DRY 13

[lilybetsy]

This is the thread for all those who are living, or committed to living, life free from alcohol.

I will quote a sober poster "I'm fitter, slimmer, richer, happier & healthier"

Go sober warriors !

Morning everyone,

Welcome to those just joining!

Very quick post as I'm off to work. Sober and not drinking today. Will catch up later when home from work.

Morning all, haven't posted in a while and this will be a quick one as I'm on my phone. Doing okay, went out to the pub last night! It wS the first time in months and months and, although there was a gang of us, only two people had alcohol. Slightly weird sitting there surrounded by people drinking soda and lime but we had a great time catching up and laughing like lunatics.

Am no longer in Duracell bunny mode which is a but if a shame as my to do list is growing again. Ah well.

Welcome to all new people, we are all doing so well! We are awesome!

Howbad how are things with you today?

Hi everyone.

I am still here. Last night was easier. So today is day 10. I am kind of amazed at myself.

I do need to brainstorm new treats and rewards though. I am feeling deprived all the time, which is no good.

well done onewhite - so pleased things are a bit easier - I agree feeling deprived is not great - so have a think about what treats might work for you :-)

welcome back Hadron - you will get there too ! If I had stuck with it the first time I quit I wouldn't be far off the 1000 day mark. Ho hum

Slim and Girls you book those treats! I would really like to have my teeth whitened - how are you planning to do it ? I think its important to take care of oneself - (at least I think this intellectually, I don't always do it) and I also fine that once have done something self caring I am more likely to continue positive behavior eg eating better, doing exercise.

Day 97 today.

Welcome mad - this is definitely the right place to post. You CAN do this - and there is lots of support and practical advice here. How old are your DD's? Whatever has happened in the past, they need you to be there in the future - and by choosing to be sober now, you can be a very positive role model for them. Keep posting and take it one day at a time.

matron .... ??

Hi vxa and cooee , finnish, glad and jojo

and everyone else too !!

lily xx

One Lemon Curd ice-cream is my reward replacement....have to watch it though as its very ready to eat just one more bowl!

LUCY

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🌟🌟🌟CONGRATULATIONS🌟🌟🌟🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

💐🍫💐🍫💐🍫💐🍫💐ONE THOUSAND DAYS 💐🍫💐🍫💐🍫💐💐🍫

Welcome mad. You'll see I am super new here and started posting on this thread in a really miserable and distressed and anxious state. I felt awful - really hopeless - and the self loathing was terrible. People here gave me such wise and kind and firm advice. I will need it again - I'm talking like an expert and I am in no way an expert AT ALL - but only a few days ahead of you. Just drink as much water as you can and give yourself another day and see how you feel.

girls oh that sounds like a lovely treat. I've been eating more sweet things recently - I gather sugar cravings are usual at this stage. I was drinking about 1000 calories a day in booze so I am not too worried about eating right now, but don't want to get into more bad habits.

What treats does everyone else reward themselves with? I'm thinking I might go to the garden centre this weekend... :)

Evening all, welcome to newcomers.

Am sad today at the world we live in - that poor woman killed doing her job in Leeds

The wine witch has been hovering around me the last couple of days but I've succeeded in fighting her off so far. Am getting better at recognising my patterns e.g. it's downtime for me between stuff, DH is away, it's long enough since my last slip that I'm starting to think I'd be ok with a glass etc and then doing all the necessary - playing it forward, forcing myself to realise it wouldn't 'just be one' and so on. Was planning to have a footbath and manicure type of treat-y things tonight but am too tired to do it!!

Garden things are a nice treat onewhite - I bought some plants and a new pot a few weeks back and I really enjoy seeing the flowers every day.

Hope everyone is ok and keeping on!

Hi all

jojo - I agree - shocking news.

onewhite - tonight I made Date, Walnut and chocolate truffles - took about 20 mins, and they are amazing! Vegan, gluten & refined sugar free and very lovely. That's my sober treats sorted for the next few days...

Crikey, am very glad I wasn't drinking tonight - I think there is a bat trapped in my lounge! I was watching tv when something black and flappy flew in - I shot out, freaked out, rang dh in a panic (why is he never here when stuff happens!!), ran back in and opened a window and closed all the doors.

Eeek, am going to have to do a search tomorrow morning. Got ds2 in bed with me, checked ds1's room and left a note for him to stay upstairs in the morning. I can only think it flew in earlier through the back door as the lounge windows weren't open. Aaargh, sorry for thread hi-jack but am quite freaked!!

ooooohhhh bats!!!!!! Love bats! (Sorry, doesn't help )

If you still have it in the morning (unlikely as probably went out the open window) call your local wildlife centre if you have one. They will have rescuers on their books who can come and sort it safely. Personally I have found that the RSPCA have never been terribly interested in any of my wildlife related emergencies but the wildlife trust people certainly are!

Finnish those truffles sound amazing.

on sober treats - garden things are wonderful. Summer 2014 when I first joined DRY I spent loads of money on strawberry plants. Little strawberry flowers are peeking at me right now and the strawbs are gorgeous.

Terrible news about Jo Cox. I am speechless really. Bless her and her family.

slim hope the bat situation is sorted !!

lucy huge congratulations on 1000 days. It is fantastic and a real inspiration.

I will come back and read properly later but I just need to say out loud that I am having really bad cravings this morning. I have had a long week at work and today is going to be full on. I hate this feeling. I am not going to drink but I could do without this. Can't say this to my DH as it sounds a bit pathetic and he would worry.

