ALCOHOLICS: RECOVERY & FITNESS (Serious Only Please)

[supy]

I can be around other people who are drinking for short periods, but I remove myself from the situation as soon as I can.

I can be around people drinking but usually put a time limit on it and am always with my wife on these occasions.Usually after an hr. the stuff that the drinkers think is funny isnt that funny when your sober.

[thepainter5]

I can be around people drinking but usually put a time limit on it and am always with my wife on these occasions.Usually after an hr. the stuff that the drinkers think is funny isnt that funny when your sober.

The only thing funny about it is that all the drunk people think it's funny.

[chodan9]

No way I could ever drink in moderation. Never really could.

same here

never really figured out why someone would want to control there drinking LOL

If I tried to control my drinking I couldn't even enjoy it.
But when I did enjoy it, it way usually wildly out of control.

[vindex1963]

never really figured out why someone would want to control there drinking LOL

And that is the difference between the drunk and the drinker.
I'm a drunk that thought I was a drinker. I thought I was in control.
I thought I was the life of the party. I was nothing more than a drunk.
Today my life is good.....real good. I hold that as being very dear. Myself
and my fellow alcoholics that were sober today must embrace it.
Today was a good day.

[mickyb55]

And that is the difference between the drunk and the drinker.
I'm a drunk that thought I was a drinker. I thought I was in control.
I thought I was the life of the party. I was nothing more than a drunk.
Today my life is good.....real good. I hold that as being very dear. Myself
and my fellow alcoholics that were sober today must embrace it.
Today was a good day.

I was having this discussion in another thread on the board. I don't believe that a drunk can ever control their drinking. There is no such thing as moderation to the hard core. I know myself, I tried several times the moderation approach. Each time, using some lame excuse, but NEVER admiting I had a problem. I think I told you guys that I used to work on a charter fishing boat with a buddy of mine. I was the social director so it was my job to keep the booze flowing and the party going. I remember one time one of our female guests had complained to my partner that I was drinking too much. Well, that nite, I told my partner that if the guests were thinking I was drinking too much, maybe I should slow it down a little bit. Well, I did hold to my plan ... for one day. That first day, I dd take it easy and had only a few drinks. The next day was a far different story. I couldn't tell you this first hand because I do not remember the day and night at all, but I woke up the next day in a jail cell. Apparently, I had a few too many on the boat and carried it into the pub, and challenged a bunch of sailors to a fight. I must have held my own but the owner didn't like the fact that I threw someone through the window of the bar. I spent 2 nights in jail and came out swearing off booze. That only lasted for a day.

Moderation was not a strategy that worked for me nor do I think it will work for anyone with a real drinking problem. Anyone without a drinking problem shouldn't even have to consider moderation. I would imagine that's the definition of social drinking.

I usually don't like to share my drunken past as frankly, I am embarassed by it. But, I feel so strongly about this topic that I wanted to share my own twisted experience. Hope you all accept my words as I intend them.

[bjc12]

No way I could ever drink in moderation. Never really could.

I fully agree. My statement was just theoretical question, if those that think that they are no longer addicts/alcoholics could they use in moderation. I believe this would be the true test as to if one can be "cured".

With the life that recovery has offered me I actually doubt that i would go back to using even if i could with success, though i can't say. For now i still take things just for today, and if i ever get to that point i can decide then

[GreenWave1]

Happy Monday folks. I hope everyone had a fun and sober weekend.

[chodan9]

Happy Monday folks. I hope everyone had a fun and sober weekend.

I did!

good to be sober today!

[vindex1963]

Happy Monday folks. I hope everyone had a fun and sober weekend.

Great weekend. Over my cold and ready to hit the weights.

[mickyb55]

Hi folks -

I haven't been around much lately but wanted to check in and say that yesterday I celebrated my 7th sober St. Patty's day! I hope all of you had the same success.

