95 days sober - what finally worked for me

[Wintercat]

95 days sober - this is the longest I've been sober in a decade. The thing which clinched it for me was I decided to do a 30 day healthy eating challenge in March which included nutritious food, meditation and movement/exercise. When I started it, I honestly was not even thinking it would help me remove alcohol from my life, in fact I figured if I could go one week without alcohol that would be a big victory for me....but then I just started feeling great with everything I was doing. I hardly think about alcohol anymore. I started learning about nourishing my body, mind and spirit. I lost a total of 30 lbs so far and feel amazing. It's a lifestyle change for me. I love waking up in the morning and loving myself for another day of sobriety. I do yoga almost daily now. I've heard people refer to it as "moving meditation" and I believe that...I always feel great afterwards and love how it challenges me. I'm thinking about getting my yoga instructor certification at some point. I'm a work-in-progress but feel I am conquering this! Instead of running from something, I feel I'm being pulled towards something inspiring, if that makes sense. I hope this post helps someone else or plants a seed. Wishing you all the best. Much love!

[LMR555]

Hello Wintercat!!

Way to go!! Congrats on your success. 95 days is awesome. I loved your comment....."It's a lifestyle change for me. I love waking up in the morning and loving myself for another day of sobriety. "

Making a change is a choice!!

Thanks for sharing your success.

LMR555

[martyr1987]

That's awesome keep up. The good work!

[turboharley]

I would be interested in doing this 30 day challenge. Is there a certain one you did?

[Woodswalker]

Sure, turbo, join us. We started June 1st but you can still join. We'll probably start another in July. Just come over to the journals tab and you can keep track there. Good luck to you!

[Wintercat]

Thank you! Smart Recovery always made me feel like I was not alone and to stop being so hard on myself.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you. Much appreciated! The best to you as well.

That's awesome keep up. The good work!

[Wintercat]

I would be interested in doing this 30 day challenge. Is there a certain one you did?

Hi Turboharley - the 30 day health challenge I did was unrelated to Smart Recovery or addiction, but it seems like there is something on this site according to what Woodswalker mentioned in their post. I'm not sure I'm allowed to promote something else so I hesitate to mention it unless a moderator gives me the ok. Anyways, I hope you were able to join the challenge the Woodswalker mentioned. All the best to you!

[LMR555]

Hi Wintercat,

Again Congrats on your success. I am glad that you find SMART Recovery site comfortable for you and you don't feel so alone. This Forum for success is really for people to explain how SMART Recovery was been helpful for their recovery or the recovery journey of a Family member for friend.
"Forum: Success Stories How has SMART helped you and your loved ones? Share your success stories with the world! "


So My question for you is how has SMART Recovery helped you in your recovery?

Thanks,
LMR555

[Shirl19]

Congratulations Wintercat! I just joined today and your message really resonated with me. I was previously participating in yoga three times a week and exercising about 5 days a week. Even though I was still using the prescription drug that I am addicted to, I felt great and fully participated in the world. As soon as I gave up those practices, everything has fallen to pieces for me. You have inspired me to get to my yoga class tomorrow, and with my first meeting on Thursday I’m hoping that I will soon have some good news to post about getting out of the house again and getting off this terrible prescription drug?!
Congratulations, and keep up the good work!!!!

[JeffCoE]

Great! I've been doing pretty well, but just binged the election. I've stayed away from alcohol (again) just four days now. I broke my sine in two places a year ago, and had resumed on again/off again relationship with alcohol. Your success inspires me to seek out a yoga instructor who can accommodate my condition, and by including abstinence in a healthier diet, to improve overall health!

[Anib]

Thank you all. Feeling a bit more inspired. I gave up alcohol for ten years and went back on it five months ago. I had a disastrous bing on Saturday and now I’m back. I will resume yoga this week. I feel very low today. My family are very angry with me. I will start today and started with smart recovery for the first time. Wish me luck!

[Boilrtmaker203]

Way to go, stories like yours inspire me to stay clean. I have 51 days in today from my addiction of cocaine and never felt better.

[Cerendipity]

Congratulations!!!! That is truly awesome! Your story is not unlike mine. Last year I did a 7-day water fast and after 27 years of being a pescatarian I decided to become whole food vegan (I had a *lot* of time to ponder this - and other things - during that week, as one could imagine). When I broke my fast, I decided quit drinking for 3 weeks. I just wanted to see how long I could go (that 3 weeks was the longest I'd gone without alcohol in almost 4 decades). After that 3 weeks I felt I had "earned" a glass of wine, and that I should have no problem moderating it from then on. .....Aaaaand that was the end of that. I went immediately back into my drinking patterns again (which was basically all day, every day). I think that was when I truly started to face the reality of my problem with alcohol. I realized I really had no control over it at all. It's now been 165 days alcohol-free. I 100% believe that my decision to change my diet to a WFPB one catapulted me to this place where I am now where alcohol has zero place in my life. I was literally doing everything else on the planet to only put "clean" things into my body, buying organic, etc etc, and the irony of poisoning my body with alcohol just slapped me in the face. It was literally making me sick.

Whatever you're doing - especially working towards the yoga certification - is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing!!

