FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

[rustop61]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Good morning everyone

You are all doing fantastic and remember the first week is the worst so keep on going, YOU CAN DO IT. Day 9 for me and feeling good. Know what you mean about the food Sweetpea, I had a lovely chinese last night, crispy chicken in orange sauce, yum. A million calories but then I did not have a bottle of wine to wash it down with.

Have a great AF Wednesday

Rustop

[Feeling Fortunate]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Does this ever get any easier???

Hi everyone!
I had to be away from the boards for awhile but am still AF. It was nice to read how everyone is doing and how many new people have joined!

My biggest problem is that it still isn't seeming any easier, (day 19), although I'm trying everything I know to keep busy during my "drinking hours". Every morning I wake up grateful that I made it through the night before without drinking, but every afternoon that voice in my head starts telling me I'm never going to be able to keep this up.... it's not worth it...just stop at the store and get a bottle of wine.....etc...etc.

Any advice regarding the "voice"? Does it ever go away?! Thinking maybe I could moderate after 30 days was part of my motivation, but I'm wondering if that is going to be possible now.
CJ

[flutterby]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hi Sweetpea and all,
I do not know how many calories are in two bottles of wine because I refused to think about it when I was sucking it down. Talk about denial... I even drank the little bottles that come in 4 packs --firstly because they were easy to hide, and secondly because I was fooling myself into thinking I wasn't drinking a "whole" bottle of wine. If you do the math however, those four packs add up. How sick was that! Anyway, I am feeling so much better and have confidence that my system will recalibrate to a reasonable food intake at some point. My goal for this month is to work on ramping up my excercise program slowly-- so that will help. One more thing..... this is good..... I slept all the way through last night without waking up with that anxious sweatty yucky feeling. Talk about an incentive to hang in there!
Hi to Start Over. How about this weather? What a beautiful time of year to be sober.
Like Chief said, it's going to be a great Christmas present to ourselves & loved ones.
Hugs to all,
FBy

[Feeling Fortunate]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Teardrop,
I've lost my appetite too. The All in One has replaced my breakfast. I used to do 6 small meals a day, but am skipping a few now. I was thinking it might be the supplements. I also have slight headaches throughout the day. Thought one of the benies of not drinking would be I didn't have headaches anymore!!!
CJ

[Eastender]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hi Everyone,
On my day 9 today AF still waiting for the book CDs ETC.....but all your posts keeping me going!
Dreading tonight my other half gone to work away for a few days and my daughter out on date.
Trying to keep away from the sweet things.... strange I do not usually toush them prefer savoury. Could be back on tonite to kurb the temptation.
Well done to everybody however many days you have under your belt!

[happydog]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hi feeling fortunate,
I also take just the supp's but in tables. I dont get no headaches and only have a evening meal. not sure if it because i'm feeling anxious in myself. I have lost 9lb, i think since october. 5day AF.
love
Teardrop.x

[Leebo]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hi everyone,

Day 7 today for me.. feeling very confident. I am not sure if I am celebrating too soon, but somehow this has seemed a little easier than I expected. But I did ease into it. I started Sept. 1 with the supps, Topa, and cd's and reduced my drinking drastically (only 1 AF day).. in Oct made a further commitment (had 14 AF days) and decided to go for 30 AF days in November. So I admire anyone who has jumped into this.

I have tried to eat healthy, get off the junk and have lost 12 lbs since Sept. Still need to commit back to exercise - which is something I did for years and have only gave up the last few. However, it is all coming together - recreating perfection takes time!!

There are still the holidays to deal with and I am going out of town this weekend but I have made a commitment to myself and to everyone here ( and that helps so much to know I am not alone in this) and what is 30 days considering how many days I have wasted drinking.

So hang in there everyone.. take it one minute at the time if you have to... and sometimes we have to.. minutes turn into hours - hours turn into days - and days turn into 30 DAYS!!

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS AND LOVE TO ALL!!!

Leebo

[Feeling Fortunate]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Wow leebo, you're doing great! Thanks for the positive vibrations.

Teardrop, your appetite loss could be from feeling anxious. Early in my marriage, I was having stomach problems and losing too much weight because of stress. Try doing more of whatever relieves your stress, like soaking in the tub, taking a walk, whatever. My doctor said I shouldn't force myself to eat, but to have alot of the things I liked to eat easily available. For me at the time it was soups, crackers, pastas, etc. It did help.
CJ

[Livewire]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Starting day three!

I'm now into day three, and am feeling great about it! At the moment it is easy not to drink, but I know, as do many here, that as I get back to 100% and start feeling really good, the brain will start telling me that I can drink, that I can control it.

I just need to keep on keeping on. One day at a time.

