January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

[lilmea]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good Morning everyone,

Question: Do you think it is easier to quit drinking if you are a daily drinker or a binge drinker?

Interesting question Dill. I was a daily drinker who also walked around with a glass in my hand most of the time. When I first started this, I thought it should be easier for the occational binger to stop or the wine drinker as opposed to hard liquior, or those who only drank on the week ends. But I realize now that we have an addiction. The addiction is the same for each of us. It manifest itself differently in each of us but the addiction is the same. Therefore I believe it's equally hard for each of us.

Pnut-Sorry to hear about your Aunt. Stay safe on your trip.

MM-Always glad to see your little fist in the air.

LHB-I can really relate to the fear of becoming a binge drinker. That's another sly way al works. Telling me I can have a few drinks every couple of months. But I just keep playing that tape honestly and clear to the end. AF is the only way for me.

Sped-When I look back at all the crazy things I did to hid my drinking...:no: Glad that's all in the past!

Hello to Open, Cyn, Sooty, Mandalay, Lav and everyone to follow.

[lilmea]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Cross post Soots-I use to feed the birds on my back deck. I would have quite a crowd. Then One day a hawk came and helped himself to some lunch. Yikes! Now I just keep it to individual feeders.

[redhibiscus]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good morning on this monthly abstinence section. Dill, thanks for putting in a reminder or I would have been lost.

It was good to read about everyone's struggles and successes. The pictures of Longwood Gardens were amazing...I want to go there. We have an outdoor garden/park/center about thirty miles away and I should make the trip. But too much snow in Michigan.

I do not want to discourage the Just do it's, but I lost my temper Friday and drank. I was so angry I was shaking. Looking back at it now, it is so stupid. My car was stuck in the snow in my driveway, sticking way out, it was getting dark, it took me five times of shoveling to get it out. I had not planned dinner so was not only angry but hungry. Two of my biggest downfalls. Plus it was the witching hour, an especially bad time for me. Lots of triggers, not excuses. Went out for pizza and had wine. Slept horribly, but felt OK yesterday physically. Mentally and emotionally, not so good. I do not want to hurt people here, and feel that I cannot stick to anything anymore. What is wrong with me?

I want to be AF. I want to be healthy and lose weight. Following the same pattern will get me the same thing: insanity. So I am again committing to AF. I am struggling with the winter weather and depressive feelings. I did all week. I am trying to detox today, foodwise, only fruit and veggies. Lots of water all day and exercise later today. I am starting a food journal to help me. The only thing I can do is to keep trying.

Thanks for listening. I do not want others to be discouraged as they are having a great start to their new year. I wish I was. :upset:

[bear73]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

hey I lapsed 2 after 9 days af and smoke free - I lapsed on both counts - lets get back on the horse one day at a time. I too want to lose weight/be healthy - I also lapsed due in part to being hungry.
we can do this - lets have a good day one again and make it our last day one

[dill]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi Bear, and welcome!:welcome: We have just moved our thread from General Discussion to Monthly Abs, as we are all serious about 30 days and more. Most on here are striving for complete abstinence.

Red, never ever give up! And stick with this thread, no matter what. We all know how you feel. We all have been there done that. You will succeed in the end. Some of my reason for wanting you to stick with us is because I want you to succeed. The rest of the reason is because I love your contributions here and have found much strength and inspiration from your posts.:h

Soots, thanks for the recipe update. I agree with you about the snow. ENOUGH! We have about 6 inches or more on the ground, it is 1 degree F, and we have another storm system headed our way for Monday!

But I realize now that we have an addiction. The addiction is the same for each of us. It manifest itself differently in each of us but the addiction is the same. Therefore I believe it's equally hard for each of us.

Lil, I think you are right. Our struggles are equal but not the same.

Cyn, I wish you would take a break from being Switzerland and come to Ohio and get me organized!:H I would treat you like the queen that you are!

Open, good question: "Can you be both?" I think yes. I'm not sure what the definition of binge drinking is though. If it just means drinking to black out or near black out, then I was a daily drinker and almost daily binge drinker. But if a binge drinking means you drink from dawn till dark for several days, then I was not a binge drinker. I was headed that way though.
And you are just as strong as any of us, or you wouldn't be here!

LBH, Are you telling us that you have not had parsnips before? Neither have I! Who on this thread has, besides Sooty? Show of hands please!:H I will definitely make the soup and will let you know if I like parsnips or not. I wonder if they taste anything like rutabaga? That's one of my favorites.

Strength to all!

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good morning all!

Wow Dill - heat here at 23 degrees this morning!!

Red & bear - sorry to hear about your slips! Make them a lesson learned....don't repeat the same behavior.
I just mentioned on the Newbies Nest thread that my thinking has radically changed from January of last year! I started by reading Dr Daniel Amen's book 'Change Your Brain Change Your Life'. It convinced me that I could change my thinking by getting rid of the negative programming (done by parents & other significant adults before the age of 6) & replacing it with positive thought patterns. I followed up by working a program called 'Habit Busting' 21 days to breaking any habit. This really helped prepare me for my AF journey. It worked for me ~ give it a try ~ you have everything to gain

I have to venture out to the drugstore - think I'll stop & pick up some parsnips too & make some of Ms Sooty's soup ~ I love soup!!!

Have a great AF Sunday everyone, I'll be back!
Lav

[mighty mouse]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good Morning,

I have alot to do today, finish putting away all the xmas stuff, get one more child back to college, shop, cook, church and get ready for another week of work.

Red, I didn't make it thru this week end either . something about starting a job I thought I'd better have something so I won't want to drink during the week...stupid...I really love the freedom I have when I never drink and I want to get my month in so I can honor this thread.

