Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time

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Replies

  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    katie5467 wrote: »
    Since Dec I've made lots of positive changes in my life. I had a dry jan and only had 3 drinks in feb so far.
    I'm so pleased with that. I feel much better. Like you Julie, I feel less anxious and in general better spirits (not always of course but lots of the time!) I've done more exercise and even started a running club! I never thought I could do that.
    I've lost 12lbs and hoping to add to that in the coming months.
    Roll on March! :smile:

    That is so awesome!!
  • SunnyDays930
    SunnyDays930 Posts: 1,572 Member
    @kittybenn that literally made me cry. Thank you.
  • snoo61
    snoo61 Posts: 549 Member
    So happy to have found this thread. I started a Diabetes Prevention Program class 3 weeks ago. I've made changes to my diet, increased my workouts/week and steps today ... so far I've lost 7 pounds. I hope this thread will continue (or maybe start over in March) ... I BELIEVE this thread/group could be the missing link in my current nutrition & health journey <3

    Look back a page or 5, the link to March is posted a couple times. :)
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
    I saw St Pat’s brought up in a couple of posts. I must be the only person in the beer industry who hates that holiday :D
    Not sure how it happens but every year I try to go out for St Pat’s and I wind up completely miserable and going home early. Well I guess for keeping my drinking down that’s a good thing. My wife and I made a promise to just stay home this year. Maybe I’ll have one Guinness, maybe not even that.
  • SunnyDays930
    SunnyDays930 Posts: 1,572 Member
    @erikNJ I agree with you! At this point in my life I don't usually like to drink on holidays when it is expected, like SPD and New Year's Eve. Bars are so crowded, I don't want to drive or even be on the road at all etc. I'll be at home with my tea I guess. I am interested in hearing what others think about St Pats and what their plans are.
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
    kittybenn wrote: »
    3) Exercised that willpower muscle, stopped fooling myself into thinking that since everyone drinks, it must not be harmful.
    What are your takeaways?

    @JulieAL1969 and everybody - I think your #3 was the most important in Feb. for me. I started drinking wine again, but am thrilled and amazed that I'm able to moderate. It's only been a few weeks, to be sure, but this past weekend was good. I stuck to the number of glasses I'd planned. But the more I exercise that willpower muscle the better it gets.

    The other takeaway was drinking isn't all I thought it was. Every Sunday night now, I'm kinda like eh. That weekend of wine was nice. It was ok, but it wasn't that fabulous. I am with @springsweet in that I really don't want to stress over "rules." It's just a matter of how to balance all that.


    Just like everything, I guess it’s different for everybody. If I didn’t set “rules” for myself I would never have made it two months with my health and wellness goals. I know I would have quit a few weeks back. I’m the kind of person who likes structure in my life, of course that doesn’t work for everyone.
    Another thing is that sometimes rules get broken. I know I broke some of my “rules” or drinking/diet standards I set for myself in February. But I was able to get right back on track the next day. And I’m hoping this continues on and on.
  • Carolep8359
    Carolep8359 Posts: 13 Member
    Hi there! How do I join this group?
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    Hi there! How do I join this group?

    It's like double dutch jump rope. You just jump right in. :)

  • NormInv
    NormInv Posts: 3,303 Member
    loving all the updates
  • SanDiegofitmom
    SanDiegofitmom Posts: 303 Member
    JenT304 wrote: »
    @erikNJ I agree with you! At this point in my life I don't usually like to drink on holidays when it is expected, like SPD and New Year's Eve. Bars are so crowded, I don't want to drive or even be on the road at all etc. I'll be at home with my tea I guess. I am interested in hearing what others think about St Pats and what their plans are.

    St. Pats isn’t really as big of a deal where I live in San Diego (even though my husband comes from. Big Irish Catholic family) - I always make the Irish boiled dinner and have soda bread. I just realized I’ll miss all the hoopla in Chicago - I fly in for a meeting the next day! My biggest concerns in terms of keeping up moderation are two fold - vacations and also when the weather turns warm and we’re outside grilling! I always want a glass of white wine!
  • Alzzi76
    Alzzi76 Posts: 504 Member
    erikNJ wrote: »
    kittybenn wrote: »
    3) Exercised that willpower muscle, stopped fooling myself into thinking that since everyone drinks, it must not be harmful.
    What are your takeaways?

    @JulieAL1969 and everybody - I think your #3 was the most important in Feb. for me. I started drinking wine again, but am thrilled and amazed that I'm able to moderate. It's only been a few weeks, to be sure, but this past weekend was good. I stuck to the number of glasses I'd planned. But the more I exercise that willpower muscle the better it gets.

    The other takeaway was drinking isn't all I thought it was. Every Sunday night now, I'm kinda like eh. That weekend of wine was nice. It was ok, but it wasn't that fabulous. I am with @springsweet in that I really don't want to stress over "rules." It's just a matter of how to balance all that.


