Less alcohol- January 2018- one day at a time
Replies
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »Today was one of those days.... worked later than usual and thought I would in the past have went to a bar to have two glasses of wine and an appetizer before going home. Came home instead and put my workout clothes and and will do a youtube workout. There is this draw I have equating a reward with some alcohol and tasty food. I must get over it. Day 18 will be dry.
Yesterday, I went to acupuncture. I felt tingling in my kidneys during the session. *No needles were in that area by the way.
I can't explain it, but I felt so peaceful and renewed afterwards. And hopefully my liver and kidneys got some much needed TLC.
You are awesome-o2 -
Trying hard to cut out drinking for 12 weeks. I am a big-time social drinker. Last summer I went out with different friends at least 4 times a week. Over the winter I was able to cut down to weekends. I have explained to my various friends that I am trying to cut it out of my life to help offset the 40 plus pounds I gained. However, the phone calls keep coming in to socialize and drink. I realize all I have to do is say no, but after 12 plus hour work days sometimes its just hard.
It helps to have no friends
Right? Introvert win!
People are trouble4 -
Trying hard to cut out drinking for 12 weeks. I am a big-time social drinker. Last summer I went out with different friends at least 4 times a week. Over the winter I was able to cut down to weekends. I have explained to my various friends that I am trying to cut it out of my life to help offset the 40 plus pounds I gained. However, the phone calls keep coming in to socialize and drink. I realize all I have to do is say no, but after 12 plus hour work days sometimes its just hard.
It helps to have no friends
Right? Introvert win!
People are trouble
Hmmm..1 -
And i usually... put my for in it.. i should stay out.2
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lonestarbabe wrote: »I want in on this! I just found the thread. I've been drinking a lot lately while dealing with a couple of sudden deaths in the family. It's gotten out of hand. So, my goal will be to only have Gluhwein when my husband does. He has one or two small glasses and just sips it, which is much better than what I've been doing!
I'm excited!
So sorry for your losses. Some of us have found tea is a pretty good substitute. Stay on this thread ; it's very motivating:)1 -
18 days in.
2 days I had a few drinks. 3 days i had a few small beer samples at work. Only 1 day I ate unhealthy food and another 1 that I went over calories but it was on healthy food.
I have worked out 10 days and done yoga 2 days ( i really hope to increase that one)
And I am down 9 lbs!!
Definitely lookig forward to keeping this momentum
9 lbs down that is fantastic!!! How often do you weigh yourself?
I weigh myself every Thursday. Not sure why Thursday, that is just how it started.
I’m sure it will slow done as my body gets used to it. But it is a nice start!1 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »Today was one of those days.... worked later than usual and thought I would in the past have went to a bar to have two glasses of wine and an appetizer before going home. Came home instead and put my workout clothes and and will do a youtube workout. There is this draw I have equating a reward with some alcohol and tasty food. I must get over it. Day 18 will be dry.
Yesterday, I went to acupuncture. I felt tingling in my kidneys during the session. *No needles were in that area by the way.
I can't explain it, but I felt so peaceful and renewed afterwards. And hopefully my liver and kidneys got some much needed TLC.
It's poison, you don't need it!3 -
Last post aside, I have made the conscious decision to have 2 beers tonight even though I am trying to keep it to just one day a week.
I proud of the hard work i have put in and i am motivated to keep this going. This night is just a bonus treat
Just as an update, I did very well. I nursed 2 beers over around 3 hours. I was with 6 other people and they all, except one, ordered greasy bar food. I didn’t eat there and now i am home cooking up some egg whites!8 -
Well I did 2 days in a row, probably would have made tonight but I didn't have a project to work on. I am finding that if I knit or crochet during t.v. I drink less. I have a project but didn't have the yarn. Ridiculous since I seriously have 2 dressers full of yarn! I will buy yarn tomorrow or start another scarf for the homeless.3
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »MaryBethHempel wrote: »MaryBethHempel wrote: »
Goal — January under 7 drinks a week- for my health.....my mind.....my body....Freedom from alcohol ruling my life!
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!
1/6 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine
1/7 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine-I copy and paste! Rerun!
I feel that now I don't even want one drink as it is never enough...I always want more! I will see how long I can be FREE from alcohol. Losing weight and feeling great!
1/8 =DITTO...I slept better last night--had an Atkins bar around 8...maybe that was it...I also had to go to my guest room again for my husbands snoring started again!
1/9 =DITTO and lost another pound---Wow! 7 days alcohol FREE!! This is the longest I have gone for years!
