100 Day Sober Challenge

May 1, 2018March 28, 2019 Belle accountability, the good sober life

Are you interested in doing the 100-day sober challenge?

Here’s the pledge:

“I will not drink for 100 days. No matter what. I can cry, but I will not drink. I can go to bed or go home early. I might feel distressed … but I will not drink. Bad things might happen, but I will not drink. Incredibly shitty things may happen to someone around me, or my neighbour, or my friend’s friend’s grandmother. But there will be no booze. Funerals? Weddings? Amputation? I’m not drinking for 100 days no matter what happens … No matter what.”

OK, now what?

When I was trying to quit, I had many day 1s. It wasn’t until I got more support that I started to do better.

It's not like we can do this alone in our head.

The drinking voice is just too convincing and it ‘sounds’ like it’s making sense (when really, that voice is bullshit, but it takes some outside cheerleading to figure that out).

And the cool thing about the internet is it’s more anonymous, which can really help, at least to begin.

There are two ways to do the 100-Day Sober Challenge

1. With Support

If you'd like a live-human, sober penpal and get personalized, direct responses to emails, then you can sign up for the Sober Jumpstart. All levels come with a sober penpal (me!).

You can email me every single day, ask questions, rant, whine, and get cheerleading. And yes, we remain sober penpals for a whole year. I'll keep track of your dates, and remind you when it's time to get treats.

If you’re like me, then you’ll will do better with accountability and cheerleading. Me on my own, I couldn’t get more than 9 days in a row. Then once I added in support, things changed. The sober penpal is part of the Jumpstart here.

2. Self-Administered

To do the sober challenge on your own, you can write out the pledge above and make a note of the date of your last drink.

Find ways to add in more tools and supports. The more you reach out, the more sober tools you add, the easier you’ll find it. Read sober blogs (mine and others) every day 🙂 And be sure to sign up to get daily sober motivation emails below.

Belle

I want to put this online, to hold myself accountable. I want to document the noise in my head. I'm tired of thinking about drinking. date of last drink: june 30, 2012

I’m eager to start the 100 day sober challenge and found it through a great book I’ve been reading (absorbing). Last date of drink: 03.13.23. Here’s to being on a supportive team and doing this TOGETHER!

I pledge to not drink for 100 days. No matter what. I can cry, but I will not drink. I can go to bed or go home early. I might feel distressed … but I will not drink. Bad things might happen, but I will not drink. Incredibly shitty things may happen to someone around me, or my neighbour, or my friend’s friend’s grandmother. But there will be no booze. Funerals? Weddings? Amputation? I’m not drinking for 100 days no matter what happens … No matter what.

I want to live and love life fiercely , open heartedly , without alcohol.

I’ve known for years that I have a problem. On Wednesday this past week, I was driving drunk, hit the curb and blew out a tire, then thought I was going to put the spare on by myself. (After midnight, in the dark and a light rain. I’d been drinking for almost eight hours.) I got the spare tire out of the trunk, but when I leaned over to look at the wheel rim, I fell hard on my face. I opened a gash on my nose, which gushed blood, and scraped my forehead and cheek. I called a friend who got me home, and another friend took care of getting my car fixed (two new tires and alignment), but I missed work the next two days and will look like I lost a fistfight for weeks to come.. All I can think about is how lucky I am that it wasn’t worse.
And finally I say enough. I’m ready to give up the booze for good, and I am starting here on Day Three with this 100 day pledge.

Today is day 2 and although I feel like I am walking in a fog, I know the sun will come out and dry up the fog. I started intentionally yesterday on my Mother’s Birthday as a tribute to her. Thank you everyone for your inspiring messages. BTW, My wolfie is named “Pearl”!

I am committing to 100 days of sobriety. My lady day drinking was March 5, 2023

So here I am, once again beginning the 100-day sober challenge. I tried in mid-February and didn’t stick to it. But I’m optimistic about March. First, while I know that any day is a good day to go AF, having my day one coincide with the first of the month motivates me even if there’s no real logic to it. Second, I’ve always found going AF fairly easy when my routine is altered — eg when I go on vacation (I know vacations are more risky for some, but the change in routine helps me). I’m taking a long vacation this March and will be staying with someone who drinks very little. To borrow Belle’s phrase, I’m changing the channel. All this gives me confidence.

So I’m only just starting day 3, but I know I’m going to get through it just fine.

56 sober days in a row! Enjoying being awake and present enough to savor my life, up and down, sad and happy or even seemingly/formerly boring neutral.

Day 2! Let’s go!

I have tried adjusting my diet, acupuncture, massage, PT, chiropractors, you name it- to get rid of the pain I’ve had in my feet and legs for 10-15 years. Everything I could , except abstaining from the drink. Anything, but the drink! (It turns out, I have alcoholic peripheral neuropathy. Something most people have never heard of. I hadn’t. ) and I wasn’t even that heavy of a drinker comparatively.
I made a commitment to myself 37 days ago to go 100 days alcohol free.
Now, I am realizing after I reach 100, it has to be a year, and then forever. For now, I focus on the 100.
And I look forward to the day alcohol does not consume my thoughts.

