Sober October Challenge!

[choice]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi Tippylou, anon, neart, dewdrop, witchy woman and everyone else to come!

I think my trouble sleeping does have something to do with quitting smoking. When I quit drinking I slept so much better, but now... argh. I think I had to give them up close to the same time because I started really getting concerned about my health.. and everything I consumed. I've got to keep reading the book and I've really tried to only chew the nicotine gum if I'm just about to run to the dairy to by a pack.

Workouts at the gym have really gotten easier in just 6 days. Since going AF and now NF I have lost 9 pounds! That made me so happy yesterday. Neart, I use to be working out and my motivation was thinking about two cigarettes after the workout- so lame. I have to admit to having a little bit of a panic feeling about quitting both vices but I'm sure (hoping) that like adding up the AF days... the NF days will get easier and easier.... I kind of feel like I started this already and can't go back now so if I've made it hard on myself... oops. I don't really feel like smoking one more cig or a pack is going to do much good now towards relaxing anyway.

Good luck to everyone today!! I can't wait to hear how everyone who hasn't posted in a while is doing :l:h

[icandothis]

Sober October Challenge!

Hello Octobers!

This is Day 4 for me. I had a productive day at work today, but problems with my hubby, we're thinking about separating and he's stressing me out. Anyway, I'm going to try and get to the gym again tonight to de-stress instead of picking up a glass of wine.

I just have to remember how awful I'll feel tomorrow if I drink today.

Congratulations everyone -- love the energy in this thread! It's great to come here and get uplifted and my mind off my own problems. Thanks everyone! :thanks:

[Hippy Chick]

Sober October Challenge!

Morning everyone.

Icandothis - sorry to hear about your marriage. Just another stress for you to have to worry about! But dont let that be an excuse to drink.

Choice - going to the gym in the morning is different for me now that I am not sweating wine out of my pores instead of sweat! Errrwww yuk. I used to be trying not to throw up, my head thumping and feeling like crap but would tell myself that I was doing myself good. I didnt make the connection that I would be doing myself better by not getting shitfaced the night before!! And now that I have controlled my sugar addiction and dropped those extra kilos I piled on after I gave up drinking, I feel even better while working out. Must be a slow learner!

I used to black out most times I drank. Even if I only had a few. I had my first black out when I was 15/16 which was the first time I got drunk and even now (I'm 46) I get teased about what I supposedly did that night because I cant remember. I put myself into so many dangerous situations when I blacked out yet I continued to drink for 30 years! The strange thing about me blacking out was during the worst drunks I had, for a moment I would sober up and see myself in the mirror, or throwing up all over myself, or doing something horrible. This split second was the only thing I would remember and I would say to myself at the time "look at what you look like to everyone else". I think it was my minds way of showing me how horrible I looked to shock me into stopping - yet I didnt! I have fallen over, peed myself, tried to get out of a speeding car, had sex with people, taken drugs, lied to people, cut myself, the list goes on. Yet I drank for all those years and considered drinking again now.
That is why - for me - this site, this thread, you people, are so important. I'm sure I am not the only one who has done these and more horrible things but by remembering them and confessing to them HOPEFULLY it will stop me (and maybe someone else) not do it again.

Have a good (sober) day.

Hip

[dextie]

Sober October Challenge!

Omg
I just wrote a book almost and lost it all here somewhere, oh well finishing homework with kids then dishes wishing all a nice evening.
I love this site
Hugs to all
Be back once kids r in bed
Day 3
:new:

[dextie]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi everyone
Made it through day 3!
Feeling better today, still feeling a little moody, .
I was reading that someone here said they started telling people that they don't drink instead of saying excuses.
In the past I have usually said I am on diet, ithink saying something like that is leaving the door open just incase u change your mind, I wouldn't want to write anything in stone.
Well this time I am telling everyone I DO NOT DRINK.
Especially my family we all drink quite a bit together.
My sister asked me today if I was going to drink on thanksgiving?
I said no and she seemed disappointed. My family all grew up drinking and yes we almost always have fun. It seems sad that we can't get together just to have thanksgiving.
My brother called and we don't see each other
often because he lives 1&1/2hourd away. He asked if him and his family could stay the night which usually means the whole family parties till the we hours. I didn't say yes but said I would let him know how I was feeling! !!
Ihave to get real.

Hope everyone is staying strong!
Keep typing

[icandothis]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi Guys,
Dextie, congrats on Day 3! I'm just finishing Day 4, so let's go the distance together!

Hippy, I started having blackouts in my last year or so of drinking. One of the worst things was waking up and having my husband mad at me for an argument that I didn't even remember! I just never want to be there again.

I'm off to bed -- hopefully I'll sleep tonight!

[Spinning J]

Sober October Challenge!

