Ladies on a Mission!

[acadiaofmaine]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to start a thread focusing on getting through this rough holiday patch and beyond. I had hoped to have 30 days today but didn't make it. I have been successful reducing to 2 1/2 drinks/day, which is good, at least for me. I am running and doing a lot of healthy stuff. But drinking at this level does not remove the obsession or the yearning for MORE!! I am discouraged with myself, and sometimes feel hopeless- but I am encouraged by the energy and support on MWO, and especially by sharing everyone's successes and difficulties.

Should we try a Thanksgiving to year end effort? Anyone want to join what I hope will be a serious, focused thread so we can be proud of ourselves?

Ann

[scottish lass]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi Ann - I am on a mission and would like to say I am a Lady, so I am in for a 30 day (and even beyond) run!
I have managed to stop drinking for a while - just two days of slips so far in Nov, but you are managing in areas that I am not - my diet is terrible, and no exercise and I am gaining weight instead of losing - so well done in that aspect of your life...
Two years ago I stopped the day after Thanksgiving and went just over 60 days, so I know I can do this.
Thanksgiving to 2014 - I am in, thanks Ann!
And, really happy to have a very focused, serious thread. it really helps me to stay on track when the discussion is supportive and centred around struggling, our triggers and what is working - thanks for starting this Ann :l

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi, AcadiaofMaine

You certainly live in a beautiful part of the country! When I visited the Natl. park there, it was the coldest water I have ever felt but SO BEAUTIFUL.

While ODAAT is a great tool and is worth using whenever needed, sort of the opposite was helpful for me, too.

Using your example, visualize in detail waking up Wednesday morning, Jan 1, 2014 having not consumed AL since before Thanksgiving. Think how your head feels and your mouth tastes. Think about how there are no gaps in your memories of the night before or of the 5 weeks before!! Also visualize all the chances to drink you will have turned down. See yourself drinking something AF and feeling good (even a little superior...) while you're doing it. It is ok to get a bit braggy to yourself about what you're doing -- it is a BIG DEAL! Picture yourself going to bed all those nights clear-headed and proud. The more you can see yourself behaving in a certain way, the easier it is to actually do.

The opposite visualization of playing forward what really happens when you drink also is a useful tool and one I use often when that stupid addicted voice talks to me. But for longer-term goals, visualizing your success can be a more powerful tool. Play that success tape over and over and over. Fall asleep thinking about it. Add some juicy bits :H. Make it a story so appealing you'll do what it takes to make it true.

Have a really, really good holiday season, Acadia!

:h NS

[Starfish1]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi Ann,

I think this thread is a great idea! I definitely need to make abstinence my mission again and I know I need strong support to do so. You are so correct in saying this holiday patch is rough- not only due to the extra temptations, but due to the extra stress of the season. I am already feeling overwhelmed about the holidays and the last thing I need is to add the stress of drinking to the mix.
Now is a great time to start a "Thanksgiving to year end effort". Count me in!
I did not drink yesterday and I plan not to drink today!

Thanks again.
:h Star

[acadiaofmaine]

Ladies on a Mission!

Awesome, everyone! I'm excited by the energy here. NS, I like your idea of visualization. My therapist is into it in a big way and had me read -you got it-Creative Visualization, by Shatki Gawain. A book I think I read in high school or college, back when I though I knew everything. At that time I thought it was a little New-Age-y, but now that I'm in my 50's, I think it is pretty useful. I like trying to focus on the positives, beyond avoiding the pain. Make sense? We can all look to how great things can be.

Ann

[Starfish1]

Ladies on a Mission!

Sounds like a great plan to me. Ann, you used the words "discouraged" and "hopeless" in your first post and that is really what has happened to me, I think. I have been feeling like an old "hag", that is past her prime and not worth taking proper care if. Well, that should not be the case at all. We all have a lot more life to look forward to and we deserve to feel great while we are living it. I will begin visualizing myself in a much better light. Thanks for the tip, N.S.
Oh, and I just got some great news from my doctor. I had a checkup a few weeks back and all test results (besides a little bone thinning) are normal! They just suggest supplementing with calcium and vitamin D and exercise . Now that is something to give thanks for!

[scottish lass]

Ladies on a Mission!

Oh my gosh - how alike - it is crazy that we consider ourselves past it in our 50's - lets reclaim our lives! In reality we have a lot of really good living to do and we need to get oursleves sorted out to do it. I am so on for this - I have felt exactly the same way! Ready to make a diffference in my life!

