hot Ribena as a first drink in the evening - I think it's the sugar we'd have got from wine, and the nice berry colour!
Just thought I'd take up 5 year plan's invitation to say hi as a previous lurker and share my experiences - it's been good to write it all down!

maman

Thanks for 'delurking' to share your story thrifty. I think its hearing other experiences and tips that makes this thread so supportive and helpful. I can certainly agree with the hot Ribena. I found substituting alcohol with a cold, soft drink didn't work as I was drinking so quickly. Hot Ribena you have to sip.


I know exactly what you mean about the bars. Coming back through the city around wine o'clock is difficult whether it's winter (warm and welcoming bright lights) or summer (nothing like a crisp white on a warm evening). When I first started cutting down I had a problem with people in bars on TV programmes but I'm over that now.;)


Good luck with the new job. Your new lifestyle sounds much healthier.:)


While I'm here, I'll call in for today. Definitely no plans to drink.


4 AFDs please Shaggy.

365days

AlexLK wrote: »

Today has also been AF. Thus, I am able to declare 10/25.

arsenalbarnie: I do not know your situation but must confess my relationship with Mrs. K. has been so much better over these ten days in every way possible. Perhaps, an extended AF period (both of you trying) will help yours too?

You are on cracking form!!!:j