Successfully navigated the festive and New Year periods without touching a drop of booze. I reckon from a psychological perspective it was probably the most taxing thing I've had to overcome in the last ten years - perhaps only second to when I decided to pack in a perfectly good job and go self-employed. Both of these times it has worked out but that's not what this post is about.
2019 was by far the worst year that my family and I have had to go through with the death of close family members, me getting sick and being told not once, but twice that I might not make it through the next 4 weeks and all the baggage that came with that.
But enough of the poor me speel. There are, and always will be others who are worse off or have much harder challenges to overcome and are still overcoming.
I wanted to reach out and thank this fine community for the help it has offered over the last 6 months. It truly has helped me understand the issues I've had and how to better understand how to deal with them.
Here's to 2020, god knows what it has in store. I am a serial planner, I have always worked to a 3 and 5-year plan for work, family, goals, etc. but if this year has taught me anything is that having these plans that span such time frames are fine, but that time should be used much, much better. So I'm focussing on the short term stuff.
Work will be work, finances will be finances and those alone are enough to fill the next 30 years alone but if we just take a step back and think about the smaller things in life for a change I think it will help hugely in achieving the larger things; whatever they may be.
Here's to YOU, BLT - the stalwarts who have been on here for ages either as someone trying to deal with their own issues or to understand the needs of a family member.
I think of Laura who lost her husband, Ayshire, Oldham, Ofheckman, Boots, miles and a million others that I can't remember. Take pride in knowing that you all helped me greatly over the last wee while. And of course to the Trust itself; I didn't even know it existed until I went looking. Keep up the sterling good work.
I' not out of the woods yet with three more scopes planned between now and March but as of this time next week I will be 6 months sober. I still need to get my fat arse to a gym and sort out my diet but one thing at a time.
Peace!
Written by
Xenom0rph
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If you can keep off the booze in the midst of all that going on, you’re doing something right.
And you won’t regret that gym idea either. The amount of doors that’s opened for me (well, cutting down and then quitting booze helped too) is something I’d never have imagined two years ago.
It might be a big help to get a trainer in that case. They’ll do plans specific to your needs. You’ll also train with them and get pushed (professionally, allowing you to progress). What I found was I also felt motivated to train harder on my own. If I slackened off, my trainer would notice I’d lost some fitness. Now I only train with him once a month or so, but it’s been one of my better investments.
It’s also a great incentive not to drink! Even when I’d had “only” two beers the night before, I could feel that lot sloshing about inside me at the gym! Also going to the gym really teaches you about calories. A small glass of wine is a two-mile run!
One of the senior trainers at my gym works with older members a lot and develops training plans to take into account their medications, etc, and writes to the GP if necessary. I’m not suggesting you’re old, but you can discuss any medical concerns with a trainer first.
Happy New Year-great post. Likewise a dry one for me. Following a great holiday in Sicily on the occasion of my son's wedding decided I'd overdone the celebrations-I've certainly paid for it since I can tell you..all kinds of liver related symptoms all of which raised their ugly heads a few weeks after I stopped drinking. Yesterday, started feeling a bit better and today after a decent nights sleep my digestive system vaguely normal after 11 weeks so my mood is somewhat improved. Still have some joint pains but hey at 64-can't complain. Had my bloods done just before Xmas and I was astonished that my cholesterol is the best its' been in 10 years or more-blood sugar fine-blood pressure normal. It was all a bit borderline a few months ago. Only red flag was slightly elevated MCV so possible B12 /folate deficeiency-not a surprise given my drinking history over the years. The docs advice was to retest MCV after 3 months abstinence so that's what I'll do-I think I'll request the full liver panel as well as I doubt I'm out of the woods completely. My complexion has returned to normal as well-I was looking a bit pale-probably low level alcoholic hepatitis I reckon.... . Anyway-a message for those in similar boat out there-stay away from the booze if you can -6 weeks is a great start-it's not just your liver that feels better... Best wishes everyone.
Very interesting and thought provoking post 👍. You have had some tough times and you are SO young 😕.
I remember the first Christmas and New Year without Vimto and it was hard - really hard - but you’ve made it so GJ for that 👍. As the song goes 🎼things can only get better, get better🎼 Or hope so for you 🤞🤞.
I think coco is right, if you can afford it, get a Personal Trainer, the money it costs sure focuses the mind 😀.
You are so right one thing at a time, if you try and manage too much it preys on your mind - doesn’t it - when or if you don’t achieve your targets!
Good luck for the next six moths (taking your short term approach 🙂)!
PS I still remember that picture of your dashboard when you were “fixing” your car! What a nightmare that looked and didn’t half bring back (still does) some of my own disastrous repair attempts (not saying your repairs were a disaster -but mine often were 😀).
Thanks miles. Everytime someone tells me that I'm far too young for all of this it does more to cement the chaos I put myself through over the last 20 years. An even younger me would put blame to earning decent money and not knowing what to do with myself but then family etc came along and by then it was too late.
I am positive this is why the universe will make sure I never win the lottery as it could be a death sentence. Dramatisation if course as at the moment a decent bottle of whisky would be more than enough.
Anyway, I still have my beloved car, despite the best efforts of the wife trying to get me to sell it!
Since that photo I've replaced all of the brakes, pads, shoes and sensors. I'd have taken photos but I was preoccupied with swearing at the Fugging thing while i cried through the cost.
You hang on to that car Xen!! I rebuilt a 1960 Mini when I was considerably younger (ha ha) from subframe, engine, brakes, well in fact everything. Then my parents said they were fed up with it on their drive and made me sell it! I was devastated and never forgot that. It was one of the very first Minis too and would have been quite a bit now. Ah well. 😀
Oh such sad news Miles on the mini front! I've got two sad memories of rebuilding my two red cars from chassis up! A 1968 Riley Elf and 1967 MG Roadster with 1st hubby an having to sell them both which I've always regretted as they were my pride and joy ! I still miss both to this day!
I don’t wish to bang on about this personal trainer thing, but the right one is worth their weight in gold. The stereotypical imagine of a personal trainer is a walking muscle who loves himself. I can’t see such people being much help to a beginner or a less than out of shape person.
My trainer is almost half my age, but he’s very down to earth about his own fitness and training and in his youth was quite chubby! He even reckons I’m now a better runner than him, but I’m sure if he worked on his running like I have, I wouldn’t see him for dust.
Thank you for sharing this positive post and well done for a dry NYE.
We will be here to support you throughout 2020
Trust1
Scary where the time goes. I remember last year like it was yesterday. 😜
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TO ALL TO READ A THANK YOU TOWHO STARTED THIS BLT FORAM forever in debt 
Thank You
Thank you everyone 
Thank you British Liver Trust and the lovely people here
