Just popping in to say hi! Over 2 years sober!!
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
Just popping in to say hi! Over 2 years sober!!
Hello friends,
I've been busy with some legal stuff recently and sort of forgot about this place with everything that's been on my mind. I just wanted to pop in and say hi
Iv'e been busy in the background, i have come a looooooong way since those dark, desperate days of early 2014.
Here is how i'm doing coming into 2016:
- still alive, thankfully
- still sober ever since 02/17/2014, over 2 years now
- have lost around 80 lbs, and my knees feel much better! i'm hovering around 180 lbs right now, which feels "just right"
- i just "look better" in general, skin has cleared up a lot, and look skinnier compared to my previous chubby, double-chin "beer belly" former self
- completely debt free (at last!!), i even managed to pay off my student loans in full
- i sleep well every night, and haven't had the very disturbing "alcohol dream" since late 2014, so it seems the dark force has retreated back into the subconscious or gone dormant
- sitting on a nice bank account right now, my good decisions in 2015 have rewarded me well.... i estimate i won't have to work at all until at least 2018 if i did absolutely nothing from now til then
- i had previously posted about my borderline heart health numbers, i decided to cut coffee too see if that changed anything (process of elimination). I quit coffee for about a month, but noticed no real change in my numbers. So with that being ruled out, i just decided to resume my "morning ritual". What can i say, i love my coffee
I just wanted to post this as motivation for any newcomers here, don't give up!! you CAN make it to "tomorrow", you CAN make it to "the other side", it won't be easy, but is IS doable *if* you stick to it!!
Believe me, 2 years ago i was overweight, unemployed, and broke and deeply in debt (to the tune of almost $60k). To say i was "in bad shape" would be an understatement. Today, i actually have a positive net-worth for the first time since age 18...... imagine that!
Remember guys, you never know what's "around the corner" in life..... so just keep going and stay positive.
Thanks once again for all the support since i joined, i was so clueless early on and this site helped me so so much .....
I've been busy with some legal stuff recently and sort of forgot about this place with everything that's been on my mind. I just wanted to pop in and say hi
Iv'e been busy in the background, i have come a looooooong way since those dark, desperate days of early 2014.
Here is how i'm doing coming into 2016:
- still alive, thankfully
- still sober ever since 02/17/2014, over 2 years now
- have lost around 80 lbs, and my knees feel much better! i'm hovering around 180 lbs right now, which feels "just right"
- i just "look better" in general, skin has cleared up a lot, and look skinnier compared to my previous chubby, double-chin "beer belly" former self
- completely debt free (at last!!), i even managed to pay off my student loans in full
- i sleep well every night, and haven't had the very disturbing "alcohol dream" since late 2014, so it seems the dark force has retreated back into the subconscious or gone dormant
- sitting on a nice bank account right now, my good decisions in 2015 have rewarded me well.... i estimate i won't have to work at all until at least 2018 if i did absolutely nothing from now til then
- i had previously posted about my borderline heart health numbers, i decided to cut coffee too see if that changed anything (process of elimination). I quit coffee for about a month, but noticed no real change in my numbers. So with that being ruled out, i just decided to resume my "morning ritual". What can i say, i love my coffee
I just wanted to post this as motivation for any newcomers here, don't give up!! you CAN make it to "tomorrow", you CAN make it to "the other side", it won't be easy, but is IS doable *if* you stick to it!!
Believe me, 2 years ago i was overweight, unemployed, and broke and deeply in debt (to the tune of almost $60k). To say i was "in bad shape" would be an understatement. Today, i actually have a positive net-worth for the first time since age 18...... imagine that!
Remember guys, you never know what's "around the corner" in life..... so just keep going and stay positive.
Thanks once again for all the support since i joined, i was so clueless early on and this site helped me so so much .....
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by fantail 
Thank you, I'm having an iffy night and this cheered me up.
Congratulations on all your accomplishments!
Congratulations on all your accomplishments!
