AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

[Cinders]

Good Morning Abbers,

I have waited and waited all morning for someone to start the thread.

Not much to say here so was hoping to read someone else's thoughts, today.

I have been re-reading on L-Glutamine and sugar/alcohol cravings. I think I am going to add it back into my regimen more religiously and see if it helps with the carb cravings. I have been cravings carbs since quitting. Yikes!!

Hope all to come have a wonderful day.

Love,
Cindi

[retteacher]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Hi Cindi: It was good to see your post. I've been thinking about my own denial. At the meeting last night we read a story entitled: "Me? An alcoholic?" It really spoke to all of us out here who are functional & successful in the eyes of the world. That would be me. I was in a leadership position in my school system. Highly respected. Then, I'd go home & drink. That kind of thing really was so damaging to my spiritual self. I've only been going to meetings for 2 weeks, but last night was the first time I identified myself as an alcoholic (out loud). It felt very big to me. I know I've been doing it here for over a year, but I haven't done it anywhere else.

I've got to go. I just wanted to check in w/you all. I'm calling my spons in a few minutes & want to gather my thoughts. Mary

[Doggygirl]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Good morning Cindi and Mary! I'm still not on Daylight Savings time. I've got to get adjusted because I hate this feeling of RUSH RUSH RUSH in the morning. I've gotten used to my early rising and "me" time before the craziness of the day begins!

Cindi, I totally believe that the sugars in AL and carb cravings are connected. While many people operate under the belief that hard liquors such as vodka are "0 carb" that becomes totally false once it's in your blood stream and starts acting like sugar. Sugar = sugar, high carb foods = sugar, AL = sugar. I think the L-Glut will help for sure, and then if you can stay strict with it and get the big carbs and sugars out of your diet, after a week or two the cravings should ease up. Snacks I like to keep on hand that are relatively low carb are things like:

Sunflower seeds (raw)
Pumpkin seeds (raw)
Nuts (raw - and I try to watch portions on these)
Veggies of course - celery, peppers, cukes, radishes, etc.
Celery stuffed with things like cream cheese or peanut butter or tuna salad
Zuchini (sp) slices and dip or salsa

Just some ideas to help you over the hump if you decide to tackle the sugar / carb thing.

Mary, congratulations on saying the A word out loud. It felt a lot different to me too saying it out loud - "....and I am an alcoholic..." in front of a big group of strangers. But it's freeing to me in a way too. :yougo:

Hello to all yet to come! I'm off to my leads group, then Curves, then yoga, then AA. Then we shall see where the day leads from there!!!

DG

[retteacher]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

DG: You're so right. I think that when something like being an alcoholic comes out in the open, it takes the poison & shame out of it. It's a problem to be solved instead. I've lived in denial for so long. I think that's what kept me drinking. Mary

[Marshy]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Morning Cindi & Mary & DG & all to come,

Well, I could have started the thread first... but nothing much to say either!

Busy & sober!

I did have two days last week with stronger thoughts about drinking than I've had in ages... and now I can't even remember why. So glad I didn't give in. These thoughts do pass but at the time I found it quite tough. Oh well, it's going to happen sometimes and I just have to deal with it.

Have a good day all!

[Cinders]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Mary,

It is heartwarming to hear how well you are doing with your recovery.

Denial is a tough one. We have to get past it first, hence the first step.

DG, I knew about the carb thing and coincidentally, it wasn't until after my gastric-bypass that I ended up becoming a fall down, hopelessly blacked out drunk whenever I drank.

Hmm, could it be that 1. I can't eat or consume many carbs/sugar? 2. Alcohol supplies that very efficiently? 3. I can't absorb the B Vitamins as efficiently since the surgery?

Or, Did I just swap one addiction for another?

Or, Was my original addiction - food - caused by my body being out of whack to begin with?

Who knows?

However, I do know, I want to be a happy, healthy, sober person who didn't gain a ton of weight to get there.

Although, having been both ways, I would rather be fat than drunk.

I just prefer to be neither!!

Love,
Cindi

[Joanna]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

After 49 days off the sauce, last night was easier for the first time! Big trigger for me of getting home from work at 5 and wanting wine whilst cooking. I didn't think about it so much. Something clicked.

Btw, I dreamt last night I'd been cheating throughout my AF; having the odd drink but not really counting it as I didn't get drunk. Meaning? !

I'm really pleased. I hope it marks the start of something new.

[greeneyes]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Morning abbers!

