A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Gang
Just off to bed here and wishing you all a goodnight.

Kim that safety net is ready anytime! I have my 1st AF cold virus and I am going to observe it with interest, usually my way of dealing with a cold is large quantities of red wine which would completely numb any sensations and feeling like shit the next day was ok as I wouldnt be feeling good anyway...

Everything is a 1st for me now and whatever the experience I've decided im going to enjoy it....including this cold!

Mazzie I think the wind and rain in the Uk might be a shock to your system as it certainly wont be hot and humid..... Great to hear about your job, its amazing how much better everything is AF.

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Everyone

Last night hub and I had a wedding anniversary so went out to a really nice restaurant. Started off with a non-al drink then stupidly decided that 1 charddy would be OK with my meal. So ordered this and we started our meal. Must have 'someone' watching over me even in my stupidity as that drink never did get delivered to our table! I found out that yes one can have a nice meal out and just drink water (there was plenty of that on our table).

Am feeling pretty good about that this morning. Although am very aware how easy it would be!! Can not let my guard down anywhere.

Chill hope that cold gets better real quick. The rain hasn't lasted long as usual. Lovely day here - hope it lasts for the weekend. I've lots that I want to do!

One thing that I've just noticed is that the sugar cravings seem to have stopped. That's so good as I was getting very worried about my intake of choccies and icrecream lollies and anything sweet.

Hope everyone is going well and a really good af day/night to all.

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Mazzie - Your higher power is looking out for you for sure!!

Rain has stopped here too, sun out and its friday.... yipee!

[fluff]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Mazzie-very strange, indeed! Glad you didn't get that drink!
Chill-feel better-lots of tea, vitamin-c and chicken soup!
Hi Kim!
Off to experience day 11 -AF!
Luv, Fluff!

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi all,

Chillgirl are you feeling any better? I find that nothing usually helps with a bad cold except lots of rest. Putting your snuggliest PJs on and curling up in a warm bed if you can. Not if you have to work though obviously - the PJs might look a bit out of place. As would the bed.

Mazzie, glad that your job is going really well - I REALLY hear you on that one. I personally find the weather in the UK varies. I quite like the rain when I'm tucked up inside. And the cold when I don't have to get up and and tucked away inside. Yeah, you're right, I hate it Although Summer's cool...er when it's not raining!

Wow miracle about the drink. Happy Anniversary by the way! Glad that you were able to learn something positive during this. Yes it is VERY easy to slip. On the way home today I was thinking about nothing else but going to buy a bottle but only have a couple of drinks, all sorts of reasoning and excuses. But I'm not going to - that would be so foolish given the horrific fallout of my last 'one drink'.

Heya Fluff - anything new on Day 11 - or is it Day 12 there now??

I am having a nice early night as I have loads to do tomorrow. Evening all,
K

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Guys
Kim i should have taken your advice and stayed home tonight in my PJs, that exactly what I felt like doing. However fridays are my hardest evenings to get through and my mouth said yes to going out for dinner when my brain actually meant NO...

I went for tapas with a girlfriend who enjoyed a margaritia and a bottle of red wine! I concentrated on the food which was, warm crusty wholemeal bread, cheese in honey and almonds, cured spanish ham, baked beetroot, rucola salad, mushrooms stuffed with bacon then home made chocolate truffles!

Ok so now i can hardly move but im home and im sober! The remainder of the weekend will be PJs and herbal tea....

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Everyone

Chill that food sounds wonderful. Good job on no red wine. That's pretty awsome seeing it was on your table!!!

Had some of my family over last night for dinner. They bring their own drinks so I didn't need to get some in even though al tried to talk me into that. I even drove into the car park of the bottle shop but couldn't find a park so just went home without any. What was I thinking anyway!!! However, they did get out the wine and offered me some but I already had my own al-free drink so that was OK. The funny thing is that the bottle of wine they brought was 'off' and so they couldn't drink it anyway. They don't have a prob with al so that bottle had probably been sitting around in their house for several years!!!

So yes, I really do think I have a guardian angel or higher power looking out for me on this journey. He/She has a sense of humour!! I definitely pray everyday as part of my 'tools' that I will be able to stay sober. Its so good!!!

Kim, you did real well to be thinking about the 'last time' and not give in and get a bottle. If its not in the house it just takes away a whole big argument. And Fluff, good on you too, you are doing so well.

Winey, you are so right about having your mind in the right place to even start trying. I think that is the biggest part of the battle at first and then it is ongoing as well - the mental gymnastics. You'll be ready one day and just do it.

