Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time
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Hello!
I haven't joined one of these alcohol challenges yet, but since I started my journey in November 2017 I really cut back on my alcohol intake.
Since 2011, I've gained roughly 60+lbs. My diet has never been "healthy" but I certainly didn't overeat or visit McDonalds too often. My problem? Craft beer. For a few years, I would finish or half a 6-pack per night. On weekends? I'd enjoy a 12-pack myself on Friday nights, another on Saturday nights, and probably a 6-pack on Sundays. WOW, just typing that out really puts into perspective how much I was drinking my calories and most likely doing damage to my liver.
Since November 2017, I have almost cut out beer entirely. I went from 60+ beers per week, to down to 1-2 if any at all. On the 1-2 days a week that I do drink, I've switched over to white wines. Specifically Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. By switching to wine, I drink far less calories in alcohol, and much less frequently than beer.
I do miss the atmosphere of craft beer - local breweries in South Jersey are great hangout spots on nights and weekends. But I am truly seeing a difference in how I feel, look, and fit into my clothes.
Hoping I can completely cut out beer and limit my wine intake to no more than 1 bottle lasting through the whole week.
Thanks for this challenge!
I guess a thread about drinking less isnt the place to discuss favorites, haha, but since you are a south jersey craft beer lover like myself - what are your favorite places?2 -
@JulieAL1969, thank you for your reflections and for being our inspiring fearless leader.
@norminv, I selfishly wish you would do a dry February just because your posts always make me smile.
OK, weird victory today. I flew from my beloved 74-degree Texas to frigid Cleveland (low tonight 12 degrees; high tomorrow 18). For years, I've been a very nervous flyer, and I have a prescription for Xanax just for flying. I'm always super careful to pop one exactly 1.5 hours before boarding so that I'll be ok by then. I don't get drowsy because my nervousness is so extreme that the medicine just brings me back to normal. Even then, turbulence is very scary, white-knuckle stuff for me. Today, we flew from Austin to Dallas and then Dallas to Cleveland. About 2 hours into the second flight, I looked at my husband and said, "Oh my God. I didn't take Xanax." His eyes got as wide as saucers because he has flown with me many times. I didn't purposely not take it. I just didn't think about it. The only thing that can account for this is the not-drinking. My anxiety dried up without my even realizing it. We even hit some fairly decent turbulence on our descent, and I was fine. WOW! More motivation.
Now, I am in Cleveland and the big party starts tomorrow. I just got a text announcing that all the "girls" (MIL, her 3 daughters, and we 6 women who are married to her sons) are to have a girls-only happy hour in one of the hotel rooms tomorrow before dinner. I don't THINK anyone will be offended if I don't drink, but I know my wine-connoseur (sp?) sister-in-law will be bringing several bottles of very expensive wine. The SIL who is "hosting" in her room will probably supply champagne to toast her mom's 90th b'day. So, this will be a big test for me. My husband said, "You just do what you want to do," in other words, wanting me to give myself permission to drink if I want to on this special occasion. However, as our friend Annie Grace would say, my conscious mind does NOT want to drink, so to tell myself in the heat of the moment that I really do want to would be to give in to my childish unconscious. Anyway, just sharing. I don't expect advice or anything. I know what to do. But it helps to have this awesome forum for venting.
Here's to a great weekend for all.10 -
@donimfp I live in the Cleveland area. It was 41* on my lunch break today and dropped to 19* by the time I got out of work. This time of year all I want is the warming feeling of a glass of red wine. That’s part of my problem!5
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4th day in a row of waking up and bouncing right out of bed like I used to do! Went to gym at 6:30 am and listened to a podcast while walking on treadmill. I've also noticed my face is no longer red in the morning. I guess I don't have rosacea after all.10
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HELL YES. This is awesome.3
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Happy Friday everyone! Let's stick to our guns this weekend5
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And the fact that alcohol and my medication don't go well together helps a lot as well.3
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@randomlychosen that's where I'm at too! Sucks doesn't it?1
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DananaNanas wrote: »@randomlychosen that's where I'm at too! Sucks doesn't it?
I had three glasses of wine last weekend and I felt so poorly the next day. I felt extremely dejected.2 -
I just want to remind myself and anyone else who didn't drink last night, how great we feel this morning. Now if I can just have a huddle back here around 5-7 pm tonight for everyone to remind me again, how great Saturday morning will feel as well! TGIF5
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runtodayamyrun wrote: »I just want to remind myself and anyone else who didn't drink last night, how great we feel this morning. Now if I can just have a huddle back here around 5-7 pm tonight for everyone to remind me again, how great Saturday morning will feel as well! TGIF
Haha. You're right.2 -
randomlychosen wrote: »DananaNanas wrote: »@randomlychosen that's where I'm at too! Sucks doesn't it?
I had three glasses of wine last weekend and I felt so poorly the next day. I felt extremely dejected.
