Less alcohol- January 2018- one day at a time
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1/2 = none
1/3 = none
For those that tend to have a drink not too long before bed - not to the point of buzzed or drunk - perhaps one or two.. Do you notice a much clearer mind when you wake up? Talking about a clearer mind. Again, not referring to a hangover - that's totally different.
I think one of the chief motivators for me is no hangover. But clear mind YES. I feel it too. Last time , I quit drinking for 21 days, I truly thought I saw colors more brighter and pictures clearer. It even affected my vision besides my mind. Good points you make.2 -
springsweet wrote: »Just curious, does anyone here have any experience with AA?
No experience with AA. The few people on this board who posted have said it has a strong religious overtone. That could be good or bad for you. No opinion here. I did look into meetings and they seem plentiful. Their website has lots of information. I may consider it in a month after dry January. Let us know if you do try.0 -
A previous poster on this board mentioned the app Dry January. I loaded it. It looks really good and it's free. Thanks for the person who mentioned it. I can't find her post.
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kimberlybruzzese wrote: »I failed already.
Day 1 - finished the open wine from NYE
Day 2 - No alcohol and felt really good about it
Day 3 - Stressful day - went out to dinner, had 2 drinks with hubby, came home and drank wine. UGH!
Day 4 - Mad at myself and disappointed. Going to try to start fresh again today. I joined a BC starting the week of the 15th and I know I will do great during that time.
I’ve done this so many times! It’s ok - you can start today fresh and use it to keep going4 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »springsweet wrote: »Just curious, does anyone here have any experience with AA?
No experience with AA. The few people on this board who posted have said it has a strong religious overtone. That could be good or bad for you. No opinion here. I did look into meetings and they seem plentiful. Their website has lots of information. I may consider it in a month after dry January. Let us know if you do try.
Hi Julie- I did try it back in 2011. I was sober for 8 months. Then I decided it wasn't right for me. The religious aspect had a lot to do with the decision to leave. I also decided I wasn't a true alcoholic - whatever the f that means. I based that on the fact that I was repeatedly hearing people in the program say, "I can't have 1 drink because that one drink will kill me". Meaning one drink leads to another, then another, then more... til you're dead. And while I've had many nights when this is the case, sometimes I can have one or two drinks and stop. No problem. Anyway, I just decided I wanted to monitor my drinking instead of abstain completely. It works for many people though, and that's great for them!1 -
I did not succeed last night unfortunately. I made the conscious decision to buy a bottle of pinot on the way home from work. I was feeling super anxious and wanted to self-medicate.
BUT I've ordered that book nobody is talking about
it should be here Friday. I can't wait to read it. I read a bunch of the preview yesterday online, and the part that convinced me to buy it was where she mentions the cumulative pattern of your drinking over time. And I've thought about that before - in that I didn't have to have wine every night after work in my 20s... so why do I now? BAM. Answered that question.
Oh, and I also had 3 glasses last night, one more than I should have because I woke up with a headache. I hate that.
I think a hot tea is a good suggestion, and I'm going to stock up on these.4 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Today will be my 3rd day with no alcohol. I drank NYE, of course, then hubs and I went to the bar to watch the Rose Bowl on the 1st and I had a few of my favorite beers there. I'm feeling really good and really energetic today.
One of the problems I have when I completely abstain from alcohol is that I get a little TOO energetic. I'll work out at 5 am and by the time I get to work at 7 I am just buzzing with energy and often have nothing to do for around an hour. I sometimes find myself trolling FB and getting myself in to trouble. I laugh about that but it really is an annoying issue. I just don't know how to better handle all the energy while at work. If I'm at home I can always find something to do. At work, I find myself getting a little embarrassed about particular interactions with co-workers because I get overly excited and carried away with a topic that otherwise I wouldn't even converse about.
Does anyone else have trouble with "too much" energy when abstaining from alcohol?