I'm worried about a party I have to attend on Saturday night. I've told my wife I won't drink and that we'll leave early and grab a meal somwhere, but the party is a farewell for a very good friend of mine, and the bar is free.

It's going to be a real struggle as my relationship with this friend is based around alcohol. Whenever we get together we drink. A LOT!! Parties, BBQ's, family holidays, him and I drink. So it'll be tough.

Anyway, I will do my best to get to the 30 day mark and then take it from there.

I love the community feeling here. Definatley helps to know I am not the 'only one.'

Livewire.

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[iluvdesert]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Good luck with the party Livewire. I have no advce, in fact I have the same problem. I almost don't want to go anywhere where there will be drinking but I also don't want to spend the rest of my life in the house. On another post someone reccomended a/f wine. Good idea, but for me...if I'm not getting the buzz I don't want the calories! Crazy huh?

[sweetpea]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

:cheering

Well done everyone so far and thakyou for all your comments and positive vibs

Day 4 and still going for it

I know what you mean iluvdesert AF wine is tasteless and full of calories - I would rather eat a bar of chocolate or some other treat that I fancy. I seem to still be craving food but not what you would call a real meal. Just in the picking mode of things that are not very healthy. I have heard though that once you are on the TOPA that you don't crave the carbs as much and fancy healthy food - Here is hoping

One good drink that has been suggested to me while I am AF is tomatoe juiice with worcester or tabasco sauce. I have spent so many years getting the wine down my neck that I rarely drank anything else. Anywhichway as long as I keep that beast at bay!! Can anyone suggest more AF drinks that hit the spot. The tomatoe is great but I can't drink many of them

CJ day 19 awesome - well done I read on one of the threads that some folk do get headaches from the sups. I think I am right in thinking that it was suggested that you leave one sup out a day and see if the headaches go. My take on it is that my body has been so used to the booze that it was the lack of it that was causing it. I have had a mild headache but have decided to see how things go as I am trying very hard to follow the plan

rustop61 OOOOOOOOOOOOh that crispy chicken. Maybe I will reward myself when I have completed a week AF - Yum Yum

Leebo I am still waiting for my TOPA, do you think it has just kicked in for you as you are now into day 7 and sound really poitive to me


You know having great comments and support from everyone really does do it for me Eastender 9 AF days with only the post to keep you going well done - a true inspiration


Livewire my brain seems to be telling me the same thing and yes it's party time again this weekeend - BUT I WILL BE GOOD

Is it that our love for the demon drink has made our social life so full over the years? I keep thinking that maybe subconsciously we have always arranged this, that and the other as an excuse to be able to legitimately have a belly full of booze and not feel guilty about it

The :alf: has many disguises!!!

Still as long as we recognise what we are at we can tone down the partying but still go out where drinking is not the main passtime - Like where???? Suggestions welcome

Flutterby, do you know that for all these years, I have been blaming my weight for the night sweats which keep waking me up so I will definitely be hanging in there. I have had health/mobility issues which are now being resolved so I think I will take a leaf out of your book and get some mild excersise agenda togther. It will help keep body and soul togther ready for the first Christams where I have not been crashed out before the evening - What shame I feel when I remember all those years of having way too much

Teardrop think about where you were last week and how bad you felt. We are so proud of you for getting through such a hard time. I know weight loss is an issue for you. Have you tried eating small amounts of what you really fancy. In the short term if you really can't face too much food why not try the pharmacy for a food supplement to help build your strength up. Or even have a word with them to see what they suggest. I don't know if your doctor is in the know but if he isn't and you don't want him to know the pharmacy is the next best thing. You could always email riverpharmacy and ask them for advice. I didn't want doctor involved and they were verrrrrry helpful. Just a thought hope it helps

A very long post today but I just wanted to give support to the people that are taking the time to support me. Anyone that has not posted for a few days my thoughts are with you and I hope that you are all hanging in there

Loaaaaaaaaaaaads of love to each and everyone of you

:groupluv: Sweetpea xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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[rustop61]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hi everyone

Thanks for the supporting post Sweetpea. We are all in this together and its great to log on every day and find out how people are doing. The thing I love about MWO is the support and also all the positivity. I tried AA a few times and everyone seemed to be recounting over and over again how bad things were when they drank. I never heard anyone be positive, maybe it was the meetings I went to or maybe I did not stay long enough but it was depressing. I love logging on MWO and reading about people who last week were struggling, achieved x number of AF days this week. OK there might be slips but WE ARE GETTING THERE. Keep on trying.

Rustop

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[MissCheryl]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

"See you" next week!

Hi all.... Well, just wanted to check in before I leave for my "girls weekend" away.

I'm doing well... I've completed 10 days AF. Taking my TOPA and, other than making me tired, I don't seem to have any significant side effects. I'm still working my way up on the dosage. Hard to say if it's helping or not. But, I have done 10 days AF, so maybe the TOPA is part of it...