I don't remember many St. Patty's days in my life prior to 7 years ago. Most of them started with a beer or some other type of beverage and didn't seem to end for a couple of days.

Yesterday, was spent with my girlfriend at a local restaurant with many friends. We were the sober ones enjoying the corned beef and cabbage.

[vindex1963]

Hi folks -

I haven't been around much lately but wanted to check in and say that yesterday I celebrated my 7th sober St. Patty's day! I hope all of you had the same success.

I don't remember many St. Patty's days in my life prior to 7 years ago. Most of them started with a beer or some other type of beverage and didn't seem to end for a couple of days.

Yesterday, was spent with my girlfriend at a local restaurant with many friends. We were the sober ones enjoying the corned beef and cabbage.

The beauty of corned beef and cabbage is you can enjoy it the next day also.
Congrats of lucky 7.

[billrich210]

The beauty of corned beef and cabbage is you can enjoy it the next day also.
Congrats of lucky 7.

I have to enjoy cabbage in moderation or my wife makes me sleep on the couch!

HAPPY SOBER FRIDAY!!!

[boathead]

good stuff people! keep it sober today!

[BackwoodsGa]

Sometimes I run into friends that have not seen in years, people that drank and maybe sometimes did other things but did not have a problem with drugs and alcohol. I'm talking about people that I new from like 15 to 25, good friends some of them roommates but were always together,hanging out. Well when I run into them they always want to hang out again or go have coffee. I never do because even though we had good times together it was not a happy time for me, I dont remember a lot of things from that time and I'm not the same person anymore. These are good people, but when I got clean and sober some of the thing I used to like I dont anymore, things like music, TV show and things like that and im kind of afraid I might feel the same about them. Its like going to hang with people I once close with and had good times but unsure why or what they were. Anyone else feel like this?

i know exactly how you feel!Ive been clean and sober since 92 and i still see my old friends around but..ive had to call'em quits.You gotta sever all old ties to move on,after all...the past has passed.

[BackwoodsGa]

good stuff people! keep it sober today!

Its the only way to fly bro!

[BackwoodsGa]

I was having this discussion in another thread on the board. I don't believe that a drunk can ever control their drinking. There is no such thing as moderation to the hard core. I know myself, I tried several times the moderation approach. Each time, using some lame excuse, but NEVER admiting I had a problem. I think I told you guys that I used to work on a charter fishing boat with a buddy of mine. I was the social director so it was my job to keep the booze flowing and the party going. I remember one time one of our female guests had complained to my partner that I was drinking too much. Well, that nite, I told my partner that if the guests were thinking I was drinking too much, maybe I should slow it down a little bit. Well, I did hold to my plan ... for one day. That first day, I dd take it easy and had only a few drinks. The next day was a far different story. I couldn't tell you this first hand because I do not remember the day and night at all, but I woke up the next day in a jail cell. Apparently, I had a few too many on the boat and carried it into the pub, and challenged a bunch of sailors to a fight. I must have held my own but the owner didn't like the fact that I threw someone through the window of the bar. I spent 2 nights in jail and came out swearing off booze. That only lasted for a day.

Moderation was not a strategy that worked for me nor do I think it will work for anyone with a real drinking problem. Anyone without a drinking problem shouldn't even have to consider moderation. I would imagine that's the definition of social drinking.

I usually don't like to share my drunken past as frankly, I am embarassed by it. But, I feel so strongly about this topic that I wanted to share my own twisted experience. Hope you all accept my words as I intend them.

i landed in the pokey several times,picked up an assault charge lost several jobs before a called booze quits.its a matter of will and avoiding certain types of people and places.

[BackwoodsGa]

No way I could ever drink in moderation. Never really could.

Nor could i.if i had 2 id have 20 and end up binging.The only way for me is to not take trhat 1st drink.

[BackwoodsGa]

I have to be honest, I do not understand the I hope part. You have 8+ years in already and you have learnt that by not taking the first drink, there isn't the need to recover. So why then would you not be able to say, no way in hell am I going to drink tomorrow?

