Sober (AF) September Challenge

[sidney]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Still Af here too I think 17 days today. It would have been a year tomorrow but I had a relapse. However I am hard at work with your encouragement being sober again. It is so much better. Sid

[Peacefull]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Day 11 here...getting the "maybe I can drink" thoughts, but quickly chasing them away with remembering my last bout with AL.

Peace

[Chillgirl]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Hi guys I just wanted to remind everyone, in case it's slipped your mind, why we want to remain AF....

Why would anyone want to drink a poisonous, highly addictive drug that tastes foul, that shortens your life, debilitated your immune system, impedes your concentration, destroys your nervous system, your confidence, your courage, your ability to relax and does you absolutely no good whatsoever?!?!

Chill

[K9Lover]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Jeez Chill...when you put it that way..LOL.

Great reminder!!!

[Dewdrop]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Day 15

Hi all, well I am safely back from my business conference and managed to cope with last night's social evening without a drink although the wine was flowing fast. When I was offered some at the table I just said ?No thanks I?m fine? and kept my water glass topped up all night. I really didn?t want any to be honest and felt quite strong which was a surprise.

However, later in the bar I asked a colleague for a tonic water with ice and lemon and as I put it to my lips I could smell the gin ? I was so close to taking a drink and if I hadn?t been paying attention I would have. She had put a double in it!! If that wasn?t bad enough when I got to my room there was a bottle of Taittinger Champagne on the desk ? a gift for a successful project I?ve have been involved in. I hid it away in the bottom of my suitcase out of sight.

There were a few sorry looking hungover people at the sessions this morning but I felt great and so pleased with myself. I?m going to have an early night tonight and listen to the cd?s after I?ve checked out the threads to see how everyone is doing. Hope everyone is well and hanging in there. Sending lots of good wishes and encouragement to everyone you are all a great bunch.

Day 15 AF nearly finished and feeling good but tired. Isn?t it amazing how quickly our bodies recover and repair themselves once we stop drinking??

Dewdrop :h

[JackieClaire]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Blooming well done, Dewdrop, that was a close call. I bet you've never been so thankful that gin smells so strongly.
Handy hint: Get some bottle bags and stick any champagne/wine in them and give it away as a present. Christmas is just around the corner.

Hi to all.

[Guest]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Dewdrop;954804 wrote: Hi all, well I am safely back from my business conference and managed to cope with last night's social evening without a drink although the wine was flowing fast. When I was offered some at the table I just said ?No thanks I?m fine? and kept my water glass topped up all night. I really didn?t want any to be honest and felt quite strong which was a surprise.

However, later in the bar I asked a colleague for a tonic water with ice and lemon and as I put it to my lips I could smell the gin ? I was so close to taking a drink and if I hadn?t been paying attention I would have. She had put a double in it!! If that wasn?t bad enough when I got to my room there was a bottle of Taittinger Champagne on the desk ? a gift for a successful project I?ve have been involved in. I hid it away in the bottom of my suitcase out of sight.

There were a few sorry looking hungover people at the sessions this morning but I felt great and so pleased with myself. I?m going to have an early night tonight and listen to the cd?s after I?ve checked out the threads to see how everyone is doing. Hope everyone is well and hanging in there. Sending lots of good wishes and encouragement to everyone you are all a great bunch.

Day 15 AF nearly finished and feeling good but tired. Isn?t it amazing how quickly our bodies recover and repair themselves once we stop drinking??

Dewdrop :h

That's my worst nightmare - someone spiking my drink out of 'kindness'. So far not happened but I do quite often sniff drinks that have been given to me!!!

Regards the champers, as JC says give it away. A few friends of mine have benefitted this way from my cast offs. Another tip for hotels is if they have a mini bar in the room you can ask for it to be emptied when you arrive. A football fan I know, who doesn't have a problem I know does this so his friends don't run up a bill after the bar is closed, so it's not an abnormal request.

