January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

[lodestar]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi friends!

Didn't have time to read all the posts tonight, but I remembered it was Lil's special day on the 26th. Congratulations, Lil! 6 mos done and dusted. I had a great visit this weekend and had to get quickly back to the grind today. Seem to be fighting a little bug that's trying to take hold, but determined not to let it. Deadlines looming and all.

Missed hearing about you guys this weekend and hope to catch up soon. :groupluv:

[redhibiscus]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good morning to all. Happy humpday. Lil, contrats on your anniversay, I have to say you must be feeling great physically, emotionally and spiritually. What finally happened that you stopped? Was it a big thing, or a gradual change in attitude, habit? I am just wanting to find out what I can at this point.

Spedtech, I am also pretty good while I am working. In the past I wasn't, going to work feeling headachy, saving the big drunks for the weekend. Now, when I drink, it is on a Friday. So, like you, the weekends and time off are a disaster. I am even afraid to go on a trip and try to stay AF. Whew. I am still not feeling well from Friday, a pain in my right side. This has been happening more and more so I am sure that health issues are around the corner. My new goal is to just get through the weekend. Period. I am taking it one day at a time. It is like I am two different people...one I like, one I don't understand. I am going to order more LIV-52 or whatever I had bought in the past to help me heal.

I am working on the "I don't drink" way of thinking. I just have to realize, I CANNOT DRINK! I do not want to drink, it is killing me in every way. I have not been able to exercise all week, not good.

I wanted to thank whoever turned me on to the Vegan site. Oh my gosh, the recipes are fantastic. My project this weekend will be to create some new dishes. The parsnip soup was absolutely wonderful, next time I am making it in a bigger batch. That recipe was from sooty I think? Wow, the ginger and curry powder made an exciting soup.

So, life goes on. I will not give up. My hope is to never drink in my fifties and beyond and I still have some time before I am fifty, so I did not ruin that goal. I will start now and when I turn fifty, will feel better if I have started that goal. My dad quit drinking over 25 years ago and I am so happy he did, the respect and safety I feel know that I can count on him. I want that self-respect for myself and my family. :h We all do. Strength and hope.:h

[dill]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Greetings JJDI!

Cyn, sending you extra viibes of strength! I am confident you will get through this difficult stretch at work.

Red, I can so relate to what you said about you being two different people. In a way, part of this year for me has been work at merging the two personalities. I think this must be so, because I remember clearly a year ago writing my thoughts down about my drinking. I wrote about "Morning me" and "Nightime me". Morning me was always full of remorse and sure she didn't want to ever drink again. Night time me couldn't see the harm. After all, it was just to relax, I would just have a couple, etc. There were definitely two distinct pesonalities who seemed unaware of each other. Those two have met each other this year and are working to know each other well. Maybe it would help to redouble your efforts at rebuilding your spiritual side? It has helped me a great deal. I am a spiritual person, basically, but the drinking warped some of my sense of goodness and right. It definitely needs attention and repair.

Lav, are you the one that gave us the vegan site? I never followed the link and now I would like to. Can you re-insert it for me? Thank you.

Hi Lode! Open, Finding, Sky, Man, Chill, LBH, Everyone!

[spedteach]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Oh you people in the East and Midwest, already up and chatting. I'm just checking in to say good morning and to let everyone know that I am now going to drag this 50 something body out of bed and get dressed and go run 5 miles. Now, I've told you I'm going to do it so now I have to do it.

Here I gooooo...

Will let you know how it was.

(dragging noise)

[lilmea]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Cyn-Just remember how much better you are this year than you were the last time you were at 'that place'. You can get through this with your head held high. And remember you are not alone. We are all there sending you good vibes. Hang in there!

Lode-So good to 'see' you! you have been missed. I hope you can avoid that bug. LHB gave us a great recipe for some healing chicky soup so I shall send you a virtual bowl and hope you feel better.

Was it a big thing, or a gradual change in attitude, habit?