I am committing to 100 days alcohol free. I will not drink alcohol no matter what!! I can do this and I will.

I am determined to complete the 100 day sober challenge!

Day 4 for me once again. I had 10 years alcohol free which ended on Thanksgiving 2013. Since then I have tried moderating, quitting for a couple of months at a time, but always go back to drinking. When I saw Belle’s book, I had to get it. It expressed my situation exactly – I’m SO TIRED of thinking about drinking . . . y’all know how persuasive Wolfie can be. Not this time. I am committed to at least 100 days of no alcohol and hopefully will continue after that. The thing is that I KNOW how wonderful and freeing living without alcohol can be, after doing it for 10 years, and don’t know WHY I thought I could handle it this time. So far I haven’t had any withdrawal issues and have slept very well the past 3 nights. I know there are challenges ahead, but this time I will put the work in to stay sober. THANK YOU BELLE – YOU ARE A LIFE-SAVER!

I will commit to 100 days as I am sick and tired of thinking about drinking. Life is so much better without that morning after and the shame, especially in front of my kids. I just have to find a way to stick at it.

I will not drink for 100 days. No matter what. I’m posting here to make myself accountable. I will plan out each day around things that do not involve drinking. Even if I can “get away with it” – I will not drink. I can do this!

I commit to 100 days of not drinking starting today. My drinking habits are starting to change in a way that is scaring me. I want to feel better mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I have printed the pledge and will carry it with me.

I will not drink for 100 days. No matter what. I can cry, but I will not drink. I can go to bed or go home early. I might feel distressed … but I will not drink. Bad things might happen, but I will not drink. Incredibly shitty things may happen to someone around me, or my neighbour, or my friend’s friend’s grandmother. But there will be no booze. Funerals? Weddings? Amputation? I’m not drinking for 100 days no matter what happens … No matter what.

Today, I pledge TO NOT DRINK. No matter what, who, where or why; for 100 days. My last drink was on Sunday 2/5/23

4 days ago my life started. I stopped the booze.

Before that I cannot remember the last day or night where I didn’t have at least one drink. At least one. Any reason I could think of was a reason to have a drink in my hand.

Sometimes I would swap one addiction for another and then mix them together if I felt adventurous. I realise now it wasn’t adventurous chasing a buzz, it was destructive and I was clearly lost and sad without understanding what I was possibly lost and sad about. I have a great life, a loving partner, an excellent job. Just made really ‘pour’ decisions for a very long time.

I don’t think my fucked up childhood helped the situation, or that alcohol addiction runs in my family. I’ve tried to reach to family for support and questions on how they manage, but was presented with ‘wait until you’re drinking straight from the bottle- alone in the cupboards, that’s when it gets fun.’ Excellent advice to push someone deeper in a dark space.

So, I am here. Day 4. No longer lurking. Doin’ it for me and only me. Being accountable and real and honest.

No longer drinking and will no longer drink because of all those giant anuses.

Let the real fun begin I say.

100 days ago I showed up here and pledged to not drink for the next 100 days. I was in bad shape. I was stuck in a vicious cycle that I felt I would never escape. I was lost and alone. I am so proud to say that I did it. 100 days! And I’m never going back to that hell. Alcohol…there isn’t a place for you in my life anymore. If you are struggling, know that you can do this. You are strong. You are not alone. Do what ever you need to do to get through those tough early days. Because it gets better. Way better! IWNDWYT ❤️

I will not drink for at least 100 days. Like most people pledging, I have given up alcohol before but couldn’t make it stick. I know now it is because I didn’t protect my sobriety, I didn’t realise I needed to until it was too late and I had succumbed to the voice in my head again. This time will be different because this time I will invest in my sobriety for at least 30 minutes every day. I will spend that time reading or listing to podcasts about alcohol addiction and creating my toolkit to keep me sober.

Today is my day 7.

I will not drink for 100 days no matter what. I can cry but I will not drink. I can go to bed early or come home early. I might feel distressed but I will not drink. Bad things might happen, but I will not drink. Incredibly shitty things may happen to someone around me or my neighbor or my friends’ grandmother. But there will be no booze. Friends? Weddings? Amputation? I’m not drinking for 100 days no matter what happens. No matter what

Today is my DAY 2:)

Today is my last Day 1! Not doing this anymore, I’m getting off the merry-go-round……

25days and so happy I started. Something has finally clicked for me I’ve given alcohol too much time in my head for so long

I have realised that most of the bad things that have happened in my life are in some way related back to my drinking. I can not drink for a maximum of two weeks but then binge for a whole weekend, causing damage to my relationships and self loathing so strong I feel suicidal. Enough is enough I’m ready to change. I’m on day 12 continuous days for January and just starting to crave a drink, I think a supportive ‘tribe’ will really help 🙂

I feel as though I take 3 steps forward and 10 steps back. And I think it is because I haven’t hit a bottom. Which is stupid – because I wouldn’t be on here if I wasn’t at a bottom, right? But – good paying job, no DUI, haven’t lost home/husband/job, and no one seems to know that I drink, as it mostly done alone. So … what is to stop me? Except me. But I feel I am not strong enough.

