February

Lisa1971
Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
Anyone want to give up drinking for the month of Feb? I'm totally in except Feb. 27th is my birthday so I'm sure I'll have a drink that day! I'm going to be dry for superbowl sunday which is unheard of for me!

Replies

  • sd_dilligaf
    sd_dilligaf Posts: 146 Member
    I am with you. I stopped October 13 last year but had a cold beer after a 5.5 mile hike in our local desert two weeks ago. It was good but I am back on the wagon!
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    I am with you. I stopped October 13 last year but had a cold beer after a 5.5 mile hike in our local desert two weeks ago. It was good but I am back on the wagon!

    Glad you're back on the wagon!
  • sd_dilligaf
    sd_dilligaf Posts: 146 Member
    While I cannot seem to kick my sugar addiction, I found quitting alcohol to be relatively easy. No cravings, no thinking about it all the time. I think the difference is that Alcohol nearly killed me via acute poisoning (binging) but I have yet to talk to Ralph on the white telephone due to excessive Snickers bar consumption. Both are poison, but sugar has a more subtle effect.

    I made a choice between my family and wife over alcohol. I guess I need to make the same choice over sugar. And alcohol is a kind of sugar anyway, right? Good luck to everyone that looks at YBYS; we can do what we need to do if we have each other's back.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    While I cannot seem to kick my sugar addiction, I found quitting alcohol to be relatively easy. No cravings, no thinking about it all the time. I think the difference is that Alcohol nearly killed me via acute poisoning (binging) but I have yet to talk to Ralph on the white telephone due to excessive Snickers bar consumption. Both are poison, but sugar has a more subtle effect.

    I made a choice between my family and wife over alcohol. I guess I need to make the same choice over sugar. And alcohol is a kind of sugar anyway, right? Good luck to everyone that looks at YBYS; we can do what we need to do if we have each other's back.

    I have the opposite problem. Alcohol is my vice as I can easily give up sugar. I just love nothing more than to enjoy a few glasses of alcohol after the kids are in bed.
  • sd_dilligaf
    sd_dilligaf Posts: 146 Member
    Oh I remember the feeling. As a parent of 4 daughters (now 16 to 23) I embraced the same pleasures.

    What I haven't shared that makes all the difference is that I got diagnosed bipolar II about 8 years ago, and booze + meds is a bad combination. I couldn't see my behavior the way the family did. they were on edge. Would Daddy get mad? I thought everything was normal.

    After quitting, my girls tell me I am more stable, more predictable, more fun to be around. That made quitting easier when I heard that.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    That's wonderful! 4 girls? God bless you! Your girls must be so proud of you!
  • Suerhv
    Suerhv Posts: 61 Member
    Ok, I've been wanting to cut back a lot and I think I will go for quitting for February...Lisa, I'm with you, it's my vice and a bad habit of relaxing after the girls (mine are 7 and 9) go to bed and after a day of teaching Grade 2's...plus all the other stresses life brings these days... a few glasses of wine that started as 1 a few years ago and is more now most nights... I hope I can do this...and replace our (husband and I) bad habit with more exercise and then a variety of hot yummy teas instead... (when I was much younger, this was what I'd do to relax)... I don't usually have bad side effects, but know women who drink have higher rates of certain cancers and other health issues, and my father is/was an alcoholic so I should watch this habit... I can use the support...
  • sd_dilligaf
    sd_dilligaf Posts: 146 Member
    You have a great plan and all for the right reasons. Making it happen day by day is not as hard as you think. Keep telling yourself alcohol is a depressant not a relaxant. I am glad you shared, as it helps motivate me.
  • nerak50
    nerak50 Posts: 17 Member
    Way to go everyone. I have not had any for 3 weeks, but I feel myself weakening. I will join in the 'dry' February. We can all do it..
  • sd_dilligaf
    sd_dilligaf Posts: 146 Member
    So today we finish February. How'd you do? However you did, you did GREAT! Keep going!

    Last night I went to dinner with my wife to my favorite craft beer bar and restaurant. I haven't been there since I quit so I was nervous.

    The food was great, I drank water, my wife had a brown ale, and it was no big deal. Alcohol and bipolar meds do not mix, so it is a pretty easy choice to stay on the meds. I hope you find your abstinence as easily as I have found mine (so far).
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    I had some drinks last night but as I said in my first post it was my birthday! :smile: