The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living
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Roadie_Cyclist1987 wrote: »Joining this group stopped me from buying the 'usual' 2 bottles of wine tonight (thanks to member errydayimmusclin for this). Reading the posts makes me realise I'm not alone and that I can stay sober if I really want to. Looking forward to getting out on my bike in the morning! Thanks all 😊
Yay!!! I'm glad it's helped you! I thought after reading your other forum post, that this would be the place for you 😁 Enjoy your bike ride in the morning!9 -
@Roadie_Cyclist1987 Welcome to our squad. Everyone is awesome. You will love us
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The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them.
How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give. If I carry only grief, I’ll bend toward cynicism and despair. If I have only gratitude, I’ll become saccharine and won’t develop much compassion for other people’s suffering.
Grief keeps the heart fluid and soft, which helps make compassion possible.
~ Francis Weller
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Had my shoulder scoped yesterday. Got Sprix (crazy strong NSAID) instead of opioid pain pills. No troubles.
Still bucking the trend - I check the number of days (now 573) from time to time, but I don't approach this as a day at a time. I made a decision and I no longer drink. Each time I quit for a while and drank again, it was with the day at a time mindset. This is the longest I have made it and I am just getting started.11 -
@Excercisewoman thanks for the friend request, you might want to have a look here, lots of help and friends2
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I've only been on here for a few days but thought I'd share some ramblings.
The changing perception of alcohol....
Why is alcohol the only drug in the world where you are questioned for not taking it? If you stop taking heroin or nicotine you're classed a hero, stop drinking and you're a weirdo.
Why is alcohol the only drug in the world that you freely offer to your kids? A little sip of dad's beer or a small glass of wine with Sunday dinner? We wouldn't dream of doing it with heroin or nicotine, so why alcohol?
It's down to how we perceive alcohol through advertising and brainwashing! We've been brought up to believe that drinking is normal. There's no difference between any of them, they're all highly addictive drugs, except one is legal and earns the government billions in revenue.
But things are changing, more and more people are questioning their intake and choosing to stop. 30 years ago smoking was seen as cool and normal practice, look at it now and drinking is going the same way.
The good news is that been on here, we've identified the issue, we're one step ahead and are ahead of the game. We are leading the change of how people perceive alcohol. We're the pioneers! Happy AF 😊😊12 -
Good morning!
The books I ordered from Amazon have arrived and they are so awesome I want to share with everyone! Thank you to @Fitness327wk for the recommendation! Both of the Flow books are workbooks with insightful essays followed by activities that are perfect for anyone that loves doing any kind of craft. The books contain materials you use to complete the activities.
One example relates to the discussion in the thread within the past few days about being grateful. The first segment of 'A Book That Takes Its Time' encourages finding 'Beautiful Moments' in your day-to-day life, writing a sentence or two about them on little cards included in the book, and finally putting those moments in a jar. When you need to remember a Beautiful Moment or just need a pick-me-up, you can pull a card out of your jar.
The other book, Creativity Takes Courage, is structured much the same. Thoughtful essays that make you think and explore and create, with activity supplies included right in the book.
These are both beautifully bound and illustrated.
The 3rd book, "I'm Kind of Awesome!", is a journal I received for Christmas. I love that my hubby purchased this for me! Each day in the journal has inspiring quotes and a full blank page for writing whatever comes to mind that day. While I've kept an electronic journal/blog here on MFP for the past few years, and especially in the year since quitting alcohol, there is something meditative and magical about the act of physically putting words to paper. One quote I love is 'No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.' Virginia Woolf
For the knitters/crocheters in the group, I want to share the new knitting bag my hubby purchased me for Christmas. Since I don't drink any more, I've found I have so much more ambition, focus, & time to work on and complete projects. This bag is wonderful! It holds your current pattern, yarn, needles, scissors, markers, etc. And it comes in purple which is my favorite color lol
I hope you are all having a great day today!
Karen
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Definitely up for trying this one... did it and then didn’t but hoping to stay focused and try different things maybe get some new hobbies whilst I stay sober. Thanks for the group 🙂6
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@kcn2bluesky Sounds like some great books...one "A Book That Takes It's Time" reminds me of a book I borrowed from a client's library entitled, "The Book of AWESOME." written by the author of @1000awesomethings.com It's a compilation of 'little things' in life that contribute to our happiness...things that we may take for granted and not really even notice. It's a humorous read too. AND it sounds like you have an awesome hubby btw!!
Hope everyone is having a relaxing, wonderful weekend
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@kcn2bluesky
I am SO happy you ordered the books!! I absolutely LOVE their books and I am thrilled you are enjoying their books! They also publish a magazine called flow every other month. It is expensive since they are shipping from the UK. Here is their website:
https://www.flowmagazine.com
You can also order back issues on eBay that are more reasonable priced. Another book coming out in March/April worldwide, I think you may be able to order through Amazon is: https://www.flowmagazine.com/shop/flow-book-paper-lovers-6.
