The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living
Replies
-
RubyRed427 wrote: »Went scrapbooking with three ladies this weekend. Last night, they made beautiful old fashioned drinks and pear vodka was on the counter the whole time. I watched the vodka level shrink as the day wore on. I still stayed the course. They did shots over me and clinked their glasses. I think my sobriety muscle grew enormously. I could have caved at any minute but I didn't. Boy, I wanted to have an old fashioned. Sigh.
My one friend drank several drinks and talked non-stop. OMG it was getting on my nerves because we were in a small room, so I just had to listen to the same stories over and over. She woke up this morning feeling dizzy, she said.
I woke up refreshed and worked out.
The sacrifices we make at night are well worth it in the morning.
That is so awesome!!! That is a great feeling waking up sober and being able to accomplish what u need to during the day! And even a greater feeling that you stayed strong!!4 -
for me it’s scotch i enjoy, as much for the connoisseurship as anything, but that expensive whisky leads to cheap whisky which leads to...When I lived in Edinburgh, I loved it when someone would offer a glass of sherry (and at that time, just one was good enough for me). I had to talk myself down by reminding myself that those days of the innocent one little glass are long gone.
so yeah, i best not travel that road. yet again lol5 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »I was telling @JenT304 that my sister called me craving so badly for alcohol and she’s nearly 11 months sober. So I guess the cravings sneak up and tap you on the shoulder but I’m happy she called. Call someone when you’re craving and you can just chat - it’s so isolating sometimes to be on a sober journey but maybe we are just needing a friend that isn’t named “vodka” 😀
I'm glad your sister reached out to you. It's great that you have each other for support. Reaching out when tempted is key to fighting off the temptation. I remember when my bro died not long after my one year sober-versary and I was about to cave to the crave to numb it all out, but had decided to reach out here and ask for some words of wisdom and then I went on YouTube and watched Dick Van *kitten* interviewed...that is all I needed to shock myself out of what would have been a big regret.
Also happy for you that your "sobriety muscle" had a good workout with your gal pals.
5 -
I'm proud of how far you have come, @RubyRed427
We have all come so far. Let's all keep vigilant. I know that I am one sip away from a spiral.
@lorrainequiche59 That must have been so awful when your brother died. I will watch that Dick V. D. video again!
@donimfp I'm so happy 10 days have passed and you are feeling so much better!
@wiigelec LOL That road is a dangerous one!!!
@dbanks80 Happy to hear from you, as always:)7 -
I'm re-doing the Sober School class on my own (using the materials we have permanent access to). In one of the readings today, Kate said the following: "Alcohol is really just a stress delayer. That same stress will come and tap you on the shoulder at 4am, when you're hungover and tired and therefore even less capable of dealing with it. " I knew that, of course, but I thought it was well said. When I'm tempted to drink because of stress, I need to remember that alcohol is not a stress reliever but a stress delayer. And like she says, mine usually is delayed until 3 or 4 a.m. when it's worse than anything I drank to avoid.8
-
Way to go, @FeelinFooFoo !! We are proud of you!4
-
@FeelinFooFoo, sending a virtual parade your way! 90 days is fabulous! Very nice list of benefits. It sounds like sobriety suits you. Of course, it suits everyone, but your joy at being sober is so apparent. Great job!!!!6
-
@FeelinFooFoo What a wonderful list!!! So happy for you!!!3
-
Here are some signs I recognized about myself that showed me that I needed to quit drinking:
1.Before I would go out , I would plan and promise myself I'd have only 2-3 drinks. Making deals with yourself.
2. I'd wear a bracelet as a reminder not to drink too much.
3. I would be monitoring other people's drinking glass to determine when I could go get another; I didn't want to get my drink too "soon" even though I gulped it down!
4. One day every weekend I would be so hungover and waste the day wishing I could just be normal and have a good day, but instead I'd lie in bed and wait to get some burger and soda to cure my hangover.
5. Turn down invitations to a night out, because the next day I would have somewhere special to be. I didn't want a guaranteed hangover!
