BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

[retteacher]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

I find that entertaining w/wine isn't too difficult. It's the open left-over bottles that are my undoing. Usually I ask people to take them home w/them, or I pour the remainder down the drain. We've had a sealed bottle in the house for a month (it's my test bottle), & the fact that it isn't open seems to protect me. It's when I see it in the fridge half-full w/a cork stuck in it, that all my addictive thinking wakes up.

That said: I'm on my guard all the time. I keep reminding myself that the first step to recovery is to NOT DRINK.

Mary

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Yeah, Sausage, your mind is rebelling, ramping up the demands early because somewhere inside there is some fear and resentment going on... the idea that something is being taken away from you. Shift your thoughts to what you WANT out of this project! What is your life going to look like? How is it going to feel? As you read the posts here from folks who have been AF for a little while... you see it doesn't take long at ALL to begin realizing that life looks and feels, and IS so, so much better with the alcohol gone.

wip

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Mary, I put the guests' leftover wine in a "cooking wine" container in the fridge, and I add some salt to it so it isn't tempting at all. And it truly is good for cooking (I am one of those who is fortunately not at all triggered or set off by the taste of wine in food).

wip

[retteacher]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

WIP: Great idea! I would never have thought of that. Thank you. Mary

[SAUSAGE]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Well I made it through the evening AF in the end but really struggled despite a cycle ride earlier on and drinking non alcoholic sparkling grape juice ( didn' t feel like much of a substitute and drank it far too quickly). Feel quite low in myself despite my success in the end. Hopefully this is just a low phase and i'll feel better tomorrow.
Good night all and thanks again for support earlier on

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Sausage, you'll be fine. Your emotions are VERY likely to be a bit ragged for a few days. Just stick it out, recognize that your mind/brain/body are going through a lot of readjusting.

wip

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Sausage, I am so happy for you that you made it through. This is not easy - especially these early days. If you can just grit your teeth and get through these first few weeks, it DOES start getting easier. Another activity I found helpful that I neglected to mention by PM is WRITING. Somehow goals and things "stick" better for me if I write them in addition to thinking them.

Here are 4 categories to write lists in:

Benefits you see in drinking.

Down sides you see in drinking.

Benefits you see in NOT drinking.

Down sides you see in NOT drinking.

This is a good list to update on a regular basis, and carry with you so it's handy to look at when urges strike. You will probably find over time that the "benefits" you mange to list for drinking are really lies, and your list of reasons NOT to drink just keeps growing.

Just some ideas....CONGRATULTIONS FOR MAKING IT THROUGH THE DAY. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :cheering:

DG

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Also...

Hello Teardrop!! It's great to see you and I'm glad you are starting to feel a little better. I can tell you are feeling better based on your comments about the cafe computers.

WIP, I have GOT to remember the salt trick for cooking wine!!! I now remember you saying that before, but I had forgotten. Wonder if AL had anything to do with that particular bit of forgetfulness...... :b&d: BAD Al!!

Mary, when I get ready to try entertaining with wine, I will be thinking of you as my role model!!!!

Great job Booze Busters!!

DG

[kriger]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Hi Booze Busters; Doggy, WIP, Mary, Teardrop, Greeneyes and Sausage,
I have now past my 30 day point and have decided the same as most of you- mod isn't for me!!! I have had my days of thinking of experimenting but I am pretty darm certain I won't go there. Feel free, WIP, to beat me up verbally if I go off on a tangent- i mean it. This 30 day point is kind of feeling fragile for me, for some reason.
I don't ever have trouble ordering a soft drink here in Utah-the majority of the state doesn't drink!!!
WIP- Did you get the tail end of Gustov today; that's what the weather map looked like???
Have a great evening everyone! Kriger

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Hey Kriger, good for you... I can't think of anybody ever saying that they regretted making a decision NOT to drink! The reverse, however... well, we know how that can go.

Yup, rain all day (and much of yesterday). Just now clearing up. And very cool, much more than usual this time in September. Feels kind of nice... although I would really like to have more good bicycling weather before it REALLY gets into fall/winter.

I had a good class tonight, I always worry about filling up the time (nearly 3 hours once a week) but I am always in danger of running over, when all is said and done. I love teaching.

Sausage, I hope you are feeling great, tomorrow!

wip

[happydog]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Hi all booze Buster,

sausage... this has happen to me about the witching hour, does not matter what time of the day you drink the craving can happen anytime. i find this really weird, even i know this can happen in the morning, so be on your guard at all times so proud of you that you made it through.
wip..good idea about the salt in the wine have to remember that one... we have rain all day today, a months worth of it. need to invest in a boat.
Thanks doggygirl looks like you know me even tho you cant see me. by the way have you watch all those video's of housewives yet.

