Congratulations! That really is something to cheer about!

Thanks, Jaba..Might need you tonight.

oh Steve are you pulling my leg? I think you want to hear me sing soft kitty so you can tape me and put it on u-tube...I cannot carry a tune! But if you are sick you do you my sympathy. Chicken soup always works!

Jaba

Slurping Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) as I type. Feel better already. Sorry to be big baby. Will be manly man tomorrow if all better.

I too thought you were faking Steve - sorry you were poorly - hope that you feel better today.

Deena - I didn't have an AF day yesterday but probably will again today.

Jaba PM'd me about something and also suggested I change my drink. The mere thought of not having Guinness to drink sent me into a panic! I could not believe how scary the thought of not drinking Guinness was ! I am going to have to give it some thought but it might be a good idea. Not sure what I would drink though - gosh, it does amaze me how worried I feel if I cannot have my Guinness - then wonder if I did drink something else, and cut way back - is it really helping me as the idea is that I stop drinking my drink? Or am I looking for a way to keep drinking it ? I am being confusing but I know that I mean ..... anyone any thoughts on what Jaba suggested to me ?

Hugs to all, Maggie x

That's a hard one Maggie. Especially because the taste and texture of Guiness is so unique. I suppose you would go for a lighter beer. But because that is ALL you ever drink I think it would be hard to do. I think if I tried to only drink scotch, which I despise, I just would not drink it, but it would have no effect whatsoever on reducing my desire for drinks I do like. I have heard others suggest switching, primarily to beer, though. And then one poster said he gave up Chardonnay because his wife said he was having too much of a love affair with it? That cracked me up as I have a bit of that love affair going myself. I am not faithful to Chardonnay though.

As for me, last night I feel I "overdid" a little (2.5 US Units, gin and tonic), and I do think it was in response to "forcing" the AF Wednesday. Who knows.

I did have the thought this morning that if we were going to have a group AF day, the best one for me would actually be Sunday. That is the day I struggle the most, and if it doesn't go well for me it ends up starting my week off terribly.

Good luck Maggie. XOXO Newlife

Steven, I don't even think we have a vietnamese restaurant in our area! But that sounds good. My go to is hot and sour soup and extra hot, that will put you in a sweat and open up your sinuses. My heart goes out to you for I hate having a cold in the fall, but you live in California and every day is nice!

Maggie, I am sorry I didn't mean to put you in a panic. Have you tried any of the new IPA beers? Sometimes they have beer festivals and they will have booths so you can try the different beers. But I don't think it's a good idea to switch if it is going to cause you distress. I did read on the options saves lives not to change what you drink. So keep on doing what you are doing.

Newlife, a girl after my own heart. I cannot even think about gin, and I knew better to drink it before STM. I don't know how you do it with different types al in the house. That would be like telling a kid they can eat everything and anything in a candy store....I would eat everything in the store even after I got sick! I am worried about over doing it after the a.f. days. I am on day three and I think I am more worried about over drinking again then NEVER drinking again. I do not want another nal. over...ever!

Jaba

Hang in there jaba. I'm not sure that forcing/white knuckling AFs is the way to go for me right now. I seem to be "slowing down" pretty naturally, and I think instead I will ride that wave. And, I think I can get some mileage and some easy AF days by just remembering how FANTASTIC the several days lately that I have been AF felt. Sort of build on the momentum.

We will all get there. Have a great weekend, all!! Newlife

Pho is my "go to" when I am feeling sick. There is a great Vietnamese place near us. When I walk in to order take out they call me "extra vegetables"

Maggie, red wine is my drink. Usually when I open a bottle and am alone, I finish the bottle. Then if I don't quite feel finished, I will have an "after the bottle is empty" nightcap of vodka or tequila. If I start out with a martini or some poolside party drink like a mojito or a margarita, I consider it an appetizer to my wine. I still want a glass of wine or two. Or three. It doesn't really seem to matter too much what I drink, once I have the first drink, I want to continue to drink. I don't think switching drinks would work for me, unless I switched to beer, which I don't really care for that much. My fear if I did that is that in a social situation where wine is served, like a wedding for example, would I go crazy because I haven't rid myself of the cravings? My good friend, however, who is the same way that I am with wine, has switched to either beer or gin and tonics and she is absolutely fine with two. She and I used to power through three bottle of wine together with no problem and now she has no interest. So, would switching from Guiness make a difference? I am not sure. Maybe if you drank something that didn't taste so good to you, you would drink less and the habit would change.

I had a situation last night after our alcohol free day that made me think a lot about my drinking pattern. I am going to post about it later on today on my progress thread so I can always find it.

I had not had an AF in a long time. I've gotten a little self-satisfied and complacent, I suppose, but I was quite surprised at the internal struggle over it. I really wasn't happy about it. Turned out not physically hard at all but I had to beech-slap my brain a little. I think it's a real good idea to have a regular day off. You guys are my best motivators. We can always opt out due to "conditions".
BTW...Just want too say (drama queen) that it has been real good for ME to learn to care about you all. Learning to maybe like people again. I get sappy when I get sick. Sigh. :l