Have a great Sunday!1 -
I signed up to take a crochet lesson on Thursday. It's been on my bucket list for a while. Definitely something to keep my hands busy at night. Wishing you all a happy Sober Sunday 6
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Well I fell apart and survived. Moving on. Just focusing on today. Xo9
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Look what i ordered and it arrived. I’m so excited to make some tea.
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Yea! I haven’t tried that brand of tea. Please let me know what you think?1
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Tell us about this tea pot.....1
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Here’s a video showing how the tea maker works.
https://youtu.be/3E7XnyJzH_c 3 -
I love this teapot! I will order one too. God knows I can afford it with all the money I've saved not buying wine for 21 days!7
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i have the same one from Teavana my parents gave to me6
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Lastchancetochange wrote: »Hi, I'm on day 3. I actually lost almost all the weight 4 years ago and one key was being one year and a half sober. It's tough, I lost many friends, not really lost them but I was not cool anymore. And in any dinner they were all trying to get me drunk. So I had to pass on many social plans. It was very tough from that perspective. I didn't miss it, my body surely didn't but socially it was a disaster. Anyway here we are again.
After a christmas of a couple of bad binges, really feeling destroyed for a couple of days after I feel not worth it for the time being. Day by day.
Cheers to everyone.
You'll eventually start getting "friends" who support your sobriety. Worth having. And it does get easier. For what it's worth I needed help getting away from the bottle and took up a friends offer to go to an AA meeting on December 8th, 1986. I haven't had a drink since and the desire to drink isn't even there any more. But, just like you, I only have today. Hang in there, you can do this.
Thanks and sorry for answering late, I'm not too used to MFP so getting my head around notifications. Congrats for your journey, it's always tough to break habits and you've done it. So no one can take that from you. I'm still staying on the safe side 2 weeks in. Journey continues.7 -
lorrainequiche59 wrote: »Lastchancetochange wrote: »Hi, I'm on day 3. I actually lost almost all the weight 4 years ago and one key was being one year and a half sober. It's tough, I lost many friends, not really lost them but I was not cool anymore. And in any dinner they were all trying to get me drunk. So I had to pass on many social plans. It was very tough from that perspective. I didn't miss it, my body surely didn't but socially it was a disaster. Anyway here we are again.
After a christmas of a couple of bad binges, really feeling destroyed for a couple of days after I feel not worth it for the time being. Day by day.
Cheers to everyone.
Your in the right place to get some great support. Yes, the social aspect can be difficult. Sounds like it may be helpful to find a new group of friends...ones that will support you not sabotage you. Do you have hobbies? Maybe join a group that is based on that? Glad you're here.
Yes, you are right. It's funny though as they are in general very fit and take care, but when they go out they need to do the macho role and criticize that.
I'm starting to build a different network. Let's see how it plays.6 -
lorrainequiche59 wrote: »@kcn2bluesky Sounds like some great books...one "A Book That Takes It's Time" reminds me of a book I borrowed from a client's library entitled, "The Book of AWESOME." written by the author of @1000awesomethings.com It's a compilation of 'little things' in life that contribute to our happiness...things that we may take for granted and not really even notice. It's a humorous read too. AND it sounds like you have an awesome hubby btw!!
Hope everyone is having a relaxing, wonderful weekend
Thanks for the book referral, @lorrainequiche59 ! I will check out the website and book today when I have a few moments. I've rediscovered a love for reading...sitting quietly for at least 30 minutes a day, and just reading for pleasure. I used to read quite a bit many years ago, then life seemed to get so busy and I never focused on carving out time for the little things I love to do. The funny thing is, I think my life is technically busier nowadays!
Thanks, also, for the shout-out to my awesome hubby! I'm very fortunate to have him! We've been married 34 years and he's still my BFF
Fitness327wk wrote: »@kcn2bluesky
I am SO happy you ordered the books!! I absolutely LOVE their books and I am thrilled you are enjoying their books! They also publish a magazine called flow every other month. It is expensive since they are shipping from the UK. Here is their website:
https://www.flowmagazine.com
You can also order back issues on eBay that are more reasonable priced. Another book coming out in March/April worldwide, I think you may be able to order through Amazon is: https://www.flowmagazine.com/shop/flow-book-paper-lovers-6.
Have a great Sunday!
Thanks again for the book & magazine recommendations @Fitness327wk ! I signed up for their newsletter yesterday and checked out their magazine. Definitely pricey but I suspect, based on the quality and content of their books, that the magazine is worth the purchase price, if even just to try for a year. I think I might ask for this as a birthday gift.
