This night was like test! A balmy Friday evening filled with  a number of social occasions – High School Reunion, Dinner with Friends and then to a Bar for one of my best friends birthdays! First came the High School reunion – back to the school I attended from the age of six to 15 – plenty of wine on offer and I resisted without any thought of temptations. Second, it was off to a pub with some of the girls from school for pizza and a few drinks – it was here that I did think it would be nice to share a glass of wine. I never actually thought about having one – but I was consciously thinking about NOT having a drink – I had 2 Lemon/Lime and bitters – enjoyed eating dinner outside in the warmth and gossiping with some great friends – I really didn’t miss having a drink at all. Onto the third gathering for the evening.

I got there and the party was in full swing. I saw my friend Kate in the lovely VIP section of a beautiful bar – drinking beautiful cocktails and looking gorgeous. She had previously emailed me in the day to ask if I would share one drink with her…and I hadn’t replied. Knowing I really really didn’t want to have a drink at all that night. Everyone was asking me to just take a sip of their cocktail of choice….one girl asked me 4 times! I resisted and actually got stronger with each request. It is strange to think that saying NO to a drink makes people disapointed. The birthday girl’s favourite drink is a Mojito – one that she first shared with me somewhere along the line of our years of nights out together. Kate did ask me only once that night if I’d have a drink – I replied no, and ‘Sorry’. She was not upset….probably because she was quite tipsy at that point! And I do Loooooove a Mojito! One of the funniest responsed to my non drinking evening was from the bar tender – I asked him for a Mocktail…he almost laughed. I then went for a red-bull in a champagne glass to feel part of the party and to try and stop everyone asking me to have  a drink (a boozey drink that is). As I held my champagne glass in hand, it really made me feel great – much easier than holding a glass of water for some reason. I stayed until 12.30 when I decided it was time to disappear….many of the others were kicking on and starting to sway on their way into the late evening.

I was home by 1am and still managed to get up at 6.45am to head out for a ride with a friend. A Beautiful still morning – riding along the bay. The sun was rising, the air was still. I was NOT hungover. That red-bull was my drink of Champions this weekend – and the Mojito will wait for another day….10 weeks away. I’m proud for having a great night out – and not having one regret when waking in the morning. A new feeling.

Drinking for me has always been a love hate relationship. I’ve been a classic binge drinker since the age of about 15 (I’m now 32). I feel like I’ve wasted endless time in my life with a hangover, or with memory loss after a big night out. I always thought it was ‘normal’ to go out and get drunk with your friends every weekend growing up in my teens and twenties..and now the thirties – but now I realise that there are plenty of people who can drink responsibly and wake up feeling fresh with no regrets in the morning!

It’s hard to count the number of times I’ve woken up with the thought ‘what did I do last night?!!” I’ve relied on my friends to get me home, to tell me what I did the night before, and to be a shoulder to cry on when I’m frustrated that the booze has got the better of me. It’s time for me to try something new so that I can really make a change in my life and control the amount of alcohol that I ingest…. I mentioned my 12 week Challenge on Facebook – and was flooded with responses such as “yeah good luck with that, nil alcohol….pfffffft” AND ‘I’m having some white wine while cooking spag bol right now, sucks to be you!” AND “Very ambitious Catherine! I’ve tried to have fun without alcohol. Unsuccessfully.” AND THE BEST OF ALL’ Catherine. What I am seeing here is that not many people have faith in you!! What sort of reputation do you have with wine etc? You go girl. I’m with you. Not sure about the super fit thing but I can do the no alcohol thing on my head!! Cheers to you – with a non alcohol refreshment of course! XX”.

Yes, I have a reputation with wine, with having  A LOT of it in a sitting….I look forward to having 2-3 drinks at most per night on weekends and none most nights of the week when this 12 weeks is over.

I look forward to clarity on my binge drinking, how it affects my life and how not drinking like that anymore can change things for the better. I’m supported by my loving B.F (who doesn’t really drink Alcohol…and sometimes finds it hard that I drink too much) and despite the facebook chatter I’m also supported by my friends.

I will find it hard not to have a drink while eating Spaghetti on a Sunday Night and while sitting on the couch after work on Friday “letting go” after the week that was. I’ll also find it hard if I’m stressed – I know I use it as a tool to relax. I’ll also find it difficult if I’m at a social event..and I’ve got a few between now and the end of 12 weeks.

I’m looking forward to this adventure, I feel positive. I’m looking forward to being a part of HSM and getting the support from those around me. I think this will be tough at about the half way mark.

My challenge is to lose 4kg and to be able to run 10km in 60 minutes by the end of this 12 weeks!!!! Wooot, tight buns and thighs here I come.