I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

[Choochie]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Congrats on passing your test Jenny. Yay!!!:happy:

[tlrgs]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

count me in too nicely done on passing the test keep it going and stay positive

[mylife]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Hi Everyone! Hope I can join in. I'm on Day 3 after an awful (Okay not AWFUL but not good) Thanksgiving week. I intend to remain absitnent through the New Year and hopefully for many New Years to come. I drank a sugar coke while fixing dinner tonight. I never drink sugar cokes, but I heard somewhere the sugar is a good anti-craving device during witching hours, and I have to say it worked! I did see a woman in the aisle in front of me at the grocery store with 2 large bottles of wine, and had a fleeting feeling of -- maybe wistfulness -- that I will never be doing that again. But I really don't know why I felt wistful? I really hated my life with AL and think it's an awful substance. Anyway, I'll quit rambling. So glad you started this thread Jenny! Congratulations on your certification!

[Doggygirl]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Mylife, first off, congrats on 3 days AF! That is awesome. Just want to suggest caution with the sugar. I originally followed the diet recommendations in the My Way Out book, which did NOT include sugar. (in fact, a caution against it) I did really well. Over the last several months I have let sugar creep back in and it's truly as addictive as AL - at least for me. If you haven't read the My Way Out book you might want to download it just so you can make an informed decision about the sugar. I wish I had stayed off of it myself.

DG

[sweet79]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

I would love to tag along! Sounds lika a great goal!

[mylife]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Thanks DG. I did read the book and I forgot about that. One thing I do remember though is she avoided sugary drinks b/c they made her think of the AL drinks she had before. I never liked sugary AL drinks. But you're right -- it would be too easy to switch addictions to another substance, so I am going to be careful of that from now on. Thanks for the advice!

[jennyneric]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

mylife, I kind of do the sugar thing too, just when I'm fixing dinner, right now a candy cane is helping with the cravings, I tried cigs but they make me dizzy. You can do it! Keep strong for day 4!

[Doggygirl]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

There is a lot of information out there that links alcohol and sugar addiction. I guess sugar and AL behave a lot alike in our bodies and problems with one often connect with problems with the other. "The Diet Cure" by Julia Ross (or "the Mood Cure) is good. Potatoes Not Prozak by Kathleen DesMaisons is another. I'm re-reading both right now. I totally got sucked in.

DG

[mylife]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Thanks guys. I have to say years ago before AL, I had a definite sugar problem -- I really didn't like AL until I was in my 30's and would definitely have preferred a pint of ice cream to a pint of beer until then. Then it all switched, so I am aware there must be a link.

Jenny, I love your quote -- I just saw Keith Urban in an interview using that quote as his reason for 4 years of sobriety now despite repeated efforts in the past. He said the final time he realized he had to change everything because doing the same thing over and over was definitely not working. Very inspirational!

[jennyneric]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

hey mylife its 9:11 here so its 10:11 there, how did your night go? I'm just reading up on here, having a cig and going to bed. I love going to bed at 9:30 now! It feels so much better to wake up at 5 when I've gotten to sleep!

[Choochie]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Jen, at the risk of sounding like your mother, don't smoke!!!

[jennyneric]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

LOL Choochie, I don't smoke much, maybe 2 a day and only after 9. When my kids were little I would not smoke around them, and I did not want to leave them to go outside to smoke so I just didn't smoke until they went to bed. I guess it became a habit because now I can't smoke until after 9 because it makes me feel ill. I've thought of quitting just haven't done it yet!

Well off to work on day two! It is cold here and mine and my daughters allergies are really bad. I hope it will be a good day for me and for all who come along and see this! Happy AF Tuesday, time to conquer another day!

Courage!

[Choochie]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

16) Part of the path in recovery should include quitting smoking. Why? Because it is another step toward wellness. The holistic path will eliminate bad habits such as smoking. Many in early recovery hang on to this habit for a few years, but eventually people realize that they are still using nicotine to self medicate with, and that it is killing them. Also, those who manage to quit smoking in recovery have less tendency to relapse on drugs and alcohol, too. So quitting smoking is like insurance against relapse.

Jen - this is part of the 51 Things You Should Know About Recovery from Spiritual River.

Choochie - maybe for the future after you get some AF time under your belt??:l:l:l

[jennyneric]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Day 2 everyone. . .Day 2

[one2many]

I'm starting my rest of the year sober challange today!

Good Going!!!!!