I have been treating myself with all the money that is now in my account. I made a garden room, bought plants and thrifted cool items so my ‘hang out’ space is inviting, no booze allowed. I bought an instant camera and I am making a summer book of photos what I did, after a suggestion from Prudence. I get a mani pedi every once in awhile and take care of my skin, hair and nails to try to maximize what the change has been for me physically. I allow myself some carbs (sweets) once in awhile they help with the cravings. Good stuff helps.
Playing ping pong with my teenage son…..we laugh and laugh and laugh because I’m usually the one winning.
Also I enjoy reading Jesus Calling daily devotionals. If I find that I’m needing help or struggling a little bit, rereading that day’s devotional gets me over the hurdle.
I am just starting out and today is my last ever hangover. I have decided to treat myself every third month to a facial or body treatment. I am also going to join the leisure centre to do some fitness classes.
I have read through all the comments and envy you people the peace you have found! I am still a bit frantic, being newly sober. Here is a list I am making up on the fly:
– buy a new puppy; she is my treat for doing something right for myself
– buy a new book? So many of you on here seem to find comfort in reading
– garden, garden, garden–buy a pretty new birdhouse for the garden? Lots of new plants and run out even in the middle of the night and plant something to avoid drinking
– keep a jug of green smoothies in the fridge so I can have a refreshing sip whenever I want. I just drank 900 ml of “extreme green” smoothie recipe…oops. That’s 540 calories. Oh well
– keep some delicious snacks on hand…but what. Will think about that.
– start exercising. But what? A little run down the street at night? yoga?
I’m just looking online at buying myself some RayBans and then I’m going to fix up my car so that it doesn’t look like a drunk/crazy person has been driving it!
How about being honest ?
I’m an alcoholic and cannot drink responsibly
Or, I have an addictive personality and one drink will not be enough and I’m unsure when I will be able to stop, 1 day, 1 week, 1year I don’t really know so I’ll leave it this evening. But thank you for asking……
Then look at the faces
So this might sound a bit odd … but since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve really been enjoying dried fruit as a little snack/treat in the late afternoons as a little pick me up. Must be a sugar craving but the cherries are really good! 🙂
No -Cook Ginger Slice (gluten,dairy &refined sugar free)
2 Cups of unsalted nuts (I used almonds,cashew and Brazil)
! cup fresh dates (or dry soaked 15mins and drained)
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted or soft)
! tsp ground ginger
Process and then press into a lined swiss roll tin.
Chill in the fridge while you make the icing
ICING
3/4 C Soft or melted coconut oil
1/2 C honey
1/2 C cashew butter
3 tsp ground ginger.
Whizz up and smooth over with a wet knife or spatula
store in an airtight container in fridge or freezer until ready to serve.
I brought myself a `pandora’ bead saying `faith’ for my evolve (like Pandora) bracelet the other week, and this week a massage – yep i’ve gone all out, but don’t feel so guilty or would have spent it on wine anyway!
That’s a lovely idea 🙂 my Pandora only has room for one more bead and it’s reserved for my grandson due in July. Will get his initial. Then I am going to start an Evolve bracelet.
Searching the internet for nice recipes, making desserts, new little rituals like eating in the garden. Make simple stuff more fancy and luxurious, buying lovely fruits which i usually found too expensive in the past. Basically spoil yourself with lots of small inexpensive things.
Each week that I stay ahead of the ‘fray’ (alkie), I put $30 in a jar. Each month, I now treat myself to a nice mani/pedi….SO RELAXING, and when they offer that complimentary glass of vino, I ask for water instead. I leave the salon hydrated and relaxed, with jazzy hands & feet! Fellow sojourners, treat yourself well, be good to yourself, be PROUD of your decision, and don’t let any slip-ups sink your sub…..carry on~!
My sober treat has been a new skin care product each weekend. Something slightly expensive( saving so much money on the weekend not drinking!). People are telling me I look good lately. I like to think its a combination of no alcohol in my system and the new skincare products in my medicine cabinet:)
Chia dessert or breakfast or snack
I have a plan for sugar cravings. Got chia seeds? Shake them up in almond or coconut milk, throw in vanilla or favourite flavours, a bit of stevia, honey or coconut syrup, & voila, a gorgeous healthy treat to have with pure yogurt &/or cream, any fruits. Mixed with whipped cream & frozen berries, put in freezer, & voila, icecream, but with a powerful protein & nutrition hit. Love it
Just thought I’d share this gorgeous, and it truly is gorgeous, mushroom soup recipe I made this week following a pretty bad stomach bug I had where i couldn’t eat anything solid, but this was a bit more filling than tinned soup so I gave it a go. At the end of the recipe, I blended the whole thing into a smooth soup rather than with the chunky mushrooms in but that was only because after putting the 2nd batch of flour in, there were lumps of flour i couldn’t get rid of. I didn’t think it needed the extra flour so may well be worth just leaving that bit out if you want it chunky. But it is still beautiful as a creamy soup so either way you want to do it will be great still.
Cut the mushrooms into slices.
Melt butter in large frying pan. Add in onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook until onions are soft.
Blend in 2 T. flour and stir.
Add in the chicken broth and heat until slightly thickened while stirring frequently.
Stir cream with additional 1 T. flour and seasonings. Add in cream to soup. Heat to thicken while stirring frequently.
Serve and enjoy!
I have discovered online jigsaw puzzles. I do small ones – 100 pieces – which gives me a 20 minute burst of pleasure. Doing doing jigsaws is apparently very good for getting both sides of brain to work together and producing good brain chemicals. I certainly find it very calming and there are so many beautiful pictures to choose from – like chocolates in a box!
I’m going to try that. Lately, I’ve been playing this dumb-ass game named “Candy Crush”. It takes me to la-la’ville. Perhaps the jigsaw thing would be a little more appropriate, heh. xo
I too recently discovered jigsaw puzzles. They are fun and quite satisfying. Glad to hear they are good for the brain. I do some word games too. I think the games may be addictive and I’m okay with that.
My two eldest kids (10 and 8) have to read every day for school and I have to sign their diaries to say they’ve done so. So, we started a new little routine…. once the two babies are in bed, 7pm ish, I light candles in the living room while hubby and kids make hot choccie, then the four of us sit together in the living room, just for 20/30 minutes, reading our books and sipping our hot choccie. I absolutely love it. I’m ashamed to think that not so long ago I would be three quarters of a bottle down by that point.
My treat came unexpectedly: to be fully present in the evening after 5:30–to walk dogs in cool evening, read a book and remember it, and not wonder who I emailed or texted in the morning.
On a crasser note, calculated how much I spent in wine for a month and used it to buy an iPAD, with $ left over.
Love the fact you bought an iPad. I’ m finding mine great at 3 am when I can’t sleep and log onto this site. I did Dry July last year and sponsored myself. Worked out what my alcoholic consumption would normally cost in a month and did something way more useful with the money. Been with out booze 5 days this time. This time think I’ll treat me. Thinking about a pair of winter boots, really expensive ones.
