The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living
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@xMrBunglex excellent analogy!!! "Watch the movie to the end." I learn so much from all of you.
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In case you are wavering in your resolve this might help get you back on track. Really eye opening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCiS97wgF-U5 -
@JenT304 This is awful but good to watch. I think for me, I know that my body reacts poorly to a few drinks after I abstain for a week or two. I really worry that one day I will go too far. I also say to myself not to worry about anyone else’s consumption just my own. Because sometimes, I think well my friends drink way more than me and more often, and they look fine. But we really don’t know if their organs are fine. And it’s not for me to control anyone but myself.
The video says these people are not alcoholics, they just unwind and have a few glasses in the evening.
My son is turning 21 in a few days. Different people have joked that he’ll have to have a few drinks to celebrate. That saddens me. I absolutely don't want him to become me. For me, I think it’s a scary ritual to have some alcohol to celebrate your 21st birthday. It would be so nice if our culture didn’t push that. I know I will not be the one to buy him his first beer.9 -
RubyRed my son turned 21 in Feb and about a month later he drank at his other friends birthday party,I didn't know but he woke up to throw up,I thought the poor kid was just sick and made him call off work! Later in when I learned the truth I was so upset cuz like you said I don't want him becoming me7
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RubyRed my son turned 21 in Feb and about a month later he drank at his other friends birthday party,I didn't know but he woke up to throw up,I thought the poor kid was just sick and made him call off work! Later in when I learned the truth I was so upset cuz like you said I don't want him becoming me
@RubyRed427 @whitpauly be the change yo want him to see ... for yourselves. If he ever needs to get clean himself, it may be easier if he sees the pathway by someone who went before him. My Mom and Dads journey sure helped me :-)8 -
This one is even more horrifying and not for the squeamish. I don't post these to be a bummer. I just think we should be informed of what alcohol can actually do to our bodies. This one is about 50 minutes long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObwgFtOVmI
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GOOD MORN
@JenT304 Thank you for posting these videos. I haven't watched the 2nd one yet cause I have to scoot to work in a minute, but the first one is disturbing. How sad for that poor guy thinking like the majority of drinkers that a few drinks to wind down is ok. The docs comments were interesting when he stated that the majority of alcoholic liver disease is NOT alcoholics, but people like the man in the video. I agree with you that education is power and it's food for thought and a motivator to continue to stay on the path to wellness.
@RubyRed427 I think we all do the looking at the other person and thinking, "Well, they seem ok and if they can do it...." It's human nature to compare ourselves, but the video was a good reminder that we are unique in so many ways that what affects one may not affect another. Especially in the case of disease...it isn't always apparent until it is too late.
It made me think of a couple of people I know, former drinking buds, who have fatty liver disease and one of them has been battling cancer for years and both continue to drink while taking Milk Thistle for their "liver". THAT to me is even sadder because they KNOW they have a health issue and yet value alcohol over their health. That is addiction!! and denial at it's finest6 -
@RubyRed427 I hope all goes well with your son this week! It is a scary ritual, and it's scary and stressful to know we can't control what our children do (mine are 22, 20, and 16). But we can control our actions and be a model for them, as @walterm852 says.6
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@FeelinFooFoo I could not believe the young woman with the massive abdomen that needs to have it drained every 3 weeks. That right there was enough to make me question if I EVER want another drink for ANY reason.1
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WOW on the video!! Really shows the capacity humans have for denial. In particular the young man who had 2 bouts of pancreatitis and continues to work at "cutting back" on his alcohol consumption. He'll likely be another statistic for alcohol abuse unfortunately. Certainly adds more fuel to my fire for continuing to stop abusing alcohol. Thank you for sharing that Jen!!3
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »Day 9 and I feel much more confident that if I experience stress, to try other methods to relax instead of buying wine.
A warm shower, cup of herbal tea, going for a walk, early to bed, watch a film. I am far more 'tempted' now to try these approaches instead of buying wine. Result!
You GO Girl!! The longer you stop, the better life your life will get. You CAN do this!!7 -
Thanks everyone for your suppportive words. You’re the best!
Thanks Jen for those scary real videos! Scared straight!
Today, I wrote my son a birthday letter of how proud I am of him. And things like that.
I also added a paragraph that I have not really broached with him. It was to let him know that some of us in the family have trouble with alcohol. (He wont be that suprised with that statement . I told him the dangers and the signs of addiction. And I also advised him to take care of your friends. Watch out for each others’ wellbeing. Then, I wrote that I’m going to link my credit card to an uber account for his phone and if he ever feels it’s unwise to drive, call Uber.
