Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time

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  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,561 Member
    edited February 2018
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    JulieAL1969

    Thanks. I guess I was just so disappointed that ALL day I planned and kept to my foods and beverages just to have it all unravel by assuming there were not "that many" calories in such a simple small item. And then I just wanted to drink and eat everything in the house after I read the calorie content, but I didn''t o:)

    Feeling better now.
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
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    NormInv wrote: »
    I'm not drinking this weekend either although I'm visiting family and boy do they make you wanna get wasted in a hurry

    I’m sure most of us have some family that give that feeling
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
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    MissMay wrote: »
    Good morning (maybe it is still evening to some, depending where you are in the world)
    I am go to venture off the trail a little and vent about the lack of nutritional information on menus when you go out. Now unless you know where you are going to dine and can pull up a menu ahead of time to view, if they offer a nutritional break down, your screwed.
    I was filling out my food diary and seriously almost had a stroke by seeing the calorie content for a menu item I had for dinner out last night. 1180 CALORIES without the side that came with it or the beverage. That is nearly my entire days worth of calories all at one meal.

    UGH....UGH.....UGH.

    I've been using MFP for 5 years, to lose weight and now maintain. One thing I always advise people who are new to the site, new to tracking calories, etc; when they ask about the challenges of eating in restaurants is to look at a menu before you go, and try to assess your options. If the restaurant posts calorie counts, you can see how the things you are interested in fit into your day and plan for them. Even if they don't, you can look for something similar from a comparable chain restaurant that has entries in the database. Planning ahead is really helpful, and you can work in some extra exercise or even bank calories during the week so that you have more of a buffer.
  • donimfp
    donimfp Posts: 795 Member
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    JulieAL1969 wrote: »
    Alcohol really ages you. After years of drinking, I noticed my face was becoming puffier and skin was splotchy. Over the last two months, I think my skin looks so much smoother and no red tones at all. Today, I am the grim reaper of bad news and alcohol. LOL I'll lighten up soon, I promise.

    Thank you, @JulieAL1969 for that! This is the kind of info. I need to keep myself going. When I lived in Edinburgh decades ago, one of the women in our American Womens Club was married to a Scottish physician who was a hepatic specialist. One time we were all enjoying our cocktails when she announced that her husband was amazed that people kept pouring the very most toxic substance known to the liver down their throats. We didn't appreciate that, obviously, but she was certainly correct.

    I've always (well, for the last 20 years or so) griped that I did not get the genes of my "Jane Fonda mom." But since I've been largely AF since Jan. 1, I'm thinking I got more of those genes than I thought. I'm really rough on myself, but I have to say I think I look 5-10 years younger since I stopped drinking (minus a couple of lapses). I also know I've lost weight, though I haven't weighed because of what my brain does with scale numbers. I have a yearly check-up this coming Wednesday, so I'll see how the AF life has affected weight, BP, and blood numbers. I'm kind of excited about that.

    And about calories in restaurants, @MissMay, I know what you mean. I was planning to eat at the cafe in Nordstrom a few weeks ago. What a ladylike place! You'd think they'd have ladylike calorie counts, but when I looked at their menu (and to their credit they did post all the calorie numbers), I was hard pressed to find a small lunch under 800 calories. That's a good chunk of my daily allotment, and I was shocked. I'm hoping the hours of walking I'll do in Italy will offset the calories there, and I hope they don't post them! If they do, maybe I'll think of them like the old Lire that were like a thousand or so for every dollar.

  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,193 Member
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    donimfp wrote: »
    OK, one more post for me. Today is my mom's birthday (Jane Fonda is 86!). My brother, sister, and I are giving her a tour of nearby VODKA DISTILLERIES--a vodka-tasting afternoon. Oh boy! Well, I volunteered to be the driver. And I'm not even freaked out about it. Yay! Also, my husband just returned from the farmers market where he learned that there is a shrub-making place amidst all these vodka places. I'm going to advocate for taking a swing by there and doing a tasting I can participate in, and they can find some good mixers for their vodka. Not until April, though, so I have some time to get more AF time under my belt.

