The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

beemuzed

swapped the beer for OJ today, and had no wine last night, jsut a single whisky. Seems that most people are finding cutting down doesn't work whereas cutting out does? Guess I'll need to find out for myself but I'd like to think cutting down would do it for me! Haven't dared work out the cost of alcohol per week yet.

nearly-there_4

Hello there.

Have spent a whole week reading (and re-reading) all the posts in this thread - I can relate to so many of your opinions - this has been rather a humbling and emotive time for me. I've taken a long hard look at myself and realise that I do drink too much. I think my weekly unit intake is between 30 and 50 units !! Yikes !! :think:

Although I wouldn't say that alcohol has taken over my life and nor does it define me................but................I have between 3 and 5 bottles of wine per week. As my sister said this week, one glass is too much and a bottle is never enough. I tend to drink alone at home - why?!! As so many of you have said, all it does is add up to - time lost, weight gain, losing your looks, reducing social contacts, as well as dumbing down the brain. :cool:

Despite this, I hold down a full-time job. I've had a lot of illness over the last 12 months and so I feel that my immune system is being affected. I feel tired most evenings and I think that opening a bottle of wine at 7pm is a way of defining 'this is my time, leave me alone' ...................... but I'm sure there is a lot of other things I could be doing during that 'time'. I did give up during the month of January but am now back to square one.

Anyway 1st April was my start date.........................it has helped that I've been poorly with a throat infection and haven't wanted wine. I've ordered the Allen Carr book that was mentioned in an earlier posting and have hungrily taken on board all those little tips - especially the chocolate ones................. lol!

I don't think I can do this alone .............................. sooooooo .......................... if you could widen the circle a little, I would love to slip in alongside you all and join in with the dance :hello:

barshamhillbilly

FunBrum wrote: »

I'm determined not to have that 'one'
glass as it tends to give me the taste for it!

I know that feeling Funbrum. I often thought I will just have one or a couple only to drink all the cans of beer in the house. The only way for me is not to have 'just one'.

Welcome Nearly-There.
I've been doing 40-45 units a week too, my DW even more. 177 hours in (decided hour by hour was best) feel much better for it so fingers, arms & legs crossed it'll keep that way.

I suffer a lot with Generalised Anxiety so the drink was a bit of a relaxer when I got home from work, but have since been told it just made me more anxious the next day and so on. Anyway - GP set me up with some anti-depressants which have clamed me down a bit and got me to go to a local support centre for some 1 to 1 sessions to help me to keep off the nasty stuff. Its amazing - the centre is where I got my free accupuncture last night (see earlier post). They even have aromatherapy & reflexology treatments all free. Unfortunatley the accupuncture was the only one without a waiting time ...... I wonder why .... 5 needles stuck in each ear :eek: . Can't think why anyone wouldn't que up for that...... :rotfl:

Seriously though - I think it really helped. Worth going to get some advice and help from your GP I reckon.

Any way with 177 hours in for me, 5 days in for my DW, £28 or thereabouts not spent on alcohol! That reminds me - must get myself and DW a small treat to keep us enthused! Better take most of it off the debt though :rolleyes: .

Anyway - glad to have some extra company. Keep up the good work.
BHB

Sue-UU

shopaholictiedtheknot wrote: »

OMG:eek: :eek: :eek: i spend £1825 a year on wine that equates to 9.4 weeks of my salary what the hell have i been doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day four of the wagon for me and I am NOT falling off:D

Put like that shopaholictiedtheknot I suppose you HAVE to think of it now as £1825 that you're saving each month! Well done on day 4 and I hope you're really proud of yourself for getting there! :T All the very best from here on!

Sue.

BRILLIANT going barshamhillbilly, you're doing so well, just keep it up with whatever it takes and be PROUD!

Sue.

Good going for you too Jo! You too are getting there, one step at a time. Well done.

Sue.

Go glad you're back in that circle FunBrum, keep thinking as you are and you too, in time, will get there....maybe with your BF as well!!! I do hope so and really wish you luck.

Sue.

Keep your Sister's words in mind nearly-there, you're well into quitting now, so just keep on reading the posts, drinking OJs, bathing/showering, walking and whatever else you find helpful to keep you from the demon! We're all here to support and help where we can! All the very best.

Sue.

Hi beemuzed. Well done on giving the OJ a try, keep it up along with anything else that's helpful to you. It might just help if you do think of all you'll be saving, a spur on to do more maybe! Go for it, in little steps and see how far you can get. Good luck.

Sue.

barshamhillbilly

Morning All
Sleepy head this morning - slept like a log!
Been out to work for a little while and back home for breakfast at the moment.

Stressfull day ahead, We have home educated children and are going to see some friends who do the same. When the kids get together its very loud and very mad. Its enough to turn anyone to drink! :eek:

We do have a calmer period after that - we are going to check out a new billygoat for our herd as the 'poor old boy' we have at the moment has arthritis and can't do the business on the nanny goats...... I thought I was in a bad way. :rotfl: :rotfl:

Then to lidl for a quick shop and then the weekend is here. No work again until next week when work starts back full time again as schools are back. (I'm a caretaker).

I do vaguely think we have to do something tommorrow - but can't for the life of me remember what it is. I suppose my brian will catch up when I wake up

Hope you all have another successful day - keep up the good work and come back here if you feel like slipping. :T :T

Best wishes
BHB

jo1972

Morning all :wave:

Day 5 woohooo!!

Just got into work and got a rush on so I'll be back later to catch up with you all

xx

barshamhillbilly

:T :T :T :T :T

Keep it up!!

BHB

Cornishpixie_2

Hi:) Been kind of lurking around the thread. My hubby drinks almost everyday, which doesn't encourage me to give up. I have about 2 bottles of wine a week plus what he offers(He drinks beer). I have a bottle of wine into drink then hoping not to buy anymore. As OH working two night shifs on a trot might be ideal time to make a start. Done demotivator as wanted to see how much OH spent on beer and fags £3,385:eek:. Don't feel as bad about my £600 on coffee out and wine:rotfl:But we can't afford to go on holiday with the kids this year. May find right time to mention it, worth a go. Going to experiment with cold refreshing non- alcholic drinks as get fed up drinking tea/coffee. Thanks and Good luck all:rotfl:

barshamhillbilly

Morning Cornishpixie
Welcome aboard. Go for it, I found it hard and kept trying to stop when DW wasn't. Then it would be the other way round. This time we seem to have coincided and seem to be cracking it.
Well done for realising the amount its costing - shocking really when you add it all up and then realise there is nothing at the end to show for it isn't it.
I found the non alcoholic drinks really help especially from the fridge. Even Fizzy water seems to do the trick.
Anyway - good luck - look forward to hearing your progess

BHB

RoxieW

Morning all - well, thanks to being unwell, I haven't had a drink for a week! (and even that was just one glass I practically forced down!) Thats the longest I've gone since I was on the wagon for a while before Xmas! Hoping to keep it up!