AF Daily - Thursday

[Arrow]

Good morning from sunny Singapore.

Today I am approximately one month (I'm not counting exact days) without any booze and I thought I start todays thread off with something interesting I learnt:

It doesn't really matter that much why you started drinking or why you drink.

I've noticed that a lot of people discuss the origins of their drinking problem and their relationship with drink. Its very psychoanalytic and introspective - I just wonder if it actually serves any purpose to help make anyone feel happier or stop drinking (assuming the two are connected and I believe they are).

This is what I did, it has worked for me (and we'll see what the future holds);

- decided that I was drinking too much
- clearly understood it was bad for my health
- clearly understood it was bad for my wallet and my career
- consulted a cognitive and behavioural psychiatrist
- talked about my behaviour and got myself into the right state of mind
- started a course of Topamax
- changed my diet significantly:

- no simple carbs

- no red meat

- no caffeine (it's false energy)

- three good meals a day

- snacks of nuts and carrots etc

- made a deal with myself to stop drinking for 7 days
- subsequently made a deal to stop for 14 days
- started to go to the gym regularly
- began to lose weight and have received many comments from people on how much better I look
- have now made a deal to stop until my weight is 80KG (probably take me 2 months)

I have to say I'm simply a lot happier, I don't think its a honeymoon period, I think its just a mood lift from the fog of booze.

The why and all that is just procrastination, I didn't quit, I'm not missing anything (yet) I just stopped.

I hope you don't all agree with my post! There is more on my blog about what's worked for me that covers diet and exercise and if people are interested in more please put in a request or comment. Feel free to also post into my blog as it help to keep me writing.

Have a great day everyone!

J

[speedster]

AF Daily - Thursday

Arrow - thanks for sharing. I need to reread and think about it and I can comment on your blog. I do want to say I would love to visit Singapore. It must be an amazing city.

TG - Arrow's start today will be a good way to get yourself focused again. Glad to hear the festival exceeded your expectations, and now it's time to get back to the routine. I hope you join us regularly and find that focus on your well being. How's the bass playing going??

Hula - yes, we fully expect a full report on what you did outside. I can only imagine the beginning of a new school year is very hectic, but then you have to get back to a balance.

I have a full day ahead and was crazy enough to buy 4lbs of green beans at the farmers market yesterday. Will can them tonight. Tomorrow I'm taking off work and attending an agility seminar held by a woman that's made the World Team multiple times. We had our make-up class last night and pupster was really not interested. I think he was tired from being at camp all day and THEN having to go to class. We normally don't have both on the same day.

Everyone be well. I won't be able to check in tomorrow so have a great start to your AF weekend.

[LVT25]

AF Daily - Thursday

Hello friends! We have the camper parked at the lake and its been pretty nice. Not exactly relaxing since I'm still going to work every day. I'm also getting concerned about the ever growing weeds in my garden. But I'm not worried about drinking beer or waking with a hangover and that is simply wonderful! I've been reading the thread every night and it has been quite entertaining!
Arrow I'm still 1/2 asleep so not sure I have an opinion about your comments. I do think everyone I different and the struggle with alcohol is harder for some. Congratulations on your success! I do believe it is all about replacing bad habits with good ones.
My percolated camper coffee is ready (smells wonderful) so I am off. Tomorrow I have the most unpleasant task of taking my 14 year old son the the funeral of a former classmate. He was killed when he and 2 friends rolled the pickup he was driving at 80 mph on a gravel road. Rumor has it alcohol was involved. 14 years old. It makes me sick.

[Cinders]

AF Daily - Thursday

Good Morning Abbers,

Thank you for starting us off, Arrow. I am very happy for you that you have found your way out!!

Speedster, I am so impressed with all of you on this thread who do all the canning of foods, etc. I would be afraid to eat anything I canned. I'd end up giving the family botulism or something.

LVT, I am so sorry about the funeral tomorrow. When young ones make poor decisions, as they often do, and it ends up in their lives being cut short or ruined, it is a tragedy.

Well, I am in the midst of a frustrating gig at work. It seems like nothing I do is helping this client achieve their goals. I only have two more days and it is really bothering me. In the past, this would have been a really good reason to drink to get away from the stress. Today, I am learning to face things like this head on. I actually like the challenge my sobriety is bringing to me. It is like I am a teenager myself, learning how to live life.

