Tag: hangover free

Will I lose friends?

April 12, 2018

What would my friends think? Will I still get invited out? I can’t stop drinking now because we’ve got a night out with friends this weekend? Will I lose friends?

This was a huge concern to me in the run up to me stopping drinking. I’ve always been the party girl, ( probably less now I’ve got the kids) but still the one wanting to stay out, carry on the party, making sure alcohol was involved when I was catching up with friends. So when I wanted to stop drinking I worried that I would lose some of my friends who I did all these things with. But guess what, I didn’t! And I can’t believe I would use that excuse (in my head) to not stop drinking.

I mean yes there are friends that I don’t see as much of now, because our friendship was mainly based on going out. But my close friends, my handful of “call them anytime and they are there for me no matter what” friends, they are still my very close friends, even closer! They have all supported me, yes a few were shocked initially, but they’ve all accepted and supported me along the way, which is what true friends do right! They know who they are, they are my cheerleaders and they are amazing, we still have nights out, meet up, do lunch, have takeaway nights, go camping or on holidays. We still see each other just as much as before. But for me I feel like I make the most of my friends now, I appreciate them a lot more than I used to, I feel like a better listener when I’m sober, I feel like a better friend. I’ve also realised how important it is to have friends that you can be yourself with, who you can really laugh with, that’s the buzz of a catch up now for me, not having conversations I can’t remember!

I’ve also found how not drinking creates an awkwardness with some people, and I can’t put my finger on why? Maybe it makes them look at their own drinking habits, which they don’t want to do!

But I know I’ve got good, close friends behind me, there for me like I am for them, and I will never ever take that for granted. My circle of friends maybe slightly smaller but those friendship ties are definitely a lot stronger.

And another bonus it that I love nights out more than ever! I can spend my wine money on a new outfit and taxi us all out and about, what’s not to love!

Have your friends supported you in your journey? Or have you found who your true friends are? Is there any awkwardness between you and friends? Can you offer any advice to other readers?

Thanks

Angie x

Happy, Healthy Holidays!

April 7, 2018

Sorry it’s been a while since I last blogged but I’ve been on a family holiday in beautiful Crete!

This has been my second sober beach holiday as we went to Majorca last June, and I can honestly say it’s been my best beach holiday yet!

So it makes me start thinking why?

The first picture is taken about seven years ago, on holiday in Spain. I was at a point where I didn’t exercise at all, I was drinking a couple of nights a week and every weekend, on crazy diets all week and then pigging out all weekend. I can remember trying to lose weight the week before the holiday by not eating. Crazy! I can see that now!

My holiday would then consist of eating whatever I wanted, drinking whatever I wanted and spending most of it sat by the pool in shorts and a tshirt with no confidence to walk around in a bikini. The “sod it, I’m on holiday!” would start from my first wines on the plane, to using up spare change as an excuse for wines on the way back! I still have a few good memories of the holiday, the kids were young and it was our first holiday abroad as a family, but my confidence and happiness with myself was at an all time low.

Fast forward to this holiday and it’s just so different!

Firstly, the biggie, is that this time I’m sober. Its my second sober holiday, which has made that side of things easier because I know I can do it. It’s a perfect time to try different non alcoholic drinks, there’s always a wide selection of mocktails, there’s fresh juices, tonic water, soda. Where we stayed didn’t have any non alcoholic beer or wine so it made me experiment more, and my favourite was a mocktail called hibiscus lemonade- delicious! The old me would have drunk white wine, nothing else, possibly the odd lager, no new tastes there!

I have tried to eat lots of different, healthy fresh foods. I’ve enjoyed my desserts too, I’ve had lots and always put fresh fruit with them to try and balance it out, makes me feel better anyway! But I’ve not craved carbs or a fry up to cure a hangover. I’ve tried different foods and made the most of all the fresh fruit and vegetables.

The old me would never pack trainers for a holiday! I didn’t do trainers, ever! But this time my kit was packed and I’ve exercised every day in the gym, and we’ve also done family activities too, rounders, basketball, aqua boarding and even tai chi!

The main thing is that I’ve had the energy and the confidence to do all these other things. I have so many more memories to take home, for me and for the family. I have been fully present everyday for my girls, at night we’ve sat in the bar til late and chatted, played cards, I’ve not been on a different level,in my own little wine world. And most importantly I feel refreshed and recharged not feeling like I need a holiday to recover from this one!