My treat / reward for reaching Day 30 is a beautiful Bitossi ribbed glass tea mug ( with filter and lid) and a one cup stainless steel tea pot. Looking forward to trying out loads of new special teas – just for me!!
lovely treat, Im going to buy a new tea pot with a internal tea leaf strainer and buy loose tea leaves, I might wait till Christmas as im hoping hubby will get me one x
I’m trying to remember the things I like…..I have lost some of who I am in the fog I was in. Between being mum and wife, and hiding from myself by drinking – I’m really not sure who I am anymore. I know I am finding more pleasure in the simple, every day things. I hope that in time, I can be the person I am meant to be – whoever she turns out to be.
These words resonate even in 2018 for people like me. A lot has happened over the years and I realized I did for others to the sacrifice of finding out who or what I really am. What do I truly like or have interested in. Foods, clothing style, hobbies, etc. I have only just begun at 4, almost 44. Why is it so easy to give to others and do what others want….it almost is to selfless that it is selfish…does that even make sense? Day 6 for me today and I am just barely out of my fog
Your comment really hit home. I’ve been trying to understand what it is I’m going through in terms of losing my old self and becoming my “new” me. I used to have FOMO (fear of missing out) but now I have JOMO (joy of missing out) as I’m really tuning into ME and luckily, I am really liking who I am. I have the patience and the gratitude to move forward with this new identity; healthy, strong, loving and hopeful.
Wow That describes me too. I can’t remember all the little things I like…my life has been in a big fog. Im looking forward to find out who I really am without the booze 🙂
Deede
I also identify with your comment. I’ve known for a while that I lost myself but didn’t connect it to my drinking. How’s that for denial. One more reason to quit.
I know this is an old post, but, I am new to the site and your description is exactly one of the things that scares me about becoming sober…I have lived this way so long, I have forgotten who I am and even what I like…and what do you do with all of the time when you’d usually be drinking? I’d love to hear an update of how it looks to you now, further on. Thank you for sharing!
Yes I too can really relate to what you are saying. I too had a persona that I feel was clouded by drink and all the carry on that went with that. Plus it lasted on and off for 3 decades! I find it weird getting to know myself. I also find it scary that I can’t blame my drinking/hide behind my drinking and have to deal with feelings that seem so raw!………happiness included. All power to you and you are not alone x
I really relate to this comment so much of my identity was a party hard drinker. I was a guarantee for a party quite often by myself unfortunately, but like you I am finding simple pleasures wonderful! I am training hard and eating well and my mood has benefited 10 fold! I also am not sure where my new identity lies but I just know its not the big fat party guy anymore! Should I aim for a new persona or let one develop organically? whatever…i’ll be doing it healthy smile on my face.
I’m only on Day 5 but I can really relate to this. Felt today that I’m not really sure who I am without the wine! The day is soo long – what did I used to do to fill up the time (for me, I mean – not for others like hubby and kids) before wine came along? But I’m looking forward to finding out and rediscovering or inventing a whole new me.
MaryW5 years ago
Music!! I’m a music fiend now. I hook up my earphones to my phone and jam away while cleaning the house (hope no one EVER actually SEES this). I listen to the bubble hour while walking the dog….that’s a great treat. I listen to TED talks while walking the dog too. My dog is loving this! Treated myself to full body massage for reaching 30 days. Lots of baths, reading books, lunches with friends (never felt I could justify the cost/calories but SO great for the soul).
Well I can afford (price wise and waistline wise) to have a lot more treats in general now. I love going out for a morning tea of lattes and cake and sitting in the sunshine watching my children play and laugh. I love going on shopping expeditions and buying clothes I like that fit since I’ve lost weight from not drinking. I love feeling full of energy and getting to regular gym classes that I really enjoy because I’m not hungover. I love waking up to a clear head- that in itself is a treat..when for so many years the opposite has been true! I love reading books again. I now take the kids out to all sorts of places I never did before..like the library, the park, and the market, because I am thinking of them instead of myself and my addiction. So then, my treat is seeing my children happy…I could not hope for anything more really! Feel so blessed to be sober and have my life back.
I am 12 days sober and already I have a completely different contact with my children, like you say it’s about them and not me and my addiction….
Lovely post..Thanks
I am reading Allen Carr’s book on alcohol and “The Signature of All things”; having hot chocolate in the evening while watching ONE episode of a series I follow instead of 4 while smoking and drinking…; Taking hot baths while reading and listening to music. AND every now and then, reminding me of the money I save.
Being sober, Ive remembered the person I was before I started drinking. Ive rememebered the things I used to enjoy; reading, eating, watching a movie (and remembering the ending!), writing, painting my toe nails, crosswords, helping my kids with their homework, buying jewelry, writing a diary, burning incence, making photo albums, walking in the sunshine, me time – too name just few! I relize now how alchol was just stripping me bare of all the things I enjoyed to do.
Oh how I needed to read this today! I was thinking the same last night. All the interests I had before this got out of hand. Drinking, then hangovers, thinking about not drinking, then feeling unwell all the time and beating ourselves up takes us away from our true selves…I want me back too 🙂
Day 15 for me. Yipee!!! I am enjoying lots and lots of chocolate, but I have decided exercise really works for me during the witching hour. Especially hitting the trails and biking.
Books, lots of books. I’m devouring them now the way I used to, now that boozing isn’t taking up my whole evening. A book costs the same as a bottle of wine so I feel it’s a good exchange 🙂 And knitting, agree about far fewer mistakes and more complicated patterns. Rather than adding to my enormous stash of wool, I’m treating myself to new more ambitious patterns. 🙂
I bought myself an inexpensive silver plated bracelet that you thread murano glass beads onto and a bag of said beads – also not expensive – so that I can thread one on for each month I accomplish. Three so far. I haven’t told anyone what it’s for- it’s my little secret reminder.☺️
I liked this idea, and love bracelets, so decided to give myself one bead for each day I stay a.f. it’s just going on a week since I decided I need to seriously look at my increasingly regular binges. Anyway, I have 5 beads on my bracelet, which makes me feel pretty good about myself. I bought some bigger beads to add when I get 30 small ones on. It’s baby steps, but it’s more a.f days than I’ve had in a looong time!
I’m on day 2 today also and I LOVE your idea! I saw in the “shop” that there was this pin that says “not today.” And since I am a crafty person, I thought I could make a pin with polymer clay that says “not today” on it. But now, I’m also going to add 5 little hooks from it. One for 30 days, 60, 90, 180 and 365. And I’ll hang a special little bead/stone or even a little coin medallion I can also make in polymer clay for each of these milestones. Oh how powerful that will be for me! I can feel it. Great idea!!!
R512 years ago
Lakelover – I’m on day 2 and I love your idea of the daily for now then exchange for a bigger “monthly” reward!! Going out today to start my new jewelry collection!!
I’m going to do this! I need a visual reminder of what I have accomplished. I don’t have daily support from my partner. He lost his drinking buddy and is mourning her I think.
One thing that gave me tremendous pleasure and confidence in my first year sober was learning to cook well without alcohol. As a keen home cook I’d always sloshed in red wine, white wine, sherry, port, liqueurs. I used alcohol in marinades, gravies, sauces. I couldn’t imagine how to do without that flavour-base.
Then I discovered cloudy organic apple juice, slightly dry. This works very well in many dishes because it gives a little sweetness and taste of fruit. I also use orange juice diluted, home-made chicken stock and vegetable stocks. I thicken sauces with almond milk, flavoured bread crumbs or reduced stocks. My cooking now has lighter and cleaner flavours and nobody ever asks if I left out the wine.
