Comments on: enjoy the smugness of not drinking (Australian Woman’s Weekly editor-in-chief Helen McCabe shares her thinking)

By: cheyenne

cheyenne — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:46:55 +0000

I have never considered myself someone who was hung up on addiction. I was a smoker and a heavy drinker for the better majority of my socialising career (from age 18 – 22) I had always said I drink and smoke because I want to not because I need to. It took me falling pregnant to quit smoking at the drop of a hat and of course drinking a long with it. I thought it was going to be the toughest thing I would ever do – I would love to finish work and go to the local pub for a beer and a smoke! What a ritual! I had smoked for longer than I like to admit – hey it used to be a social thing! Anyway the first couple of months were the hardest, breaking the habit. I also thought life would be dull and boring without a drink in one hand and smoke in another. What I realised in my nine months of pregnancy without alcohol and cigarettes was that it was probably the best time of my socialising life thus far. I could laugh and joke just as much as I did when I had the confidence booster of alcohol but I could remember the conversations, the people and the laughs shared so much more!

Its hard but if you put your mind to it and WANT to do it be it forever or temporarily it is worth knowing what its like on both sides of the fence and what it is like without it!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:51:03 +0000

Wow, that is interesting. It has been about four weeks for me now & i have so much more energy than usual the past two weeks. for ages i’ve been meaning to get my iron levels checked cos ever since having kids starting six years ago i’ve been exhausted. i wonder if it is the abstinence that’s made the difference? great motivation for sticking to it anyway

By: Fiona

Fiona — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:17:33 +0000

argh I went through a alcohol/caffeine detox up at golden door in Jan. Tough times.

By: Cam

Cam — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:56:59 +0000

Febfast: Well I read all the articles and thought – yeah, easy. However by Thursday, a lousy 4 days in, I was so bloody cranky my gf said FOR GOD’S SAKE HAVE A BEER!

Posted it on Facebook and a friend commented that she busted on 1 Feb.

That being said it certainly encouraged me to be aware, but now I recognise that abstinence is not my strong point.

Everything in moderation, even ‘not drinking’ perhaps?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:37:21 +0000

oooh, I’m glad, Lola.

By: Lola

Lola — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:31:27 +0000

Great post! I love the idea of febusave, it’s a fantastic initiative and has really made me stop and think about some very unnecessary purchases.