Sober September 2017

SweatsOnSunday

@DCRunnerGirl78 But as kryptonite goes, craft beers are a pretty good weakness. And there are certainly enough to choose from living in DC.

PurpleLavender77

DCRunnerGirl78 wrote: »

Well, I've already slipped up.

My mom called yesterday, and that's all it took to derail me. My husband and I took custody of my nephew last year after my sister died unexpectedly. He was 17 at the time, failing school, obnoxious and ungrateful. We gave him every opportunity we have our own kids, were as patient with him as we could be, and got him through to graduation (finishing the year on the honor roll), and enlisted into the Army. However, he then went out to spend the time between the end of the school year and the start of boot camp with my mom. He told her, and all of the family out there, how we neglected him, wouldn't take him anywhere or buy him anything, and ignored him over our own kids. That entire side of the family isn't speaking to us now. Every time I talk to my mom at this point she has to bring him up in some passive aggressive sort of way that let's me know she thinks I'm selfish and he can do no wrong.

I've gained 20 lbs over the last year. I'm exercising more (running and cycling are my therapy), but my alcohol intake has sky rocketed (craft beers are my Kryptonite). That's definitely the problem in my diet right now. Sorry to have vented, but it does feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem. Tomorrow is another day and another chance to make better decisions.

It's one slip up. Don't beat yourself up. Get back up and try again. You can still be at 29/30 days at the end of this month or whatever your goals are.

What I am finding is the more days I go without alcohol is that the ongoing stress in my life is easier to deal with. You will always have triggers, but you are a work in progress and you can find other ways to deal with them. I have a lot of ongoing stress in my life as well, and I find that the longer I stay away from alcohol, the easier it is to deal with the stress. I am getting more sleep. I feel better about myself. I have less guilt because I am not self-sabatoging on the weekends etc. I am working out more and that helps stress too.

You got this!

NewMeTomG

PurpleLavender77 wrote: »

It's one slip up. Don't beat yourself up. Get back up and try again. You can still be at 29/30 days at the end of this month or whatever your goals are.

What I am finding is the more days I go without alcohol is that the ongoing stress in my life is easier to deal with. You will always have triggers, but you are a work in progress and you can find other ways to deal with them. I have a lot of ongoing stress in my life as well, and I find that the longer I stay away from alcohol, the easier it is to deal with the stress. I am getting more sleep. I feel better about myself. I have less guilt because I am not self-sabatoging on the weekends etc. I am working out more and that helps stress too.

Great advice!

We are bound to fall down a few times on this journey, but if your pick yourself back up and consider what the cause was, you will have learned something in the process. Each time you fall, you get stronger if you do not let it defeat you from heading in the right direction.

Could not agree with you more with regard to how life does get a bit easier the longer we go without drinking. I still have drinks from time to time, but I'm not fighting urges like I was. And when I don't drink, I am more able to deal with stress because I am more confident in myself. Stress comes on, I identify the cause, and deal with it. When I'm drinking, stress comes on and I let it swirl in my mind instead of doing something to make it go away because I am worried about the consequences of a bad decision.

Going to bed early is my way of avoiding any urges that may blindside me and once I am in bed, I'm not going to be drinking. Guided meditations help my relax my mind at night (recommend "Insight Timer" app) and most often I am asleep before the end of it. Workouts also wear me down and help me get a better night sleep.

Self-sabotage is a whole bag in and of itself. I'll save that for another day.

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm on Day 4 in my Sober September. Labor Day holiday got me started late :-)

trishfit2014

Joining in late. Way too much wine in my life. I started labor day.

seschreck

I'm turning 30 October 1st and decided to stop binge drinking entirely. So the limit is 2 drinks maximum on Saturdays and Sundays. It hasn't been terrible yet, but I just completed the first weekend.

redwngs13

I've just found this thread (I don't come on the forums much). My husband and I have made the decision to go dry in September, so this thread will be a great support for me! Feel free to send a friend request my way. My goal is to abstain the entire month, with the exception of the weekend of Sept 15-16 when I have a weekend getaway planned. So far so good! I haven't had any alcohol since August 27. My drink of choice is craft beer, and I know it has been one of the biggest reasons I haven't made progress with my fitness goals this year. I haven't seen any real progress in weight-loss since May.