For baking I scrape fresh vanilla pods rather than vanilla extract with an alcohol base, store pods in small canisters of sugar. Though I prefer to use honey or agave syrup rather than refined sugar.
Another great treat for me these days are homemade vegetable smoothies — and I use them in soups and to flavour casseroles as well. I use spinach, chard or kale as a base along with fresh parsley and rocket, fresh ginger and broccoli in different combinations and flavoured with mint or basil or origanum, a little sea salt and black peppers. A dollop of Greek yoghurt. I also have smoothies with avocado, cucumber and fresh herbs. Really good pick-me-ups for an early lunch or late brunch. Fennel juice with lime and orange combinations or cucumber, ginger and celery, cilantro or coriander to taste.
Other favourites:
Pistachio Milk: Soak 1 cup pistachios / 5 oz overnight, covered, in filtered water. Drain, combine with 3 cups water, and ladle into juicer. This was my favorite non-fruit juice by a stretch. Flavour this with orange blossom water, or citrus zest.
Grapefruit and ginger juice with a little honey. I can’t give quantities and a little fresh raw ginger goes a long way. Great with a fairly bland bowl of oats for breakfast.
Zoom- boom-vroom-va-rooom energy savoury drink alongside sourdough bread or crackers with cheese. Juice 1/4 cup carrot juice + 1/4 cup almond milk + 1/16 teaspoon cayenne + 1/2 teaspoon ginger juice + 1/8 teaspoon fine grain sea salt + 2 tablespoons celery juice.
Buying a soda stream (with all that money I saved by not buying wine) was the best investment I ever made. I keep a lemon or lime in the freezer and grate some of it with a microplane into my icy cold fizzy water.
I was talking to someone today who was suggesting that soda stream is a great investment. I relish the quest to find ace good drinks that are delicious. She was also saying about Lime in them. Going to get one! Sadly I don’t see much marketing of them as a great alternative to booze.
Just listening to it now for first time..made me tear up….Spent most of my life hiding and hating myself…I’m sure we can all relate to that one huh? Great song..:)
My favourite sober treat is making the time to read a good novel, which I do a little bit every day. It gives me a chance to drop into an alternate world, which I kind of need, without all the nasty parts of blotting out the world with wine. Reading like I used to read when I was younger has been one of the great pleasures of sober living.
@thirstystill, I love how you said reading drops you into an alternate world because that’s why I drank -to escape. I’ve a stash of books on my bedside table so am going to start reading again. Thanks!
I love the books by Robert Galbraith (the outed JK Rowling) first one was great, second one which came out recently even better.
First post by me (!) – I’m at home on a Saturday night with lots of wine around and trying not to drink it! I started reading Mrs Ds blog which resonated in all kinds of ways – and have now been following everyone’s comments on this site. Not many days sober for me though – only 7 as I have a had a few failures.
Me too. How great to open the book the next day and REMEMBER what happened in the last chapter before bedtime! I get lost in stories when I’m looking for a wine-time cop-out (though more often I’m cooking, and I find if I get over the first ten minutes of pangs – trusty lime and soda in a wine glass – I can relax with that too).
Yeah I’ve been a bit slack on the novel reading front lately and am feeling it… I’ve got Caitlin Moran’s new book maybe i’ll try to get in that tonight
Tons of treats for me… really good tea, Lindt chocolate (I heard there is a salted caramel out but i haven’t seen it yet), slow beach walks, body balance classes, candles, baths, reading, buying things at the market that I normally wouldn’t but then realise it’s the same price as a bottle of wine and think “why not” (huge juicy olives stuffed with blue cheese – OMG!), contemplating the sunrise…. I did lots of these things before but they are SOOO much better now!!!!
I agree about the new treats I’m purchasing at the market, that I would usually spend that money on champagne, now its fancy cold press juices, dark chocolates!
Chocolate is a vegetable so I feel ok eating it. It also has protein and calcuim . I have accidentally missed out the sugar and fat.
I love fresh flowers. I might go and but some today to reward myself for being sober yesterday and think of something to reward myself with tomorrow when I get through today.
Speaking of chocolate, ice cream etc – anyone else have issues with too much sugar?! I seem to have handily transferred my addiction from alcohol to sugar…..any suggestions? Anyone cutting out sugar as well as alcohol? I sometimes feel out of control and find it hard to stop eating when I have chocolate/sugar stuff and really need to put a stop to it….or am I asking for trouble doing this as well…thoughts please. I am week 10 tomorrow….
I cut out booze 65 days ago and read Sarah Wilsons books on quitting sugar as i found i was definitely treating myself with something sweet and a herbal tea after dinner. While its great not to be boozing sugar is also addictive and not good for the health so i cut it about 4 weeks ago. Im eating pretty clean and raw and exercising regularly. I think my insides are really starting to love me for it! I did suffer a few headaches and my skin broke out but i put this down to the toxins eliminating from my system. I say quit the sugar and get into clean raw eating! Make the change of not being a boozer really work its magic on the soul
Hello Carol,
In my first month or so, I was amazed at how I craved sweet things. And I had never had a sweet tooth in my life. I allowed myself to have it and was surprised when I didn’t gain weight. I didn’t immediately realise that the reason I didn’t put on weight was due to the calories being saved by not drinking wine! The cravings subsided after a month or so. And then the combination of not eating sweets or drinking wine resulted in a 7 lb weight loss (after a couple of months) which was another great motivator.
These posts all resonate for me. I’ve been sober almost 3 years ( yay me!! ) and now have nutrition well under control. But not at first. Sugar was one biggie, esp choc and ice cream. I felt so bad and I put on weight. But a counsellor said to me that not drinking was the most important thing, and I needed to do whatever it took to stay sober. Wise, wise words. My focus was staying off the booze. Over time, baby steps, everything, every aspect of my previously empty life, has changed. Be good to yourselves, cutting out drinking is horrendously hard.
Hi Carol, hope you are ok , I gave up chocolate after reading Jason Vale on that subject,Incredibly for me I gave that up 3 days after stopping drinking (47 days now) I am amazed!!! I was a total chocoholic.However I seem to have transferred to enjoying fudge just a bit to much haha, I feel giving up chocolate has at the very least cut out a lot of ‘damage’,It is just the rest of the bad sugars! but its progress not perfection.You have done great though,10 weeks! Congratulations on that.
I’ve swapped alcohol for sugar – and am also addicted to this site and blogging on alcohol in general! Thought I could moderate the chocolate, am finding that hard. Please don’t tell me I’ll have to go cold turkey on that too!
Hi Carol. Yes, I have exactly the same problem. I have never had a sweet tooth but now I find that I am always hungry and that only sweet things will satisfy me ( I am day 21 ), Do you think it is sugar withdrawal from not drinking wine anymore?
Me too. It seems to be all about the sweet stuff. Maybe its the bodies way of dealing with not having the alcohol sugar. I am not going to worry about it too much (unless i really pork out!). More important to just focus on not drinking, sleeping well and not stressing.