[Chillgirl]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Dewdrop you are my hero! I don't think I could have coped with that on day 15, you should be very proud! :l

[neart]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Evening all! I get nervous of that too - that I'll drink something by accident! 57 days here, and I can't quite believe it. For me, it was most tough up to about day 25 - 30, then it just started flying by...but I'm afraid I'll get complacent or relax too much, and I know I have a lot of work and learning to do yet. But it's going well so far - thanks to you all :l

When I hear of people who are starting over, it reminds me of the past year or two - I lost count of the amount of times I would get 3 or 4 or even 5 days together, marked off with nice colours on my calender, only to slip up. Like stopping smoking, I think for most people it takes many efforts, periods of trial and error where we slowly but surely move towards an AF life. For me anyway, I was never going to be successful on my first attempt to give up AL, but I was successful on my...20th (200th) time?! I dunno how many times it was for sure, but there were a lot. Looking back now, I do believe I was learning a little each time that prepared me for going a step further this time. So keep the faith everyone, no matter what stage you're at. You are trying, and that's massive. That's all we can do - keep on keeping on x

Just my thoughts/rambles!

[choice]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Day 17 AF

Hi Everyone, I'm sticking with spinning J and at day 17! I honestly can't believe how much clearer my thinking is. One thing that is keeping me pretty solid right now is that I am just not around AL at all. That is on my 30 day challenge plan. I have a hard enough time dealing with me right now let alone dealing with the confidence to say NO when it's in my face. Dewdrop your a superstar!! How you handled the situation is an inspiration to me.

[Dewdrop]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Thanks JC and UK for the advice, my friend became a Gran for the first time today so I dropped it off at her house on the way home, I?m not particularly tempted by Champagne but felt it was safer in someone else?s hands. Although when I walked in the room and saw it it stopped me in my tracks and was a little heart sink moment. Don?t want to have any reason to fail at this stage. Also appreciate the advice on the mini-bar UK I hadn?t thought of that, it wasn?t an issue this time as I was feeling strong and was only in my room to sleep but will use it in future.

Chill you are very kind and I am proud, and Neart 57 days is such an accomplishment and everyone?s journey is different so it doesn?t matter how many attempts it takes as long as we try our best and don?t give up.

Choice 17 days is brilliant and you and Spinning are just ahead of me! That was my first time around alcohol and I wouldn?t have gone if it hadn?t been compulsory but I actually felt okay and didn?t have any cravings ? I know it won?t always be like that but just glad to have managed this time. At least it was a positive experience and has given me some confidence.

Dewdrop :l:l:l

[mollyka]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

D'ya know Dewdrop, I actually got into a mini-tantrum here when I read your post, and you seem to have handled it so calmly. Don't know about you but if I had drunk that gin I would probably be right back at square one in a very black place and some clown thinks that's appropriate? whhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa - ok tantrum over and bloody well done you!!!
Everyone else sounds pretty strong? How do you know what I'm thinkin Coco:H Overit does anyway!!
Spent 6 bottles of voddie today on my new hairdo!! Not even orange anymore, sort of red bits and brown and blonde and I think its grand - can't believe I spent that much on my hair tho! Didn't blink at drinking it in a week!
Will be back tomorrow
Molly

[sidney]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

That's funny Molly I made an appointment to get my hair cut at my old expensive salon.
I feel I have the money. It will make me feel good. I do think it helps to pamper ourselves.
So who is planning the victory party on October 1st?

[Sunbeam]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Dewdrop,
Your resolve is so strong! Many of us would have gone under, but not you. Congrats!

Sidney, an Oct 1 party sounds great! But how exactly do we party electronically? I think it would have to include many cute graphics. Does anyone have some good web sites for this?

[sidney]

Sober (AF) September Challenge

Can you tell I am a special event planner!? Maybe each of us could post something that celebrates being sober for a month together. The journey. The struggle. We are all over the world. Which is way cool to begin with.

We gotta get there first but we are well on our way don't you think? Sid