ONE YEAR minus 30 lbs!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 207
ONE YEAR minus 30 lbs!!
Hi Everyone - I have ONE YEAR sober today. Wondering if there are other August 2010ers out there who also have one year this month? If so, please come and say hi. In addition, I have lost 30 lbs. over the year and am in much better shape.
My year began with daily AA meetings and support here on SR (actually it was people here who helped me over my fear of AA). As I found my sobriety legs I sought out other activities to keep myself busy - even if it was just walking the dogs. Joined a yoga class and basically changed my routine up. And yes it has not been easy and sometimes I had to push myself out the door but always felt better for it. After a few months I stopped going to meetings as I filled my time with other activities. However, AA was critical to my early recovery - this is what I did different this time to make sobriety work. I strongly believe that if sobriety isn't working you need to try something different.
The day I quite drinking I also began dieting and after several months my weight loss was noticable so I told friends I has doing a healthy diet and not drinking for now. I decided not to consider moderation until I had 1 year sober. Now at 1 year I have the wisdom to know that moderation won't work. I can go out to dinner and be better company without drinking. Gee, who only wants 1 or 2 glasses of wine - it was all or nothing so why would this be different today? Answer is, it wouldn't - if you have to try to control it it already is not under your control. But I was not ready to give-up the idea of moderation for many months because I couldn't imagine the alternative, i.e., living sober. But the more you do it the more you realize you can do it and life is even better sober.
So for those of you just starting out or somewhere under one year - stick with it, if you have thoughts that you can drink "normally" - don't!! It helped me to give it one year and then when you get here you will realize like I did - you can actually live sober and enjoy life.
My year began with daily AA meetings and support here on SR (actually it was people here who helped me over my fear of AA). As I found my sobriety legs I sought out other activities to keep myself busy - even if it was just walking the dogs. Joined a yoga class and basically changed my routine up. And yes it has not been easy and sometimes I had to push myself out the door but always felt better for it. After a few months I stopped going to meetings as I filled my time with other activities. However, AA was critical to my early recovery - this is what I did different this time to make sobriety work. I strongly believe that if sobriety isn't working you need to try something different.
The day I quite drinking I also began dieting and after several months my weight loss was noticable so I told friends I has doing a healthy diet and not drinking for now. I decided not to consider moderation until I had 1 year sober. Now at 1 year I have the wisdom to know that moderation won't work. I can go out to dinner and be better company without drinking. Gee, who only wants 1 or 2 glasses of wine - it was all or nothing so why would this be different today? Answer is, it wouldn't - if you have to try to control it it already is not under your control. But I was not ready to give-up the idea of moderation for many months because I couldn't imagine the alternative, i.e., living sober. But the more you do it the more you realize you can do it and life is even better sober.
So for those of you just starting out or somewhere under one year - stick with it, if you have thoughts that you can drink "normally" - don't!! It helped me to give it one year and then when you get here you will realize like I did - you can actually live sober and enjoy life.
:day2
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 221
Congrats to you! After quitting drinking, I managed to lose 20# by adding up my calories each day and keeping to a cal budget. Honestly, I have my program to thank for both, not drinking and not over eating.
Congrats again!
Congrats again!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 207
Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments and support. This is exactly why SR is so helpful - people really understand because we are all going through similiar experiences trying to turn our lives around. We are here to find support, provide support, learn from each other and not be judged.
SSIL - You are only 3 days behind me - so congrats to you Tuesday and I see you will be joining the One Year and Over Club so hope to see you there!!
SSIL - You are only 3 days behind me - so congrats to you Tuesday and I see you will be joining the One Year and Over Club so hope to see you there!!
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