365 days without booze... join me?

[HairyMaclary]

K12beano said:

HairyMaclary said:

Anyone else hit 200 days yesterday? Next stop 300 days

Starting to think this change needs to be permanent. The benefits far outweigh the few positive things about drinking.

I didn't think I could manage 200. I survived a Christmas season, and that told me something about myself, and needed that stubbornness to resist - particularly family (I think some were feeling threatened that I wasn't joining them to drink) - then I vowed not to keep counting the days.........


.....but Tuesday will be day 700, and now I feel I would be a fool not to go to two years.........

Well done you! 700 days is a real achievement!

I know what you mean about the stubbornness thing. I spent a very enjoyable afternoon in the pub garden last weekend with some very good mates. All of which drink to the same level I did. Once they got over that I was drinking Becks Blue it was fairly easy. Felt really proud afterwards and proved that I can sit with them (take some banter) and have just as much fun without the headache.

For now counting the days, posting on here and my anon twitter account keeps me accountable. What has really helped this time is youtube and quit lit when I've been tempted.

Odaat.

[Davie_GLA]

HairyMaclary said:

Well done you! 700 days is a real achievement!

I know what you mean about the stubbornness thing. I spent a very enjoyable afternoon in the pub garden last weekend with some very good mates. All of which drink to the same level I did. Once they got over that I was drinking Becks Blue it was fairly easy. Felt really proud afterwards and proved that I can sit with them (take some banter) and have just as much fun without the headache.

For now counting the days, posting on here and my anon twitter account keeps me accountable. What has really helped this time is youtube and quit lit when I've been tempted.

Odaat.

Top job. if you find that helping you is the ability to connect to people anonymously then i'd recommend Reddit. There's a sub simply called /StopDrinking. There's ~250k members from all over the world. You name it, they have seen it.

It's one of the more sane subs I've seen about managing booze. There are others that are just morbid and frankly very disturbing but that's Reddit for you.

[500 Miles]

Not as good as many on here... but now at 24 weeks or 168 days.. definitely a record for me.

Will I make it to 365 days? Whilst I’m not actually missing it, I don’t think I will.

One of my simple pleasures was sitting in the garden, reading the kindle and drinking ... it’s what Sunday’s were made for.. I used to look forward to that - I now instead have a very unhealthy addiction to Diet Coke and after drinking about 2litres have to piss every 15 minutes.. whilst still continuing to drink the stuff.. I think it’s a habit - pick up glass, drink, finish drink and refill.. for whatever reason I need to be drinking even though I’m not thirsty and I’m not having alcohol - bit strange and need to ween myself off the habit..

[K12beano]

500 Miles said:

Will I make it to 365 days? Whilst I’m not actually missing it, I don’t think I will.

Change your name to “500 Days”.... then you’ll have no excuse!

But you’re doing well - no one can take away what you’ve already achieved......

(Slightly smuggly creeping up on two years, just three days to go, so on Day 727 today I reckon)

[Caddyshack]

K12beano said:

hange your name to “500 Days”.... then you’ll have no excuse!

But you’re doing well - no one can take away what you’ve already achieved......

(Slightly smuggly creeping up on two years, just three days to go, so on Day 727 today I reckon)

Nice one, well done you.

I am at 8 months now and cannot see myself ever going back.

[Sebo]

500 Miles said:

Not as good as many on here... but now at 24 weeks or 168 days.. definitely a record for me.

Will I make it to 365 days? Whilst I’m not actually missing it, I don’t think I will.

One of my simple pleasures was sitting in the garden, reading the kindle and drinking ... it’s what Sunday’s were made for.. I used to look forward to that - I now instead have a very unhealthy addiction to Diet Coke and after drinking about 2litres have to piss every 15 minutes.. whilst still continuing to drink the stuff.. I think it’s a habit - pick up glass, drink, finish drink and refill.. for whatever reason I need to be drinking even though I’m not thirsty and I’m not having alcohol - bit strange and need to ween myself off the habit..

