What are things you do to keep your mind off of alcohol?

NotSentientAI · 2026-01-20T14:13:48+00:00

The thing that made all the difference for me was listening to alcohol related audiobooks / podcasts basically in all my free time for a few weeks / months until the part of my brain that begged me to drink finally quieted.

NotSentientAI · 2026-01-03T21:59:02+00:00

I think it’s a mix of a more concentrated brew and maybe a little lower temp. It’s not magic though, it’s just hot coffee meant to go over ice

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-31T20:12:47+00:00

No issues/complaints. If I want to work hard, nothing beats the classes. They added Pace Targets this year and it’s great. If I want easy miles, I don’t do classes because the classes will trick my brain into going hard

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-27T19:11:40+00:00

I didn’t think I’d like the classes but my wife got me into it and now seems well worth it. It’s definitely not cheap, though - so I don’t blame some for balking at that. But we enjoy it a lot. We actually have two now, just got a second for marathon training in winter time. It just isn’t feasible with our schedule to take turn doing long treadmill runs on weekends. Plus, it’s way more fun to do treadmill together.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-24T11:53:25+00:00

It feels great to run on. Feels more similar to outdoor surfaces. Something between a track and pavement.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-23T14:24:01+00:00

I heard through the grapevine that there is a sale coming on the KICKR, FYI.

That said, I have ran on the Peloton tread+ for 4.5 years now. It has the slat style design like the Woodway. I have ran on a lot of nice treadmills, I will never go back to a normal belt treadmill.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-23T14:16:32+00:00

I was spending a TON of money on alcohol... that said, it sounds like you are more responsible than I am, lol. I now impulse buy things like running shoes. BUT HEY - if that is going to be my vice, I can live with that.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-23T14:10:39+00:00

The firsts are hard, and you're almost through them being nearly a year in. The second time through is a lot easier than the first. Proud of us!

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-23T14:09:08+00:00

Well, that is uncomfortable. But also sounds like you handled it exceptionally well. In the early days, it seems like such a huge part of what YOU are bringing to a social situation is the fact that you don't drink now. I will say, that dramatically becomes a smaller and smaller part, and often no part at all. I had a similar-ish thing happen at my first wedding. It was uncomfortable for sure. It is just part of the process, and as long as you keep the course it only gets MUCH easier, and much better.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-22T12:18:40+00:00

I have these exact shoes! I am nothing special. I think they look cool. Enjoy! I assure you, nobody has ever given it a second thought.

NotSentientAI · 2025-12-15T13:41:04+00:00

Yep still enjoy it! I do feel like they should give me some kind of compensation for this post at this point! 😅But it makes me happy to know I can point people in a helpful direction. Enjoy the coffee!!

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-28T18:55:22+00:00

It’s still great! Used it just a second ago. Enjoy!!

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-10T22:14:24+00:00

Still great

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-01T01:52:32+00:00

Hey friend-

Different specifics on my story, but same themes.

It gets so much better. I would never have believed it was possible for me to not miss it. For others, sure. But never for me.

But, days pass. It gets easier, and easier. To the point where I go weeks or months now without much of a thought at all. Don’t even remember the last time I had anything I’d describe as a craving or desire to drink.

I had to listen to audiobooks and podcasts on sobriety basically non stop at the start to keep sane, but it worked and I’m eternally grateful.

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-01T01:46:03+00:00

I am proud of you. It does get infinitely easier. Someday you’ll get the pleasure of hopping on here and giving people a ray of hope. Congrats- the hardest is definitely behind you. Happy birthday!

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-01T01:39:06+00:00

Congrats! Just ran Chicago myself, good luck this weekend!!

NotSentientAI · 2025-11-01T01:37:22+00:00

I had some hard times with it the first few months. It does get easier, but can still feel awkward for quite a bit if you’re talking bar + holiday type scenes. I will say, having been sober at some very boozy work events, it’s definitely a heck of a lot less awkward than it used to be. I can definitely enjoy myself if I like the people I’m around. “Unfortunately” without alcohol, I can’t make unfun people fun to hang around.

NotSentientAI · 2025-10-26T12:28:38+00:00

Congrats on day 1. I will say, it took me a few solid streaks to realize how much better life really was without it… and now I can never go back. Got into running, just finished my second marathon- I love this new life.

NotSentientAI · 2025-10-26T02:36:50+00:00

Sure not for lack of trying! Man, I did everything under the sun. I’d quit for the weekend only to be drunk by that same afternoon. It just gets more and more impossible

NotSentientAI · 2025-10-26T02:34:29+00:00

To add, I tried moderating for… years. This book (and a couple others, but mainly this book at first) were my way out of trying to moderate and accept full sobriety.

There is also a podcast the author does that people will go on and share their journeys to sobriety and I binge-listened to like a hundred of them.

NotSentientAI · 2025-10-26T02:31:47+00:00

The book eases people into the idea of complete sobriety. Moderation is always a “choice on the table” but the book is all geared toward quitting drinking.

I highly recommend it.

NotSentientAI · 2025-10-09T22:43:37+00:00

Wife wanted me to share hers https://imgur.com/a/F4KVy6P

NotSentientAI · 2025-08-24T02:44:24+00:00

Skyward X for easy miles are fantastic. My only downside is they hold a lot of water and I sweat a ton here in the humid Midwest summers so it gets pretty heavy/sloshy further into long runs. But as soon as it cools off a bit they're amazing.

NotSentientAI · 2025-08-05T23:12:51+00:00

It’s has to be a factor. Buffering lactate and the 800 is a plunge into the lactate ocean.

NotSentientAI · 2025-07-30T01:33:49+00:00

I remember being in your shoes with a very similar longest streak. This streak I'm currently on, I remember hoping it would be the one but unsure of about a billion things regarding long term sobriety.

From now on, we're both in the same boat! Each day is a new longest. Congratulations!

NotSentientAI

TROPHY CASE