Perhaps, and please guys don't take offense, that is the one short coming of AA because if I am correct that way of thinking is part of the program. When I quit 20+ years ago, I was a really bad addict. In fact the drug counsellor told me I would need meetings 7 days a week and after a year or two maybe I would do with just 4 or 5 days. By the time I had gotten out of my 3 month residential treatment I had seen many people whose bottom was different from mine and I refused to go back there, ever. It is the same determination I put into lifting/running/MA. I have no quit, I refuse to give up. Now I see your profile and I can't imagine you giving up in the gym let alone saying, I hope I can lift that weight tomorrow, even though you have lifted it time and again over the last 8 years.

I know we all have different lives/experiences and I try to understand others, which is why I share my experiences and ask questions. Without questions there are no answers and I mean no disrespect to anyone.

Very well said bro!bravo.

[thomashenry]

I will have 25 yrs of Sobriety tomorrow, without ANY mood or mind alternating substances, NONE ! I havebben through all that life has been able to throw at me up to & including this past Wed Burying my 24 yr old Daughter ! due to suicide, I have not been compelled to escape into the darkness that drugs and alcohol hold for whatever reason, primarily due to the grace of God.
I guess anyone can rationalize escaping into the abyss of drugs & alcohol if they Choose, or accept reality even as harsh as it can be at times, afterall it is LIFE, and at times it is damn hard & unforgiving, but the flipside is beautiful and promising, staying sober is easy, dealing with all that life has is difficult, but being accepting is the key at least for me, accept and deal with it, move on, learn, it will be different, it gets better and it gets bad, but it always changes, nothing stays the same, the only constant is God FOR ME--------------- STAY SOBER, WALK THE WALK, IT IS WORTH IT, I AM RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE

[BackwoodsGa]

I will have 25 yrs of Sobriety tomorrow, without ANY mood or mind alternating substances, NONE ! I havebben through all that life has been able to throw at me up to & including this past Wed Burying my 24 yr old Daughter ! due to suicide, I have not been compelled to escape into the darkness that drugs and alcohol hold for whatever reason, primarily due to the grace of God.
I guess anyone can rationalize escaping into the abyss of drugs & alcohol if they Choose, or accept reality even as harsh as it can be at times, afterall it is LIFE, and at times it is damn hard & unforgiving, but the flipside is beautiful and promising, staying sober is easy, dealing with all that life has is difficult, but being accepting is the key at least for me, accept and deal with it, move on, learn, it will be different, it gets better and it gets bad, but it always changes, nothing stays the same, the only constant is God FOR ME--------------- STAY SOBER, WALK THE WALK, IT IS WORTH IT, I AM RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE

Congrats on your success!ive found the only to combat this weakness is by positive living and staying as active as possible.

[vindex1963]

Another great day. Got tons accomplished. I didn't kill a 12 and sleep all day just to do it again. I like days like today.

[thepainter5]

I will have 25 yrs of Sobriety tomorrow, without ANY mood or mind alternating substances, NONE ! I havebben through all that life has been able to throw at me up to & including this past Wed Burying my 24 yr old Daughter ! due to suicide, I have not been compelled to escape into the darkness that drugs and alcohol hold for whatever reason, primarily due to the grace of God.
I guess anyone can rationalize escaping into the abyss of drugs & alcohol if they Choose, or accept reality even as harsh as it can be at times, afterall it is LIFE, and at times it is damn hard & unforgiving, but the flipside is beautiful and promising, staying sober is easy, dealing with all that life has is difficult, but being accepting is the key at least for me, accept and deal with it, move on, learn, it will be different, it gets better and it gets bad, but it always changes, nothing stays the same, the only constant is God FOR ME--------------- STAY SOBER, WALK THE WALK, IT IS WORTH IT, I AM RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE

Words can not convey my sympathies for you, over the loss of your daughter. Like you do, I do know that God is the place for you to find comfort and I will pray for you and your family.

