I’m 25 days into breaking free, and this week’s mix of wins and struggles keeps me pushing.

My goals: quit vaping, drinking, nail-biting; exercise 3x/week; track all food on MyFitnessPal and eat healthier; clear my mind with stress relief (box breathing, fidget toys); be a great dad and husband; feel my best; make the world fitter; read my contract daily.

Wins are stacking up. My nails are thriving—no biting, no urges, and my wife’s touch-up has them looking better than ever. HelloFresh makes meals tasty and nutritious, MyFitnessPal simplifies tracking my food—I feel like I’ve lost weight, my clothes fit better, and I’m vibrant. Exercise hits 3x/week with gym, bouldering, swimming, and 7,000-step walks with family or friends, thanks to CBT planning a week ahead.

The best moment this week? Watching my boy ride his bike solo—a pure joy feeling that money can’t buy – a magical moment, seeing his face smiling as he was proud of himself, our bond deepening as I cheered.
Other victories keep the momentum. Counting 10 blessings nightly boosts my mood. The Try Dry app shows July at 144 units, down from prior months. This week, I’ve cut intake nearly in half (7.5 units), aiming for under 14 tomorrow and a 10% drop in August. Tracking well-being daily—my mood’s climbing! I’m ready for an even stronger month 2.

Challenges remain, but I’m tackling them. Vaping’s tough—two car journeys daily are vape-free with Mentos, eyeing a vape-free car zone. Meditation’s spotty; I’ll habit-stack it with reading my contract daily. CBT’s working—diary planning wakes me motivated.

A consequence of falling short in my contract means going the extra mile to help others, which feels good and not like a punishment.

It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you keep moving. What’s your win? Challenge: Count 3 blessings tonight—what are they? #BreakTheChains