Hope all to come have a wonderful AF day.

Love,
Cindi

[dill]

AF Daily - Thursday

Good morning Abbers!

I'm about to be off to the library to find some children's books to read to my preschool students. I just love that part of my job!

Speaking of books, AFM, you asked for book suggestions the other day. I don't really have any in the self-help category, but I can recommend some easy-reading novels. There is one called Lottery, by Patricia Wood that I liked a lot. I think you might, too.

It doesn't really matter that much why you started drinking or why you drink.

Arrow, while this statement is true for some, and is certainly true for me, it is definitely not true for all. I am certain there are many people who need to uncover their reasons for, and need to deal with issues from the past that propelled them to drink. Congrats to you on your success! You sound like a very determined soul.

Speedster, speaking as one who has canned green beans from my garden over many year, yes! You must be crazy!:H But good crazy. Those beans will taste great long into the winter!

LVT, that whole camper thing sounds great to me. I was just thinking this morning that maybe it would be fun to have a camper. You confirmed that thought! I am so sorry to hear about your son's young friend. Such a tragedy.

Cinders, sorry you're hitting a bit of a rough spot at work. It is great that you are handling it AF, though! I'll be praying for a positive outcome for you and your client.

Hula, balance is very important! For fun and relaxation I like to read, watch movies, and walk.

TG, welcome back and stick close! You must get bact to a good AF routine for yourself and everyone who loves you!

Strength to all.

[Lavande]

AF Daily - Thursday

Good morning Abbers from overcast, damp PA!

Enjoy the sunshine in Singapore Arrow! I'm happy to hear you have found your way. We all need to hang in there long enough to find what's going to work for each and every one of us

Speedster, Farmers Markets can be dangerous places!! Everything looks so good, so fresh you just want to take it all home. Suddenly, you realize you have set yourself up for a hot day in the kitchen canning veggies. UGH!
We actually trade our fresh brown eggs for veggies with the Amish farmer nearby. He operates a 'Deli' at his farm and his customers want more fresh brown eggs than his hens can deliver so we struck up a deal to trade. We still have a garden but don't feel the need to grow everything.........we just go to Ike's!
Cindi, I'm sure you will find a resolution to your work problem soon! You have shown such strength and determination, we all have faith in your ability to tackle an opponent, head on!

LVT, I am truly sorry to hear about your son's friend. Six years ago we lost our 18 year old nephew the same way. He was just a few weeks out of high school and looking forward to starting Trade school. Sadly, with a 6 pack under his belt he rolled his pickup truck, was ejected and died from a massive head injury on the way to the hospital. I can't even begin to tell you what that does to a family, it's just horrible.

I need to get some work done before the entire day gets away from me
Have a wonderful AF day .
Lav

[Lavande]

AF Daily - Thursday

Hi Dill,
We cross posted.
Have fun at the library

[Determinator]

AF Daily - Thursday

top of the Thursday ABerooooos!!

Arrow great and interesting start and huge kudos on your AF time!. don't get me started on coffee though! I'm a serious caffiend.

as far as why we drank....hmmmmm. Functionally it may not matter but I think that many of us like to know anyway to have a more holistic understanding of how our 'unique' brains function. I've found medical and psychological studies/journals/papers to be truly interesting to me for the first time in my life.

Cindi I am also terrified of the thought of doing my own canning for fear of bacteria. eeeeeek!

drunk driving is indeed a HORRID crime we cannot take too seriously. it is the very pinnacle of selfishness. I only ever did that a handful of times but will never forgive myself for it.

well, all is good and calm on the homefront happy to report.

be well,

[hulagirl]

AF Daily - Thursday

Just checking in for reinforcements. Thanks all for being here. Off to work. Not a minute of down time until I return. Then I will leave it all behind and....
Stay tuned.
Aloha

[peacenik]

AF Daily - Thursday

AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH, i just lost everything i typed...something is definitely wrong with my laptop...anyway, have a good day abstainers!

peace

[Gold]

AF Daily - Thursday

Happy Thursday everyone,

Well done on a month AF Arrow, glad things are going so well for you.

