Monday 29th

[Popeye]

Good morning all.
I hope you all well and rested after a nice relaxed weekend.
I'm feeling strong again. Nearly in double figures (day 9).
I'll be thinking about GratefulEm today, Her son is going back to Iraq.
I'll check in later.
Have a good one.....

[bear73]

Monday 29th

morning Paul and everyone else, on day 17 now - have a good day everyone.still got damn cold!!!

[hidden_gem]

Monday 29th

Hi Paul, hi bear, hi everyone,

Hope everyone has a great day. I'm nearing the end of Day 28 and feeling very good about it.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing... and I don't need a drink to feel happy!

Gem x

[Changeling]

Monday 29th

Nothing Missing

Morning all
PaulB & Bear how good it is to see those days adding up.
Day 33 for me.

Advantages...hmmm
Wake up feeling good
no self loathing, guilt, despair, remorse
no loss of memory
lost 6 lbs
Improved appearance - clear eyes & skin
sleep like a child - 8/9 hours solid
no anxiety attacks at 4/5 in the morning
improved finances

this list seems almost endless
I think it would be hard to compose a similar list of the advantages to continue drinking...
Happy Monday everyone to follow
Changeling

[Mackeral]

Monday 29th

Good morning all,

I've not been posting much latley because i've just been keeping myself as busy as possible...I've not been able to put more than a week together AF...I dont know why..All i can do is keep trying and hopefully something will click...Sooner rather than later i hope.

I saw my Grandma last week...She moved in with my mum and dad now and she looks really happy to be out of hospital...She's eating more and doing well..

Speak to you all soon....Love Macks:l

[irishlady]

Monday 29th

Morning All,
Those days are mounting up for all of us and as Hidden Gem says, we don't need a drink to feel happy, in fact we feel happier when we haven't had a drink....So I raise my cup of tea to all of us in a toast, long may we stay happy....

Hi Macks, Don't give up, and I think you are doing the right thing to keep yourself busy...With five children I bet Lisa can always find you something to do, Ha Ha ...Glad to hear your Gran is out of hospital and in familiar surroundings, thats probably why she is looking so happy, just hope your dad is ok..

My love to you all,
louise xxx

[Ilex]

Monday 29th

Hi All - start of day 15 for me and I just wanted to stop and reflect on the first two weeks....

Favourite moment:
all during last week, whenever I went to my purse the same ?5 note and the same ?10 note were there - nestled up against each other and it made me smile because during the alcohol days they wouldn't have stood a chance of being there for two seconds! I love the fact that I am automatically checking my notes to see if I have enough to get me through the evening; and then remember that I only need a bit of change for a coke or juice or something :H



I am less impressed with the fact that despite feeling better about myself physically I haven't lost THAT much weight grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I thought the weight would just fall off! But I guess, maybe, just maybe I haven't really been watching what I eat - maybe just a little bit of substitution going on here............! So, now I am a little more comfortable with not drinking I am going to add in the watching what I eat thing and doing some more exercise. I walk quite a lot with the dog - but now I think it's time to start a little bit of the old jogging - good intentions anyway!



Anyway - hi to all before and all to follow - hope you have some great Mondays!

Ix

[pansy]

Monday 29th

Morning all,

Today is Day 6 for me, but I think the 24th AF day this month. I finally decided to take the antidepressant for which I have a prescription (Lexapro). Seems like a few people on the boards have taken this one and they said it really helped them. So here is hoping that this one has a good effect. I read that it can kick in very fast, within a few days, for anxiety issues but takes the usual weeks for depression. My sleep is messed up again - for the 3rd day straight despite taking the supps that were working great before. Since I am mostly keyed up, the anxiety is what is bugging me. Funny, this did not happen during my first 60 days AF.

It is great to see the days rack up for everyone! Paul, Gem, Bear - you guys are really rolling along. Changeling - must be nice to be past day 30! Macks, I am sure that things will click soon. Glad your grandma is out of the hospital. Louise, thanks for reminding me that this can be done long term.

Okay, gotta go. Wanted to get that 0 in drintracker, but I also need to shove off for work in about 10 minutes. Hoping everyone has a great day, or least a much better one if yesterday was not so hot.
Hi to all who come along here.

Hugs,
Pans

[davy4ann]

Monday 29th

morning all

day 22 for me....getting ever closer to the magic first 30 days...the funny thing is, the thought of drinking whisky etc: makes me feel slightly sick...day off today so in the garden up a tree lopping off branches. almost knocked myself off the ladder!! imagine trying that after a few glasses of wine...anyhoo well done to everyone...things can only get better!!!!!!!!!!!

davy

[MaggieD47]

Monday 29th

Happy Monday to Paul, Bear, Changeling, Gem, Mack, Louise, Ilex, Pans and all to come!

