Hopeful

[prancy]

Hopeful

Congratulations 4My on Day 12. It sounds like you are working your way along each day at one time. How about saying to your friends that you felt so good not drinking alcohol that you are extending it for a few months. I use that sometimes. I say I wasn't feeling real well or I was on a diet so I quit and I felt so much better that I am going on with it for a while. Meanwhile I have a headache and no energy but I don't have to tell them THAT! At least I don't have the shaky hands or remorse! I am on Day 19 now. I won't say it has been easy because it hasn't. But it has been well worth it! prancy

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Hey Prancy,

Congratulations on day 19! You made it through your holiday with your friends! That is an accomplishment, for sure. You are right, the energy isn't quite there yet, but it is better than the remorse or the anxiety. Tomorrow is 14 for me. That feels good.
I can see my cheekbones again. That puffy alcohol face is going away! Yuck!!

[prancy]

Hopeful

4my, it's always good to see the cheekbones!

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Okay, so today is day 15 and I didn't make it through today. I don't know if it is psychological (because I was doing Atkins Induction which is 14 days or if it is that my life has been hectic and this was the end of the chaos and it ended with a baseball pizza party and there were pitchers of beer and root beer and sprite, but no diet pepsi. Some glasses of wine. So I decided, "I'm having a glass of wine" Anyhow, I had 2 glasses and yes, I enjoyed them. Now I feel my stomach pooching out, which is gross. Pizza plus wine = pooch. It does feel a bit sad that tomorrow is day 1 for me but then I remember what someone said. who was it? Johnny H? Bicyclists in a race who wipe out don't take their bike back to the start of the race but just pick up from where they fell down and start again.
Well, really I will start from day 1 and shoot again for 30, because it seems like the "strong" thing to do. But I will do it knowing that I have 14 "strong" days under my belt.
Plus, I still see my cheekbones.
Oh, I've lost 12 lbs. Now that is a reason to stop drinking!!!

[patrice]

Hopeful

14 days is great.. you did really well and I dont think it is day 1 really!! Do you feel and look much better from those 14 days??

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Thanks, Patrice. Well, I am not hung over today, because I didn't have much wine yesterday. I'm not getting on the scale, because I had pizza too!
Overall, my face is less puffy and my Mom says I have more color. I love not feeling hung over; not losing mornings/days to that feeling; love not having anxiety/depression about what I said or did; love feeling in control of this aspect of my life; love feeling like I am doing something really healthy for myself; love feeling like I am really demonstrating the right choice in front of my children; love feeling that this may bring my marriage back to what it used to be because we actually talk in the evening! So yes, I do feel better, thanks for asking!
You are new, how are you doing?

[prancy]

Hopeful

4my,
I think the main thing is to start again, just like you are doing. Whether it is Day 1 or 15 or 100 or 115, it really doesn't make much difference. I think the counting is just a way to motivate yourself. When I slip, and lord, I have done so many, many times, the important thing is to not then tell yourself, well, I only had one/two/whatever glasses and I don't feel hungover and nothing bad happened, so THEREFORE, I should be able to have two glasses anytime and be okay. For me, that is the slippery slope. Because I can do that for a while and then I stop counting and think, well, why not 3, and then I am off. The next thing I know I am waking up thinking, oh my god, what happened last night!!??
Be strong. YOur 14 days absolutely count! prancy

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Well, I'm back after a way too long break. Social things have gotten me off track, (I've allowed them to). Will spend the weekend in the mtns. and that will probably involve some drinking, but I hope to keep it minimal.
Will start "day 1" again on 7/11.

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Day 1 today. Yesterday did have wine and an argument with my husband. Starting Atkins induction again and will make it through the 1st 14 days then try another 14. Hope this works this time!!! Feeling quite low today, want that healthy feeling again!!

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

So sad to see the multiple "day 1". Tomorrow is day 1. I am feeling fat and down. Will try to make it this time.

Friends have moved away and life is feeling lonely these days.

Want to lose 15 by mid-September. Good luck to me!

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Good grief! Here I am again! What is it with my consistently inconsistent pattern?! Will try to make it work this time...

[tantangra]

Hopeful

Hi 4My,
I don't know how many times I have started over in the ten years I've been trying to moderate and/or give up. Don't be too hard on yourself. Come to this site everyday at the usual drinking time and read and read and read, and write too if you want to. I follow the supplement guidelines from the My Way Out book, and every night at beer o'clock which was always 5pm for me, I now have an orange juice with the All One powder mixed in and then I find I don't want to have anything else. Social things are really hard for me especially if the drinks are free, it's hard to pass up a free glass of wine, but I just keep saying to them and to myself, No thanks I'm not a drinker. I am slowly getting over the fact that I cannot control this thing, Alcohol, and maybe it's about time I face up to the news that I don't have to be in control of everything, just one thing, what I put inside my mouth. Keep your chin up 4My, we are all here for you.
Tant

[FreedGenie]

Hopeful

Hi 4MyH

I am new here so have been reading through the threads and came across yours. How are you doing?

I just wanted to say I think you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself by trying to quit alcohol and do Atkins induction at the same time! I have done Atkins several times. The induction period is tough and I felt it caused me to want to drink more as your body is craving the sugar and obviously wine has some.

I also believe in the low carb way of doing things and plan to move on to Atkins again as soon as my drinking is under control. At the moment, I am doing a 14 day AF and just eating what I want (without being greedy or deliberately eating carbs for the sake of it). I am also making sure I have a big mixed salad with plenty of coloured veg in every day. When I am happy I can do it, I will start on Atkins or The High Protein diet.

Good luck x

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

Hi Tantangra & FreedGenie,

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I probably am being too hard on myself and should give myself a chance for success. The problem is, I go a bit w/o drinking and then go a long bit while drinking! I am still doing low carb and today is day 2. We'll see how it goes. Hope you are doing well.

[4MyHealth]

Hopeful

What crap this is.
I am going to track the number of dollars saved; pounds lost and all other positives I can come up with. I will do my best that this doesn't become my children's future.
And to that girl who spoke on 12/7/10...WAKE UP!!! Life is short. Are you going to waste it on alcohol?! Come on, set a goal; get a life! Who are you? I don't even know you anymore. Get back to your true self, now. You don't want that annoying step mother telling you who you are, do you?