JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi Belle - glad to see you here. Take care and get rid of that cold.:lilheart:

[Hypernova]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Good morning all.~~~ Today is 3wks and I am not really having a hard time not drinking but it is figuring out how to live now. I am finding solitude good. I need some balance though but as most everyone I know drinks whether it is at work or socially it is difficult. Well for now I will just keep reading here for inspiration and let some time pass and see where the AF life leads me.
Thanks to everyone here for helping me get past what I consider the difficult period.

Once again congrats Byrdie and I hope to follow

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hyper - so glad you checked in! I too am finding happiness in solitude, but I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I still like people - just need much less socializing than I used to. I'm really enjoying the simple things and find that I stay much more calm when I keep drama out of my life, which of course helps in the avoidance of alcohol! Congrats on your time. You're sounding good!

[canadian gal]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hey Jan Jammers! Sorry for not checking in more often...I've been busy in the nest. Today is 22 days for me. I'm feeling good, but am on holiday as of now. I will go to my husband's town tomorrow for Chinese New Year. That's always a huge drink fest. But I'm not going to drink. My excuse: My health isn't so good right now, so I can't/shouldn't drink. Should be easy as pie.

Sorry some of you are struggling. I know it's hard in the beginning, but you really gotta fight off those temptations and urges. It will get easier, I PROMISE YOU! Get at least 14 days under your belt and you'll notice a huge change, which will hopefully make you not want to drink.

Also sorry some of you are sick. Drink some ginger tea. If you feel like you are getting sick, this might prevent it from coming on full force. If you're already sick, this should make you better faster. The only good news about being sick is that you can't drink.

Drifty- Great job on racking up those numbers.

K9- Great advice to all! Loved reading those posts!

Hyper and UW- I feel the same as you guys. I haven't "seen" anyone since I stopped drinking. It's been making all the difference, cause I'm sure if my friends invited me out to drink, I would have joined them.

I will definitely check in during the holiday and share all the horrible drinking stories with you (not my drinking stories, but those of people around me). Hope you guys all have a great day!

[RingingCedars]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Strange thing happened (or almost happened) Wednesday night. I was picking up my new dog and the people offered me a drink(rum & coke-one of my favourites that I don't indulge in very often). So I almost said yes, then at the last minute said no, I'm tired and it will be a long drive home in the dark. The strange thing to me is that I did not even think about my January commitment here until I was about halfway home. I was like OMG, light bulb went on that I almost blew it in complete innocence. So now, I'm really going through internal debates about what to do when the 30 days are up. Do I test the waters hoping there won't be another off the rails after months of "normal" drinking or do I just say(as I have in the past), I'm getting too old for this nonsense and my body does not recover like it used to and I feel great every single day now. It's a very complex and perplexing situation to be aware of and have to decide.
Perhaps some seasoned af'ers will read this and chime in to offer some thoughts.

[K9Lover]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Morning all!

Feeling much better today...hope it lasts. This darn cold seems to go away, then comes back randomly. At least it's Friday so I can just hang out on the couch if it comes back, but my nose is sore from all the blowing!

Canadiangal - Yes, please share the drunken stories that you observe. I find them helpful in staying sober...reminds me of where I don't ever want to be again!

Well today is day 25 for me and feeling really good about it. Haven't had cravings to speak of. When I do think of alcohol it's not in the fantasy way, it's in the reality way, so that's helping me stay far, far away from even entertaining any thoughts. I'm faithfully on the Antabuse too. I'm actually repulsed by the thought of beer right now, I know it used to seep out of my pores. Gross.

Freefly - How are you doing today? Let us know what's going on so we can support you!

RC - Good job on turning down that R&C (I used to like those now and then too). Aren't the internal debates confusing? Our bodies feel so good when we are sober, so why does our brain try to convince us to do something that makes us feel bad? It's like our own brain is against us...yet every other instinct we have is for survival. But when we are killing ourselves slowly, our brain doesn't seem to go into survial-mode. That's what astounds me. What are your goals? To get 30 days...then what? I feel the same as you, I'm too old to stay on this see-saw anymore. I can't recover from drinking like I used to...obviously my body is trying to tell me something, loud and clear! You did the right thing by turning down the drink, and I know you're proud of that decision. I'm sure it's getting easier each time. And you know I have to ask...what kind of doggie did you get?

Well that's it for now, I'm gonna catch up on reading and will be back later. Have a good day everyone!

K9

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

or do I just say(as I have in the past), I'm getting too old for this nonsense and my body does not recover like it used to and I feel great every single day now

This is where I'm at RC - I don't have any desire to go back. My life is much better without any alcohol in it. I'm able to moderate, I just don't want alcohol in my body anymore. Even the smallest amount makes a difference in how I feel.

