Hi everyone,

I have made many new years resolutions over the years, I think I've resolved to lose weight for the last twenty odd! My target this year is alcohol, so I am seeing how many Days Off Grog I can have. I started on NYE day so will have completed sixteen by the end of the fifteenth. Is anyone doing this? If you want to do it with me, just post your number of days. Anything else is optional.

Kind regards, John.

Hi John!

Great thread! I am excited for you and whoever else is doing this (Neil?) . I am counting with you!

Go DAY 17!!

Anny x

A quote:-

There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet. -William Frederick Halsey, Jr

Hi Everyone,

Just one more day off grog yesterday, but a harder one. Lunch with a bunch of old workmates that I see about one every year or so. A lot of old stories. Venue was a pub. I drank soda water.

I can proudly say I am on my eighteenth day now.

Cheers!

Hi John, 

DOG 19! 

Can I ask you ? What was the catalyst in the past to losing your resolve? 

Hope you're feeling good. 

Anny x

 

Hi John

Yes, I'm in with you for a while - I commenced on January 2nd;  as I still had beer in the fridge (with a use by date of 6 hours) on New Year's day.

So with today being the 18th Jan;   today will be my 17th DOG day.

I'm aiming to go for all of January;   then with February kicking in and the Cricket World Cup on, I believe it high time some amber liquid be consumed.

Over the last 6 years, I have managed between 170-180 DOG days;  with the exception of last year.  Was only in the high 60's.   I compete in Natural Bodybuilding Comps and they take place each Sept/Oct;   so from early May (my birthday), I go off grog completely, till after the competitions.  Hence why I have been able to chalk up so many DOG days.  The exception being last year, when I didn't compete.   No goal you see.

But for January, I'm getting in now, cause of my lack of discipline for last year and I think I simply needed a huge dry out period.   It's funny though, cause I've had a couple of mornings where I've woken up with a headache and hangover like symptoms.  Not sure why, cause I'm also averaging about 4 litres of water each day also.  So it's not because of dehydration.  Anyhoo, who knows?

So yep, I'm in with you for the time being.

Also, MEGA KUDOS to you for the other day when you met up with some mates and IN in a pub.  I honestly think that would have been possibly too much for me.  But gee, you must have had an awesome feeling later on to know that you were able to achieve what you did.  Freakin' amazing man.

Cheers (with water)

Neil

 

Hi Neil,

Thanks for coming on board and for your support. Hilarious that you had a beer with six hours life left.

I will try to stick with it because I want to lose some weight and booze not only isn't good for that, it also stops me taking opportunities to exercise. If I east dinner I may be inclined to go for a walk afterwards. If I have a drink with it, I won't.

I'm hoping some people on other quests sign on, weight loss, drug free, gamble free, etc.

Anny, my resolve was lost because I am an alcoholic. High functioning but an alcoholic none the less. Sometimes I couldn't remember the last day I didn't have a drink. It will kill me if I don't stop. It is a slippery slope for me, I start off having one drink and next thing I'm knocking over a bottle of spirits in a night. Time to act!!

Today is day nineteen for me, bring it on!

Cheers. John.

Hi John,

You have to do this ! There is no turning back now. I really should not be staying in this forum ( my own issues) but to hell with it , helps me too- I am going to stick with you until you can say - yep - I USED to be dependant on alcohol to solve my problems but now I'm not. 

Sorry all - even if I misunderstand you at times, say the wrong things or just plain be annoying because I don't know what it's like . Addictions is my problem too but I guess they're all different in their own ways. 

John , I asked what weakened your resolve because I want us to think about it ( me too) and mentally prepare. I think we need to constantly remind ourselves of why we are working so hard to beat our addictions. We need to constantly be ready in advance for that weak moment . You didn't lose your resolve because you are an alcoholic , something? A situation ?must have happened. What are the chances that it happens again?

Can we remind ourselves every day ? Obviously I'm not an expert and again I apologise if I'm way off being helpful - I'm a bit of an over analyser . I agree with Neil, this week you were amazing! You have proved that you can do it so please please believe it! We are all supporting each other.

