Being realistic

[Popeye]

Hello everyone,
It's now day 11 for me. It's a bit of a milestone as this is the longest period of time that my body has gone without alcohol for at least ten years.
Part of me is saying 'great, well done. Keep it up.'
But there is another part telling me that this isn't going to last; that I am going to fail.
The cravings haven't been too bad, thank God, but I lack the mental weapons at the moment to put up a decent fight. I don't mean that I am going to meekly surrender my life to this horrible curse. I just need to work out a realistic plan.
I have done this, so far, cold turkey, but I got RJ's book yesterday, so I'm going to read it and find out the best way for me to do this.
The advice that you have all volunteered on the whole site has been brilliant, and I would especially like to thank the long term abstainers for their insightful posts.
Also I shall have to change more of my life than just my drinking habits. If I Leave myself open to temptation at those time when I would normally be drinking then I'm more likely to carry on, so I've decided on some kind of exercise program. When I was younger I played football/soccer regularly (and poorly) and I joined a boxing club, just for the training, which I enjoyed thoroughly.
What I'm tyring to say, I think, is that I shall have to change the way I live my life a lot if I am to do this properly.....and the way I live my life could be doing with a change frankly......and I need to focus.
I have been on quite a high since coming here, but I have come back down and I realise that I need to be realistic and considered and focussed. Thanks for listening.
:thanks:

[irishlady]

Being realistic

Hello Paul,
Yes, that high at the beginning carries you along for a while, but as you said, you need to be realistic and focused for it to work.
Well done on day 11 by the way, and to do it cold turkey, well that is bloody fantastic, I know for definite I couldn't have gone 11 days AF without help.
I haven't taken any meds, but the supps I take are, Kudzu,....amazing how it kills the cravings stone dead,...Amino acids,....had never heard of those till I came on here, go on to Google Paul and look them up, it's amazing just how important they are to the body,...multi-vits,...need those anyway at my age,... St Johns Wort,.....helps with depression, but takes a week or two to get into your system,...Evening Primrose Oil,...also good if you are going through the menopause ( hahaha)....Milkthistle...for the liver...and Cod Liver Oil for the joints ( not the roll up and smoke variety I hasten to add ).

Right, those were the practical things, and I assume you have read posts from Xtexan and Mikeupnorth to give you some ideas on exercising as well as using all sorts of imagery, because this addiction isn't just physical it's psychological as well......so imagine you are going into battle, would you go empty-handed and unprepared?...no....you would go with as many weapons as you could carry to defeat this enemy....One of the things I had to do was change my daily routine, especially at the week ends and evenings, thats where I failed before,....stopped drinking but didn't replace the empty spaces in my days with anything positive and mind distracting
Getting back to your 11 days AF, if you can go that long without anything to help you are a very strong minded man, so just think how much stronger you will be when you are kitted out with all your new weapons,.....Paul you ARE going to win this war.

Keep safe,

love
Louise xxx

[Accountable for Me]

Being realistic

Don't Give Up Paul!

Hi Paul,

You are doing remarkably well my friend! One of the biggest challenges is changing your routine. I was speaking with my husband last night about it actually. We decided to quit together as we have always drank together.

The thing we are finding the hardest is trying to change our habits. Usually we would get smashed at night, and on the weekends we would drink them through. We are on 11 days AF I think... Lost count (but they say you can suffer from short term memory loss when coming off - and I certainly have!).

But I noticed last night, although, at times I am so gung-ho with this change of life, I found myself very restless and bored. I put our daughter down to bed around 7pm, and paced our house until I literally burned holes in our carpets! That is when I had the conversation with him about changing our routine. It is a tough road, and I have been here so many, many times, but I find just coming on here and even re-reading the posts I have read already keeps me above water. Last night was SOOOOOOOO HARD though!

My days are a breeze now as my daughter has been my biggest motivator - it is just those LOOOONG boring winter nights that seem to be picking at me now. Like how often do I need to clean this place! So like you, we need to change our routines and pray like crazy to get through this.

Hang in there. I feel your pain. Keep telling yourself YOU are WORTH THIS!:l

[Popeye]

Being realistic

Thank you so much for the kind words, and the practical advice.
I need all the help I can find and I'm finding plenty just now.
You lot are amazing. I truely feel privileged to have such friends on my side.
Love

[betty boop]

Being realistic

Hi Paul,

Well done for 11 days, hang on in there, you are an inspiration to so many people on this site...

Take care, Paula xx:l

[Mackeral]

Being realistic

Hiya Paul....

You are doing a stirling job mate....You have got to juggle a few things round in life...But you sound like you know exactly what you have to do..
You get the first couple of weeks under your belt...And see how good you feel....Dont get me wrong its not all roses after that but...There is a big difference..

