Sober Discussion (Ongoing)
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You all are inspiring to pick my knitting needles up. Also, I have fallen down the Instagram rabbit hole, looking at DIY holiday crafts. There are so many! A couple years ago I found one for pop tart gingerbread houses to make with the grands. So cute and easy. I would not be able to do any of this while drinking.4
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Day 44 AF
I cooked two meals last night. One meal for lunches and the other meal dinner.
I had a kombucha tea in a wine glass. It was pleasant. I used to cook just so I could drink wine!
Have a great day! The sun set at 5:15 p.m. last night. It was dark!3 -
Hi everyone,
Forgot to post yesterday but I had no alcohol on Monday either; so today, safe at home base, I can report:
11/05: Day 005 AF
Have a nice evening everyone,
💗 Carole4 -
So, as we get deeper into alcohol free days, it sounds like we are all finding ways to spend more productive evenings. We may have to start sharing our craft projects at some point!
My last night was spent at the salon. 3.5 hours for cut, color and nails, something I never would have sat through all at once before. Not getting home until after 8:30...unheard of!!
I am not a fan of the earlier darkness either! I find it hard to stay motivated after the sun goes down. Tonight will be the first night I have nothing and my body is wearing down from the time change. I will need to force myself to do something or I'll be in bed by 6!
Happy hump day everyone!3 -
Month 2 Day 5 AF done. I have an insanely busy work week so my focus is on getting my butt to the gym today no matter what. This is mandatory for my new lifestyle. It is my foundation for my AF life. Today I am weightlifting. I find my mood is great after and I tend to prioritize me the rest of the day. I do that and same with hiking if I hike for more than 3 hours. But the weights will give me a lift even if I do them for only half hour.
I worked like a maniac past 2 days, did not fit in exercise and this is a risky place to be. Off to get my gym stuff ready.
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Hi everyone,
Safe at Home Base!
11/06/24: Day 006 AF
Guess what? I might get a cat soon! A friend of my sister's friend's sister (got that?) had to give up her cat due to developing a severe allergy after the birth of her second son. Her sister had been fostering the cat since July, but her husband isn't ready for a new cat because they recently lost their 18 year old cat (in July!)
Here's what's interesting: I lost my 18 year old cat in July, 2023. I've been trying to adopt another one since THIS July. Here's something else: This cat looks a LOT like my Mimichou, who passed away! Just today I prayed for a cat because I really need companionship and comfort after "recent events". It's almost like it's meant to be! My home is not quite ready, but this cat is scheduled for spay surgery on the 14th and then will need time to recover; so that gives ME time to prepare for her. I will get to meet her first and learn more about her.
She looks like this:
Very much like my Mimichou! It's amazing!
Have a nice night, everyone!
💗 Carole1 -
Hi
A better way to say the above (I think) is that one of my sister's friends reposted a post originally posted by another friend whose sister had to give up her cat due to developing a severe allergy after the birth of her second child; so my sister's friend's other friend had temporarily agreed to foster her sister's cat until she could find another home for her. (Wait. Did that make it even worse, LOL?)
Anyway, I sure hope it works out. I will keep you posted!2 -
HAHAHA!!! @Walela617 you are sooo excited!!! I love "seeing" that!!! No matter how you say it, you have the possibility of getting a companion. That is great!!!
@globalhiker exercise gives you such a great endorphin lift! I have not worked out for several years, but that it something I am working on getting back to. I have worked on on the physical things that have kept me from the exercise, now I have to get back in the habit of the exercise. Great for you!
Last night I had a brief moment of wanting a glass of wine. I spent 3 hours painting our sunroom floor. It was very nice to be able to do this on a weeknight! But then I wanted a reward for my hard work... I settled for a bowl of ice cream.
Happy Thursday everyone! Here's to another AF day to everyone!2 -
Month 2, 6 days AF done, happily.
I was so super busy at work yesterday I didn't get my first meal in until 2:30pm and I ran to the market right before since I was out of everything. Unplanned day is always risky at my AF stage! I did check out the wine aisle to see if they had any "new" AF beverages, but nothing. I did not once consider buying "real" alcohol. BUT somehow Brookside chocolate bags were on sale for $3.99 and 3 of them jumped into my cart, made their way into my house and many got into my tummy last night. LOL.
