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 !

Welcome Godot. I'm new too. Lots of support and a place to check in if you're feeling wobbly.

I've learned that I'm not alone in drinking too much, feeling crap about it, finding it hard to do anything about it, ashamed about admitting I can't control myself.

Day 2 is cool. It's twice as much as day 1.

Welcome godot, yes I think headaches at the beginning are pretty normal. Lots of water and sleep and nice sober treats are the way to go. I remember being utterly exhausted when I first stopped and just wanting to sleep and sleep.
Plodding on here today, thoughts of alcohol but in a distant sort of way. Busy weekend planned which is always good for keeping me on the sober path.

Hello everyone and welcome godot 🙂

Bit wobbly again tonight. Work is so crazy busy and stressful without much by way of breaks during the day - and I am shattered again. It should calm down a bit for the rest of the week. Have cup of tea and will try for nice bath and early night but being so exhausted/frazzled is definitely a trigger. And not something I can avoid. If anyone has good coping strategies, would love to hear.

Ho hum. Koko. Perhaps cake to go with the tea ...?

and and to the sober warriors.

I use Clean Time. It's available for free on Play store. I like it

Being exhausted and frazzled has been a slipping point for me in the past sybil. I always regret it. Things I wish I had done to prevent it are as simple as escaping for ten minutes of solitude to either lie down and just breathe slowly or read a sober book or blog or look at my own list of points and quotes that I like that remind me why I want to be sober. Perhaps find a short meditation/relaxation app? Even when busy I try to schedule in some sort of exercise, it definitely helps. And remember to always have some sober treats in store!

Good morning all, sorry do not post much but am here and read posts every night as part of my recovery , thankyou all. In relation to first fortnight i was exhausted, did not sleep well at all, headaches and very sweaty at night, this gradually passes (honestly) just had a count here and day 86! I love the new sober me and at now rare points of craving ... Has been tricky dealing with stress and good times without a lager but am doing lots of thinking ahead still at these times and treating myself more, not saving much money yet as just bought 2 dresses as lost 1.5 stone ( looking after myself and now caring what I look like) tbh when drinking could not give a toss!

Morning everyone!

Well done on the weightloss, new dresses and 86 days Journeyon!

Yesterday, I heard that I didn't get a work promotion, then a potential new friend came over for dinner for the first time, bringing a bottle of wine.

I was so VERY VERY tempted. But managed in the end to tell her that I was having a period of not drinking, because I tend to drink too much, so I was happy for her to have a glass, but I was going to have a cup of tea!

AM feeling so proud of that that it makes up for the work disappointment

Go Sobriety!

Sybil - Work stress is horrid, and very triggering. I do use tea and sugar as a replacement, which is probably quite bad, Oh well....

Woo! Go one pillow!

Day 6 of perpetual yoga done...

Would love to join in if I may? Can't seem to find the willpower on my own.

welcome prizey willpower is hard for me too. I just keep reminding myself of the benefits and how upset with myself I will be if i drink. My DH and kids have noticed the difference in me and our wider lives - how much more involved I am in the evenings and first thing in the morning when I am not pissed / hungover. And I really don't want to disappoint them so that helps too though of course I am doing this firstly for myself.

I miscounted. Yesterday was day 30 (hooray!) and today is day 31. Amazing.

I am making myself a new milestone - day 60. For my day 60 treat I am going to repaint my bedroom. It needs it, and in a few sober evenings I would otherwise be spending crashed out on the settee watching shite on the telly I won't remember in the morning, I could do it myself. This means I have a month to save up the wine-money and choose some paint.

godot I got terrible headaches in the beginning too - really bad - the worst I've ever had. I'd drink pints and pints of water, hot water and lemon, herbal teas (I had six in one evening once) which helped with the dehydration, flushing out toxins, made my skin look great and helped with that urge to have a glass in my hand too. They didn't last longer than a week for me. I also got clammy in the night too - but that passed after a few days. It is really worth sticking it out. Just keep looking for the benefits.

