Does anyone have any advice on what to replace alcohol with during recovery? I need help taking my mind off of it.
I slept a lot for the first month. Like a lot, 14 hours a day or more. It gave me a chance to get used to sobriety and it gave my body a much needed rest.
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For me I relied heavily on flavored seltzer water. I needed that carbonation like beer. Also, coffee / caffeine and juice for sugar. When in doubt I would chug down some orange juice… my preference.
As well as sugars… chocolates, muffins etc. Was never into sweets until I started abstaining from alcohol.
Another biggie… don’t let yourself get hungry. That’s when my cravings would kick in.
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Reading, mock cocktails, trying to mediate, cleaning, striping furniture, long drives, reaching out to friends, visualizing what my sober life is going to look like, video games, movies, learning to understand my emotions/thoughts, focusing on being healthy
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Herbal teas, coffees, preferably without added sugar. Raisins and/or nuts (preferably not the salted, roasted varieties) to help with the restless munchies.
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I made a lot of non-alcoholic cocktails.
To replace wine a mixed sparkling water with a bit of gingerale and then some juice (either white grape juice or cranberry cocktail). I poured it in a wine glass and almost looked like a sparking wine so I didn’t feel left out while others had wine.
I also make virgin “caesars”…I use vegetable cocktail instead of Clamato juice. Add spices and dilute with water (instead of vodka) and you’d never know.
I do drink some herbal teas but they aren’t my “go-to”.
Now that is just the items that I put in my body. Another important thing is distraction. So I read, I take baths, I draw…I hope to start walking soon (damn you winter!!). Anything that keeps my hands OFF the liquor cabinet.
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I replaced it with the gym and making sure im eating good, back in college doin maths and english and planning my new future because without alcohol i can finally see a future 
good luck
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I’ve been replacing alcohol with healthy smoothies – mostly green ones. They’re actually great tasting too so I’d suggest looking into that. Seltzers and teas are also great.
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I have also started juicing and making smoothies. Not only do they replenish what my body has been lacking in nutrients, they are pretty.
I am also avoiding going out to eat as much. That’s usually when I would have a beer that would turn into 3,4,5 or more…
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Thanks for the advice everyone! I’ve been drinking tea mainly at night though before bed so I’ve been looking for something to do during the day to distract myself from thinking about it.
Cranberry and sparkling water to stay hydrated and flush out toxins, lots of sleep to heal, mini meals and snacks to keep full and blood sugar levels normal, b vitamins/magnesium/omega-3 to repair your mind and body, meditation to relieve stress and anxiety, books about recovery to educate yourself, walks in the sunshine and fresh air to clear the mind and get the body moving, posting regularly on here for support and to help others.
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1/3 cranberry juice or kumbucha or Ikea Sparkling Fruit Drink, 2/3 Pellegrino water, and a slice of lime over ice. Refreshing, satisfyiing, and low in calories.
Niqitine gum if it gets really bad.
Better than cigarettes.
It tastes kinda bad too.
Also put it where you used to store your alcohol.
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My favorite drink now is plain seltzer with half a lime squeezed into it. When I first quit alcohol, I would drink my lime and seltzer from a wine glass every day after work. It’s refreshing and the lime is also great for a natural detox. The wine glass helped wth the ritual aspects.
I also got a Fitbit when I was approximately six months sober and I have found it to be a perfect companion for sobriety. I walk everywhere now and feel much healthier. The walking helps me process my thoughts and I can actually appreciate what’s around me. I also lost a lot of weight with the walking which was a huge motivator to continue both walking and sobriety. I started reading and going to the theater again-- things I’ve always loved but stopped doing while drinking. On the other hand, my ability to watch shitty tv has dimishished.
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If you want to really treat yourself buy a bottle of Seedlip. It’s a non-alcoholic distillate from the UK that tastes great. I mix it up over ice with tonic and lime and I don’t even care there’s not gin in my life anymore.
The bottle looks like a booze bottle, I keep it on our bar cart so I can feel somewhat included when everyone else is drinking the hard stuff.
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Ice cream at night as your relaxing reward, and during the day-energy drink or soda…It is working for me…Stay strong One Day At A Time…Cravings pass…
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Coffee, energy drinks, and tea for the first month or two to keep awake. Then switch over to water more frequently. Now that I’m three years deep I drink mainly water and protein shakes. Lifting and exercise also helps to fill the time you’re not at the bar.