Have you a holiday planned for the summer? Will it be your first sober holiday, or have you any advice to offer for others? What can you do to make this holiday different to others, make it healthier, try new things?

Make your next holiday one to remember for all the right reasons!

Angie x

Happy Easter!

March 29, 2018

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Easter weekend is almost here, a four day break to do whatever you want to do! So how are you going to spend it?

In the past I would have seen a long weekend as four days of eating what I want, drinking what I want.  Still planning lovely things with family and friends but just feeling rubbish 90% of the time. Tuesday would come around fast and I would be feeling far from fresh, hungover and bloated, sluggish, just praying for Friday to come around again!

It doesn’t have to be like this!

So why not use this time, these four days, to recharge your batteries!

  • Plan to do some sort of exercise everyday. A family walk, bike ride, football, trampolining – even sledging if we get the snow! (with our weather anything can happen!)
  • Buy food in for healthy meals, bake a healthy recipe with the kids, try something new, pack a healthy picnic for a walk. And don’t forget the chocolate it is Easter!
  • If your cutting down or stopping drinking, make sure you get some alcohol free alternatives – becks blue, no alcohol wine, tonic/soda water with fresh fruit, find a new mocktail recipe, there are so many alcohol free drinks available now in supermarkets. (and personally mine still has to be in a wine glass!)
  • Buy yourself a new book. I have read more than ever since I stopped drinking, I think in general you just seem to have more free time and want to do more than just collapse infront of the tv! Reading is definitely my chill out time. Some of my faves are:  The Sober Diaries – Clare Pooley, Living With No Excuses -Noah Galloway, Unlimited – Jillian Michaels and Kick The Drink – Jason Vale which was the game changer for me! Some good fictional reads are,  Another Love – Amanda Prowse and Summer Secrets by Jane Green.
  • Download a new dvd, or plan a cinema visit, lose yourself in a good film. If you haven’t seen The Greatest Showman then please go, its A-MAZ-ING! And I guarantee you will download the soundtrack straight after like we did- its now on full blast every morning on the school run!

So why not have a different Easter this weekend, focus on what you enjoy doing and don’t just slip into the old habits of doing what you would normally do. You will wake up Tuesday feeling recharged and refreshed, with lots of energy for the (short) week ahead!

What healthy things have you planned for Easter? any advice or tips?

Have a happy, healthy and hangover free Easter guys!

Angie xx

 

 

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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Sober Sundays!

March 18, 2018

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A huge advantage of giving up the booze is waking up fresh, excited and clear-headed ready to start your weekend!

Sundays are normally my day of rest, in that I don’t schedule in any exercise but will normally try to do a walk or bike ride with my family. This morning we were hoping to go sledging but there was not enough snow, so we went on a lovely early morning walk in the local park, and it was definitely what you call fresh!

Even when I was drinking, I have never been one to lie in bed at the weekend.  But there is no denying that even after just a couple of drinks the night before, I would still be up and about in the morning but just not feeling myself.  Almost like walking around with a fog hanging over me, zapping me of my energy and my get up and go.  Feeling like this at the weekend was one of the main reasons I stopped drinking, I spent all week looking forward to us all being together and having family time and then when the weekend finally came I felt too tired and drained to fully enjoy it.

Then you have the Sunday evenings, for me that used to be my time to drink at the last chance saloon! Finishing off any alcohol that was left over from the weekend, in denial that tomorrow was Monday and that normality would resume. Now Sunday nights are still not my favourite night of the week, because yes its the last few hours of the weekend, before everything does go back to normal, school, work, flying around at a million miles an hour. But all that’s a lot easier to organise and plan with a clear head and a well spent weekend behind you were you’ve had time to recharge your batteries. And most importantly you have had the energy and motivation to do the things you want to do!!

So how have you spent your weekend?  hopefully your feeling fresh and ready to face the week! If not think what you can do next weekend to feel better? Maybe have a weekend off the booze, plan some healthy meals and a good walk or other exercise? hopefully this blog will inspire you to cut down or give up alcohol , just give it a go and see how  much better you feel, for me its a game changer!

Monday we are coming to get you!

Angie xx

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