Red-It was actually all of those. A big thing got me to MWO. Changing my attitude very necessary and still on going. The biggest habit I have changed is to Never have AL in the house. But for me the real turning point was getting totally honest with myself and 'playing the tape' all the way to the end. I know I will never stop at just a drink or two. I don't want too. I can't get that good 'buzz' anymore. But I will drink too much trying to get it. When I play the tape to the end, the excuses stopped working. I don't think about never having a drink again. I just think about not drinking today. You CAN do this Red!

Lav-If I layed a 3 onces egg, I would be shocked and surprised too! :H

Hello to Sped, Dill, Mandaley, LHB, Sooty, MM, Chilly, Sooty and everyone else.

Have a great, af day.

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good morning friends,

Shelley, I drag this 56 year old body out of bed & directly to the coffee pot each morning
I couldn't run when I was 20, sure couldn't think about starting it now!!

Red, may I suggest listening to the Clearing CD? I've used it over the past year whenever I've felt some anger, hostility, confusion or whatever coming on........it always seems to clear the garbage out of my head & leaves me with a clear path!

Dill, here's the link to Fat Free Vegan cooking:
Fatfree Vegan Recipes

My daughter told me about that site, love it! I fixed Souty's parsnip soup for lunch yesterday - knew my daughter was stopping in - she loved it.
Sooty - you have turned everyone into parsnip lovers over here

Well, I have work this morning, watch my grandson this afternoon. Tonight I WILL be exhausted :H

Wishing everyone a Happy Humpday!

Lav

[sooty]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi gang, glad you're all enjoying the parsnip soup - you've got me fancying it now so I think I might make some more.
Well its humpday afternoon here, I've been to the gym this morning and the library and now I'm going to tackle the housework - how i hate housework.
Mr S is being a right pain in the bum lately and the first thing I thought after today's outburst from him was that I would have a drink tonight .... where did that come from?
I most definitely will NOT have a drink tonight - i've spent too many nights having a drink cos he's made me angry - if necessary I'll tell him what a swine he is but I will not drink.
Those days of drinking cos I'm angry with someone and don't want a scene are LONG GONE!
Have a good humpday everyone I'll be back later - don't worry I won't kill him but I might inflict some bruises :H
Sooty

[Chillgirl]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi Guys

Day 27 for me and your discussion made me think back to what i was doing this time last year....

I had just smashed up my lovely new car whilst drunk also damaging my friends car which i hit. Because i couldnt report the accident I had to borrow 2000 euros from a friend to pay for the damage which took me months of scrimping to pay back.

Not swayed by this drunken incident i continued to drink uncontrolably and 2 weeks later I fell down and smashed my ribs to pieces. I then endured 8 weeks of excrutiating pain dulled each night by more booze, pain killers and sleeping pills.

Did this stop me.... no way! On and on i went suffering more blackouts and many more bruises for another 11 months till finally taking my last drink on Dec 31st.

Dill i totally relate to the morning you and evening you! Every morning Id wake up and say "not today" but by lunchtime Id be thinking about the wine again and convincing myself that tonight it would only be a few, just to make me feel a little better....

Lil i 2nd everything you've said too - Finding MWO was the 1st positive thing on my path, then totally changing my attitude, accepting that I could NEVER just have a couple of drinks and now there is no AL in the house.

Im so grateful to be out the other side of this in one piece....

Sped - 5 mile run sound awesome! Good on you.

Wishing everyone else a happy AF wednesday. (Dill im same time as UK GMT - is ur 4pm EST?)

[spedteach]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

I'm baaack!
I am so slow but I can still do it. Have been running on and off for almost 30 years. Not being able to is a scary thought for me.

Lav, thanks for the mushroom link and I'm going to check out the vegan link. Have recently discovered quinoa, a grain kind of like couscous but with a lot more protein. It is wonderful tossed around with sauteed shallots, chard, carrots and almonds. Check it out.

Lil, I'm with you. For me to stop was one big ole drunken night and a gradual change. Like I said in a previous post, a year ago was the beginning of the end. Also playing the tape through has been invaluable for me. I always end up in a bad place when I consume any al. It feels a little risky but today I feel pretty comfortable saying this is not just for today, this is forever. Just writing it makes me nervous. So much for confidence.

Cyn, I've got drunken deja vu's going on all over the place.