6. I'd make rules for myself like I'll only drink on weekends, or I'll only buy two bottles of wine and that's it for the week. Making rules that you have a hard time sticking with.
7. Hiding bottles that I emptied too quickly. Hiding bottles in my closet or swigging right from the fridge wine bottle so no one would see me.
8. Waking up and cringing when I'd check my phone to see if I texted anyone.
9. Not being able to stop at just 2 drinks and obsessing over when I could get just one more drink.
10. When one bottle of wine was not enough, I would open a second and drink most of that in an evening.
11. Adding more vodka to a Truly because there wasn't enough in there.
12. Filling up a water bottle with vodka and soda and pretending it's just water. Going to the movies so I could drink the wine they sell.
13. Topping off my drink with alcohol without measuring or limiting myself.
So many more signs that it was best that I quit!
10 days away from 5 months sober. I still want to drink and really wish I could. That urge has not gone away but I just tell myself that nothing would be different if I drank today. I would just want to drink again tomorrow and then tomorrow. IT is never enough for me.10 -
@FeelinFooFoo, I'm so glad you were able to get the vaccine, and I hope you have minimal to no side effects. Our slow rollout is pretty frustrating. I'm 65 now, a teacher, and work in an incarceration facility. You'd think I'd have the vaccine, but we're not even close in my county. Oh well. I guess it will show up eventually.
Public service announcement: I laid out the money for a bottle of Askay AF vodka. To really test it, I mixed it as I used to mix the real stuff--with Perrier and a squeeze of lime. Guess what it tasted like! Perrier with lime. I had high hopes for a faux martini, but that's not happening. And it's pricey. I'm sticking to Perrier with grapefruit juice. Yum!4 -
@donimfp I bought the fake gin called Monday. It tastes pretty legit. However I am thinking this may be a slippery slope for me. I have been thinking about real drinks more. Maybe I better just stick to seltzer. But damn, it does taste good.3
-
@donimfp I bought the fake gin called Monday. It tastes pretty legit. However I am thinking this may be a slippery slope for me. I have been thinking about real drinks more. Maybe I better just stick to seltzer. But damn, it does taste good.
hmmmm sounds pretty good. I never liked gin but it may hit the NA spot.
1 -
Hey all, first of all congratulations @FeelinFooFoo on your 90+ days!!!! That's absolutely fabulous 💗 it's been so long since I've been on MFP I'm fatter, lazier, eating junk but only drank twice last year which is good for me(two drinkin sessions, 4 days in each so 8 days total) sad, sad about the things going on in the world and I lost my 36 year old sister last weekend, she had down syndrome so many health problems and passed in her sleep, I'm still reeling and just trying to deal with the grief, remember I had lost my brother not too long ago too so I'm just mourning both of my angels💗 I'll be back hopefully tomorrow and be more regular on here, got to get back in regular pants! Thank you @JenT304 for reaching out to me via pm a couple weeks ago, I really appreciate it and it reminded me I haven't seen you all lately! Have a good AF night all!13
-
@whitpauly I'm so sorry for your loss. You have been through so much. So sorry.3
-
@whitpauly I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. How very sad. So many here were asking where you are. You are very much part of our "family" here. I am glad to see you back.4
-
@whitpauly, so glad to see you, and again, I'm sorry for the loss of your sister.
Obviously we've missed you. The sad "goings-on" in the world tripped me up in early January, but I'm back on my sober, if wobbly, feet. I know you'll be successful in getting back to whatever you're comfortable with. I don't know about you, but my brief return to the misery of alcohol reminded me of how truly miserable that supposed "relief" is.
Great to see you again!!!6 -
2
-
@FeelinFooFoo This was lovely. Inspirational. Let's continue to listen for signs. 3
-
For anyone doing Dry January !! You almost made it. Just a few more days.
Now, the decision will be whether to continue your streak or not. Gauge how you feel emotionally and physically without alcohol in your body for one month vs. how you feel drinking regularly.