YES! Read ‘Potatoes not Prozac’ and it explains it all. However I have been trying to do her steps and have failed miserably and have now decided to just bloody focus on giving up drinking and that’s enough thank you. Don’t want to put you off the book though… it’s really good and she absolutely does say that if you try to do all the steps at once then you’ll get totally overwhelmed and then give up. Ha ha I love being so predictable!!!
You know it’s so funny! I never ate desert before. Always always opted for more wine, and more wine. Now I’m really aware of the sugar cravings. Something I really like and it’s not to bad. Is fresh berries, natural Greek yoghurt or Labne, with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup ( the real stuff) 1 teaspoon vanilla essence and a sprinkle, ok a dump, of cocoa nibs, could use chocolate chips. It’s really really yummy! And not too bad. In the early days though and sometimes still I would just sit and eat a whole block of chocolate. Then I’d be like WTF did I just do?
Hi Carol. This is exactly what is happening t me too. I had actually not eaten much chocolate all year as I was trying to cut down on sugars. The southern Comfort and diet coke I used to knock back like it was going out of style probably had a lot of sugar in it and my body must be missing it. I bought a large cake of peppermint dark and I try to only have a couple of bits a night, but had 5 last night.l I ate a whole packet of chocolate peanuts the night before. I am only 18 days sober. I think it is perfectly fine to indulge ourselves a wee bit. It is a huge thing we are doing. I am telling myself that it is not swapping one addiction for another, it is simply nurturing myself for a while while I adapt. Let’s not be too hard on ourselves.
I’ve had to cut out sugar. My sobriety began with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The medication I take allows for two standard drinks per day or I risk permanent liver damage, so as I could not trust myself to limit my drinking (I was 1/2 bottle of gin a day) I’ve cut sugar and alcohol. I am 360 days sober and mostly sugar free. If you google the app My Fitness Pal you can find all sorts of recipes for sweet treats that are also high in protein. They are really filling too and one is often enough. For Christmas a friend made me a date, cacao, nut slice that lives in the freezer so when people around me were eating and drinking I would have a square of my slice and feel heaps better. I will look out that recipe as it was gorgeous. I also treat myself with diabetic lollies and chocolate but they aren’t the same. The upside for me is a weight loss of 30kg, an excersise regime that I never dreamed I was capable of, and an entirely new wardrobe. I drink half a lemon or lime squeezed into soda water, and treat myself with diet coke. So all in all my T2 diagnosis was one of the best things that happened to me, the challenge is to keep doing it day after day. One day I intend to ‘cure’ myself of the diabetes, that’s my light at the end of the tunnel. Hope this helps x
Hi Carol, I’m 10 weeks sober and I’m exactly the same.. I go bonkers for sweet things at bizarre times of the day, I just think we need to give ourselves more time and our bodies to adjust to being booze free. I love desserts now as before I’d skip them to drink loads more wine .. I do try to race feeling better but it isn’t happening and have loads of emotions to face sober .. so keep telling myself just take baby steps and see how I go with the cutting out the sugar… good luck. x
It is really hard, When I am not drinking I am into chocolate and ice-cream and so my weight is just going up. a frind of mine who has been sober 7 years says she eats grapes and that seems to help. They are not as bad for you as chocolate and ice cream.
Relaxing with a cup of green tea(honey and ginger). Dark chocy and listening to a session of ‘The Bubble Hour’. Wonderful,inspirational and very informative. Great interview Lotta:)
I love my sober treats and I make sure I have them every weekend.. could be a bunch of flowers, chocolates ( but I have them anyway) a facial once a month, a cd, scented candles or clothes.. we need sober treats to make us feel good, because being drunk all the time does not make us feel good, it makes us feel ill .
Eating a lot of chocolate and ice cream!!!!! Day 3 but in the last 14 days have only drank on the weekends verses every day 8+ beers. Sleeping better, waking up with NO GUILT, kids behaving better!!!!! May try the 100 day challenge.
How about a jar with either the cash you would have spent that week on booze , throw it in every week, or a dated and signed piece of paper credit so that you can splurge on something fabulous knowing that you so deserve it, that it is money that you would have drunk away,…and would have had nothing to show for it.( except a hangover, headaches, guilt, shame, etc etc)
Pretty much all of these! Chocolate, ice cream, flowers, magazines, scented candles, nice teas. Mine often seem to be food-related. This weekend after getting through a big event sober I splashed out on some expensive, delicious muesli and chai-hot-chocolate mix. I frequently buy sparkling mineral water and fancy cordials too. Sober treats are SUCH a great idea. It’s so nice to look at them and think ‘I get this instead of just a bottle of booze and a hangover’.
I have been treating myself with all the money that is now in my account. I made a garden room, bought plants and thrifted cool items so my ‘hang out’ space is inviting, no booze allowed. I bought an instant camera and I am making a summer book of photos what I did, after a suggestion from Prudence. I get a mani pedi every once in awhile and take care of my skin, hair and nails to try to maximize what the change has been for me physically. I allow myself some carbs (sweets) once in awhile they help with the cravings. Good stuff helps.
Playing ping pong with my teenage son…..we laugh and laugh and laugh because I’m usually the one winning.
Also I enjoy reading Jesus Calling daily devotionals. If I find that I’m needing help or struggling a little bit, rereading that day’s devotional gets me over the hurdle.
I am just starting out and today is my last ever hangover. I have decided to treat myself every third month to a facial or body treatment. I am also going to join the leisure centre to do some fitness classes.
Oh, a facial Lucy! I should do that too. And scented candles.
I have read through all the comments and envy you people the peace you have found! I am still a bit frantic, being newly sober. Here is a list I am making up on the fly:
– buy a new puppy; she is my treat for doing something right for myself
– buy a new book? So many of you on here seem to find comfort in reading
– garden, garden, garden–buy a pretty new birdhouse for the garden? Lots of new plants and run out even in the middle of the night and plant something to avoid drinking
– keep a jug of green smoothies in the fridge so I can have a refreshing sip whenever I want. I just drank 900 ml of “extreme green” smoothie recipe…oops. That’s 540 calories. Oh well
– keep some delicious snacks on hand…but what. Will think about that.
– start exercising. But what? A little run down the street at night? yoga?
I’m just looking online at buying myself some RayBans and then I’m going to fix up my car so that it doesn’t look like a drunk/crazy person has been driving it!
need to share
How about being honest ?
I’m an alcoholic and cannot drink responsibly
Or, I have an addictive personality and one drink will not be enough and I’m unsure when I will be able to stop, 1 day, 1 week, 1year I don’t really know so I’ll leave it this evening. But thank you for asking……
Then look at the faces
Tazo green lemongrass ginger tea. Mmm.
Dried fruit is my new go-to treat in the late afternoon. Especially dried cherries. Totally weird and random… must be needing a sugar fix! 🙂
So this might sound a bit odd … but since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve really been enjoying dried fruit as a little snack/treat in the late afternoons as a little pick me up. Must be a sugar craving but the cherries are really good! 🙂
No -Cook Ginger Slice (gluten,dairy &refined sugar free)
2 Cups of unsalted nuts (I used almonds,cashew and Brazil)
! cup fresh dates (or dry soaked 15mins and drained)
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted or soft)
! tsp ground ginger
Process and then press into a lined swiss roll tin.
