Sober (AF) September Challenge

[babysteps]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

What a great list SB; best of positive energy to us all!

[sidney]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

So do I count that we are 40 strong with Pink Angel included! Wow. That's a lot of 30 days AF.

[Sunbeam]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Pink Angel, you are on the list now.

I do stand in awe of the size and power of this group. I have worked with several great groups in my professional life, where individual thoughts were combined for a high quality product. The same can happen here.

I was thinking about a week by week curruculum here - do you think I've done some teaching??? People can always post whatever they like: by the time you figure out your question, you are half-way to the answer. But if you are unsure about what to post, here's my thought: this week we can have a getting-to-know-you theme. Think about: what's your favorite AF beverage, what made you decide to quit drinking right now, what do you tell your friends, how do you deal with cravings, describe your family support or lack thereof. Please post additional questions you would like to learn from others.

Maybe next week we could focus on meds & supplements, exercise the following week, and the last week various forms of self-reflection including meditation, journaling, strategies for building a new life. I don't want to restrict conversation on any topic, but just provide a kernal for thoughts to help those who don't know where to start or what to say.

OK, now my personal piece for today: I am in the evening of my first day on this thread. I didn't work today, and had no desire to drink at all - what a relief. I have in the past used alcohol to fill those hours when I just didn't feel like doing much. Now I sometimes read time-wasting little murder mysteries. I have read most of the alphabet murders by Sue Grafton, and also a bunch of books by JA Jance, including the Joanna Brady series. Today though I went shopping with a friend.

Take care, all.

[choice]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Hey Spinning J!!! Lets keep on keepn' on!!! Whew... deep breaths for me today, and taking neart's advice not to beat myself up. :thanks: Good luck everyone!!! It's September 2nd here in Auckland. I'm upside down but hanging in there AF- 11 days and really looking forward to waking up sober on day 12. My boyfriend and I are taking off tomorrow to the Bay of Islands for the night to celebrate his promotion booze free. It will be so good to get out of the house!!!

[ThisWayOut]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Sept 1 - Sober Today - Love - TWO

[Tippylou]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

I'm glad to be in this challenge. It will be a dual challenge for me. Sept 6th will make 5 months AF for me!

The other part of this challenge is that I had a momentary lapse in judgement and signed myself up for a fitness boot camp. What was I thinking?? Weigh ins were today and the real fun begins on the 7th. So that means there will be whining on this thread. I apologise in advance for it. Wish me luck!

[OverIt2007]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Congrats Tippylou on almost 5 months!! Thats awesome! Dont worry we dont mind if you whine about boot camp. Good Luck!!

Thank you Sunbeam for being a great organizer for this!!! Your doing a great job!!!

P.S. I have to share this. I drank on Monday and in my buzzed state went to buy more wine. The store had a sale on wine 3 for 10 dollars, so I had to throw away three full bottles of wine in the trash today!!! LOL, but I dont give a shit! Good Riddens!!!

[Sunbeam]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

TillyLou, I added your AF time to our list.

OverIt, congrats for dumping that wine; better down the drain than down (your) hatch. Dumping out alcohol is such an empowering experience. We don't want it, don't need it. Dump the trash!

[Change]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Well, here i am, 7 days AF i think (apart from a little slip up with some Sambuca, but i'm not counting that!)... I am starting to feel positive, so i don't know whether it's got anything to do with the af-ness or not

Anyhow, finally feel motivated (mostly) to save $$ so i can buy a better unit. That money will really come in handy. Being AF means that i can up my living standard a bit. That's what i'm hoping for anyway.

Hope everyone's having a great day!

[choice]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

thinking about questions Sunbeam suggested.

1) What is your favorite AL?

I really can't pick one. I like different drinks for different things. When I drank alone it was pretty much always a bottle of wine or a 6 pack of beer. Unless someone gave me a bottle of something for a present... then I'd drink what ever mixed drink the spirit tasted best with. I thought of these as "fun" drinks. Mixing it up a little. Basically if it was in the house I drank it and craved it when I was out of the house. Like say I was at work and knew I had vodka at home... all day long I'd think martini when I get home and look forward to it all day. I think probably I am mostly a wino though.

2) What made you quit drinking right now?

Black outs. Hangovers. Depressive thoughts. It was ruining my personality.

The last time I drank my boyfriend's Aunt and partner where staying with us. It was a Sunday evening. I had started a weight loss program at my gym with a trainer that Monday. (since moving to NZ I have gained 30 pounds). I had to look in the mirror that Monday with the trainer to learn how to do the work out. I was amazed at what I looked like. It wasn't me. I almost started crying because I had no idea who I was looking at. I really worked out hard all week and lost 3 pounds..

Mainly I felt better about myself and more positive. When our house guests arrived on Sunday afternoon we went to the pub and started drinking wine. I didn't even feel like drinking. At some point I blacked out and didn't realize I had ordered another bottle of wine for the table when no body wanted it, and ordered a huge dessert that I wouldn't share. saying f@%! it!!!! When we left the pub, I wanted to stop at the store for more wine but my boyfriend kept saying "no" as I stumbled back to our flat.

Once at the flat... and I do remember this part- I told his aunt how much I hated my boyfriends mother. I don't remember when I went to bed but I do remember waking up sobbing, falling asleep, sobbing..I do remember wanting to drink a bottle of wine auntie gave us as a gift in the kitchen.. I wanted to open it up and pour the whole bottle down my throat.. It took so much will power not to do that.

I woke up completely disoriented and wanted to die. This isn't the worst story I have regarding my black outs. It's actually a pretty tame one. I also had the shakes. It took my mom all morning on the phone to walk me off the ledge as I sobbed and sobbed. When I talked to my sister that day she told me wine is not your friend. I found MWO 2 days later I believe.

[anna]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Just checking in guys as I have got to dash to work! Just to say I am glad to be here and that I have now got not 1 but 2 alcohol-free days under my belt and look forward to reading all your posts later! Cannot be here everyday but will check in regularly. Have a good a/f day everybody!

[mollyka]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Sorry I'm late folks, but can I join in please? Have had a ropey time (not drinking just crying and moaning and stuff) and could use extra motivation?
Molly

[Spinning J]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Good morning everyone. Sunny here again . I am a binge drinker and it has got worse over the years and now it has to stop as my last binge on holiday was my rock bottom. I won't go into details but I am very lucky to be in one piece. I thought I could moderate but I can't so I must stay AF now. I have had lots of AF time this year say 5 weeks then I binge. Don't want to ramble too much! I'm 11 days AF today and feeling good physically but mentally I'm feeling upset about the past. Thanks for this thread.We can do this :l

[Anjicia]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Good morning. Nice sunny start to the day here. I'm on day 7 but going to make it to the end of the month i'm determined ths time. Last binge was awful i thought i was going to have a stroke or a heart attack i felt so bad after. Think it was a wake up call. Any hope everyone has a good thursday and keep motivied. Scuse my spelling lol.

:wave::bananacomputer:

[angie]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

This is my third day sober. Im feeling better than I did. Where can I buy gl plze.