August Mod Sqaud

[Eve11]

Greetings everyone!

I have been busy and away from posting here. I love the support given and received however, so wanted to start our monthly thread and see how everyone is doing. I will have to get busy and check old posts to see who is new and how things are going for everyone.

Summer is almost over so back to school for my two teens and lots of work that goes with that. We are spending our last day on vaca in Southern CA which is just beautiful and perfect weather in the summer (usually).

Many years ago I started a thread called Ruby Tuesday. It helps people look at weekly goals, state what they are, and review how the week went. It has waxed and wanted in popularity but I think it's a good concept as it gets moderators on board with writing down weekly goals and trying to adhere to them. Without a good plan, sometimes it's easy to go overboard as there's not a strong enough monitoring system otherwise. The tracker is the same principle and works well for some too. With that being said, I may bump Ruby Tuesday up but wanted to explain it to newbies or people considering being newbies.

Have a good day all!

:l
Eve11

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

HI

Hi Eve, good thoughts an ideas. Well, I've been cutting down considerably, but would like to more...it's the whole summer thing and I've been unusually busy with clients and work. Last night I drank wine, which I shouldn't, unless with a meal, started with some clients...anyway, I cut myself off and met up with a girlfriend, but I would've like to have one or two less glasses...

Otherwise, things are good...training is going ok, I'd like to trim down a little for marathon training, but that's about it.

j.

[ToMyHealth]

August Mod Sqaud

Hi ~ still traveling. Stayed AF sometime late July to 8/6 when we had some wine with dinner celebrating dh birthday. Wasn't difficult at all. Can't say as I felt tons better or anything. It was just a decision. Am seeing friends & family every night now and will enjoy a couple glasses every night most likely. This weekend is dh 50th class reunion. Staying at a casino complete with golf course.

Played golf today by myself. It was so relaxing. Shot a 50' then a 43 so was quite pleased. Saw my one remaining bro over weekend, seeing one remaining sister tonite. Family & old friends is focus of trip til the weekend.

Hope everyone is having a great August.

TMH

[nonamegirl]

August Mod Sqaud

Hey, All!

Howdy! I am back! The end of July and beginning of August has been a whirlwind. I simply cannot believe how fast the time has gone. Last I looked, summer was just starting, and now when I go outside in the morning it smells like fall. Really? Where did the summer go?

We'll still have lots of warm days, and my garden is only now starting to produce, so I know it isn't over yet. But the couple weeks with my sweet guy being home from work just absolutely vanished - WAY too quickly.

All is well here. I am moderating at two or three glasses most nights with several nights each week being AF, and unfortunately there has been one night since I was last here when I really didn't moderate at all. But, all in all things are going just fine.

Lila, you asked in July if my acupuncturist really was targeting for moderation, and YES, she does. She is trained in helping folks with their addictions, and what she does for me really really helps. In case you want to mention it to your own acupuncturist, mine uses needles in the ear (not way inside, just inside the pinna.) and yes, it really does help.

I am so happy to be back! Hope the summer is lovely for all of you.

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

Last weekend was not bad at all, I definitely did not drink that much, spent more time on my boat, relaxing, and I had a long run to do. I have a hockey game tonight, so I might have a beer after that. Anyway, all and all is good. I am actually really looking forward to the week.

Best,

j.

[Lasha]

August Mod Sqaud

Hi all,

Been away for a wee while getting my head together, went Al free for 14 days and can definitely say it's not for me.

My wife is on the mend after 7 weeks so am settling down to my 3 ciders a night with 2 nights off a week. It's been a roller coaster!

Spring cleaned and decorated the house to take my mind off things, it was well needed.

Take care
Lash

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

Ha, well...I can't say if I had a good week or a bad week...this summer has been crazy for me! Last summer was so much more in control, maybe because I had a serious gf. Anyway, I am fine today, surprisingly, but I feel fine, a little tired that's all. I definitely went over my limit for the week.

I ran with my running club, it was a special run to a bar/restaurent in Downtown Manhattan, had dinner and drinks, lots of beer. Then I decided to go out when I got back home and hung out to like 3am !?!?!? I cannot remember the last time I did that, let alone, a week day!

Anyway, I woke up fine, like I said. No regrets, no anxiety, etc. I'm trying to figure out why I did that though. I was talking to a bunch of girls, so that can keep me out, but I think it's more because I've been realy stressed at work, really busy in a good way, but stressed.

I desperately would like a week off, but can't do it right now, hopefully the last week of August, but I am also in a profession where I can make my own hours (come in late, take Fridays off, etc.)