1/10 =8 days freedom
1/11 =9 days freedom- looking forward to reading my new books...This Naked Mind and Blackout-Remembering The Things I Drank to Forget...
1/12 =10 days clean! My hubby only drank during the day, not last night. He didn't snore last night, so I didn't have to go to our guest room to sleep. Read the first 2 1/2 chapters of This Naked Mind and finding it interesting.
1/13 =11 Days freedom! It is actually getting easier at this point...I just ordered some liver detox....
1/14 =12 Days freedom! It really helps to have all you on MFP for support! Thank you all!!
1/15 =13 days---Wow! I am finally sleeping in my own bed now because my husband cuts off his drinking at night and he doesn't snore so loud to make me go into our guest room! LOL! He didn't like me going into the guest room, so he cut down...
1/16 =14 days freedom! 2 weeks!! YAY! I have to note how yesterday was a bit interesting when my hubby just bottle a bunch of wine and said to me, "Taste this, it is better than the usual Concord that we make". I told him immediately that I was just drinking green tea and it wouldn't taste good. I was so glad that I was drinking tea, as I would have been tempted to taste it. I feel that if it happens again that I am prepared now and will decline. I am going to tell him today not even to ask me to taste.
1/17 =15th day freedom! Had another great morning of working out...ready to play some music!
1/18 =
1/19 =
1/20 =
1/21 =
1/22 =
1/23 =
1/24 =
1/25 =
1/26 =
1/27 =
1/28 =
1/29 =
1/30 =
1/31 =
Bravo! You are doing amazing! So happy for you!
Thank you Julie!! And you are also doing amazing!! So happy to share this with you! 1 -
Goal — January under 7 drinks a week- for my health.....my mind.....my body....Freedom from alcohol ruling my life!
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!
1/6 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine
1/7 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine-I copy and paste! Rerun! I feel that now I don't even want one drink as it is never enough...I always want more! I will see how long I can be FREE from alcohol. Losing weight and feeling great!
1/8 =DITTO...I slept better last night--had an Atkins bar around 8...maybe that was it...I also had to go to my guest room again for my husbands snoring started again!
1/9 =DITTO and lost another pound---Wow! 7 days alcohol FREE!! This is the longest I have gone for years!
1/10 =8 days freedom
1/11 =9 days freedom- looking forward to reading my new books...This Naked Mind and Blackout-Remembering The Things I Drank to Forget...
1/12 =10 days clean! My hubby only drank during the day, not last night. He didn't snore last night, so I didn't have to go to our guest room to sleep. Read the first 2 1/2 chapters of This Naked Mind and finding it interesting.
1/13 =11 Days freedom! It is actually getting easier at this point...I just ordered some liver detox....
1/14 =12 Days freedom! It really helps to have all you on MFP for support! Thank you all!!
1/15 =13 days---Wow! I am finally sleeping in my own bed now because my husband cuts off his drinking at night and he doesn't snore so loud to make me go into our guest room! LOL! He didn't like me going into the guest room, so he cut down...
1/16 =14 days freedom! 2 weeks!! YAY! I have to note how yesterday was a bit interesting when my hubby just bottle a bunch of wine and said to me, "Taste this, it is better than the usual Concord that we make". I told him immediately that I was just drinking green tea and it wouldn't taste good. I was so glad that I was drinking tea, as I would have been tempted to taste it. I feel that if it happens again that I am prepared now and will decline. I am going to tell him today not even to ask me to taste.
1/17 =15th day freedom! Had another great morning of working out...ready to play some music!
1/18 =16th day freedom! I am going for a month!! I joined the "Alcohol Experiment" Super informational...I have been just reading and listening..this weekend I am going to start writing in the journal. I recommend this to you all, if just to read and listen to all the interesting information.
1/19 =
1/20 =
1/21 =
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1/23 =
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1/25 =
1/26 =
1/27 =
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1/30 =
1/31 =3 -
Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here9 -
Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
How did you do? I hope you made it!2 -
Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
If you have a drink because you are feeling blue --- no biggie. If you don't have a drink when you are tempted to deal with your sadness, blueness, then you will have gained ground with yourself. At the very least, this exercise clarifies our "reasons" for drinking. If it is sadness, I guess there may be other ways to deal with it. Or maybe, even though it doesn't feel good to be passive, one can just let it be and let it pass. It will.