Chill in the fridge while you make the icing
ICING
3/4 C Soft or melted coconut oil
1/2 C honey
1/2 C cashew butter
3 tsp ground ginger.
Whizz up and smooth over with a wet knife or spatula
store in an airtight container in fridge or freezer until ready to serve.
Yum! Gonna make this right now thanks, might have to hide it from the rest of the fam tho!
I brought myself a `pandora’ bead saying `faith’ for my evolve (like Pandora) bracelet the other week, and this week a massage – yep i’ve gone all out, but don’t feel so guilty or would have spent it on wine anyway!
That’s a lovely idea 🙂 my Pandora only has room for one more bead and it’s reserved for my grandson due in July. Will get his initial. Then I am going to start an Evolve bracelet.
Searching the internet for nice recipes, making desserts, new little rituals like eating in the garden. Make simple stuff more fancy and luxurious, buying lovely fruits which i usually found too expensive in the past. Basically spoil yourself with lots of small inexpensive things.
Each week that I stay ahead of the ‘fray’ (alkie), I put $30 in a jar. Each month, I now treat myself to a nice mani/pedi….SO RELAXING, and when they offer that complimentary glass of vino, I ask for water instead. I leave the salon hydrated and relaxed, with jazzy hands & feet! Fellow sojourners, treat yourself well, be good to yourself, be PROUD of your decision, and don’t let any slip-ups sink your sub…..carry on~!
Thats a great idea putting the money to one side
My sober treat has been a new skin care product each weekend. Something slightly expensive( saving so much money on the weekend not drinking!). People are telling me I look good lately. I like to think its a combination of no alcohol in my system and the new skincare products in my medicine cabinet:)
@davenajean-great idea. I too notice how my face,eyes look less haggard when I don’t drink.
Chia dessert or breakfast or snack
I have a plan for sugar cravings. Got chia seeds? Shake them up in almond or coconut milk, throw in vanilla or favourite flavours, a bit of stevia, honey or coconut syrup, & voila, a gorgeous healthy treat to have with pure yogurt &/or cream, any fruits. Mixed with whipped cream & frozen berries, put in freezer, & voila, icecream, but with a powerful protein & nutrition hit. Love it
Yum! That’s a great idea – I’m going to give it a try. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Just thought I’d share this gorgeous, and it truly is gorgeous, mushroom soup recipe I made this week following a pretty bad stomach bug I had where i couldn’t eat anything solid, but this was a bit more filling than tinned soup so I gave it a go. At the end of the recipe, I blended the whole thing into a smooth soup rather than with the chunky mushrooms in but that was only because after putting the 2nd batch of flour in, there were lumps of flour i couldn’t get rid of. I didn’t think it needed the extra flour so may well be worth just leaving that bit out if you want it chunky. But it is still beautiful as a creamy soup so either way you want to do it will be great still.
INGREDIENTS
SERVINGS 6
8 ounces fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons onions, chopped
1 -2 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 -3 tablespoons flour (separated)
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup light cream or 1 cup evaporated milk
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Cut the mushrooms into slices.
Melt butter in large frying pan. Add in onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook until onions are soft.
Blend in 2 T. flour and stir.
Add in the chicken broth and heat until slightly thickened while stirring frequently.
Stir cream with additional 1 T. flour and seasonings. Add in cream to soup. Heat to thicken while stirring frequently.
Serve and enjoy!
Lovely!!! So trying this!
That looks great. Cooking for myself and others is a great pleasure of mine as well.
@Davey Yum-o. I def need to try this recipe. Thx for sharing!
Looking forward to making that soup tomorrow, thanks
Thanks Davey! I’m off to get mushrooms! Hope a variety will work. Chanterelles, Oysters, Buttons, etc.?
I have discovered online jigsaw puzzles. I do small ones – 100 pieces – which gives me a 20 minute burst of pleasure. Doing doing jigsaws is apparently very good for getting both sides of brain to work together and producing good brain chemicals. I certainly find it very calming and there are so many beautiful pictures to choose from – like chocolates in a box!
I’m going to try that. Lately, I’ve been playing this dumb-ass game named “Candy Crush”. It takes me to la-la’ville. Perhaps the jigsaw thing would be a little more appropriate, heh. xo
what a great idea Salvia, thanks xx
I too recently discovered jigsaw puzzles. They are fun and quite satisfying. Glad to hear they are good for the brain. I do some word games too. I think the games may be addictive and I’m okay with that.
I’m going to search these out … Thank you!
My two eldest kids (10 and 8) have to read every day for school and I have to sign their diaries to say they’ve done so. So, we started a new little routine…. once the two babies are in bed, 7pm ish, I light candles in the living room while hubby and kids make hot choccie, then the four of us sit together in the living room, just for 20/30 minutes, reading our books and sipping our hot choccie. I absolutely love it. I’m ashamed to think that not so long ago I would be three quarters of a bottle down by that point.
Long may my children humour me in this pleasure 🙂
What a great time for you and a wonderful memory for your children to make!
I love this.
My son has been doing his gratitude journal every night but I am slack. Doing it together sounds like a plan 🙂
Beautiful idea. Thanks for sharing. xx
Yay! That’s amazing, Keep going!
that is awesome, calm peaceful relaxed atmosphere, best thing to teach the kids, time and patience
awesomely +ve alternative that builds you & your fams
aw thats so lovely x
My treat came unexpectedly: to be fully present in the evening after 5:30–to walk dogs in cool evening, read a book and remember it, and not wonder who I emailed or texted in the morning.
On a crasser note, calculated how much I spent in wine for a month and used it to buy an iPAD, with $ left over.
Omg that’s what I always did too…would see all the facebook posts and emails I didn’t even remember sending. :~
Love the fact you bought an iPad. I’ m finding mine great at 3 am when I can’t sleep and log onto this site. I did Dry July last year and sponsored myself. Worked out what my alcoholic consumption would normally cost in a month and did something way more useful with the money. Been with out booze 5 days this time. This time think I’ll treat me. Thinking about a pair of winter boots, really expensive ones.
My treat / reward for reaching Day 30 is a beautiful Bitossi ribbed glass tea mug ( with filter and lid) and a one cup stainless steel tea pot. Looking forward to trying out loads of new special teas – just for me!!
lovely treat, Im going to buy a new tea pot with a internal tea leaf strainer and buy loose tea leaves, I might wait till Christmas as im hoping hubby will get me one x
I’m trying to remember the things I like…..I have lost some of who I am in the fog I was in. Between being mum and wife, and hiding from myself by drinking – I’m really not sure who I am anymore. I know I am finding more pleasure in the simple, every day things. I hope that in time, I can be the person I am meant to be – whoever she turns out to be.
These words resonate even in 2018 for people like me. A lot has happened over the years and I realized I did for others to the sacrifice of finding out who or what I really am. What do I truly like or have interested in. Foods, clothing style, hobbies, etc. I have only just begun at 4, almost 44. Why is it so easy to give to others and do what others want….it almost is to selfless that it is selfish…does that even make sense? Day 6 for me today and I am just barely out of my fog
Your comment really hit home. I’ve been trying to understand what it is I’m going through in terms of losing my old self and becoming my “new” me. I used to have FOMO (fear of missing out) but now I have JOMO (joy of missing out) as I’m really tuning into ME and luckily, I am really liking who I am. I have the patience and the gratitude to move forward with this new identity; healthy, strong, loving and hopeful.