I think for me although I still miss drinking and carrying on with friends (like this weekend we are all going shopping and going to "drinks"), I don't want to start at day 1 and have a hangover. The weekends sober are just too darn precious to me. I get so much done and feel so good.4 -
@RubyRed427 Exactly. Not having a hangover is worth the "sacrifice". I was telling my husband, "You don't always regret drinking, but you NEVER regret NOT drinking."5
-
True! It wasn’t until my recent thankfully brief relapse that I really realized how awful hangovers are. I think they had just become my normal way of being for so long I didn’t really think about them. But after 185 days sober the hangovers clobbered me. Y’all they are gross! The thought of another hangover is probably my biggest motivator now.6
-
Hi! Just seeing how you are all doing? I'm good! I went to lunch with friends; they had drinks and I had soda.
Afterwards, I told my friends, I am nearly 5 months sober. And one friend said "I bet you feel great." She added that lately she cannot seem to drink without feeling awful the next day, even if she only has a few glasses of wine.
I guess everyone has to decide for themselves when enough is enough.
4 -
CONGRATULATIONS @FeelinFooFoo ! That is a BIG DEAL!!! I am so proud of you!!! Despite the fact that those around you are still indulging, you are managing to stay sober. Whether you know it or not, you ARE setting a good example for them. Bravo!2
-
In January I tested four alcohol-free beers and here are my ratings.
Heineken 0.0; 7/10 53kcal 250ml
Beck; 7/10 only 45kcal 330ml
Carlsberg ; 8/10 bet bang for the buck, 70kcal for 500ml
Krombacher: 9/10 this one came as a surprise, the most normal tasting beer, 90kcal for 330ml
4 -
FeelinFooFoo wrote: »100 days alcohol FREE today ! 😄🤩
I don't think waking up hangover free, will EVER get old 😊
The boys hangover on Saturday reminded me what I'm NOT missing. Downstairs, all the empty bottles & glasses and as I poured them out, I smelled the stale alcohol and yeah, it smelled disgusting. Glad I'm not pouring litres of that stuff into my system anymore 🙏❤
I am doing the happy dance for you!!!!
Congratulations!!!! I can’t wait to see your tattoo 😊3 -
Morning everyone!!!!
Hope everyone is having a great, sober day!
I found a new trigger and wanted to share... I have chronic back issues. Typically, a couple times a year I will have a flare up and be down for a few days. Luckily, 2020 was a flare free year!!!! 2021 is not starting off so well. I’m not sure what I did to aggravate it, but this one is requiring narcotics to get thru.
Trigger - narcotics! Maybe the sensors in the brain that are triggered by the narcotics are the same/close to the sensors triggered by alcohol. I’ve been taking since Saturday night and craving like crazy! Instead of drinking I have eaten a half tub of cookie dough.
On the struggle bus, but still sober!!!!8 -
I have many books about quitting alcohol but feel I need a boost. Specifically, has anyone read the Alan Carr book and has any comments on that one?3
-
Oh yes, Jen! His book and Jason Vale’s are very inspirational!! Two thumbs up.4
-
Foo, he is right. You need to fill that space up that you once filled with drinking and nicotine. Being in lock down makes it all harder (to take class or something). Maybe go on youtube and learn how to knit or crochet, try a coloring app ( I Like Happy Color) or even do a yoga or some sort of movement class on youtube. I've picked up knitting again and it does help fill the time.3
-
Meditation is extremely helpful, I've found. I'm not an expert by any means, but just adding 10 minutes at the beginning of the day makes a huge difference.
Speaking of adding pastimes . . . I've become obsessed with "skin care" during lockdown. Reading books, blogs, etc. and for the first time in my long life developing a consistent routine. I find it really fun and relaxing. And this week, I was having a conversation with my principal (both of us masked) when she said, "Your forehead looks like you just had a facial." I exclaimed, "I LOVE YOU!!!" It was so fun to have confirmation that the routine I've followed since mid-December is actually making a difference. I know it's a weird "hobby," but it's a nice escape and also a form of self care. Also, I've learned that smoking, sugar, and alcohol are about the worst things you can subject your skin to. Motivation.8
https://youtu.be/9LUm51Z-Ii0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions