Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 17

pollyanna24

I'm up to 7 for the month please.  Thanking you.  

I'm still feeling good about being off the drink.  Still not going to commit to it long term, but am liking being clear headed in the morning.  I'm even thinking about what I can do with this weekend instead of just sitting on the sofa tired.

I'm reading lots of "quite lit" and reading through forums on FB which help.  Which is strange because it's not keeping my mind off drink if I'm constantly reading about it.

A positive for yesterday was I did a heap of DIY which I have never done even though I am 40.  My daughter came in from school and said that she wouldn't blame if I wanted to celebrate by opening an bottle of wine.  But I just thought, nah.  Plus the only one I have is in the shed and not the fridge, so wouldn't be cold.

Not sure if I have mentioned "future tripping" before.  This is where you don't see the point in stopping drinking because you are thinking of an event in the future where you will want to drink.  Mine was a holiday in Spain next year, but others have mentioned Christmas on forums.  Hadn't thought about that to be honest, seems too far away, but again, will deal with it when it comes.  If I decide to drink then, or even at a weekend, at least I will have clocked up more AF days than I have previously.  

I'm still of the mind that I can moderate, but from what I've been reading, this is a slippery slope.  Only weekends, turns into every other day, turns into every day, turns into drinking in the morning etc.  But that's the point of forums, they are everybody's points of view and everyone is starting from a different place.    

thriftylass

Stumble, fall and get back up. Still 4/22 

RobM99

"I'm still of the mind that I can moderate, but from what I've been reading, this is a slippery slope.  Only weekends, turns into every other day, turns into every day, turns into drinking in the morning etc."

Agree here. I tried "cutting down" but it's like a bag of sweets. I'll just have a few. Ah. Make it half, then. Oops. Might as well finish the bag..." That's why I've given up completely.  A big motivator for me is that I've had 165 AFDs in a row and I really don't want to go back to zero. Plus every AFD is £5 in my sports car savings fund! (Currently £3390).

You know you oughta
Just drink water!

marahouti

Thank you for your post pollyanna24 lots to think about. You are doing really well and clearly enjoying your AF life.

I do think that moderation is possible (and that is what I try to achieve) but there is no doubt that it is in many ways harder than giving up alcohol. When you seriously decide not to drink, whether it's for Dry January or a life choice, that's it one decision. Things may not work out and you have to try again but basically you have decided. But when you are trying to moderate it is a series of decisions every day: "am I going to drink today? Does this occasion merit a drink or would I enjoy it just as much without? What am I going to drink? How many drinks am I going to have? Am I going to have another one?" I leave my options open, which is why I report in arrears, but the second question in my list means I rarely drink these days.

7/21 for yesterday please cathybird. Thank you. X

marahouti

RobM99 said:

Hi all, I'm back!   Did you all hug your RobM99 pillowcases? No, thought not

Anyway, been camping and internet was patchy at best, plus I don't like typing on a phone, too small.
But it's 7/7 here and an emoji please, Rachel

Good to see you back Rob.
Who's Rachel 🤔?

cathybird

September

7 days =

14 days =

21 days =

28 days =

Target reached =

Target beaten =

September targets

alt80 6/TF

Arkers 4/TF Barny 5/25 cathybird 8/21 Coveredinbees 2/15 CuppaTea 4/15 lantanna 4/14 leftatthetrafficlights 3/10 Lupus Lou 7/30 maggiem 2/14 maman 6/10 marahouti 7/21 Pollyanna24 7/TF PriceySOS 3/22 RobM99 7/29 satchmo1 8/25 Season of Mist 29 sukeyboo 4/10 thriftylass 4/22 WBF 4/15 Newcomers welcome!

maman

I don't know if it's your thing @pollyanna24 but this weekend lots of heritage buildings and sites are open to the public. I can't get a link to work but try Googling Heritage Open Days to find out what's on in your area. 

6/10 AFDs please Cathy

sukeyboo

4/10 for today please cathybird 

satchmo1

8/25 for me please. 

Barny1979

5/25 AFDs today