January Mod Squad

[sparkles143]

January Mod Squad

Strong and In Control... Watching TV and relaxing 7 pm on the west coast A Couple drinks and we ice skate tomorrow

[nonamegirl]

January Mod Squad

Welcome, Sparkles! Yes, we are a very supportive group, just doing exactly what you mentioned, set goals for minimal drinking and keep track of how we are doing. Once in awhile, one or more of us (TMH right now... you GO girl!) chooses to go AF, and we are all thrilled. But no one beats anyone up if we don't quite meet our goals. It is a very warm and welcoming place here, and we have a somewhat larger group than is currently posting.

Some of us use DrinkTracker, as well. I personally go back and forth on whether or not I want to, but have kept at it as it helps to keep me honest.

Lots of us are runners/walkers, with a strong contingent of marathoners. We have writers, bloggers and such in our group too. I think you will feel very much at home.

Welcome!

[DancingGirl]

January Mod Squad

Hello, I'm back posting after over a year away, and like Sparkles think this is where I belong.

I've found another drink tracker and put a link in the Monthy Mod section. I'm very happy with it, but am starting to feel like I'm now "selling" it to everyone so I won't do that any more.

I went on a Christmas drinking spree once work ended, starting at lunch and sipping all afternoon. It added up to lots of units and lots of calories and not (uh) feeling so good. Now I'm back with regular AF days and if not moderating the other days at least very aware of how much I'm drinking.

Off to work out (I do the Gillian Michaels level One, which I found out about on MWO) and I think I'll hang out here, if that's okay.
:thanks:

[Emmy Lou]

January Mod Squad

Hello Everyone! Welcome Sparkles and Dancing Girl! (Sorry if I've missed anyone, I haven't read the posts all that thoroughly. I have to admit, we had a BBQ with my partners kids, inlaws and his mother, to get them together with our friends. When I left my flat to pick up a friend I realised that I'd left my scotch & soda inside, but was running late so I picked up a couple of bottles of red on the way. I said to myself that I'd share the wine and that there would be soft drinks for the kids which I could drink after a couple of wines. Of course this is NOT what happened. It was a wonderful mix of people, and we all stayed up talking Into the night. In the past I would have had no problem with all that wine but my goodness what an awful hangover I had on Sunday!!! I didn't get out of bed until about four in the afternoon!!! So it was easy to go AF the next day. My boyfriend offered to cook me dinner tonight, he did beautiful duck pieces roasted on potatoes with steamed vegetables. He also brought a really good bottle of red. I had one glass with dinner and one after...then back to the diet tonic. I really MUST make sure that I have AF options on hand at the next gathering. It's not hard to mod for me if I have an option that I like.
So, I'm back to work and hoping that getting back into modding will flow more naturally now.
Bedtime for me,
Take care everyone,
X
Em

[Stewarts]

January Mod Squad

HI everyone, I have been catching up what you have all been up to. TMH, this is normal, I know exactly what you're feeling, I was feeling pretty much the entire holidays, sometimes staying shut in too much, can have the reverse effect.

I do Xmas Eve and my aunt did Christmas, it was fun, I did nothing NYE. I really didn't drink too much over the holidays, as I said, I was a shut in as well, I felt really depressed. I worked from home, but did whatever little I had to do, I spent a lot of time watching TV. The two times I drank, didn't have bad results, but made me glum. One was, NY Day. I had brunch with my parents and had some perseco...which scarily, made me feel good, it was the best I felt in weeks. I then decided to watch the Winter Classic at a bar afterwards, and had a few beers, then I started feeling down. When I realized I felt down, I got up and left, but told the bartender I knew, "I'm sorry if I ever bothered you." and left. She looked at me like I had three heads, I don't start crap in places and I am always respectful to the staff.

The second time was this past Saturday. I had been cooped in my apartment too long and meant my buddy and his wife in Queens to watch some playoff Football. I think need the night out. I stayed over there. I did tell my buddie's wife that I think I've come to the point where I really don't care about life and death....it was truly how I had been feeling. We went back to their place and hung out some more, like I said, I slept over. I woke up with extreme anxiety. So, I took it easy Sunday. Even with all that, I probably needed the night out with friends.

I woke up today with a little anxiety, which kind of shocked me...it's better now that I am at the office...I think I got to get back to the swing of things.