I remember in 2017 when I quit drinking for Dry January, he was really proud of me. At that time, he despised alcohol or people around him drinking.
Small victory: my fav friend in the neighborhood is a wine lover. She’s been asking me to go out for a few weeks now. So, today, I answered her and said “Yes I can go to eat but I am on a detox cleanse and I cannot drink. “ I’ll drive her. She responded “I’ll do the cleanse with you.” I was surprised. She sure loves her wine. Now, I have to eat healthy at the dinner! Ha! I know I said a white lie but sometimes it’s necessary. I may confide in her at dinner that I am planning on my detox to last indefinitely.8 -
FeelinFooFoo wrote: »Day 9 and I feel much more confident that if I experience stress, to try other methods to relax instead of buying wine.
A warm shower, cup of herbal tea, going for a walk, early to bed, watch a film. I am far more 'tempted' now to try these approaches instead of buying wine. Result!
So happy for you. Also, thanks for the status updates... I've been really curious to see others progress. I would do the exact same thing when I was stressed... get some wine and guzzle it down... always made things worse later!
My anxiety has gotten better but obviously hasn't gone away... when I'm on the verge, I do breathing exercises, herbal teas as well, exercise and I recently tried the "Goodbye Stress" vitagummy from Olly which helped when I was having a panic attack. I believe it's all mind over matter, but sometimes my mind takes over.
I was tempted to get wine about 3 times in the last week, but resisted the urge. I just remember all the documentaries I've watched on alcohol and read the stats... makes me not want to even touch it. 50 days AF so far for me... woo!8 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »Thanks everyone for your suppportive words. You’re the best!
Thanks Jen for those scary real videos! Scared straight!
Today, I wrote my son a birthday letter of how proud I am of him. And things like that.
I also added a paragraph that I have not really broached with him. It was to let him know that some of us in the family have trouble with alcohol. (He wont be that suprised with that statement . I told him the dangers and the signs of addiction. And I also advised him to take care of your friends. Watch out for each others’ wellbeing. Then, I wrote that I’m going to link my credit card to an uber account for his phone and if he ever feels it’s unwise to drive, call Uber.
I remember in 2017 when I quit drinking for Dry January, he was really proud of me. At that time, he despised alcohol or people around him drinking.
Small victory: my fav friend in the neighborhood is a wine lover. She’s been asking me to go out for a few weeks now. So, today, I answered her and said “Yes I can go to eat but I am on a detox cleanse and I cannot drink. “ I’ll drive her. She responded “I’ll do the cleanse with you.” I was surprised. She sure loves her wine. Now, I have to eat healthy at the dinner! Ha! I know I said a white lie but sometimes it’s necessary. I may confide in her at dinner that I am planning on my detox to last indefinitely.
Wow, you're such a great mother!! I bet he really appreciates what you're doing and have done for him. Also awesome that your friend is gonna cleanse with you. It's so cool when friends do that.5 -
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Everyone is making great progress! Thank you for sharing your stories. I want to share this. I've told the story before but I don't know if I told it here. When my niece was 2 or 3 she climbed up to a shelf and pulled down a wine glass and said, "Aunt Jenny's cup!" Everyone laughed uproariously but now I look back in total shame. Fast forward 22 years. Now I have my own nearly 3 year old grand daughter. Yesterday she said to me, "Granny, you are my best friend." It was the sweetest thing in the entire world. My heart melted. I decided right then and there that I will try to be the kind of person she thinks I am, which does not allow for setting a terrible example by drinking. I want her to be proud of me. It took a while before her mother (my daughter) came to trust me completely watching her...remember she used to taste my drinks when I would go over there to babysit? I am not going to risk that again. These relationships are way more precious to me than a momentary buzz followed by hours of shame and regret.8
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Awesome job everybody I haven't had a chance to watch the videos yet but I will, wishes for a happy and healthy AF day for us all!3
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Everyone is indeed doing great. I’ve been slammed at school so also need to catch up and watch videos. Day 40 for me! That no longer sounds like a lot to me, which I think is good because I used to think 30 days meant I had surely recalibrated and so was ready to drink moderately. I’m not fooling myself like that again.
My one sip on day 36 convinced me that I don’t crave the taste. I crave escape and numbness. That strengthens my resolve. That and how much better my face looks. I guess vanity will always be a motivator for me.11 -
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Funny update: I just came back from dinner with my friend. Last night, she said she would join me in not drinking. So we sit down at the table. Waiter comes and I order seltzer. And she orders a chardonnay. She says to me “Well I had a really hard day!” Then, she ordered another. So much for solidarity!9
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