Hang in there buddy

[Popeye]

Being realistic

Thanks Paula,,,you're quite inspiring yourself.
You too Macks. By the way, I hope you are feeling well after your operation. I was going to ask you what kind of fishing you are into but it might involve discussing 'your tackle', so another time perhaps.:H

[cajuncritter]

Being realistic

Thanks for sharing Paul. Hang in there. I know how you feel, although I have been doing well I keep expecting the fall. Been trying to convince myself life is boring without the juice. But coming in here and reading the posts and inspiring messages helps me get through the night along with Kudzu and L glut and calms forte. Good Luck!

Jim

[Popeye]

Being realistic

Thanks Jim
Coming here helps a great deal.
Accountable You're right....again.
The winter nights seem to be something to be endured rather than enjoyed. I'll have to work at having some good, honest fun. Frankly, when I come home from work I'm usually pretty shattered. I have a physically demanding job that involves shovelling huge amounts of sand, perhaps 20 tons, into a pump....rivetting stuff eh?.....and by the time I get home, I can't find much motivation to do anything except sleep or drink. If I sleep, I'n in bed by 9pm, and Ive missed out on time with my wife. If I drink, I usually stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning, get up probably still drunk, and go back to work again, come home, go to bed, work, come home, drink, go to bed and so no and on and on. How I manage to keep going on these days is beyond me. If I put the same will-power into stopping drinking as I put into not collapsing at work, this would be a breeze.
Anyway, I have put all that behind me now. I'm going to find something that we both can do together at least once a week and, with no booze in my system, I should be able to find some sort of pleasurable exercise..... I quite fancy cycling, but it's too bloody wet and cold just now....maybe something else

[weemelonhead]

Being realistic

Hey Pauly boy....I had a chuckle when I read your pre AF timetable....me too, work drink, work, drink, work drink...get to Monday night and then swear that THIS week would be a new start...so would go to bed at about 7:30.
Tuesday, I work a night so couldn't drink, Weds...feeling a whole lot better...well over the hangovers and getting the dt.s ...........soooooooo back to the drink..carry on and then repeat week after week after week after week........
My friend, if you can go 11 days AF without a crutch, you are my superman (tip: please wash your y fronts before wearing them outside your pants!, superheros are NOT revered for skid marks!). Imagine then how much easier it will seem when you start with the reading material and the supps!!! I could NEVER have done this without the baclofen I don't think..it really has eased the pangs just enough ....I don't think you realise how strong you obviously are....you have my undisguised admiration, although I agree, even a superman would balk at the thought of cycling around Hamish a gogo land in mid winter....keep going Paul, ...and give yourself an extremely well deserved pat on the back ........hugs......The Melon

[mac]

Being realistic

Paul,
Have really enjoyed reading your posts and feel inspired. I've managed to cut back a lot during the week but finding weekends a little tough. Was thinking about the time filling thing - sounds like your job is v physical and a lot of calories will get burnt so maybe the excercise part could go a little down the list.
I have filled a lot of time with
-this site
- using sky pluss so can record programmes that look like would be interesting therfor always have a bank of them, got right into antique roadshow and time team !!
- doing things with my wife which , granted, are not rivetting, but keeps us close and kills time.

Anyhow all the best - mac

[Mackeral]

Being realistic

Hiya Paul..

Always got time to talk about fishing..

Mainly carp fishing at the moment...but thats slowing down due to the colder weather coming in..

So proberly will start piking and shore sea fishing till spring...

Love float fishing for tench roach and perch aswell..

This is fantastic...A fellow fisherman..What kind do you do?

And the Old tackle is nearly back to normal now...Thanks for asking

[Mackeral]

Being realistic

BTW Paul....Football, fishing and computers....Are you my long lost brother?

[Popeye]

Being realistic

Hello All,
Another soaking wet day at 'the office'. It's been cat's and dogs for the best part of 5 weeks now.
Melon...you sure know how to make a fella feel good. thanks for the encouragement.
and mac...this site is filling more of my time ( in a good way). I don't watch TV unless there is something [B]really[B] good on, which these days is next to never, but I read a lot - mainly pulp fiction, but I like a good horror. My wife and I go walking when we can in the beautiful Scottish hills. We walked the West Highland Way last September, a long distance footpath from Glasgow to Fort William. It is 98 miles and took us 6 days. It was absolutely brilliant.
The only problem is us both getting time off together at the weekends - She is in retail and works every Saturday and every other Sunday. It's a bit of a drag but needs must.
Mackeral...glad your well.
As I have said I don't have much spare time but when I do go fishing, it's usually beach fishing or off a pier. I tried game fishing for about three years, on and off. In all that time I managed to catch two 3lb rainbow trout one morning about 5 minutes apart. The rest of the time nothing, nada, zilch.
I've been out on a boat sea fishing a few times. That is the dog's....everyone always catches something.
As you can tell, I don't take it seriously at all...I'm just glad to get out next to the sea.
Well, that's my dinner ready. I'll be back later for a read of today's posts... This is a great place. I love it here.

[betty boop]

Being realistic

Hi Paul, you say that you like horror books,

I've just discovered Shaun Hutson, his books are really graphic & scary, some are really really gruesome.

Keep up the good work and take care, Love & Hugs, Paula xx :l :h :l