You have to do it differently this time. Give us a reason like you just did as to why you need to stop as often as possible . Make sure ( even if there is more than 6 hrs left - yes, pretty funny Neil) you dispose of any temptations ! Do whatever else you need to do - you know what that it.

Keep that phone on you at all times - remember the drill - feeling weak - want to have a drink - fine , we start counting again the next day - but you must post first! :-)

Anny ( Annoyer) x

Hi Neil,

Body builder and you can still drink alcohol , that's incredible. You must have the capacity to work pretty damn hard! How can you get that much water down you? Can we get some free diet tips? 

Congrats - 17 DOG !!  Maybe this year you can enjoy the cricket too without any grog and wake up feeling really great on your birthday in May....

Just a thought. 

Annoyer x

 

 

Hi John

Admiring all of you here.  Tony wK

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow will be a big challenge for me. My middle daughter Jessica is the one that we lost to SIDS at eight weeks old. Tomorrow would have been her sixteenth birthday and my usual strategy for that trigger is to drink myself to numbness and have a little cry over what might have been.

This year I will be sober in honour of her memory and focus on if she had been here I wouldn't have been getting drunk for her 16th birthday, but rather fussing over her and celebrating her future.

Here's to ignoring the triggers!

Cheers. John.

Good on you for preparing John! 

dear John, Anny and Neil, I have to congratulate all of you for your dry-out period, red and white blood cells shaping up again, turning around and going through the booze bus a few times, only joking, but by stopping the alcohol it brings your platelets back into balance and these are important because if they are all messed up it can cause a stroke. Well done. Geoff.

Hi John,

No one knows for sure what might have been or what will be in life but yes one thing is for certain , 16 yr old girls do not like their dads being drunk at their party! 

I too will raise a glass ( mineral water ) tonight in honour of the special birthday.

 Hear , hear DAY 20 is for Jessica!

 Love Anny x

P.S

If you feel like talking about Jessica please do. I'm sure we would all like to hear about her .

x

Hi all

 

Just to clarify John – there were actually 8 beers that had that six hour expiry date on them!    :)

 

And I agree with you 100% - taking up with a drink, the inclination to go for a walk after dinner is nigh on impossible;   whereas, if having DOG days, it is so much easier to get out for a stroll.

 

In my first week off the grog, I lost 900g.   Week two saw me lose just 200g.   So this week, I might ramp up my cardio a bit more – but it does generally go like that;   if you have a lower week, the following week will generally be a good reduction.  I think it’s all to do with the body workings/metabolism etc, catching up and getting rid of the unnecessary body parts (my nicer terminology of the word, “fat”).

 

Oh and Anny, it’s funny to read profiles of bodybuilders;  when it comes to their favourite drink.   The most common answer is either water;  or say a protein shake of some description;   sometimes a female will respond with a nice glass of white wine.   If I was asked it’d be either:   James Boags, Budweiser, Crown Lager or VB.   :)   :)

 

John, I will raise a glass of lemon iced tea tonight for your Jessica.

 

Kind regards

 

Neil

Hi John ,

Just wondering how you are doing? 

Anny x 

Hi Anny,

Thanks for asking. I am keeping busy today and not dwelling on my angel too much. Still not drinking and plan to keep it that way.

Others have sent their kind thoughts, also, and Neil will have a lemon iced tea in her memory tonight.

She would have been such a beautiful young lady by now. (Now I'm crying a little bit, but still on the water!)

Let me know on your other thread how you went today!

Kind regards, John.

Hi John, Neil , Tony and Geoff ( hope I haven't forgotten anyone ) and anyone who would like to join me in my goal. I am joining in the count.

I have just downloaded a new app . It's a meditation app called " headspace". They will be 10 min sessions and counted daily. 

I am going to start tomorrow and hopefully will post my numbers . I need to do this every day to quiet my heart and my mind. 

Will keep you posted . 

Anny x

Hi folks!

Well I went through the 10 min but was hopeless , think I remembered what I was supposed to be doing about 8 min into it - yesterday after I posted I did the first one and due to novelty was much better - will get there . So day 2! 

John- DAY 21!

