Hello comrades and welcome to the first improvement megathread of July!

As usual, some discussion ideas:

  • Do you want to share something you’ve done in the previous week? Everything counts, nothing is too small.
  • Do you have any plans or goals for next week?
  • Do you have any streaks? For example, “sober for one day.” Feel free to post your streak every day in this thread.
  • If you don’t have a continuous streak, did you manage to abstain from something for a day or more?
  • Did you come across some useful information or resource that might help others?

Poster caption: We demand peace!

Good luck with your goals!

  • CommunistBear [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    4 months ago

    My sobriety streak continues, just shy of 3 months now. Some perks to not drinking/smoking all the time that I’ve noticed for any who might be on the fence:

    • My digestive system is significantly better and my poops are genuinely fantastic.
    • My libido and general sexual health have wildly improved to the point that I feel easily 10 years younger
    • My sleep is fantastic and I’m able to fall asleep in <10 minutes every night and stay asleep the entire time
    • My physique is changing in a noticable way and muscle seems to come on way easier and faster than I expected.
    • My energy levels are consistent and much higher
    • My sinuses have all but completely cleared up and my nose hasn’t been stuffy at all

    I’m sure there is more but these are the easily noticeable ones. I want to thank this community in particular for being the supportive nudge in the right direction to get my shit a little bit more together. Seeing others here do better was a genuine inspiration for me and I’m so glad I decided to start. I wish you all the best in your journeys to do and be better than the day before.

    My goals remain as before: maintain the good work I’ve put in and build from there. Do more fitness activities, be more social with friends, continue to eat well, and maybe start reading again.

    • goose [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      4 months ago

      Hell yes. Dropping alcohol is hard but it basically turns most aspects of existence down a full difficulty level. I have a cabinet full of good bourbon and no desire to touch it anymore because I can remember how shitty I felt back then

    • moonlake [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      4 months ago

      I want to thank this community in particular for being the supportive nudge in the right direction to get my shit a little bit more together. Seeing others here do better was a genuine inspiration for me and I’m so glad I decided to start. I wish you all the best in your journeys to do and be better than the day before.

      Thank you for posting with us rat-salute-2

      I am also inspired when I see others posting about their progress (and sometimes Ls) every week

  • Aradina [She/They]@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    Sober streak good. Sleep schedule maintained. Not much else is tbh. I need to be more physically active definitely.

    Loneliness is hitting big lately. I need to start more conversations, but no one ever replies. I’ve got my precious smelly poo prince kitty, he’s been so cuddly lately because of the cold.

    I bought a cheap set of drawers so my clothes won’t be in a big pile anymore, but I need to put it together and don’t have the energy.

    • moonlake [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      4 months ago

      It can’t replace real human interactions but listening to podcasts definitely helps if you spend a lot of time alone like I do. I recommend listening to Guys, it’s a podcast about different types of guys. It’s mandatory listening for everybody on Hexbear

  • goose [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    4 months ago

    It’s been rough lately! I woke up with intense pain in my right foot a couple of weeks ago, and that combined with my other injuries resulted in zero workouts for ten days, which was a real bummer both mentally and physically. I’ve been stress-eating and going over my calorie goal, but it’s below maintenance level, so that’s still progress!

    screenshot of calorie tracking graph

    The thing I’ve learned about this process is to just be stubborn and log everything you eat, even if it feels silly or like the current day is a bust. Chances are it’s not as bad as it seems, and you can see that day as an outlying data point rather than “well I’m off the wagon now, time to give up.”

    Once I get the physical issues sorted out with a doctor this week, I’ll try to figure out what to do about this new “moderate depression” screening result. Marriage has been very difficult lately, but I don’t know if the depression is cause, effect, or both. Having such a foundational part of life in jeopardy is extremely stressful, but it’s all the more reason to practice doing a good job with the things that I can control.

  • blight [he/him, null/void]@hexbear.net
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    4 months ago

    Another pretty shitty week. No exercise at all, stayed up way too late, more random sandwiches replacing proper meals. One or two porn binges but I realized quickly that it’s actually pretty boring if you do it for too long. Compared to the previous week idk if in total it’s better or worse but I think I’m still generally in control.

    • moonlake [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      4 months ago

      It do be like that sometimes. My week has also been kinda garbage because the heat is kicking my ass. Nothing else to do than keep on trucking unity

  • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.net
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    4 months ago

    3 days now masturbation free. I did slip up today and start but I stopped myself and now I want to keep up the pace. I feel pretty good, I don’t feel like my brain has reset itself from wanting hardcore porn though. But from what I’ve read it might take a month or two. Thanks for not judging me either. It’s nice to be able to share this here and not be forced to mingle with reactionary no-fappers in a semen retention cult.