OH, I found a dr. who believes and practices bio- identical hormone replacement. Last March I started on an estradiol/progest cream. 2mg/200mg. I get it from a compounding pharmacy. I started feeling much better within about 2 months and after about 6 months and a little tweeking of my dosage I feel great by comparison. I was also finally able to sleep again and that makes a huge difference. the cream doesnot go through your liver like pills do and there are no side affects. I plan on staying on it forever. hopefully will help prevent osteo. I will be learning more this year and getting my bones evaluated. my mother had horrible osteop. and it finally killed her. Also, getting some hormone help has helped me to get started solving my al problem.

Lav, where did you find the habit busting 21 day program?

Hands up....never had a parsnip either dill.

Lil, LBH, cyn, sooty,....Hi Bear! and anyone else I forgot, :l MM

[FindingMyself]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi everyone and happy new year!

It took me a while to find this thread, but I knew you all would be here somewhere!

I have missed everyone and hope you don't mind my jumping back in after disappearing over the holidays. Not that I was out partying and whooping it up, rather I just curl up in a ball this time of year and am always relieved to be on the other side of it. I'm looking forward to looking forward.

I didn't stay AF through Dec, but definitely had better habits and a better awareness of what was happening with my thoughts and drinking that helped me at times. I know any improvement was due to my time here with you all. I also know that I need to be here to get a longer stretch of AF time in and to stay off of the stuff.

I'm glad to be back, and it's wonderful to see all you all!

[Peanut]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi all - just getting ready to head out, but first must bake a birthday cake for BF's son - 18yo today!! And, I am actually hoping to squeeze in a swim on the way to the airport - not sure if it will work out, but will try.
I love parsnips. Lately, I've been steaming parsnips, rutabaga and carrots together and putting a glaze of butter/brown sugar and dill on them. Tasty!!!! parsnips don't taste like rutabaga's, nor like carrots. They are definitely their own thing!
Bye everyone!
xoxoxoxo peanut

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

MM, here's a link to the Habit Busting Program.
I downloaded the whole thing (audio & workbook) when I bought it last year. It's on sale for $59 right now. You're worth it
This program helped me get rid of my negative thinking which caused me lots of problems over the course of my lifetime. You have to do the work but you will love the results!!

Lav

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

DUH - I forgot to add the link:

Habit Busting Secrets by Lee Milteer

[mandalay]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi all

Hugs to Red and Bear. Just keep posting here, it's great that you are able to admit to the slip ups; I think that is what helps us overcome them, push them to one side and get on with ourAF lives - knowing we have all been there, and nobody is judging.

As for binge v daily drinking - with my father and my son both binge drinkers (my son will have months long spells of being drunk 24/7, then be AF for the next 3 or 4 months) I worry that my AF days are not so meaningful. Although I was drinking daily, for much of that time I only opened the first bottle because I was scared to stop incase I had a seizure. (I then opened the second because I was drunk). I am worried that, with that kind of family history, AL is playing games with me at the moment. I think that concern is reinforced by the fact that this whole thing has been just so easy - no desire, no thoughts, no temptations and definitely no cravings. Last week I sat with a couple of friends who demolished a bottle of champagne between them in the space of half an hour, and I didn't feel anything. Nada. So my biggest fear is that I will turn out to be a binge drinker - that being able to be AF so easily is just because of that, and that a few weeks or months down the line the cravings will start. I plan on being teetotal for ever, (because of that fear and the fact that I know I have what people term 'an addictive personality' and have to have habit and organisation in my life in order to function). I hope to stay on this board long term, because I HAVE to resist them somehow, and this is my only hope I am sure.

Sorry if I don't check in each day, or at least write on here - because I have two 'jobs' and one has strict time frames, my days tend to start at 5am with feeding all the animals, poultry etc (dogs, cat, chooks, ducks etc plus indoor aviary birds) and finish at 9pm at which point I have no privacy, but my thoughts are with everyone, along with my hopes and prayers for everyone.

Have a nice evening, everyone, wrap up warm and snug!

Mandalay

[cyntree]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hello all - quick note, as today is a work day for me. Lav - thanks so much for the information on the tools for your journey - whatever you did, I'm all for it - I want to create Lavanitude in my life. I'll check out those sites ASAP. Thanks for your guidance, and for the reminder that no drink is EVER worth the cost.

Happy parsnipping, everyone!

[dill]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

MM, Just climb back on board with us and move forward. And never give up!
Finding, I?m glad you found us. We were leaving little trail markers and tracks just hoping you would.
Pnut, thanks for the rutabaga/parsnip suggestion. It sounds like something I would like. If it has dill, it has to be good!
Lav, thanks for the link! I?ll check it out.
Mandalay, Just check in when you can. We love to hear from you. I understand what you are saying about being fearful that AF has come ?so easily? for you. You must remain vigilant. Stay with us and we will help each other through.

Peace and strength to all.

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good evening friends,

Dill, hope the mind chatter was a bit quieter for you today

Finding -- glad you're here! Stick with us. I'm still spreading 'Lavan-itude' everywhere!!! Hear that cyn? Lavan-itude is everywhere & it's free!!

mandalay, you do indeed have a long day........sounds like me in the old days - pretty much burning the candle at both ends. Be nice to yourself & check in whenever you can

Hi Pnut! I picked up some parsnips today, am going to make Sooty's soup tomorrow. I haven't used parsnips in many years - forgot about them really.

I heard that it may warm up later this week - I hope it does. In the meantime you can find me with my feet propped up near the fire!

Have a great night everyone!
Lav