Less Alcohol- June 2018- One Day at a Time

RubyRed427 · May 2018

Welcome to the thread everyone! It's exciting to read so many voices and hear your stories. I never imagined I would ever be able to stop drinking. Back on Jan. 1st, I did stop , mostly because of this thread and the people who give advice and support. I also immersed myself in books and blogs and videos about alcohol and its effects on the body and mind.

I stopped for 2.5 months and it was a beautiful thing; my drinking had been escalating over the last few years and I was starting to sneak drinks and hide the bottles.
While I quit, I lost weight, face got less puffy and pink; I went through a death in the family and dealt with it sober. I cannot imagine how I could have coped if I had been drinking. Anyway, we all have had success and failures. Since then, I've drank a few times and cannot imagine why I still want to drink once in awhile. I know how great it feels to be sober , so I cannot figure out why I go back to drinking. That's the gist of my own story.

Anyway, we are all here for you. Some of you want to moderate and that's a wonderful goal. Others want to try sobriety for 30 days or the rest of your life. Go for it!

The other part of our success on this thread is sharing what works for you. Of course, share if sometimes you don't reach your goal. We will not judge you -we have all been there.
Let us know some of the ways you have found to withstand the cravings. So happy to start fresh this June. Xo

edmudman · May 2018

My mind is so sneaky, it tried to convince me last night that as it was only 29th May and not June 1st, I could mix some Chivas in my sparkling water. I spoiled its night by not going to the bar and drinking just the water. F!!! my lazy mind.

NotBonJovi · May 2018

I would like to join too. Had too much wine last night

SunnyDays930 · May 2018

This was a good read this morning. As some of you know, The Sober school is a great resource.
https://thesoberschool.com/give-up-on-your-alcohol-free-goals/

edmudman · May 2018

In today's Guardian, sobering stuff!

https://theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/30/one-weekend-bender-can-ruin-your-life-pancreatitis

lilann1961 · May 2018

As I have been following this awesome thread (and commenting occasionally), I am again in for the month! I have made a lot of excuses and am finally facing them. Here is to a mainly dry month.

kittybenn · May 2018

Wow @edmudman - sobering is right. And terrifying.

RubyRed427 · May 2018

edmudman wrote: »

In today's Guardian, sobering stuff!

https://theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/30/one-weekend-bender-can-ruin-your-life-pancreatitis

Wow- very sad. But so important to know. These poor young people werent drinking every day and now to be dying from this chronic condition makes me so sad. I also pray every night that my own kids don't drink. It's such a curse. And I don't want them to every experience the pain alcohol can cause. It's important to read these articles- it helps me so much to stay the course. Xo

SunnyDays930 · May 2018

That was shocking. I mean why do we not remember that alcohol can kill us? We've all seen those awful frat hazing stories on the news. I am rereading Alcohol Explained. I swear this should be required reading by everyone; high school, college kids, everyone. It's an eye opener to say the least.

donimfp · May 2018

Here’s to June, everyone! Great to see newcomers joining in. I think you will find a warm welcome and tons of non-judgey support here.

At the end of the May thread, three of us who are grandmothers (but so young in spirit!) shared experiences of having our children express some concern about our care for our grandchildren because of our struggles with alcohol. Nothing drastic in any case but just the hint of any unfitness when it comes to those most precious to us can be devastating.

I know one of my primary motivations to get control is my love for 2 little girls whom I hope to see grow up, graduate, marry, or whatever life holds for them.

I’ve been on this thread since January and don’t think I’ve ever given “advice”. I’m way too fragile for that. Maybe I’ve recommended a book or two. But in all humility may I urge you guys who are way too young to be grandparents yet not to let this opportunity slip away? This thread and group is a great blessing and I so wish I’d been aware of something like this at a much earlier time in my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have it now, but I’m even more delighted that YOU have it and hopefully will have profited from these ups and downs and decisions so that alcohol struggles won’t be a blip on your radar by the time you hold your first grandchild.

Ok. Enough elder-speak from me. Back to “Help, guys!”

donimfp · May 2018

After my previous heavy post I’d like to share that tomorrow is my last day at a job I’ve had for 20 years. I’m getting up early, walking to the river, and going for a swim in the delightful 70-degree water before walking home (a mile each way) to say goodbye to one chapter and start another. I confess I plan to have champagne tomorrow but then commence a dry June with no fantasy of moderating. My struggles since January have taught me that for me, moderation is just that—a fantasy. Darn! But I’m grateful for the lesson and for the support here as I’ve learned it.

Now I’m going to shut the kitten up. (Saved you the trouble, Censor feature. You’re welcome).

nodley · May 2018

I'd like in! I could definitely do with drinking less beer. Boredom drinking on a Saturday when I'm off work and the wife isn't, is a problem I have. I get sat in front of my PlayStation and enjoy 8 cans or more. The same on Sunday, if the weather is rubbish or we stay home we'll watch movies and drink all day.

I don't want to stop entirely, but I want to stop drinking just because. The odd drink when we go out for a meal or something will be much more responsible.

edmudman · May 2018

I went to the bar last night, because that is where us expats have to eat during Ramadan. Took my bottle of sparkling water and enjoyed drinking that with ice and lemon. I took a lot of *kitten* from my mates, they would not believe what I was drinking:
"What's that your drinking Ed?"
"Water"
"Oh aye, and what else?"
"Ice and lemon"
"No, there's gin in there, I can smell the gin"

My mind tried to get me to have a bottle of wine, I told it to *kitten* off and off it *kitten*.

