The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living

VeggieGirlforLife

Thanks for sharing your experience @Yellowstone1983. In the past I wrestled with those thoughts as well and I do believe it is helpful for others to share it so people know its totally normal and others have dealt with it, too. You went back and forth in your mind, but ultimately you stuck to your commitment to yourself to go 90 days and I think that is awesome. Well done!

BriTheDietBlogger

What a great thread. I also want to give up alcohol. Following!

janinemharris

Hi everyone! I'm undecided if im going AF or just cutting back after a measly 4 days (actually somewhat of a record) it seems like it might be the right thing to do! Also this is my first post on a MFP forum so hello

lorrainequiche59

BriTheDietBlogger wrote: »

What a great thread. I also want to give up alcohol. Following!

janinemharris wrote: »

Hi everyone! I'm undecided if im going AF or just cutting back after a measly 4 days (actually somewhat of a record) it seems like it might be the right thing to do! Also this is my first post on a MFP forum so hello

WELCOME to you both!!

@janinemharris There is no "measly" on this thread. Any effort at resisting the pull of alcohol is a victory and there have been lots of victories here. Even coming to terms with the thought that a person "may" have a problem is a victory because it is the beginning of acknowledging a potential problem and there begins the journey to overcoming it & living a better life. It may not be on the 1st attempt...in fact likely not...but the continued attempts. Glad you guys have joined us

lorrainequiche59

HOME SWEET HOME I got the dates of their arrival mixed up & am SO glad I texted to find out when they were due back cause I was out a day....SO they arrive home around 9:00 this a.m. rather than tomorrow and I was able to come home last eve after letting my canine pal out for a final potty break and wee walk...a neighbor is attending to her this morn.

I am soaking up the sunny rays on my patio with my coffee in hand...2nd sunny day in a row...woohoo!!

Hope everyone who had a long weekend enjoys the final day!!

Amazing resistance this weekend to huge temptation and congrats on working through it.

janinemharris

@lorrainequiche59 thanks for your kind words!!! Have also given up coffee as I figure the anxiety probably contributes to over eating. These last few days I've been over compensating and eating way more calories but at least I am being consistent about tracking. Hope you had a great time away.

Yellowstone1983

@VeggieGirlforLife Thank you!

And welcome to the newcomers!!

GinetteHaz

There is so many inspirational stories and great thoughts! I’m going to keep an eye on this thread!!

janinemharris

@FeelinFooFoo - totally get the social life thing. Basically without alcohol I feel a bit bored..who has ideas for how to spend their evenings without a bottle of wine???

RubyRed427

I will need to catch up on the thread. 40 messages to read but I wanted to say I’m doing well. We had graduation, the big party (alcohol was flowing which I didn’t mind because our guests would expect that and most of them walk home), and I moved. First night in new apartment. The kids came by and my son felt a little sad I could tell (he’s 21). He said Home doesnt’ feel like home. It made me sad. But I told him nothing is constant. Life is always changing. It ended on a good note.

Wishing all an AF week. I had one small vodka at the end of my party; sat at a table with old friends and we laughed at old times. Other than that, I’ve been AF. Remember my sister who never drinks; well she did drink at the party. That suprised me. But she probably drinks once a year if that. So, it’s all good. Hugs to all.

lorrainequiche59

@RubyRed427 Big adjustment for everyone. I'm glad your in and that the grad party went well and that things ended on a good note with your Son. You will make a new "home" and your kids will adjust new their new normal over time.

lorrainequiche59

Today officially marks the last day in 2018 that I had a drink. Tomorrow is my one year Sober-versary. I remember waiting a couple of days to install my quit drinking app on my phone & input June 1, 2018 as my official first day of being AF, so I can celebrate again when my phone blows the bells & whistles in a couple of days!!

Anyway, there is a new "diary" feature on the app along with the relapse feature. I did my first diary entry today and one of the things I wrote was that I wasn't certain what made me finally stop the insanity, but it is a process that will continue if I continue it...it doesn't stop at the one day mark or the one year mark, it just becomes a way of life and I truly hope that I have found my new way of life.

I clicked on the relapse feature to see what is on it and it has a place to input the date of your "longest streak" then below that the "total number of relapses".... But it begins by saying, "Great that you made it this far, It made you stronger for your next attempt." And that is the encouragement to be taken. Relapse is a NORMAL part of quitting...it doesn't mean a person has to quit trying because of a lapse back to deeply ingrained behavior ...there is strength in getting back on track!!!

Sunshinelinzee

Good Morning Everyone - I took a little break from technology this weekend so I've got some catching up to do reading but for now an update. My long weekend wasn't perfect and I did drink some. I was really grappling with myself about sharing but in the end I realized I need to just be honest. I was feeling really badly about it at first but I'm trying to move beyond that and accept that it is just a part of my journey and it's just not a straight path. I took Friday off from work for an extra long weekend and did a LOT of home landscaping and garden work - like a lot - like ripping out trees and hauling mulch etc. Anyway I made a massive mocktail pitcher which did me well for most of the weekend but in the end I didn't win the full weekend battle. I had 2 drinks on Friday and then again on Sunday. Here is what I learned - first none of these drinks were what I consider my problem drink which is wine. There was zero wine. I did not get drunk, I did not go to bed drunk, I did not wake up in an anxious panic in the middle of the night and I was not hung over. Friday was the hardest day because I was craving and that was when I felt the most guilt. By Sunday though I kind of felt like I could give or take it and mostly I was regretting the calories. Having more wasn't really appealing so I didn't have any more. My eating also wasn't perfect this weekend - I can't say I was diligently counting and I had a couple of snacks - but I also don't feel like I overdid it especially since I got a ton of exercise between hauling mulch and an extra 4 mile run on Sunday. Anyway - I'm not going back and starting counting over - I don't feel like that's gonna be good for my brain. On the scale this morning I am holding steady where I was before the weekend - no losses but no gains either. I'm not letting the weekend knock me off my path so here it is Tuesday and I'm thankful to be back to my normal routine and focused on my long term goals.

