pugluver

I am wondering about what ya'll did after quiting drinking as far as a replacement. My typical routine starts at 4pm with a glass of wine.....

Dee74

you mean things to drink?
Anything non alcoholic that isn't reminiscent of wine is good

I drank a lot of pop but I wouldn't recommend that LOL.
Soda water is good...just find something you like

Have you tried varying your routine? If 4pm was your 'time' make sure you're doing something else then - get active at 4 - don't sit down with a drink

good luck
D

Taking5

read a book.
watch a movie
go for a walk
clean the house


the list is endless.

Anna

There is an endless list of things to do.

There is a sticky at the top of the forum with a long list of things to do.

For me, I went walking and it helped me on so many levels.

bananagrrrl

I drink light cranberry pomegranate juice and V8 light fusion juices quite a lot.

I like to catch up on projects around the house that I was too lazy and drunk to do before.

I need to get back into beading.....

Do you have any hobbies?

Astro

Read that sticky that Anna recommended, and get busy! Lots of fun activities to enjoy clean and sober.

As for a substitute to drink, I like soda water with fresh lime, diet sodas, Crystal Light, green tea, coffee, and bottled water. There's a whole bunch of fun "designer" sodas to try too. Check this out: Pop The Soda Shop - Over 1400 Soda Pop, Juices, Teas, Waters & Energy Drinks

smacked

Because it was also routine for me to pick up in the evening when my "day" was done.. I got my butt out of the house, and to the gym for a good hour or two to throw off my 'schedule', and come home and eat a big yummy dinner and go to sleep!

Skeeter2

I adjusted my eating schedule so I would eat something substantial mid-afternoon that kept me from getting that nice empty feeling in the late afternoon, so that first glass of wine could start a good buzz. (Total blood sugar thing.) I also drink DeTox tea or mint tea. In restaurants when everyone else orders beer or wine, I get my pot of tea and sip away getting as many refills of the hotwater as necessary to keep me drinking my thing while they drink theirs ...

Wolfchild

When the time came around that i was used to drinking at, i went to a meeting. When i felt a craving to drink, i called another recovering alcoholic. When i encountered a situation that i had used as an excuse to drink, i talked with my sponsor. When i started to feel some feelings, i shared about it with anyone who had one year or more consistently sober. When i didn't know what to do and no one was around, i came here and read through the threads.

tommyk

I used any activity that would get me out of my 'typical routine'.

justanothrdrunk

Prayer is a good replacement.

Missymae737

Hi,

In the very beginning of my recovery, I attended lots of AA meetings...I also came here everyday to share my ups and downs, and learn more about the disease of alcoholism.

What is important is that you find people that you can communicate with, regarding your recovery...

Exercise is also a great stress reducer, and a healthy diet...

jamdls

I ate MASSIVE quantities of M&Ms. I don't like soda so I just drink lots of water with lemon or tea hot or cold

Eck27

Its been posted many times already, but... EXERCISE! When you feel that craving coming on throw on some comfy shoes and go for a walk.. And walk till you feel that urge to drink go away.

Quse56

Meeting?

mle-sober

I couldn't replace my late afternoon wine with anything. Especially at first. Now, with over a year sobriety, I notice that I enjoy a tall glass of cranberry-grape-Pelligrino with a lime in the evening. If I had tried to do that when I was first getting sober, though, it would've triggered me, and made me want to drink, I think. In fact, I did tried (just remembering) and my 11 year old called me on it - said it looked like a substitute and it scared him.

I think you really do have to switch your routines around sometimes, like people say here. When you feel that need for a cold glass of something in your hand, drink a big glass of water and get busy doing something else. I got into Sudoku when I was first sober. It kept my hand and mind busy. Everyone's different. Experiment.

Good luck to you.

Walter

I used to walk straight out of work and into the liquor store for brandy..

Now, I chug sparkling water by the liter. Chewing gum helps if you're a non-smoker. Drinking coffee by day, tea by night, showering, watching movies. Get into a more normal sleep cycle. These are my useful tools to keep my hands off a bottle. Hell, sometimes I find joy in just doing the laundry or washing the dishes, as long as I'm staying sober.

1_day@_a_time

EXERCISE!

FIND A SPIRITUAL LIFE!

avoid sugar