nicole100

I have a problem. I am happily on my 7th day of sobriety and this is great. However, I am now assessing the collateral physical damage and am looking at myself like a stranger. I hate how I look. I feel like a fat, old loser. A year ago, I was 45 pounds lighter and looked pretty good.

I know I can work on my weight and all. But what do I do in the meantime?

I feel ill just looking at myself and mad at myself for allowing this to happen.

How do I get past this?

I am feeling confident about not drinking...but what on earth do I do about my physical self? I'm struggling a great deal.

MamaGoat

Just don't drink and everything else will work out in time.

justinJustQuit

yeah I've lost 10 pounds in 14 days. It will come off if you don't replace empty calories from booze with sugar and other junk.

I'm going through the same thing. A year ago, I weighed 200 pounds. Now I weigh 230. (I was 240 14 days ago) I look at my face and it's swollen still. My skin looks old. I hate it. But it took us a long time to get UNHEALTHY so it's going to take time to get healthy.

Mags1

Hi nicole you will notice a difference very soon now you have stopped drinking.

My skin was so much better, no redness, which I blamed on the menopause, but it's great, no flushed face, no blurry eyes, no bloated tummy. The positives well outweighs the negatives

Like MamaGoat says everything else dill work out with time, which is so true.

Tiptree

I realized I didn't get there overnight and so it would take some time. I accepted that, but also almost immediately started taking better care of myself, and felt GOOD about myself. The bloat will go, the extra pounds too, you'll be sleeping better, and things will just start looking better. It won't take that long. Most important is to Love and care for yourself now - you deserve it.

nicole100

Thank you!!!!!!!

kcvalentine

If you haven't already, start exercising!! I really think it's one of the best things you can do for yourself...especially in early recovery. Plus it will help you sleep. You'll be amazed how quickly your looks will turn around. Pretty soon your outside will reflect all the goodness and love on the inside. xoxo

instant

Nicole once you stop poisoning yourself things will gradually change.

Getting sober has taught me to be more observant and more patient. Early in recover I used to follow the phases of the moon it helped me keep things in perspective.

Now I don't drink- I am fitter, more relaxed, sleep better, am in normal weight range and look younger and healthier- but it took longer than a week

Notmyrealname

Look at it as a challenge. You have a long-term project to concentrate on. Lose 45 pounds, get in shape, take care of yourself. Set a year-long goal and work towards it. Gotta have something to keep you occupied, right?

I'm not just running my gums.. I am down 45 pounds from when I quit drinking in late June 2013. I set a goal, made a plan to reach that goal, and did my best to stick to the plan. Did I always succeed? Hell no! But I had more success than failure, and 75-80% is plenty good enough. It was a yearlong goal and I'm not there yet, but I'm on track.

I'm pretty sure that I can't do great, humongous things, but I can do little things. Heck, anybody can do little things. And via a lot of little things, maybe I'm capable of great things. Maybe you are, too.

Dee74

Hi Nicole

The way I looked at it was I didn't get myself into the mess I was in overnight - so I reasoned it might take a little while to get myself out the mess too.

Try and look at the long term - this is not how you will always look - if you don't want to

CAPTAINZING2000

Physical, mental and spiritual three componants I concentrated on.

reflection

Thank you for posting this question, it's so helpful for me to remember things don't change overnight. Be gentle on yourself, and like others said, set some goals and work toward them every single day. Soon you'll start to feel healthy in mind and body.

Cheydinhal

Very true Nicole - hang in there. I'm still dealing with the 20 pound weight gain I've had over the past year. See-sawing with my weight is one of the many things I'm so glad to say farewell to in my new life of sobriety!

I've also found that yoga has GREATLY helped to relax me and improve my feelings about myself, as have some workouts.

Pondlady

Try not to despair….keep things simple and don't try to accomplish too much too fast. Concentrate on not drinking, eating well and taking some walks. A year from now, you'll look and feel much better

FreeFall

It's important to be kind to yourself. I understand your frustration, I feel the same way. I quit back in July of 2012 and thought I would have concentrated on losing the weight and would be in a better place physically by now. I just recently got to a place where I can concentrate on exercise and I'm not there yet with the eating. I am noticing a difference, but it's just hard to do it all at once. Hang in there!!

malcolmsloan

I totally agree witth the insight that things will fall into place as you get further and further away from alcohol. Be patient, but don't lose sight of how important today, right now is. The "lenses" through which you view yourself will change, and other changes will follow.