Morning to all Sober Warriors old and new
Very busy and stressful day yesterday - not enough time to eat so by evening was hungry and tired. Family all out so lonely as well. Made some food and retired to sofa with Netflix and a bottle of AF lager. Not great, sugar wise but at least not alcohol and it felt good to sip from a glass and watch tv :) Asleep by 9 pm - unheard of for me! Am finally getting the hang of sober treats and looking after me I think :)
Headaches and sweats - god yes the first few weeks were a bit rough - it does get better after the first few days I promise. And it is worth it, because if you lapse you have to do it all over again next time ( shudders)

Hi prizey and welcome. There are lots of great people here who are committed to living AF. Its NOT easy - especially the fisrt two weeks are really hard physically, but it does get better. If you read pillows posts from a month ago, she sounds like a different person, only 31 days dry,

Its SO worth it.

journeyon I'm deeply impressed with your weight loss and commitment. I have lost (in the last couple of weeks only) abut 5 lbs - I'm hoping that will continue...I posted a long post about self love and taking care of ones physical appearance on my blog yesterday - wordpress.com/post/alcoholfree2016.com/1056

Love to all.Lily x

Ps I have had a pm from howbad and she is ok x

Waves to all, welcome prizey and wow, journeyon you skinny minny, you.

Lots of lovely positives on here, and some great milestones.

Thank you for the sensible suggestions. Am empathising with godot - it really does get better.

And finish if someone had actually offered me a drink last night, I would have been very tempted.

Much better today. Still very tired but have it in my head that this is a problem to solve, and that really don't want to undo six months progress. Decided not to be too strict about sugary snacks while things are so busy because hey, you have to pick your battles. Also trying to fit in a bit of a lunch break and a ten minute walk which definitely helped today. And I did the supermarket run tonight and got nice af drinks and some snacks so I will avoid a triggery Friday evening shop and can come straight home tomorrow, no messing.

Waves and welcomes to all.

Glad you are feeling a bit better today Sybil- to my relief work has been fairly gentle in the 3 weeks since I decided to go AF. "I had a bad day, I deserve a drink" has always been a big trigger.

Really thinking about the conversation on here about how it's more tiring to moderate than to abstain. Makes total sense to me.

Off to the work thing now - wine witch is NFI, fizzy water for me. I have promised you ladies, so it will happen.

Hey thanks for the welcomes everyone, I'm home from a SAT passing celebration meal and have just slumped in front of TV. Normally I'd crack open a bottle of wine to keep me company, but not tonight. On the weekend i got a cold....so I self medicated with half a litre of rum....that's why I'm here. I've put on half a stone in 3 weeks, feel so sluggish and lacking any motivation to do anything apart from drink and eat. I want to get my energy, health, body and life back. I think this thread will give me the inspiration I need. You have all done fantastically!
I did have 2 days AF this week (following the rum shame) but I felt so so so tired and crapoy by day 2 I reached for the wine. Is the tiredness normal?

Is the tiredness normal?

yes. Yes and yes! Most of were exhausted for some time when first AF; for me I think it was about 2-3 weeks of really quite profound fatigue.. But it does pass

Hi Lizzy and good luck this evening

Evening all, welcome prizey, well done on weight loss journeyon and glad to hear about howbad thanks lily

Total exhaustion was me in the first few weeks prizey - just give in to it and sleep!

Feeling unexpectedly sorry for myself tonight. We have my father in law staying so that he can attend DH's graduation ceremony tomorrow and he and DH have gone out for a meal. No-one to babysit either tonight or tomorrow so I can't do either thing. I knew this and was ok with it (and have spent the day cleaning and getting a room ready for his Dad) but then DH came home and snapped at me! I now feel cross, resentful and narky at missing out. And, I must be honest, because I can't even have any wine as consolation. I feel like the hired help sometimes!!

Oh well, never mind. Another sober day done I suppose...I guess it's good that my thoughts of wine were fleeting and not all consuming, it was a fairly easy resist for once.

