BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Doggy,
I'm so glad your puppy is on the mend!!! Can you give me some tips or pointers on how to quit smoking?? I had decided that my day 30 AF would be my quit date-that would be Sept 3-next Wed. I am SOOO wanting to quit and be done with smoking!!!! krigs

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Hi all,

Hope everyone's having a good AF day. I've had a feeling this week that I'm beginning to turn a corner in relation to (non)drinking. It's beginning to actually feel 'normal' to not be drinking, and I'm definitely thinking about it so much less than I was. Finally!!! It's taken a while! Hahaha. And I know the flip side of this could be complacency and I have to be on guard against that, but it's just getting easier!

Ugg, hangovers. It's extraordinary what we do to ourselves, isn't it? I'd heard that thing about alcoholics not having hangovers and used that sometimes when I had the hangover from hell as a twisted rationalisation that I couldn't really be that bad if I still got hangovers. I agree, DG, that they are especially horrendous after an AF spell. I sometimes got scary stomach pain too - stomach? pancreas? I never, never, never want to go back there.

Wip - a question about behavioural activation and lists for you: if someone makes a list of things to do and doesn't accomplish any of them, do they feel worse if they have the list there in black and white taunting them about their laziness/procrastination than if they hadn't made the list in the first place? (Any resemblance to my behaviour here is entirely coincidental.)

Kriger - when I gave up smoking 10+ years ago I did the cold turkey method. The first week was fairly hard but after that I found it OK. Compared to giving up drinking it was a walk in the park for me, but I've seen other people posting that they found quitting smoking more difficult than quitting booze. Good luck!

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Marshy,
Thanks for the well wishes on the smoking; it is such a nasty habit that I want out of my life!!!
Re: Hangovers. I had hangovers and I think a lot of times I was still partially drunk the next morning. I never had a headache but I was totally crappy feeling and really foggy. My vision was off most mornings, etc. Not a pretty feeling I would like to repeat!!! kriger

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Marshy,
I quit smoking Feb, 2000 and picked it up again in May 2007. How sick is that???? kriger

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

I'm sorry, I mean Feb, 1990 til May 2007. (17 years quit)

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

kriger;394026 wrote: Feb, 1990 til May 2007. (17 years quit)

Unfortunately, I can understand that. Over the last 10 years I've smoked maybe twice "socially", but since going AF over the past few months I've smoked on four or five occasions. If I'm stressed now I think "can't drink, I'll smoke instead!". The last time I did it I thought "no, you are NOT going back to doing that!!!!!". One more thing to be vigilant about!

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

if someone makes a list of things to do and doesn't accomplish any of them, do they feel worse if they have the list there in black and white taunting them about their laziness/procrastination than if they hadn't made the list in the first place?

Marshy, I don't know of any research done about that. It's an interesting question. The research that I know of all goes in the direction of showing only that, overall, "desired" behaviors increase, and "unwanted" behaviors decrease, for people who do the recording practices. Clearly, there may be some individuals who do keep checklists or lists of behaviors, but who don't fit that (generally successful) pattern. One might guess of course that such individuals (those who kept lists but whose behavior did not show improvement, and who are in the minority, but hey) might feel worse than those who failed and kept no lists at all...

So, as you say, the question is purely academic? Ahh, I think you are over-thinking this thing!!!

wip

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

A Work in Progress;394071 wrote: Ahh, I think you are over-thinking this thing!!!

wip

Yeah, one of my MANY bad habits. I'm working on it :H

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Hello fellow Booze Busters!!!

WIP - very interesting about your work with "Behavioral Activation." I will forget the term quickly I'm sure, but will REMEMBER the value of writing things down, keeping lists, etc. You know what? We are all in really good shape around here from kickin' booze beast ass. I think we ought to have a go at your ex boss who stole your work. You know. Just for sport. That must make you furious. But if there is nothing you can do (i.e. copywrited or protected some way) then you are doing the smart thing to move forward rather than let it eat you up. You are doing a good job on yourself. HEY!! Someday you can market your program you did on yourself like RJ!

