Giving up/ Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 16

Season_of_Mist

Green Karen, I hope you don’t mind me saying that I think I am in the same boat as you and it was interesting to see your thoughts on it written down, better than I could have done.

I did 3 months totally AF last summer, only went back on it gradually in the autumn and had some very low totals up till Christmas. Then it went sideways a bit for me because (these are reasons - not excuses - it took me a while to appreciate the difference) I had a few days off at home, we had people over, we had a house full of booze (“for our guests” of course) and, well, it was just too easy because it was right there in the cupboard and there was me, sitting around all evening. Been pretty good since the start of the year and I am seriously thinking of having a go at 6 months AF from the end of this month, till the end of October.

I think I am hoping that the longer periods I can go AF, or with only very moderate drinking (max 2 days per month), then that will become the ‘new normal’ for me (rather than a bloody novelty) and that I will just get myself to a stage where I can cut right down to nothing, or close to nothing, and that I will be in the frame of mind where it will be very unusual for me to have a drink - like most of the teetotallers I know, if I were to ask them when they last had a drink, they’d reply “Oh I don’t really know...honestly couldn’t tell you...hadn’t really thought about it”. What I mean is, for those people, drinking just isn’t something they do, and so the date of the last time they had a drink isn’t some big deal, because it just isn’t a big feature in their lives.

Don’t think I’ve explained that very well, but that is the mindset I am trying to get myself to (gradually).

Anyway, I’m at 18/27
no plans to drink today or at all this weekend.

Ps HB some wise words there as always.

Barny1979

16/26 AFDs today

cathybird

Green Karen, I tried to moderate for many years and failed a number of times on my own steam but have now more or less managed it, thanks to this thread, so my own thought would be stick to this thread like glue for starters - I post most days, but also check in frequently just to see what people are posting, several times a day. Maybe you do this already though? ... Also, I did find when I cut down to drinking about once a week that it became much easier and in fact I stopped thinking about drinking in the evenings and now don't miss it. It was actually easier than when I was drinking 14 or so days a month. So maybe part of the key with moderation is that the closer it is to total abstinence the easier it is overall. You'd think then that abstinence is the logical option, but I don't really want to give it up altogether and enjoy seeing friends over a drink or two. So no plans to give up totally yet.

Having said all that I hesitate to offer any real guidelines because I don't know and I can only say this thread was the thing that cracked it for me. I must say though that I think you're doing brilliantly too! Keep on keeping on is probably the real secret. xxx

shaggydoo

ArsenalBarnie 2/3
GreenKaren 4/5
LoveASale 2/4
Marahouti 4/4
Shaggydoo 4/5
WBF 1/4

shaggydoo

Cathy /2

Shaggy /1

Anybody else?

shaggydoo

April 2019


= 7 Days

= 14 Days

= 21 Days


= 28 Days


= 31 Days

= Target Reached
= Target Beaten



AnnieG 10/18
Arkers 12/10
ArsenalBarnie 8/16
Barney 16/26

BestLifeNow /TF
CathyBird 18/21
CuppaTea 8/17
Glenda 15/25
GreenKaren 18/28
Honey Bear 19/30
LoveASale 11/18
MaggieM 9/15
Maman 8/10

Marahouti 4/10

PollyAnna 3/15
Pricey 9/23
Rosy 15/28
Season of Mist 18/27
Shaggydoo 16/21
Sukeyboo 10/12
WannaBeeFree 9/19





Please let me know if I've made a mistake!

Everyone Welcome Anytime of the Month!

AnnieG

Evening
11/18 today. I knew this was going to be a boozy month and it's definitely living up to that. Saying goodbye to everyone before I leave for Vietnam plus 2 evenings with people I haven't seen for 20 years, my social life is on fire!!

GlendaSugarbean

GreenKaren: it is hard to find a balance. For me, it took the best part of 6 months AF before I was comfortable adding in a few days drinking a month. And by drinking I mean the odd pint of beer or couple of glasses of wine. I prefer not to commit to being 100% AF as there are occasions where I do want to have a drink and I enjoy it. But more than the odd day and I know my AF days are going to shrink.

However, DH is currently AF (he wasn't for this first few months, and it makes things so much easier), I genuinely feel horrible the next day if I have more than a couple of drinks, and I have some specific health concerns which mean drinking is a risk. So I have more impetus to not drink than to drink.

Everyone is different, and we change over time. You'll find the right solution for you .

Reporting in on 20/25

arsenalbarnie

9/16 as not going to succumbe today, am determined. Need to get back on track with diet today too.

cathybird

Morning all, 19/21 and 1/2 for me today thanks.