It's funny, this summer for me has been like a musician on tour. I hear that musicians get strung out, getting clean while on the road is almost impossible. Some have done it but its hard.

Then I read stories of people chugging vodka every night, and I'm like damn, I just have a beer bender one night a week and feel a little better about myself.

Anyway, my point....I think I'll be ok, I think I'm letting of a little steam and somewhat resenting myself for it. This has been a rare week where I have drank consecutive nights in a row...Monday, I had a late hockey game, we won, I only had two beers after that, Tuesday, I just felt like drinking and talking so I met up with a hs friend, I had five beers, but got home real early, last night, well, I gave that story, and who knows.

My ultimate goal..is I want to get back to my days when on any given random night, I had no more than four beers...

Anyway, I hope everyone is well.

j.

[nonamegirl]

August Mod Sqaud

Happy Friday, my friends!

Hello, everyone!
Lasha! Welcome back! We've missed you. I am glad to hear that your wife is improving and that you are doing well. You motivate me to tackle the "spring" cleaning of my own house.... needs to be done. I am proud of you for your 14 days AF... I know I should do that thing, too.

Stewarts, Hey, there! I hope you can take some time to yourself this weekend, slow down and relax. Is it possible for you to take a full day away from people, to just do some thinking about how things are going for you? Remember to breathe. Hard to do when work and training gets us so very busy, isn't it?

Eve, TMH, everyone.... have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy these sweet last weeks of summer.
:l

[ToMyHealth]

August Mod Sqaud

And welcome back, NNG! Did you have a good vacation?

Where is everyone? Things are going well, I hope. Went to a womderful restaurant last night for my birthday. And have a dozen red roses. Yes, it was a biggie.

Stewarts & NNG you have encouraged me to set some physical goals for this coming year. I want to get stronger. I may not be able to run, but I need to build some physical stamina. This came home to me while in MN. met a friend from here for a round of golf. she walks. Northern MN has hills; FL is flat. Between the hills and my asthma, no water, I nearly passed out 3X by Hole #9. ended up renting a cart for back 9. what an eye opener for someone who used to run 50 mile races! NNG, did you recommend a book a while back? Tell me again, ok?

We have about 6 weeks of 90 deg weather left, then October brings low to mid 80's, perfect! Learned last spring that Halloween starts our gardening season. Already bought some herbs, see if I can manage to keep them alive AND use them. LOL

Enjoy your Sunday!

TMH

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

Hey NNG, yeah, I need to get away from people, I think you're right. I did get away, but ate too much, and towards the end did drink too much.

My problem is, when I get like this I tend to lock myself up and talk to no one, and that's not good either.

TMH, there's tons of ways to get in shape, and ways that are low impact as well. I tend to do high impact activities, but that's not for everyone, and in some cases, can cause bad injuries.

Funny, I am looking back at my weekend, my most pleasant and memorable, were fishing with my dad on this new little fishing boat I bought...there was no AL on the boat for these two trips.... it was when I felt the best.

j.

[nonamegirl]

August Mod Sqaud

HI, TMH... my very favorite running books are by John "the Penguin" Bingham, and of those the one that really inspired me is "Marathoning for Mortals." He talks about half marathons in it, too, so it's a good one to start with. Another of his is "No Need for Speed". The training program I am currently following is Jeff Galloway's method of Run/Walk/Run. He has lots of good books, too, one of which is "Running Til You're 100." At my age, I need something I can plan on doing forever... I admire young guys like Stewarts who can do high impact and run hard/fast, but it ain't me, babe. (I really admire them as they run by me... nice view!) Anyway, TMH, you used to do ultras? WOW! Talk about admiration!!! I am in awe. I wish I had started earlier and had been more motivated. I would love to have one of those notched in my belt. About your gardening, it is so interesting to hear about the seasons' difference. Up here the mornings are starting to get cold and I am not sure I'll get much more in the way of tomatoes. Hot days, cold nights. And soon it will be fall.

Stewarts, I love hearing about your fishing trips with your dad. Such a pleasant thought! More of those sound like just the right prescription. I miss my dad... I hope when you next go fishing with your dad, you'll send a thought my way and enjoy your father for me.

Have a great week, everyone. Life looks good from over here!

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

NNG, that was a very nice thing to say about my dad...I will.

It's funny, things like that, or when I'm done with a big run, even a training one, I feel so energized and alive, I feel like I have substance and, well, I'm proud of myself, it feels like a cleansing.

MY next big run is coming up this Saturday, an 18 miler. I think, no, I know I am going to take this week as preparation towards that. That will help me from doing anything...well...ill advised.