Yes, I'd been using wine in the evening to relax me, and it was an excuse also for avoiding activity. Whenever I leave it alone, it is hard to get to bed I get doing so many things --- but I want to stay lazy! I had a lightbulb moment yesterday, after first night of abstinence, that I had not felt like a nap earlier, and could just keep going. Then it hit me, that I had needed the naps (I am semi-retired) because I did not sleep well enough in the night without alcohol.
I think this will adjust to some sort of normalcy over time, but it may take a few weeks.3 -
What/where is the "Dry January" app?1
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I just stumbled into this thread and super glad that I did. A couple weeks before Christmas I decided that I really needed to cut back on the alcohol and eat actual food for calories. (Wow, that sounds really bad, doesn't it?) I love wine, and am also a huge vodka-tonic fan. I found that I would come home after a hard day at work, have a drink, then another, and before I knew it? Wham! Now I am limiting myself to one glass of wine after dinner on weeknights, and a mixed drink or two on the weekends.
What I am finding is that since getting back into the weight room 3-4 times a week and ensuring I have my cardio/steps in on the other days, I come home from work, go straight for the workout clothes, instead of the booze. When I am done, I am hungry and am no longer skimping on supper. After dinner I am already pretty relaxed, so that glass of wine is the icing on the cake, especially if enjoyed in a hot bubble bath. This is working for me. Right now.
I love that there is no judgment on this thread, and am slowly reading through all of the posts.
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1/2 = No Alcohol
1/3 = No Alcohol
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I’m finding I need to wee more?! I’d always drunk loads of water in the day, 2liters or so, so no idea why this is happening!1
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Clear mind for sure… and within about 4 days I feel like I’ve shed the water weight –which feels equally amazing.JulieAL1969 wrote: »I think one of the chief motivators for me is no hangover. But clear mind YES. I feel it too. Last time , I quit drinking for 21 days, I truly thought I saw colors more brighter and pictures clearer. It even affected my vision besides my mind. Good points you make.
Best wishes on the home gym! I love mine… I am a clarinetist also (or at least I try)…MonkeyMel21 wrote: »…. Anyway, I plan on not drinking in January, getting back on track with my fitness (just got my first ever home gym set up and QUIT my gym for the first time ever, scary but exciting), hopefully picking up my clarinet again because I really need a hobby….
I wouldn’t say “too much”, but a definite noticeable change for the positive.MonkeyMel21 wrote: »…. Does anyone else have trouble with "too much" energy when abstaining from alcohol?3 -
No wine for me tonight - just a hoegaarden.
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Went without last night. It seems like a win, though the truth is that I had no beer at the house. On the other hand, I didn’t find an excuse to go to the store for beer, so…
Accentuate the positive, right?8 -
228 hours and still counting.
My husband and I took off today to have a date day. I went to the gym and came home to find him passed out - 1/2 of a fifth drank in under 2 hours. This made me so angry.
I just got out of the shower and I am getting dressed. I will still go about my day and leave his drunk *kitten* here!!!!
I can be strong for me, but not both of us.13 -
AlistairBernardNormal wrote: »Went without last night. It seems like a win, though the truth is that I had no beer at the house. On the other hand, I didn’t find an excuse to go to the store for beer, so…
Accentuate the positive, right?
It's much easier for me when there's no alcohol in the house at all. But my husband likes to keep the fridge stocked for when he wants a few, which is maybe once a week to two weeks. I usually drink all the beer and just buy more and then drink it then we're out by the time he wants any. I try now to keep it in his office so it's at least out of my sight, and then just stick a few in the fridge when he might want some.3 -
My husband and I are going to cook together tonight and it's one of our favorite things to do. We always have a couple beers while we prep and cook and get a little flirty towards the end, lol. These are the times that I want to have happen. I don't want to have drank (alone) every other night before that and then feel bad about not taking a night off drinking so we can drink together like we enjoy. I'm still abstaining for this month though so I'll just have sparkling water tonight. But at least I haven't already drank all of his beer and need to stop and spend more money on the way home!2
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »My husband and I are going to cook together tonight and it's one of our favorite things to do. We always have a couple beers while we prep and cook and get a little flirty towards the end, lol. These are the times that I want to have happen. I don't want to have drank (alone) every other night before that and then feel bad about not taking a night off drinking so we can drink together like we enjoy. I'm still abstaining for this month though so I'll just have sparkling water tonight. But at least I haven't already drank all of his beer and need to stop and spend more money on the way home!
