Hop aboard Santa's Sober Sleigh

[Choochie]

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Dew - going for a walk really does work, doesn't it? I've found that really helps me too. Wild how these cravings just hit out of nowhere - wish they would just disappear! Good for you on riding it out!

[choice]

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Mylife, I'm glad your here :l day five is excellent. Almost a week! I am so done with the punishment to my whole being with the drink- whew!

Dewdrop, I thought about you when I read about your flight being canceled and having all that time to yourself cozy at home. Those are some of my major craving times too. Especially when I feel kinda content. There is a certain since of well being that I use to enjoy with a bottle of wine by myself experiencing the day or evening. (that well being feeling really only lasted 30 min.. and I kept drinking trying to keep it)

I'm thinking that's what they mean when they are talking about our relationship with AL.?? Anyone further along know?? Because i feel like I miss a part of my intoxicated self. It's not real, it's numb and that is so hard for me to grasp sometimes. I also think these triggers come in strange ways. I bet each season brings totally different emotions, memories and triggers. If I were at home in Colorado in a blizzard I know I'd be craving a drunk. Heck yesterday the weather was so beautiful here and everyone was out on the patios in the cafes drinking and I thought hmmm will my desire to drunk ever go away?? Your so right when you say it wasn't just craving a glass a wine but rather a bottle. I hear you on that one. A glass would be torture because I'd want the whole thing.

[jennyneric]

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Unfortunately I am craving this afternoon, I really get what K9 means about 3:00, that seams to be when I start also. It would be nice to take antabuse but if I can do it without that I want to. I just gotta surf the craving, the days that are multiples of 3 are always my hardest. . . .odd.

[Sarah's Jeopardy]

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I am so delighted with the positive vibes on this thread also. You all rock. Your determination and courage is sooooo inspiring. I am 10 days into my sobriety now. Yesterday at about 3pm I started getting a terrible headache and the shakes. It was unexpected as I thought those kind of symptoms would have happened earlier. I became really rattled because its been going so well so far. A few glasses of water and some fresh air seemed to help. Thankfully I had company coming over so I managed to find focus. In the past when I have had withdrawal symptoms I had just given in and got 'pissed'. This morning I woke up feeling like I had drank all night. Again a few glasses of water and a bit of cereal, my supps and I feel a lot better.... especially coming on here and seeing all my buddies on the sleigh... how absolutely uplifting.

[Choochie]

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Everyone - some helpful links be sure to check them out:

WELCOME TO WFS ONLINE! (Gaia was kind enough to give me this link).

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f9...hol-46552.html

If you join the women for sobriety site you have the option of posting there. But, you don't have to. I joined mainly because they have an excellent cache of articles. I highly recommend checking it out!!

Choochie

[mylife]

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Hi Guys, Happy sober evening. I can very much relate to the 3:00 drinking cravings. And I agree taking a walk after work seems to really help take the edge off -- but if I'm hungry, that gets in the way!

Choice, your post was very thought provoking. I know there are times in the past I have stopped drinking and missed parts of my relationship with al. Probably the "Oh what the heck" and the relaxing with a bottle of wine. But a glass would never do, and really it was only a brief period of a "good" relationship -- maybe 30 minutes until I was just drinking to drink. I have to keep reminding myself of that. I really hope to get to a space and time when it just doesn't even sound appealing anymore. I'm hoping that will be a year of sobriety? Really have no idea. I'll just keep trying until I find out!

[Choochie]

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Choice, I agree with ML and you - it's like losing a part of yourself. But, we can't romanticize it because it's really an illusion - something we thought was good, but really came back to haunt us - like a bad boyfriend! Sarah, you're doing super!! Glad you're with us.

[choice]

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I wonder what the 3 pm cravings are all about? Is it a coping strategy to get to the end of the day? I didn't have those but I did get tunnel vision around Wednesday for drinks on Friday. I'd just "hold on" until I could binge on Fridays. I've been thinking about this as coping and not actually dealing with things day to day because I could drown them all out on Friday. I thought I was letting off steam or having fun. Strange how messed up my thinking was. I think Wednesdays were when I actually felt better physically or mentally from over doing it on the weekend. I didn't drink everyday, I don't think my body could handle it. I would shake if I tried to. Such rotten poison!! I really agree with the dumping of the bad boyfriend!!!!