:-)

j

[ToMyHealth]

August Mod Sqaud

Thanks, NNG, I just placed a request for a couple of those books at the library. I also checked out Focus on Fitness here and got directed to a Bodybuilding.com site. Proud to say I started Jamie Eason LiveFit's Workout; it's a 12 week program.

One of the reasons I did ultras was because I had a lot of stamina but not a lot of speed. It's a whole different mindset, you have to learn to eat and continue running. Then I decided I wanted to break 4 hrs in a marathon again so joined a marathon training class. That is how I met my husband. I ran 50+ marathons and about 20 ultras. And I always said I would learn to play golf when I could no longer run. Here I am!

Stewarts, are you entered in NYC Marathon? Loved that one. It would seem kind of early to be doing an 18 miler for that one, however.

Ok, had 12 days of drinking almost everyday, time to cut back again. Friends invited us out to dinner on Wed., may share a bottle of wine that night but do not plan to have any drinks before or after dinner. Need to feel good for my workouts!

TMH

[Stewarts]

August Mod Sqaud

TMH, yes, I am...it's funny you mention that, I was kind of thinking the same, but that is what the schedule I created has for me. I will play it by ear and see what happens.

it's funny, I think i told some of you I was reading Carr's book on how to stop or moderate your drinking, he was the famous cigarette quitting "guy" book in the 80s, well, I had been busy, but took a break from work and starting reading some more. I haven't got to his whole "process" or "cure" or "a ha" moment yet, but the stuff he is saying, while most of it we inherently know, he breaks down in a very simple way to really make you see what this does to you.

One thing I wanted to share was Boredom. I think it is safe to say many of us will take a drink if we're simply "bored". And we all know AL dehyrdates you, but we all fall into that trap, especially, in the summer that we're quenching a thirst, thirst in the literal term of wanting to hyrdrate, being thirsty, etc., when in fact, we're only making ourselves physically thirstier because of the effects of AL, physical ones. And the only true thirst, is the little monster inside us that wants more.

I know it seems so basic and I'm paraphrasing a lot, but when you really look at it that way, it is an eye opener. I remember when I was going on an AL Free stunt for about a month, I would meet up with people, in bars or my other social places, all, or most which would serve AL, and I would simply drink club soda. I would then find myself ordring a third club soda and I would say to myself,"I don't want this, I'm not thirsty anymore, and either finish that one, and not order anything else, or not finish it, like when you don't finish a meal because your full.

Of course, our senses get dulled when we drink, and our brains are tricked to thinking we are still "thirsty", we will, let's say drink 4-5 beers, for argument sake. Do you ever drink 4-5 waters at a sitting? I mean I don't think I have ever done that even after a long run, or a marathon for that matter, well maybe a marathon. :-)

I got sidetracked again, but yesterday, I know for a fact, I started drinking in the afternoon because I was simply...bored...bored and tired. Like I said, I woke early to go fishing, when we got back, our boat buddy was making us all brunch on our patio area in the marina. I did have a bloody mary, which was fine, I only had one. Then it was a nice day and we were just, sitting there. After an hour or so, maybe longer, I drank a light beer, and then proceed to polish of four more. Now, I was pacing, but four? Was I thirsty? No, I was bored. This was actually easing my boredom. But I stopped and had diet ginger ale. After about another hour or so from that time I asked my mom if she wanted a glass of wine, again, I was bored. She said yes, and so did some of her friends, so that bottle got polished off, but by four people (glass each)...ok...I'm still bored though. So, when our other neigbor finally came back and had a case of wine, I had another glass, and snuck another and another. Now this was over a long period of time, but still....it wasn't good for my health - both mental and physical. it was that little monster saying, "your drinking slow, what's a little more."

Then I felt nostalagic, and texted my ex gf that I thought we should get married. This came about because she came up in conversation with the group, they all liked her, were asking about her, if I'd bring her back, why can't I go back for her; she broke my heart and it was a complicated relationship. So, I had a happy face on, but I wasn't really happy or comfortable with this conversation. I don't feel embarassed I did that, the text, she's been on my mind a lot anyway, we never had any real closure. She wrote back that was just back and jet lagged from a trip, but we'd chat later in the week. I actually wasn't even expecting a response, but ok, I'll take it.

Boredom tied in with loneliness.....I should went to the boat and read a book, or even watch TV.

Anyway....

[ToMyHealth]

August Mod Sqaud

Was up most of the night. Hate that when that happens. Benadryl and Sleepytime tea not much help. Played horrible golf this a.m. Trying to figure out why in late July - a week into August I had no trouble sleeping while being AF. Was traveling by 8/1 but still I don't remember it being a problem before that either. Hhhmmmmm.

TMH