[FreeFly]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi Ladies,

I would love to join this thread. Just back to MWO. I joined back in 2011 and as much as lots has changed in my life for the better, I?ve been doing some sort of ?controlled? drinking which actually turned into bingeing, same old story huh. Ready to get serious over the last bit of 2013 and would love to get 30 days in. Currently on day 2 and happy. Had an invite for a works do this afternoon which took me by surprise and already my brain started thinking, well just another night. I like your visualisation NS of 1 January 2014 waking up with 30days+ behind me ? just how great would that feel. Intend to start a journal this evening too. Hoping with that focus and the help of the lovely folk here, I may just be able to crack it.
Please count me in
FF:l

[Starfish1]

Ladies on a Mission!

Welcome, Free!
And Scottish Lass, only 2 days of slips in November is Fantastic! You are my "shero" right now!

[acadiaofmaine]

Ladies on a Mission!

Glad you are here, Free! Many of us in pretty much the same place in terms of days (I am at the 0 end!) SL, agreed with SF, 2 days of slips-awesome! I would be so proud of myself. That is really excellent. How do you feel physically? Emotionally? Must be a big difference despite worrying about the future. As they say, ODAT. I keep trying to connect with this-it's not easy but maybe the only way to look at it.

Ann

Ann

[FreeFly]

Ladies on a Mission!

Thanks for the welcomes ladies, feels good to be on this thread. I like the fact its intention is to be ?serious & focused?, it?s just what I need.
Resonating also with having been down on myself about the way I look etc for a while but hopefully coming out of that. I turned 48 last week and I?d say at 46 & 47 I felt ?past it and haggered?. Totally ridiculous I realise now and was just my perception. A very early menopause at 36 didn?t help. I?m actually delighted to be through all that nonsense now but I guess it took me a while to really grasp the positives of that.
I eat healthily and care very much what goes into my body on that front and I enjoy cooking which helps. I exercise regularly (mostly yoga but would like to step up the walking) and have just bought a hula hoop to shift the middle bit. I only exercise if I enjoy it! I live alone which is why it can be easy for me to 'slip' but no longer want to use this as an excuse. I don't want to abuse myself anymore because I want to care for me.
Anyway, that's a little bit about me. Looking forward to getting to know you all
FF:l

[patrice]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi Girls, I'd like to join this thread too, I've already written what I've been up to in other threads ( it ain't pretty!)

Like you Firefly, I eat healthily and have been for a long time now..in fact if it's not reasonably healthy, I can't eat it. I think this has in some way ameliorated the damage alcohol has done to my body and has kept my weight at the same level it's been for years.

BUT, I smoke and I don't exercise and these are things I must get under control. Exercise First then the smoking. I bought an e cig the other day ( in preparation!!)

I'm 50 too and I have an 8 yr old son.. ( single mum). I too have been feeling so bad about myself over the last year or so, feel shabby and blah.. time to change that!
I'm also looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm on Day 3...I love NS's idea of visualising how I will feel on 1st Jan, how proud I will be.. yay
Take care
Patrice

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission!

Hi.

I previously discounted all this visualization business but found it to be so powerful for changing this part of my life. It you get a positive image of "future AF you" so firmly in your mind, and think about it if you are about to do something that would ruin it, it really helps you make a different choice.

It is interesting how many of us are very committed to a healthy lifestyle other than drinking! I have always tried to eat well and exercise and have been very reluctant to take medications for fear of side effects. What irony!

So, have you started picturing the upcoming Thanksgiving events and what is going on with you not drinking? See all the good things about that image! You're not giving up anything that would improve the overall day.

:h NS

[Kailey]

Ladies on a Mission!

NoSugar;1590119 wrote: Hi, AcadiaofMaine

Using your example, visualize in detail waking up Wednesday morning, Jan 1, 2014 having not consumed AL since before Thanksgiving. Think how your head feels and your mouth tastes. Think about how there are no gaps in your memories of the night before or of the 5 weeks before!! Also visualize all the chances to drink you will have turned down. See yourself drinking something AF and feeling good (even a little superior...) while you're doing it. It is ok to get a bit braggy to yourself about what you're doing -- it is a BIG DEAL! Picture yourself going to bed all those nights clear-headed and proud. The more you can see yourself behaving in a certain way, the easier it is to actually do.


:h NS

Along those lines...for those of us on Day 1 again, Day 30 falls on Christmas. I can't think of a better gift.

[acadiaofmaine]

Ladies on a Mission!

Welcome, everyone, this is going to be a wonderful thread. Patrice, Firefly, great to see you! It does seem like we have so much in common. We all seem to want greater self esteem, having had long periods without many positive feelings about ourselves. We all want better health. AL seems to be what gets in our way! It's really crazy. Every time I stop drinking, or cut way back, I feel so much better on every level. I get excited about things, I don't feel so defeated and hopeless. The answer seems so easy-JUST QUIT! Well, let's give it a shot!

Hula hoops? Thank sounds pretty interesting. I am so stiff, it might be good to loosen me up!

Ann