Wow That describes me too. I can’t remember all the little things I like…my life has been in a big fog. Im looking forward to find out who I really am without the booze 🙂
Deede
I also identify with your comment. I’ve known for a while that I lost myself but didn’t connect it to my drinking. How’s that for denial. One more reason to quit.
I know this is an old post, but, I am new to the site and your description is exactly one of the things that scares me about becoming sober…I have lived this way so long, I have forgotten who I am and even what I like…and what do you do with all of the time when you’d usually be drinking? I’d love to hear an update of how it looks to you now, further on. Thank you for sharing!
Yes I too can really relate to what you are saying. I too had a persona that I feel was clouded by drink and all the carry on that went with that. Plus it lasted on and off for 3 decades! I find it weird getting to know myself. I also find it scary that I can’t blame my drinking/hide behind my drinking and have to deal with feelings that seem so raw!………happiness included. All power to you and you are not alone x
I really relate to this comment so much of my identity was a party hard drinker. I was a guarantee for a party quite often by myself unfortunately, but like you I am finding simple pleasures wonderful! I am training hard and eating well and my mood has benefited 10 fold! I also am not sure where my new identity lies but I just know its not the big fat party guy anymore! Should I aim for a new persona or let one develop organically? whatever…i’ll be doing it healthy smile on my face.
I’m only on Day 5 but I can really relate to this. Felt today that I’m not really sure who I am without the wine! The day is soo long – what did I used to do to fill up the time (for me, I mean – not for others like hubby and kids) before wine came along? But I’m looking forward to finding out and rediscovering or inventing a whole new me.
Music!! I’m a music fiend now. I hook up my earphones to my phone and jam away while cleaning the house (hope no one EVER actually SEES this). I listen to the bubble hour while walking the dog….that’s a great treat. I listen to TED talks while walking the dog too. My dog is loving this! Treated myself to full body massage for reaching 30 days. Lots of baths, reading books, lunches with friends (never felt I could justify the cost/calories but SO great for the soul).
Well I can afford (price wise and waistline wise) to have a lot more treats in general now. I love going out for a morning tea of lattes and cake and sitting in the sunshine watching my children play and laugh. I love going on shopping expeditions and buying clothes I like that fit since I’ve lost weight from not drinking. I love feeling full of energy and getting to regular gym classes that I really enjoy because I’m not hungover. I love waking up to a clear head- that in itself is a treat..when for so many years the opposite has been true! I love reading books again. I now take the kids out to all sorts of places I never did before..like the library, the park, and the market, because I am thinking of them instead of myself and my addiction. So then, my treat is seeing my children happy…I could not hope for anything more really! Feel so blessed to be sober and have my life back.
I am 12 days sober and already I have a completely different contact with my children, like you say it’s about them and not me and my addiction….
Lovely post..Thanks
Great post nursestel…filled with so much happiness & joy…well done! 🙂
I am reading Allen Carr’s book on alcohol and “The Signature of All things”; having hot chocolate in the evening while watching ONE episode of a series I follow instead of 4 while smoking and drinking…; Taking hot baths while reading and listening to music. AND every now and then, reminding me of the money I save.
Being sober, Ive remembered the person I was before I started drinking. Ive rememebered the things I used to enjoy; reading, eating, watching a movie (and remembering the ending!), writing, painting my toe nails, crosswords, helping my kids with their homework, buying jewelry, writing a diary, burning incence, making photo albums, walking in the sunshine, me time – too name just few! I relize now how alchol was just stripping me bare of all the things I enjoyed to do.
So true. Your post hits home.
Oh how I needed to read this today! I was thinking the same last night. All the interests I had before this got out of hand. Drinking, then hangovers, thinking about not drinking, then feeling unwell all the time and beating ourselves up takes us away from our true selves…I want me back too 🙂
I can so relate to this. I am looking forward to seeing the ‘END’ of a movie and being able to remember it!
Simply do something for someone else. It helps them and gives you a great sense of self worth.
Day 15 for me. Yipee!!! I am enjoying lots and lots of chocolate, but I have decided exercise really works for me during the witching hour. Especially hitting the trails and biking.
yes, i ate alot of chocolate in the first few months 🙂
Books, lots of books. I’m devouring them now the way I used to, now that boozing isn’t taking up my whole evening. A book costs the same as a bottle of wine so I feel it’s a good exchange 🙂 And knitting, agree about far fewer mistakes and more complicated patterns. Rather than adding to my enormous stash of wool, I’m treating myself to new more ambitious patterns. 🙂
Can relate love reading
Me too with the books! I forgot how much I liked to read! A good book gives me the same escape feeling
same. I never read much when drinking, would just about manage a drunken stumble through a trashy mag before passing out. Now, books books books!
I bought myself an inexpensive silver plated bracelet that you thread murano glass beads onto and a bag of said beads – also not expensive – so that I can thread one on for each month I accomplish. Three so far. I haven’t told anyone what it’s for- it’s my little secret reminder.☺️
What a great idea – once I get to one month I think I might do this too
I liked this idea, and love bracelets, so decided to give myself one bead for each day I stay a.f. it’s just going on a week since I decided I need to seriously look at my increasingly regular binges. Anyway, I have 5 beads on my bracelet, which makes me feel pretty good about myself. I bought some bigger beads to add when I get 30 small ones on. It’s baby steps, but it’s more a.f days than I’ve had in a looong time!
I’m on day 2 today also and I LOVE your idea! I saw in the “shop” that there was this pin that says “not today.” And since I am a crafty person, I thought I could make a pin with polymer clay that says “not today” on it. But now, I’m also going to add 5 little hooks from it. One for 30 days, 60, 90, 180 and 365. And I’ll hang a special little bead/stone or even a little coin medallion I can also make in polymer clay for each of these milestones. Oh how powerful that will be for me! I can feel it. Great idea!!!
Lakelover – I’m on day 2 and I love your idea of the daily for now then exchange for a bigger “monthly” reward!! Going out today to start my new jewelry collection!!
What a fantastic idea!
That is fabulous 🙂
I absolutely love this idea! Thanks!
That is a cool idea. I have a Pandora bracelet so may try something similar:)
Me too. Going to look for it now
I’m going to do this! I need a visual reminder of what I have accomplished. I don’t have daily support from my partner. He lost his drinking buddy and is mourning her I think.
What a great idea!
Lovely idea! 🙂
Thanks @Finallydawned I love this idea. When I reach 1 month I’m going to do the same.
Love that, like an old fashioned charm bracelet. Might steal your idea. No, no might about it. I am stealing it. Exciting.
That is so lovely. .. what a wonderful idea
I love that idea 🙂
What a gorgeous idea!
That is such a gorgeous idea. I think I will steal it too. Not sure where you get murano beads tho?
Love this idea!!
This is a great idea…love it and gonna “steal” it. 🙂
What a cool idea!!!
Lovely idea!
Great idea! Love that!!
Great idea !
What a wonderful idea, nothing like visually seeing the beads mount up.
