kicking old habits

[5 o'clock somewhere]

Well after reading a few threads I am probably still drinking too much.. BUT i feel good about what I am accomplishing. I used to drink min 2.5 -4..glasses a night of wine.. 5 if the hubbie was out of town. just usually the first night though then I would be disgusted with myself.. Anyway.. I am now doing two tall vodka tonics every night and thats it.. I have had to cheat once or twice when only wine was available and I felt horrible.. headache!..But I have stopped drinking after dinner. No more watching TV or a movie with a glass in hand.. THAT is hard. trying to kick the reading my book at five with a drink.. but with the VT its going ok. I really am good about not too much vodka and go and put more tonic in (diet of course)..I think I will get to the point with less Vodka.. Going away with a GF next week and was worried as she drinks alot of wine too. But we are both on board of doing VT's and watching it.. so that is good. Hubbie going out of town right when I get back.. but I think i will be ok. going to my book club where we always have a cocktail (at someones house) and then wine with dinner.Being in social situations is hard..when you are on a plan. anyway.. I feel more in control..

[Eve11]

kicking old habits

Hi 5,
Welcome as I see you are new to us with only 2 posts. Yes, it is the habits that can get to us so we just have to change those habits. Enjoy reading around on the threads here. There is a lot of info to help. It does all start with just evaluating what you are drinking, how much, and then trying to taper down. Good for you if 4 have become 2!

:welcome:

:l
Eve11

[nonamegirl]

kicking old habits

HI, 5! And... oh, can't resist... HIGH FIVE for joining us. (Sorry) But really, welcome. We all understand and have been there, too. So, I also love wine and vodka tonics, but my go-to drink now, and even if I plan to imbibe later really is just plain diet tonic. I buy it in the two liter bottles, and truly enjoy it. Yeah, I did read someplace that it is known as the soda that recovering alcoholics drink, but, heck. If it does the trick for me, I'm a happy girl.

Welcome, come back often, and let us know how you are doing. I am kind of a newbie here myself, and will enjoy the company.:welcome:

[New Day]

kicking old habits

Welcome 5oclock!

NNG....I didn't know that tonic was the preferred drink of recovering alcoholics ....that is also a drink I enjoy.....that an cranberry juice and soda. That's what I usually order now.

I wish I could find diet tonic in cans....the 2 litre bottle loses the bubbles before I can finish it.

[5 o'clock somewhere]

kicking old habits

every day different

well.. I have not seen it in cans but they do sell the little bottles. My fridge is now stocked with it. Gees when I check out at the counter with six bottles do you think they think "wow theres another one"! Well so much for my being really good. I find now that ANY deviation from a plan can throw me off. We had two guys working late in our back yard last night.. was that it ..who knows. plus this week has all been crazy, I havent been to the gym as usual.Anyway had a small glass of wine..then another..oh how easy that is(this is after the two VT's) but did throw most of the second away after a conversation with myself. And yes you are right. sorry ,cant remember who said it.. I really like the tonic.. It doesnt really need the vodka in it.. as long as I have lime.. sometimes

[crocus]

kicking old habits

About those old habits

Hello five o'clock. You made me chuckle, since I could hear me talking in your post. I did not have trouble with totally stopping when I decided to do it. I just don't really WANT to not drink at all. I like to drink. I too love my book at 5:00 with wine in hand and I have a really good time with others at social events. I never drink too much when I'm out, but when I'm alone (my husband is usually asleep by 7:00), it's too easy for me to keep pouring. Last night I was up until dawn working on my daughter's August wedding decorations. Of course I ended up drinking 4 or five beers in the course of the night, and I wasn't even tired today, so I worked all day too. But yes! I do want to cut back. The "five o'clock somewhere" is always my go to excuse. Today I'm not drinking, and probably not tomorrow. I just want to put the brakes on. Just noticed it's just past 5! I' going to try to re-route my thinking habits. Glad you are here!

[SoberSoul]

kicking old habits

Hi 5!! My wine habit pretty much mirrored yours and I actually managed to taper down over a few months before quitting. Just waiting patiently to begin not thinking about it as much. Happy to say that now that I mention it, it has taken a back burner lately in my thoughts. It helps that immediate family have stopped offering as I've been consistently refusing.

I hope you stick around and look forward to getting to know you.

[Dreamobile]

kicking old habits

5 o'clock is my witching hour!

