Robyn took her last drink on June 30, 2020. With 63 days away from alcohol (at the time of this recording), this is her story of living alcohol free (AF). &nbsp; . We will be offering this starting 1/1/2021. We’re meeting 13 times in January via Zoom to give you the tools and accountability needed for an alcohol-free January… and hopefully more! We’ll be focusing more on creating a life where alcohol is no longer needed. We’ve found that when we have healthy altruistic relationships with fellow human beings, the need for alcohol or any external substance drastically reduces. For more information and to sign up, use this . &nbsp; Odette’s weekly installment of: Finding Your Better You &nbsp; The last Monday of the year! “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals” – Zig Ziglar This journey isn’t about arriving, it’s about becoming. How much we are willing to put in is what we should celebrate. Your hard work and new habits are what is to be celebrated. No one can take that away from you. What have you noticed about your journey this year? Who did you become this year? &nbsp; &nbsp; [6:35] Odette introduces Robyn. &nbsp; Robyn is from Columbia, South Carolina. She lives with her partner and he has two kids they see often. She likes jigsaw puzzles, reading, journaling and meditating. Pre-covid she liked vacations to the mountains. &nbsp; &nbsp; [9:33] Can you give listeners some background on your story? &nbsp; Robyn said she started drinking around her senior year of high school. She was shy. When she moved to NC it was a fresh start and to fit in, she drank. It helped her open up and have fun. After some life trials and moving to Columbia she made friends with bartenders and it was still fun drinking. During a relationship with another alcoholic, she noticed her drinking really ramped up. There were lots of times she talked herself out of being an alcoholic. In 2011 Robyn got a DUI. She did quit for a little, but it didn’t stick. After her mother passed away was when Robyn actually noticed it was a problem. She dealt with so much during that time. Robyn’s getting to her last drink came in ebbs and flows over years. There was a definite mental decline that she noticed. &nbsp; &nbsp; [26:10] How was your emotional state during these times of drinking and then returning to drinking? &nbsp; Robyn said she stopped beating herself up. It took a while for that overall to stop, but the more she met people and gained community it’s been easier for her to be easier on herself. She’s learned there’s no point in beating yourself up, it won’t help. &nbsp; &nbsp; [31:06] What do you do when you get a craving? &nbsp; Robyn said she reaches out. Her partner helps her with the rational side of her thinking. If he’s not available, she will reach out to Café RE or her little DTB group.  &nbsp; &nbsp; [32:43] How has this decision affected other relationships? &nbsp; Robyn said her boss is also in recovery and he’s a big supporter of her recovery. Her best friend still drinks but is supportive of her choice. &nbsp; &nbsp; [35:21] Have you been able to identify any triggers? &nbsp; Robyn said some of her triggers are good things. If she’s having a good day, yard work, outside activities. Her triggers aren’t emotional anymore. &nbsp; &nbsp; [38:06] Do you have a daily routine? &nbsp; Robyn said journaling. She’s journaled most of her life and she’s really focused on it during her sobriety. Robyn even noticed that if she takes a break, within a week she’s had a drink. Even when she doesn’t have anything “great” to say, she writes anyway. She tries to include gratitude and she’s begun meditating. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;[47:18] Rapid Fire Round&nbsp; &nbsp;  If you could talk to day 1 Robyn, what would you say?  Keep trying, you’re making the right decision, keep going. It will eventually be good. &nbsp;  What are you excited about right...

RE 306: Who are you Becoming?

Chris took his last drink about 6 years ago. This is his story of living alcohol free (AF). &nbsp; &nbsp; Odette’s weekly installment of: Finding Your Better You &nbsp; &nbsp; A few weeks ago, Elle published an article titled “” which explored how alcohol in 2020 was front and center. Alcohol effects everything in our society and it’s time we got serious and brought these issues to light. Alcohol is a drug that has been glamorized.&nbsp; 2020 taught Odette that she has grit, that she can speak up about things that matter to her, that she doesn’t have to be a people pleaser, to name a few. She is pledging to make 2021 the year where Recovery Elevator changes even more lives through unmasking alcohol. As more and more people are questioning their relationship with alcohol… LETS KEEP GOING. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [7:10] Odette introduces Chris. &nbsp; &nbsp; Chris is 33 years old, originally from New Jersey and right now lives in Savannah, GA. His career began in finance, as he quit drinking, he transitioned to being a personal trainer. He also began a blog, writing the articles he wished he could have read when questioning his own drinking. This became his  and he now is a alcohol recovery coach and has a  related to sobriety. He likes to be physically active. Chris also has two dogs he rescued in 2020. &nbsp; &nbsp; [16:57] Can you give listeners some background on your story? &nbsp; &nbsp; Chris started drinking in high school but wasn’t really a partier. He was mostly into swimming and studying. However, when he did go out, he realized he could out drink all his friends. As he moved into an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, he felt like he was living a double life. Alcohol was the opposite of everything he stood for. Looking back he can see that he would have withdrawal symptoms at the age of 20 when he didn’t drink. When he left college and began working, the drinking was now just martinis and more expensive. When he did finally quit, he had to go to detox. Through his research he learned that he had been out of balance with his nutrients which alcohol only exacerbated. &nbsp; &nbsp; [25:21] How aware were you that alcohol was the problem? &nbsp; Chris said he was in deep denial, with outbursts of honesty. A story he tells is standing outside a liquor store one morning waiting for it to open while drinking from a bottle of water he had filled with vodka. He thought to himself “this isn’t normal.” Chris felt he was special because of that he needed to drink to deal with people and jobs. Alcohol to him was a performance enhancing drug. &nbsp; &nbsp; [30:47] Tell me about those first couple months. &nbsp; Chris said once he admitted to others that alcohol was a problem, he felt some inner peace and relief. He also felt the tug of war in his brain, would this be purgatory and him having to be a saint the rest of his life? Chris took the leap of faith that he would figure out what needed to be done. In rehab he began doing meditation and that opened his eyes to the fact that you can have a fulfilled life away from alcohol. Fueling his body helped him see the world in full color. &nbsp; &nbsp; [39:35] What are simple tips help you restore your body balance? &nbsp; Chris said there are two main factors: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and deficiencies in neurotransmitters. Start with a daily multivitamin and look into amino acid therapy. L Glutamine can be helpful in repairing muscles and gut health. It also turned into glucose in the brain without a spike in blood sugar. * always speak to your doctor before beginning any regiment. &nbsp; &nbsp; [44:52] Sleep &nbsp; Chris said he’s recently read  by Matthew Walker. Chris had always had trouble sleeping and he’s now trying to optimize his sleep. He tracks his sleep and tries to get to the bottom of why his sleep pattern might have changed. Chris recommends the power of tea and drinking tea to find a blissed-out state. There’s a whole universe of...

