365 days without booze... join me?

[redrabbit29]

Blib said:

swanseaboydan said:

Hit 6 months sober last week - feels amazing.
I’m kind of used to it now but I do worry about the spring / summer beer garden temptations. . Just new to keep strong - for me it’s been worth it - especially in terms of mental health

No need to concern yourself about those right now.

Many on here have already coped with those type of situations and you'll get plenty of support if you need it when the time comes.

Agree with this comment - although I did recently start drinking again but it was planned and I just wanted to.

However, I have noticed across all parts of my life when I worry - particularly about alcohol, I do just like you do. I worry:

• What about this holiday in a month, how can I get through that?
• There's a works do in October, that will be hard
• I'm going to the football in Saturday, that will be hard

I always need to just take a step back. THese are future events and like anything in life, just deal with the here and now, what's in front of you. I end up catastrophizing, worrying about hypotheticals. It drowns me at times and I just end up spiralling down. Trying to stop this and a big break through is just being aware of it.

[swanseaboydan]

‘The power of now ‘by exkhart Tolle has helped me live more in the present moment

[tim jb]

d_a_n1979 said:

Could also be gallbladder issues; if you keep getting the sensations, get yourself checked out, believe me, it's not nice if it catches you out

I hope not. I do have these flare ups occasionally and alcohol definitely triggers it. The harder the booze the more intense the sensation and the longer I'm aware of it. That said I've not noticed it for the first time in three weeks today. Not missed drinking either. The alcohol free ciders are great.

[Timmos1974]

tim jb said:

I hope not. I do have these flare ups occasionally and alcohol definitely triggers it. The harder the booze the more intense the sensation and the longer I'm aware of it. That said I've not noticed it for the first time in three weeks today. Not missed drinking either. The alcohol free ciders are great.

Very interesting, ive had some bad stomach pains that I got prescribed anti acids ( Pantaprazole ) took these for a Year and then changed doctor who said try without them for a time being...felt so much better. White or red wine definately causes me stomach problems...beer nothing.

[d_a_n1979]

tim jb said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Could also be gallbladder issues; if you keep getting the sensations, get yourself checked out, believe me, it's not nice if it catches you out

I hope not. I do have these flare ups occasionally and alcohol definitely triggers it. The harder the booze the more intense the sensation and the longer I'm aware of it. That said I've not noticed it for the first time in three weeks today. Not missed drinking either. The alcohol free ciders are great.

That could be pancreas related, or stomach etc... Not liver as IIRC the liver has no pain receptors, so you only know when you've got issues if it's tested for directly

Believe me, if you're able to, get yourself checked out thoroughly as cholecystitis is not fun; it put me in to A&E and then a hospital ward (properly jaundiced too with bilirubin levels into the 700s) for a week last May and even though I've had it removed 6 weeks later, end of June; I'm unfortunately suffering from some post op issues currently and alcohol made them worse, which is why I stopped drinking as soon as I realised (and I don't drink a lot) & zero currently for a good while now!

Not trying to scare you or teach you to suck eggs, but do keep it in mind

[y2blade]

101 days so far.
I thought I’d do dry January as I’d kicked the arse out of the whole of December.
Was going to use Jan as a reset then go back to my usual drinking pattern.

Anyway I did Jan wasn’t missing drinking and felt amazing so I thought “I’ll do Feb”……. And so it continued.

I’ve not missed drinking at all and genuinely enjoying the non alcoholic beers especially Guinness and Erdinger

All the best
Chris

[dirtbiker]

Great effort, Chris! I'm on one of the Dry January groups on Facebook and seeing loads of folks reaching 100 days, excellent!

I'm doing pretty well, 18 day streak which I'm happy with. Bit concerned about the upcoming weekend as I'm away with my wife and no children, normally this would mean some cocktails, wine with dinner, G&Ts at the theatre etc. but I don't have a frame of reference for doing all that sober, to be honest! She knows that I'm drinking a lot less but I don't know if the full support will be there, we shall see! Planning to go for a run together on Sunday morning and I'd normally be pretty hungover for that so the benefits are obvious to me and I'm probably just worrying about nothing... Will stick to the mocktails and AF beers and hopefully reap the benefits!

[The Dictator]

y2blade said:

101 days so far.
I thought I’d do dry January as I’d kicked the arse out of the whole of December.
Was going to use Jan as a reset then go back to my usual drinking pattern.

Anyway I did Jan wasn’t missing drinking and felt amazing so I thought “I’ll do Feb”……. And so it continued.

I’ve not missed drinking at all and genuinely enjoying the non alcoholic beers especially Guinness and Erdinger

All the best
Chris

I started on Jan 2nd, so today is my 100th day. I never initially set out to do more than Dry Jan, but just kept going and have saved £hundreds. I also bought a new watch a month ago and haven't worn it yet, once my 100th day is completed I will allow myself to wear it.

I never intended to stop drinking and still don't, but this experience has made me look long and hard at my habits and I will be changing them moving forward.

[y2blade]

The Dictator said:

y2blade said:

101 days so far.
I thought I’d do dry January as I’d kicked the arse out of the whole of December.
Was going to use Jan as a reset then go back to my usual drinking pattern.

Anyway I did Jan wasn’t missing drinking and felt amazing so I thought “I’ll do Feb”……. And so it continued.

