Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

[BELIEVE]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

I'm pretty much exactly where you are Wonder, my AF "sis" Congrats on your day 42, I'm really glad you're still with me, I hope everyone else is as well!

Had a couple times when a beer sounded good, I mean I thought it would taste good...but the thought of a buzz really turns me off. I can't beleive I was missing feeling like I do now for all those years. Wow. Plus drinking was the only thing keeping me from getting in shape, but not now. I should be able to get to around 10% (or below) BF by this summer, which I think will be pretty good for a 37 y.o. dude.

I keep saying I only wanted to stop drinking long enough to reach my fitness goals. I was totally unprepared for the improvement in my quality of life that being AF has brought about. For me to drink today would be about as hard as it was NOT to drink just a few months ago. No telling what tomorrow holds but damn I hope this keeps up.

[Thankful]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Hello my friends. You guys are awesome. I needed this inspiration today. Still trying to get over this sickness. I feel awful.

Wonder, I was wondering where you were at. Haven't seen a post by you in a while. I'm so glad you are doing well.

Believe, I like your way of thinking about it being hard to start drinking again. I need to incorporate that way of thinking.

I'm still AF but scared. I had to look up the old "why are we afraid of being forever AF" thread. I must have read that 3 times today. I'm trying to remember feeling that positive.

I'll be ok. I know being sober feels so much better than not. Just dealing with some triggers. I will not mess this up! Only 5 days to my 60 mark!!!

Love to all. We can and will do this!! :h

Love, Me
:l

[BELIEVE]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Wow you're gettig up there in AF days Thankful. I guess a healthy dose of appropriate fear is a good thing, keeps us from getting cocky.

You know whats helped me realize that it would be a little tough to have a drink is I actually think about drinking sometimes. I work around beer all day long, and sometimes I'll just stop and think about how it would be to have one. Or when I drive past one of my many favorite liquor stores, I look at it and think "I could swing by there and get anthing I want. Theres nothing stopping me". And I could. Its like I'm asking myself if I'd like a drink. I really seriously gicve it some though to see what my reaction will be (how would I know? AF this long is unchartered territory for me). Without fail the first words that pop into my mind are "nah, fuck that". See I also stop to ponder the long term (for me anyway) effects of sobriety. The way I feel now is better than anything alcohol could ever give me. When I stop to consider, having a buzz is a pretty crappy feeling. And who wants a hangover? Why wake up feeling like that when I can go to bed feeling great, and resume feeling great as soon as I wake up? ANd knowing my alcoholic ass if I did have a few, even if I felt crappy as a result, I'd want more and be right back on my way to square one again. How rediculous would that be. Not saying it'll never happen, I'm not superman. But for the time being..

[bootcampbarbie]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

wow, i am just now seeing this. hello all my fellow non drinkers.. yeahhh what day am i on today. gosh hummm let's think. okay i think if i counted right i have like 52 days... but i'd need a calendar. hahaahahahaa whoop whoop. funny about the drink thing. i was out with a client the other nite and we went to suishi friday nite and she had saki and a beer. and i said oh you know i'm studying so i'm going to have tea. i didn't want to be this "OH I DON'T DRINK. person god annoying. hahahahaa so she was oh yeah cool girl as she is an attorney. and she got it. and that day a friend of mine i always went out for drinks with said hey are you ever going to drink with me again. hahaahaha as that night before i said i'm so jonseing for a tea. i said my man you know it's this health diet thing for me.. i'll let you know in a few months. for now, enjoy that brownie and tea. and that hang over you have from last nite. funny i don't miss it. and you know when i was at suishi i did look at the folks next to me with this big bottle of wine and thought wow i used to drink two of those. hahahahaa by myself thank you. lmao fell off my barbie chair. now, i'm well happy to have this moment to moment with life. i'm replacing that booze with life. so happy you have this thread.... please keep it going

[satori]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Hey guys - so much positivity here - gotta agree with you all!

AF is just fine with me too

To quote Believe.

"I was totally unprepared for the improvement in the quality of my life that being AF has brought" as well.

And - like believe - the addiction also seem to "test" me now and then.

I have a fridge full of cold beer and champagne from entertaining - and I see that stuff every day.
Most of the time - it just doesn't register - like seeing the celery or whatever.
Occasionally it DOES register and - like you Believe, the first thing that pops into my head is
"Nope - we are not going there!"

It is not an anguished, struggle type response - it is almost like a joke now - almost as if Al is some kind of cartoon character with a big cartoon mallet trying to hide behind a tiny little skinny tree.
The ambush attempt is so obvious you have to laugh

Yep - that's it - Al is Wile E. Coyote and I am Roadrunner.