I'm very familiar with those "iffy" nights myself. I know that feeling....
I find chamomile tea works good for calming the anxiety, it's a mild substitute compared to drugs or alcohol but it's safe and cheap. Simple chamomile tea helped me get through a good chunk of 2014. I still use it fairly often as a sleep aid.
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
I forgot to mention for newcomers, but PLEASE don't quit on your own!! That was a big mistake i made, i had a very scary 2 weeks with very little sleep and my blood pressure was through the roof, felt like my friggin heart would explode it was pounding so hard. Probably the 2 longest weeks of my entire life......
No but really, if you are currently a heavy drinker you should seriously consult with your doctor or some kind of specialist before you quit. Quitting alcohol is very dangerous depending on how dependent you are. Ironically and as strange as it sounds, drinking probably won't kill you (your body has adapted to it), but quitting abruptly just might.
No but really, if you are currently a heavy drinker you should seriously consult with your doctor or some kind of specialist before you quit. Quitting alcohol is very dangerous depending on how dependent you are. Ironically and as strange as it sounds, drinking probably won't kill you (your body has adapted to it), but quitting abruptly just might.
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by fantail
I'm at 7.5 months... hanging in there! Chamomile tea actually sounds perfect right now. The best thing to do with an iffy night is put it to bed.
I tried some sleeping pills in 2014 including ambien to try and cope with the insane insomnia i was experiencing, but the side-effects left me feeling like a zombie. I tried it a few times, but didn't touch those pills again.
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Posts: 793
I hear you Grubby. I had a resent hospital stay and they force fed me...Yogurt ! :-)
I love it now.
This tea was recomended to me and and I figured...why not. I was amazed at the Relaxing, soothing effect I have with it.
I'am trying not to get hooked on the tea now !...but it has to be better than a case of beer a day for the last 17 years, so I'll stick with it for now !
DD
I love it now.
This tea was recomended to me and and I figured...why not. I was amazed at the Relaxing, soothing effect I have with it.
I'am trying not to get hooked on the tea now !...but it has to be better than a case of beer a day for the last 17 years, so I'll stick with it for now !
DD
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: South Australia
Posts: 12
Grubby thank you so much. I have just started today and I needed to see this so much, especially after previous failed attempts. I am literally bawling my eyes out here, just wondering if this can be me in two years' time. Well I know it can be, it CAN BE.
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by DuhDave
I hear you Grubby. I had a resent hospital stay and they force fed me...Yogurt ! :-)
I love it now.
This tea was recomended to me and and I figured...why not. I was amazed at the Relaxing, soothing effect I have with it.
I'am trying not to get hooked on the tea now !...but it has to be better than a case of beer a day for the last 17 years, so I'll stick with it for now !
DD
I love it now.
This tea was recomended to me and and I figured...why not. I was amazed at the Relaxing, soothing effect I have with it.
I'am trying not to get hooked on the tea now !...but it has to be better than a case of beer a day for the last 17 years, so I'll stick with it for now !
DD
Definitely much better/safer than big pharma's sleeping pills. I still have my Ambien prescription bottle collecting dust in the closet somewhere, basically still full since i only used it a handful of times.
Beer is bad bad news, i gained a lot of weight from all them carbs. It's insidious because you don't even notice it really, it's all so subtle it just "sneaks up" on you. I remember i was 205 lbs.... then i was 220 lbs..... then i was 240 lbs..... then one day i noticed i was 265 lbs..... it's like "what happened??".
When you drink beer it's like you gain weight "without even trying".
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by ijustwantaname
Grubby thank you so much. I have just started today and I needed to see this so much, especially after previous failed attempts. I am literally bawling my eyes out here, just wondering if this can be me in two years' time. Well I know it can be, it CAN BE.
i commend you on deciding to make a change, it actually takes a lot of bravery to quit.
Just be warned, the dark voice (the "other you") isn't going to let you go so easily. Don't be surprised if you have lucid "alcohol dreams" early on and similar strange mental phenomenon. The corrupting power of alcohol should not be under-estimated. You must resist at all costs!