Famof72015

I was allowing myself to drink football weekends but after last Saturday and acting the way I acted and blacking out every time I get that "urge" about Saturday I'm reminding myself why I'm choosing not to. Now I just have to find something to do with my time. As if 5 kids don't keep me busy, ha maybe that's why I love bluemoon so much! I'm only going to drink when I actually go to the game on the 23. And going to try not to at home anymore, it's uncalled for. To me, I chose to be a mother and I am a good mama I just need to lay off the beer when I'm home and save it for something like a game, concert, ADULT Get together. We all have a vice, it's how we choose to handle it.

PurpleLavender77

For anyone who is interested, there is a free app in the app store that is called NOMO. You can track your days since your last drink and see how much money and time you are saving.

Or there is another app called Days Since where you can count days since an event as well.

There are a ton of apps out there, but these are just two I have played with.

theclaw900

Been on the thread here but failing miserably. Why is getting the first day under your belt so hard?

jamesmburns90

Once the alcohol goes the spare tire soon follows!

stephslife88

I used to drink kinda heavy on the weekends... once i stopped the first weekend i woke up and still felt hung over. It was horrible. I havent drank since the middle of august. Its still tempting on the weekends but i have stayed away.

FredKing1

theclaw900 wrote: »

Been on the thread here but failing miserably. Why is getting the first day under your belt so hard?

It's a habit, maybe an addiction. It is very hard to change - I tried and tried and am still trying - I'll only fail if I stop trying. I'm in my second month of abstinence. I've had other periods from three minutes to three months. A huge motivation came together with an opportunity. Over the past several years, I've read several books about people who quit. Consistent reading, a few minutes each day (this thread may help) changes my subconscious attitude toward alcohol. It seems to help. e.g. "I Need to Stop Drinking" Liz Hemingway; "This Naked Mind" Annie Grace. I wouldn't discount the notion of talking to a professional counselor if that's what it takes.

JLatham325

Ok today is Friday! The start of when things get hard for me to resist each weekend. But I'm optimistic

A few notes:
-I plan on getting flavored sparkling waters tonight to sip on during our "movie & treat night" tonight, instead of killing a bottle of wine like I typically do while perusing Netflix.

-I came across "The 5 Second Rule" by Mel Robbins on YouTube and Audible, and it's simple yet super effective so far. Yesterday the method helped me restrain from eating the cookies in my office that a coworker brought in (after wine, baked goods are my biggest weakness), so I'm going to try to utilize the method this weekend with booze as well! Look it up and see if you can implement it too!

whitpauly

Weekend upon us,hope everyone gets through with their goals in place

trishfit2014

JLatham325 wrote: »

Ok today is Friday! The start of when things get hard for me to resist each weekend. But I'm optimistic

A few notes:
-I plan on getting flavored sparkling waters tonight to sip on during our "movie & treat night" tonight, instead of killing a bottle of wine like I typically do while perusing Netflix.

-I came across "The 5 Second Rule" by Mel Robbins on YouTube and Audible, and it's simple yet super effective so far. Yesterday the method helped me restrain from eating the cookies in my office that a coworker brought in (after wine, baked goods are my biggest weakness), so I'm going to try to utilize the method this weekend with booze as well! Look it up and see if you can implement it too![/quo

I looked up "The 5 Second Rule" which I found very motivational. Thanks for posting. I am doing good so far.

redwngs13

I'm feeling optimistic for this weekend. I bought some diet pop to drink if I have an urge to have a beer. I know diet pop isn't the best choice, but I'd say it's better than alcohol if it's helping me stay away! I also enjoy a La Croix sparkling water.

fiddletime

DCRunnerGirl78 wrote: »

Well, I've already slipped up.

My mom called yesterday, and that's all it took to derail me. My husband and I took custody of my nephew last year after my sister died unexpectedly. He was 17 at the time, failing school, obnoxious and ungrateful. We gave him every opportunity we have our own kids, were as patient with him as we could be, and got him through to graduation (finishing the year on the honor roll), and enlisted into the Army. However, he then went out to spend the time between the end of the school year and the start of boot camp with my mom. He told her, and all of the family out there, how we neglected him, wouldn't take him anywhere or buy him anything, and ignored him over our own kids. That entire side of the family isn't speaking to us now. Every time I talk to my mom at this point she has to bring him up in some passive aggressive sort of way that let's me know she thinks I'm selfish and he can do no wrong.

