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10 Days

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 9

Thanks Lynn! I look forward to also being many months alcohol-free as you have done and I'm quite optimistic that this will be achieved given the relative 'ease' with which these first 37 days have gone compared to what I'd expected. I'm still not letting my guard down though.

These last few days the improved sleep has gone out the window thanks to a diagnosis of shingles on Sunday. However, it seems that it's fairly 'minor' as far as bouts of shingles go and after 4 days of taking the prescribed medication things are improving. But, not a lot of restful sleep for a few nights and I so miss that!!

I've been inside since coming back from hospital on Sunday but am going to go out for a short run today because it's sunny, clear, and crispy cold.

The other 'good thing' about shingles is that it sure takes your mind away from any thoughts about drinking!!

All the best to you as you continue your AF life :-)

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 347

Hello NSRunner and congrats on your successful journey thus far! I have read some of your post and can relate to the effect of alcohol and workouts. I too am an avid exerciser and could crank out a 40-50 min morning cardio session despite having 6-7 drinks the night before. 3-4 days a week that cardio session would be followed by an afternoon weight lifting session after work. It started getting increasingly difficult to complete those workouts and knew it was time to make a change; what I was doing to my body had to stop. On August 3 I decided to give myself a week off, that week turned into 2 then to 3 and here I am on Jan. 3 and still have not had a drink.

You mentioned in one of your previous post about your improved runs, that is great but what I have experienced is continued improved performance. After a month or two I too was very happy with my increased performance and thought how great it was. As time continued to go by the workouts continued to get better, another indication the damage drinking was doing to my body. I assume that the first few months of being alcohol free my body had other issues to deal with and as time went by it could then turn its focus to allowing me to work harder in my workouts.

You mentioned sleeping better in your post, I used to drink so I could sleep better (at least that is what I told myself). Since becoming alcohol free I have never sleep better! Is it not a wonderful feeling to workout, sleep well, and wake up refreshed? For me this has allowed me to continue on my path of being alcohol free.

I hope things continue to progress for you. For me there has been times of wanting a drink but that thought of better workouts and sleep have squashed that idea pretty quickly! Good luck and Happy New Year.

Lynn

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 9

Hi Julie - main things are that I'm sleeping much better and longer every night (and going to bed a whole lot earlier and waking up a lot earlier - and fresher!) and my weight is dropping quite quickly thanks to not pouring 1500 'empty calories' into myself on a daily basis. Feeling very, very good overall and have been pleasantly surprised at how relatively easy it has been compared to what I'd expected. Even the holidays weren't bad - and I was hosting family so did bartending for drinks/wine and it wasn't a problem at all. A couple of questions, but as I'd told all my family members beforehand it wasn't a surprise. They were all happy to see me not drinking I think, especially my dear 81-yr-old Mum! On Day 34 now and, from what I've read, should get even easier from here on in. It's all good!

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 286

Well done NSRunner! Christmas is a tough first to get through. How are you feeling as you move towards your month of sobriety? What changes do you notice?

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 9

Made it through Christmas celebrations with family and now on Day 28. Have been doing lots of running daily and continue to watch videos, listen to podcasts, and read blogs on becoming and staying alcohol free. Really enjoying waking up sober and refreshed each morning. It's all good! Of course, I continue to update my Diary here on AHC each day as well, and I have a written journal that I keep. It's all about doing the things necessary to maintain focus and not allowing 'sneaky thoughts' to come in. Looking forward to finishing a full month of sober!!

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11214

Great work! I am, again, very impressed.

You make a great point about us thinking others are more interested in our drinking then they actually are. Thanks for sharing that poing. Keep up the awesome work.

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 9

Hi Ashley - thanks! I'm continuing to spend at least a couple of hours a day reading, listening, and viewing websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, and audio books - this helps keep the need to stay sober high on my 'thinking agenda' through the day. I update my Diary daily on this website as well.

I'm doing regular 'treats' every two days and have been putting $20 into a jar every two days - plan is to get myself a new pair of snowshoes early in January to celebrate a sober December. The jar will continue and will be where I will go to get myself rewards for not spending money poisoning myself anymore.

So far, things are going very well. Even made it through a visit to a local favourite pub with my wife a couple of nights ago - very much enjoyed the meal and chat we had, only had two Diet Cokes, and didn't feel any urge to drink. I had gone through going into the pub in my head for quite some time before we went and had 'visualized' ordering a cola iinstead of my 'usual' pint and what I'd say to the bartender if she asked anything about why the switch. Luckily, the bartender is another runner and when she made a comment about my not having my 'usual' I just said that I need to cut down my weight for some long-distance races I'd like to do in the new year - she smiled and said "good for you" and that was that. I've read that we *think* that people are more interested in our drinking or not drinking than they actually are!

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11214

Wow!

Great work. It sounds like you are doing amazing - putting a lot of hard work into this. Be sure to reward yourself as well. Rewards are an important part of the quit process. How do you plan on rewarding yourself on the 30 day mark?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 286

Welcome NS Runner and congratulations on your 10 days. Those are very difficult days and you made it through. Such a heathy thing to do for yourself along with your daily exercise. Keep up the great work; it sounds like you have lots of tools to help you through the next 10 days. Best of luck!

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 9

I have had 10 sober days, which is the first time in too many years that I can say that. I've had many previous upto 15 day periods without alcohol, usually due to being in remote places without access to alcohol - but this is my first 10-day stretch with alcohol being in easy access.

Am feeling very good and sleeping well each night. Have been cycling, swimming, and running daily - some days all three in one day, but doing at least one of the activites daily. I've been long-distance running for 33 years and one of the many reasons to quit drinking was that it was really impacting my running and my enjoyment of it. When I was younger I could get away with heavy drinking and still doing quite well running - now at 56, that's no longer the case.

Am maintaining my diary here on AHC and reading sober blogs, listening to sober podcasts, and watching alcohol-related videos on YouTube - it all serves to keep my focus. I also think a lot about my drinking and sobriety while running - running has always been a great time for self-reflection, and now more than ever.

So, here's to the next 10 days!

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