I was really concerned about my upcoming weekend. It's an annual shopping trip with all the gals in the family. Shop, Eat, Drink, Repeat. I wasn't sure how I was going to handle not drinking and explaining why I was not drinking, when everyone knows I love my wine. Plus, it's definitely a special occasion, where even the non-drinkers enjoy an adult beverage. My mom and I are the big wine drinkers and she mentioned that she'd bring along the usual "big" bottle of Chardonnay for us to share. I just casually mentioned "Well, I haven't been drinking much wine lately, so don't worry about me... in fact, I might not even have any." She said "Oh, I've been cutting back too". So we decided to not bother bringing any wine. So, I won't have it sitting around the condo. And when we go out I just won't order any. So, I feel like I can handle this. Wish me luck and strength!!!

It sounds like everyone here is doing great!! Hang in there and keep up the great work! It is definitely getting a bit easier every day. But, I still have moments where I would so love to have a glass of wine in my hand. I don't know if I'm craving the taste, the buzz, or if it's just the habit of having the glass nearby and ready. I'm thinking it's the latter... and I'm hoping this 30 days will help me to figure out what it really is that makes me want to drink too much wine.

An interesting thing to me... a few weekends back - my last weekend that I had anything to drink - I went to dinner before the ballet with my mom and sisters. My mom and I ordered a bottle of white, but they had some really yummy martini specials. My sister ordered one and I ordered one. I nursed and sipped on that thing forever. Never did finish it. Drank about half and gave the rest to my sister. (Of course, I then switched to the wine, which I had no trouble drinking.) Just thought it was interesting that I could slowly sip on and enjoy a martini, but once I started the wine I couldn't get enough. Another thing to ponder, I guess, during these 30 (at least) days.

Okay, sorry, didn't mean to ramble on so long!! But, did want to check in before heading off and wish everyone the best over the weekend as I know it's the toughest part of the week to get through. Everyone hang in there!! I look forward to checking in Monday and seeing all kinds of GOLD STARS and hearing great reports of AF Fridays and Saturdays!! I KNOW we can do it!!

Take Care!
Cheryl :l

[flutterby]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hello fireworkers,
I :h MWO! Present company especially included. After checking out several threads and searching the archives, I learned a lot more about dealing with cravings. Since the sups were making me queasy, I backed off on the full program but it appears that, according to Cindi, "L-Glut is recommended because of the sugar cravings. I take it and it does help alot." I think I will start increasing my intake of L-Glut and some of the other recommended core sups. Of course it matters how much and when you take them so that will be something I'll keep in mind so the queasiness doesn't return. The good news is that it appears L-Glut can be taken in large doses at any time. Live and Learn.
Happy Day 4 to all who started on Monday!!!!
Hugs
FBy
___________Days AF_______________
:happyheart: :happyheart: :happyheart:

[evergreen]

FIREWORKS - ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR 30 DAYS AF

Hello Fellow Pyros (ie fireworkers),

Sweetpea, I cannot thank you enough for all your energy and passion in getting this group going. It was just the spark I needed!!! I had false started SO many times. I am feeling so much better about finishing out 30 days this time. I am on Day 8!!!))) I cannot remember when I last completed a week!! Bigger yet - last night I attended a fiftieth birthday party with some close friends . . . . that I usually drink with. I actually had a great time not drinking. I may have been the only one not drinking but it was truly no big deal and no one seemed to notice. I had a few tugs toward the wine bottle but no big cravings. I enjoyed the food more and some sparkling water and lots of conversation. There was not that worry about how to fill my glass. Also no regrets today. We got into some political discussions at one point and I did not have to wonder if it was the wine speaking. No dragging into work. I was SO full of energy.

Livewire, I know how you feel. I was really worried about this party. I just went into it telling myself - NO EXCUSES. I was not going to drink under any circumstance. I told myself that if I could not learn to be around it I would have to stop going to functions (not an option I wanted to get to.) I have also been telling myself if I can complete November AF then I can try mods over the holiday. (I know that may be a slippery slope but it is helping me get through November and I will rethink it at the end of the month.)

Rustop, I am with you. AA is a wonderful organization for some people. I has been miraculous for my mom. I don't like the powerless part and you can get some pretty negative meetings. Let's stay positive.

Miss Cheryl, Have a wonderful shopping weekend. How fun!! I think you should spend all that money that you save on wine on something truly frivolous. Wine by the glass at a restaurant can be insanely expensive so that means lots of frivolity)

Flutterby, I stopped the supps this time too because they were upsetting my stomach. I keep waiting for the cravings to get worse and I will go back to them. Good to know about the L-glut!!

To all the ODATs and Fireworkers!! Way to Go! Hang in there and Keep on Keeping on!!!!!