Thank you fellow sober warriors! I need to thank ALL of you. Every single one of you who reads and comments or lurks. Thank you for being here, for supporting me, and if you’re reading this and wondering if you can achieve this too – to you I say abso-bloody-lutely. If I can do this you can do this!
Scuse the language but f*ck me - 1000 days Let the bathing in chocolate begin My lovely sober blogging friend Prim says I am now a member of the Quad Squad - I like it!
ahangoverfreelife.com/2016/06/17/1000-days-sublimation/

lucy congratulations! That is amazing. Do you feel like you never think about it now? Like you're just a not-drinker and there's no need to make a special effort?

I had a work social event last night. Drove there and back, which was cheaper and more convenient for me and which I would not have done if I'd have been drinking. Did not drink - came home and had a cup of herbal tea and was asleep by 11pm. Woke up refreshed and with a clear conscience. It is amazing.

No sign of batty this morning thank goodness. Think slim must be right and he flew out again when it was dark and quiet. Bizarre!

Congrats lucy, 1000 days!!

Hope today is calmer than you expect vxa and don't let those pesky cravings get the better of you. Happy, sober Friday everyone!

Well done onewhite, hope you enjoyed the waking up without having to try to remember if you'd said/done anything wrong - I'm looking forward to those kind of evenings...

Lucy - sorry - missed out on the congrats - 1,000 is such an amazing achievement - I can't even begin to look that far ahead - glad you've such an amazing holiday lined up to celebrate it! bathing in chocolate indeed!

Glad the bat escaped overnight Jojo

vxa - I seem to have more struggles with mornings than with evenings at the moment - (and I've never been a day-time drinker!) But by actual drinking time comes around I have a bath and all seems better.

Well done Lucy. :) :) :)

Congratulations Lucy - 1,000 days is absolutely amazing, what an achievement!! You must be delighted :)

How does it feel now? Does it still catch you off guard, is it still sometimes difficult or is it just life? Have you changed a lot of friends over the years or have you just adapted to new routines with those friends or even kept the same social outings but just without the drink?

Jojo - sorry to hear about the bat but thank god it's gone without too much drama otherwise you would have had to call out SlimCheesy to come and save you!

Finnish - those truffles sounds amazing - recipe please? They sound pretty low carb?

vxa - sorry to hear you are struggling and how odd that it is affecting you in the morning? I think we concentrate for so long on how on earth to get through the evenings that suddenly they become easier and we don't even think about having a drink but maybe there has to be an outlet somewhere and that's why it's hitting you during the day?

Onewhite - well done on the social!

Sorry if I haven't namechecked everyone - day 4 for me today and going out with DH tonight to watch a dreadfully girly film which he is coming along to with gritted teeth!! But I have sat and endured many a shouty, speedy, gun toting, drama rife action film in the past so he is just going to have to grin and bare it

Congratulations Lucy that is an amazing achievement and to anyone else who has reached a milestone. I'm coming up for two weeks and its the longest I've not drank since I was pregnant 6 years ago, so 1,000 days feels like a long way off.

Sorry to hear of those who are struggling; the wine witch is a one isn't she - I've had a terrible day at work and started to think about a glass (bottle) of wine later, but I will resist as I'm not drinking today.

I do agree with everyone here who says that moderation is just not possible, for me once the bottle's open I keep going until its gone, so best not to open a bottle. I was thinking about the possibility of sharing a bottle with a friend or DH but I know I'm a long way from there, if I ever get there.

I hope everyone has lovely sober weekends planned, we're going out for Father's Day lunch on Sunday but we're going to a dry restaurant so I won't be tempted.

Thank you again ladies :) It is mostly just life now, like giving up smoking, it's something I just don't do anymore. The majority of the time it doesn't cross my mind but at big social events like a close family wedding tomorrow I will be mindful. There may be the odd wistful thought but only because I want to fit in and not be seen as different not because I want to drink per se. Plus it's a sober first so I have some nerves as it's a new experience. Friendships have changed and there are some I simply don't see anymore as our only bond was drink. As the saying goes 'those who matter don't care and those who care don't matter' and that has absolutely been my experience.
Stay strong sober warriors - I am no different to you, I have no sober superpowers, it really is one day at a time

vxa sorry you are not feeling great today.. can you put your finger on a reason?

What lovely self indulgent kind thing can you do for yourself this evening ?

Hi all and congratulations Lucy the feeling deprived really resonates with me and am happy to hear any ideas about how to handle this , I don't do beauty stuff ( no particular reason just don't! ) and am a bit wary of sweet treats as already over 40 and overweight I just want no booze to feel fun although booze is no longer fun I keep trying to make it fun despite all the evidence to the contrary !! Am thinking swimming or running as used to do both slowly

Just have to pop my head in to say congratulations Lucy!!! You are fantastic
And, you've helped me so much, not just with the "dry" advice but with your clever recognition of my codependency tendencies. I've come a long way with that........between you, Melody Beatty and Brene Brown, boy have I changed a lot, for the better!! xx

KOKO Sober Warriors

vxa how are you?
gingersam Mrs D over at Living Sober has the best sober first aid kit with all kinds of ideas for lots of sensory rewards
Hurricane Thank you and you are most welcome :) Brene Brown is my hero

gingersam swimming is great, I go twice a week and the early bird swim on a Sunday morning is often part of my not drinking plan on a Saturday night - I make myself think about how good it feels after a swim and how I can't do it with a hangover and it helps keep me on track.
Am not a runner myself but my uncle is and he recently told me about something called 'Park run' which are free, weekly 5k runs for people of all abilities at various locations around the country and abroad - he enjoys it as a social thing as well as an exercise thing. www.parkrun.org.uk gives more information.