[RSH85]

Congrats! You are on your right way!
Personally, I have been sober for over a 10 months already. Before that I used to be an avid drinker. When I started it, I honestly was not even realizing it would help me remove alcohol from my life, in fact I figured if I could go one week without alcohol that would be a big victory for me....but then I just started feeling great with everything I was doing. Staying sober is awesome. If you need a third party help, do consider rehab programs like addictionresource they have alcoholic anonymous hotline (for your convenience, here is the link addictionresource.comor any other in your area. I really hope this post helps someone else or plants a seed. Wishing you all the best. Much love!

[yogi1045]

hello everyone I'm new here and looking forward to meeting new friends and making some headway on my sick addictions. I have convinced myself its ok to drink a little bit. I know in my heart its not right nor is it fair to the other people in my group," I'm in a recovery home in az have a great opportunity to do some good things here my sick thinking is going to ruin it though if I don't recognize the problem I'm going to cause for myself if I continue to drink I'm a former meth user, so I'm justifying my drinking by telling the lie to myself that I can just have a few beers and be ok.. When I know me. soon ill be tipping the cans everyday and eventually ill get in a mess. anyone have the same screwed up thinking as I have any words of advice ? I don't even know if I'm in the right place to be saying this I'm kinda lost on where I should be any help would be greatly appreciated . Thanks Kevin

[JETS2020]

Kevin, I'm 22 days sober from opiates and alcohol. I too had thoughts like, "well I'm off the bad stuff so I'm going to drink". The problem for me is threefold: 1. I know if I go back to drinking I will eventually go back to drinking in the morning and calling my dealer. 2. I've been drinking for 40 years and I know there is a light at the end of this PAWS tunnel. I owe it to myself to live a clean life if for no other reason than several recovering addicts say how good they feel and would never go back to that way of life. Finally, by hanging up my drinking and drugging cleats- I like to think of this as a retired player- I will save more than 2k/month. All the best.

[JETS2020]

Anib, best of luck to you. You should feel proud of your 10 years. So you slipped. You're human. Get back on that horse and feel better again.

[Berget]

"Hanging up my drinking and drugging cleats".....that's great, I'll add that to my positive self talk. Thanks Kevin

[Berget]

Yoga is medicine for my mind....so what don't I consistently include yoga in my day. 15 - 20 minutes in the morning can dramatically improve the overall quality of my day. I am committing to yoga tomorrow morning. Thank you for the posts involving yoga!

[MPM69]

Hey there ... I think you said it "I'm justifying my drinking by telling the lie to myself that I can just have a few beers and be ok.. When I know me. soon ill be tipping the cans everyday and eventually ill get in a mess." .... I do the same thing... I clean myself up and then I let the beers back in ... at first just a couple here and there, then nightly, then full scale party every night. Meanwhile, when I'm not drinking/drugging... I feel good physically, I'm clear minded and productive, the sun is bright in the day and the stars shine beautifully at night. All is well! .... When I'm back in the groove of substance, everything gets dull and I feel bad about things... It really makes no sense as to why I, or we, do it. I guess it numbs out the things that I'm avoiding or am afraid of. BUT ..... I read something on this site yesterday and I'll see if I can find the statement and post it. Someone wrote: "When you make the decision to no longer indulge in alcohol and drugs... when you decide and commit to being done and remove it from your life ... YOU are in CONTROL! YOU make the decisions, you call the shots...." BY letting the beers in, you are risking your ability to stay in CONTROL.

Finally, I find I get bored with things and sitting down with my weed, beers, scotch and cigs is what I do.... Thing is I find filling time with positive stuff helps. GO for a walk. Read a book, listen to a book, listen to a podcast, garden, learn to play an instrument, volunteer, play tennis, golf, write a poem, watch a good tv show... JUSt FIND WAYS to engage yourself .... There is a world out there that is passing by, you have one life to enjoy and do something with. Give it a try. And when you wake up the next day after not using.... You'll feel good.

[Watermelonman]

Good point. Ive the weekend I drank and I felt like I was a ship without a rudder. I hate cliches but it is exactly how I felt - out of control. I used to think that I am a control freak. But the difference from when I don't drink and when I do is stark. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing to want to at least feel in control of your life. Thanks for the post man.

[Hagerty]

I am currently in rehab and it is making me feel hopeless. I just don't understand why i feel this way if i am getting the help that I need. I just have my homecoming dance coming up and its my senior year. I feel like im going to miss it because im stuck here. It just really pisses me off.

[AndrewDamian]

I am a new participant to SMART and I realize that you are living in the bottom left-hand corner of the CBA. I will use your post as a directional guide for me. Thank you for sharing your journey and thank you for helping me in mine.

[Alexendra]

Congrats You rock! The more sober time you get on your, the more you become confident in your new life.

[sjglen]

Hello MPM69. Im new here on SMART. And just learning to navigate around. I can sure relate to what you posted !!

[airport88]

Congratulations on your lifestyle changes, Wintercat!
It seems like you have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to win.
Keep up the good work and I wish you the best of luck in this new phase of your life!

[nightfae]

Glad to see that people are finding efficient ways for themselves to fight this addiction.

[nightfae]

Being sober it's always a good choice, no matter what.

[nightfae]

Some of the things which you described did work for me as well, and I am very glad that I managed to overcome this temptation to drink some alcohol. The hardest period is the first 3 weeks, at least this is how it was for me. I had a bad desire to drink some beer, vodka, or cocktails, but using all the tips and pieces of advice from https://www.theluckiestclub.com/resources/how-to-remain-in-sobriety-after-dry-january have been of a huge help in my fight against this addiction.