ALCOHOLICS: RECOVERY & FITNESS (Serious Only Please)

[PappaBear76]

lol only 16 days for me, but I have seen some change already. Anxiety levels down, more focused, head less cloudy. Going to the gym everyday minus a sunday is helping, strength is going crazy elevated and same with cardio levels. Only thing which is annoying me is I am coming out with a few spots and notice my skin is getting a bit dry on my face, bought a moisturiser for that though. I suppose this may be toxins coming out of my body as I am eating "healthily" every day. Anyway else notice any changes in there skin after stopping?

I started dry heaving one night like a cat coughing up a hair ball and just couldn't get the alcohol out. The next morning, (a few hours later) I went to the sauna and tried to sweat that mess out. Needless to say when I eventually started sweating all that junk my skin started burning, and I could smell the Bacardi and Rum, Vodka, Jack Daniels and case of beer that had been consumed the entire day before. By the end of the sauna session I felt worse that I did the night before. When I left the gym people had thought I was in an accident or a fight because my face was swelled up and my skin was all a mess. My face stayed messed up for a few days and even though I had not drank anymore I could still smell alcohol occasionally. Eventually GALLONS of water cleared all of it up. Had stomach problems and all that before it was said and done, but after those few days and Gallons of water my skin appeared better than it did before this instance.
Drink a lot of water!

[PappaBear76]

interesting monologue from Craig Ferguson.

Very insightful man. Awesome post

[Blacksmith80]

14 months sober! I can even live with unlocked bottles of hard liquors inside mu house (just for rare guests) , and dont even think about them. I'm now down to only one prescribed drug (only one pill before bed). I'm getting socialized, slowly but I do. I have plans.
And I was the worst kind of drunkard. So, if I can everybody can. Good luck to everybody and God be with you.

[backisassuk]

Dunno how many times I am gonna have to keep thanking you pappabear for all the info, but thanks again lol. That sounds pretty intense. I think my skin is slowly getting better. I drink around 5 litres of water per day along with coffee(in the morning and/or before the gym). I have started using a moisturiser 3 times a day and can see a bit of a difference between Monday and today. It is like little small red blotches and dry skin, but my skin doesn't seem to be dry or as dry since Monday but I am still coming out in the odd pimple on my chin or around my nose area. All's good though. Funny thing is I was feeling great for the first two weeks I came off and quite hyperactive and in this third week my mind seems a bit cloudy and I don't seem to have the same enthusiasm but it comes and goes. Don't know if this is my brain readjusting or whatever. But respect to all you guys.

To Blacksmith congratulations mate and it's amazing you can do that with the unlocked bottles . Keep going

[EjnarKolinkar]

Dunno how many times I am gonna have to keep thanking you pappabear for all the info, but thanks again lol. That sounds pretty intense. I think my skin is slowly getting better. I drink around 5 litres of water per day along with coffee(in the morning and/or before the gym). I have started using a moisturiser 3 times a day and can see a bit of a difference between Monday and today. It is like little small red blotches and dry skin, but my skin doesn't seem to be dry or as dry since Monday but I am still coming out in the odd pimple on my chin or around my nose area. All's good though. Funny thing is I was feeling great for the first two weeks I came off and quite hyperactive and in this third week my mind seems a bit cloudy and I don't seem to have the same enthusiasm but it comes and goes. Don't know if this is my brain readjusting or whatever. But respect to all you guys.

To Blacksmith congratulations mate and it's amazing you can do that with the unlocked bottles . Keep going

Ride it out, roll with the punches, don't worry too much. Most sober women I know refer to AA as a beauty shop. Most guys I know that are sober look much better than they did when they started. It's a big adjustment, physical and mental stresses. I just try to do what I need to do today, and try not to worry too much about the rest.

It's like a big construction project. It's a huge stadium your building. You lean back and look at the whole thing and get up tight about how it will all get done. Then you remember you can only put one bolt in at a time. When your just working on the one little bolt in front of you, it seems easy, like anyone could do it.

Thank you. I will definitely think about these things, and try not to beat myself up.

Good job, that's the only way. Your not alone with a relapse, In my case I finally figured out it was easier for me to get some help, make a call, do the stuff I should be doing, before I drank again, its just easier, and a ton safer than cleaning up after.

[backisassuk]

Ride it out, roll with the punches, don't worry too much. Most sober women I know refer to AA as a beauty shop. Most guys I know that are sober look much better than they did when they started. It's a big adjustment, physical and mental stresses. I just try to do what I need to do today, and try not to worry too much about the rest.

It's like a big construction project. It's a huge stadium your building. You lean back and look at the whole thing and get up tight about how it will all get done. Then you remember you can only put one bolt in at a time. When your just working on the one little bolt in front of you, it seems easy, like anyone could do it.

