Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

[Bessie]

Hi

I hate to say this but my days 1,2 and 3 were easy and tonight shouldn't be a problem either. However, I KNOW that is because on days 1 to 3 I had things planned or was with non drinking people and tonight, well I am out v early with horse tomorrow and have yet to clean tack and loads of other jobs so can't afford to drink if I want to go have fun tomorrow. However, I know it will be struggle tomorrow evening (on my own reward at the end of a long day) and possibly Sunday so may well be on here asking for your support for those.....!

However, the biggest bogey on the horizon is a week's holiday with friends in November. We are taking enough wine for a bottle each per night and some of us are bigger drinkers than others...! I want to enjoy the booze but know that it will be a struggle to keep it sensible. Any tried and tested tips....?? Am going to try to go AF until we go away, which should help, though I don't know if I will feel that I will be 'off the leash' when I go away..

Haven't started any meds or supps yet - maybe I should get them lined up for this holiday?!

'Preciate anyone's comments....

[AMELIA]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Hello Bessie,
Welcome!!!

What a dilemna,...going out or away with drinkers is always going to be problematic.
But at least you realise that. Tips,...water every now and again, or drink spritzers.
Eat beforehand and take your Kudzu. Or tell everyone that you are cutting down before you go and then you will have a statement to live up to.
Whatever happens, I hope you can enjoy your holiday without the drinking side of it becoming too much of an issue.

[ratana]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

I don't know if this will work for your trip, but I play poker with my male friends who can seriously put away the beer. I am the only woman and can happily keep up with them and always used to bring a sixpack for myself and maybe have a couple more too. Now when we play, I still bring a sixpack of beer, but two are real beers and four are Kaliber or St Pauli NA. I drink the first beer, have a couple of NAs, have another beer so it has been perhaps an hour and a half since my last one and finish up with NAs.

A couple of times I have sneaked a third beer off one of the guys but since we play for five or six hours it really doesn't seem excessive.

I know that going away for a week with people who are drinking is different than one evening. Personally, I think I would pass on the trip because I don't think it would be a good idea. But if you can't or don't want to, then you owe it to your body and soul to make a concerted effort to mod, even though probably no one else will be of much help. Now, you are bringing wine. NA wine is downright nasty. But Martinelli's cider is good, iced white tea is yummy (Honest Tea or Teaz, I think, make a honeydew one that is delicious), ruby red sparkling grapefruit is good and not too sweet. Or sparkling water with Torani syrup and lime. Bring as much non-alcoholic stuff as you can, take your supps and topa if you are on it and make a concerted affort to have two NA drinks for every one glass of wine. It may just be a recipe for failure, I know. You could also try bringing wine that isn't very good/enjoyable and only bring half as much as you normally would.

I know this sounds like an alkie's mind tricks, and it probably is, but I have to say I watched an eleven-year abstainer fall off the wagon on a trip to Las Vegas with a group of friends a while back. And she fell hard. Ended up losing her husband, etc. Drinking vacations are the hardest things we face, IMHO. For me, if I tried to stay AF before going it would make me go off my rocker even more when I got there, but that's my MO.

[tea]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Hi Bessie, that's a difficult one for sure, well difficult as want to make it eh... em, words of wisdom are to say that you are on a health kick... and does anyone want to join you... you are on meds that you can't drink with (ie antibiotics), sip s l o w l y, dilute more than usual or add soda to wine, lots more advice will follow with no doubt, my fav just now is .... just how crap do I WANT to feel in the morning?? Take care ... let us know how you went.


Lx

[Guest]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Hi Bessie,
The more you think the holiday is going to be a problem, the more likely it is to be one.
If you`re going to remain AF until the hol., you may well find that you don`t want to throw all your hard work away by drinking on the hol. after all.

Either way, I think drinking a bottle of wine a night whilst away is slippery slope stuff big-time.........my advice would be to drink as little as possible when away, if you really feel you must drink. Meantime.......get those vits and supps into you........they really do make a difference.

Starlight Impress x

[Bessie]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Thanks for all your tips.

Amelia - I have already told hubby I am cutting down. Don't know why I haven't told him the full story yet but I think it will come out when I am ready.

I am ordering the Kudzu and other supps today - should be here in time for the hols. Spritzers are a good plan too. Also having water as everysecond/third drink.

Ratana - you're right about the mind tricks! I'm still trying to work out whether my brain will think it's time to party if I stay AF before I go or whether it will be into AF 'gear' by then. I do know that it will be way harder to cut down when I get home again.

Hi Tea - not sure the health kick thing will work as we tend to go a bit mad on the food too - part of the fun of the holiday, cooked breakfasts, pies for picnics, big dinners in the evening but the 'just how crap do I want to feel...?' thought resonates with me!!

Wise words SI - I hadn't thought that I might be turning it into a problem because I think it might be one. I will approach it stealthily! Take each day at a time before then. Think that's all I can do until I (hopefully!) get into my stride.

Thanks all....

[free bird]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Hi Bessie, I too am planning a big Holiday in November with family and travelling from New York to Oregon for a long overdue visit. It is going to be hard as everyon tends to enjoy their time with beer and wine and good eats as well, so I am trying to come up with a plan. Do I remain A/F or try the few glasses? I guess time will tell. One thing I have thought I might say if the question comes up (and it will) "What -- not drinking"? my reply ....simply....I don't like the way it makes me feel anymore.....

I too have been trying to get all the sups and med in line for the Holiday event. They seem to be working well so far and I feel confident at this point, but I know it will not be easy....Best of Luck to You.

[nancy]

Day 3 going on day 4 but see a problem looming....

Can you get out of this holiday? It sounds like it's going to be full of indulgence. and being with heavy drinkers won't be easy.

If you go, I would definitely take the kudzu with you and alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic drinks. I have to agree that sometimes after an AF period, if you start drinking you binge because you have felt deprived.

Bring something non-alcoholic that looks like wine so you won't stand out like a sore thumb. And do you have to take wine? some of the non-alcoholic beers are excellent. Like odouls amber beer. I think it tastes great. Maybe you could alternate with that.