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Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
If you have a drink because you are feeling blue --- no biggie. If you don't have a drink when you are tempted to deal with your sadness, blueness, then you will have gained ground with yourself. At the very least, this exercise clarifies our "reasons" for drinking. If it is sadness, I guess there may be other ways to deal with it. Or maybe, even though it doesn't feel good to be passive, one can just let it be and let it pass. It will.
@Alzzi76 Annie Grace book says after you drink and dopamine wears off, you will feel
Sadder. Distract yourself with something funny on YouTube or put on some music. They even say if you meditate , imagine every part of you is smiling. Sending you a big hug. You are stronger than you think.6 -
I've almost finished listening to TNM. It's a great source of hope and so much information on this poison we love so much. I have to get the actual book and read it myself. I have not had a very dry January but the cut back has been very successful. I hope to finish out these last days stronger, especially with all the reading I have done and the inspiration of all of you in this thread. I start every day here, then move on to read a little of Drinking: A Love Story, then move to listening to TNM while I clean around the house. This has helped me NOT have a glass of wine during the day...I am home most of the time so it's very simple to get in the mindset that I just did a load of laundry and emptied the dishwasher so *reward*....which we know is not a reward, after all. Really looking forward to the next month(s)!! Thank you all so much!4
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If you have a drink because you are feeling blue --- no biggie. If you don't have a drink when you are tempted to deal with your sadness, blueness, then you will have gained ground with yourself. At the very least, this exercise clarifies our "reasons" for drinking. If it is sadness, I guess there may be other ways to deal with it. Or maybe, even though it doesn't feel good to be passive, one can just let it be and let it pass. It will.
This is a great perspective!islandbeez wrote: »I've almost finished listening to TNM. It's a great source of hope and so much information on this poison we love so much. I have to get the actual book and read it myself. I have not had a very dry January but the cut back has been very successful. I hope to finish out these last days stronger, especially with all the reading I have done and the inspiration of all of you in this thread. I start every day here, then move on to read a little of Drinking: A Love Story, then move to listening to TNM while I clean around the house. This has helped me NOT have a glass of wine during the day...I am home most of the time so it's very simple to get in the mindset that I just did a load of laundry and emptied the dishwasher so *reward*....which we know is not a reward, after all. Really looking forward to the next month(s)!! Thank you all so much!
Being home all day with it is a challenge. Sounds like you are on a great new path!3 -
Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
Did you go straight to bed??? Without a drink???1 -
Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
If you have a drink because you are feeling blue --- no biggie. If you don't have a drink when you are tempted to deal with your sadness, blueness, then you will have gained ground with yourself. At the very least, this exercise clarifies our "reasons" for drinking. If it is sadness, I guess there may be other ways to deal with it. Or maybe, even though it doesn't feel good to be passive, one can just let it be and let it pass. It will.
So true. You learn a lot about yourself when you don’t self medicate. In moments of anxiety this month I’ve been trying to treat it like an opportunity to have a healthier way of coping. Honestly, I feel more upbeat overall without wine. I am really conflicted about what to do in February. On the one hand I miss wine, on the other hand I feel so free without.6 -
Day 19 begins. For the first day I've noticed my skin looking better. Heard so many people talk about that here, but hadn't seen it til today. I was kind of startled.6
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"You learn a lot about yourself when you don’t self medicate. In moments of anxiety this month I’ve been trying to treat it like an opportunity to have a healthier way of coping. Honestly, I feel more upbeat overall without wine. I am really conflicted about what to do in February. On the one hand I miss wine, on the other hand I feel so free without. "
This sounds a bit like me, too. In my case, a lot of it is about pleasant associations together with habits. I used to want to have a drink of wine when I'd see people raising their glasses on TV! There are several triggers which would encourage me to just dampen things after Dry January. However, I don't think I've given not drinking enough of a chance after only one month, so my challenge is now for 90 days. I did not drink, well --hardly ever, in younger adulthood but really have developed a liking for wine over the last 25 years. In that time, I have gone without never more than a month at a time, so I want to see how things might change going longer.
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islandbeez wrote: »I've almost finished listening to TNM. It's a great source of hope and so much information on this poison we love so much. I have to get the actual book and read it myself. I have not had a very dry January but the cut back has been very successful. I hope to finish out these last days stronger, especially with all the reading I have done and the inspiration of all of you in this thread. I start every day here, then move on to read a little of Drinking: A Love Story, then move to listening to TNM while I clean around the house. This has helped me NOT have a glass of wine during the day...I am home most of the time so it's very simple to get in the mindset that I just did a load of laundry and emptied the dishwasher so *reward*....which we know is not a reward, after all. Really looking forward to the next month(s)!! Thank you all so much!
