Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 17

maman · 23 March 2022 at 1:10PM

Totally agree it's about habit @Slowdown. Part of that habit is looking forward to the weekend and the drink that celebrates it/makes it different from a weekday. I've found that I'm more disappointed about the prospect of not drinking at weekends than the reality. Usually, once I get past cooking dinner then I'm fine. Alternatively try distraction and go to the theatre or cinema so the evening doesn't feel long. You'll feel good if you get to your target, but don't beat yourself up if you don't. It's still a good score for the month. 😊

11/10 AFDs please @cathybird

cathybird · 23 March 2022 at 1:46PM

March

7 days =

14 days =

21 days =

28 days =

Target reached =

Target beaten =

Entire month =

March targets
AllNightDiner 11/14

alt80 13/TF

Arkers 12/TF

cathybird 21/21

CCW007 11/29

Coveredinbees 16/18

Dexsmummy 13/21

lantanna 14/12

Lupus Lou 6/21 maggiem 8/15

maman 11/10

marahouti 21/25

pollyanna24 21/TF

PriceySOS 6/23 RobM99 24/31

satchmo1 21/27

Season of Mist 27 Slowdown 13/20

sukeyboo 10/10

WBF 7/19

Newcomers welcome!

pollyanna24 · 23 March 2022 at 3:57PM

@Slowdown. I agree with what others have said. I always thought I had to have a drink on a Friday and a Saturday, otherwise what was the point? I liked to have something to look forward to.

But I tried it. I tried not drinking when I had my children and then I tried it the next weekend when I didn't. I coped. Thought about wine a lot, but got through it. And now I don't really think about it at all. I'm still not saying I'm never drinking again cos that's too scary.

And I might drink this weekend, but if I do, I won't beat myself up about it. I'll just know that I'm doing so much better than when I was drinking every weekend (which was then sliding into everyday drinking).

And I have found that (for me), it's habit. Once I got past wine o'clock, I was fine. Now I find myself looking forward to other things of an evening. Like one of my daughters actually letting me sit in their room to have a conversation and watch telly. Chocolate, special tea etc. Yes, I have gotten old!!!

I'm up to 21 please!

marahouti · 23 March 2022 at 6:24PM

Slowdown yes, for us alcohol is psychologically addictive. I'm not qualified to say whether any of us are physically dependent but I think not. Other posters have said it's about habit and I agree. Habits can be broken, perceptions about it being more difficult to be AF at weekends can be changed, familiar routines can be modified. Why don't you stay off alcohol on Friday and Saturday but have a drink on another day if you wish? You have proved that you can be AF for most of the month, you are successfully breaking the habit of drinking to excess, well done 👏, be proud of yourself. X

cathybird I am 21/25 (hummingbird day 😀) please. X