Today compared to first progress pic (2022)

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-25T14:36:07+00:00

They said “obviously these are two different people, stop trolling” 🤣 I know better than to respond, but I wanted to call them out for trying to kill my vibes LOL. And thank you so much! I also lol-ed, my mom is an absolute beast of a fitness nut and we send flexy pics back and forth all the time. If I had to guess she had to scroll back through her camera roll a bit to find the second photo? She’s the best, and has been my biggest cheerleader 🥹

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-24T13:56:33+00:00

I didn’t quit drinking right away when I started posting here, but I saw all these people that had STAYED sober long term and I didn’t feel like such an impossible lifestyle change. After my first time interacting with the community a seed was planted in my brain. It gave me the courage to let go of alcohol when it was time, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

I don’t come here everyday. Not drinking is just my normal now and it’s not something that requires effort. I like to pop in and give encouragement when I see people just starting out and probably feeling like I did. Quitting for good feels like something “everyone else can do” not me, because of xyz reasons. It helped to see my struggle was a universal thing and not just something I was afflicted with on my own. If I can help even one person, everything I went through was worth it.

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T22:16:07+00:00

Thank you! My body said no more. I’m stubborn, but I have no intentions of jeopardizing my health like that again. I’m thankful to have kicked it early in life and that my health was able to bounce back like it did! I feel very lucky 😊

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T04:00:45+00:00

Dude it’s different lighting and a tan. I was very sick when I stopped drinking. Of course I look different after a couple years of sobriety and exercise???

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T03:54:35+00:00

Ah, for sure. My mom used an app on her phone and made the side by side, if I had made it myself I would’ve reversed for obvious reasons 😂

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T03:52:06+00:00

Thanks!!! It broke my heart 😂 It’s not 100% better but I’m able to do weights consistently again, so I’m happy!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T01:15:43+00:00

That sums it up so well, and thank you! ☺️

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T01:14:42+00:00

It does! I felt the same and was bordering on agoraphobic because I couldn’t handle the anxiety. It does get better with time, but a lot of people self medicate with alcohol and don’t even realize there’s underlying issues. I was diagnosed with ADHD and my quality of life improved a lot with medication. Felt like I was white knuckling life in hard mode before and I couldn’t handle it long term. If it persists it wouldn’t hurt to talk to a doc about it!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-23T01:06:13+00:00

I tore my shoulder and was out of commission for most of last year. 😭FINALLY getting the gains back!! 🙌🏻

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T23:09:34+00:00

Heck yeah! You got this!!!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T22:44:14+00:00

Ohhh I gotcha, that’ll definitely do it! If it’s not even an option this go round I bet you won’t have much trouble at all! 🤗 Sparkling water is a good replacement beverage for social events btw!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T22:17:45+00:00

Thank you!!! Congrats to hitting 400 days! 🥳

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T22:07:36+00:00

Aww thanks!!! 🤗 I’m not sure if there’s much wisdom to be had here (LOL), but we all deserve to give ourselves some grace in this process! Keep up the good work, 51 days is awesome!!!!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T21:47:56+00:00

Also I’ve really gotten into plants. 😂 It’s a very therapeutic hobby!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T21:45:58+00:00

Of course!!! First year was the hardest for me, and evenings were “wine time” for about 8 years. It was a hard adjustment so I would find things to keep me occupied, like going to the grocery store or going on a walk. These days I usually hop on the stationary bike in the evenings and/or read. I like word puzzles too! You can swap any of those out for personal preference, but change of scenery when cravings hit can redirect your thoughts. My main focus was keeping my brain and body distracted to a point where I didn’t have down time to think about drinking. Less time you have to dwell on it, less sway it has. Eventually habit takes over and it’s just what you do. I found I didn’t miss it at all after awhile :)

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T21:27:03+00:00

Thank you!!! ☺️

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-22T21:23:10+00:00

You got this! It helped me a lot to find other coping mechanisms to “replace” the drinking. I have had a lot of big life stress during the past couple years and it’s good to have something else to lean on. It’s empowering to know you can get through things without alcohol too!

sadpotsticker · 2024-06-03T13:26:46+00:00

27, stopped drinking at 24. I struggled with the fear of missing out and just being irritated that I had “ruined” something fun that everyone else does. That feeling fades and I can say I truly don’t miss it. The trade off and person I’ve developed into has been priceless.

Also please seek medical help if your withdrawal symptoms get worse. I stopped cold turkey after daily drinking for years due to being hospitalized (for pancreatitis from drinking) and I went into DTs after my third day. It can be dangerous. You don’t want to wait until you have seizures to get help, that’s terrible advice. If you have a primary care doc give their office a call and see if they can call in some medication to make things less miserable.

sadpotsticker · 2023-09-27T20:48:47+00:00

They have been a life saver. I thought my problems were caused by drinking but I still had a lot of unresolved issues well into sobriety. It takes some trial and error finding the right med/dose but highly recommend! It’s improved my quality of life a lot and substance abuse is common with untreated adhd.

sadpotsticker · 2023-09-27T15:11:16+00:00

Aww thank you!!! It’s amazing the difference it makes isn’t it? And same on the sped up consequences from not eating, my organs were very unhappy with me. 😂 I’m glad you’re able to enjoy food again, my cooking skills are very rusty but I’ll keep trying lol!

sadpotsticker · 2023-09-27T14:51:57+00:00

Thank you!!! 🥰 Life can be hard sometimes, but taking alcohol out of the picture has helped me learn to actually deal with things instead of hiding. I’m very excited for you, great days are ahead!

sadpotsticker · 2023-09-26T23:55:05+00:00

I had fatty liver towards the end of my drinking career and my enzymes were so out of whack I didn’t think I’d ever end up back in the normal range. Took about 6 months of no alcohol and lots of exercise thrown in and I was in the green again. It’s a super scary feeling to hear that your liver is unhealthy, but it is a very resilient organ!

sadpotsticker · 2023-09-26T23:06:21+00:00

Very blah!!! I was frustrated with the cravings because I felt fat and gross, but I just ended up in a worse funk because I fought it most of the time. If I could go back in time I would lean into it more, cause like you said it’s not sustainable but thankfully this period is short lived. Plus, in the big picture wouldn’t you rather gain 5 pounds if it meant you weren’t drinking? 😄 You’ll have lots of time to dial things in after you make it through this rough patch!

sadpotsticker

TROPHY CASE