nuffer Member

My dad group has been getting together for drinks/dinner monthly for nearly 20 years. Last night was our first in-person (all fully vaxxed) outing in fifteen months. All but one of the group drinks, and the one close friend is fifteen years sober. I had about 20 seconds of craving watching the beers land at the table and I…

I don't have notifications turned on so ... better late than never? Apologies. Anyhow, what has worked for me is getting something else in my hands and in my brain. Reading, working in the garage, walking the dog, going for a bike ride. Just something to shake up the fact that I would be sitting in my usual spot in the…

Today marks two years free from alcohol. I am still amazed. Some days are easier, some are more challenging. All of them add up. I rarely post anything but am a regular lurker. Thank you all for being here, everyone from those typing "day 1" to those with years being booze-free. Thank you all -- you're awesome.

Sleep is a tough one. After decades of using booze to put me to bed every night, I'm still struggling to find a solution that works reliably without it, even after over 600 days free from alcohol. Aging, lack of exercise, lack of sunlight, and various injuries are all contributors, I believe. Some things that have helped…

This needs repeating. The "news" is hardly worthy of the term. Why feed anxiety and pessimism when I have plenty of that already? I've been binging on a few different YouTube channels where, among other things, acts of kindness and humanity appear regularly (Check out Itchy Boots -- a woman who travels via motorcycle all…

Thank you for the reminder @donimfp! After nine of these, number 10 will be my first sober one. And for those of you outside the U.S., I'm sorry that you've had to put up with so much blather about our election!

"one glass to unwind" wasn't a thing I said to myself for decades. It was enough to stop the shakes so I wouldn't spill filling #2 glass and beyond. Just having my evenings free sober is liberating. I can do something involving tools or fine motor skills if the mood strikes. Just knowing that's possible has become awesome…

I passed the 500 day mark and didn't even notice. It does get easier. For the former beer drinkers, I've found a source for Lagunitas brewing Hop seltzer. It's not NA beer -- there's no malt, just a zero calorie hop-flavored water with a touch of yeast. I used to homebrew and hang out with a bunch of hopheads. I miss my…

Congratulations on six months! What a great milestone. My oldest friend and ex drinking buddy just made the two year mark on sobriety. If he can do it, anyone can.

+ 1 makes 479 Congrats to all who are adding a sober day, whether it's the first or the eleventy fortieth. Building a fence in the heat and the dust makes me want a beer at the end of the day. Iced tea is just as good.

Good luck with the nicotine. Quitting tobacco was the hardest thing I've ever done. Some people might recommend quitting one thing at a time but whatever, you've got to do you!

Wrapped up a six-day motorcycle trip on forest and jeep roads. It's been a long-time dream of mine to do this. I wouldn't even let myself seriously consider getting on a motorcycle when I was drinking, much less owning one. It was no problem to keep myself to fizzy water, regular water, and occasional cannabis while my…

I would have an NA beer if someone handed it to me and I was looking for hydration, but I'm not shopping for a replacement. Beer in excess was never my problem, it was just how I started before sliding over to bourbon. I actually was a pretty good homebrewer back in the day (30 years ago), so I'm particular about that…

15 years is fantastic. My good friend also ticked that fifteen year mark as well. Congratulations!

Another sober Independence Day, check. Hope everyone had a good one! We had some young folks out on the boat drinking White Claw. Erg, even when I was drinking, I had my standards :smiley: I've noticed those nearest and dearest to me are drinking far less. I am not judging or saying anything, but I'm also no longer leading…

Good call @Beka3695 (I crack myself up) I started social distancing for alcohol before it was cool for the virus. It still works when needed. When I started going out to be social again when I knew there's be alcohol, I always went with an escape plan. A quick walk around outside was usually enough to quell the cravings.…

Even after a year, there are still triggers. Doing meal prep last night, music blasting, and out of nowhere, bam, "sure would be nice to have a little something." Hit me unexpectedly hard and had to take some time, go sit down and just breathe, concentrate on breathing. Needed about ten minutes to get evened out. Sometimes…

2nd sober Memorial Day weekend in a row. Or ever, if we're counting from about 1982. Congrats to all who are maintaining and for those who are struggling -- it's worth it!

Things are getting a little stressful but it's amazing that they're actually easier to deal with sober than not. I would not have believed that little factoid a year ago. Instead of putting things off with another pint glass of corn likker, it's just easier to find a physical activity, open some fizzy water, and move on.…

Happy Mother's day to all the moms! I lost my mom in 1994. Every year since, I'd raise a glass to her memory on this day -- she did love her wine. Still will hoist a glass for this evening, but this time it's fizzy water. When the isolation and working from home started, I thought for sure I'd be at risk for getting back…

One of my biggest challenges in quitting was sleep. After decades of basically passing out every night, it took months to get back to any kind of normal. I used to think that I was a heavy sleeper. Turns out that really I'm not. After a sober year I still find sleep to be a challenge. In these days of working from home and…

For me, moderation is not an option. It took me years to accept that fact. All the best intentions and plans in the world and before long my attempts to drink "normally" were completely out the window (and down the street, running wildly without pants). Took me WAY too long to come to terms with the fact that booze is not…

One day at a time -- it really works. At the start I couldn't even think of an entire day, had to break it down to chunks much smaller and achievable. Waking up on a Sunday morning with a clear mind and complete memory of the evening before is a great feeling!

"last day 1" I'm gonna steal it :smiley:

Hidden bottles. Hell yes, I had plenty of those. Everything I found after I stopped was empty, fortunately. I was trying to hide the sheer amount I was consuming from my family, so I'd stash the empties in all kinds of weird places, but mostly in and around my home office. I think I have found all of them now, and they've…

Howdy everyone. I have been lurking since this thread began. I feel like I know many of you a little bit. I really appreciate the sharing and I guess now it's my turn. Today marks my first year of sobriety. Though I'm pleased with myself, I know I'm not finished with the process of staying clear of alcohol, not at all. At…

1400 last night, nothing special except the weather is cooling and not so many are willing to come out in the evening chill.

1350y in 35 minutes tonight. Seems to be many more people doing evening swim this year. We'll see if they're still coming out in December when it's 40 degrees and raining hard :smiley: Nice work on that 3300y, @girlwithcurls2

Also, great job everyone. I didn't scroll through everything, but did catch that @fishgutzy did an amazing ten mile swim -- wow!