donimfp

It seems to me that as we’re all feeling our way through this together a theme of not beating ourselves up and not being “all or nothing “ is arising. I don’t want at all to minimize the dangers of relapse because I know it can be perilous. On the other hand, I chose to kind of shrug off last Friday night’s glass of white wine as a blip, and instead of going another 3 months to get back to Day 1, I kept counting and just spent a good Day 60.

I’m working through Annie Grace’s intensive course. It’s good. But $500 isn’t something I plopped down carelessly. And I’m a little bummed that now every day I get emails telling me that the BEST benefits come from her “one on one intensive” which is only $400 more. Sorry. This group is far more valuable to me. And the immediate pleas to spend even more money have really made me cynical.

Good night to all 3 more days of juvie! My probable replacement interviewed today and I really liked her and think she would do a great job with the kids. That goes into my gratitude journal and merits a bubbly water toast.

donimfp

@lorrainequiche59, what a huge accomplishment! I can’t imagine ever getting there, but you did it!!! You must feel amazing. And you are! Please keep inspiring us. And treat yourself to something very special. You deserve it.

RubyRed427

@lorrainequiche59 Bravo!!! I am so happy for you!! Can you imagine how much better physically your organs and body must be doing? Plus, the wonderful reward of clear thinking and experiencing life’s ups and downs with raw, real emotion.
@donimfp Interesting comments about Annie selling more and more. That’s a little unappetizing. I agree with you about the blip on the radar last Friday night. It is OK! As long as we are 99.9 percent AF, we may succumb here and there. But we all know in our hearts and minds how we are doing.
@Sunshinelinzee We are all learning as we go. Nothing bad happened because of you’re two weekend drinks- you weren’t sick, you didn’t binge, you had no hangover. I know that after I do what you did, I tend to think, now why did I do that? Especially because I feel so much better AF in every way. But we move on and keep on going. You’re doing so well!

RubyRed427

janinemharris wrote: »

Hi everyone! I'm undecided if im going AF or just cutting back after a measly 4 days (actually somewhat of a record) it seems like it might be the right thing to do! Also this is my first post on a MFP forum so hello

Welcome! Stop back often. Let us know how you’re feeing. I strongly believe we all have that little voice or nagging feeling that tells us maybe it’s time to rethink drinking or cut back somewhat. Give it a try. And see how it goes!

RubyRed427

BriTheDietBlogger wrote: »

What a great thread. I also want to give up alcohol. Following!

Hello! Happy you joined us. What i love about this thread is we can be as honest with each other as with ourselves. We are judgment free zone. Post whenever you want!

whitpauly

Hello friends,@donimfp I love the newsletter I get from Annie but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth that they keep trying to sell me courses,I used to like "tired of thinking of drinking" too but Belle got to the point of selling stuff and then selling her husband's"art" so I blocked her emails,yes I'm in a one slip isn't derailing however if it goes on for a few days and getting to more amounts that equals a relapse to me and yes I'd start recounting then, luckily I haven't had anything in 100+ days but I've been here before so keeping my guard up! Lorraine, fantastic job! Waves to all and have a Fab AF day

Sunshinelinzee

Good Morning Everyone

Finally getting caught up - welcome to everyone new! I'm a little bit tired today with some achy joints - I think it's the weather - it's been an endless cold and rainy spring here. Anyway I suppose I'm just also thinking about the 'blips' and how though our stories have many similarities we are also all so different - and like most things there isn't just one answer or solution or reason for our wanting to change (and that is ok cause it's what makes us wonderful and unique!). What works for me might not work for you and vice versa etc. I suppose that's why I like this thread so much - it's a place to be honest, people share what is working and what is not. It helps me feel not so alone in my decision to change my life and the struggles that come with that and also gives me ideas on how to get through challenging times differently than I might have before.

I guess for me, my primary goal is losing weight and feeling better and living the life I want to live and not drinking is just a part of that because all it does is make me gain weight and feel like crap. It's clear as day to me that drinking was too big a part of my life and was getting in the way of my other goals and the life I want to have - that I can see myself having in my mind. I haven't necessarily said 'this is it I'm never drinking again' because I know that type of restrictive self-talk is going to last about 5 minutes for me and won't work - the same way I know that if I say 'this is it, I'm never eating pizza again' then I'm probably going to end up having it for dinner. I really want to get to the place where alcohol isn't really taking up space in my life and where my brain doesn't really think about. Where it's not something I'm restricting myself from but something I genuinely don't want. Does that make sense?