I’ve not missed drinking at all and genuinely enjoying the non alcoholic beers especially Guinness and Erdinger

All the best
Chris

I started on Jan 2nd, so today is my 100th day. I never initially set out to do more than Dry Jan, but just kept going and have saved £hundreds. I also bought a new watch a month ago and haven't worn it yet, once my 100th day is completed I will allow myself to wear it.

I never intended to stop drinking and still don't, but this experience has made me look long and hard at my habits and I will be changing them moving forward.

Money saved! Tell me about it.
The best thing I did was set up an automatic transfer into a separate account for the money I’d spent on average each month last year.

This is literally how much is in it at the moment.


And THAT is money I’d have p——d up the wall.

[Caddyshack]

Just saw a meme saying “will power is soluble in alcohol”

That is very true.

[mattuk89]

I saw a good one the other day, can’t remember the exact wording but the message was:


When you are drinking you are playing life on hard mode, and when you go sober it’s like going back to the options of a video game and switching life to easy mode..

[swanseaboydan]

I really resonate with the above, my life is easier in almost every aspect now. No hangovers, hardly any anxiety. Making much better decisions and 8 kilos off my weight ! Prob an inch off my waist - loving it

[Caddyshack]

You only have to watch Police Interceptors on TV to see how alcohol makes life difficult for so many people and those who come in to conflict with them too. So many dumb choices.

I was watching “night coppers” on ch4 and right at the start of one there were two 50 yr olds arrested for causing affray in a pub fight using bottles. One of those 50 yr old was a very good friend of mine and he is normally a really nice bloke, I am ashamed that he was fighting with broken glass.

[Joscal]

Good work folks! Wonderful to see you seeing and feeling the benefits.

[Blib]

swanseaboydan said:

I really resonate with the above, my life is easier in almost every aspect now. No hangovers, hardly any anxiety. Making much better decisions and 8 kilos off my weight ! Prob an inch off my waist - loving it

If you hold close the happy memories of your sober life alcohol will lose any of its appeal.

[redrabbit29]

Think I need to hop back on the wagon. I spent the last three days/nights drunk and Saturday night I was up till 4am on my own drinking.

I had about 8 pints of Guiness last night and two bottles of red wine. I also ate a ton of food getting to bed about 2am. Working today (at home) - I feel fine, just very bloated and a bit drunk/dizzy still.

[stargazer30]

I'm back on the waggon too. I had it beat, was tea total for a full year, and then I stupidly went back to light drinking. Mostly due to peer pressure as those close to me all drink. Over the last year, the 2 glasses of wine per session limit has slipped somewhat and I've had a few benders. I'm not going back to days lost to hangovers and now I'm in my mid 40s keeping fit and healthy is several degrees harder as it is, without booze in the equation.

[dirtbiker]

dirtbiker said:

Bit concerned about the upcoming weekend as I'm away with my wife and no children, normally this would mean some cocktails, wine with dinner, G&Ts at the theatre etc. but I don't have a frame of reference for doing all that sober, to be honest! She knows that I'm drinking a lot less but I don't know if the full support will be there, we shall see! Planning to go for a run together on Sunday morning and I'd normally be pretty hungover for that so the benefits are obvious to me and I'm probably just worrying about nothing... Will stick to the mocktails and AF beers and hopefully reap the benefits!

Well, I'm clearly not quite there... I did manage to avoid the wine with my in-laws on Friday night (which is quite a departure for me and caused some raised eyebrows) but I then went on to drink with my wife on Saturday. Not to excess and had no hangover on Sunday (pleased with that!) but did have a rubbish night's sleep and felt pretty bleary the next day. Still, got out for a run in the sunshine and was fully present in my relationships so no harm done.

Back onto the 'Try Dry' app to collect my teacups for the next wee while - we'll get there!

[J4CKO]

I did dry January, found it pretty easy but slipped back into some bad habits, nothing horrendous but I dont do moderation very well, what I do do well though is abstinence.

Am going on holiday with my mate to Tenerife which will be pretty boozy so decided would abstain until we go which was about six weeks, so am three weeks in, been an absolute doddle.

First time I did dry Jan, found it hard, it gets easier each time as I just accept that I am not having any booze, get the odd minor pang some evenings about 5.30 but mainly its just habit with a bit of being hungry mixed in, its pretty minor and goes the minute I eat.

Visited my wifes aunt in Anglesey and over the years thats always been a cue for drinking, she likes a glass of wine and its part of it, but this time I went all weekend without being tempted. Got a social thing at one of the neighbours on Friday and just going to take some 0 percent Corona or something.


I am sleeping better, main thing is its quite liberating knowing you can do stuff that normally involves booze and still enjoy it. I remember arranging stuff, the logistics around who is driving and planning stuff the following day around booze, it is optional.

Am saving a few quid, not really noticed but the shopping was £130 the other day, would have been £20 or so more with various beers on as well.

Not aiming to go totally without forever, but will see this through until the 10th of May when we go away as think Los Americas sober would be too much, like when Arthur and Ford in Hitchhikers sink a few before being beamed up to the Vogon spaceship, to ease the shock to the system.

[tim jb]

Can we get the general consensus on low alcohol beverages please, those no greater than 0.5% VOL alcohol.

Sober or not sober.