Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 17

pollyanna24

I am up to 3 for September.

I've been seriously re-evaluating my drinking over the past week.  

Seem to have downloaded every app about sobriety and drinkaware and am constantly reading forums on FB about giving up.  Not sure if I am overthinking it at the moment cos when I was drinking, I think less about alcohol than I am at the moment!

I want to get to the stage where I am not always thinking about how I can't have a drink.  I'm not totally committed to giving up completely, but I did tally up the number of units I had last month and even with 12 days AF, it was shocking.

I'm taking it one day at a time at the moment and not trying to think about the next social occasion like a wedding or if I get to go on holiday.  This is what has stopped me trying to give up in the past, thinking about future events.  

One thing I am doing at the moment is eating everything in sight.  I figure if I'm not drinking, might as well get some enjoyment somewhere (I know this all sounds very down, but I'm hoping it's just a stage), so worried the weight is going to pile on.

But still, it's a Friday night and I'm drinking apple and elderflower water, so that's got to be a plus, right?

Graham1982

Hi @pollyanna24:

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time with this. I haven't drank or smoked for over a year now but this is because I work in an Islamic country and so whilst people do smoke and drink it isn't so overt and nor is it a societal expectation.

Having not been in the UK for over a year, I am starting to think that as a nation there is so much wrong with our attitude to drinking. I have just turned 39 but think I was the last generation that was as obsessed with drinking or saw drinking as a right of passage - I am a teacher and it seems that most of my students in recent years have been more interested in the gym than gin. That being said, I find it quite annoying when out with people, not wanting a drink is seen as weird among many circles and then you are almost compelled to drink. I find keeping your mind occupied as a way of not wanting to drink i.e. if you are building something, even a Lego model, you have less empty time to drink.

Anyway, feel I am rambling and projecting my situation onto yours so I will stop.

Graham

Lupus_Lou

Hi everyone, 
I'm declaring 3/30 as I have no booze in the house  and no intention of going out to buy any.
Just finishing cooking OH birthday dinner, chicken in cherry and onions with green beans and new potatoes.  Mixed fruit crumble for pud. It's a bit late to be eating but we went out for brunch at about 11 and had a hot salt beef sandwich so that kept us going until early evening ( cheaper to go out for brunch than dinner  ).
Keep strong everyone 
Loops x

Lupus_Lou

Pollyanna,
Have a look at the Soberistas website if you are thinking about long term sobriety. It's a subscription site but the first 7 days is free and  I don't think you have to enter payment details unless you choose to continue.
The members are very enthusiastic about long term sobriety and its benefits. 
Loops x

thriftylass

@pollyanna24 I can relate. It's constantly on my mind. Analysing if I have a problem or not. If I should have one or not, regretting having one etc in constant circles. Today was the same and if I'm not drinking I'm in the kitchen every 5 minutes to get another snack. 

What I hate the most is how my brain tries to subbotage me. I know how much better I feel not drinking but it stil graves the feeling I have after one or two drinks although it's very aware of the consequences. Time to think about the why.....

Barny1979

2/25 AFDs today 

maman

It won't apply to everyone but, for me, it's just habit. It's easy to form habits like rewarding yourself after a hard day or when the children are in bed or just to separate downtime from the rest of the week. It's often the same with snacks as, provided you've had a decent meal, it's not from being hungry. It's not easy to break habits but you can make new ones.😊

alt80

3 for me today.

Definitely relate to a lot of things being said on here. I did drink practically everyday part habit, part to 'relax', part gateway to the next level. Depended on the day/ time/ people/ places etc. I chose to not give up drinking as I knew I could control it so don't subscribe to the whole need to abstain entirely from every type of substance. I don't miss drinking when I don't do it generally, cravings not particularly strong / destructive - lucky in that respect I guess. In a lot of ways I think alcohol must be the worst drug to be addicted to - it's available everywhere legally and almost universally socially acceptable, I'd go so far to say it's less socially acceptable not to drink.

cathybird

September

7 days =

14 days =

21 days =

28 days =

Target reached =

Target beaten =

September targets

alt80 3/TF

AnnieG Arkers TF Barny 2/25 cathybird 3/21 Coveredinbees CuppaTea 2/15 hollowhead lantanna 1/14 leftatthetrafficlights 2/10 Lupus Lou 3/30 maggiem 2/14 maman 3/10 marahouti 1/21 Pollyanna24 3/TF PriceySOS 22 RobM99 1/29 satchmo1 3/25 Season of Mist 29 sukeyboo 2/10 thriftylass 2/22 WBF 2/15 Newcomers welcome!

Wanna_Bee_Free

Lots of thought provoking posts on here today. I was determined to try and claw back some of the days I'm behind and so today was a rare AF Friday. 3/25. 
Sleep well everyone.