On becoming joyfully AF

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Dear Dream,
Yes, AB was essential for me in reaching the 100+ days back in November. I continued to take it pretty regularly through much of the holidays and into Jan. The times I chose to drink, I had been off the AB for close to a week.

Since Feb, I have not taken it but I carry it with me on every trip. Believe me, if things get too much for me to handle, I am not shy about pulling it out this trip. My goal is to work through some really stressful situations by using tools such as exercise, meditation, MWO, yoga, and reaching out to my DH. Thanks for asking.

[halo]

On becoming joyfully AF

Free, how goes the journey?? Wishing you well, excited spring is around the corner (hopefully!) Take care!

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Halo! So good to hear from you. How are you?

I am well. Had some health issues that I seem to have resolved (digestive issues due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress). Am no longer traveling to W Africa and finishing up this consulting assignment. Next month my official "retirement" begins -- taking a four month long road trip with lots of hiking and backpacking. Am happy, content, and blessed.

[Candlelight]

On becoming joyfully AF

3June2013, I have posted elsewhere about this. I am scared about withdrawal, although I don't drink the heavy stuff (just wine, one to 1.5 bottles a day). My husband doesn't know about my problem and would not be supportive if he did. What is the easiest way to get rid of this horrible habit? I know I can't drink "socially," so the only way out is cold turkey, forever. And I would do it if I could somehow get rid of the fear of DTs, etc. Do you have any practical tips to cope with WDs? I assume they won't be terrible. I just need help to get through the first week. Thanks!

[NoSugar]

On becoming joyfully AF

Hi, Candlelight

At that level of drinking (and more), most people who have written about it here were able to just quit without major side effects. They did not feel good (tired, grouchy, etc.) but it was nothing life-threatening. I felt just awful for 2 weeks and not great for a few months but it was totally worth it! For many of us, our main regret is not having done it sooner.

Keep posting and asking questions!

[halo]

On becoming joyfully AF

Good to hear you will be enjoying some relaxation soon Free! Love that you are happy, content and blessed..
I am doing fairly well, a couple of slip ups that I'm not proud of but mostly have AL under control . Have come to the realization though that I will be battling addiction issues for the rest of my life.. My will power to fight is strong though which is the most important part of my life path. I'm just not perfect ....
Find the will power candlelight, to make some changes for a better life. No Sugar is one of the best to ask for advice! Keep up the good vibes Free ..

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Dear Candlelight,
While I am not a physician I know that many people on MWO who were drinking a bottle of wine a night talk about just going cold turkey as No Sugar indicated. Main symptoms seemed disturbed sleep, fogginess, and sugar cravings.

Halo, I understand about choosing to drink, as I have done so on several occasions since I started on this AF journey. I just know that I feel so much better if I keep the poison out of my system. If I recall, you turned 40 this past year. It wasn't until I was in my 40s that my drinking became a regular activity. Now that I am 55, I wish I had done what you are doing -- addressing it 15 years earlier. Keep at it. You are a strong woman.

[halo]

On becoming joyfully AF

Thanks for the supportive words Free, I'm working on it! Keep well :l

[halo]

On becoming joyfully AF

Free how goes the journey????
Hope you are doing well, am waiting desperately for my summer vacation to start, and I mean desperately....I honestly believe burn out from work is just one of the factors that contribute to those darn AL cravings....and if anyone knows being overworked, it is you!!! Hope you are getting some down time from all your travels...

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Hi Halo,
Thanks for your note. My DH retired this month and I am not taking any consulting gigs for the next four months or so. We (including the wonder dog) are on a road trip, eventually making it to the American West. Lots of day hikes and trying to practice yoga every day. Later, once we are in a little better shape, we'll start backpacking. Eventually, we are hoping to take on a 500 mile trip. We'll see. Remaining joyfully AF, which has been great.

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Quick update from the road. Early part of this journey involves visiting with family and friends. Lots of dinners and hanging out in the backyard. Thank goodness for AB, which I have taken to help strengthen my resolve. Enjoying having time to wait two hours for an obscure museum to open because they might have an interesting collection. All the better to allocate time for yoga.

All's well from the road.

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

All is well from the road. June was AF, now onto July. Starting to get back in hiking shape after years of spending too much time on planes, in airport lounges, and hotels. So happy to be unencumbered for the summer!

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Update from the road.

Our lives have taken on a pattern. We camp in National Forests, either in primitive sites (no facilities, pump your water from the river/creek) or basic sites (toilet, picnic table, firepit but no shower or electricity). We try to stay in one place for 3-5 days and head into a town every week or so for a hot shower, laundry, a grocery shop, and hopefully a phone/internet connection.

We wake at first light. Breakfast is leisurely -- coffee, followed by blueberry pancakes, or quesadillas, or veggie and eggs. We then set out for a hike -- something between 2-7 hours, depending on the weather and how we are feeling. If it is a short/low elevation day, we get back to camp in time to clean up, do some laundry, practice yoga for a hour or so, and then it is time to make dinner. If it is a long hike, we stumble into camp, do a minimal clean up and eat whatever can be quickly prepared. We usually have a salad with dinner and then either pasta or rice with some kind of curry, or canned black beans and a tortilla. AL is not part of the menu this trip!

We fall into bed sometimes before it is dark, exhausted from a good day with lots of physical activity. I find that the time being quiet, listening to the sounds around me, is so good for renewing my soul. At the end of each day, I count the 4-5 things specific to that day for which I am grateful.

I am beginning to understand the sense of peace that comes from being in nature for extended periods.

[Pinecone]

On becoming joyfully AF

FAL, your trip sounds so wonderful. I truly love backpacking but it will be a few years before our daughter is old enough to go, so we dabble with day trips and throw rocks in streams for now. I love being so wiped that you can fall asleep before the sun is all the way down. Getting out for a while really clears the head. Take care!

[free at last]

On becoming joyfully AF

Thanks, Pinecone. We are seeing lots of parents with little children in the campgrounds. Love the way they are getting early exposure to the joys of being in the woods. Still taking dayhikes to get better acclimated. Hope to start the 500 mile backpack trip in the next week or so.