Congatualtions on your 25th anniversary, that is a huge accomplishment.

May God continue to bless and strengthen you until He brings you home.

[vindex1963]

I will have 25 yrs of Sobriety tomorrow, without ANY mood or mind alternating substances, NONE ! I havebben through all that life has been able to throw at me up to & including this past Wed Burying my 24 yr old Daughter ! due to suicide, I have not been compelled to escape into the darkness that drugs and alcohol hold for whatever reason, primarily due to the grace of God.
I guess anyone can rationalize escaping into the abyss of drugs & alcohol if they Choose, or accept reality even as harsh as it can be at times, afterall it is LIFE, and at times it is damn hard & unforgiving, but the flipside is beautiful and promising, staying sober is easy, dealing with all that life has is difficult, but being accepting is the key at least for me, accept and deal with it, move on, learn, it will be different, it gets better and it gets bad, but it always changes, nothing stays the same, the only constant is God FOR ME--------------- STAY SOBER, WALK THE WALK, IT IS WORTH IT, I AM RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE

I can't even imagine what you're going through. Your strength and wisdom is there for all of us to learn from. My heart bleeds for you my friend. I have no other words.

[BackwoodsGa]

I can be around other people who are drinking for short periods, but I remove myself from the situation as soon as I can.

This is my approach as well.

[thomashenry]

9125 days , one day at a time, if I can anyone can, it is a choice

[BackwoodsGa]

This thread really holds heavy in my heart as ive mentioned..ive been sober since 92 but,i have siblings that are still drowning in alcoholism.I lost my older brother in 06 due to this sickness and at the rate its going my other 2 remaining siblings are hell bent on joining him.ive found the only way is one day at a time and never take that 1st drink.I find comfort in knowing that ive beat this illness and something will eventually do me in but it sure as hell wont be alcohol.

[Dont Judge Me]

I went to the St. Paddy's Day parade yesterday. Mississippi has like the 2nd largest parade in the nation or something like that. First time I've been there sober. I was with people that were drinking. Normally I wouldn't associate with non sober people at an event like that, but I had a pretty legit reason. My cousin was in town (don't see him too much).

I had a lot of fun and didn't even think about drinking. I felt pretty empowered. I saw a lot of old acquaintances. It felt good saying no thanks I don't drink anymore. I saw a few sober friends too. Pretty good experience. Feels great to be sober today!

[bjc12]

I will have 25 yrs of Sobriety tomorrow, without ANY mood or mind alternating substances, NONE ! I havebben through all that life has been able to throw at me up to & including this past Wed Burying my 24 yr old Daughter ! due to suicide, I have not been compelled to escape into the darkness that drugs and alcohol hold for whatever reason, primarily due to the grace of God.
I guess anyone can rationalize escaping into the abyss of drugs & alcohol if they Choose, or accept reality even as harsh as it can be at times, afterall it is LIFE, and at times it is damn hard & unforgiving, but the flipside is beautiful and promising, staying sober is easy, dealing with all that life has is difficult, but being accepting is the key at least for me, accept and deal with it, move on, learn, it will be different, it gets better and it gets bad, but it always changes, nothing stays the same, the only constant is God FOR ME--------------- STAY SOBER, WALK THE WALK, IT IS WORTH IT, I AM RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE

congratulations. my thoughts and prayers are with you

[bjc12]

back in outpatient when no one had much to discuss, "what did you do for your recovery today" was always brought up for a topic. so lets here it what did you guys/gals do for your recovery today?

[supy]

back in outpatient when no one had much to discuss, "what did you do for your recovery today" was always brought up for a topic. so lets here it what did you guys/gals do for your recovery today?

Prayed and read 24 Hrs A Day upon awakening then got in a workout. Just came back from a Big Book Meeting and now its sleepy time