Forgot to add that I spent half an hour in the dentists chair this morning having my tooth re-built! Uncomfortable and headache inducing.

Humph. Am off to bed hoping tomorrow is a better day!! Night all.

Hi everyone

prizey welcome! I was very tired first week. Fast asleep by 10 most nights.

jojo hope you feel better. I have a gum infection so antibiotics and lots of feeling sorry for myself. Left side of my face swollen like a hamster!

Have a nice Friday everyone

Hello everyone and especially new posters.
I'd forgotten the total exhaustion of the first 2 weeks. The only comparable I have is when I was in the early stages of pregnancy. I'd sleep for hours and wake still tired.

I'm on day 24 and ignoring my tiny lapse. I'm viewing it as a lesson as I didn't enjoy it.
I'm posting as I went out last night for a school reunion. Only 8 of us there and it was lovely. I didn't want to drink and in fact only 2 people did. I had all my excuses for not drinking rehearsed but didn't need them. I'm learning it's normal not to drink. No one cares if you do or don't! I had seriously convinced myself that everyone drank at every opportunity.

I'm thinking of everyone finding it hard.
Remember that Friday is just another day. No special day. No need to think that you need to drink as it's the weekend. (This is more a note to self ).

Hi everyone,

jojo and efc, hope you feel better soon!

Hadron weekends will be tricky for me, I've just texted my drinking buddy and told her I've given up the booze and I've had no response (which normally she responds straight away)

Has anyone used the Jason Vale book? Or any other tips, methods etc?
The tiredness worries me, I have alot on workwise this next couple of weeks and I hope its not going to affect me too badly. I heard the tiredness is to do with a drop in blood sugar levels. Apparently cinnamon extract, chromium and magnesium can help with this so I'll get myself some supplements.
Day 1 done!

Yuk jojo - I find with nasty dental work it's not over the minute you leave the dentists chair, it takes a few days to recover.

Prizey just take it day by day - and go to be ridiculously early if that helps.

lily thanks, last night went just fine. And do you know, I noticed a good few other people who weren't drinking either, which I wouldn't have if I had been. Asked them to take a glass of wine away when we sat down for dinner (it had been poured without me asking for it), was sitting next to a Sikh man (so teetotal). No big deal. Left after 2 hours, met a friend, later went to a v v smart cocktail bar with him where I had a truly fabulous booze-less cocktail. Home at 11, up at 6 feeling clear and smart.

Thinking about it - if I wasn't AF I would either have been stressing the first part of the evening or would have overdone it just enough to feel embarrassed meeting my friend half-cut, then would have kept going. Definitely would have been a slow start this morning.

Onwards!

Lizzy the small victories of a successful night out are so worth it!

Prizey try to change your evening routine. Eat earlier but have a cup of tea and something sweet in bed later watching tv. Watch those box sets you've been wanting to X

Sorry I've not been posting - but I have been reading everyday. Its chaos at work and at home at the moment so to get a few minutes to myself is very rare.

Welcome to the new folk, it does get easier and you will see the benefits soon. AF day 34 here and it is great to climb into bed after a night out (or a night on the sofa in my case) and fall asleep remembering the evening and knowing there's not a hangover and the mortification of my actions/words on it way!

Hadron it certainly came as a surprise to me that not everyone drinks to drunkenness at every opportunity.

I've got a busy weekend ahead with the DCs (why is it July is as busy as the pre-Christmas period in school?) so won't have time to be tempted by wine.

Have a great weekend everyone.
Gx

vxa

🎉🌟🎉🌟🎉🌟🎉HAPPY 100 DAYS 🎉🌟🎉🌟🎉🌟🎉

Fantastic ! Have a great day, hope you have a lovely treat planned to celebrate xxxx

Lily🌷 Xxx

Vxa 100 days 😳💐💐💐💐💐 go you! Congratulations, have followed your journey and gained immense strength from your posts, hope you have a smashing day