Since giving up the booze, Coke Zero / Pepsi Max has been a crutch for me. I know I need to address it at some point but for the moment, it's not causing me the harm (yeah i get it, it isn't doing me any good) that boozing did.

If alcohol was becoming a problem for you, then I wouldn't sweat the Diet coke addition for the time being

[Joscal]

Sebo said:

Since giving up the booze, Coke Zero / Pepsi Max has been a crutch for me. I know I need to address it at some point but for the moment, it's not causing me the harm (yeah i get it, it isn't doing me any good) that boozing did.

If alcohol was becoming a problem for you, then I wouldn't sweat the Diet coke addition for the time being

Very much this, it’s perfectly normal to replace the sugar you used to get from alcohol. Any of the books I read encourage spoiling yourself with whatever tickles your fancy.

I went through a huge amount of ice cream with microwaveable sponge cakes for months when I first started and still do occasionally.

[Stevil]

Nearly 4 years on for me and I still indulge in Ice Cream more often than I should.

[Bathroom_Security]

Approaching 8 months for me.

Sugar cravings are gone finally after 6 months, have now lost a stone after spending 6 months eating like crap.

Don't really touch alcohol free beer now, maybe 4 tins on a weekend as a treat but wouldn't even cross my mind if I didnt have any. No longer require fizzy drinks and can have the occasional one without then going mental and drinking loads.

Don't crave beer except on a Sunday when the suns out.

Feel much healthier, I've been cycling road and mtb lots.

Happy days. Dunno what I'll do after the 1 year mark im tempted to continue.

Had a dream last night that I had a bottle of corona and I was so disgusted in myself, and in my dream I had to own up to pistonheads that I'd failed to see the year out.

[Caddyshack]

Bathroom_Security said:

Approaching 8 months for me.

Sugar cravings are gone finally after 6 months, have now lost a stone after spending 6 months eating like crap.

Don't really touch alcohol free beer now, maybe 4 tins on a weekend as a treat but wouldn't even cross my mind if I didnt have any. No longer require fizzy drinks and can have the occasional one without then going mental and drinking loads.

Don't crave beer except on a Sunday when the suns out.

Feel much healthier, I've been cycling road and mtb lots.

Happy days. Dunno what I'll do after the 1 year mark im tempted to continue.

Had a dream last night that I had a bottle of corona and I was so disgusted in myself, and in my dream I had to own up to pistonheads that I'd failed to see the year out.

I am at 8 months and oddly I have had recent dreams of being disgusted with myself having had some (in the dream) I wonder if the 8 months is significant?

[Blib]

There is no significance. Having thoughts or dreams about drinking or alcohol is perfectly normal in early abstinence.

So, absolutely nothing to concern either of you.

[K12beano]

Blib said:

There is no significance. Having thoughts or dreams about drinking or alcohol is perfectly normal in early abstinence.

So, absolutely nothing to concern either of you.

I think it's to do with lockdown - I have had a smattering (well something more than two but not loads) of dreams with a variety of situations involving drinks.

if anything, these all seemed to be in social situations where it was all quite controlled, and mostly I didn't even take a drink, but was looking forward to it without is being some sort of obsession.

So I don't know what sort of processing was going on in my head for that to be the dream!


(Two years and one day now!)

[mygoldfishbowl]

Caddyshack said:

Bathroom_Security said:

Approaching 8 months for me.

Sugar cravings are gone finally after 6 months, have now lost a stone after spending 6 months eating like crap.

Don't really touch alcohol free beer now, maybe 4 tins on a weekend as a treat but wouldn't even cross my mind if I didnt have any. No longer require fizzy drinks and can have the occasional one without then going mental and drinking loads.

Don't crave beer except on a Sunday when the suns out.

Feel much healthier, I've been cycling road and mtb lots.

Happy days. Dunno what I'll do after the 1 year mark im tempted to continue.