RE 307: 2021-The Year We Say F--- You Booze

Niel took his last drink on January 9th, 2020. This is his story of living alcohol free (AF). &nbsp; &nbsp; Odette’s weekly installment of: Finding Your Better You &nbsp; &nbsp; A few weeks ago, Odette heard a phrase that she hadn’t heard before and it struck a chord with her. It was different from the usual catch phrases that people use. &nbsp; “Awkwardness is an indicator of learning” &nbsp; Do we talk enough about the uncomfortable moments while on this journey? Are we allowing those moments to happen and normalizing them? When the decision to quit drinking is made, awkward moments arise, because we are feeling everything now. When we feel awkward, we feel vulnerable and feeling vulnerable makes most people want to run and hide. Odette phrases this into if/then questions to find a new path. Choosing yourself and living AF is often awkward and that’s ok! Let it feel weird until it doesn’t anymore. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [6:59] Odette introduces Niel. &nbsp; &nbsp; Niel is 56 and lives in rural North Eastern California. He is a forester. He is married and has two children. For fun he likes to be outdoors. He misses swimming. He plays and builds guitars, any type of woodworking. Biking and hiking he also enjoys. &nbsp; &nbsp; [10:08] Can you give listeners some background on your story? &nbsp; &nbsp; Niel said he grew up in family where drinking was part of the culture. He started drinking irresponsibly / binge way in high school. He joined a fraternity in college and drank there as well. After he passed the bar exam in 2004 his drinking began to be problematic. In 2016 he stopped for a year, but then began drinking again in 2017. &nbsp; &nbsp; [12:27] Tell me more about your year in 2016. &nbsp; Niel said he talked to friends who were AF before this. He began exploring the idea that he might have a problem. Although he went back to drinking in 2017, he needed to experiment and decide is maybe this time it would be different. &nbsp; &nbsp; [15:00] Given your level of drinking, how was your day to day? &nbsp; Niel said he characterized himself as high functioning. However, he did have the repercussions of drinking that much. He found himself waking up feeling “thick” and he was irritable, unable to sleep, his weight was up, his heart was always racing, there were all kinds of manifestations. &nbsp; &nbsp; [16:39] How were your relationships at home? &nbsp; Niel said he was more on the irritable side. Emotionally until you pause and look in the mirror you don’t realize how bad you can be. Your actions are all reflections of your wellness. &nbsp; &nbsp; [20:08] What’s one of your worst drinking memories? &nbsp; Niel said there’s a highlight tape of horrors in his head. His worst memories are those about missing out on memorable moments in his life. Raising his kids, being around them for their successes. Those memories are foggy and not sharp. &nbsp; &nbsp; [21:57] Tell me about the beginning of this year. &nbsp; Niel said the first 3-4 days the cravings were strong towards the end of the day. He kept those at bay by distracting himself. Usually he would go outside and exercise. He replaced the liquid with soda water and lime. His cravings were more nuances. It was more about figuring out the trigger and dealing with those emotions. He’s felt so much better in the past months that it drives him to keep going. Emotionally the peaks and valleys are more manageable. Thinking through his actions and distractions are what works for him. &nbsp; &nbsp; [26:29] Do you get any push back along the journey? &nbsp; Niel said he’s received a lot of support from friends and family. There’s a few that don’t understand. It’s a matter of understanding any challenge from a friend, it’s from a place of not understanding or challenging their own drinking. &nbsp; &nbsp; [28:02] What are a few things you do daily that keep you grounded? &nbsp; Niel said he’s a very driven person. He wakes early and starts his day...

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