How many HSMers have actually suceeded in accomplishing this goal, and for how long so far?

Im curious to know how being sober affects the drive and liklihood of quitting the fags. My first HSM goal was to “Not have a cigarette for 24 hours”. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without HSM and wondering what other people’s experiences are. If they are similar to mine?

Namaste

Leticia Xo

I am staying at a friends’ house tonight and we catch up – with beer and wine.

I have been overseas for 3 weeks on my first trip, back at work 3 and a half days and OFFICIALLY just got depressed.

I was already worried about tonight and if I could not drink and now that I have looked through my photos, am back at work and not enjoying it, I really want to unleash in that all too familiar way that I know so well.

Fingers crossed I can. Argh.

lesson learned – Rest and recovery -not drinking I have been taking up alot more in my days, which is a very good thing but I must remeber to take a break and let the body recovery even when my mind is ready to go.  starting to enjoy this way of thinking..

On Friday night we are having friends over for dinner.  I have already bought the wine – and a bottle of sparkling mineral water for me!  And I will not give in!

Chat tomorrow!

Jules x

The only alcohol I really missed was really good quality beer (not that that will mean much to you Aussies!)So, two months on from HSM I have taken to really enjoying and savouring a limited amount of really good beer about once a week. Not enough to give me a hangover or in any way affect the next morning, but enough that I feel that I am not missing out. HSM has, in effect done its job. It has assisted in changing my relationship with alcohol and opened up a new world of mental and physical well being and achievement.

HSM – Fantastic idea. I really hope the launch in London goes well.

PS – When I started HSM I did intend to submit regular posts. Problem was, I was busy doing all the things that HSM had facilitated so I didn’t have time to write my Blog.

It is interesting reading about external factors that prompts the cravings most of us feel we need to turn to alcohol.

This Tuesday past at work I sent out sensitive information which I shouldn’t have luckily the person I sent it to said they would keep it under wraps ;- yet the feeling of worthlessness and letting my work team mates down are overwhelming and the thoughts of drinking to “confirm” “suppress” these feelings creep into my thoughts every now then. Yet coming to this site makes me feeling just that little stronger to say NO to these cravings and to the feelings.

Reading the posts of others gives me strength to believe in myself and believe that as humans we all make mistakes and Alcohol certainly doesn’t solve them in fact it just makes it worst. Making mistakes is part of life, part of being a human they key is to learn from them and make them an opportunity to grow. Was this a test for me?

It almost alcohol denies us to be in the present which is where I need to be right now! And maybe the test was to see how I would react to these feeling suppress them or go through them?

Looking forward to the next 10 days

See you in a couple of days!! xx

I have been to lots of pubs, gigs, family meals, had family visits, restaurants, stressful days – all without having any alcohol. And I had just as much fun, if not more as I wasn’t worried about feeling shitty the next day or spending money that I just don’t have! 

I can’t believe how much I was kidding myself that I needed booze to get through nights out or after a stressful day! It may have made me feel better briefly but would only make me feel worse after probably making some dumb decisions and choices.

It has been a beuatifully warm, sunny day here so went and sat in my local park. I enjoyed the peace, the flowers, the warmth. I did not for one second miss sitting in a sweaty, loud, sticky beer garden full of drunk lobsters and wasps!! 

It is lovely to see all the new faces on HSM, I can relate to so many of your posts and reasons for taking a break – you can do it if you want it enough!

Firstly, I am worried that alcohol still has an immense power over me that I had hoped would have subsided by now. Not so much in the form of cravings, but as a go-to solution for almost anything. I had a really awful day at work today, working with a person who made me feel like everything I did was wrong (she does this with everyone). By 0830 she had criticised and rolled her eyes at at least 5 things I had set up for the procedure we were doing. And the day basically continued like that till 1600 home time. Everyone else was really good and had my back because they know what she’s like but it was still hard. And all day I had alcohol on my mind (not cravings, just thoughts)… how nice it would be at the end of a tough day, a reward for me for keeping my cool, a way to zone out and leave all that behind. I even commented to someone who asked how I was doing that “if I wasn’t off the piss right now, tonight’d be a big one”.

And then on the way home I stopped and checked my PO Box (which happens to be next door to a liquor store!) and found that one of my assignments had been returned and I had my first Distinction. Woohoo! Celebrate with some bubbles!