CG & K9 - great on your # of days - super job. CG - I know you have a lot of temptation thrown in your path, so you're doing a great job turning down alcohol. Some of your stories are amazing. I didn't realize the Chinese drank like that - they can have it!

[WineWrangler]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

To see the determination and support in this group is makes me more determined every day to have an AL free 2012. In 2011 I made a effort not to drink, yet slipped about a half a dozen times. I really did not make a new years resolution not to drink in 2012, I just got so hammered NYE, it became my new years resolution. At this time I have no desire to drink, but at about 90 days AF I enter the danger zone. Hopefully with all of your support I'll make it through the year and drinking will hopefully be a part of my past forever. I work in the wine and wine grape industry and its amazing how many industry professionals do not drink at all. We have all seen the devastation and destruction caused by alcohol (car wrecks, divorce, lost careers, loss of health, etc.). I enjoy sobriety so much, I hope I never fall back into the black hole. By the way K9 I'm reading the autobiography of Mark Twain not John Muir, duh another example of the effects of alc. Wish everyone a great sober weekend.
WW

[WineWrangler]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

One of my mentors in the study of enology (winemaking) a older guy and a great UC Davis scientist told me once the guy that said wine is good for was full of shit.

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hello Guys.

I'm here but feeling depressed to be in single digits again. UW you are right - I was determined - I really don't know what happens to me but I suddenly just feel like it's too much work to stop and I have a drink. Then I regret it and the cycle starts all over.

Anyway, I've told myself that I need to get through 90-days somehow and then I can re-assess. I'm really planning NOT to reassess, but maybe telling myself that will get me through 90 days. That's all I can do for now.

It's great to hear from everyone and I'm so happy to hear those of you who are doing so well racking up the days. It's an inspiration to keep on coming back and trying for the rest of us.

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Winewrangler, I've read many stories about how the people who do the research saying alcohol is good are in the pockets of those with vested interests. Now that I have perspective, I truly believe we have been hoodwinked and that alcohol is not good for us on any level whatsoever. I read a very recent story about documents falsified by a researcher. And, there are several academicians (professors doing research) that support the theory that NO alcohol is good for us. It's interesting to hear how many of your cohorts in the industry don't drink.......telling, isn't it?!

Well, My Life, here's what Byrdie says, and she now has a year......absolutely not ONE single solitary glass of anything........you have to be absolutely steadfast and say no, hell no. It's working for me and the longer I don't drink the more I realize just how bad it was for me. No going back ever for me. And I'm totally comfortable saying never.

I really hope you guys can get some big numbers going, because that's what's going to save you........your thinking can change, I promise.

[Jolie]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 19 for me and I can still honestly say that the thought of AL does not sound appealing to me. Hope that feeling lasts! Feel like I'm on a roll and I'd like to keep on rollin!

Mylife - here is a big :l for you! Been there - know how you feel. Just start right back at the beginning again - doesn't matter how many "starts" we have - as long as we keep coming back and trying.

K9, UW and Winewrangler - hope you are all having a great evening - getting ready to settle down to a nice movie - one in which I will actually stay awake for and believe it or not, I will remember it in the morning! Ahhh the joys of being sober

[K9Lover]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Jolie - I hear ya' on the movie thing. I've watched so many movies that I can't remember the middle to end of. When people talk about movies, I feel embarrassed inside because I know I started the movie, but was too hammered to remember it. Either that or I never bothered finishing it because when I drink, I get really OCD...like I HAVE to rearrange the furniture right now. Then I'll sit down and remember that I HAVE to go rake the front yard (at 10pm, in the rain, in my pajamas). Then I'll get all settled and resume the movie, and low and behold, I HAVE to go clean out the clogged bathroom drain. My lord, drinking was a lot of work!

I just posted this in the Newbies Nest, but I wanted to put it here too. Kinda shows the perspective of a non-problem drinker (it's so simple for them!):


Well my friend just stated the blatantly obvious.

The conversation went like this:

Him: What did you do for lunch today?

Me: My whole family went out for Chinese food, which I hate.

Him: You hate Chinese food?

Me: Yes, and here's why. A few years ago in Vegas I had a REALLY bad hangover and ate some Panda Express. I ended up throwing it up all day. To this day I can't stand Chinese food.

Him: But that didn't make you hate alcohol.

Me: No, I had to do it a few thousand more times before I figured out it was the alcohol, not the Chinese food.

Other people see so clearly what us problem drinkers refuse to see for so long....until we finally do see it.

[MWOLady]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hey, K9 can I steal that joke!!! Love, love that joke!!!

[K9Lover]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

MWOL - Sure, you can steal it...only it's not a joke...that's actually a conversation that I had TODAY.