Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

[Enough!]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Shue... Thank you for the vote of confidence and your faith in me

making my way through day 9... So far so good!

How is everyone else managing today?

Enough!

[FlyAway]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Doing great! We ended up not going to the drinking function after all. :thumbs: Too far away and DH has an early morning tomorrow. Day 7 is just about done. Onward to 8!

[mya]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Almost at the end of day 4, really tired probably because I didn't sleep very well last night.
The one thing that I'm really looking forward to is not looking bloated, my eyes and skin looking better.
It's going to be a long haul but I have to do it.
thanks everyone!

[FlyAway]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Way to go Mya! I can definitely tell the difference in the way I look.

[mya]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Believe it or not I finally read thru all of the thread.
I just wanted to say that I'm very proud of everyone here.
I know some are having a hard time with their spouses and them not really believing you have a problem. Like I posted earlier my husband told me I needed to get a handle on things and it's not the first time but for some reason I knew enough was enough. I have a husband that doesn't have to drink to have a good time, he goes to the gym everyday and the was the time I would start drinking. After he told me Friday morning that he was here to help me he has never asked me if had have been drinking because I think he knows I haven't bc I'm not watching tv in our room instead of with him and I'm not getting up every so often to steal a drink where my stash is.
Almost the end of day 4 and my plan tomorrow is to go to the golf course with my husband and son instead of looking forward to that time I'm alone at home to drink.

[Enough!]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Good for you Mya! The sleep gets easier to day by day. I just finished a couple sets of weights and crunches to use up some of the extra energy I havebefore bed.

Have a great night all
Enough!

[shueaddict]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Day nine ...

Mya, i just love golfing with my husband and son, it is such a treat. Forgo the nineteenth, though, 3 weeks ago i got a quadruple bogey there. Auch.


Wish you all a great, strong day

[lifechange]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

hey you all, way to go!!
snap, this is our last day in week one. i can't believe it.

fly away, you're into week 2!! congrats.
shue, i think you are doing an amazing job. i'm always inspired by your coping strategies. i think the fireflies were definately a sign. i love fireflies.
i really like what you said, crazy cat, about not letting alcohol take anything else away from you. i feel like i've been born again! like i have my whole life in front of me.
it's so nice, like you said mya, to join in and look forward to spending time with others instead of to that lonely drinking time. i can't believe i used to count the hours until i could be alone to drink. and then i used to tell everyone that i needed more time alone. more "me" time. yeah, right!

enough, i have so much confidence in you to make it through the cottage days without drinking. how long have you all been meeting at the cottage? have you ever gone through a visit there without alcohol? i'll be excited to hear about all the new things you discover there. must be a lovely place.

a wonderful day!

[hadit]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Hello everyone,Just read through all the posts again. Thanks to everyone. There are some really couragous people on this thread.I have just about completed Day 4 and still AF. The cravings were much harder today and I suspect tomorrow will be a real challange. Keep positive everyone:thanks::thanks:

[Snapdragon]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Hi Everyone - and congratulations to you all for your amazing resolve!! and Enough - if anyone can overcome a challenge it is you!!

Boozer - you are doing great. Day four was the worst for me and it's getting easier day by day so hang on in there!

Lifechange - Yay!! Day 7 today. I can't believe it! and I'm feeling a bit stronger every day.

Regarding sleep and tiredness - its really weird but I'm sleeping flat out like a log every night, but feel more exhausted during the day than I have for ages. Not sure why?

I have an incredible challenge coming up tomorrow night and I'm terrified I'm not going to make it. My partner has booked (before I decided to go AF) to take me to a medieval banquet in London tomorrow night for my birthday. It sounds amazing - with entertainment and a four course dinner - but there is free wine and beer all evening. How am I going to get through this one??

[shueaddict]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Hi Snap, I feel for you, it will surely be a challenge. And it?s your birthday. But you cannot keep dodging them forever. At some point in time you will have to face your demon on less favorable ground for you, i.e. a party or a dinner of some sort. If you can make it AF is amazing just how liberated and empowered you feel after (I only managed to pass one such party AF for now but I am still high from it).
And you need to have a game plan ? practice in advance your excuse for not drinking (if you fear you will be asked by your company), think of a replacement drink that will compliment the meal. I speak for myself but roasts and fatty foods in general are a trigger for me, I feel I need to ?wash them out? with some wine. So maybe have some pickles handy.

Visualize how the waiter will come with the carafe, you will probably smell the wine already, your mouth will start to water and your heart will beat faster. You will put your hand over your glass and say nicely ?No thank you, not for me?. If he insists ?No thank you, not tonight?. But it?s your birthday !!!! ?Yes, but I am afraid I had too much of the lovely food already? .

Best of luck, check in on us before you go, we?ll be there for you.
:illbeback:

[shueaddict]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Lifechange, I can actually see the change in you just by the way you write, you are so much more positive! And brave for asking your close ones for help.

Boozer, hang in there mate! Are you craving in general or only at certain times of day? I did 4 AF days before, after that I thought I am "entitled" to let off a bit of steam. Well, that sort of attitude brought me here.

[Snapdragon]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Hi Shue - thanks so much for your ideas. I've been running it through my head - I will ask for lime and soda - apparently the wine on offer is red so not my drink of choice and I'm not an ale drinker either.

If I can get through this one then hopefully I can the further challenges in the next few weeks. I have to order all of the wine and beer for our wedding reception (I'm putting this off until the week before so I don't have to think about it). And our wedding - just three weeks away. All of that lovely champagne we have ordered - and none for me!

I need to read Alan Carrs 'How to control your drinking' again. That really helped before. Instead of feeling deprived, you think of alcohol as poison, so rather than thinking I can't drink lovely champagne and wine, I will think - I'm not going to put that poison into my body and pity the people around me that are (not openly of course!!)

Anyway - I will keep posting - you are all my resolve!! :thanks:

[FlyAway]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

Oh how I hate this forum at times! I just spent about 20 minutes typing out replies to you all only to be told that I wasn't logged in! But I was logged in when I started. I must remember to copy everything I type before trying to send it. This is the second time this has happened to me with a long post.

[FlyAway]

Conquoring day 1!!! Who's beating this with me?

TWO--How are you doing today? Did you make your flight?

Snapdragon--What a fun night you have planned! This will be a huge test, but you can do it. The tests will never stop, the booze will never go away. But our strength will continue to grow. I think it's great that you've already planned out what you're going to drink. When you hear the voice in your head telling you that you deserve this, it's your birthday, know that it's a lie and the truth is that you don't deserve this. "This" is a horrible thing that no one deserves. Alcohol is not a treat or a reward to look forward to. It's a liar and a poison that wants your life. That voice is lying. Listen to it and laugh at it and imagine it's the biggest liar in the world trying to trick you out of your very existence. Answer it with your real voice and call it out. You can do this and I can't wait to hear all about it!

Lifechange--I really admire you talking to those close to you about your problem. Letting go of the shame is huge and I think will help you immensely. I wish I were as brave as you.

Boozer--Stick with us, you can get through this! This is the hard part. The desire and craving will get easier as long as you don't drink. If you do drink you're only going to have to go through this again. This is part of the process. You are stronger than the alcohol!

Lifechange--Funny what you said about being born again. I was thinking the same thing last night. My last night of drinking was the night I passed on and the next day was my rebirth. We have a chance to start a whole new life and become the person we really want to be!

Mya--It's great that you made a plan to go golfing with your family! I think we're all doing a bit more reconnecting with those we care about since we're not drinking anymore. It's also great that you have the support of your husband in this.