[gettinghappy]

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I am so proud of us all!!!:groupluv:

[enja]

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Hi everyone! Happy to be signing on for another AF month. This is going to be a very interesting holiday season....first one I'll spend sober since I can't remember when - easily 25 years or so.

I'm grateful not to have had any significant AL cravings but I definitely have been eating a lot more sweet things: biscuits, cake, ice cream - no sweets/chocolate though! I rarely ate this stuff before. Not good. Choochie, I read the links you posted regarding the AL/sugar connection and I see that I need to get a grip on this quickly but it seems like, sheesh I've got to tackle this now??? :upset: I thought it was a fairly innocent alternative but over the past few weeks I've noticed that my control over the sweet stuff is heading the same way as my AL consumption - I think I'll only have 1 biscuit or a small slice of cake but before I know it I've had more than I planned and would happily keep going until it's all gone.

I was thinking about what Molly and others have said about when they feel like they "deserve" a drink and was wondering about what we could substitute as a special small treat that could be kept at home to reward ourselves with instead of AL. My first thought was a sweet treat but that now looks like not such a good idea. Any suggestions?

[Dewdrop]

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Hi all,

Quick post but will catch up later. I'm feeling great today and back on track I hope, I have looked at my plan and have planned a busy schedule for today as still snowed in and going nowhere. Also think the sugar/healthy eating thing is very pertinent so have also planned my eating for today to see if keeping my blood sugar level will help.

Will think on the treats idea Enja today and see what I come up with but fruit springs to mind ie something exotic and/or unusual that you wouldn't normally buy? Nice scented handcream and give yourelf a hand massage for 5 mins??

Dewdrop :h

[Peacefull]

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Hi Everyone :l

Good for you Molly and Dewdrop - isn't it a pain how our minds go directly to AL when stressed or even to celebrate.....

I had a pretty anxiety filled day - I know it's the holiday season coming up and that I am grieving that is causing it - in addition to having an addictive mind that wants to drink.

The hard thing is I know a couple of drinks would ease the anxiety, but in the long run make it worse. I need to tough it up and stick to my resolve not only for me but for my beautiful family.

What I did was, after dinner went to my room and meditated - I am a newbie and I know it is going to help. I ran this morning and will run everyday if I have to to make it through these next couple of weeks.

I am grateful for my wonderful hubby who understands the anxiety and supports me and to you guys here for helping me to keep on track by sharing your struggles and triumphs.:thanks:

[gettinghappy]

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Dear God,

Thank you for leading me to this place where my new friends understand me completely and will help each other through the tough spots. I was in a very dark place only one month ago and life has changed so much that I am ready for anything that comes my way! Amen, Happy :heartsnflowers:

[Choochie]

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JUST SAY NO TO THE BAD BOYFRIEND!!:H:H:H

Good Morning Everyone - had a great night's sleep and feeling fantastic. Hope you all are too.

Sugar/Treats: I too had originally been eating a lot of sugar. I actually thought it was staving off alcohol cravings but that's obviously wrong. The good food and supplements and exercise are what's keeping that in check. My big treat to myself is Tulsi tea with Agave nectar. I drink it several times a day and for whatever reason it works wonders for me. I drink the Chai during the day and the Original in the evening. Both contain the Holy Basil leaf and are healthy, and for me, extremely calming and satisfying. You buy it online from Organic India. I think some of the Whole Foods stores carry it. The Agave (highly recommended) is much better for you than other sugars because of the low glycemic load - doesn't elevate your blood sugar levels like other sugars as I understand it.

Enja, I find that if I just make sure I eat real food - six small meals a day is ideal if you can pull it off - you know, graze.......then I don't crave as much. Hillside, who is at 6 months sober talked about cutting up raw fruits and vegies (organic) for the week and taking them with him every day.

I'll keep posting other ideas as they come to me.

Have a great sober day everyone. It is sooooooooo worth it!!

Choochie:l

p.s. I also drink a green drink and that really helps my cravings. I drink Wheatgrass but it doesn't have to be wheatgrass - I think the All in One MWO powder helps too.

[Wagoneer]

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Hey friends! Happy Thursday! The holidays are tough for sure - all the booze ads everywhere and being way too busy and stressed doesn't help me. But I am committed. Not feeling too well again today - can't seem to shake this damn cold and it's interfering with my sleep, but better than being hungover. Will check in later! X X O O Kat