So…. I am 14 days in now, and feeling a little less positive than last week if i am honest. Still looking forward to moving into my new flat in just over a week, but feeling generally less motivated and most of all bored. I believe that this is due to me avoiding social situations with friends due to their inclusion of alcohol in almost every activity – and because of this my room is beginning to feel like a cell! I know the point of this challenge is to find other things to do, but there just doesn’t seem to be anything to do around here.. this was my initial fear , that the reason every activity around here seems to involve alcohol is because there simply is nothing else to do! I even found myself thinking at work the other evening ‘I would love a drink’ – sorry this seems a really un-positive post but i’m a big believer in being honest!!!! I’m going to combat this problem (the boredom) by training more, and getting on the punch bag.. hopefully next week will

be a bit more of a positive post!

Well one week down and feeling better already! In the first week I decided to avoid any social outings to the pub, thought I would save that challenge until week two! I am really, really happy with my progress already – I’m alot less sluggish, have so much more energy and enthusiasm already! For instance I decided to look for a new place about a week ago and today went and looked at a really nice flat in the town centre of where I live, loved it and move in on the 27th!! Haven’t really felt any cravings for a drink at all, I just think about how much better I generally feel – tea and coffee intake has gone up ten fold though! As for my ‘Yes’ things, I am currently deciding which festivals to attend this summer.. Have narrowed it down to two, Download or Reading. Although with the money i will save from not drinking I may attend both I am also looking seriously into the University Degree I hope to do, and am targeting September to start One of my main goals (to save money) is also going really, really well thanks to not drinking, but have noticed that I am smoking a hell of a lot more. I also think that a big help has been my gorgeous girlfriend Isobel, who is also taking part in HSM and doing a year compared to my three months. So all in all so far so good! Thanks for reading if you do Rob.

This is my introductory post, so here goes! My name is Rob, and I live in a small town called Daventry in England with my Mother and Brother and our three Dogs, Billy, Frank and winston. Daventry is situated just over half an hours car ride from Birmingham, and is a small Market Town where not a great deal goes on but there are certain things to do and lots of nice countryside places very near by and London is also only an hour away. I work in the town, doing a sales job. It’s nothing spectacular, yet pays the bills and I am looking to start an Open University degree in Literature later this year. In my spare time I enjoy music, reading/writing, socialising, and sports (Football, Basketball, Rugby, Martial Arts). I heard about HSM through my lovely friend Isobel, who is also taking part. I decided to take part for quite a few reasons – I like challenges, would like to be able to go out and socialise without the use of alcohol (anybody who has visited or lived in England will know how hard this is with the way the culture is over here), and I honestly believe that I will feel so much better and fresher as a result of taking part for the three months that I have chosen. If i’m honest, I chose the three month plan as I think any longer may be an issue, but at the same time if it goes well I can always add another three months on! I am in no way a heavy drinker, but do enjoy social drinking, but at times that does tend to verge on binge. I feel the main challenges I will face during the three month period will be going out with friends and not partaking in drinking, or binge drinking as it is here, as for many of them it seems to be the only way to socialise… but as i said, I like a challenge My ‘Yes’ will be, actually there are a couple, to attend more gigs, to travel more (both in England and further) and to save money towards doing the university degree I hope to do later this year. I am really happy to be a part of this, looking forward to the challenge and most of all seeing the results!! Thanks for reading if you do Rob