One thing that gave me tremendous pleasure and confidence in my first year sober was learning to cook well without alcohol. As a keen home cook I’d always sloshed in red wine, white wine, sherry, port, liqueurs. I used alcohol in marinades, gravies, sauces. I couldn’t imagine how to do without that flavour-base.
Then I discovered cloudy organic apple juice, slightly dry. This works very well in many dishes because it gives a little sweetness and taste of fruit. I also use orange juice diluted, home-made chicken stock and vegetable stocks. I thicken sauces with almond milk, flavoured bread crumbs or reduced stocks. My cooking now has lighter and cleaner flavours and nobody ever asks if I left out the wine.
For baking I scrape fresh vanilla pods rather than vanilla extract with an alcohol base, store pods in small canisters of sugar. Though I prefer to use honey or agave syrup rather than refined sugar.
Another great treat for me these days are homemade vegetable smoothies — and I use them in soups and to flavour casseroles as well. I use spinach, chard or kale as a base along with fresh parsley and rocket, fresh ginger and broccoli in different combinations and flavoured with mint or basil or origanum, a little sea salt and black peppers. A dollop of Greek yoghurt. I also have smoothies with avocado, cucumber and fresh herbs. Really good pick-me-ups for an early lunch or late brunch. Fennel juice with lime and orange combinations or cucumber, ginger and celery, cilantro or coriander to taste.
Other favourites:
Pistachio Milk: Soak 1 cup pistachios / 5 oz overnight, covered, in filtered water. Drain, combine with 3 cups water, and ladle into juicer. This was my favorite non-fruit juice by a stretch. Flavour this with orange blossom water, or citrus zest.
Grapefruit and ginger juice with a little honey. I can’t give quantities and a little fresh raw ginger goes a long way. Great with a fairly bland bowl of oats for breakfast.
Zoom- boom-vroom-va-rooom energy savoury drink alongside sourdough bread or crackers with cheese. Juice 1/4 cup carrot juice + 1/4 cup almond milk + 1/16 teaspoon cayenne + 1/2 teaspoon ginger juice + 1/8 teaspoon fine grain sea salt + 2 tablespoons celery juice.
Thanks for those food tips !
I am definitely going to try one of your Smoothie recipes
Thank you Mary LA, inspiring!
Reading a good detective thriller with tea and choccie
Buying a soda stream (with all that money I saved by not buying wine) was the best investment I ever made. I keep a lemon or lime in the freezer and grate some of it with a microplane into my icy cold fizzy water.
That and my sudoku gets me through.
Don’t what I’d do with out my soda stream. Get thru about 2 litres a day of ‘bubbly water’. At wine o’clock put in nice glass and add some citrus.
I was talking to someone today who was suggesting that soda stream is a great investment. I relish the quest to find ace good drinks that are delicious. She was also saying about Lime in them. Going to get one! Sadly I don’t see much marketing of them as a great alternative to booze.
I buy uplifting songs on iTunes. My latest favorite is “Secrets” by Mary Lambert. It would be a fitting anthem for this site!
Perfect…what a great tune…I’m going to purchase that on on iTunes Thanks
Just listening to it now for first time..made me tear up….Spent most of my life hiding and hating myself…I’m sure we can all relate to that one huh? Great song..:)
Love that song! Agree it could become the signature song for this site!!
I love the recovery related song idea. Frank Turner Recovery is worth a listen, though totally different to Secrets.
Wow love it! Had never heard it, she’s fantastic!
Cute song!
Just listened to “Secrets” – oh wow, LOVE IT
Great song! Going to show the teen daughter it tonight.Thanks
OMG I LOVE THAT SONG!!!!!!! EVERYONE GO AND LISTEN TO IT ON YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favourite sober treat is making the time to read a good novel, which I do a little bit every day. It gives me a chance to drop into an alternate world, which I kind of need, without all the nasty parts of blotting out the world with wine. Reading like I used to read when I was younger has been one of the great pleasures of sober living.
Yes me to love reading it’s my fav thing
@thirstystill, I love how you said reading drops you into an alternate world because that’s why I drank -to escape. I’ve a stash of books on my bedside table so am going to start reading again. Thanks!
I love the books by Robert Galbraith (the outed JK Rowling) first one was great, second one which came out recently even better.
First post by me (!) – I’m at home on a Saturday night with lots of wine around and trying not to drink it! I started reading Mrs Ds blog which resonated in all kinds of ways – and have now been following everyone’s comments on this site. Not many days sober for me though – only 7 as I have a had a few failures.
Me too. How great to open the book the next day and REMEMBER what happened in the last chapter before bedtime! I get lost in stories when I’m looking for a wine-time cop-out (though more often I’m cooking, and I find if I get over the first ten minutes of pangs – trusty lime and soda in a wine glass – I can relax with that too).
Yeah I’ve been a bit slack on the novel reading front lately and am feeling it… I’ve got Caitlin Moran’s new book maybe i’ll try to get in that tonight
Tons of treats for me… really good tea, Lindt chocolate (I heard there is a salted caramel out but i haven’t seen it yet), slow beach walks, body balance classes, candles, baths, reading, buying things at the market that I normally wouldn’t but then realise it’s the same price as a bottle of wine and think “why not” (huge juicy olives stuffed with blue cheese – OMG!), contemplating the sunrise…. I did lots of these things before but they are SOOO much better now!!!!
I agree about the new treats I’m purchasing at the market, that I would usually spend that money on champagne, now its fancy cold press juices, dark chocolates!
Love your list Zulu… makes me realise I haven’t been focussing on treating myself at all and so I’m gonna start!
Great treats Zulu. I am amazed at how much spare money I seem to
have these days.
I calculated the money I am saving and am going to use it for a good hairdresser instead of a cut bar
Chocolate is a vegetable so I feel ok eating it. It also has protein and calcuim . I have accidentally missed out the sugar and fat.
I love fresh flowers. I might go and but some today to reward myself for being sober yesterday and think of something to reward myself with tomorrow when I get through today.
Cherie xx
Wow. I have never thought about Chocolate (notice the big C) being a vegetable. Talk about validation!
I’m with you on the chocolate, Cherie!
love that idea. I keep thinking I should be myself some fresh flowers……………..we should do it!!
I love your idea Cherie… I often look at something I want and think that is too much….. so was buying 8 bottles of wine a week!!
Good on you, sounds like you deserve a treat. 🙂
Speaking of chocolate, ice cream etc – anyone else have issues with too much sugar?! I seem to have handily transferred my addiction from alcohol to sugar…..any suggestions? Anyone cutting out sugar as well as alcohol? I sometimes feel out of control and find it hard to stop eating when I have chocolate/sugar stuff and really need to put a stop to it….or am I asking for trouble doing this as well…thoughts please. I am week 10 tomorrow….
I cut out booze 65 days ago and read Sarah Wilsons books on quitting sugar as i found i was definitely treating myself with something sweet and a herbal tea after dinner. While its great not to be boozing sugar is also addictive and not good for the health so i cut it about 4 weeks ago. Im eating pretty clean and raw and exercising regularly. I think my insides are really starting to love me for it! I did suffer a few headaches and my skin broke out but i put this down to the toxins eliminating from my system. I say quit the sugar and get into clean raw eating! Make the change of not being a boozer really work its magic on the soul
Hello Carol,
In my first month or so, I was amazed at how I craved sweet things. And I had never had a sweet tooth in my life. I allowed myself to have it and was surprised when I didn’t gain weight. I didn’t immediately realise that the reason I didn’t put on weight was due to the calories being saved by not drinking wine! The cravings subsided after a month or so. And then the combination of not eating sweets or drinking wine resulted in a 7 lb weight loss (after a couple of months) which was another great motivator.