I'm reading both of those books currently, too. I have seen a lot of myself in the lady of A Love Story. The looking at others thinking well I'm not thaaaaat bad. Or the drinking one or two glasses before going to a party, and then drinking more at the party I've done. So, many weird habits. However, I wasn't fooling myself. Day 19 will be dry. I will also try Dry February.2 -
Wow!!!!!!, i knew there was support here but i didnt think id have such a awesome response.
I AM very glad l held strong. To see all and to know all i would have be too embarrassed to speck to becoz id let u down. This is the best!!! I'm sooo glad i left a post. BIG HUG to all!!..
Now ive said that ill have to tell u what i did. I had to go out in the car so after i did what i needed to i went for a drive and sat in the car somewhere, not far but away from home (drink cupboard) and being late at night shops were shut so ther was no buying... but i sat and watched a movie I my phone until i was falling asleep. It was abt midnight b4 i got back as soon as i hit the sack, i crashed out.
So ... i made it.!!
thankyou guys for your support. 11 -
My list of things I've noticed since I've stopped binge drinking/smoking. I am typing this out so I can reflect back on it when the temptation to binge drink occurs.
No hot flashes or night sweats
No mood swings
I'm more patient
No depression
Sleep better and deeper
Wake up refreshed
My workouts are more efficient
My digestive system is better
No bloated belly
Weight loss
No conviction and beating myself up because of a binge
More conscious of my eating and making healthier choices
Not wasting the day away by sleeping because of a hangover
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Another Friday & day 18 dry. It’s strange how I’m rarely I’m thinking about it now. It does feel like a habit has been broken. Grateful for the thread and the ongoing motivation.3
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Day 19 begins. For the first day I've noticed my skin looking better. Heard so many people talk about that here, but hadn't seen it til today. I was kind of startled.
Sometimes on Fridays I will just wear mascara to work (it’s only 4 hour shift and I always go home and nap with hubs right after before he goes to work) and today I really noticed how much better my face looks without make up.2 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »Hey guys.. i am trying to talk myself out of a drink tonight. Some things have gone pear shaped and i feel really sad. i even have some spare cals i could use.. but i am thinking of you all.. And thinking if they can do it i have to. So i come here to tell u to make me go to bed without one sip
Thanks again every1 for being here
If you have a drink because you are feeling blue --- no biggie. If you don't have a drink when you are tempted to deal with your sadness, blueness, then you will have gained ground with yourself. At the very least, this exercise clarifies our "reasons" for drinking. If it is sadness, I guess there may be other ways to deal with it. Or maybe, even though it doesn't feel good to be passive, one can just let it be and let it pass. It will.
@Alzzi76 Annie Grace book says after you drink and dopamine wears off, you will feel
Sadder. Distract yourself with something funny on YouTube or put on some music. They even say if you meditate , imagine every part of you is smiling. Sending you a big hug. You are stronger than you think.
Yes u r right!. Im glad i stayed focused.1 -
Dry January has turned in to damp January for me. I went the first two weeks without, then finished the rest of our rum last weekend (probably three mixed drinks Saturday and Sunday). Today on the way home from work I bought a 6 pack of one of my favorite local IPA’s to indulge this weekend. I don’t know quite how I feel about it yet but I have cut back so much this month that ether way it’s a great thing. I really want to keep moderating past this month and continue my healthy habits. I’m glad to have this thread to talk it out a bit and know I’m not alone.4
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Dry January has turned in to damp January for me. I went the first two weeks without, then finished the rest of our rum last weekend (probably three mixed drinks Saturday and Sunday). Today on the way home from work I bought a 6 pack of one of my favorite local IPA’s to indulge this weekend. I don’t know quite how I feel about it yet but I have cut back so much this month that ether way it’s a great thing. I really want to keep moderating past this month and continue my healthy habits. I’m glad to have this thread to talk it out a bit and know I’m not alone.
You could just look at it as u having 2 weeks off and 2 weeks on.. then have another 2 weeks off looking forward to joining your friends in 2 weeks.... just an idea. 2 -
MaryBethHempel wrote: »
1/18 =16th day freedom! I am going for a month!! I joined the "Alcohol Experiment" Super informational...I have been just reading and listening..this weekend I am going to start writing in the journal. I recommend this to you all, if just to read and listen to all the interesting information.
Thanks for this
I just joined! It's something, to read what everyone is going through.....the feels are strong tonight!
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