Have to say last night wanted to take the dog for a walk well my son and daughter said NO straight away my hubby look at me did not have to say a word the look said everything. and the kids said everything. Well they know my lies and tricks use the dog to take her out so i could buy more and more AL. Anyway my daughter come with me. will i ever get there trust back again just made me feel so bad upset just hated myself for it. i think they are just sick and tired of me saying this is going to be the last drink or im starting monday but monday never comes. Going to do my shopping early today but will not be buying no AF wine because my mind works in funny ways (well mind does not straight away but in time! need to be thinking straight) I can understand what my group therapist means but cant explain it in details but i suppose everyone is different, know what they can have and cant have.

Take care to all booze busters.

love

Teardrop.x

[Carmac]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Sausage -

Doggygirl's suggestion about writing has worked for me as well. It's hard to sit down and write that first bit but once you do, and you see the therapeutic benefits, it becomes easier. My counselor suggested setting a timer. 15 mins a day or whatever.

And just writing anything is fine....writing is the key and letting your mind just flow.

Hope this helps, Erin

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

GOOD DAY BOOZE BUSTERS!!!

Sausage, I hope you see this when you get up and get out all your Booze Beast Booty Kickin' weapons for today. YOU CAN DO THIS!!

kriger, I think it is very normal to have the kinds of thoughts you are having when you hit certain milestones. And you probably figured out the parallels from the Quitnet site that this sort of thing seems to be addiction related in general (or at least nicotine) - not just alcohol related. The quitnet "virtual prize" system with those silly motivations wasn't devised out of nowhere. I LOVE LOVE LOVE WIP's quote that nobody ever regrets NOT drinking. Beware the inner beast that only wants a fix, and will say anything inside your head to get one. Onward and forward!

WIP - I'm stealin' that line!!! I bet it is sort of scary teaching a class that is 3 hours straight rather that split up into M/W/F 1 hour sessions or the like. I never taught school but did teach basic computer application classes way back when the Selectric typewriters were being junked. The normal format for the company I worked for was 4 hour classes with a progression from Beginner through Advanced levels. I always got a little nervous when someone would hire us for something customized, and wanted full day or even multiple day long crash courses!!

Teardrop, it's raining a lot for lots of us this week it seems. When you get that boat let me know - I'll come on over and we can ride around together. You WILL earn the trust back of your family. I'm so glad you have people around you who obviously love you and will do what is necessary to help you succeed at getting free of AL. I hope the dog walk ended up being a nice time for you and your daughter - and your doggy. AF wine and beer are definitely "gray area" items for people kicking the AL beast. For some it leads too much towards the real thing and for others, it seems to be a good way to stop urges for the real thing. If you have experimented and found AF wine doesn't work well for you, then don't do it!!

If you are looking for some innovative ideas for NA beverages, you can do a search on the key word "mocktails" at All recipes – complete resource for recipes and cooking tips. There are some fancy schmancy things that come up!! Beware that occassionally you WILL see a recipe with alcohol in it...so if that bothers you then be warned. I like putting something nice in a pretty glass sometimes.

I am sitting here in another pair of jeans that FIT now from the "shopping in my closet" excursion. Life is good. Fridays always start early with a 7AM meeting so I gotta run - have some stuff I still have to prepare.

Have a great day everyone!

DG
Day 107

[A Work in Progress]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Hey TD, that was painful, I know. I hate the feeling of not being trusted, probably even more so because it was my own behavior that got me there. But DG is right... they will learn to trust you again, and you will learn to trust yourself, again. It takes time. It's worth it.

DG if I ever say anythingthat sounds useful, PLEASE do, steal away!

Hey Erin, how are you doing??

Today will be a quiet one here, some catch-up tasks and visiting my mother (dreading that one, I'd better get it out of the way early). There's some reading and writing I want to do, and I think I will go out to Whole Foods (very fun for me, can't do it often because it is SO expensive!) after seeing my mother.

wip

[retteacher]

BOOZE BUSTERS 30 Day AF Hangover Free Challenge - Week of 9/1/08!

Hi Everyone:

I wanted to check in & say that I'm sober & very happy about it. I love that people are starting to see me as a non-drinker. I love All Recipes & will look at the non-alc drink recipes. I'd like to put something in a fancy glass that doesn't mood alter me.

I went to an Alanon meeting last night. It still amazes me the stuff people experience & don't drink to get through. That's what I want to do.

My husband & I are going to a move & dinner. I'm looking forward to it. I know it'll be fun.

Take care.

Mary