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

piggles1

Arkers wrote: »

Hello Everyone,


I think I need a bit of support. I am on a weight loss journey and have significantly cut down on what I drink, I have managed reasonably well since the end of September. The problem is that I've had a bad week and I can feel the itch and I don't want to scratch it. My eating and drinking is all wrapped up in how I'm feeling. If life is ticking along and the status quo is maintained then it is easier to control. If the slightest thing rocks the boat then it is so easy to get that bottle of wine.


Is it too late to join the challenge? Is it ok not to set a number, and take it a day at a time? I have been motivated by some really nice peeps over on the SW thread, I have lost 28lbs and a large part of that is not drinking too much. I get the impression that this thread would be equally supportive, and I selfishly need that at the moment. I also feel physically better and I don't want my mental state to sabotage my physical improvement.


Apologies if I'm rambling!


Arkers x

Hey Arkers, that's brilliant weight loss! :T I can relate to consumption being wrapped up in how we're feeling. And yes, wine can be a go-to thing for me if I get knocked a tiny bit sideways, but after being on here I've discovered it is possible to manage without it.

G'luck!

Honey_Bear

smallholdingsister wrote: »

12/24 please Shaggy and AF since 1st Jan.

Fantastic going, SHR!

Well done for coming back and posting, Piggles. Making big decisions is a toughie for anyone at any time, but choosing where we're going to be moving to is a genuine life-changing one, so (((hugs))) for you while it's all still up in the air.

This is sacrilige, but I'm going to say it anyway - I don't think right now is the right time for you to be even thinking about giving up smoking. Sticking to a lower limit for the booze is challenging enough when life's tootling along with no big changes on the horizon. Trying to change too much at the same time as a big upheaval would be a massive challenge, and I think you've already got enough on your plate at the moment. You'll be ready to stop smoking at a later stage; for now, you're doing really well on the posting front and not drinking every day, so pat yourself on the back, and I think you should be proud of what you're achieving and leave the rest of it for when life is calmer and you feel more settled.

Healing vibes for your puppy, Dizzy Imp. You really are going through it at the moment. I hope something straightforward and lovely happens to you today.

Hi there Arkers! :wave: Massively well done on the weightloss which I think is just as tough as toning down the booze because we've all got a little voice that says one more of anything won't hurt.

It's never too late to join - just keep posting your achievments in red when you've had an alcohol-free or alcohol-low day and Shaggy will be able to pick up the information. It helps some of us to have a target but it's not de rigueur.

13/29 please, Shaggy.

maman

Arkers wrote: »

Apologies if I'm rambling!

Arkers x

Rambling's allowed!!:D Good to see you arkers.


The great thing about this thread is that we've all got a common interest in cutting back/giving up on too much booze although maybe for different reasons. Personally I'd got into a habit of rewarding myself with a drink after a hard day which then became a lifestyle of having a drink at the end of every day whether it had been hard or not! I know too much drinking isn't healthy but I find keeping the calories down motivates me best of all and I love the smilies!!


There are 17 days left for February so either post a target of how many AF days you'd like to get in or if you'd prefer just go one day at a time and see how you get on. Personally, I aim for Monday to Thursday each week. This makes drinking at weekends a treat I look forward too.

Arkers

Hi Maman :wave:


Nice to have a SW buddy on my new cutting down journey. I will try and aim for Sunday to Thursday, and then have a treat over the weekend. We are away next weekend so I think to begin with I'm going to go cold turkey until then.


I am determined not to let the blip which I alluded to on the other thread wreck months of re-educating behaviour. Prior to this I was what I called a 7 O'clock drinker. Every day, so long as I could say it was after this time, it was acceptable to get a bottle of wine out. It wasn't until I took a long hard look at this habit, not only was I easily finishing a bottle, but had added a few other snifters too, for example G&T or a couple of beers or cider. The worrying thing is that the more I imbibed the more I could get through over a shorter time period.


When you're overweight and you go to the Dr's they can see you have health issues. When they asked about units I use to brush over this and say "I'm a social drinker," A couple of glasses a week. Basically a huge fib, which I'm not proud of, but I really didn't think there was an issue. I was brighter and much more fun for having this habit....yeh right. Waking up in the mornings with the usual side-effects, not good.


I will post on the days manage achieve an AFD, then go from there.


Thanks


Arkers

piggles1

Honey_Bear wrote: »

Well done for coming back and posting, Piggles. Making big decisions is a toughie for anyone at any time, but choosing where we're going to be moving to is a genuine life-changing one, so (((hugs))) for you while it's all still up in the air.

This is sacrilige, but I'm going to say it anyway - I don't think right now is the right time for you to be even thinking about giving up smoking. Sticking to a lower limit for the booze is challenging enough when life's tootling along with no big changes on the horizon. Trying to change too much at the same time as a big upheaval would be a massive challenge, and I think you've already got enough on your plate at the moment. You'll be ready to stop smoking at a later stage; for now, you're doing really well on the posting front and not drinking every day, so pat yourself on the back, and I think you should be proud of what you're achieving and leave the rest of it for when life is calmer and you feel more settled.

Thanks Honey Bear

Yes I'm not trying to give up smoking just yet. As you say I can't add anything else on to my big pile of things at the moment. The drinking has/had come back and it's enough to try and keep that under control what with everything else.

Thanks for the bolded bit above as well. It's a minor miracle to have AFDs and not turn to drink at the moment, but I've come a long way you're right. So I remind myself it can be done, even if the road's a bit wobbly at the moment.

I'm going to have a bath and a little think. I can't make it too hot because of the MS, but I might.. cos it's cold..

smallholdingsister

Piggles WTG!

Dizzy hope she gets well soon. Poor pup.

Arkers great job on the weightloss. I eat everything in sight when I'm drinking.

gien

Just one more to add, Thursday, as last night I drank and I will tonight too. So 8/22 for me

maman

Arkers wrote: »

I am determined not to let the blip which I alluded to on the other thread wreck months of re-educating behaviour. Prior to this I was what I called a 7 O'clock drinker. Every day, so long as I could say it was after this time, it was acceptable to get a bottle of wine out. It wasn't until I took a long hard look at this habit, not only was I easily finishing a bottle, but had added a few other snifters too, for example G&T or a couple of beers or cider. The worrying thing is that the more I imbibed the more I could get through over a shorter time period.

Don't worry, blips happen to us all. The secret is to get back on the wagon and build on the positives not beat yourself up.


Wine o'clock around here is at 6 so you're already doing better than me. My drinking was very similar to yours. DH and I would share two bottles but I'd always end up with more than him. Then, so that I didn't have to open another, I'd have a gin or a sherry as that wasn't so obvious.


I have found that as I've cut back my tolerance levels have dropped. I often stop mid evening and have a cup of tea to pace myself.

Ggod Luck.:)

debjay

13/29 for tonight please.

cathybird

I was tidying up some books just before and came across "Drinking: A Love Story" by Caroline Knapp. It might have been mentioned on this thread at some point before, but if not, have people read it? If not, can I recommend it? ... It's a very good read - a memoir, by a former alcoholic, going into why she drank, with a great deal of self-honesty and insight.