Newbies in Need - Day 2

[Janice]

Good morning everyone and welcome to our new thread - this is for absolutely anyone who wants to stop by and say hello, whatever your goals are - cut down your drinking or stop it altogether - this thread and all the wonderful people who visit it each day, are here to help.

It doesn't matter at what stage you join us, just come and say hello and tell us how your day is going. It will keep you going when times get hard, when that little voice starts to nag you while you're doing the tea, or when you're in on your own reaching for that glass, just log on - it really does help, I know it did me last time.

Yesterday, our first day, got a great response proving there's a lot of people out there who need to make some changes this month. I don't know about you, there's definitely a psychological thing with me about starting a new month - its given me a new enthusiasm that the last few weeks I thought I would never see again.

We had many old friends and new visit us yesterday but I would just like to welcome Iwanto who caught the end of yesterdays thread. You have definitely come to the right place Iwantto - you've taken the first step, now learn all you can about the programme - download the book or you can get it from amazon, read all the information on this wonderful site, read old posts and new, get yourself on the vitamins/supplements, and the hypno cds, and then decide whether the medication side of the programme is for you. You can pick and choose from the programme and taylor it to your needs. But most of all, keep coming on here!!!

Well, day 3 for me and I've just been for my swim. Its another lovely sunny day in England so I think I will enjoy my garden today. I think it would be good for the "first visitor" each morning to start the thread off - you'll get bored with me after a couple of days!!! Thanks for getting me started again everyone and out of that long dark tunnel.
Have a successful day everyone!

Much love Janicexxx

[Guest]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi Janice,
Great to read that you`re beginning to smile again, and back doing well with AF.........you sound so upbeat.
And yes, this really is a wonderful thread...........we all have our struggles, trials and tribulations.........but we`ll get there in the end, eh?

Feel exactly as you do about a new month giving us a fresh impetus........

Day 4 AF for me.........am truly amazed !!!

Hi to all the newbies to come.

Have a beautiful day all !!!

Much love,

Starlight Impress

[paula]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi Janice, Starlight and all who follow.
Day 3 for me, feeling so much better. I think this thread is a great idea. I'm working this afternoon so no chance of even thinking of a drink today. Perhaps I should work more
because I can't think about drinking then.
Have a good day. Love Paula. x

[garden girl]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi Janice, star, and everyone else to come, A great thread yesterday and just what we all needed to kick start August. Like I said yesterday everyone has a turning point and I hope August is that time. Blimey Janice what time did you get up? already had a swim wow!. Ive got both girls at home now for the holidays, I do think it makes it doubly difficult to battle againt this problem when you also have to keep a family ticking over as well, it would be lovely to go to a nice hotel somewhere for a week where everyone is trying to stop drinking and just be able to switch off to everything and just focus on stopping BUT!!!!, back to the real world. SO today I will bike again, amuse the children I think they have invited friends round and do a few chores. Have a great day everybody, thanks for starting us off Janice, I will catch you all later, Star Im glad you are back.

PS Still working on inventing a alcohol patch to stick on to help us like the smoking ones, but I tried soaking a plaster in chardoney and sticking it on but it just keeps falling off, moving on to the next idea tomorrow, any suggestions anybody, we could make a fortune!:H :H

[Doggygirl]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Good morning to all who have already popped in, and to all yet to come! Janice, what a great post to kick things off yesterday and today. I'm happy for you starting to emerge from the dark tunnel that leads nowhere good. There DOES seem to be something wonderful in the air here at the start of August!

I'm still really happy to be not drinking and can't believe it's already Day 23. I have thoughts of drinking - in fact had lots of them yesterday - but the thoughts really aren't very intense and thus far have been relatively easy to say no to. I really credit the supplements and CD's for that, in addition to staying positive. I really think the supps/CD's take the edge off. I offer that 2 cents in case anyone reading might still be on the fence about making the investments. My biggest complaint is still not consistently sleeping well. BUT...I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day even after 4 hours sleep. Go figure. I'll take this gladly over the old hangovers!

Have a great day everyone and thanks again Janice for getting us going today!

DG
Day 23 AF ***********************

[retteacher]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi Everyone: What a great thread! I read yesterday's as well. I'm just beginning day 24 & have never felt so well. Coming to this newbie thread was a big part of that success. As time went on, I just didn't want to come here & confess to a slip. My inner drinking demon has simmered down. It was acting up Tuesday telling me:
-"You're a healthy person...go ahead & have a drink."
-"You had a drinking problem, but now you have it under control."
-"blah, blah, blah."
For me, feeling so great emotionally & spiritually is a huge reward that I don't want to give up. I'm not hiding, minimizing to myself, driving to different liquor stores, or doing all the crazy things I once did. What a gift!
Thanks everyone & have a great day.
Mary

[Cinders]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hello to Janice, Garden Girl, DG, and Paula, Starlight and all to come!!

I haven't been on for a while because I have been at client and then ferrying my folks around at night. They came to St Louis to keep me company this week. It has been exhausting!!

They leave Friday and I have to work through the weekend without going home.

I have not been AF but I have been very moderate, which for me is good. Very good. I actually haven't even shot for AF because I had let my drinking sneak up again last week and decided to mod first. I know I know excuses excuses.

Anyhow, anyday without drunk is a good day for me!!

Hugs,

Cindi

[nancy]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Learning moderation

Hi all

reflecting back on July, I was moderate for most of the month. I did have one night where I overdid it due to bad news (typical response). This issue persisted and I chose to do something positive the next week. I joined a weight control program and have lost weight already. So that is a way of feeling better that isn't self destructive and doesn't involve booze.