Congrats Carole, your new cat is very cute!3 -
Good morning everyone, Way to stay STRONG @renae149! That's awesome! @globalhiker, that's really brave, checking out the wine aisle! You have a great streak going! LOVE those Brookside chocolates! We're going to have an alcohol-free bottle shop called, "DRAY" opening soon in Cambridge, right near my work. I hope they will be open by the holidays so I can look into some non-alcoholic "bubbly" with which to toast Thanksgiving and the New Year! They deliver too. I saw an ad on their website https://www.draydrinks.com/ offering free shipping on the first order.
Have a great day!
💗Carole2 -
Day 47 AF
Had my blood tests today- no results yet. I am curious to see how being AF benefited me.
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So glad to see you back on here @RubyRed427! Been wondering about your blood test. Good luck!3
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Good morning everyone,
Happy weekend! I missed the last two postings but I'm staying strong.
I don't plan on going anywhere this weekend; so I will post for today now and will post for tomorrow on Sunday morning.
11/09: 009 Days AF
Best wishes for your great results, @RubyRed427!
Have a great weekend,
💗 Carole
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I drank last night. I knew I would. Relapse happens in the mind several days in advance. It was heavenly to have that wine. We split a bottle at a restaurant. I slept well, too.
So far regarding the blood test results: My cholesterol numbers were sky high. Like really high. That was one trigger. It was easy to say, well for all that abstinence, I was "rewarded" with extremely high cholesterol numbers. It was like adding more misery onto a difficult week of misery.
I have not gotten the liver/kidney or any other blood test results, just the cholesterol numbers.
I have zero regrets for having that wine. I will regret, however, if I continue drinking this weekend. Then, that will be very upsetting. I cannot let that happen.
47 AF
1 A
I'm not ready to restart my clock at zero. If I drink this weekend, then I will reset.4 -
@RubyRed427, you are not alone. You've got over 6 weeks AF with only 1 "A" day. You can fix it!
About the cholesterol, did the results also show your "GOOD" cholesterol number (HDL) vs. the "bad cholesterol (LDL)? I'm asking because my total cholesterol (HDL +LDL) is always high due to my HDL level always being in the 90's and several times over 100! My triglycerides tend to be in the low 60's; so when these factors are calculated to determine my cardiac risk percentage, it is always less than 2%! My sister is the same way. We are very interested in these tests because it mother passed away from congestive heart failure at age 57 (obese and a heavy smoker).
Maybe you have a high HDL as well? Were you tested for that also, or just the total? Did you fast before they drew your blood? That can affect results as well. Good luck with the other results. I hope they come out great!
I've been sorely tempted ever since the election (trying to find an excuse, I guess). Your words about relapsing in the mind several days in advance and knowing you were going to drink really hit home for me. I'm still working on learning how to "talk myself out" of those impulses.
Please don't "beat yourself up" over one slipup - it's just a "blip" on the radar, as long as you pick up right where you left off; besides, you have already done great!
Best wishes,
💗 Carole
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2 months, 8 days AF done. I almost lost it yesterday but held together miserably. I was having such an easy time past month, yesterday was just crap and not sure if my nutrition and sleep are off.
@RubyRed427 I really like your approach and it's good to not blame ourselves when something normal and expected happens, it's not a "relapse" just one planned night out. But a quick bounce-back is necessary. Once my wine devil gets a hold, the negotiation begins. I'll drink only when I go out, then progress to only Saturdays, then the pattern changes to I'll drink only on weekends, the it's I'll drink only with dinner and limit it to 2, then I start buying multiple bottles because I get a discount and the wine just creeps back into my life pretty damn quick.
@Walela617 good point regarding "excuses". All excuses came from my wine devil. "He" always made an excuse. I am firm with myself now and I live by the rule of "no excuses" when it comes to alcohol, just because I really want to END that behavioral response pattern.
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Hi @globalhiker, way to go on holding steady for over two months now! I am working on recognizing an excuse as it begins to form; so I can "kick it to the curb" before it gets out of hand and emerge victorious! I had no trouble with excuses today - I'm usually fine when I'm at home.
Enjoy the rest of today and have a great Sunday, everyone! 💗 Carole3 -
Happy Sunday everyone!
I'm planning on doing housework and organizing today to start preparing for my (hopefully) new cat's arrival. She's scheduled to have spay surgery on the 14th; so I'm hoping all goes well and she recovers just fine. I'm a little puzzled about why it hadn't been done sooner (she's over three years old) but I'm sure I'll hear more about her story when I visit her (probably in early December, or possibly sooner).
I'm not going anywhere today; so I'm SAFE at home base!
11/10: 010 Days AF
Enjoy your day!
💗 Carole3 -
Morning my friends. Back from my AF vacation.