These posts all resonate for me. I’ve been sober almost 3 years ( yay me!! ) and now have nutrition well under control. But not at first. Sugar was one biggie, esp choc and ice cream. I felt so bad and I put on weight. But a counsellor said to me that not drinking was the most important thing, and I needed to do whatever it took to stay sober. Wise, wise words. My focus was staying off the booze. Over time, baby steps, everything, every aspect of my previously empty life, has changed. Be good to yourselves, cutting out drinking is horrendously hard.
Hi Carol. Try a spoonful of a really high quality peanut butter, like Pico’s You can get it in the supermarket. Seams to help heaps with cravings
Hi Carol, hope you are ok , I gave up chocolate after reading Jason Vale on that subject,Incredibly for me I gave that up 3 days after stopping drinking (47 days now) I am amazed!!! I was a total chocoholic.However I seem to have transferred to enjoying fudge just a bit to much haha, I feel giving up chocolate has at the very least cut out a lot of ‘damage’,It is just the rest of the bad sugars! but its progress not perfection.You have done great though,10 weeks! Congratulations on that.
I’ve swapped alcohol for sugar – and am also addicted to this site and blogging on alcohol in general! Thought I could moderate the chocolate, am finding that hard. Please don’t tell me I’ll have to go cold turkey on that too!
Hi Carol. Yes, I have exactly the same problem. I have never had a sweet tooth but now I find that I am always hungry and that only sweet things will satisfy me ( I am day 21 ), Do you think it is sugar withdrawal from not drinking wine anymore?
Me too. It seems to be all about the sweet stuff. Maybe its the bodies way of dealing with not having the alcohol sugar. I am not going to worry about it too much (unless i really pork out!). More important to just focus on not drinking, sleeping well and not stressing.
YES! Read ‘Potatoes not Prozac’ and it explains it all. However I have been trying to do her steps and have failed miserably and have now decided to just bloody focus on giving up drinking and that’s enough thank you. Don’t want to put you off the book though… it’s really good and she absolutely does say that if you try to do all the steps at once then you’ll get totally overwhelmed and then give up. Ha ha I love being so predictable!!!
You know it’s so funny! I never ate desert before. Always always opted for more wine, and more wine. Now I’m really aware of the sugar cravings. Something I really like and it’s not to bad. Is fresh berries, natural Greek yoghurt or Labne, with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup ( the real stuff) 1 teaspoon vanilla essence and a sprinkle, ok a dump, of cocoa nibs, could use chocolate chips. It’s really really yummy! And not too bad. In the early days though and sometimes still I would just sit and eat a whole block of chocolate. Then I’d be like WTF did I just do?
Hi Carol. This is exactly what is happening t me too. I had actually not eaten much chocolate all year as I was trying to cut down on sugars. The southern Comfort and diet coke I used to knock back like it was going out of style probably had a lot of sugar in it and my body must be missing it. I bought a large cake of peppermint dark and I try to only have a couple of bits a night, but had 5 last night.l I ate a whole packet of chocolate peanuts the night before. I am only 18 days sober. I think it is perfectly fine to indulge ourselves a wee bit. It is a huge thing we are doing. I am telling myself that it is not swapping one addiction for another, it is simply nurturing myself for a while while I adapt. Let’s not be too hard on ourselves.
I’ve had to cut out sugar. My sobriety began with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The medication I take allows for two standard drinks per day or I risk permanent liver damage, so as I could not trust myself to limit my drinking (I was 1/2 bottle of gin a day) I’ve cut sugar and alcohol. I am 360 days sober and mostly sugar free. If you google the app My Fitness Pal you can find all sorts of recipes for sweet treats that are also high in protein. They are really filling too and one is often enough. For Christmas a friend made me a date, cacao, nut slice that lives in the freezer so when people around me were eating and drinking I would have a square of my slice and feel heaps better. I will look out that recipe as it was gorgeous. I also treat myself with diabetic lollies and chocolate but they aren’t the same. The upside for me is a weight loss of 30kg, an excersise regime that I never dreamed I was capable of, and an entirely new wardrobe. I drink half a lemon or lime squeezed into soda water, and treat myself with diet coke. So all in all my T2 diagnosis was one of the best things that happened to me, the challenge is to keep doing it day after day. One day I intend to ‘cure’ myself of the diabetes, that’s my light at the end of the tunnel. Hope this helps x
Hi Carol, I’m 10 weeks sober and I’m exactly the same.. I go bonkers for sweet things at bizarre times of the day, I just think we need to give ourselves more time and our bodies to adjust to being booze free. I love desserts now as before I’d skip them to drink loads more wine .. I do try to race feeling better but it isn’t happening and have loads of emotions to face sober .. so keep telling myself just take baby steps and see how I go with the cutting out the sugar… good luck. x
It is really hard, When I am not drinking I am into chocolate and ice-cream and so my weight is just going up. a frind of mine who has been sober 7 years says she eats grapes and that seems to help. They are not as bad for you as chocolate and ice cream.
I started going to a yoga for beginners class a couple of months ago- so calming and therapeutic.
Relaxing with a cup of green tea(honey and ginger). Dark chocy and listening to a session of ‘The Bubble Hour’. Wonderful,inspirational and very informative. Great interview Lotta:)
I love my sober treats and I make sure I have them every weekend.. could be a bunch of flowers, chocolates ( but I have them anyway) a facial once a month, a cd, scented candles or clothes.. we need sober treats to make us feel good, because being drunk all the time does not make us feel good, it makes us feel ill .
Eating a lot of chocolate and ice cream!!!!! Day 3 but in the last 14 days have only drank on the weekends verses every day 8+ beers. Sleeping better, waking up with NO GUILT, kids behaving better!!!!! May try the 100 day challenge.
You are such a good girl. Maybe we could go eat chocolate together.
Vanilla ice cream with raspberries and shaved dark chocolate is my treat.. oghhh and all sugar free products…
Massages and nails are treats for me.
Having a Latte in a busy cafe. Just by myself. Allowseme to have time to just watch the world go by. A great way to wind down.
How about a jar with either the cash you would have spent that week on booze , throw it in every week, or a dated and signed piece of paper credit so that you can splurge on something fabulous knowing that you so deserve it, that it is money that you would have drunk away,…and would have had nothing to show for it.( except a hangover, headaches, guilt, shame, etc etc)
Pretty much all of these! Chocolate, ice cream, flowers, magazines, scented candles, nice teas. Mine often seem to be food-related. This weekend after getting through a big event sober I splashed out on some expensive, delicious muesli and chai-hot-chocolate mix. I frequently buy sparkling mineral water and fancy cordials too. Sober treats are SUCH a great idea. It’s so nice to look at them and think ‘I get this instead of just a bottle of booze and a hangover’.
I felt guilty about spending 70$ on facials, but I can get one every month now and still have money left since I don’t buy wine or beer! Crazy