Cinders from yesterday, Poulan and Cosmo look so sweet together. And I can't imagine myself canning in case I did something awful! Would be great though to be less reliant on supermarkets and so on.

Speedster, I've got two adult Standard Poodles too, and my neighbour has a Portuguese Water dog! I think my grown up boy would enjoy agility if he's not too old to learn new tricks, perhaps I'll look into it.

LVT, the camper by the lake sounds lovely. I am sorry to hear about your son's friend, a tragic loss. I am sure the funeral will be intensely emotional, I hope your son is ok.

Dill, I'll bet the children really enjoy you reading with them.

Lavande, overcast, and damp, I know the feeling, we've had masses of rain this afternoon after a sunny morning!

Determinator you have such a positive energy, I keep thinking of Robin Williams shouting Good morning Vietnam!

Hi hulagirl, don't work too hard.

Hope you're all having a great day, this is such a great thread for keeping on the straight and narrow with humour.

[Gold]

AF Daily - Thursday

peacenik;685552 wrote: AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH, i just lost everything i typed...something is definitely wrong with my laptop...anyway, have a good day abstainers!

peace

So frustrating! Maybe it would help to copy the text periodically so you don't lose everything.

[Marshy]

AF Daily - Thursday

Hello abbers,

Another day as a lady of leisure for me. Back to work tomorrow. Bah. I haven't done many of the things I was planning to do this week, but isn't that always the way? And my broken bathroom light fitting doesn't seem to have fixed itself for some reason.... I have been putting my new swimming costume through its paces (a special mention for AFM). And it's great - squashes and flattens and flatters, what a bargain!

I agree with Dill about the "why" question - some people need to resolve issues that may be reasons why they drink. I was going to write more but all this doing nothing has worn me out. Is 9pm too early to go to bed? Maybe I'll read for a while first. Zzzzzzz

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily - Thursday

Good morning!

My sister is really ill today so I am taking the day off to babysit her two boys. It is 2 hours away from where I live, which means I am such a great sister! hahahaha.. Maybe she can learn something from me about what it means to be nice.

Other than that, nothing new with me!

dill, thanks for the book suggestion. I will check into it.

Have a great day everyone!

[Doggygirl]

AF Daily - Thursday

Hi all! Arrow what a great post to kick off the day! I agree that on some level, it doesn't really matter WHY - if one is a problem drinker then the only important thing is to stop. I personally drank to extreme excess because I'm an alkie. Addiction stinks but there you have it!! Continued drinking until I understood "why" wasn't getting me anywhere - you are right about that! Congrats on 30 days (or so)!! :yougo:

I have SO much catching up to do and it sounds like everyone is having fun. It will be fun to read this weeks threads and see what the fuss is all about! I've had a busy week myself so just wanted to stop in touch home base. The most important news is that I am still sober and the next most important news is that Evil Bunny seems to have found greener bean plants somewhere else. Both the mature bean plants and the baby bean plants are growing leaves again, and life is good.

In other news, Mr. Doggy is figuring out that the sort of Luxury Chicken Accomodations he has in mind would make a dozen free range eggs WAY more expensive here than the ones at the farmers market. :H So now there is a new plan. I will continue buying eggs from the farmer for the forseeable future, which I assume is several years to life. Mean time, Mr. Doggy will take on as his very own project the building of a Middle Class Chicken Accomodation that is completely of things that are free or already existing here at the house. He wants me to think of this more as a creative endeavor than a sign of his cheapness. I'm cool with that - Eddie Bauer is calling my name anyway. Life is still good.

OK - I gotta go but I can't wait to read more about TG's festival and LVT's camping and Pupsters agility seminar and Gold's poodles and Hula's start back to school and Deter's Dorkbootcapades and Marshy's week off (full of health and wholesome goodness) glamor news from AFM and little AFM and what all else everyone has going on!! Hi Lav, Dill, Peace (good to see you here!!!) and anyone else I missed. Pamina, Mary, Cinders, Loppy (where are you Loppy??) I'm sure I'm forgetting someone!

Have a great reat of the AF day everyone!

DG