Have lots to say but am in a huge hurry this morning . 

Neil??

Have a good one !!

Anny x

Hi all

 

I hope you got through yesterday ok John – I did raise my glass last evening and hoped that you were doing the same, perhaps with iced water or something similar.  And during those times, yes, it makes the abstinence just “that much” harder – so over the past week, you’ve had the memory of your beautiful young daughter, not to mention the session at the pub with your mates to cope with.  And cope with, you have and brilliantly so.   I can really see you keeping this streak going for a long long time now.

 

Another day ticked off for me;   today will be Day 19.

 

(I will make a quick proviso here though – and I think Anny has touched on this previously as well – that no matter who is doing this and how many days they’ve gone for;  that IF something comes along and there is a slight glitch for a day [or maybe a few more];  then that is absolutely fine and the number count will just commence again, when the process begins again.   I think the thing to think on with this is that, for whoever of us who is doing this – and the days chalk up;  but then something pops up and we have a little ‘drink’, we can always begin again;   and to know that prior to the little glitch, that the body has been grog free for X number of days and for that, the health process is all smiles and thank you’s for doing that).

 

Anny, great that you’re getting on board – albeit with a different quest, but a quest taken on is brilliant and I’m glad you’re able to share with us.  I also think the sharing part helps as well – to make us not only accountable to ourselves, but to others too.

 

Cheers with water,

 

Neil

Hi!

Thanks Neil and well done day 19!! Meditation is something I believe is life changing but difficult to make a habit of. I've tried over the years a few times without success- yes being accountable should help. As you say though and I agree , if one day it doesn't happen well we are all understanding , we start again. Knowing that is helpful as it can be a negative thing to feel too much pressure , that's what I find. 

John, yes I agree . You have had such a challenging week and you  did it! Amazing ! What I want to say now is how about you do something to reward yourself , a different guilty pleasure to boost up the reserves! We only have a certain amount of willpower quota I think and yours should be hitting the red by now. I don't know - spend too much money on something ( a special gift maybe) , eat some of that banana bread you like ? You know what I mean - you need to balance all the hard work a bit or you will burn out... Just my strategy I want to pass on. 

Anny x

Day 21, aka three weeks, draws to a close! 

Good morning!

Day 3 of my meditation attempt! 

Look forward to your numbers today or tonight. 

Anny x

Hello , it's the Annoyer! 

Are we on track?

John - 22 

Neil- 20

? Am I right? 

Hope you guys aren't having a beer in front of the telly whilst I am sitting here countng your DOG! 

Anny x

I'll be starting day 23 in one hour!

Hi!

Good on you John! 23! 

Being accountable made me sit and attemp my meditation this morning - I came really close to giving it a miss - with the excuse that " I'll do it later" - wouldn't of happened. So thanks! I am terrible at it but hopefully will master it. The app is really good - talks you through the 10 min and every day is different. It sent me an email this morning with some info , this is a section of it :-

In fact, research using brain imaging techniques suggests that structural changes in brain areas associated with regulating emotions appear after 6 hours of meditation.**Tang, Y. et al. (2010). Short‐term meditation induces white matter changes in the anterior cingulate.

So , yes day 4 - is it 66 times they say it takes to make a new habit ? I'm going to need every one of them! 

I await your numbers. Stay focussed guys. 

Anny x

 

Today will be my 21st day in a row – which some might even say that it’s also been 3 weeks.

I feel as though another two weeks are on the cards for the time being;  but we’ll see, whether I go longer than that, but I’m thinking two more weeks and then enjoy some during the Cricket World Cup.

Neil

Hi Neil,

Doing great! At this rate 2015 is going to have a good number next to it! I trust you haven't bought any " fresh" supplies yet? 

Anny x

Hi (and bye) Anny,

Good luck in your journey.

Kind regards, John.

Hi Anny

No fear - will power is ok, but is not phenomenal.  In that, I can't be having any of that sweet nectar in the cooling device in the kitchen, otherwise, well, 'nuff said.  I'll go purchase some in a couple of weeks.

ps:  John - what do you mean, (and bye to Anny)?

Neil