Its so good to "talk" to you guys. Hello to everyone else who stops by for a read!

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Morning all,

Chill, sometimes you have to do what you have to do sometimes and at least it sounds like you had a really nice meal. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm! And every time you do something like go for dinner and NOT drink, it reinforces in you that you can have a great time without it.

Enjoy the 'PJ time'. I find when I am over the worst of an illness and not suffering too much but just need a bit more rest that PJ time can actually be quite enjoyable. You get some good old pampering done you hear me?

Wow Mazzie, how weird for something like that to happen a second time. You do really have to watch the 'al talking' thoughts. It's great that you didn't do some real addicted thing like parking up any-old-where cos you just couldn't do without it. Oh when I think of the things I've done...

Which I won't dwell on now as I managed to go shopping last night and not buy any al. Felt a bit anxious going round the supermarket but by the time I'd got to the booze n fags counter I had already decided against it. Sometimes when I get to that point, I never know whether I'm going to ask for booze when I buy my cigs until the words actually either do or don't come out of my mouth. So it was reassuring that I'd already decided. However when I got home, I ate a ton of sugar to try and quell the cravings and comfort myself- gotta stop that again from today.

Sigh, I can't wait to get a bit more AF time under my belt - 30 continuous days would be a great start so I feel better about myself and more secure. I think I will be on here a lot when it comes to the third week seeking out that safety net, Chill!! But I know you guys will all help me through.

How is everyone else today?
K

[Jolie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Chill - way to go on staying AF even when your friend had all that to drink? Was your friend able to walk? (he he) Isn't it a satisfying feeling to be the sober one!

Maz - happy anniversary! great story - looks like someone was looking out for you.

So I'm on day 6 AF and in the middle of a blizzard - seriously - if this would have happened 4 months ago I would have been panicking to make sure I had enough wine stored up to see me through. I also have a bad cold and would have been petrified to take any cold medicine while drinking. You know the labels that all say "warning - if you consume 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day". So my cold could be a small blessing in disguise. Just trying to stay positive and keep remembering the reasons why I don't want to start drinking again.

Kim - I'm afraid of week 3 as well since that was my downfall the last time - got overconfident I guess. I really think I need to do 30 days and then go from there.

Hope everyone has a great evening (or morning - as the case may be)!

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hey Jolie,

:goodjob: on day 6 AF. Hope you feel better soon - PJ time and some nice lemon or ginger tea if you have it!.

Will catch you with you all later

K x

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Everyone

Crashed and burned last night. Feeling pretty low and unhappy. Can't believe I did this. Have no direction at present just want to curl up inside myself for a while.

Hope you guys are all OK. I'll talk to you all later when I feel a bit more positive.

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hey Mazzie

Grab my hand and get back up here on the wagon! These relapsed are truly there to teach us and maybe you needed a reminder of how you dont want to feel. Dont be so hard on yourself, today is another day and its great that you came here and checked in.

Sending you a big :hug: from us all.

[Jolie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Maz - I slipped up when I tried moderating for a week - started out okay but then started to drift towards my old ways. Working on day 8 AF and this might sound crazy but I actually think it strengthened my resolve to remain AF. Don't say you don't have direction otherwise you wouldn't have come back here. YOU CAN DO THIS! Don't beat yourself up - just start again - no one is keeping track here - we are here for you as you care about all of us. Do you know what triggered it? That's probably the first step. Are you taking any of the supplements? I truly believe that the L-Glut is helping me with cravings. Hold on tight - it's a bumpy ride but we are all in this together!

Love,

Jolie

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi All

Chill and Jolie, thanks for the hand back up on the wagon. A very subdued little Mazzie sitting in the corner but at least I'm back. I am trying to look at positives such as last year when I first realised I had a problem I went for the whole of Feb af, then just because I felt so good and I could I had a drink and went back to where I was and worse until I could stop again in October and November. Then off I went again for no real reason other than I could, I think. That took me a month to start again. Then in January almost made it the whole month. This time I'm back after a day or so. I think that is progress in the right direction.

Hope you are all doing well. Thank you for your support it means so much to know none of us are doing this on our own. :thanks:

[Jolie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hey Maz, I think I have kind of made up my mind that I can never really be a moderator. My downfall is drinking at home in secret. I don't think I would have a problem with a glass of wine out socially (haven't had that experience yet) but I know myself well enough to know that when I'm home, one glass of wine will never be enough. The whole point to why I drink is to get that buzz. Don't even really like the taste - I always mixed it with a little juice.

I believe in you and only you know what the best plan is for Maz. Let's try to beat this demon together!

Love,

Jolie