I trust you've at least talked to a doctor? Stay safe and take it easy.
best of luck
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,597
Originally Posted by grubby
Hello friends,
I've been busy with some legal stuff recently and sort of forgot about this place with everything that's been on my mind. I just wanted to pop in and say hi
Iv'e been busy in the background, i have come a looooooong way since those dark, desperate days of early 2014.
Here is how i'm doing coming into 2016:
- still alive, thankfully
- still sober ever since 02/17/2014, over 2 years now
- have lost around 80 lbs, and my knees feel much better! i'm hovering around 180 lbs right now, which feels "just right"
- i just "look better" in general, skin has cleared up a lot, and look skinnier compared to my previous chubby, double-chin "beer belly" former self
- completely debt free (at last!!), i even managed to pay off my student loans in full
- i sleep well every night, and haven't had the very disturbing "alcohol dream" since late 2014, so it seems the dark force has retreated back into the subconscious or gone dormant
- sitting on a nice bank account right now, my good decisions in 2015 have rewarded me well.... i estimate i won't have to work at all until at least 2018 if i did absolutely nothing from now til then
- i had previously posted about my borderline heart health numbers, i decided to cut coffee too see if that changed anything (process of elimination). I quit coffee for about a month, but noticed no real change in my numbers. So with that being ruled out, i just decided to resume my "morning ritual". What can i say, i love my coffee
I just wanted to post this as motivation for any newcomers here, don't give up!! you CAN make it to "tomorrow", you CAN make it to "the other side", it won't be easy, but is IS doable *if* you stick to it!!
Believe me, 2 years ago i was overweight, unemployed, and broke and deeply in debt (to the tune of almost $60k). To say i was "in bad shape" would be an understatement. Today, i actually have a positive net-worth for the first time since age 18...... imagine that!
Remember guys, you never know what's "around the corner" in life..... so just keep going and stay positive.
Thanks once again for all the support since i joined, i was so clueless early on and this site helped me so so much .....
I've been busy with some legal stuff recently and sort of forgot about this place with everything that's been on my mind. I just wanted to pop in and say hi
Iv'e been busy in the background, i have come a looooooong way since those dark, desperate days of early 2014.
Here is how i'm doing coming into 2016:
- still alive, thankfully
- still sober ever since 02/17/2014, over 2 years now
- have lost around 80 lbs, and my knees feel much better! i'm hovering around 180 lbs right now, which feels "just right"
- i just "look better" in general, skin has cleared up a lot, and look skinnier compared to my previous chubby, double-chin "beer belly" former self
- completely debt free (at last!!), i even managed to pay off my student loans in full
- i sleep well every night, and haven't had the very disturbing "alcohol dream" since late 2014, so it seems the dark force has retreated back into the subconscious or gone dormant
- sitting on a nice bank account right now, my good decisions in 2015 have rewarded me well.... i estimate i won't have to work at all until at least 2018 if i did absolutely nothing from now til then
- i had previously posted about my borderline heart health numbers, i decided to cut coffee too see if that changed anything (process of elimination). I quit coffee for about a month, but noticed no real change in my numbers. So with that being ruled out, i just decided to resume my "morning ritual". What can i say, i love my coffee
I just wanted to post this as motivation for any newcomers here, don't give up!! you CAN make it to "tomorrow", you CAN make it to "the other side", it won't be easy, but is IS doable *if* you stick to it!!
Believe me, 2 years ago i was overweight, unemployed, and broke and deeply in debt (to the tune of almost $60k). To say i was "in bad shape" would be an understatement. Today, i actually have a positive net-worth for the first time since age 18...... imagine that!
Remember guys, you never know what's "around the corner" in life..... so just keep going and stay positive.
Thanks once again for all the support since i joined, i was so clueless early on and this site helped me so so much .....
A very great post, G. You've given me inspiration.
And thanks for your message of hope. 
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