Marshy, I have The Answer about lists that never get any check marks. Since you will NOT be smoking those odd cigarettes any more, why let all those good matches and lighters go to waste? All kidding aside - that's an interesting question. In my own case, I think I can safely say that procrastination makes me feel crappy at some stage, whether I had a list or not, or burned the list.

That is awesome Marshy that it is feeling "normal" not to drink. I think that really IS a big turning point. I got feedback just this AM from a guy who is quit I think about the same length of time as you are (the question: what changed between 3 months and 7 months). He said the main difference for him is that it's getting easier - sort of like what you describe about feeling more "normal" not drinking. YAY!! I can't wait.

Kriger & all - MAN you made me shiver mentioning the type of hangover where you are still drunk. That was the WORST. Totally forgot about those, and I need to REMEMBER. Where I would be concerned about a DUI going to work in the morning. YIKES.

I got a homework assignment in an on-line meeting yesterday to think about the WORST drinking experience I can recall and writing about it. It's interesting though - it took me a bit to recall a REALLY scary one where I did several things that were so monumentally stupid I can barely think about it much less write about it or talk about it. That goes to show how our minds DO push this stuff to the background making it easier for the AL voice to sneak on in and remind us of more "glamorous" seeming experiences.

So I'm glad in a squishy sort of way to be reminded of that horrifying event that COULD have gone WAY bad, and also the worst type of hangover to me - still drunk in the morning. I think I'm going to type that one up for my 3 ring binder too.

On quitting smoking. Kriger I bet you are SO mad at yourself for picking it back up after 17 years. I was never one to be quitting constantly - quit in the morning, only to light up by evening - why go through all that angst over and over and over? I DID quit one time probably 15 years ago or more. Made it to the 6 month mark and then listened to old Nic use the "just one" trick. I was right back to 2 packs a day in a flash. I just couldn't work up the ..... hut-spuh (however you spell that) to go through it again until Mr. Doggy made my life M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E over it.

Here are some tools that were really helpful to me.

FFSONLINE.ORG That is an on-line program sponsored by The American Lung Association called Freedom From Smoking. In keeping with one of our Booze Busting topics of today, it walks you through a preparation process where you do a lot of writing about your smoking habits, why you want to quit, etc. This program helps you create a good battle plan.

tales from the quit is a nice website hosted by a guy who finally quit - after being diagnosed with emphasyma (sp). I like his writing style, and his "Tales From The Quit" are an interesting read and he is personally active on his forum and has GREAT advice. When people post about a specific struggle, he just has VERY good advice to help you stay on track. It's a relatively small forum in terms of participation and active people, so rather intimate and "safe" feeling. (at least I thought so)

I was also very active on a site that is sort of opposite of woofmang - a very LARGE site Quit Smoking All Together with QuitNet.com - Stop Smoking Help and Cessation Support. I am still signed up for their automated e-mails with my quit date so every day I get an e-mail saying how many days I've been quit, how much money I've saved, and how much estimated time I've added to my life. (don't ask me where all that money went!!) It takes awhile to figure out that discussion board - the software is totally different (possibly custom built) than any discussion forum software I've ever used. Once you get used to that..... The main forum is HUGE and can seem intimidating I think. (but try it!!) There is a feature called "Clubs" that you might definitely want to check out. These are "sub groups" with various common interest themes. There are groups from everything ranging from age categories, to geographies, to hobby interests. I read posts in a bunch of them, and then joined a couple that seemed 1) to be active every day (some aren't) and 2) people I have stuff in common with. Quitnet has obviously studied addiction, and the time frames that we all have noticed around here when people tend to struggle - 3 days, 10 days, 50 days, etc. They have a motivational system of virtual "incentives" for these time frames. Before you laugh.... I remember screaming at Mr. Doggy one afternoon at around 3 weeks (at 25 days you get your Big Girl Pants)....YOU ARE MAKING ME SO MAD I WANT TO SMOKE BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ROB ME OF MY BIG GIRL PANTS!!!! Crazy, I know. And irrational. But I didn't smoke that day.