Great philosophy man. That is what I am doing, get on my knees at the end of the night and thank the Lord I got through another day and give me strength for the next day, take it at one day at a time. AaboutI say I am beginning to look better but just this week been feeling a little nervous doing things that the previous two weeks I didn't even think about.

[JRT6]

I bumped into another car in a parking lot yesterday and even though the damage was very minor (none to my car at all) it has brought some repressed emotions and shame out. I haven't been this upset in a long time.

[Blacksmith80]

I bumped into another car in a parking lot yesterday and even though the damage was very minor (none to my car at all) it has brought some repressed emotions and shame out. I haven't been this upset in a long time.

Don't fokus on that bro, your mids are F*in with you.

[BackwoodsGa]

Had a slip-up. It is 11:28AM and I am drunk. wtf?

Just except it and move on.It happens to the best of us.

[cowboybiker]

[BackwoodsGa]

Had a slip-up. It is 11:28AM and I am drunk. wtf?

Dont feel bad.i almost relapsed and wasted over 20 years of sobriety.ALMOST!

[BackwoodsGa]

Wishing everyone a safe and sober weekend.

[cowboybiker]

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200 Veterans, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it...?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the Veterans hands went into the air.

he said, "My Veteran friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special-Don't EVER forget it." If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it may bring. Count your blessings, not your problems.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

I'll quote the last statement...


Count your blessings, not your problems.



Great way to start the weekend!

[DesertDude11]

I haven't had a drink since Dec 31st. I quit drinking to enhance my fitness goals and accidentally found this strange sense of clarity. Now I am going through the beginning stages of divorce and moving into my own place next week.

A few nights ago, she popped open a beautiful, ice cold Coors Light in front of me then proceeded to go hang out with our neighbors/friends. I wanted nothing more than to fill each and every cell of my body with alcohol, then drugs, then go do crimes, then go kill myself.

Instead, I finished cooking dinner for the kids and went to a meeting. First meeting for me in 10 years.

Alcohol is one powerful drug! I know that if I opened the flood gates by taking a drink, only hell would come out...

[PappaBear76]

I haven't had a drink since Dec 31st. I quit drinking to enhance my fitness goals and accidentally found this strange sense of clarity.

Your story sounds similar to mine. You are on an awesome path that will enable you to enjoy a better life even with all the drama. When I began my journey to a better quality of life I went to a rehab to detox and show my circle of friends and family that I was serious about getting "my life" under better control. Everyone was "so proud" of me for taking that step. The night after I did my stay I was asked to take my closest of friends to a concert who assured me that there would be no drinking or anything going on. When I showed up to give them a ride, everyone last one of them were drinking or already drunk.
This was when I probably truly understood Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace

[chodan9]

You are on an awesome path that will enable you to enjoy a better life even with all the drama.

this is true
another plus is that drama eventually minimizes or goes away completely. That is one thing I enjoy about my life now, absence of drama. Dont get me wrong, life happens and there is some drama that goes with it.
But thee is no drama for its own sake. No manufactured or made up drama.

There are certain people who come to AA as addicted to drama as they are addicted to drugs or booze. Those people have a hard time maintaining sobriety. If you need to have an uproar in your life with people hurt and angry all the time, and you get an empty feeling when life isn't like that, you will have a hard time staying away from using again. Especially if you don't know that about yourself.

[209vaughn]

I haven't had a drink since Dec 31st. I quit drinking to enhance my fitness goals and accidentally found this strange sense of clarity. Now I am going through the beginning stages of divorce and moving into my own place next week.

A few nights ago, she popped open a beautiful, ice cold Coors Light in front of me then proceeded to go hang out with our neighbors/friends. I wanted nothing more than to fill each and every cell of my body with alcohol, then drugs, then go do crimes, then go kill myself.

Instead, I finished cooking dinner for the kids and went to a meeting. First meeting for me in 10 years.

Alcohol is one powerful drug! I know that if I opened the flood gates by taking a drink, only hell would come out...

Great job. Keep it up and stay in your meetings and you will keep growing and bettering yourself and becoming healthy with Gods help.

[EjnarKolinkar]

this is true
another plus is that drama eventually minimizes or goes away completely. That is one thing I enjoy about my life now, absence of drama. Dont get me wrong, life happens and there is some drama that goes with it.
But thee is no drama for its own sake. No manufactured or made up drama.

There are certain people who come to AA as addicted to drama as they are addicted to drugs or booze. Those people have a hard time maintaining sobriety. If you need to have an uproar in your life with people hurt and angry all the time, and you get an empty feeling when life isn't like that, you will have a hard time staying away from using again. Especially if you don't know that about yourself.

