Did I say that "Afraid to drink and not drink and...

anyway," have fun at your boyfriend's. Sure it feels weird. I'm 54 and 3 yrs a widow and it all feels weird. I guess new surroundings are hard for everyone; we just think that it's reserved for the younger ones.

Before I had this alcohol problem- years ago, I did weight loss counciling and a lot of clients would just throw in the towel after they blew their diet just one time. The thing to keep in mind is that you are making progress towards where you know you want to be, to what really feels right for you. It's about you, not someone else's dogma. The dogma can help keep people in line; I know that it has been a great support for many. Just remember that life is a process and changing your life is a process and it's never a straight line!

Enjoy, Annette

Thanks Tiller!

I've enjoyed your posts, they have provided much needed support and the best of all hope! I am feeling like a normal human being. What a gift this Christmas season, what joy!!!

I see since you have started TSM no alcohol free days, how do you feel about this? It has been kind of bothering me that I haven't hit a AF day. I have been enjoying coming home after work to some beer or wine. I'm the kindof drinker that I won't drive if I have drank, I am really a sissy when it comes to getting into trouble. Not only that I don't know what I would do to myself if I ever hurt or God forbid killed anyone from my drunkeness.

To you!

An Irish Christmas Blessing

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

Cheers

I wish I was in a place to rack up some AF days. Just not there yet. I'm an after-work, at-home drinker. Never drink and drive.

I'm hoping that I hit that TSM off switch in the early part of 2012!

Happy Day After Christmas!!!

Hope everyone had a good one. My units last week was the lowest yet, the goal this week is even lower. Although isn't starting out that way, I celebrated yesterday, this was the best Christmas I've had in a very long time.

I want to make a commitment to have AF day this week, let's see how it goes.

Cheers! Colleen

Thank you for the message and Christmas poem.

I had a very nice Christmas. As I was the hostess, I managed to pull out the old silver platters and utensils and polish them up while the "kids", young adults were playing a drinking game at the dining table. I kept myself busy and had to use a little will power to wait until evening to have a glass of wine. It all went well and I feel good today! What a relief!

Zippy, well look at your numbers, that is so cool! It's such a great idea to track the units...an objective measure, in addition to the changes in how we feel. But you must be very proud about how your effort is paying off.

Okay, I hear you on the AF days, and I will pledge to have one, too. I've been very...lazy about making myself do some recently, even though I think it is habit at this point (daily drinking). Time to bring a little gumption into the equation. Nal gives me so much more control, and hope, and I need to do my part, too. Commitment: I'll post back here when I've got my AF day in.

Chrissie

I think it's a fine line between needing to prove to yourself that you can have an AF day and making way too much out of an AF day. As I am (and mostly always was) a binge drinker, NOT drinking was never the problem for me. Drinking moderately was the issue. So for me, 1 or 2 drinks in a day is great, I don't care what anyone says, 1 or 2 drinks every day is better for me than 14 drinks one night a week. Even if those might be the same according to the doctor.
Anyway my rambling point is that you can feel your way to an AF day. Yes, a little bit of willpower, but you don't need to use extreme force

"What a relief!" What a great holiday.

Thanks for your honesty ElectriaLou. My reprogramming is still taking place I think it is coming from "One day at a time" "24 hours in a day" if your head hits the pillow at night sober you've won. I'm still struggling with the thought, even if I've only had one or two drinks that day. I continually have to remind myself how different my drinking is, there is no comparrison to the way I use to drink. It is like night and day difference. Feeling better and better about myself everyday, feeling better physically and mentally too. I do have a way of being extremely hard on myself.

On an AF day I want to see how it feels, since starting TSM I don't white knuckle it to have a drink. Actually enjoying myself without fear, shame, and guilt. There have been days with really bad hang overs, this is what I'd really like to stop. White wine is the worst hang over, it could be because I end up drinking a whole bottle when I crack one open. (that is of white wine) The week is starting out really good, night mares are down, sleeping solid, eating good. Next I'd really like to get back into a workout routine. I love dancing, haven't danced in two years.

Cheers!

Hi Zippy,

I got an AF in yesterday...what a great feeling to wake up completely bright eyed and bushy-tailed. As a long time daily drinker, I feel a little uneasy in giving this up, but it wasn't a painful struggle last night - just overcoming some "habit inertia". Seems to me in reading a lot of the success stories, stringing together a # of AFs seemed to be a pattern that worked for some. Of course, drinking in moderation is another measure of success, but I'm hoping for days w/o alcohol: even aside from the awful addiction, at this point in life, calories are dear commodities...do I want to squander them on beer???

Tonight (coming off an AF day), will be a challenge, since there might be some ADE going on, combined w/ the fact I'll be in a situation that will pull a number of drinking triggers. I'm setting a goal of 2 - 3 aus.

nal on!
Chrissie

Nal On Chrissie!!! Good luck tonight let me know how it goes.

I'm not there yet with the AF day, had 6 units last night paying for it today. It's going to be hard for me right now because of my divorce almost 4 years ago. Thought it was all behind me, now some legal issues cropping up, I am really upset.

Have to go for now, I'm at work. Take care!

Zippy