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10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Great start already and planning success

I am a newbie to online support and already I know I have made a smart move by joining this site. This week I firmly told my husband to not buy me wine anymore, if I want a drink I will go out and get it myself. I have finally realised that part of my problem drinking has been the easy access to alcohol. It's just always there daily, free for the drinking, and not your cheap stuff either! It's been nearly a week, and I will admit that habits are hard to break. But I have also discovered that I quite enjoy chilled water with a squeeze of lemon juice and a few sprigs of freshly picked mint floating in the glass with ice ( it's summer here where I live) . So that's my substitute.

It's early days I know, but I am feeling confident and in control and I like this feeling more than being plastered and then remorseful.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Great start already and planning success

I discovered green tea with lemon and ginger when cycling the Danube in September of this year. I couldn't find just plain ones so tried a few flavoured ones and they were great! As for wine, I did limit myself to 1x 400ml per day( those really small bottles) mainly because I didn't want to fall off the bike or cycle the next day with a hangover.

And yes I will keep visiting here and posting progress, thanks for being interested.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Great start already and planning success

Actually this first week has been very hard. I have managed 3 alcohol free days so that's a step in the right direction. I made the mistake of actually buying low alcohol beer ( 4.2 % ) on Friday because my husband has in fact granted my request to not buy wine for me. Problem is you can only buy the 333 ml bottles as a dozen hence 6 bottles gone that first night! Better than 13 % wine ? Not sure.

The really good thing about this discovery is that since I rarely venture into liquor stores I have now realised that small quantities i.e. 350 ml wine bottles or 4 pack low carb beer cans just don't exist where I live. There are mixes rum/cola etc in 4 packs but they are gross. Yuk!

I will be checking out the program repeatedly as I embark on this journey- It takes time for me to process info and adjust to life changes. But that's pretty darn exciting don't you think?

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Strategies, strategies and strategies....

Thought I would share some strategies that have helped me in challenging situations this first past week since joining AHC.

It's been really hot these past view days ( 26+ deg) and as I walked 3km to our local supermarket I passed the liquor store. Gee a cold beer would be nice for when I get home, especially after the hot walk back. I could get the groceries then pop in as I pass by again. Ha ha, I got the groceries , including a chilled diet ginger beer and made a detour that added an extra km but completely by-passed the liquor store. Winner!

Second time this : Husband asks," Do you want anything at the bottle shop? I'm going now." I stop what I am doing, making eye contact as I reply with , " No thanks ." I have practiced this response knowing that I will get asked and knowing that I've got this!

I am feeling darn proud of myself actually. And I am so grateful for the skills I am developing during this journey and the support given to everyone here.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Pondering about what to do for Xmas

Since joining and making a real commitment to address my drinking issues, I have managed to reduce quite substantially the amount of drinks I consume. But more importantly, of the 18 days of joining I have had nil alcohol for 9 of these with the last five entries in my diary showing 5 days in a row of no drinking what so ever. It's not been easy and I have had to dig deep on a number of occasions. Thank goodness for this site, it's been a real help.

I am not sure about my goals at the moment. Continue with the zero alcohol or define a set amount for Xmas day ? I know that if there is a standard size ( 750 ml) bottle of wine in the house at any one time , it will be gone - either in a flash or savoured over a longer period. But gone none the less.

I could invest in some time and petrol to locate the rare 330 ml bottles ( that cost about the same as the larger quantities! ) but I am worried that this might lead to me torturing myself with dissatisfaction on the day or even worse actually unintentionally buying the larger bottle instead.

My husband is a heavy drinker and thankfully I would never touch his preferred poison - bourbon and cola premix. Will I feel resentful that he has a Xmas drink while I celebrate with a can of no sugar added sparkling iced tea? Mmmm probably.

So I am still pondering about what to do for Xmas.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Problem drinking

Hi Eva

Your posts and subsequent replies have been very inspiring. I really liked your strategy of marking the number of drinks you had in pen on your leg! Brilliant.