Cooking with beer is fantastic. Thankfully, I haven’t had a marathon day in the kitchen because I always have a bottle at the ready. This is certainly another habit I will have to adjust.2 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Today will be my 3rd day with no alcohol. I drank NYE, of course, then hubs and I went to the bar to watch the Rose Bowl on the 1st and I had a few of my favorite beers there. I'm feeling really good and really energetic today.
One of the problems I have when I completely abstain from alcohol is that I get a little TOO energetic. I'll work out at 5 am and by the time I get to work at 7 I am just buzzing with energy and often have nothing to do for around an hour. I sometimes find myself trolling FB and getting myself in to trouble. I laugh about that but it really is an annoying issue. I just don't know how to better handle all the energy while at work. If I'm at home I can always find something to do. At work, I find myself getting a little embarrassed about particular interactions with co-workers because I get overly excited and carried away with a topic that otherwise I wouldn't even converse about.
Does anyone else have trouble with "too much" energy when abstaining from alcohol?
Yes! I kind of alluded to this in a previous post. I am not sure if it's anxiety or what, but I have a hard time sitting still. Alcohol helps me to calm down.
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »eddie_fields wrote: »Just joined the app. I did dry January successfully in 2016...not so successfully in 2017...this year going to do dry January + and try to go as long as possible without drinking. I like to drink...a lot...but also find it has become a little numbing and distracting. I have rejoined the gym, do clean-keto eating and try to get healthy.
So far very inspired by everyone’s posts! Good luck all; I look forward to reading all of your progress and hoping to hang in there with you.
Welcome Eddie! I like to drink too. I love the taste, the glass, the numbing qualities, etc. I think we will need to rewire our brain. I'm in it for the 30 days and I hope beyond. Happy to hear from you. Good luck!
Thank you and good luck to you too!1 -
lporter229 wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Today will be my 3rd day with no alcohol. I drank NYE, of course, then hubs and I went to the bar to watch the Rose Bowl on the 1st and I had a few of my favorite beers there. I'm feeling really good and really energetic today.
One of the problems I have when I completely abstain from alcohol is that I get a little TOO energetic. I'll work out at 5 am and by the time I get to work at 7 I am just buzzing with energy and often have nothing to do for around an hour. I sometimes find myself trolling FB and getting myself in to trouble. I laugh about that but it really is an annoying issue. I just don't know how to better handle all the energy while at work. If I'm at home I can always find something to do. At work, I find myself getting a little embarrassed about particular interactions with co-workers because I get overly excited and carried away with a topic that otherwise I wouldn't even converse about.
Does anyone else have trouble with "too much" energy when abstaining from alcohol?
Yes! I kind of alluded to this in a previous post. I am not sure if it's anxiety or what, but I have a hard time sitting still. Alcohol helps me to calm down.
I've always had a lot of energy. I was always hyper as a child and was really annoying to lots of people (I had a few nicknames in middle school). I'm definitely a morning person as that's when I'm most energetic. Maybe I just need to work out harder, lol. I'm just reminded of it being an issue whenever I do a "sober" month. I feel better and healthier but I also end up running around like a chicken with my head cut off for like an hour till I finally mellow out.1 -
I quit drinking nearly 7 months ago. Two years before that, I had quit for just over a year. I also quit in my mid-20's for a year and a half. My brother had told me years and years ago: "some people just shouldn't drink, and you're one of them." It's interesting because I know he's right, but alcohol seems like so much FUN sometimes.
But the older I get, the more I look back and realize, it's only fun at that point where I lose my crippling anxiety for a bit and feel brave enough to go and talk to anyone. After that point, everything is an embarrassing regret when I wake up the next day. Literally almost everything. Alcohol is poison to me. I actually get paralyzed with fear thinking of the stupid things I've done while drunk. Particularly after a traumatic personal situation that dragged on for 3 years. My drinking got really scary. For someone my size, I could really pound the booze down, and it started with the leftover beer from the night before to cure my hangover when I woke up. I was actually getting embarrassed to go to the liquor stores in town, because I was buying either a 12-pack and/or a bottle of whiskey or wine just about every single day.
