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

shaggydoo

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I’m one of the lurkers in that I don’t post very often, but read a heap of posts in a day when I feel like it.

I used to think I had a dependency on alcohol and cut down to only drinking on Friday and Saturday. Occasionally, I drink during the week, but not often.

I have gone from not having very many AF days to having:-

2016 – 120 (33%)
2017 - 148 (43%) (so far).

There was one year since my ex left (2011) when I only had 49 days AF, eek!

So I do actually keep a record of things, but I am a bit anal about these things and record most things (and keep a diary!)

The thing is, is that I still think I drink too much. On Friday I really really look forward to that bottle of wine. And sometimes, I open a second bottle. I justify it to myself by saying that I don’t drink during the week anymore, but now I’m thinking is it a good enough reason?

The thing is I do really enjoy my wine or prosecco at the weekend, so I’m not sure if I want to give it up. Is it bad to look forward to it so much?

But why am I on here if I think everything is fine? See, that’s where I struggle. Ho hum. I don’t want to give it up, but can’t decide what the next step should be. Limiting myself to just the one bottle of prosecco on a Friday and Saturday night.

It is my “thing.” I don’t do chocolate or smoking or any other vice, so is it that bad?

I think I’ll come back on here and start setting targets for myself. Maybe I should be happy with cutting down as I can’t see myself giving up completely, even though my dad and brother say it is the best thing they ever did.

I do think on a Saturday or Sunday, oh why did I drink so much the night before as sometimes I can’t be bothered to do very much which is a shame on my days off, but it doesn’t stop me.

I’ve done 7 AF so far this month and intend to do another 5 at least. That’s letting me off the Xmas week. But will I go mad and overindulge?

Wish I could find the happy medium of only having a couple. I’ve kinda accepted I’m not that person and so that is why I don’t start in the first place when I can. I got in from the school performance last night and was really tempted to open a bottle, but I didn’t. Thought about it all the way up to 9pm though when I made a cup of tea instead.

January. 19 days. And that’s allowing for leeway. It should really be 23 as I don’t tend to drink Sundays and I’ve counted them as drinking days.

Welcome.

Do you want to join the December and/or January challenges?

pollyanna24

shaggydoo wrote: »

Welcome.

Do you want to join the December and/or January challenges?

Thank you. Yes please. If that is possible. I mightn't post as often as other people and have always resisted joining, but why not eh?

So 12 for December.

And 19 for January.

maman

Welcome pollyanna:xmassmile

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I got in from the school performance last night and was really tempted to open a bottle, but I didn’t. Thought about it all the way up to 9pm though when I made a cup of tea instead.

That's a very familiar story that many of us can empathise with. Well done on setting a December target. This can be the hardest month of the year to cut down.


For those of you that follow football: This is Claude Puel laughing all the way back to Leicester last night.
:snow_laug
Sitting through the most awful match I started counting up my AF nights for December and realised I'd missed one off.:eek:


9 AFDs please Shaggy and thanks for posting my January target.:A

cathybird

hi Pollyanna24 and welcome :hello:

Tell me to shut up if this is unhelpful but one thing stood out from what you said, which is that you said alcohol is "your thing" and also when it comes to restraining yourself to one or two you say "I've kinda accepted I’m not that person". My thought is alcohol is no more "you" than chocolate or smoking and it possibly doesn't help to identify with it in that way. It isn't "part of you". I only say this because that's very much how I used to think but over time I have cut down and now I don't see myself as someone who invariably drinks a lot when I do drink - in fact I can't drink that much any more because over time this thread has helped me to cut down such a lot. So possibly it might be more helpful to rethink it as not so much "my thing" or "my vice of choice" or "part of who I am". Rather than being part of you it might in fact be doing you a lot of harm. Yes it is enjoyable, everyone on here either enjoys it or used to enjoy it, but if it is also worrying you there is probably good reason for that. Perhaps time to distance yourself a bit? ...

Just my two bobs' worth - heavily based on my own experience, hope okay.

Arkers

Good afternoon everyone,
10 please Shaggy.
I'm at a funeral tomorrow, and I will be having a couple.
Arkers x

Mudbath

11/20 for me please

Can I go for 20 in January please.

Paspatur

Hi I never checked in last night so with yesterday and today that is 10/24 please

And 31/31 target for January please

Wanna_Bee_Free

Another one for me tonight which will be 6/10.

Please can I have a target of 10 in January and 150 for 2018.

Thanks Shaggy!

Barny1979

12/21 AFDs today

maggiem

6/15 for last night and declaring early for tonight so 7/15 for tonight - at last a Santa for me. I drank kinderpunsch - children’s non alcoholic warm drink last night at the Christmas market - well kept me AF but a bit sweet to say the least.

Can I declare 15 for January please - I am toying with the idea of an AF January but haven’t decided yet so will make it the lower target and if I decide to have a very sober January then I will just exceed that.