For anyone interested, here is a link to the knitting bag my hubby purchased:
https://www.amazon.com/Teamoy-Knitting-Organizer-Supplies-Accessories/dp/B0748CVHH4/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=knitting+bag&qid=1548080487&sr=8-3-spons&th=1
And here are links to the Flow books:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-That-Takes-Its-Time/dp/0761193774/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SXV0OKL9JEPV&keywords=a+book+that+takes+its+time+an+unhurried+adventure+in+creative&qid=1548080562&sprefix=a+book+that,aps,199&sr=8-12 -
Hope everyone has a great start to a new week
True Confession Time: I've done so well with the drinking thing and NOW I need to really start working on the eating thing. I've struggled with various addictions throughout my life...food was my first love...and my last holdout!! Lately, I've been medicating myself with food instead of booze...is there a difference LOL!! Just need to say this out loud.
It isn't the substance we use, the addiction is only a symptom of the underlying issue...at the same time, it becomes a 'habit' to misuse food. I use it, in part, to alleviate anxiety...it numbs me out OR I am so focused on my sore belly that I can tune out the rest LOL...seriously though, I have had a sore stomach on & off for two entire days...instead of a booze hangover I have a food hangover....
There's likely nothing anyone can say to me that I haven't said to myself, over & over & over, BUT y'all can try!!!
I'm just needing to write my way into figuring this out...and when I think about my process with cutting out alcohol, it began with this same line of thought, "Why am I doing this to myself?"
The anxiety I am currently feeling is due to a situation that is totally out of my control. Food is not helping!!!!!! It just makes me feel worse all the way around...that is how I felt with using booze as a numbing agent...once I came out of my fog, reality hit hard and it was such a helpless, frustrating feeling to feel out of control...
Anyway, I'm a piece of work, hopefully in progress.... 9 -
@lorrainequiche59 Write down your eating or health goals for this week. Make them short and sweet. I know how anxiety feels. I try to mediate when i feel that way. It calms the mind. You also made me think of my fav health guru Eckhart Tolle and I listened to this just now. He has other things out there. I find his advice centering.
Do you ever see a therapist? I do, and that really helps me get to the core of my issues. We are all a work in progress. Sending you a big hug.
https://youtu.be/h6o2n4ZmF4Q 5 -
@RubyRed427 Thanks for the helpful hints...I will write my goal list for this week. I never do that, but it's certainly worth a try.
Yes, I've done all kinds of therapy through the years. I had a pretty messed up home life. I listen to a lot of YouTube therapists now...the last therapist I saw referred to things she learned on YouTube so I figure if it's good enough for her......!! and yes it is the "core" beliefs that we have about ourselves that can hold us back. I'd like to find someone again, (my last one moved out of town) but I'm not sure if I could get it covered through our provincial health care. I've been thinking of talking with my Doc and see if there is anyone that specializes in my particular issues & if it can be funded. Thanks again....BIG HUG back
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RubyRed427 wrote: »I’m doing well. In the evenings I am more bored since I didn’t sign up for art class or bible class. I think that was a bad idea. I just sit in my house after working out and cooking dinner, and think well is this all there is? Sitting drinking tea and reading. I had a little pity party but this morning feel terrific of course, that I didn’t drink this month.It really is a game changer with how the body reacts and is healing.
There might be some alcohol-free groups in the area on Meetup (they might not specifically be advertised as alcohol-free but are alcohol-free in practice, like there's a vegan meetup I go to sometimes and it's not specifically alcohol-free but nobody ever drinks there).salleewins wrote: »I have gone through periods where I am not sure what to do to be busy lately. Nothing sounds appealing. It is cold out. Work is hard. I think it is winter....I feel tired. One thing I am happy about is not hearing hours and hours of lawnmowing. ha ha. It will come to me and I better get on it as the liquor store looks more appealing and I can't have that. I better put my mind to it tomorrow.
Winter is hard. I don't usually go out much in the winter unless I absolutely have to, but I have to make more of an effort to actually go hang out with people. I work from home too. It was under 15 degrees today so I didn't even bother to go outside at all.Thanks for the support...
Today in Wall Street Journal, there was an article on how AF is the new trend and alcohol sales are down across the board and alcohol companies are now offering AF alternatives....if you have access to WSJ check it out
in the same article was a link to a 'dry january' article....it listed all the benefits and said that dry january has been big in england and is now also getting big in US
Wow that's really interesting and exciting! Maybe if it continues there will be more alternatives to bars and stuff to hang out.
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Good morning, Friends! I just came across this quote for those struggling....and who isn't struggling at one time or another?
"Every day may not be a good day BUT there is good in every day."
I wish you all peace and happiness today Jen 10 -
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Hey all,was reading the less alcohol thread and someone pointed out that we only have 10 days left in January! It's gone by so fast,dang! Lorraine,I had this dorky therapist I had been seeing and he put on a YouTube breathing video,same one I had already seen before but whatever helps right? I did stop seeing him though cuz we just didnt mesh,he was around my age and I think I had a hard time taking him seriously for some reason,jeep seeing commercials for online therapy,Michael Phelps peddles one I wonder if it works? Everyone sounds fab,wishes for a happy AF day for us all! 6
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