Sober (AF) September Challenge

[babysteps]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Hello everyone and goodnight now on 9/2. Love that posting of WIP's Sunbeam, thankyou for telling us about that thread, I am making it a regular reading. And great to hear everyone's inspiring progress.... I'll be needing to hear that for awhile.

Sapphire, does the topa make you tired? Did you order it online? Thanks!

[babysteps]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Followup, having just caught up for the day. I fess up, I was drinking wine like Change last night. I could give you my excuses, but we all know, just another one.

So DAY 1 today again. But that's it. Still leaves me 29 for Sept. I am sooooo mad at myself. I have an old 'flame' have not been able to forget for sometime; called him and texted him oodles last night. I was talking to him at 4 am so clearly he knows what a drunken fool I am. How do I do that to myself? Of course, 2 bottles of wine did it for me. I am absolutely committed gang to being here now and being done with this. I am far too old to take this - 52 - and not either get fired (could not make it to the office) or develop a serious health problem. The weight of course has poured on these past few years.

Any ideas on how I can 'apologize' appropriately? This is not a man I can never come in contact with again as we share relatives.....Of course I've texted apologies but just feel so ridiculous. He of course knows now (this has happened a few times though not that bad) that I have a problem.

Paguy, sounds like you have done great with a habit that lasted a long time! Makes me think I can do it...only a foolish wino for @ 4 years now. Just too many big difficulties at one time and poof!

Night all. A very long day for me, will hopefully sleep some and wake up with a positive feeling of can-do.

[Anjicia]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Good mornng all its a cloudy start to the day here. I made it to another week af and today is day 8. Feeling qute good apart from a cramped and bloated tummy the last few days. I suffer from ibs so i need to watch my diet and buy some peppermint tea that usually helps. Going to do some shopping later then some chores to do around the house and garden. I plan to go to an AA meeting this evenng my 4th this week. Its the weekend and always a difficult time so i need to keep close to ths site and the AA. Well have a good friday and a good weekend. :l

[enja]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Hey everyone -

Thank you Sunbeam for starting this challenge because it gave me impetus to join MWO rather than just lurk - it feels good to be part of supportive community but after joining in the challenge with my first post I felt quite shy jumping in again- hopefully I'll get over that soon.

I'm on day 5 AF *yeay!* but the novelty and euphoria of waking up without a hangover is wearing off and a little bit of possible bad news made me feel the pull to have a drink (wine is/was my poison). Reading this and many of the other threads have kept me on track tonight. I've come to realize that I have to be AF not just for September, but for life and that's a very scary thought right now.

Babysteps, we seem to have a few similarities - we're about the same age and I typically drank one to two bottles of wine every evening for more years than I care to remember, put on about 15 pounds over the last few years and of course sent many texts, had conversations and worse, made promises all of which I had no recollection of doing the next morning...... I hope you have a good nights rest and wake up with a new resolve and that can-do attitude!

[Spinning J]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Good morning everyone! It's a beautiful sunny am here in England. My favourite AF drinks are diet coke with ice and a slice or a skinny cap if I'm out. Mostly I just drink water. I'm day 12 AF today and drinking isn't an option for me as I think my husband would leave me if I did after my holiday fiasco! I did 6 months AF last year and felt great so I need to commit to a life AF. My youngest started school yesterday and when I drop her off today Im going to the gym. Hope everyone can stay away from alcohol over the weekend. It's great waking up hangover free! Have a great :l

[witchywoman]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Change, congrats on your promotion, thats awesome news, some thing to help keep you inspired.

I really struggled tonight, was ok during the day, & normally i would start thinkg about that 1st glass around 3 in the afternoon, but I did ok, was busy at work, but not stressfull busy, good busy. but when I got home, I swear if I hadnt been so exausted I possibly would have gone & got some wine. but i didnt,. so yay.
Its the 3rd day of spring here in NZ so we were forcasted with snow, LOL, which it did, but not much. however it is still really quite cold tonight, so I am snuggled up with my laptop & a blanket, its very cosy.
catch everyone later

[neart]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Hi all - Day 3 of Sober September! So good to see so many people here giving it a go That's great Witchy, that you got through yesterday x Have a good day, everyone!

