Giving up/ Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 16

Happy_Monday

Season_of_Mist wrote: »

Another AF Saturday to record so I am up to 17/28, thank you. I have to say I am finding these AF weekends easier as time passes. Just two years ago I would have said “no chance”, but it really can be done.

Any tips Seasons of Mist? I'm doing dry January and really thought I was going to cave last night. I really fancied a beer.....I made do with a can of pop and a bottle of Becks Blue. I kept myself busy and the moment passed, but it was a tricky one last night.

Day 18 for me, and hoping to make it day 19. Sunday is another trigger point for me as I love cooking Sunday lunch, and also love a glass of wine with Sunday lunch! I don't usually drink much, just a glass or two, and I keep thinking, it's not worth breaking dry January for a glass of wine - and keep repeating that to myself!!

Barny1979

14/26 AFDs today

cathybird

Morning all, 18/26 for me today please.

Arkers

Good morning everyone,
19 please Shaggy
Arkers x

marahouti

Good morning. 18/31 for yesterday please Shaggy. Thank you.

Season_of_Mist

Happy_Monday wrote: »

Any tips Seasons of Mist? I'm doing dry January and really thought I was going to cave last night. I really fancied a beer.....I made do with a can of pop and a bottle of Becks Blue. I kept myself busy and the moment passed, but it was a tricky one last night

I would never say that I have cracked it Happy Monday. Just speaking for myself, I have got an ‘all or nothing’ character and I find it easier to cut something out altogether, rather than moderate/cut down. Not sure if you followed this thread over the summer, but I did 6 months AF in a row; once I had decided that as a fixed target, it was relatively easy - for me - to stick to. If I’d just had a vague ‘like to drink a bit less’ target, it wouldn’t have worked. But that approach would have suited another person just fine, so I’d say there is an element of working out your own character, and knowing what works best for you.

If I found one thing difficult it was Friday evenings. I’d got so used over many years to having a drink as a reward for getting to the end of the working week. When I was younger it would have been going out straight after work for a few with colleagues, then when I got a little older I replaced that with a few drinks at home after dinner on Fridays; that was it, the week was done, and I’d earned a few beers. I had to replace that feeling with something else, this sounds a bit sad probably but I love tea and I had some really posh-blend loose tea so I made that a bit of an event on Fridays and made up a proper pot and had a little tea ceremony for myself. Bit sad I know, but it does the job of taking the place of alcohol as a reward.

Arkers, marahouti and cathybird, some really solid totals there guys!

maman

Happy_Monday wrote: »

I keep thinking, it's not worth breaking dry January for a glass of wine - and keep repeating that to myself!!

It really won't be worth it and you'll be furious with yourself afterwards.:)

Happy_Monday wrote: »

I kept myself busy and the moment passed, but it was a tricky one last night.

You have your answer. Distract yourself, drink AF beer, drink tea, anything but waste your great achievement (almost two thirds through) for a couple of glasses of wine.

Season_of_Mist wrote: »

If I found one thing difficult it was Friday evenings. I’d got so used over many years to having a drink as a reward for getting to the end of the working week.

I'm the same. I'm determined to lose my Christmas weight gain (1lb to go:)) and I know that cutting down a bit more will help. Last week was easy because I was going out dancing and driving myself so no problem. This week I was at home and really fancied a drink. It was worse late afternoon as I didn't have that end of the day to look forward too. I had to get quite cross with myself and say I was being ridiculous to think that I couldn't do it. Once I'd had dinner, I was fine. My favourite is wine while cooking.

lantanna

9/18 for me please today.

Just worked out my AF days for the rest of the month to make sure I meet my target. Enjoying feeling brighter and clearer in work.

Happy_Monday

Thank you Season of Mist and Maman for your wise words. Maman you are right, I would be so angry and disappointed with myself if I cracked now, it’s just not worth feeling like that! I’ve got a treat booked in for the end of the month for completing dry January so I’m focussing on that too.

Season of Mist - I bought some Yorkshire tea which I’ve been enjoying. We’ve got a tea merchant close to us, I’ll have to look at their teas too. You’re right, it’s finding what works for yourself isn’t it?

Thanks everyone x

Thanks for your help.

shaggydoo

Just popping in quickly to say I've changed my email address - so thanks for that. The shaggydoo user handle lives on!

Managed another AF weekend, so the Dry January continues.

Hopefully I'll be in tomorrow (I'm just watching Liverpool v Man U)

Shaggy