Have a good Wednesday all. Now I'm late for work with all my post run lounging around. Will check in later.

S.

[sooty]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Just logging on to say goodnight and hope everyone has had a good day. Mine turned out ok after all - just heard tonight that my cousin and his girlfriend are coming to stay in March so that's really good news And Mr S has been positively charming these last few hours - if only it would last!
Take care everyone see you tomorrow
Love Sooty

[lodestar]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Wow, gals! This thread is always such a comfort to read. The level of commitment to making changes here is astonishing. Red, your AF 50s sounds like a great goal. You are doing all the work to get there. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming (little Finding Nemo reference). We all believe in you, you know. Thanks for the virtual soup, Lil. I'm still only at about 75% today, but I get to stay in my jammies and work from home. That would have been an excuse to drink in the past. Ugh. I'm looking forward to several days of writing with some napping thrown in for good measure. Much better than the days of old. Dill, thanks for sharing nighttime you and daytime you. I think I'll tuck that one away ~ good reminder. Chill, your story was well...chilling. I'm so glad you shared your reflections. I've had some bumps and bruises too ~ ones I didn't remember. So proud of all you have accomplished thus far! You have a great attitude about giving up the sauce and I find it inspiring. Shelley, I'm jealous of your five mile run today girl! Go you! Hey Lav...almost Feb now. Not long before spring is here with the lovely budding trees. Soots, hope you have a peaceful rest.

Hi LBH, MM, peanut, open, cyn, et al. Ooh, am I getting in writing mode, or what? Not. I'm eyeballing my cozy blanket and considering a pre-work "thinking" session :H

Happy AFness lovelies!

[jessie]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi everyone, thanks for sharing Chill Girl,I'm on day 21 today and where I started off determined to go completely AF forever I have had thoughts to try just one bottle afer 30 days. Sigh. Lavande, I drag my 54 year old body to the kettle for a first cup of tea...where are the days of hopping out of bed with youthful energy.
Love to you all.

[dill]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

Hi Jessie, Congrats on 21 Days! Well done.

Lav, thanks for the link. It's in My Favorites now!

[Lavande]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

This is one EXHAUSTED Lav checking in -
Fresh from a 6 hour marathon babysitting session - OMG! I'm ready to just drop!!!

Shelley I have been using quinoa - very good

Chill, congrats on your 27 AF days, terrific! And we are very, very happy to have you with us all in one piece!

Jessie, congrats on your 21 days, very nice! I'm liking the sound of all this I don't want to risk hurting myself by hopping out of bed too fast in the morning!!

Sooty, glad you didn't hurt the old man today although some days they REALLY do ask for it, don't they?

lode, some of Sooty's parsnip soup should fix you right up! Get well soon!

Hello to my two oldest comrades here Dill & Lil......hope you are well!

OK, time to end this day.......it's been a long one!
Take care,

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

January: Just Do It! ~ AF ~ Week 4

I am almost back to the land of the living and glad to see that you are all still populating it. Sounds like you are moving through something similar, Lode, and while I now feel so much better, with my big rheumy eyes, I still look like a chapped raccoon. Tonight I had an iron pot of sizzling, blistering Korean food, and after a stop for more root veggies to roast tomorrow when the weather shall be really cold, I am set. I also like quinoa, Shelley, particularly the red one, but it all looks so pretty when cooked, like little seashells. Your chicken sounds great Dill, and while I am (still) thinking of food, your move, Chill, to Portugal sounds so wonderful for so many reasons. I always have thought that Portugal had just the right ratio of land to sea for living and eating well. I could easily slip into a sun drenched fantasy involving sea bass at any second. So enough about food. I have appreciated all of the serious notes in everyone?s posts. I have no idea how long my little AF run will be, this is the best I have done so far, but I do feel clear and solid that I will not go back to where I was when I started. My side trips into curiosity, or excitement, or despair that have led me to choose drinking since I came here were remarkably short lived. I know myself far too well to not envision drinking happening again at some point, I just prefer to put it off for now and keep putting it off. I don't really know how else to do this. Love and peace and happy hen keeping, Ladybird.