[mollyka]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Mornin all! Congrats on the promotion Change - that's brilliant. I wondered were you being ironic or truthful when you said 'I'm almost excited'? The reason I'm asking is that NOTHING seems to make me excited like it did when I was younger, I think that's what the booze buzz did for me, made me feel 'buzzy'?
Since I started the ADs tho I do notice the blue sky instead of the grey pavement the odd time!!
Off to Doc in an hour or so, anxiety levels still off and sleep not good, so I presume he will balance up meds for me. Will be back and let you know.
Have a good day all
Molly

[babysteps]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Good morning all.
Enja, thank you for your nice words. And great job on day 5~! You definitely can pop in and chat anytime. And don't worry if it appears no one notices you, its hard to respond to all - there are over 40 people on just this now. I guess everyone on this board has likely made a fool of themselves at sometime and had to apologize; if people write you off, well there will be others come along.

Yes, I am up and still not feeling good but much better then yesterday, resolve is 100% now. Day 2. I've got a plan underway, should soon have my L-Glut. For me, its learning the head tricks to get me through a few of the bad hours of the day for me. And communicating with others here. If it gets that bad I will pop in at AA.

Good work all others on your various 3/5/8 days!

[mama bear]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Sept day 3 for mama...Molly...let us know what the doc says.....I am actually like day 8 or so, but 3 for sept.....for some reason I don't like counting days..

[mama bear]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

just read back a few pages...
Paguy...wow...you are an inspiration
Change..bravo!!!!!! What do you do if you don;t mind me asking??

[babysteps]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Molly, I'm curious what kind of meds the doc prescribes for you if you would like to share, as I'm on an AD don't think its doing the job. I may go back and see what he thinks.

Change, great to get promoted, you must have been very good at getting to work and doing wonders despite the AL; just imagine now without it!

MamaB that's great you don't like to count days. I'm very tied to that, may just go with a line I read here somewhere " I don't drink " as a sort of permanent thought for all the urges....Off to the day.

[free bird]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

I just lost a lengthy post. You are probably lucky.

Enja -- Keep on posting as I find it very helpful to write it down; it makes the commitment more real if I know someone is reading it.

Change -- Congratulations on the promo. "CHANGE" is always good and gives you something new to concentrate on.

Funny, I don't like to count days either as I feel I am in depravation mode when I focus so much on the number rather than the overall results. I have to admit seeing lots of zeros in drink tracker is real cool though. Maybe I will revisit and start keeping track there.

Special thanks to Sunbeam for posting WIP's comments. I don't think I would be posting much either if it were not for you. It is really hard to admit when I have drank when I didn't want too, but I am determined to be honest and accountable.

Everyone sounds great today --- keep up the good work.

[Sunbeam]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

G'mornin' all,
Sounds like we are forming a family here. Change, congrats on that promotion. You are very worthy of the challenge you have accepted. You will live up to it in every way.

Babysteps, like you my alcohol problem developed slowly over the years, then BAM! I found myself drinking heavily every Sunday afternoon. I see other stories here like this from women approaching menopause. So I suppose those fluctuating hormones contribute somehow.

Paguy, I too have recently been in a mode of self-improvement: lost some weight, better eating, all that. I grew up just a few miles from the Pa. border, so I know the western part of your state pretty well. I guess you are on the eastern end. My brother lives around there. I just started working a part-time job as a step toward retirement. More time to drink - NOT! Thinking about retirement was definitely a motivating force for my joining up here.

Enja, congrats on Day 5, and getting up the nerve to post again. I have learned so much about myself by posting! When I don't write my thoughts down, they just jumble around in my head and I really don't know what I'm thinking. When I write it down, I'm committed to that thought at least for the moment. Doesn't mean I can't change my mind, I have many times. Also, helping others is a powerful way to help yourself, strengthen your resolve. I started this thread to strengthen my resolve and help others. Writing down your thoughts also enables you to see how you grow, and how your thinking changes over time. In some ways I use this as my journal. I write my thoughts for all to see, and tell me what they think. It is a great tool for education and self-examination. But that's me, and maybe not you.

Resolve. I love that word, resolve. Be it resolved that ... I will not drink!

OK, I gotta get packing, literally. As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread I will be away from the computer this weekend visiting family. They have a computer with internet, but I wouldn't want to leave this web site on the viewing history. I will return Sunday eve, and catch up then. Take good care of each other!

[free bird]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Babysteps -- Hang in there. Give yourself some time and then make a decision as to how you want to respond to your old flame. I too am in your age group and find it so important at this stage in our lives to really work hard (and it is hard) to stay healthy both physically and mentally. You are doing great, and you are right, it is baby steps.