I've gained 20 lbs over the last year. I'm exercising more (running and cycling are my therapy), but my alcohol intake has sky rocketed (craft beers are my Kryptonite). That's definitely the problem in my diet right now. Sorry to have vented, but it does feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem. Tomorrow is another day and another chance to make better decisions.

I think the army will do wonders for him! Don't hold your breath, but I suspect this teenager will probably come and thank you one day. Anger is one of the stages of grief. It sounds like he's angry at you for surviving, maybe his mom for passing, and possibly even himself.

It's too bad your mom is believing his side, especially under the circumstances.

PurpleLavender77

theclaw900 wrote: »

Been on the thread here but failing miserably. Why is getting the first day under your belt so hard?

Just being here and being aware you want to make a change is a good step.

If you can't cut it out completely, try reducing. Instead of two a day, start doing one a day.

Baby steps. There are a ton of resources out there about quitting drinking for a reason. Millions of people struggle. You are not alone and you CAN do this.

AllIn1980

I love this thread. I am on Day 4 of no alcohol (and cigarette's which is my reason for cutting the alcohol- they go hand in hand for me) . This will be such a huge motivator. The weekend will be so much harder to get through. I can feel the anxiety building already. Football Sunday's also start this weekend which is a huge drinking and eating day in my house. Good luck this weekend everyone! - I will be checking in regularly for some encouraging words!

PurpleLavender77

I have to confess I was tempted tonight. I went to the Dr today for bloodwork and he checked it all...I was relieved to find out my liver was a-ok despite drinking heavily the last five years. For a brief moment, I wanted to go get some wine. But then I remembered my health and fitness goals so I poured myself some sparkling water in a wine glass, and then left the house for a pedicure.

snowyne

10 days dry. The first week was tough -- terrible, awful cravings!! So tempted. But it's getting easier with each day. The scale hasn't really budged yet, but I'm hopeful that will change in time. Good job to all who working on reducing or abstaining. Thanks for sharing your struggles, successes, etc.!

PurpleLavender77

snowyne wrote: »

10 days dry. The first week was tough -- terrible, awful cravings!! So tempted. But it's getting easier with each day. The scale hasn't really budged yet, but I'm hopeful that will change in time. Good job to all who working on reducing or abstaining. Thanks for sharing your struggles, successes, etc.!

I have been abstaining since July 24 and it took a few weeks for scale to change, but it did. I finally was able to break my plateau from mid-May. Be patient!

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anglilacs

Hanging out with the neighbors tonight and I could smell the beer they were drinking and really wanted to partake. I busied myself by playing with my daughter and talking with them and the craving went away.

I feel like I keep having realizations about drinking. My most recent one is that I actually don't like drinking and eating good food together. I much prefer eating good food without the liquor so I can actually savor the food. I get so full when I'm trying to do both and it's not enjoyable to me.

Any recent realizations from others?

Great job to everyone that has been chiming in! Tomorrow's a new day if today didn't go exactly right.

SweatsOnSunday

Last night was a walk to Georgetown with my wife, 2 glasses of wine with dinner, and a long walk home. That's the first alcohol I've had since last Sunday. I'm calling that a win.

Niki_Fitz

Last night I had two glasses of sake at a birthday dinner. I stopped when everyone else moved on to after-dinner drinks. I can't believe I'm hungover this morning from two glasses of wine. Well, good - that will put me off drinking for the rest of the weekend.

whitpauly

I always think alcohol stinks so bad after having none for awhile, last night my hubs' beer breath was making me gag! Thats a good thing I think haha

imlightning

I'm in. Looking to reduce my intake. I don't want to give it up completely but I want to limit it.

ILove2Crochet

Hi. I would love to join this. I used to be able to have a couple of drinks on the weekend and none during the week. But in the last 4 yrs since my layoff after 17 yrs on the job, caring for my parents, and both of their passings, I have found myself to be drinking more. I'd like to go back to the couple on the weekends again as well as getting back into a regular exercise routine.

vjmcint

Hello, I'm fairly new and would love to be part of this group. My weight has increased greatly (30 lbs) due to too much alcohol. Sunday was my last drink. I can't remember the last time I went 5 days alcohol-free and I've lost 2.5 lbs since Monday! I want to keep it up and be of support to others, too! Please add me if you think I'd be okay for the group!