Yay Juners, so proud of all the good stuff happening here. Today was a better day for me aches and pains wise. Tomorrow is 50 days, feels kind huge... bring on the weekend. Hangin by the pool tomorroz with my love, my nephew.

Keep steppin forward everyone, we will rock this weekend sober.

Heh heh, they sure are :-) Can't remember the last one!

I've just been reading through the 12 steps for the first time and I've just had a moment of super clarity around step 4. All this time I've been blaming my drinking for all the of the rotten things I've done, not actually identifying any moral failings and shortcomings on my part.

Just as I found step one, admitting I had no power over alcohol liberating and a blessed relief, so too is this, perhaps more-so.

Okay, I think I found my new addiction - can't seem to get off this forum for the past few days! I'm with you, class of June 2014. :)

Day 9 sober...still 1 day at a time to keep on track. Got to socialise today where there'll be alcohol. Update later how it goes!

Third sober weekend and I'm feeling good!! Hope everyone has a wonderful day! :)

Well I passed my first time out with drinking friends, and it was great. I was totally cool with no drink beside a diet coke, and we had fun celebrating my birthday. Everyone was supportive to the extent of not buying me drinks even though they didn't quite understand why I wasn't on a summer Friday night, instead I received free dinner, which was way cheaper for them than drinks...lol.

Today the weather is amazing here in NJ, birds are singing and the sun is shining and the Temps are pleasant.

Wishing everyone a super sober Saturday. We got this, post if u need us, we r always here! Much love!

Afternoon SR people. Reading through it seems like everyone is doing ok which is good :-) Just been applying for jobs all morning, 1 more day at that hell whole and totally free. It is scary but a good scared, and I dare say it would be horrible if I were drinking right now.

I am starting my second weekend sober and have to say that this site and the people on here have been a Godsend to me. Today is day 14. I have been doing well but feeling a bit unnerved today. I have been getting asked how long I will be abstaining. They were supportive but just curious and surprised. I didn't want to get into the whole story so I said until after my city's annual 4 mile race. Now I feel as if I have lost some of my resolve. Yikes, it is amazing how alcohol has such a hold on me, after such a simple question as that.

Good morning everyone! I'm just checking in and wanting to wish you all a wonderful weekend. I am off to a meeting in a few minutes.

:Wburn

Hey all! Trying to get my butt off couch and outside for a run. Instead came here to check in. Still feeling like hiding in my house instead of facing the outside world. But....I gotta get out to enjoy that sun before the afternoon clouds roll in....ok here we go, 1,2.....

Day 3 here, feeling great. Hung out with friends who drink the other night, sipped my sparkling water, and had a much better night than when I did drink - could joke a lot, be on top of all conversations, and not slur by the end of the night.

What do you tell when you're not ready to admit your reason for stopping to drink? I live in a very judging/gossipy community and the news that I'm a wino would spread like fire. So far I've used fasting, cleansing, and medicine (antibiotic, etc) as explanations.

Feeling pretty good today, worked out took my boys to swim lessons, resting for a bit while they are watching a movie and then off to a bday party. I'm struggling with feeling bored without alcohol and feeling like I'm bored with my husband. After the kids go to bed we always watch TV catch up on what's going on with the kids, work ect. Sometimes we watch a movie but he's been tired. He's flipping a house and is exhausted by the time the kids go to bed. I'm usually tired too but I used to talk on the phone to a friend and drink a bottle of wine when this happened and now I feel a little lost. Still haven't had sex it's been since I stopped drinking. I initiate and just don't have the courage. I've talked to my husband about it and he said he will initiate so I don't have to but that hasn't happened! Hope this isn't too personal for anyone:)

Melki there are lots of diets that exclude alcohol. Many if the low sugar diets like "the belly fat cure" "the 17 day diet" ect. You could say your doing a cleanse or something?

Hereandnow2, keep initiating! It can be a lot of fun if you let it. I've jumed my husband many times when I felt the urge to drink and it's been an ongoing joke of ours. :) It can be fun to plan the night in advance, anything to get out of the rut.

Yes, it's been an easy excuse for me in my sober stages, because I am quite health-conscious when it comes to food and exercise. I may just say that not drinking has worked best for me in the long run.

When I'm too shy, or insert whatever, to explain to people the most important reason why I've stopped drinking, I usually tell them that drinking wasn't workin for me. That I felt more rested and over all so much better not drinking. Or that I was getting bored with drinking. Or that it was exacerbating my allergies (sulfates in wine) or wreaking havoc with my pms (I get this only works if you're female). And if someone is still needling me for a reason, I very politely and resolutely tell them that I'm glad alcohol is working for them but it's just not my thing at the moment. Thankfully, it rarely reaches the point where I've had to say that.

Just tried rock climbing at this indoor place, made it up a couple of the easy walls and was proud of that (easy is a misnomer, they were still damn hard for a beginner!). My forearms are killing me! This is an activity I never would have done while drinking, trying some new things over here. I had a surprisingly strong urge to go to the bar last night, but I thought it through and got past it. Day 21, feeling great that I didn't drink.

Hope everyone is doing well!!!

rachelle77, thank you, this helps a lot!

Day 15 here. Morning was tough...coffee pot died. :( R.I.P. my friend...

Doing ok otherwise. Sleep and eating still an issue, but feeling good. Beats a hangover any day!

Just wish someone would pass on that burst of energy they get...I have alot to do! Will at least get my walk in and run out and buy a new coffee pot. :)

Have a great, sober Saturday all!! :)

So event I had to go to today went fine, not even tempted. Lots of alcohol, but didn't even miss it. l guess it helps that the OH barely drinks at all. We did something similar last weekend and he had a few beers but he didn't even enjoy them, just a novelty for him that he wasn't the driver for once!

l also exercised again today, first time I've not been too hung over on a Saturday to work out in years.

Melki, I know what you mean about what people will say to you not drinking. People are going to eventually notice the absence of a drink in my hand at events. So far I've been using the driving excuse. When that gets old I'm going to say diet. I've piled on the pounds over the years of excess, to the point I'm now morbidly obese. Everyone knows alcohol is the worst for calories so it's not even a bad reason. Funny, I've tried every diet going but never limited drinking calories, they were too important, even though they made me fat.