My personal opinion: if you have had concerns about alcohol, drive drunk, are embarrassed the next day over your drunken antics, etc. consider quitting all together. You aren't missing out on much except bad decisions, crippling hangovers, and potential trouble. Plus, it's better for your fitness goals. Kudos to everyone for cutting back for their health, though!8 -
Day 3 here & I’m feeling good, not even tempted tonight. Friday may be a different story. Each day as it comes1
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mamashakesit wrote: »I quit drinking nearly 7 months ago. Two years before that, I had quit for just over a year. I also quit in my mid-20's for a year and a half. My brother had told me years and years ago: "some people just shouldn't drink, and you're one of them." It's interesting because I know he's right, but alcohol seems like so much FUN sometimes.
But the older I get, the more I look back and realize, it's only fun at that point where I lose my crippling anxiety for a bit and feel brave enough to go and talk to anyone. After that point, everything is an embarrassing regret when I wake up the next day. Literally almost everything. Alcohol is poison to me. I actually get paralyzed with fear thinking of the stupid things I've done while drunk. Particularly after a traumatic personal situation that dragged on for 3 years. My drinking got really scary. For someone my size, I could really pound the booze down, and it started with the leftover beer from the night before to cure my hangover when I woke up. I was actually getting embarrassed to go to the liquor stores in town, because I was buying either a 12-pack and/or a bottle of whiskey or wine just about every single day.
My personal opinion: if you have had concerns about alcohol, drive drunk, are embarrassed the next day over your drunken antics, etc. consider quitting all together. You aren't missing out on much except bad decisions, crippling hangovers, and potential trouble. Plus, it's better for your fitness goals. Kudos to everyone for cutting back for their health, though!
Wonderful, insightful post. I am who you describe - I just shouldnt drink. Embarrassed the next day? Yes plenty of times. Not a good feeling at all. Bad decisions and horrible hangovers- YES! Thank you so much for sharing.
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Another motivator for me: I've lost 1.5 lbs. since Monday. I'm sure a lot of that is water, but I'll take it. I just want to say that those of you who have referred to "failing" because you had a drink, I don't think of that as "failure" at all. This is a process, and I think we need to be exceedingly kind to ourselves.
I'm still having a hell of a time falling asleep. Once I'm there, I'm sleeping well, but last night I turned the light out at 11:30 and last looked at the clock at 1:30. Bought some relaxing hot caramel sleepy time tea at the pharmacy today when I got my flu shot. Hopefully that will help. I have some Xanax that I take only when I fly and considered popping one of those. But please . . . let's not swap one unhealthful habit for another one.2 -
Those who have trouble falling asleep without a drink or two: Have you tried Melatonin? I take half of one (any more than that and I am sluggish the next day) an hour before bed and find it helps.
Note: Not every day - only when I think I am going to have trouble falling asleep.2 -
Day 4 of no booze. I'm not even wanting it so that's a definite win.8
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Will_Run_for_Food wrote: »Those who have trouble falling asleep without a drink or two: Have you tried Melatonin? I take half of one (any more than that and I am sluggish the next day) an hour before bed and find it helps.
Note: Not every day - only when I think I am going to have trouble falling asleep.
I tried it for a week - I had the CRAZIEST dreams!2 -
kimberlybruzzese wrote: »I failed already.
Day 1 - finished the open wine from NYE
Day 2 - No alcohol and felt really good about it
Day 3 - Stressful day - went out to dinner, had 2 drinks with hubby, came home and drank wine. UGH!
Day 4 - Mad at myself and disappointed. Going to try to start fresh again today. I joined a BC starting the week of the 15th and I know I will do great during that time.
I am inspired by so many people writing their feelings down in this thread.
I'm in the same boat. I'm very disappointed with myself but I'm starting over today. Hang in there!4
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