Less alcohol- January 2018- one day at a time

salleewins

Hi. My car had to be towed today. In a way it is great! Can't be worked on until Tuesday. No way with this minus wind chill that we have today and for several days to get any alcohol!! YAY!!

justlog

Wishing all of those that are trying to abstain from "Friday" drinks -a huge success!!

jenifer7teen

I am a very functional alcoholic. Most everyone i know is a heavy drinker but my tolerance has increased to the point that drinking a bottle of wine almost every day just feels normal.

I agree that "Drinking:a Love story" gave me a lot of insight and motivation to change. Although finding she died shortly after acheiving sobriety...from smoking cigarettes...kind of re-enforced my skepticism about striving for total sobriety since people often find new substitute obsessions/addictions/escapism.

Still, i have begun to experience SHAME when i drink too much or too often. I hate that emotion more than anything. So, my new years resolution is for each day i am totally sober i put 10 dollars (a bottle of wine) into an account. Going to use it to build a privacy fence. I like tangible goals. I have $30 since the new year. Haha

Anyone else using a "reward" system?

SanDiegofitmom

Anyone else using a "reward" system?[/quote]

That’s a great idea. I sort of already rewarded myself (ha don’t tell my husband) with some Jcrew clothes on crazy sale. I figured hey I’m going to save like 180$ dollars or more this month!

salleewins

I do like reward systems. I haven't figured out mine yet.

KareninLux

Hoegaarden. Two.

SabrinaG1986

My boyfriend found my hearing aid and the cat DID NOT eat it, AND it's FRIDAY! Could today get any better guys.

bluebird321

Count me in on this one. I haven't had any since new years, so want to keep it that way for a while.

mkdm291

Well, made it through my first Friday in too long to fathom without any wine. However, I did eat my weight in Chinese food Thank God for the treadmill as I was still under calorie goal. I missed the wine.... especially when my husband came home after having a couple happy hour beers on his train commute home.
I drank my flavored seltzer, watched some tv, and heading to bed feeling accomplished.
Congrats to all who made it through with their own personal goals this week! For those who did not.... tomorrow is another day.

MichelleWithMoxie

I had a lovely Friday happy hour on the couch with my yummy h20!

erikNJ

jenifer7teen wrote: »

Anyone else using a "reward" system?

My wife and I have a reward system. We set a percentage of weight loss goal for every two weeks. If we hit it we each get a little personal cash to save towards something for ourself.

erikNJ

Also like to add that my goal was to have no alcohol except maybe on Saturdays and I have successfully made it through Friday night

jenifer7teen

Oh man i am so bored. I almost gave in a few times but....i think i am going to make it. Obviously its "easier" to skip alcohol when we didnt have any social plans...but still...tea, seltzer, you just dont quite satisfy. I am going to have some wine tommorow so theres that to look forward to. i better just go to bed here soon. Hahaha
Good luck to everyone trying to abstain on a Friday! I will say the pay off is that i am kind of proud of myself and expect to sleep well tonight.

missoularocks2018

I went M-Th with no drinking and had two beers tonight. I had a Hefe and a wheat ale so at least they were lighter craft beers!

RubyRed427

Hi everyone! Day 5 a success ,so that's five in a row. Tonight, we had a wake for my father in law. It was lovely and it was his time to go. Afterwards, we went somewhere and people were drinking lots of wine and talking. I didnt have a drop. Something weird has happened. I really didn't even want any wine. I think I am so determined this time to keep my streak going, that my cravings are quickly fading. I talked to two friends after the wake and mentioned that I'm doing dry January and each other them said they really should do that. I think there are a lot of us who tend to drink , but also want to moderate. For me, I'm like some of you in the thread. If I have one, the switch turns on and that's it. I will keep pouring and drinking. I was so happy when i got home to check the thread that there was some great conversations. I"ll read the rest of them tomorrow evening. Here's to day 6 or maybe for some of you a new Day 1. There will always be second chances. And we are all rooting for you! Xoxo

SanDiegofitmom

Day 4 for me without wine. I went to a family birthday party and everyone was having wine and beer and I stuck to my le Croix yay! - happy liver

Skyweigh

4th day for me without drinking wine. Was pretty easy until this evening, when I missed my glass 'o chard.... oh, well! Also, on Sunday I will be seeing my friend with whom I've shared many a bottle of wine. I've told her to feel free to bring wine and drink as usual, but that I will drink something else, like tea or water. Appears now a bit of a hurdle, but it will be good to break the pattern.

AlistairBernardNormal

2 beers last night, but I declined to go for a drink with the other softball moms while the girls were at practice, so I’m counting it as a win.

MaryBethHempel

Goal — January under 7 drinks a week- for my health.....my mind.....my body....

1/1 =alcohol free
1/2 = 4 wine spritzers
1/3 =alcohol free
1/4 =alcohol free
1/5 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine....I wasn't tempted, which was great!
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MaryBethHempel

kcn2bluesky wrote: »

I’m in for a Damp January! LOL

I’ve been watching this thread since it’s inception. Truly have enjoyed reading everyone’s posts and updates, and now I’m ready to join all of you! I drink primarily wine, and definitely have been wanting to cut back. We left for vacation yesterday and I left the wine I purchased for the trip at home and I don’t intend to purchase any while we are here. That’s a huge step for me. We’re here for 9 days and my plan is to use this time away to reflect on and to refocus on my overall goals (health, fitness, family, work).

