Hello Again

[SAUSAGE]

I actually joined the site in 2008, but haven't been on here for about 10 years it seems, looking back at my old posts. I suddenly thought about it last night and decided to take another look.
I had several attempts at quitting daily wine drinking, managing at least 6 months each time before deciding I could moderate and then within days was back to drinking wine each day, my old pattern, again. I actually only really started heavy drinking in my early 30's when my children were small and I was no longer breastfeeding.
This site was invaluable to me at the time, for support, and when I was looking around last night I did spot some old names I remeber.
I resumed drinking again after 2012 and didnt' have the strength to find another quit until late 2016 when I finally quit successfully on 1/1/17. For some reason I didn't come back to this site for support but was using a Dry January facebook group. The main difference this time was I had accepted I couldn't moderate and also I resumed running again, and this really helped me and since 2017 I have run 7 marathons including London, New York and Chicago and also become a regular Park runner, which is very popular in the Uk where I live. I felt really emotional reading my old posts last night, starting off when my oldest child was 4, and I remember joining the site just before she started primary school - she is now at university and my youngest is 17!
Anyway I just thought I'd drop in and say hi in case anyone remebers me, and even if not, to say, don't give up if at first you don't succeed because you can get there, but for me the main essentials for success this time were;
an acceptance that I couldn't moderate
finding something else to do to fill my time, relax me, etc
accepting that alcohol does nothing except a 20 min buzz which you can never get back, however much you drink for the rest of the day so what is the point - it just dehydrates you and makes you feel rubbish.
Wishing everyone well, take care
Sausage

[techie]

Hello Sausage. Wonderful to see this post. I would welcome seeing more if you feel a regular visit is of benefit. As a runner and triathlete I would enjoy reading and hearing more. Mary in the Army thread is a runner and competes in marathons as well. In the meantime, I wish you all good things!

[SAUSAGE]

Thank you Techie
i think I will drop in again from time to time.
I've just updated my story in the Story section #94, as I felt it was important I told my whole story, This features my first quit in 2008 and then my second attempt in 2012 and then my last quit in 2017.
I've enjoyed looking around the site again, and hope I can help others and pay something back, as it was incredibly useful to me in the past.

[Lavande]

Hi Sausage,

Glad to see you again.
Please stay with us for a while & strengthen your quit. I’ve continued to check in daily since starting here 14 years ago. It just feel like the right thing to do & I consider so many good friends.

Wishing you the very best!

Lav

[NewNelso]

I think I started in 2011, 5/2

[techie]

Welcome back, Nelz!

[NewNelso]

Welcome back, Nelz!

Thanks boss