I had a few nights during the month where I had 5 drinks and I think that is too much. You lose judgement at that point so it is risky.

I sincerely hope to be very moderate throughout August, limit of 3 drinks.

Since coming to MWO and to the newbies thread, I have improved a lot, so I am thankful for that. Ijust don't want to put myself at risk. I feel calmer so it seems easier to be more moderate. It seems to be getting easier for me to stop.

by the way it is GREAT to see you back Janice. Now if only our bluesky would return.

[Riker]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hello everyone,

Well, my first day AF did not pan out quite like I had it planned.. I was doing fine up until dinner time. My wife, who only drinks very occasionaly, came home and said "it's a beautiful hot sunny day, I think I'll have a Corona with a lime and float in in the pool". I had to tell her that there was no more Corona in the fridge, because I drank it the night before when I ran out of my own..oopss.. So, I went out to the beer store to get her some corona..and picked up some of my kind as well.. But, on the positive side, I only had 3 beers as oposed to my usual 10 or 12.. and I did not really enjoy them.. maybe the Kudzu has something to do with that..

So, not the AF start I wanted, but it could have been a lot worse.. I'm going to try again tonight..

Cheers,

[Janice]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi Starlight, GardenGirl, Paula, DG, Mary, Cindi, Nancy and all to follow. Its great to see that everyone is up for this, a new start to a better healthier life.

Over the last few weeks I have taken so much comfort from things we take for granted - the sound of my kids having a REALLY good laugh at Friends; listening to the birds; watching them feed; the colours in my garden; the lovely sky at night etc. - I don't know, sounds daft maybe but I think slowing down, taking time to "stop and smell the roses" has really helped. I bought myself a little book "God's Little Book of Hope" and I remember Bluesky used to give us a quote for the day??? Well, they really helped so, here's one for you guys:

"START TODAY - The first step to pursuing joy is simply to begin. If we wait until conditions are perfect, it will never happen"

Janicexxx

[hart]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi all!!!

Day 3 AF for me! Mad though. Joe drank last nite. I wanted to smack him as he passed out at 8:30. But I know he has to want to do this himself, so. I got on AF instead. Lots of great people and then the distraction of what happened with the bridge to put things in perspective! You all have a great, safe day!

[Janice]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Oh Riker - don't mention the C word!!! I'm starting to drool!!!! I'm normally a wine person but one thing I love - no, loved, were Coronas - especially on holidays!!! Over here we have other similar beers, like a light beer called lagers and it was my Dad's favourite drink. (He was a normal drinker though!!!) When he was in hospital we went up and stayed in his flat and it was funny cause his fridge was so well stocked up with Heineken!! Not much food but plenty of Heineys!! I brought them back with me and I sat and had the last one on the patio as I thought about him at the weekend. End of an era in more ways than one. Don't be too hard on yourself Riker - its so hard when your partner is still drinking - my husband only drinks on weekends so I know tomorrow night will be a test for me!! Good luck today. Janicexx

[louise]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Hi all - Have not been on for a while as I've been on vacation and just got back last night. Rottrod is right, I have had entirely too many of them the past 6 weeks and although I had a wonderful time I am glad to be home. I read yesterdays thread and it was very good to see those who helped me through a good June back - GG, Roxane, Janice, Paula, Hart, Nancy. Uda, you made me laugh. Yes, it would have been lovely to learn to deal with emotions rather than be told you should not feel that way. Welcome to all newcomers and hello to everyone else who joined us last month. July had no days of not remembering what I did and only a couple of days of not feeling good due to exceeding 3 drinks but did not have many AF days with all the dinners out, celebrations with friends and joys and stresses of a bit too much time with extended family. So my goal for Aug is many more AF days. Time to order more kudzu. What I got at the healthfood store doesn't seem to work quite as well as that from the site store. I recommend all who are new will get the book, supplements and at least the hypno cd. I'm going to start at the beginning again with the cd's, they seemed to help so much in the beginning but I have not done them for a while. Good going Riker and Hart with your temptations last night.

[Iam]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Good morning / afternoon everyone!

I made it through the night but had problems sleeping and feel this morning as I have a hang over. I didn't eat that much ice cream!!! Maybe it's detox sypmtoms. I have started taking niacin. I read where it's good for alcoholics and opens the capilaries so you can detox better from your skin. That heat rush is something else, but you are supposed to take it until you no longer get the burn. So I'm going to give it a try. I also am doing several other detox protocols, the kudzu, L-glut and other aminos and all sorts of vitamins and milk thistle and another sup called liv-long which is good for detoxing the liver, a great concern of mine after all these years of drinking.

It's so nice to be able to share my journey with all of you and it's so refreshing to hear how everyone else is doing.

Riker, keep at it and don't beat yourself up. It must be really hard when someone in the house is drinking. When my sis-in-law and her husband were visiting they had a big bottle of Almaden wine on the table, this was a few weeks ago, and I had a glass but I couldn't stop staring at the bottle and peoples glasses. How bazzar that was! I live alone so on one hand I don't have to watch someone else drink or have it in the house but on the other hand there is no one here to know if I cheat except myself and I can not lie to this forum any more than I can lie to my self anymore.

It's great to be on day 8 of the rest of my life. They beast had her say last night but I ignored her.

One question.... when does the brain fog lift?

IAM............ going to have a great day!

[Janice]

Newbies in Need - Day 2

Iam, when I first joined MWO I read up on niacin and got myself some but after taking the first one, I was a little worried - that "heat rush" was a little scary!!! I think I started a thread on it on the holistic forum way back in May. Janicexx