    Just like everything, I guess it’s different for everybody. If I didn’t set “rules” for myself I would never have made it two months with my health and wellness goals. I know I would have quit a few weeks back. I’m the kind of person who likes structure in my life, of course that doesn’t work for everyone.
    Another thing is that sometimes rules get broken. I know I broke some of my “rules” or drinking/diet standards I set for myself in February. But I was able to get right back on track the next day. And I’m hoping this continues on and on.

    I bet you're wife loves and respects you more for it.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,738 Member
    edited February 2018
    JenT304 wrote: »
    @erikNJ I agree with you! At this point in my life I don't usually like to drink on holidays when it is expected, like SPD and New Year's Eve. Bars are so crowded, I don't want to drive or even be on the road at all etc. I'll be at home with my tea I guess. I am interested in hearing what others think about St Pats and what their plans are.

    I was one on the other page that mentioned St.Patty's Day. I never went out to it for the drinking. What I do love is the awesome variety of Irish food that you can have and I also really enjoy the Irish music. So when I brought up having to get through March 17 it was fear or eating to much bangers and mash. Lol


    There are many places that offer what they call an Irish pub crawl. I never attended it and never plan to. Plus who in their right mind starts drinking at 6:00AM anyhow??

  • springsweet
    springsweet Posts: 184 Member
    jselmi wrote: »
    Hello everyone, I haven't had a chance to catch up on posts, but I hope everyone is doing ok with their challenges. It is challenging.

    I'm going on 2 weeks AF. The 1st weekend was the grateful dead cover band concert, plus it was the 3 day weekend. This past weekend was a long planned celebration at the Irish Cultural center in San Francisco. What could go wrong here !!!? LOL There was 14 of us from our neighborhood that piled into 2 cars headed for the City. One thing I can say. Everybody loves the DD (Designated Driver) It was tough with all the Irish partying away, but I persevered. I had a great time and I was the early ride home. I took the sober-ish folks who had 2-3 drinks, home and we got home at 1 AM. The other car had the the younger crowd. I heard they staggered in at 3 AM. Weekends are the hardest!

    All in all, I'm doing really good not drinking. I'm going to ride this AF wave for awhile and see where it leads me.

    Congrats!!
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
    Alzzi76 wrote: »
    erikNJ wrote: »
    kittybenn wrote: »
    3) Exercised that willpower muscle, stopped fooling myself into thinking that since everyone drinks, it must not be harmful.
    What are your takeaways?

    @JulieAL1969 and everybody - I think your #3 was the most important in Feb. for me. I started drinking wine again, but am thrilled and amazed that I'm able to moderate. It's only been a few weeks, to be sure, but this past weekend was good. I stuck to the number of glasses I'd planned. But the more I exercise that willpower muscle the better it gets.

    The other takeaway was drinking isn't all I thought it was. Every Sunday night now, I'm kinda like eh. That weekend of wine was nice. It was ok, but it wasn't that fabulous. I am with @springsweet in that I really don't want to stress over "rules." It's just a matter of how to balance all that.


    Just like everything, I guess it’s different for everybody. If I didn’t set “rules” for myself I would never have made it two months with my health and wellness goals. I know I would have quit a few weeks back. I’m the kind of person who likes structure in my life, of course that doesn’t work for everyone.
    Another thing is that sometimes rules get broken. I know I broke some of my “rules” or drinking/diet standards I set for myself in February. But I was able to get right back on track the next day. And I’m hoping this continues on and on.

    I bet you're wife loves and respects you more for it.

    She is a huge motivator for me. Honestly she is one to usually give up on health goals before I do. And we both are two months strong! We had a nice long talk about what is keeping us going strong this time. It was nice to be honest about the things that are working and things that can help going forward.
  • NormInv
    NormInv Posts: 3,303 Member
    erikNJ wrote: »
    Going to give my end of Feb progress report now cause I will be busy tomorrow.

    My goal was to lose 4 lbs in Feb, I lost 4.5
    Since the holidays I am now down 17.7 lbs!

    Since Jan 1st I have drank a total of 10 days. My goal was 8 but those Super Bowl celebrations took me over early this month. No regrets about it.
    11 days over the two months I went over calories with my food diet. Most of those coincided with the nights I drank.
    I have worked out 24 days and done yoga 8 times. Almost all of that yoga was the last half of Feb, but i’m on track now.

    My bad knee feels better, my back is getting better. Overall I am more energetic. Other than a few bad nights I sleep much better.
    I am very proud to be two months strong but I need this to be a change for life. I have at least 40 more pounds I would like to lose. And I don’t want to do what I did last time I lost 60 pounds, which was gain almost all of it back. Looking forward to the next steps. Thanks for the support from everyone in this group

    Strong showing