I love the clarity I have off the booze. It’s a feeling I’d like to keep forever. But I miss the relief that I get when I am into my third or fourth glass and the problems fade away till later, and nothing exists outside my little bubble for a while. I don’t kid myself that the relief is permanent, but it’s nice while it lasts. But I don’t know if I can have both… probably not. I still have another month to ponder it.

The trick, though, will be tomorrow night, since we might be having people over for dinner, and one of those people is bound to encourage us to have a drink. I don’t want to avoid having people over even if they will be drinking. I want to go through this test and see if I am strong enough to resist. There IS alcohol in the house, and I’m not going to throw it out just because we’ve got people coming over tomorrow. I’m just going to have to be strong and just say a very small, two-letter word: NO!

It’s amazing that I have reached the 10 day mark, writing the blog and reading everyone else’s certainly helps.  I am nearly at the stage where I will tell people what I am doing as I feel that I have passed the “well, of course everyone can do that” phase.

How am I feeling?  Just a couple of sneaky cravings this evening that were easily kicked to touch.  I am a bit tired though; 10.30pm is too late for someone who was at a boot camp class at 6.15 this morning!  No more classes this week – that would be a bit too much of a shock to both my system and to the family; even the dog is wondering what the heck I’m doing up at that time of the morning. 

Have only told one person of my plans to stop drinking for a month, will be interesting to see how long it takes my friends to notice, I am guessing not long…..I am normally the life of the party and known to love my wine but it really is time for a change and taking a break from drinking is the best way for me to move forward and I already know it will be tough but very rewarding!!

The only time I thought about alcohol today was while I watched a DVD.  As soon as I saw a glass of wine, I instantly thought “I should pour myself a glass”.  But NO!  No vino for me today … I have stayed loyal to the cause.

My big concern is the coming weekend.  I hope I get through it OK.  I know I will feel so much more confident with a week behind me.

Much strength to all us HSMers!

At 3am on Saturday I was in the toilets of a central Auckland bar. On one side of my stall a woman was violently ill as a friend held her hair out of the firing line. On the other side, another was on her cellphone. She was sobbing and hysterical – but at no point could I understand a word she was saying. Very messy, and I can’t say I haven’t been in their shoes in the past.

That’s when I realised my decision to stop drinking for 12 weeks was a good one.

The start of my sobriety comes after a weekend of carnage, and a weekend I doubt my liver will forgive me for in a hurry. On Friday night the annual media awards were held – and there was certainly no holding back on the bubbles, pinot noir or shots of God knows what.

The madness continued on Saturday. After a hen’s party and a night out dancing and full on girl’s night with one of my best mates Sarah, who was up from Christchurch especially, Sunday was a bit grim.

Head pounding, stomach churning, voice cracking, entire body aching, wallet completely empty and feeling like I’d been hit by a bus, I spent most of it either scoffing greasy hangover food or lazing about on the couch. Utter slothfulness.

It was an epic hangover and not really one that I want to repeat in a hurry.

As I wasted the day I thought about all the other days I’d been in the same position – in pain, miserable and barely functioning – and all for the sake of a few drinks.

But for the next 12 weeks there won’t be a hangover in sight. I’m hoping that by sticking to the old Diet Coke and playing sober driver I can use my weekends for good instead of evil and make a few more healthy changes.

Some don’t think I can do it, others don’t want me to. But when I think of the money I can save and the other things I can do with my time – I’m ready and definitely willing to give it a crack.

All the best for your Wednesday night wherever you may be, we are nearly over the hump:)

Best wishes

Jem

I come from a family that likes to drink… often.

Im not really sure how much I want to share at this stage but I have gotten to day 2. An hour ago it was hard – really hard – not to have a glass of wine.  But now I just cant be bothered.

Two years ago I was stoked when I got to day 3. Since then I have become a \’tad\’ more aware of the fact that since then, I have drunk everyday… every single day.

I like to read and follow and it makes me fee better but for now its hard to diverge more about myself.

But for now… Day 2 done! 

Tomorrow is another tale but until then

I did the re-think with my youngest son.  He’s 16, still at school, and he’d spent yet another day slogging it on foot going from shop to shop with his CV looking for part-time work, with no luck.  So we went out for a (non-alcoholic) drink down by the river at Greenwich.  We put our worlds to rights, watched the city lights come on as the dusk became a late spring night, watched the world go by. 

What I love about my life re-think and plans is that my current job now looks different.  Same job, but now it’s a means to an end, not a dead-end. 

And a big thank you for the positive vibes and words of encouragement yesterday — that was really nice!

(Day 61 I think)