I had three and I was fine. The next day I had more than that and that's when the problem presented itself! So I set my goal to no more than 1-3 drinks Friday & Saturday and nothing on Sunday. One might be ok... a mimosa or a hot toddy. Those don't lead me to drink all day/night.2 -
Good morning all. Feb day one was easy peasy for me being AF. But I failed some on the bad food choices. Does not help we woke up again in New England to a snow storm. UGH this sort of weather disappointment can trigger a lazy day. MUST GO WORKOUT.
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I noticed I'm more motivated to train, worked out hard during the last week and I feel good about it, A.F free last night also, now the real test is this W.E. I want to be A.F. and not just cut back.5
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@runtodayamyrun, thanks for that reminder. That will be my mantra during today’s happy hour.
@randomlychosen, the word “dejected” is perfect to describe that “disappointed-in-myself” feeling. I will remember I don’t want to feel dejected tomorrow.5 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »February 1. I'm READY to lose the meno12. I bought some SF chocolate pudding to mix with peanut butter tonight for a treat. My favorite evening tea (tension tamer) is stocked as well!
Day one is in the books.
I don't generally count calories, but decided to start about two weeks ago to gear up for this. BOY is it easier to eat within my goals without wine.
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I feel great, irregular heartbeat gone, morning bloat gone, cranky depressed mornings gone..... Ready for Valentine's Day9
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Superbowl weekend. I do not PLAN to drink. If I do it might be one or two and that is it. We can do this everyone!!! We will make it through the weekend!!!!!4
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2/1- Dry
Feb 1st is in the books. No alcohol, but I didn't sleep well and woke up feeling pretty crappy anyway Tonight I am going to go for *gasp* another dry night. I almost always have 1-3 drinks on a Friday night to cap off my work week. I meet my running group on Saturday morning for one of my longer runs and it isn't always that easy to make myself get up. Tomorrow we have 9 miles on the schedule and then I will go straight to the food pantry where I volunteer. I am looking forward to doing this all with a clear mind tomorrow. but, I admit that the thought of a dry Friday at home is a bit daunting. Wish me luck!7 -
I am in! It has been 100% my reason for gaining all this weight! As soon as I cut back or stop BOOM I start see results at an alarming rate. I do not plan to stop, however I do plan on cutting back to 2 days a week.6
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I am on day 2
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »10) I think my teenage daughter is very proud of me. Today, I told her I finished day 32, and she just smiled so brightly. And she asked, "Are you going to continue?" I asked her if she thinks I should. And she said "YES!" I told her that I realized that I didn't have to depend on drinking wine for fun or relaxation. And she replied, "Of COURSE."
Julie.. I love that. Yesterday, I was driving my 18 year old daughter to school.. and was telling her about my successes in January.. that I had a completely dry January.. she turned to me and said that is great mom.. ME TOO! :-) We laughed and high fived each other. To be back to an age where that is just the normal.. wouldn't that be great! We are doing this for ourselves, but our loved ones do notice and appreciate it too! My dad was an alcoholic so I always have that in my mind... don't do that to my family.
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »10) I think my teenage daughter is very proud of me. Today, I told her I finished day 32, and she just smiled so brightly. And she asked, "Are you going to continue?" I asked her if she thinks I should. And she said "YES!" I told her that I realized that I didn't have to depend on drinking wine for fun or relaxation. And she replied, "Of COURSE."
Thanks for humoring me by reading these thoughts. Love you all! Xo
That's the best motivation right there!0 -
I'm in....5
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1 down, 1 in progress and potentially 26 more to go.
Great to see so many new faces added to the challenge! Especially guys. I'm definitely "outnumbered" here.4 -
I'm in again.. kinda fell off the wagon end of January was a bit of a rough end to January.
But I'm going to do the same thing I did in January my goal is to not drink Mon-Thurs. and try to not on Sunday.
Congrats to everyone who did so awesome in January.
Feb. 01 - no
Feb. 02Fri
Feb. 03Sat
Feb. 04
Feb. 05
Here we go!!!!
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Count me in, too. The last three months of last year were bad for consuming... I need this! Moderation!5
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I am in! It has been 100% my reason for gaining all this weight! As soon as I cut back or stop BOOM I start see results at an alarming rate. I do not plan to stop, however I do plan on cutting back to 2 days a week.
That is the key. Learning how to drink in moderation. At least that is my issue.1 -
lporter229 wrote: »2/1- Dry
Feb 1st is in the books. No alcohol, but I didn't sleep well and woke up feeling pretty crappy anyway Tonight I am going to go for *gasp* another dry night. I almost always have 1-3 drinks on a Friday night to cap off my work week. I meet my running group on Saturday morning for one of my longer runs and it isn't always that easy to make myself get up. Tomorrow we have 9 miles on the schedule and then I will go straight to the food pantry where I volunteer. I am looking forward to doing this all with a clear mind tomorrow. but, I admit that the thought of a dry Friday at home is a bit daunting. Wish me luck!
I'm impressed that you can drink 3 drinks the night b4 and run 9 miles the next day!!!!2
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