Jo’s giving up alcohol, cutting down and finding out who I am

My name is Jo and I am ready to change my life. I am going to use this blog as a way of recording my progress as I change my life. I am going to face up to the things I know I need to do and log my thoughts and feelings as I do so.

What I want to change about myself is…..

I want to give up alcohol for a given period completely. I’ve not decided for how long yet….possibly until we move house (hopefully in 3 weeks/ a month?) or possibly longer, if I can do it. In any event, after that I want to cut down really dramatically and have periods of abstinence in the long term.

The long term outcome I am looking for is to feel better about myself emotionally and physically and to not rely on booze as a stress-buster or a social lubricant.

My initial goals are…

To not drink at all until we move house (assuming that all goes to plan and is within the next couple of months – I’m not sure I want to do a totally alcohol free Christmas just yet…..

I want to have cut down significantly and have had some long periods totally alcohol free by the end of next year: Because I don’t want to abuse my body anymore and I want to have children -  I think this will be the best preparation for this.

To be a more moderate drinker and spend at least some of my spare time doing more interesting things by the end of the year: Because life really is too short and I’m worth more than the oblivion that comes with getting drunk.  I don’t drink a silly amount now, however it has crept up somewhat of late and I’m sure I have drunk well over the recommended units in the past month or so.  I’ve only ever had a couple of weeks at a time booze free in the past 20 years and then only a handful of times.

So, here goes…

Day 3 Tuesday September 12th 2011  - 

I am writing on the Tuesday of this week,  I will generally write early in the week, once a week to update on my progress. 

This has been easy so far as I have embraced the epiphany I had over the weekend.  I’m sure it will get harder as the week goes on, particularly as I’m going out with friends on Thursday and away at friends in the country on Saturday (with my husband and a couple who do like a drink and I normally whole-heartedly subscribe to this philosophy when with them!).

I have ordered some alcohol free beer and some energy drinks to take away this weekend, in an attempt to keep me on the straight and narrow.  All good so far though and I feel calm, happy and positive about what I’m doing.

Wednesday 21st September

It was all going brilliantly, however I fell off the waggon big time and took the wheels with me last night.  I had been to a really harrowing funeral and at the wake it was either a cigarette (I gave up smoking 8 years ago) or a glass of wine. I had a couple of large ones and over did it somewhat. 

However, I’m not beating myself over the head about .it. Instead I will get back to avoiding alcohol and feeling great (which I was!) and give myself the perhaps more realistic goal of having as many alcohol free days as possible  and limiting myself to 10 units per week.  And not saving them all up for one night either…

I had a night out last week in London where I didn’t drink and had a lovely time, so I know it can be done. I also sampled some alcohol free lager at the weekend, which really was quite pleasant tasting.   Right now I feel pretty ropey from last night so I’m going to take it very very easy for the rest of the week.   I will post again early next week, or earlier if I feel the need to speak!

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