The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

beachbeth

jo1972 wrote: »

Strangest thing happened to me tonight, I'd had my quota of 3 beers and was busting for a 4th. Felt really thirsty and thought I wonder if I quench the thirst I won't need the beer so decided to have an orange squash. Had 3 mugs of squash and haven't drunk anything else, I'm amazed at myself! Something about drinking just doesn't seem worth it or exciting anymore.

I always drink water inbetween alcoholic drinks. What I have always done is keep my malibu or vodka in the fridge with my cans of lemonade and then, if Im sitting watching tv, I either wait until the next advert or until what Im watching is finished before I go and get another drink. Then I have a glassful of water before pouring myself the alcohol. This way it quenches my thirst and I don't drink the alcohol so quickly.

nearly_there, Ive had a few drinks over the weekend but haven't gone over the top and Im now going to re-read certain parts of the Allen Carr book and try to stay off the alcohol during the week again. Ive got decaff tea and coffee as well as pop so I shall drink those hopefully when I want a drink.

Its a shame the book doesn't click with you, TNG. I wonder if the other book would be better?

Perhaps the book doesn't cover the reasons why you drink, Shopaholic? I must agree that he does make strange references in the book, but most of what he said made sense to me. I can understand the book not being able to help some people though. Not everyone will relate to the way Allen Carr writes.

Another quote from the book that I like:

"Alcohol inebriates you! - It is this effect which hooks the drinker. Inebriation is a process of gradually deadening your senses until you are rendered insensible. True relaxation is having no worries, cares, tensions, stress or pain. It is impossible to feel truly relaxed, or anything else for that matter, if you have been rendered senseless. If you think being inebriated is relaxing then you must think being knocked out is relaxing. It achieves exactly the same effect much quicker and with far less aggravation."

After reading that quote it occurred to me that:1. being drunk and 2. being knocked out, will both give you a headache, its just that one will cost you money and damage your liver!!!

Bismarck

beachbeth wrote: »

After reading that quote it occurred to me that:1. being drunk and 2. being knocked out, will both give you a headache, its just that one will cost you money and damage your liver!!!

Option 2 isn't to be recommended either!

digressing....for those of a sweet/malibu inclination, try this one:

Tesco pineapple & coconut juice drink (3 litres for £2) and lemonade - mixed roughly 50/50....found it hard to believe it wasn't alcoholic actually!

Bismarck

[quote=mollypolly;11567761
[/quote]

the start of the slippery slope for me.

Mollypollyxxxx[/quote]

There isn't much I can say
((((Molly))))

beachbeth

mollypolly wrote: »

My first husband died at the age of 27 when I was 20.
Being alone every night with my grief and an eighteen month old chid was definitely the start of the slippery slope for me.

Mollypollyxxxx

I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you. :grouphug:

Thank you so much for that recipe, Bismarck! I was wondering if there was a soft coconut drink I could try. I have a Sainsburys nearer to me than Tesco so I will see if they have the same pineapple and coconut drink as Tesco. If they have a low cal version all the better!!!

In_Search_Of_Me

Evening all just popping in to catch up! Had a couple of drinks at the w/e but managable although red wine definately out as a definate migraine inducer...enjoying my 0% (although discovered it has 0.4% alch) becks...seems to quench the need for a drink.
Can understand the need for oblivion but now when I just wantto go into my cave I have a nightol & early night - works wonders!
Welcome back Leigh - good to have you back. I will pm you re the adoption stuff as dont want to post publically Lots of help there if you want it...
Keep up the good work others and enjoy the sunshine! Well doe jo - sounds like the counc is going really well...:) Worrying about the woman you know. 6 bottle is an awful lot in a night...very sad...

jo1972

Evening all,

Another enlighting evening for me...

Had drank my quota by 8.30pm, had a panic cos I had one more in the fridge. Had no doubts that I was gonna drink it, so ran a hot bath, locked the door and relaxed with the beer, opened it, drank about an inch from the top and thought !!!!!! am I doing??? Wondered if I could do like last night and quench the thirst with orange squash. Dunno what possessed me and don't laugh but, luckily I'd finished the bath by this point (lucky BB is about to start otherwise I'd be in there for hours :rolleyes:), I jumped out (well actually stepped out, but you know what I mean...), and grabbed the can and literally crushed it into the bath running down the plug. OMG I'm so pleased with myself

For anyone lurking and not actually taking part in this thread or understanding it must think I'm nuts, but whatever, I'm happy tonight

On the 2nd mug of orange squash, this is way better than all the coffee I used to drink when quitting and staying up all night!!

To everyone that's posted today, sorry I've not had a chance to catch up with you, I have read and will reply tomrorow, bit of a day today! Shopaholic, you ok hun? xx

xx

elantan

jo that is really great news enjoy that squash

craigp_2

Well done jo

jo1972

Morning all

Just popping on say hello, will catch up later when I get to work. Hope you're all well?

Although I'm drinking 3 this week, I really do feel kinda chirpy in the mornings at the moment, I'm used to drinking more so I s'pose my body is gradually getting used to the reduction.

I've having a bit of a worry about Thursday and reducing to 2, I'm not sure I'm ready and thought I might ask for another week. What do you guys think? I'm not saying this to prolong quitting, in actual fact I am so looking forward to quitting but dropping to 2 then 1 is more frightening than stopping altogether! Although I've managed the 3 this week, it's definately harder than 4 last week as all night long I'm conscious of the fact that I'm going to run out soon, or should I start later so I don't run out soon etc. etc.

Then again, I have had a couple of nights of amazing revelations where I've been happy to drink orange squash KNOWING I have alcohol in the house. The first night leaving it in the fridge, the second tipping it down the bath (!).

What does everyone think?

xx

Bismarck

I wish I could help on the gradual reduction thing but it's not me. It's a complicated one mixing what's going on in your head and what's going on in your body. IF your body is coping with the reductions then carry on as planned...I fear that you're worrying about days that haven't arrived yet.

This is wasted energy and effort. Fight this one day at a time and you win a series of small battles and ultimately the war.

You can decide what to do today. Stick to today's plan.

You can't change tomorrow or the days when you plan to reduce to 2 and then 1. Those days haven't dawned.

I've known people trying to stop in the summer who start going on about Christmas..."what will I do? how will I cope?".... I remember the feeling myself and thought it was a valid point but Christmas came and I was there, dealing with it on my own terms. There's a lot to do each day and anticipation is often worse than the reality.