Belle says:
January 12, 2023 at 6:37 am
hi you. not being able to stop is a sign of this thing progressing. that you find it hard to give up something addictive is a sign of addiction, right? if you want to be an over-drinker, you’d be off doing that. instead you’re here reading this, trying to figure out how to feel better without actually stopping drinking. the thing you want is on the other side. the thing you want you will find with continuous days sober. hugs
Reply
- row4life says:
  January 12, 2023 at 8:16 am
  All true. I want that. I can do this.
  I will not drink for 100 days no matter what. I can cry but I will not drink. I can go to bed early or come home early. I might feel distressed but I will not drink. Bad things might happen, but I will not drink. Incredibly shitty things may happen to someone around me or my neighbor or my friends’ grandmother. But there will be no booze. Friends? Weddings? Amputation? I’m not drinking for 100 days no matter what happens. No matter what.

january 9th, 2023. i stayed sober today.
thank you, belle, for creating this blog, and thank you to catherine gray for leading me to it.

I went a year & five months with you Belle but lurked. No accountability because everyone drinks here. I’m on day 3 and already feel better. I remember now how great it felt to wake up in the morning. I want that life back. I already have your books.

End of Day 0… been here before but feeling more hopeful it can stick this time. Found the book about sobriety, same as many here… so trying several avenues for support. I guess we’ll see how this goes and if I can stick back to my running as an incentive.

Day 2. Feel afraid I can’t. I know my Wolfie is a smooth talker. The glass wall post was really powerful. My sister took a video of me once after cleaning out the garage and drinking all the while (came close to an accident with a sharp tool I was putting away)- I was mouthing off trying to be funny and I was disgusted at it when I saw it. How many times have I been the loud, self centered company of friends?

I picked up The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober two days ago, which led me here. I picked it up because I had yet another convincer last Sunday.. I had made plans to watch the World Cup final with my brother and mom. I drank myself into oblivion- alone in my apartment and for no good reason- the day before. I somehow got across town in time for the game but felt increasingly nauseous throughout. I had to run upstairs twice to be sick.

I’ve tried so many times to cut back or just have a couple. It hasn’t worked. This is my first time really acknowledging that I can’t just cut back. I can feel my brain flinching away from the word ‘alcoholic’ even as I type this. Even though episodes like Sunday morning have felt fairly normal for Years. I’m afraid to even try the 100 day challenge because I’m terrified of failing again. I’m terrified friends and family will find out. The thought of anyone knowing makes me feel even sicker than Sunday morning..
But I’m typing this right now instead of blacking out on the couch. I really need some help.

Char says:
January 10, 2023 at 4:24 am
Hi Alex. Not sure of your age but i’ve known for years that my binge drinking is a problem and i’ve never lied to myself about it. I quit for 7 months during lockdown and it was an amazing journey. I started again because I was bored one day and that dreaded voice “You’ve got this under control now…. you know you can go without. It’ll be ok to have just a few glasses of wine…” reared its ugly head.
I quit again on the 1st Jan this year. I already feel amazing. The aches and pains have gone, i’m sleeping better, look better etc… Cried in bed last night for no reason I could think of. I didn’t feel sad as such…. I thinks its just my body and spirit shedding toxicity.
I want to tell you that there is strength in vulnerability. For years I thought only people who drink in the morning everyday were alcoholics. But that’s not true. There’s no shame in admitting it. I would only drink a couple of times a week, but I would binge and end up doing and saying stupid things and wake up full of dread. I am an alcoholic as I am unable to drink moderately. My goal is to quit booze for 1 year and im telling everybody at work and in my personal life. There’s nothing wrong in admitting you have a problem. I actually find it empowering.
Reply

Day 7 here – feeling good and motivated, but a bit worried I’m going to slip up at a boozy occasion and we’re heading into Xmas but determined not to give in.

Day 2! Day one was yesterday, and I have been reading The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober for a cpl days. It led me to this blog. I feel hopeful. And excited to really stick to it this time. No more day ones!!. No more week of bingeing while I’m out of town on a work trip – no more secrets. No more wasted time/money… days. Nights I don’t remember !! Thanks for the support here.

Day 1 – here we go again

Today is another day 1. I know in my heart that I don’t want to drink.

I’m on day 17.. the third week is a tough one

Day 1….again.
Let’s go
🙂