Had a dream last night that I had a bottle of corona and I was so disgusted in myself, and in my dream I had to own up to pistonheads that I'd failed to see the year out.

I am at 8 months and oddly I have had recent dreams of being disgusted with myself having had some (in the dream) I wonder if the 8 months is significant?

I'm almost 2.5 years and still do the same. Strangely enough I don't remember doing it earlier on and it seems to be a random thing that comes and goes.

Edited by mygoldfishbowl on Friday 21st August 09:52

[caterhamboy]

Having dropped in and out of this thread for last yr or so, i'm finally going to give it a go.

Whilst i have never drank strong alcohol i more than made up for in it volume, i'd usually drink 5-6 cans of carling a night and up to 8 on a wk'd. Over the last few wk's i have been drinking lower strength larger from lidl 2.8% and stuck to no more than equivalent of 3-4 pints.

Having chanced upon a youtube video i realised i have so many of the traits with light depression and anxiety, i turned 47 yesterday and it's the 1st time i've not had a drink for yrs, struggled to sleep but feel good today.

Wish me luck !!

[grumbledoak]

caterhamboy said:

Having dropped in and out of this thread for last yr or so, i'm finally going to give it a go.

Whilst i have never drank strong alcohol i more than made up for in it volume, i'd usually drink 5-6 cans of carling a night and up to 8 on a wk'd. Over the last few wk's i have been drinking lower strength larger from lidl 2.8% and stuck to no more than equivalent of 3-4 pints.

Having chanced upon a youtube video i realised i have so many of the traits with light depression and anxiety, i turned 47 yesterday and it's the 1st time i've not had a drink for yrs, struggled to sleep but feel good today.

Wish me luck !!

You are giving up something mildly addictive. If you really want to do it, it is actually quite easy. If you don't really want to, it is impossible.

Have three weeks without. Anyone can do three weeks. And it gets you past the feeling worse stage because, face it, it's a drug so you are going to have some withdrawal. See how you feel then. See if a month seems possible. Repeat.

No luck. Make it happen.

[Carrot]

Joined for interest, although im giving up permanently.

I have tried cutting down and doing 30 days off, always feel fantastic like a new life has been given then I start moderately drinking which spirals back to square 1.

It's not doing me any good so on the 8th I had my last drink ever.

Actually feels good to say "that's it". And easier too.

[so called]

My drinking has definitely started to get out of control these last weeks.
I don't know if working from home is contributing?
Yesterday was the first alcohol free day since I don't know when.
Lousy nights sleep, which I expected.

I'm taking a long hard look at myself and will be off the booze for the rest of the week.

[RMDB9]

Good news: your sleep will vastly improve once you are over the hill. Much better than with alc.

[Carrot]

RMDB9 said:

Good news: your sleep will vastly improve once you are over the hill. Much better than with alc.

100000%. It took me about 2 weeks before it happened, now I sleep like the dead and wake up feeling ready for the day. Can't believe I spent so many years voluntarily making myself feel like st. Bizarre when you think about it!

[so called]

Carrot said:

RMDB9 said:

Good news: your sleep will vastly improve once you are over the hill. Much better than with alc.

100000%. It took me about 2 weeks before it happened, now I sleep like the dead and wake up feeling ready for the day. Can't believe I spent so many years voluntarily making myself feel like st. Bizarre when you think about it!

In the past I would have alc free days and it always took a couple of days before I got the 'good nights sleep' feeling.
Basically I have been drinking heavily for many years.
I spent 22 years working abroad, Each year, spread out over the year, I would spend 6 months/year travelling mainly in North America so in hotels and at the bar every night.
3 months/year in my apartment in Germany where the wine rack was never empty, and 3 months for my Wife in the UK.
So 9 months of the year I was free to take full advantage of and the 3 months at home was my detox.

Since I finished travelling and been at home, I've had no detox and the drinking has slowly been ramping up the levels of before.
I have now put myself in detox for the next 1 or 2 weeks and will take stock.after that.

PS, night 2 was also sleepless.