    Great reflections; I love reading your posts. Thank you also for your kind words earlier.
    Jane Fonda, love it. I love hearing about your mom over the last two months.
    I really have to try some of these shrubs. I may go to Whole Foods; it's far away from me, but it may be nice to walk around and see if they have shrubs.
    Best wishes today and Happy Birthday to your mom! You'll do fine and save yourself from a possible headache today. Xo
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,193 Member
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    BuffMom84 wrote: »
    Well, I did drink when I went to my sister's last night but I drank exactly as much as I said I was going to and no more. And I'm not drinking at all until I have a few again next Friday. Before when I used to think of a "whole week" without drinking, it was a challenge. Now I don't even care!

    Awesome job!
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,193 Member
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    NormInv wrote: »
    I'm not drinking this weekend either although I'm visiting family and boy do they make you wanna get wasted in a hurry

    Hey, they made add more material to the future book you may want to write. You have such a way with words and such humor. Who knows? Maybe one day, we will be recommending a book written by you on this thread!
  • Stepping18
    Stepping18 Posts: 25 Member
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    JulieAL1969 wrote: »
    Stepping18 wrote: »
    Day23 AF. Last night was my toughest challenge since starting this process. But Instead of having a drink, I meditated for about 5 minutes to refocus. It made a huge difference. I was able to abstain and continue AF.

    Wow! Bravo! You are doing well.
    I've been mediating every day using the insight timer app. Do you have an app you like?

    Thank you!
    Headspace App I've used it a few times in the last couple of weeks. Sometimes you just have to take a few breaths to gain focus again.
  • larochelle9120
    larochelle9120 Posts: 8 Member
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    I naturally start out no alcohol when I start cutting back calories because they take up so much. But then I always find a way slip in a glass a wine or Manhattan. But you are right about the less consumption of alcohol. I would rather have French fries.
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
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    WinoGelato wrote: »
    MissMay wrote: »
    Good morning (maybe it is still evening to some, depending where you are in the world)
    I am go to venture off the trail a little and vent about the lack of nutritional information on menus when you go out. Now unless you know where you are going to dine and can pull up a menu ahead of time to view, if they offer a nutritional break down, your screwed.
    I was filling out my food diary and seriously almost had a stroke by seeing the calorie content for a menu item I had for dinner out last night. 1180 CALORIES without the side that came with it or the beverage. That is nearly my entire days worth of calories all at one meal.

    UGH....UGH.....UGH.

    I've been using MFP for 5 years, to lose weight and now maintain. One thing I always advise people who are new to the site, new to tracking calories, etc; when they ask about the challenges of eating in restaurants is to look at a menu before you go, and try to assess your options. If the restaurant posts calorie counts, you can see how the things you are interested in fit into your day and plan for them. Even if they don't, you can look for something similar from a comparable chain restaurant that has entries in the database. Planning ahead is really helpful, and you can work in some extra exercise or even bank calories during the week so that you have more of a buffer.

    Agreed. This is something that helps. Or i will even open the MFP app while at the restaurant and start looking up items until I find something that fits with my goal
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,193 Member
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    salleewins wrote: »
    Yeah I agree that family can make you wanna drink real quick. Went to see my Dad and sister, only about 4 1/2 hours away, 5 years ago. I can tell you that I took the train in and my Dad would not let me borrow his car, in case I got in an accident. I have been in 2 mishaps in my life and neither were my fault, mind you (over 30 years of driving). I found myself walking anywhere I could every day to get vodka. Most days it was 5 miles round trip. That is one reason I have not visited in awhile because of this obsession to drink when with family. Now just tomorrow he is going into the hospital for a stent operation. I love him and will call him. Wished it was different. I can't stand his prejudice for one thing and discouraging way. I sure will miss him and the good qualities he does have some day, if he passes before I do.

    I understand. Even though we are born into family doesn't mean we have to align with all of their thinking. Sometimes you have to insulate yourself to have peace; you can love them from afar.
  • ehseeker
    ehseeker Posts: 515 Member
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    Alzzi76 wrote: »
    It's been just over a week since my last alcohol drink. Last night i was poured a vodka but able stay focused strong and told them i didn't want it. Said, "i don't mind a drink but without the alcohol". The biggest victory was, there wasn't the emotional fight i normally would have to battle.

    Congratulations.

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