Tag: fitness

Moderating Madness…….

March 24, 2018

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Ok so for me moderating anything,  let alone alcohol is impossible! I am definitely an all or nothing sort of person, some people call it an addictive personality, I like to think of it as passionate! I don’t do sitting on the fence, moderating or grey areas, I’m either in or out, I either love it or hate it!

So for me moderating alcohol was just a no go area although it took me a long time to realise this. The amount of time I would spend thinking about how much I should drink?  Should I have another glass? Should I open another bottle? Should I say I’m driving? And to be honest as soon as I had a couple of glasses any plans I had spent all week putting together of moderating went out of the window, so all that time was wasted, pointless energy!

And then, if on the odd occasion I would manage to have just one glass, I would think well  what’s the point?  There was no enjoyment in one glass it would just leave me wanting more and feeling miserable, not pleased or happy with myself.

People will debate this and there are a lot of mixed views out there.  But I do strongly believe there are people who CAN have just one drink then stop, they are the people who will probably never need to stop or want to stop drinking because they don’t have a problem with it. But then there are others, like me, for who that one glass is never enough.

So for me the only option was to have a total break from the booze and see how I felt, see if I could manage and carry on as normal without drinking. I didn’t put a time limit on it but just seemed to carry on and on, one day at a time.  I realised that by removing alcohol from my life I had also removed all the time I spent thinking about trying to control it too. Suddenly I had all this space and time to fill with other stuff!  So with me being all or nothing I went all out healthy! I started filling my mind with positive stuff, such as exercise, challenges, recipes, planning healthy meals, and just more of the good positive stuff!

This blog isn’t about  preaching to others  to stop drinking,  it’s just to share my journey to better health.  Everyone knows that you don’t have to stop drinking to get healthy, but for me I felt it was the only option and it’s what worked for me.  It’s totally turned my health and lifestyle around, I’ve turned into someone I never thought I could be and that’s a pretty amazing feeling!

So are you one of the lucky people who can stop at one glass? Can anyone give any advice for other readers on how to moderate? Or are you like me – an all or nothing kinda person? And that’s nothing to be ashamed of, we are the passionate, crazy ones don’t forget! I would love to hear what you guys think………..

Happy Saturday!

Angie xx

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Just start……….

March 20, 2018

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If your planning on cutting down or giving up drinking, or just want to start a new exercise regime and healthier lifestyle, stop planning and thinking – just start doing it!

For about twelve to eighteen months I realised that my drinking habits were heading in the wrong direction, and that I needed to do something about it.  I tried (and failed) at many attempts to stop, not drinking for Lent, Sober for October, Dry January, you name it I had tried it!

I was always trying to put rules in place with regards to my drinking, and to be honest Monday to Thursday I was fine but when it came to the weekends, I just struggled to control it. Moderation is not my thing!  It was this constant battle of trying to moderate and plan in my head that made me just think enough is enough! I was ready for things to change, I was bored with myself and how I felt and  the constant guilt and rubbish feeling that was hanging over me every weekend. So I decided to see what would happen if I stopped!

I googled lots about not drinking before I stopped and I had started following Clare Pooleys blog, Mummy Was A Secret Drinker. On the Monday that I had decided to stop, I emailed Clare just asking for help and any advice, she replied within an hour and I can honestly say that by doing that she made me feel like it was possible! She was the only person I had told and she believed in me! Clare is so amazing and has been such a guiding light and support for me, she deserves a future post all to herself so watch this space! Clares’ blog is now a successful book- buy it- read it! I totally recommend it!( ooh and my clame to fame, I am in the acknowledgments too!)

I also read Jason Vale’s Kick The Drink, basically it feels like you  have been hypnotized! It either works for you or it doesn’t, and for me it did, if you haven’t read it I definitely recommend it!

Here are some other tips for the early days/weeks, I will discuss all of these in more detail in future posts, but these are what helped me and may help you;

  • Becks Blue ( has to be in a wine glass for me!)
  • Hot chocolate
  • Chocolate- cake – lots of cake! (for me it was Christmas time so lots of treats around!)
  • Exercise, even just a brisk walk, but only when your up to it (don’t put any extra pressure on yourself)
  • A positive playlist – (I played Robbie Williams Love My Life on repeat for the first week!)
  • Early nights, Dvd and duvet nights
  • Do not stop socialising!- this is the mistake I made in the past –  your changing your life not putting it on hold- I love going out so stopping that would have made me feel really down and depressed. Go on nights out, meet a friend for lunch, go to the cinema, make the most of being able to drive!
  • And finally – just look after yourself, love yourself, your doing something that’s amazing, and possibly the best thing you will ever do for your health, feel good, feel proud!
  • Some of these points are only suggestions for the early days as eating cake when and little exercise won’t get you feeling healthy!

The main thing is if you are wanting to stop drinking, or just wanting to cut down and get healthy, just do it! Stop waiting and planning for the perfect time, it wont come. Just wake up and say right today I am going to change how I feel and stop this constant battle in my head. Then just take one day at a time.  I never, ever thought I could go this long without drinking, but I have and I feel amazing! If its something you want badly enough, you will do it!

Whats worked for you? What advice can you give to anyone wanting to stop? If your struggling, ask me for help? I found so much support from Sober Mummy Blog and I would love to give back by helping anyone who needs it!

Angie xx

PS. if you want to leave a comment, just click on the title and the option comes up