The Cutting Down / Giving Up Booze Thread (Part 14)

Freedom_beckons

Hi Everyone
Just lost a long post so here is an edited version. I am on Day 8 however I have found the last day or so tough.... Thankyou to honey bear, Karen & WBF for your interest, its weird but I thought no one would read. Today is important as I find out the outcome of an important meeting (can't say anymore) but whatever I know I have to get on with life. I will keep in touch, and wish you all a lovely day x

Honey_Bear

Thank you so much for posting, Freedom Beckons, and I hope whatever the outcome of the meeting that life will be kind to you. Please don't forget that we all read all of the posts and we are very much all rooting for you - that's the whole point and the ethos of this thread.

Happy birthday, Taking One Day, and I think the idea of going out for coffee and cake is inspired. Those of us who thought that every single day is a drinking day only realise it's a problem when it catches up with us, and it doesn't for quite a while with a lot of us. We've normalised drinking every day in some insidious ways and it's a mistake, to be blunt. There is a huge amount of medical evidence that it does a great deal more harm than just having a couple of days off a week - so anyone with a target of 21 or less this month is doing rather well.

Arkers wrote: »

Having listened to the budget could quite easily open a bottle, and I don't mean in celebration.

I know exactly what you mean, Arkers.

Dandytf wrote: »

Today’s budget-2%upto6% rise in ciggies cost.
Think I’ll attempt 2018 quit smoking.

Stick around and let us know how it goes, Dandytf. I gave up smoking in 2006 after 30 years of loving it and several attempts, some of which lasted as long as three or four months. The final time felt completely different and I've never been tempted to go back to it. I think if I hadn't managed to stop smoking that giving up booze would have seemed like a much tougher challenge. Good luck with it.

23/30 please, Shaggy.

Wanna_Bee_Free

Hello again Freedom Beckons,

I'm so glad to see your post, getting to Day 8 is great progress already! sorry to hear that you found the last day or so tough. Do you know what changed? Eg maybe stress about the outcome of this important meeting? Mine are often one of the HALT (Hungry Angry Lonely Tired) triggers, especially H&T.

Have a lovely day too, fingers crossed for you.

ElusiveLucy

10/14 for me for Tuesday night. Had just one drink last night, which with hindsight seems a waste of an AFD!

cathybird

That was very helpful, thank you!

I think what we are both now saying is that I should copy the lovely, wise and moderate Maman with her 10 each month! I used to want the second badge so used to set a target of 14. The 18s came from my spurt of panic when I realised what I had to do to get my banana Follwed by the massive drop as I realised the target was impossible. I think your getting it done at the start of month would be
a good idea. Will think on it further.

Oh that's good that it seemed helpful, I'm happy I know what you mean about wanting the second badge too - they are incredibly motivating.

The thing I found is by setting a lowish target I knew I could reach, over time I started to feel halfway confident I could do a little bit more. Also, the thing with getting it over and done with is I would reach target with about a week to go, but then as time went on it felt as though I was just drinking for the sake of it in that last week, because I could and not because I really wanted to, and that also led to the sense that I could maybe do a few extra days on top of what I was already doing. It was easy does it really, but there was progress.

The low target leaves you with plenty of potential to drink, so you're not hampered by the fear of giving it up, but then as months pass you slowly lose interest in that potential, and you lose the fear. That's what I found, anyway.

shaggydoo

maman wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your cat HB. I'm not really an animal person but I feel for you.

Me too HB - hoping he/she keeps defying the odds.....

shaggydoo

November 2017

= 7 Days AF

= 14 days AF

= 21 days AF

= 28 days AF

= 31 days AF

= Target Achieved

= Target Beaten



Alcohol Free Days

AlexLK 1/12
Arkers 14/10
Barny1979 21/26
CathyBird 21/21

CuppaTea 4/18
Eltee 15 /18
ElusiveLucy 10/14

GreenKaren 4/5
Honey Bear 23/30
MaggieM 11/15
Maman 10/10
Nicnak 12/20


Paspatur 1/24

Penelopedee /20
Poor Single Lady 13/24
Pricey 13/22

PurpleMumof2 /10
Shaggy 14/13
SlowDown 10/20
SukeyBoo 12/14

Stepuptotheplate 3/10
TakingOneDay 22/30

Tallyhoh /30


WBF 3/7


Everyone Welcome! It's never too late to join....

Please highlight your AFDs in Red

Don't hesitate to let me know if I've made a mistake!

shaggydoo

2017 Targets
= 50 Days AF

= 100 days AF

= 150 days AF

:A = 200 days AF

= 250 days AF

= 300 days AF

= 350 days AF

= 365 days AF

= target achieved


Alcohol Free Days

Arkers 157/TF
Barny1979 226/275:A

CathyBird 252/252:A
CuppaTea 166/200
DebJay 85/TF
DizzyImp 52 /TF
Eltee 199/200
ElusiveLucy 132/TF
FakePlasticTwee 119/TF
GreenKaren 99/120
Honey Bear 304/365:A
LoveASale 50/TF

MaggieM 94/185
Maman 133/TF

PollyAnna 71/TF
Poor Single Lady 214/TF:A
Pricey 196/250

ScatterBrain 140/TF
Shaggy 180/260
SukeyBoo 140/150

WBF 102/150


Everyone Welcome! It's never too late to join....

Please highlight your AFDs in Red

Don't hesitate to let me know if I've made a mistake!

shaggydoo

Can't believe I'm posting the next post....another year nearly gone....

shaggydoo

Roll up, Roll up. A New Month, A New Challenge.

SET A

31 days up for grabs!

Everyone Welcome!!!