Beep Beep! :H


Love


Satori

xxx Attached files [img]/converted_files/435755=3071-attachment.jpg[/img]

[bootcampbarbie]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

thank you for that satori. that really hits it for me. there isn't this moment where i go wow, i so want to have that drink or it registers like i should more like it's celery and i don't eat celery. hahhahaahahaha. i noticed the other day as a girlfriend i explained everything to has known me for 12 years sober, then drinking now sober again. and i noticed in her fridge she had hid a beer. i laughed really hard. like oh poor girl she thinks i'm going to drink it. what you should be hiding are those candy bars. lmao. so here's to life today. it seems more tangible. more notable. i remember that i would sit for hours drinking and staring into space pondering i think. i am not sure in these first few months i'm pondering. these first few months are filled with activity. perhaps it was so long that i didn't do so much that i just have the energy for it. so i'm calling the first few months my sleep alot activity alot time. or tasking time. but boy am i sleeping. i sleep not drink. i think the body is needing the long overdue real rest. not the rest i once had in between drinking. cheers all.

[wonderworld]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Good to see everybody! Satori that cartoon is so funny!!!!:H

Glad everyone is doing well. It feels really good knowing you're out there .

Thankful I hope you feel better soon. I bet your body is deeply detoxing, purging, healing, and that as time goes on you'll feel better than ever. And as far as being scared and "forever", why trouble yourself with that right now? Here's one idea: Research indicates that the brain chemistry takes a major turn for the better after 90 days of quitting alcohol. 21 days to establish new patterns of behavior, 90 days for the brain chemistry to get all cleaned out. So...... seeing as you'll be to the 60 day mark shortly (YAY!!!!), why not put off the "forever" question, at least until 90 or 100 days - things might just naturally look different to you then. I hate to see you fretting when you're doing so incredibly well! I bet when your health improves, your spirits will too :l.

Love ww xx

[Thankful]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Wonder ~ thank you so much. I never heard that about 90 days and brain chemistry. That gives me some new found hope and inspiration that I greatly need. I will be looking in this (any idea where this came from?).

I do think the real bummer in my life right now is my health, so I'm praying that I will someday feel better and have some energy. I can not even exercise a little with this cough. Everytime I take a deep breath I choke. Ahhhh! I'm hanging in there though. I'm determined to stay positive today.

Thanks again. You have been amazing to my support system. You are a friend. I hope someday I can do the same for you.

Love, Me
:l

[bootcampbarbie]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

that wonder is really cool isn't she? i am thinking of creating a we love wonder thread. but i think i'll start with this one. okay back to work feel better thankful. this too shall pass. i haven't been able to really work out in months but just knowing i'm not drinking is really patting yourself on the back. here's to the moments we get to have everyone of them.....

[wonderworld]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Thankful - I'm going to see if I can find some of that research for you. I read it again not too long ago so it's around.

As far as the cough, have you been to the doc? You are so tired and have had the cough so long, it sounds like a visit is in order (if you haven't already). Maybe you have something going on that can be easily treated and set you on to feeling better much sooner. I know that when I was sick recently, my outlook was so much more bleak! When you feel better, you will, um, feel better!

I feel like you are a friend too. You are helping me by being here, truly:h .

Bootsie I love you silly too. You know that. :l

Believe I really liked your descriptions of thinking it all through (a drink) and contemplating the good (AF) life. I guess that's how we do it!

Love, wonder xx

[mya]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know I'm still on the AF ride!!! And I don't plan to get off anytime soon.
I think tomorrow will be day 45 I stopped counting the days and there are actually days that go by when I don't even think about a drink.
Well check by soon!

[Thankful]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Mya, that's awesome. You sound like you are doing so great. Keep it up!!

Love, Me
:l

[BELIEVE]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

Quite a thread you've started Wonder!

It's nice to see everyone doing so well. I love Bootcampbarbies line about "Replacing booze with life". That just about sums it up dosen't it? Satori made a similar point in a thread about the time I was just hitting 2 weeks AF. He mentioned noticing the details of life, like the actually seeing the water droplets on someone just coming in from the rain, the smell of the coffee shop and the book he was reading..it really set a nice scene and made an excellent point. I would add that its cool actually being awake all day to enjoy these things. I used to think that being AF sucked. Only now am I realizing its where I was that sucked, this is where life is happening! Even better to have a group of us kinda walking the same path together!

[wonderworld]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

BELIEVE;275868 wrote: I would add that its cool actually being awake all day to enjoy these things. I used to think that being AF sucked. Only now am I realizing its where I was that sucked, this is where life is happening!

You are so awesome Believe!!!! You articulate the joys of the AF life so beautifully. a great way to start the day! And yeah - that Satori is really something, eh? What a crew!!!

And MYA!!! SO so happy that you checked in - the little AF engine that could! I know you have been very busy, and so have been around here a little less recently. But you're out there chug-chug-chugging away on the AF track !!! So good to know! Hope we'll get to see more of you (and your puppy's) sweet face when your schedule eases up.
This team is sticking toghether!!

Love to all -

WW xx

[buckledown]

Day 31 and Beyond: Hello, I'm a non-drinker

only 14 days today but am going to get to 30, 60 90 and beyond...this is an inspirational thread...thanks for sharing!!! hugs and blessings...buckle