I guess I dont' have much to say either. I had this long post but it wandered around and I couldn't get it to come to a point. I am amazed at how everyone here seems to be able to analyze their behaviors, reasons, feelings, and get them into a cohesive post. I just seem to mull things over and quit before I get to the end. Or can't get to the end. Hummm.

Anyway, I feel like I can call myself an alcoholic if I want to but it would infuriate me for estranged one to use the word in reference to me. "your alcoholism" as he would say. Maybe it was just that it was him. See? "maybe it was just that"...... many thoughts of issues end that way for me.

[last call]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Good Morning All, Raining here in Jersey. Which means I'll be on the computer all day or maybe some cleaning. Waiting to hear about a job. Everyone please pray that I get it. I'm going stir crazy not working. It doesn't help the cravings either.

Have a great day everyone.

[LVT25]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Good morning friends!

Calling Doctor Deter!! "LVT learning to not depend on others for your happiness is a huge issue for I think a lot of humanity (whether they have the presence of mind to identify it in themselves or not). Having deep conversations (without them becoming confrontational) is extremely important to the health of any serious relationship. Kudos to you for realizing the need to approach him. something I've found helpful is to remember it's you two vs the world. not "hey, I have a problem with YOU". because that will just alienate him and make him defensive."

I just want to thank you for giving me some insight from the male (and ex drinker) perspective. It really does help me. I seem to be able to say things to hubby I would have just worked myself into a lather about lately, and he doesn't listen, but at least he doesnt get pissy about it! :H

It always sucks getting used to this time change. We had a busy weekend and didn't get home until 10 pm. The boys and I are exhausted this morning, but I made them go to school, so I guess that means I better not go back to bed!:H

I'll be glad when I get over this cold--!

Prayers and love to all who have concerns this day!!:h:h

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Morning!

Let it snow! It is a blizzard out there and sticking! Ahhhh..... oh well.

I have nothing much to say today. Things are good. The time change threw my clock off last night and I didn't get much sleep.

Apart from that: special prayers for Keeta and her sister. I saw on the news cast that her BIL had disappeared but they found his truck and it had blood in it. I am keeping my fingies crossed for her.

Have a great day everyone!

[Mohun]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

I'm back. Had a great weekend in Vancouver (sans AL). Paid a visit to "Lee Valley Tools" the greatest tool store in the world ( Lee Valley Tools - Woodworking Tools, Gardening Tools, Hardware ). Did some shopping and had fun. No AL cravings.

We are going down again at the beginning of April. This will be more challenging as we are going with another couple. We have traveled with them before and the husband likes to drink. We were quite the pair. I am already making plans on how to avoid any AL traps.

Mo.

[hulagirl]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

The Doctor Deter Show

Dear Doctor Deter, I heard that garlic is a good mosquito repellant. How much do I use and where do I put it?
Itching to know,
Hulagirl

[Mohun]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

That link I posted above for Lee valley tools is also for gardeners. They have great gardening tools.

Anyway. I was just talking to another ex-drinking friend. He was on the way to the doctor to see about getting medication for his sleep problem. I found out he has had a CPAP machine for sleep apnea for about 2 years.

This guy is in fantastic shape and works out regularly. There should be no reason for sleep problems (other than alcohol). I know he and his wife put back at least 4 750ml bottles of red wine a night.

I told him that I have sleep apnea problems only when I drink. Now that I have stopped, my sleep apnea has all but disappeared. And that with me being overweight.

Reminds me of my other friend who is taking medication for high blood pressure and cannot fathom how I can stop drinking to get my own blood pressure under control when I could just take a pill. Sigh.

I found a good article about alcohol and sleep. I think I will send it to him. Both of my friends know that I have quit. It seems to be harder on them than it is on me. Sort of like me quitting is forcing them to evaluate their own lives.

Here is a link to that article. Alcohol and Sleep - Alcohol Alert No. 41-1998

[A Work in Progress]

AF Daily - Monday March 9, 2009

Hey everyone... sounds like all here are doing well! I'm OK, I haven't been feeling great lately (emotionally) but it's very good to be in a place (mentally) in which that is NOT a reason to drink! Yesterday it got chilly here again, and instead of bicycling, I took a nap. Too bad! The bicycling is a whole lot better for me, in several ways! But soon it will truly be spring...

Thanks for your lovely comment a couple of days ago, Det... my garlic-y buddy... y'know, my maternal grandfather always maintained that he was allergic to garlic. He certainly hated it. I am so glad that whatever it was that he had, did not get passed on to me!