I just joined MWO yesterday while hung over from the night before. I did not drink last night, so Day One AF, but I am nervous about it being Friday, and I have always celebrated Friday happy hour with heavy wine drinking. I would love to drink like my husband who can nurse a glass of wine for a couple of hours. I will be reading this thread to see what others have done to cut down drinking and not emptying the bottle or two. Tonight is my real test!:new:

[nonamegirl]

kicking old habits

Hi, Dreamobile, and welcome! You have joined a great group of people who are very supportive of each other. You probably know that you posted on the Moderation board, and I have to tell you that we are maybe not quite as active on-line as the Newbies Board or the General board, so if you don't hear what you want fast enough, feel free to check those out.

HOWEVER, you are welcome to stay here with us as long as you would like. We have some really really nice people here, who will offer any ideas at all.

So, if you have read the posts on this thread, you already know that I drink diet tonic... in fact my glass is newly topped up and sitting by my side. ALSO, I learned how to knit earlier this year, and knitting and drinking do not go hand in hand, believe me. I spend the long hours waiting for my sweet husband to come home from his new (and later) job knitting, as one of my rules is to not drink if he isn't home.

On my best modding days I stay to only two glasses of wine and take time to really enjoy the lovely glow (isn't that what we pour the first glass for, after all?) I also try to alternate AF days with modding days, so try to never drink two days in a row. NOW, all that being said, I am not the most successful of modders. I did intend to take all of September AF, as this is a bad month for me and my memories, and I was not successful in that goal. But having the goal made me more successful than I would have been without it, so that is one step in the right direction.

And that, by the way, is my mantra here. Step by step in the right direction will get us there. We are all on the same path, some further down the lane than others, some who started out in the swamp on the other side of the mountain, and some of us, like you, who are just starting. Keep coming back. Post often. And WELCOME!:welcome:

[Emmy Lou]

kicking old habits

Hi 5, thankyou for starting this thread. I'm going to get a bottle of tonic tomorrow! And vodka and limes. The other day I was trying to think of something low in alcahol as a tall drink that I would enjoy. I ended up buying a large sized low alcohol beer. I don't normally drink beer but it was enough liquid to be able to refill a tall glass 3 times and the entire bottle is equivalent to two standard drinks. I think a weak mix of vodka and tonic will be much nicer and possibly I can make it even less strong than the beer.
I had my neighbour over for a cuppa this afternoon. We used to have an evening together every week and we would drink at least a bottle of wine each, more if her husband joined us. She suggested a get together today as I had some books she wanted to borrow, but I was happily surprised that the get together worked just as well over tea and coffee!
I have really been noticing what a drinking culture we have here in Australia. Most of my social group will say 'let's meet for a drink first' before ANY social occasion. Even though we're going to be drinking at wherever we've planned to be for the evening.
Most of us would also start with a wine after work 'to get ready with'.
Think how rich we'd all be if we didn't have a drink until much later, and then moderated!
I'm really enjoying reading everyone's experiences and very helpful suggestions.
I want to recommend this site to all my drinking buddies...thankyou everyone!
Em

[Emmy Lou]

kicking old habits

NNG I totally agree with your theory about really savouring the 'glow' of that first glass of wine. My neighbour says she only has AF days because for health reasons shed rather give up just a few days than to have to face life without the joy of alcohol at all. It's the joy and relaxation that we need to appreciate and then just leave it at that, to not spoil it I think.
Em

[ShaunCurry]

kicking old habits

i have many old bad habits that i am thinking to cast pout but have got a slight success yet .. for the most disturbing habit i am getting affected with that is getting late to the office .. still no improvement

[Yourfriend6116]

kicking old habits

Hi all! I just joined today! I've ordered some Baclofen cause I can't moderate my drinking on my own. I don't want to be a non-drinker but instead be in control of my drinking instead of the other way around. Look forward to everyone's support!

[I'm Strong and in Control]

kicking old habits

Yourfriend6116;1598628 wrote: Hi all! I just joined today! I've ordered some Baclofen cause I can't moderate my drinking on my own. I don't want to be a non-drinker but instead be in control of my drinking instead of the other way around. Look forward to everyone's support!

Hi yourfriend ~ sorry I didn't see your post sooner ~ I don't usually check this thread anymore. I am not taking any meds, but I know there is a thread on them. How about checking out the Long Term Moderators thread-it has a bit more activity-not as much as Newbies Nest~but you'll find support and some friendly listeners.