An enjoyable night with my mates, an early night to bed and feeling awesome for my 4 am run . Result.

edit: wow it really doesn't naughty language does it ? I might break this mother *kitten* as I'm not going to *kitten* self censor.

Orphia · May 2018

JenT304 wrote: »

This was a good read this morning. As some of you know, The Sober school is a great resource.
https://thesoberschool.com/give-up-on-your-alcohol-free-goals/

Haha, very good.

And I loved the link to the blog post it sent me to:

https://thesoberschool.com/it-would-never-have-happened-if-id-still-been-drinking/

It's his students' many answers to the question, and perhaps others here might want to answer too:

"Is there something you’ve experienced recently that would never have happened, if you’d still been drinking?"

NovusDies · May 2018

JulieAL1969 wrote: »

Since then, I've drank a few times and cannot imagine why I still want to drink once in awhile. I know how great it feels to be sober , so I cannot figure out why I go back to drinking. That's the gist of my own story.

For me it is great by comparison but then as I go longer times between drinking the reality is that being sober is just normal life which at times can be dull. I certainly don't think it is as simple as having rainy days to appreciate the sunshine though. That is my goal for this month. I wish to continue what I started last month and figure out more of what is true (for me) and what is a lie about drinking and why I enjoy doing it.

thesnackmonster · May 2018

OK, I'm in for moderation. Goal to be AF Sunday to Thursday and go moderate Friday and Saturday. I know my "little drinks " during the week are sabotaging my weight loss goals. Good luck everyone for a move sober June

RubyRed427 · May 2018

NovusDies wrote: »

JulieAL1969 wrote: »

Since then, I've drank a few times and cannot imagine why I still want to drink once in awhile. I know how great it feels to be sober , so I cannot figure out why I go back to drinking. That's the gist of my own story.

For me it is great by comparison but then as I go longer times between drinking the reality is that being sober is just normal life which at times can be dull. I certainly don't think it is as simple as having rainy days to appreciate the sunshine though. That is my goal for this month. I wish to continue what I started last month and figure out more of what is true (for me) and what is a lie about drinking and why I enjoy doing it.

I was reading a blog. And the blogger says that depression can kick in 5 weeks to a few months after you quit. I can see that actually. Also, the blogger said after he quit for a few months, he thought, "Where's the sober party?" Implying it can be quite boring being AF. I know that I feel that way too. I look at all my friends going out and drinking like they always have, and I wonder why can't I be like that. But then I remember how good I feel these days and I remember how *kitten* I felt those days.

Having said that, I woke up and thought that tomorrow at the staff end of the year party, I may have a drink or two. See, I equate rewards with alcohol. It's does trigger the reward system in the brain. Because that is what I've been doing for over two decades.

edmudman · May 2018

JulieAL1969 wrote: »

Having said that, I woke up and thought that tomorrow at the staff end of the year party, I may have a drink or two. See, I equate rewards with alcohol. It's does trigger the reward system in the brain. Because that is what I've been doing for over two decades.

The mind is generally a lazy, lying piece of *kitten*, that needs discipline & training as much as the body does. It would rather you had a drink, so it can put you on autopilot while it slinks off to hide.

crazykatlady820 · May 2018

Welp, got my lab results back! Last year at this time I was looking at pre-diabetes and really high cholesterol. I’m happy to report that I’m no longer on the road to diabetes! It was inevitable and only a matter of time (And not even a lot of time.) had I continued on my path and not lost some weight.

My high cholesterol, though, is even higher. That baffled my doctor a little because I have lost 70 pounds. I will have to make some changes to my diet and see if I can get that number down. It scares me a little because heart disease runs rampant in my family, so I would really like to improve my cholesterol. It’s not bad enough for medication, but it is a cause for concern.

Still. I went from pre-diabetic to completely normal and that’s something! I couldn’t have lost 70 pounds had I still been drinking. It was the one thing that always stopped my weight loss attempts. So, I am proud of myself even if I still have stuff to work on.

amberellen12 · May 2018

crazykatlady820 wrote: »

Welp, got my lab results back! Last year at this time I was looking at pre-diabetes and really high cholesterol. I’m happy to report that I’m no longer on the road to diabetes! It was inevitable and only a matter of time (And not even a lot of time.) had I continued on my path and not lost some weight.

My high cholesterol, though, is even higher. That baffled my doctor a little because I have lost 70 pounds. I will have to make some changes to my diet and see if I can get that number down. It scares me a little because heart disease runs rampant in my family, so I would really like to improve my cholesterol. It’s not bad enough for medication, but it is a cause for concern.

Still. I went from pre-diabetic to completely normal and that’s something! I couldn’t have lost 70 pounds had I still been drinking. It was the one thing that always stopped my weight loss attempts. So, I am proud of myself even if I still have stuff to work on.

Could the reason you still have high cholesterol is because you’re still on a high fat diet? Your own body fat that is full of toxins that you are burning off and getting into your system. I would be interested in seeing that once you have lost all your weight and maintain what your cholesterol would be.

Less Alcohol- June 2018- One Day at a Time

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