Cutting Down

[Rebecca]

This thread is for those whose goal is to cut down their drinking rather than to abstain completely. Not everyone needs or wants to abstain, so this is a place to discuss what strategies have or have not worked for you and to share your experiences with others openly and honestly without feeling restricted to the abstinence threads. Here is a link to last month's thread to view previous discussions.

[1sunworshipper]

Thanks DW and Caroline, I really appreciate your kind words. I failed again last night, got to thinking yesterday oh well I blew it last night so what the hell. I called in for yet another bottle of wine although on the positive I only drank half of it and stopped. Don't think that was will power kicking in more that I didn't like the taste (afterall it was on offer at only £3).

Anyway no doubt finish it off today and then try and re-focus. You are all right that I do have more AF days under my belt and to be honest I am trying to think of my drinking as cutting down and not just abstience. But I know my behaviour and just like yours Saraloo I know it can get out of hand which it has done on several occasions in the past.

BTW welcome back Saraloo I wondered how you were getting on you have been missed. You were such a huge support to fellow BE and your posts were interesting to read so I look forward to them once again.

Stuart, I'm pleased the counselling was beneficial for you and I'm sure you will find your way through with the help and support BE offers, good luck on your journey.

[Mike]

I'm glad cutting down works for some people. I shall be interested to see success stories on this thread. How do you do it ?

I think there must be two types of people, those who can and those who can't. For me the first drink was always the cue for a second and then a third etc etc. Sometimes I could go home from the pub after just a couple of pints and as long as I was absorbed in a particular task I would be able to stay off the booze for the remainder of the evening, but more often than not I would drink at home as well. So I am a failed cutting downer. I don't think I would be able to achieve it. But well done to those of you who can.

Mike

[Nikki95]

I was really interested to see this thread on cutting down. I am still new to being AF but I have wondered about total abstinence and cutting down for some time now. Apart from my crazy college days (occasional binge drinking), I have pretty much been a 2 glass of wine a night kind of lady. It has been more (2/3 bottle) but not regularly. A few months ago, I began to realize that I am really dependent on alcohol to get me through the stresses of life. I also reflected on how this could really become a problem in future years if I didn't get a hold of things now. I also have a baby, so I need to be sober for her and 100% aware of what is going on.

I "quit" drinking, (that is nightly) for a few months now. I've had wine several times, but most of my days are AF. when I did drink, I concentrated on going slowly and being sureto stop after just a bit (not overdo it!)... Bbeing aware was VERY helpful to me-. Aware of what a 'normal' drinker would be like and noticing others around me getting plastered while I stayed 'sober.'

My goal is to stop wine for awhile and get over the addiction. Then I think that I will be able to enjoy it occassionally and responsibly. Some people say that you have to abstain and I'm not sure if I need to do that (for me). I think of it like chocolate, ice cream or any other food/drink that it is easy to overindulge in. There are times when I am DYING for a piece of chocolate and I have it- and enjoy it... but not everynight, not to the point of pucking it up! oh, sorry Who knwos... time will tell

[Wayne]

Hello all,

Well strange time for me......... i was diagnosed with a low form of diabetes,and that was after my liver diagnosis, i have 3 months to drop my sugar levels or its tabs time. I have the occasional beer or 5.......lol.... but its all low 4% and i am a low GI diet, it is a long way from 4 / 5 pints of Stella / strongbow, washed down with 3 bottles of red..... per- night.......( OMG) ....i cant do that any more. On a positive note, i have shed 1 stone in weight and i for the first time in years feel very much in control, i am exercising so much and eating sensible, life feels so good at the moment. Hope you are all OK and i will be back on here soon giving my support to all of my fellow friends soon.

Regards,

Wayne.

[Wayne]

Brighteye,
Lovely words, and for that i thank you. I am on the right road and will continue my journey to total abstinence, i will get there in the end.

Thank you for your post.

Wayne.

[kevdw]

Hi Wayne,

Great to see you back and in control, soldiering on. Well done!

[caroline95]

Hi Wayne, it's good to see you posting again and 'sounds like you're doing great.I am sooooo jealous that you've lost an entire stone - almost a month off the booze for me and only a measly 4 lbs.But well done you, and let us know how you get on.

I miss Fairycake and Cowboy - if you're out there, I hope you're ok

[fairycake]

Hi Caroline !
Missed you too ! Have been away on holiday last week. Things are going ok ish - no disasters but drank every night bar 2 on holiday - so only 2 AFDs. Back home again now so can get back into routine. It's a bit tricky at the moment as kids are on school holidays - in the past this has been bad for me as after being with them all day I succumbed too easily to frustration and ended up drinking too much in the evening...thing is dealing with them hungover and anxious it's not surprising I ended up feeling wrung out by the end of the day - classic vicious cycle...Determined this will not be the case this time. I have planned activities, child care breaks, time to myself so my days will be structured and hopefully fun ! then plan lovely early nights with a good book to recharge for the next day...Feeling positive and day one (today) at home with the kids has been really really good. No wine in and no need of any

Caroline - how's it going with you - 4lbs lost is still good you know - lose that every month and you'll be trim in no time xx

Don't know where cowboy is - he was annoyed a while ago about a post and I haven't heard him since if you're out there Cowboy - come back

Wayne - well done - you sound great

[caroline95]

Hi everyone - 'great to see you back Fairycake and sounding so positive.I imagine school holidays can involve their fair share of stress, but good on you for planning ahead, it's half the battle.A secret stash of chocolate probably helps too!

As some of you know, I started taking Antabuse with the intention of not drinking for three months.So far it's going swimmingly - one month 'anniversary' to-day That's not to say I don't have times when I bitterly regret having taken the tablet in the morning, when I've had a bad day and desperately want a couple of hours to relax, unwind and forget my woes for a while in the evening.But it simply isn't an option now, and I'm always really glad when I wake up the next day without a hangover.

However, I just don't feel right on the abstinence threads, so I'm going to come back 'home' to the Cutting Down thread if that's ok.I have a visit to family planned for September, and the chances of surviving that without drinking are almost non-existent, but hopefully I'll have three months sober by then, and be in a better position to cope without going overboard.

Cowboy, if you're out there on the range, there's a nice comfy seat being kept warm for you here should you want to join us again sometime, you are much missed.

[newways]

Hi everyone! I was on the 7 day thread but didn't get past day 3. I'm here because in reality, I know I want to have a couple of glasses of wine a few times a week - I really don't want to quit outright yet. No more finishing a bottle by myself at night. So my plan in to cut back, and see if I can 'stop' once I get started. No hangovers, no excess is my starting point. So far so good! I had one glass at dinner one night, 3 another, none for a couple of nights. I'm on holidays right now, and will be travellling to the best wine making area of Canada next week - realistically, it's will be hard to abstain. Everyone I travel with will be drinking a lot of wine (some start at lunch). I'll stick around here until my routine gets back to normal.

[Maria]

Hi everyone
joining you guys for a couple of weeks whilst off work and on holiday ...similare to you new ways ..had a couple of (large )glassses of wine last night ..no more til Monday as i'm running Monday...Then after the 2 weeks back to having another stab at total absteinence..
Well done Caroline i'm sure you will do the 3 months..Do the tablets have any side effects? certainly seem to be doing the trick for you anyway Ma ria

[caroline95]

Hi newways and Maria, I'm so glad to have some company here!It can get a wee bit quiet on this thread for obvious reasons - most people are aiming for total abstinence, and rightly so.But some of us are just not ready for that - the very fact BE has a thread that allows us to talk about cutting down is what makes it stand out from all the other websites that insist on abstinence or nothing.It's been a lifesaver for me.

I know I have no 'off switch' once I start drinking, but with the help of BE, I did manage to reduce from drinking up to two bottles of wine five nights a week to the same amount two nights a week.It took me a long time, but once I got to that stage, I became more and more resentful of hangovers.

I was initially reluctant to go down the Antabuse route, partly because I dreaded having to admit both to myself and my GP that I can't control my drinking, and also because I knew once I had Antabuse in my system, the door to having a drink on a good day/bad day/just because my favourite wine was on special offer, was well and truly shut.

But it's been the best thing I ever did.My GP understood my situation and was both supportive and non-judgemental - phew, what a relief that was!As for side-effects, I've had none at all,and the only thing I take care to avoid are desserts like tirimasu - I'm more of a carrot cake person anyway, so that wasn't much of a hardship.I found this link very useful ;http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/antabuse.htm

I hope you both have a great time on holiday - enjoy every moment, life's too short to waste holidays feeling hungover

[drasticgirl]

Yeah Caroline, where is Cowboy? Miss him too - miss his boots. They were made for walkin.

Well done you - 1 month

All best
DG
X

[Maria]

Hi everyone

Yes totally agree with Cherry Caroline...very brave of you to make that step to the Gp.. tis good to know the anti abuse works..but i'll bet will powere required too and there must be days where you resent it ..but hey its working and thats all that matters..
I've bought those mini bottles of wine to go away with..I think its better then trying not to drink then going on a bender...bringing my trainers too so can't run with a hangover..will probably check in every day to keep on track ..
then back to that stab at absteinence..I know I can drink normally for a while but there have been toooo many times where i've drunk silly amounts day after day ...I'll neverbe a normal drinker..
anyway weathers not toooo bad ..have a great day ..Mar ia

[Wayne]

Morning all from a cloudy South Wales,

Nice to see new people on here, Cherrry, Newways, welcome to a great bunch of people.

Well i am continuing to lose weight, 18 Lbs now, going well with drinking, been very disciplined no red wine for a month , but do have 2 days a week drinking lager. This with my low GI diet and loads of exercise does appear to work, however i am NOT stupid enough to see some signs were i can slip back, so its a constant person check. lol ....I am still aiming for total abstinence, its not easy but like i say, "Small steps to make big yards", if that makes sense.ha ha ha.

Take care all,

Wayne.

[Wayne]

Afternoon all,

Cherry,
Thank you for kind words.

Hope everyone is ok after the weekend.

I feel this thread is very Q these days, were is everyone, Cowboy, Saraloo,just to name a few...............

Going into work soon so just a quick hello to all.

Regards,

Wayne.

[kateS]

Hey Cowboy - nice to see you are still around. Good luck with the few weeks 'without' - nothing better to clear your sights if you are in the right frame of mind. And nothing makes you want to do it more than a bad head! Not able to be so motivated myself at the moment but am keeping the units low (mostly) and so not gonna be too hard on myself.I think you get to know what you can and cant ask of yourself. As long as the goalposts dont move..... all the best everyone K x

[caroline95]

It's really good to see you back Cowboy, you too KateS, and Wayne, it sounds as though you're going from strength to strength

As always Cherry, your posts are much appreciated and we'll all be cheering you on as you make your way down the road to abstinence again.

Amazingly, it will be 5 weeks tomorrow since I last drank anything stronger than tea and finally I'm starting to sleep more or less through the night.I think that's my favourite thing about not drinking, sleeping properly and waking up feeling calm and rested instead of tired and anxious.

So here's to no hangovers for all of us tomorrow!

[Wayne]

Morning all from a gloomy South Wales.lol.(Nothing new there).lol,

Brighteye,Unicorn.

Thank you for kind words, its so nice and up-lifting when someone writes these nice things, you are all so kind and caring, i hope you too are staying strong.

Cowboy,

Nice to here you checking in again, yes we all know what its like to fall off the wagon, very difficult, but please stick at it.

Caroline,

What can i say......5 WEEKS..well done girl, what an achievement, and its not finished yet i am sure, that is amazing work, we all know how hard it is to go days let alone 5 weeks, what an inspiration you are, please stay strong. With answer to your post, yes i feel like a new man, ( Well NOT a man ), so to speak as i am not that way inclined....ha ha ha , ( NO offence meant to anyone).fewwwww. lol

Were is maria these days i do miss her here... hope she is OK.
Last shift today then off for 2 days.
Speak soon,
Wayne.