There is so much great information, insights, and encouragement in this thread. Love it! Hope you all have the day you wish for!

Wow! Great step for you!! Enjoy your reflections!!

MonkeyMel21

Today will be day 5 for me! I’m anticipating it to be the hardest day yet (tomorrow will be worse though). Kids bday from 12-2 and then I will be home and would normally have several rum and sparkling water over the course of the evening. I’m planning instead to work out in my new home gym and doing something constructive with my 8 year old (we have a lot of STEM toys/activities that aren’t used enough) before cooking a healthy dinner for us. I feel so good so that is really mentally helping me stick to my goals right now.

salleewins

Yesterday was a win! Then of course diet was great. I am thinking of roses or earrings for rewards. Maybe a rose a week. Maybe all of them on my birthday if I abstain that day....

machchic

Last night was a learning experience, many factors and emotions, broke down my wall of not drinking. But I am happy and now relieved. I drank (3) then something clicked in my brain and I stopped, switched to fizzy water and diet cranberry juice. yes the damage was done, over calories, potential hangover(I don't have one yaaa) broke my streak but the mystery is over, what if I drink again. Well now I know and it is not worth it, so I am looking forward to tonight, my fizzy water, tea and a enjoying me. I hate watching the hubby drink but I cannot let that affect or influence me. So I start over and I okay with that, I am a perfectionist so not having a dry January is ruined. 1 out of 30 days is way more better than drinking 30 out of 30 which is what I use to do.
Great job everyone! I am 1 for 4

slimbyjune18

I woke up with a totally clear head this morning & had a long run. I read somewhere that with running, you shouldn’t drink the day before a long run or the day you’ve completed it. This is really helping me (was a bit doubtful of the benefit) as two long runs in since alcohol free & there is a fairly big difference! Day 5 today for me & Saturday when I intended to drink, but I won’t be. Want to see what the difference is in another week. Still each day as it comes, once we hit Monday again it’ll be easier! Keep going everyone, it’s inspiring me too!

machchic

slimbyjune18 wrote: »

I woke up with a totally clear head this morning & had a long run. I read somewhere that with running, you shouldn’t drink the day before a long run or the day you’ve completed it. This is really helping me (was a bit doubtful of the benefit) as two long runs in since alcohol free & there is a fairly big difference! Day 5 today for me & Saturday when I intended to drink, but I won’t be. Want to see what the difference is in another week. Still each day as it comes, once we hit Monday again it’ll be easier! Keep going everyone, it’s inspiring me too!

Great job, I want to work back up to running and quitting drinking is really going to help. I hope by the spring thaw in Ohio I can have enough walking miles on the treadmill to venture outside for running. I am just starting back to daily exercise so I have a long way to go.

Beka3695

Day 5 is in the books as a success - a difficult success. My oldest daughter is in the Navy and home on leave. We had the first of two dinner parties last night.

She and I came in from shopping to find a 12pk in the fridge. I passed them up easily. My son in law then said “we are running out to the liquor store, need anything?” I was so proud of my reply... “NO, I’M GOOD”. Yay!!! Go me!!!!

He came back and asked me to make him a mojito. I did and passed on having one. The second was more difficult, but I passed again.

Everyone left about 11 Pm and as I was putting stuff in the dishwasher - I looked at my husband and said “a mojito would be so good right about now”. He said to have one - one would not hurt me... I almost caved in.

The silly little thing that kept me from having one was the app in the photo above.... my counting clock. I would have to reset to zero.

I grabbed a sparking ice and went to the bedroom.

I am proud of myself this morning!!!

crazykatlady820

@becky3695 That's awesome! It took some serious self-discipline for you to pass all that up!

Beka3695

crazykatlady820 wrote: »

@becky3695 That's awesome! It took some serious self-discipline for you to pass all that up!

Thank you!!! And you are my biggest inspiration. I know if you can make it 80+ Days - I can make it just One more!!!

Let’s do this!!!!

Beka3695

jenifer7teen wrote: »

Still, i have begun to experience SHAME when i drink too much or too often. I hate that emotion more than anything. So, my new years resolution is for each day i am totally sober i put 10 dollars (a bottle of wine) into an account.

This is a FANTASTIC idea!!!! I can think of a lot of things that $3650 can buy me next year!!

Milan1825

I am doing dry January! Day 6 so far feeling really good. I realized i was drinking way more than I thought. One bottle at dinner with my boyfriend would turn into two.. going out i'd lose count of how many drinks I was having. I was gaining weight and my sleep pattern was terrible. 6 days in I am already noticing a difference in my skin, my sleep is better and I have more energy in the morning. Once January is over I think I will continue, or at least reduce my drinking to once in a while. I'm actually finding it to be a fun challenge for myself!