WhyQuit - the Internet's leading cold turkey quit smoking resource has LOTS of articles about addiction, and more serious and sobering information about smoking. They also have a discussion forum but they have very strict rules about cold turkey only. I had an accupuncture treatment to get me started, so being the truthful type I never checked out the forum. Sounds like they run a tight ship but hey - if that works for some people then great.

I hope you can find some helpful resources somewhere in all of that. I know for SURE I will NEVER EVER smoke again because I will NOT NOT NOT under any circumstances go through that early part of quitting ever again. And I know I don't want to smoke and actually try to live with the hacking coughing, etc. so.....quit I am.

Well, I think I'll quit before I get the blue screen of death or something, and lose all this!!

DG
Day 99 AFHF ROCKS!!

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Doggygirl hits 100 days AFHF!!


DG, I've just spent half an hour trying to upload pictures of half-nekkid men for you and can't get them big enough (as it were). Gotta go to work now! Where's Hannah and her extensive library of, erm, beefcake?? (I'm on unfamiliar territory here, as you can tell :H)

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Marshy;394775 wrote:
Doggygirl hits 100 days AFHF!!


DG, I've just spent half an hour trying to upload pictures of half-nekkid men for you and can't get them big enough (as it were).

That quote is almost better than half nekkid men. AL-most.

Hello Booze Busters!!! It's gonna be a great AF day for sure around here. Tripple digits!!! Onward and forward with what feels like a brand new life with endless possibilities.

I'm really getting into this cooking thing. I've been trying to figure out what hobbies and interests I really have - not work, not chores - what I like for FUN. It's been right under my nose...or mouth...this whole time. Did I tell you guys I got a new BBQ grill yesterday? LOL our old one is not on it's last leg - it's on it's last toe. Only one burner works, only Mr. Doggy can figure out how to ignite it, and it has two temperatures - on (if you can get there) and off. It's like cooking with a blow torch - NOT for a beginner on the grill like me. We looked into replacement parts for the broken burners, but it's some off brand and the burners are rediculously expensive. So out with the old, in with the new!! I've just never learned to grill and I'm looking forward to it.

I think my plans for more gardening next year will go nicely with all the cooking stuff I've been doing!

I'm really getting used to cooking without having the bottemless glass of wine or the bottomless vodka drink no more than 2 inches from my finger tips at all times too. The only time I've had one of those "hit over the head by AL" moments of late was during tomato canning - and that was the first time for canning sober. I'm planning to can more next week. I NEED THAT HOT SALSA RECIPE!!!!!

Does everyone have a good plan for the weekend? For me, tomorrow is dog training day. I'm so glad that's not a big problem any more. BOY though - what a fight it was to get to this better place on Saturdays!! I have a few Sharp's left in the fridge in case I want one after training, but I've been trying to break a stall here in my weight loss, so may not indulge and skip the extra empty carbs / calories. I've got mint & ginger so I'm thinking of making Louise Specials instead. In fact that IS what I'm gonna do. YUM!!

Sunday or Monday I need to spend time with Mom & Dad - no firm plan yet but there won't be any drinking temptations. Maybe Mr. Doggy and I can find a little R&R time together!!

TGIF!!!

DG
Day 100 AFHF

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge



Here ya go DG!!!


HAPPY DAY 100 AND HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!

wip

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

WOO HOO!! Half nekked men!!! Thank you WIP and also Marshy for getting the ball rolling.

I'll take boy #2 please.

DG

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Doggy,
Thanks for all the info on the "quit" smoking plan. I went on Amazon and ordered Allen Carr's book on smoking. I have been a member of Quit-Net so I think I'll go on that website and re-set my quit date to 9/3/08. I'm going to look at all the other sites you suggested...thanks so much...you are a dreamboat!!! I really want this monkey off my back!!! My cough is irritating everyone around me!! Have a great weekend! Do you live near Chicago? I really love that city! Kriger

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS Week of 8/25 (A)bsolutely (F)abulous (H)angover (F)ree 30 Day Challenge

Congratulations on 100 days DG!!