It is a peaceful day for many and I see more in store for those who are not there yet, but will be. This, like so many transitions is a process. I had read about people who, as they were sipping a drink said to themself "This will be my last drink ever" and it was.I thought I might be like that because I am about so many other things.

But no way has this drinking thing been like that for me. It's been a slower than I wanted transition to a healthier life without my Chardonnay. For those who've known me a while, notice I did not say "My beloved Chardonnay." I no longer consider it beloved. Chardonnay is finding itself in the same place as my former HS sweetheart of 30 years who I thought I couldn't live without too! He is so off my radar screen after a very difficult transition. I can just tell that my wine drinking is following.

I am starting to feel so good starting around 7 in the evening, and then there is pure bliss when I awaken at night around 3 AM. I used to feel terrible at that first AM wake up. Just like what Changeling noted in her post today....none of that yukky stuff at 3 AM.

So all this positive stuff is making Chard look less and less desirable. Hee Haw! I think I am actually getting there.

Maggie

[Debh]

Monday 29th

Good Nigth (Aussie)

Cong to all you guys have doe so well. keep it up

DebH

[wwbarb]

Monday 29th

Happy Monday to all - look at all these great numbers! I am so motivated by those of your who have done so well - can't even try to name you all.

Ilex, Andy and I are together on day 15 - if I missed anyone, I am sorry. I woke up today ready to take on the world. I've had a bad attitude about my work and my life in general, but I've just decided to "repaint the picture". My job is just a job - my boss is never going to appreciate me, so I might as well just cash the check and stop expecting it. Or, look for other work - those are my two choices. If I internalize his crap, he wins. If I ignore him, I win.

Wayne, you hang in there - it'll click - it's a process. I have faith in you. Glad to hear your gramdma is doing better.

Pansy, good luck with the meds - hope they help.

Maggie - thanks for starting the weight in thread under fitness - there is power in numbers.

Everyone have a great day. My boss is out to the FBR Open (formerly the Phoenix Open) so he'll call in once or twice to show off for his friends and that will be it. I plan on having a good day - how about the rest of you?

[Newyear]

Monday 29th

Good Morning.....Here's to another AF day here in Abbsville!

I went bowling on my blind date Sat night (6 of us there). He was nice but not for me unfortunately. There were pitchers of beer and pitchers of diet coke. He was drinking the beer and then going outside for a smoke too. He asked 'so, you don't drink?" I just said -'no'.
Felt a little weird - but good.
Since I quit smoking I thought everyone else had too:H I think it might be harder for me to date someone who smokes that someone who drinks though. Anyone else have this thought?
I think I could be around people drinking - well, I have been. I wonder why the smoking bothered me even more? And I used to smoke a lot! I think some ex smokers like the smell of cigarettes and some hate it ...I guess I fall into the 'hate it' category. My mother quit smoking after quadruple bypass surgery 7 years ago. She still misses smoking and does not mind the smoke of others.
Anyway...babbling here...
Congrats to everyone who made it safely thru the weekend. Such an accomplishment!
Each day af puts another gun in your arsenal. Each day has it's own difficulties and gifts.
This is such a learning process - learning about ourselves.

Have a great Monday everyone!
:l
Lisa

[wwbarb]

Monday 29th

My brother used to say that kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray. Think about it.

[lorisunshine]

Monday 29th

Good morning all you lovely people in Absville.
I have not posted much, as I have been busy with my mothers estate. It is a very sad job, but I have to steel myself for more of the same.

Slowly, very slowly, the "not drinking at all" is becoming something of a preconcluded habit, if the urge comes up and it will, I am making my other voice say: "It is not an option, it is not an option, etc. etc." It is not the whiteknuckling nightly period from 5 to 7 anymore. It is more like "ah, well, get over it". By 8 pm I am just fine anyway.

I wonder how much of this compulsion was a habit that signaled to my brain, that I was "entitled" to treat myself and over the years, this entitlement turned into all out substance abuse and dependency. It all started so innocently way back when.

It is almost as if I had to rewire my brain to think that I am entitled to feel good 24/7 and in order to obtain that, I have to drink tea and mineral water. The habit does not go away, but the substance has to be replaced with something that is benign to our body. Well, you know all that already.

Gosh, I am rambling. Anyway, am starting day 29AF.
Congrats to all of you before and yet to come. Have a wonderful day.
Love Lori