[Emmy Lou]

January Mod Squad

Hey Stewarts,
My very dear friend used to tell me 'fake it til you make it' them she gave me a funny hat (a huge banana) and made me promise to put it on and look in the mirror every time I felt that anxiety. It never failed to make me laugh. Her idea was that even if I put on a fake smile, after a little while it might become real and is worth the effort. It won't fix the long term all at once but it will fix the next moment, and once you start doing that you're on the way at least.
Hope that helps?
X
Em

[Stewarts]

January Mod Squad

Funny

Emmy Lou;1609045 wrote: Hey Stewarts,
My very dear friend used to tell me 'fake it til you make it' them she gave me a funny hat (a huge banana) and made me promise to put it on and look in the mirror every time I felt that anxiety. It never failed to make me laugh. Her idea was that even if I put on a fake smile, after a little while it might become real and is worth the effort. It won't fix the long term all at once but it will fix the next moment, and once you start doing that you're on the way at least.
Hope that helps?
X
Em

Hi EL, that is a pretty funny story and good advice. This hasn't happened to me in a long time, but my anxiety is usually chemically related. Essentially, even though they were light beers, I consumed more than I should've, which is easy to do when you're in a "safe place", like my friends' place. We were basically staying up watching live music videos on youtube....that's it, nothing bad happened or anything.

However, like I said, I was staying very shut-in, so maybe that had something to do with it. I haven't been running or doing much exercise in the last week, week and half, although I'm ironically in good shape - good weight, etc.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do later today, probably just go home, I really don't feel like running or exercising or anything like that.

[DancingGirl]

January Mod Squad

Just a quick post to say that I stayed true to my goal and did NOT drink today. This was important as I'm back at work (sigh... like everyone) and my bad has been to come home and immediately get a glass of wine. Ahhh the end of a long day... but I got lemon fizzy water and clocked in another No Drink Day. Aiming for tomorrow too - this is a habit to break!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

[Emmy Lou]

January Mod Squad

Hello Everyone. I had a great productive day and got offered more private work so it'll be a quiet weekend for me. I'm happily AF tonight and am having my inlaws for dinner tomorrow night. Apparently they heard about my hangover and were giggling about bringing me a bottle of red. I'm going to try and only have one glass with dinner and maybe one after...I've been practicing making them last a very long time.
Or I may get a bottle of prosecco and still only have two...it has less alcohol (&calories).
I got off the train a stop early this morning and walked the extra half hour through the beautiful gardens near our CBD. I think I'll do that again tomorrow...it's good for the 'happy vibes'.
I look forward to catching up on your posts on Thursday, as I won't have time tomorrow.
Yes Stewarts...the banana hat was very funny. I was once made to wear it walking through the city in exchange for a lift home by my housemate...so she got joy out of it too!
Take care all.
X
Em

[Stewarts]

January Mod Squad

As for AF, I have been the last two days, and I'm sure today, I have no desire to drink. I was never a drink after work, habitually, type of person. As much as I like beer, I don't even keep any in my place. Whatever hard liquor I have is for company and I think I have one bottle of red wine left over from Christmas Eve, which who knows when it will get used.

Unless I have company, I usually just drink when out

[Jazi's Mum]

January Mod Squad

Hi everyone. I just checked into the Ruby Tuesday thread and have set a target for myself there. I like this realistic focus on our drinking that I see here. I know darned well that complete abstinence is not what I want for a variety of reasons. But I would like to have control! Hence my baclofen experiment - and that is going well. I've started a progress thread in the Meds section to report on this.

However, I have not been setting targets for my drinking. I do know what baclofen will work well for me to eliminate cravings - give me that control I want.

But setting a target seems to make sense now. Anyway, I'm so grateful that you are all out there and know how I feel!!!
JMum

[nonamegirl]

January Mod Squad

Hello, all!
Stewarts, I am so glad you are posting. I was worried about you over the holidays! Allow yourself the time to stay home and hang out, to just be. You are such a great guy, and I really am glad you are back with us.

DancingGirl, welcome! We are happy to have you. J-Mum, you too. Thanks for joining our small band.

Emmy, what a whirlwind you have had over the weekend! Even knowing that you are so much younger than I am, I wish I could just jump on a plane and come to your parties. What fun!

Okay, so here is my update, and a heads up in case I don't post daily this week. My husband has had a bad cold the last two weeks, which has turned into a very bad case of bronchitis. I guess I have decided to join him in sickbay. I have no voice at all, and feel pretty puny. I actually slept 11 hours last night, which for someone with insomnia is pretty danged unusual. So, I'll be back once I can keep a cogent thought in my head. It has taken me three times as long to type this, as I keep misspelling words and having to go back. Back to bed with me.

[Jazi's Mum]

January Mod Squad

Not nice to be sick!! I hope this means a few days of needed sleep for you even though the reason isn't a great one.
JMum

[sparkles143]

January Mod Squad

Hi all thank you for your kind words, no AF since Sunday and I didn't over do it. It's amazing how clear the mind feels and how the spirit and mood rise when AL is not involved. So much more productive went on a long walk yesterday at 530 am while everyone was asleep house chores caught up
Reading a book! Love! Hope I have the wherewithal to keep it going' happy Wednesday everyone hope your having a great day!

[Jazi's Mum]

January Mod Squad

Hi all. So glad to read of you all doing so well! Stewarts, noname, and sparkles too! Thanks for these encouraging posts - I've got you all as examples of targets met...I'll get there! (even though I find my target hard to meet - because of FEAR!)