A little peace and quiet is the best situation. It does take some getting used to for some people. I had a barrage of health problems, a few surgeries, extended family crisis, a Layoff and 2 relocations of my assigned crew, plus deaths in the family in 2010-2012. I remember thinking how great it would be to just be bored for a few days. It was so unrelenting.

I find myself getting caught up less in the day to day BS as time goes by. It was hard to stay in the mindset at first. The more I do the mellowed out thing, the less desire I have to whack wasp nests with my stick. Hardest part I'd when I am "Right". Being sober and enjoying my days and evenings is just more important to me now. Don't want to give that up.

I guess what I am trying to say is if you do good stuff long enough it ceases to be a project from a sponsor, but a way of living you like better.

[PappaBear76]

I guess what I am trying to say is if you do good stuff long enough it ceases to be a project from a sponsor, but a way of living you like better.

Nice perspective Ej

[CatFunt]

I forgot about this thread again :S

Hope we are all staying sober brahs, I had a rocky time over Christmas and it led into a patchy January but I am feeling good. I need to get back to meets I've slacked off the last few months and it's hit me.

[PappaBear76]

I forgot about this thread again :S

Hope we are all staying sober brahs, I had a rocky time over Christmas and it led into a patchy January but I am feeling good. I need to get back to meets I've slacked off the last few months and it's hit me.

Hey man, its still early in the year! Glad your feeling better and a renewed self awareness may be what you needed.

[CatFunt]

Hey man, its still early in the year! Glad your feeling better and a renewed self awareness may be what you needed.

Thanks bro

Yeah I went 8 months clean with meetings after rehab but I've not been focussing enough on my sobreity, I quit cigs as well last year and this year I was really hoping to focus on my weight as much as possible but when I take my eye off of my drinking it bites me in the arse.

[PappaBear76]

Thanks bro

Yeah I went 8 months clean with meetings after rehab but I've not been focussing enough on my sobreity, I quit cigs as well last year and this year I was really hoping to focus on my weight as much as possible but when I take my eye off of my drinking it bites me in the arse.

Just one step at a time man.

[cowboybiker]

"Until we let go of our reservations, no matter what they are, the foundation of our recovery is in danger. Reservations rob us of the benefits that this program has to offer. In ridding ourselves of all reservations, we surrender. Then, and only then, can we be helped to recover from the disease of addiction."


Basic Text
6th. Edition, page 21

[BackwoodsGa]

"Until we let go of our reservations, no matter what they are, the foundation of our recovery is in danger. Reservations rob us of the benefits that this program has to offer. In ridding ourselves of all reservations, we surrender. Then, and only then, can we be helped to recover from the disease of addiction."


Basic Text
6th. Edition, page 21

Agreed!

[sy2502]

Hello guys, as I posted a hundred or so pages ago I have a family member with a drinking problem. I am so excited because yesterday he told me he wants to go to rehab!!! He's very overwhelmed on where to start from. He thinks the best for him would be to go to an in-patient facility where he has no physical access to alcohol. Do any of you have experience with this? Do you know of any facility in California? If you are more comfortable, feel free to PM instead of posting. Please, it's really important, I want to seize this breakthrough moment before he chickens out. Thank you guys.

[209vaughn]

Hello guys, as I posted a hundred or so pages ago I have a family member with a drinking problem. I am so excited because yesterday he told me he wants to go to rehab!!! He's very overwhelmed on where to start from. He thinks the best for him would be to go to an in-patient facility where he has no physical access to alcohol. Do any of you have experience with this? Do you know of any facility in California? If you are more comfortable, feel free to PM instead of posting. Please, it's really important, I want to seize this breakthrough moment before he chickens out. Thank you guys.

Yes I have a lot of experience with this. I went to a facility here in California. Which part of CA are you in?

[cowboybiker]

Hello guys, as I posted a hundred or so pages ago I have a family member with a drinking problem. I am so excited because yesterday he told me he wants to go to rehab!!! He's very overwhelmed on where to start from. He thinks the best for him would be to go to an in-patient facility where he has no physical access to alcohol. Do any of you have experience with this? Do you know of any facility in California? If you are more comfortable, feel free to PM instead of posting. Please, it's really important, I want to seize this breakthrough moment before he chickens out. Thank you guys.

It all depends on him and where he would feel more comfortable.
Where in Calif?


http://www.choosehelp.com/california

[sy2502]

Yes I have a lot of experience with this. I went to a facility here in California. Which part of CA are you in?

It all depends on him and where he would feel more comfortable.
Where in Calif?


http://www.choosehelp.com/california

The SF area would be better, but at this point anything will do.