Although I had some strategies in place for Xmas I regret to say I slipped. Thankfully it was not a total blow out and I did manage to appear "quite normal" i.e. could hold a coherent conversation and walk unassisted. But I am not impressed. Disappointed actually.

This morning I tipped a whole unopened beautifully packaged bottle of top shelf Pinot Noir down the sink. I simply can not have wine in the house. Even as gifts.

And so begins my quest for a wine free week.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

New Years Resolutions

I have a better success rate with achieving short term goals. However, I look forward to the moment when I can confidently state a long term goal knowing that with determination and the resources available to me I can do it.

But right now my resolution can only be viewed as a "daily" resolution as opposed to a New Years one:

Wine will not touch my lips today.

I began this journey at the beginning of this month ( Dec) and started out in a very positive frame of mind. I was pretty sure that I would overcome my drinking problem ( I am a binge drinker) within a short period of time . I have now come to realise that it's going to take longer than a few months and requires an enormous amount of personal strength on a daily basis to kick this habit. Training for a marathon is easier!

The My Diary and Toolbox sections have been very helpful. They keep me focused on my daily goal.

So as for New Years Resolutions? Not yet , maybe next year.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Pondering about what to do for Xmas

Well Xmas has been and gone. There was wine on the day so there was wine consumed, and what fine wine it was too!

How much? Too much probably but I was well behaved and enjoyed the family festivities very much. I am not sure how the wine got into the house, I certainly didn't buy it. It just appeared, got opened and then shared amongst my adult children and their partners. Plus me. There were 2 bottles. I was OK with it. But I do know this- if there had been no-one to share it with I would have drank the lot. This is a very important realisation. I simply can not have large amounts of alcohol in the house. Ever.

Now it's New Years Eve 9.54 pm, our grandson is sleeping over and the fire works have just begun. It's a beautiful sight and I am feeling content.There has not been wine since Xmas day and I am also feeling quite proud of myself. Although December might have been a difficult month to begin to get my binge drinking under control, I am so glad I started. I feel so much better, excessive drinking just made me feel like crap mentally and physically. That's another important realisation, one that I remind myself constantly.

I really hope that your Xmas was a happy one and that your New Year will bring you lots of joy and a twinkle in your eye!

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

Pondering about what to do for Xmas

There are two aspects that I need to address to ensure that alcohol is not in our house.

The first one is that I don't buy it. I am pretty safe with this one because I rarely go out and seek it. Last year I estimate that I probably bought about 5 bottles of wine in total. Another thing is that I easily moderate my drinking when I am out socialising, which is hardly ever anyway. I am 59 years old and a party pooper.

The second plan is more of a challenge. My husband has a drinking problem also ( but he is in denial). I have asked him not to buy wine for me and he has granted this wish except on one occasion. Last night in fact, being New Years Eve. He dutifully hid it as requested by me and that was the end of that. My plan is ,if he does buy wine again, I will tell him that I will tip it out right before his eyes. That might get through. I understand his motives, he doesn't want to loose a drinking buddy and probably feels threatened by my wish to address my drinking problem. This might force him to think about his own addictions and he is clearly not comfortable confronting these just yet. It's a complex situation but one which must be overcome.

I don't remember exactly when I joined the " If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em " club, but I sure regret that move! Now it's time for me to invest in more fulfilling activities, ones that don't involve drinking.

I hope I am on the right track here, let me know if I have missed anything.

10 years ago 0 +0 / -0 42

I did it!

Congratulations Eva!

It's great that you abstained from alcohol and " thoroughly enjoyed being in control" while out socialising. This certainly is a huge breakthrough and I can sense your satisfaction in achieving it. Did you set a goal before venturing out?

I am now day 7 straight with out wine. I have managed to moderate my alcohol consumption since Dec 1 and now I believe that I can live my life without it.

So I am with you on the "dry" January journey if you don't mind me joining you.

Onwards and upwards!

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