Achieved 57AF days yesterday and zero desire to poison my self again.
Cheers!5 -
@Walela617 Congrats on day 10!!
Congrats to xbowhunter on his 57 days!!
Congrats to Globalhunter and Renae.
Everyone is on track!!
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I am back on track. I did drink more wine (2 glasses) when out to lunch on Sunday. Weirdly, it did not trigger me to drink when I got home.
I slept well this weekend, over 9 hours.
And I read a book before bed, which is much more calming than looking at the news.
Although I enjoyed my AF break this weekend, I prefer not to get into the habit of drinking daily. That derails everything.5 -
2 months, 10 days AF done. I had a tough weekend but left my "rant" about it in the LA thread. Today is Monday and fresh start. I just want to feel good and happy today.
I really hope this thread keeps active. I probably would've lost it this past weekend if I didn't have this team's comraderie.
@Walela617 I must've missed your 10 day AF streak, cool, you are past the hardest part!!!3 -
We went out with friends on Saturday and I caved for wine... but I am proud of myself for not overdoing it! I feel I have a better relationship with alcohol. Like Ruby, I am not drinking everyday. Far from it...
I am so proud of everyone in here! I feel we are all on the same path. Knowing where we have been will get us to where we want to go. I am entering the busiest time of year for me at work, which will help curb the urges. At least until Christmas!! Hahaha!!
Best of luck getting through another day!! 3 -
Did not drink yesterday.
1 AF
Highest record: 9 months
Recent record: 47 days4 -
2 months, 11 days AF done. Do you guys have any particular AF duration "goal" in mind? I sort of just operate on a daily goal mentality. All I know is I probably won't drink through Thanksgiving because it will set off the holiday drinking season so it's a bad idea. I did the vacation and b-day and Labor Day and Halloween AF, now I really should power through the "holiday season" challenge and buy myself rewards for getting through it each week.4
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globalhiker wrote: »2 months, 11 days AF done. Do you guys have any particular AF duration "goal" in mind? I sort of just operate on a daily goal mentality. All I know is I probably won't drink through Thanksgiving because it will set off the holiday drinking season so it's a bad idea. I did the vacation and b-day and Labor Day and Halloween AF, now I really should power through the "holiday season" challenge and buy myself rewards for getting through it each week.
My goal is to never drink again. I look at alcohol like bleach. Would any sane person drink a glass of bleach? Nope!
We went out with on Saturday with another couple that didn't know I made the decision to choose health over booze. They were mainly supportive and agreed booze isn't working for them anymore either, but they are not willing to take the step of stopping for FOMO reasons.
They asked if I missed alcohol. My reply was "nope I don't miss feeling like crap every day". My go to line now is once you see alcohol for what it truly is you will quickly realize it isn't what you think it is.
This gets people to stop and think about it. lol5 -
I am so disappointed and angry. If you recall, I have been eagerly awaiting my blood results for liver and kidney. I got my high cholesterol results, but when I talked to the doctor's office, they said "oh sorry" we forgot to order those liver tests. I said I've been AF for over 47 days just to get my liver and kidney tested. They said, "Well let's try again in a month.".
I know it was worth being AF, but I wanted a tangible "reward" for my efforts. I wanted to see in print that I am doing well. Sigh...3 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »I am so disappointed and angry. If you recall, I have been eagerly awaiting my blood results for liver and kidney. I got my high cholesterol results, but when I talked to the doctor's office, they said "oh sorry" we forgot to order those liver tests. I said I've been AF for over 47 days just to get my liver and kidney tested. They said, "Well let's try again in a month.".
I know it was worth being AF, but I wanted a tangible "reward" for my efforts. I wanted to see in print that I am doing well. Sigh...
Hang in there. You will Reep huge benefits from staying AF. 4 -
globalhiker wrote: »2 months, 11 days AF done. Do you guys have any particular AF duration "goal" in mind? I sort of just operate on a daily goal mentality. All I know is I probably won't drink through Thanksgiving because it will set off the holiday drinking season so it's a bad idea. I did the vacation and b-day and Labor Day and Halloween AF, now I really should power through the "holiday season" challenge and buy myself rewards for getting through it each week.
Keeping the "one day at a time" mentality is the best you can do! Or at least for me. I feel if I force myself to think past that I get overwhelmed. Sure, I plan a couple days ahead. Someone said it best, maybe Ruby, saying you make the choice to drink/not drink a couple of days before. I talk myself up for the weekends. Reason with myself. I will do the same as the holidays approach, but only a few days before.4