Good morning Team Sober October! Well we are on day 7 of the challenge now :goodjob:. How's everyone doing?? It's day 46 for me today the longest streach of AF time this year so I am very pleased . Dextie well done on 3 days keep up the good work! Icandothis I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with your hubs but you are doing the best thing by staying AF :l. Anon I'm glad you had no cravings yesterday and hope they stay away!!!! Witchy is great to hear you being so positive. As chicken said we are an 'inspiring mob' of AF ers!! I like that.
Hey Neart I'm a school teacher too (Early Years). I left my job 6 years ago to be a stay at home mum and now I'm thinking of maybe getting back into it. Good money lots of stress??? I get to go to the gym everyday in the week now when the girls are a school and I love it ! I get a natural buzz from it and it means I dont have to worry about what I eat as much for the first time in my life (at 5 foot I just look at a take away and put on a pound!)
Hippy I hear you about the blackouts and I will admit to have been in all of those scary situations. Although I waited for the moving car to stop at the lights before I jumped out of it probably to find the nearest bar! Not funny I know and we would never dream of doing these things sober. I know now that its my responsibility not to pick up that first drink or I go straight back to that dark place!
Far too much rambling from me! Have a great day folks. :h xx

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Well I blew it last night! I had 2 Gin and tonics and was so angry with myself I did not have any more.
Yesterday was the first day without cravings so God knows why I did it! Well back on day 1 again.

[mollyka]

Sober October Challenge!

This is a silly stupid perverse disease Anon, like you say, you didn't even have cravings. What's done is done, you've to put yesterday firmly behind you - take the positives out of it - you didn't go mad on the drink, you didn't drink drive, you disgusted yourself - give yourself absolutely no wriggle room today and you are back and at it girl!!
Dewdrop, I started drinking at work cos I decided my job was so boring and I needed something to get through my day - luckily was never rumbled (I hope), am now doing exactly the same job sober, and I love it!! Wonder what the connection is??!
Morning to everyone else - can't even begin to mention everyone - Neart, we'll have to arrange somewhere to meet the day of the 'meet up'? Hips, you've just given yourself 25,000 reasons not to drink on the anniversary
Be strong everyone, and I'll be back tonight
Molly

[icandothis]

Sober October Challenge!

Good morning all! I'm looking forward to another AF day!

Spinning, great job on 46 days. I can't wait to be there. I have decided it will be easier to go through a hard time sober than drunk, so I'm really happy I'm sticking with it. Thanks for the inspiration! I've also been going to the gym and enjoying the natural buzz. If this is my new addiction I'm okay with it!

Anon, we have all been there. I'm on day 5 (again!) so I know how seductive that little "I'll only have one..." voice can be. I'm just ignoring that voice this time. In AA they say "smash the thought". Hang in there and you'll be on your way to a better life again! Molly is right, it's a stupid, perverse disease!

Have a great day everyone!

[fluff]

Sober October Challenge!

Day 11-
Hey all great job on your alcohol free days!-
Anon- two g&t's is nothing to beat yourself up over-really- just think of it as a stepping stone to where you want to be -
Hi to- hippy,Icandothis,molly,spinning,dextie and all! Happy sober Thursday!

[Peacefull]

Sober October Challenge!

Good morning everyone,

Anon, you stopped at two that's a good thing. Don't beat yourself up.

I am at day 40 today and feeling good, loving life and enjoying the simple things again. Not stressing about the small stuff and having authentic laughs.

I still struggle with thinking of moderating, but will cross that bridge when I think I am ready. Right now AL has no place in my life, thinking back to the last couple of drinking episodes I had is enough to keep me AF. But as anon just went through, you don't have to be craving to have a drink...

I won't be around a computer for the next few days, going away to enjoy a wonderful weekend with the family. Bought lots of perrier and bringing lots of books.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and to those struggling, be kind to yourself :l

:h

[dextie]

Sober October Challenge!

Good morning all

Day 4 feeling a little better with each passing day.
Anon, I know how your feeling and this too shall pass.
Booze really makes us beat ourselves up, so why r we so drawn to it?
Any body watch Y&R? Catherine chansler said it best when she said, "Some of her best times were had at the bar drinking! ITS funny I can't remember any of them? !?"

How true!
Ucandoit,anon we seem to be on the same week stay strong!
Our problems will always be there but booze doesn 't have to be.
Off to work check back this evening!
I should change my name to the rambler.
Hugs all

[cmhguy3]

Sober October Challenge!

Good Morning, It is another beautiful day in the Midwest and frankly I am finding it quite energizing! made it thru another evening, less of a headache last night, slept like a rock and bounced out of bed once again before the alarm. Gosh, If I could bottle this feeling and drink it when I had cravings, it would be such a deterrent to stay sober!

Congrats Spinning on a great stretch!

Guy
Day 8 AF!!!!!!

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Have forgiven me so just cross with myself letting my guard down.
Anyway as Molly said what is done is done and I did not do anything too awful except drink 2 very large gins!
I think in my heart of hearts I had planned it subconsciously thinking I could moderate--

Well I could see on drink 2 the old pattern emerging and I just projected or fast forwarded to the hangover etc. So a lesson learned. Hey ho.