Less Alcohol- April 2018- One Day at a Time
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AF last night! My goal was to go AF one night in April and I actually did it! I slept like crap, but putting that down to the couch.4
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@snoo61 Hooray! Awesome xoxo
@JenT304 I am enjoying the 30 day experiment. I am listening to day 5 video (but I am on day 7 AF) on Annie Grace's alcohol experiment site. She says, ask yourself , "Are you less stressed with alcohol your life?" Of course, the answer is no. I am more stressed when alcohol is in my life.
She says, "Alcohol is a depressant. During alcohol withdrawal , cortisol levels rise and cause anxiety. It takes 10 days for the alcohol to leave your body." So for any of us who drink even a few days a week, your cortisol level is always higher because of the body trying to get rid of alcohol. It will take ten days AF in a row to feel less anxious.
@mskg20 You rock! The month is almost over. You've done so well. I bet you feel and look much better. Keep it up! Xo1 -
salleewins wrote: »"I feel less stressed which is weird as I drank to deal with stress. Yes, I feel that way, too.
You're totally right. Drinking makes us more stressed. It is a depressant and when the alcohol is leaving the body, cortisol levels rise.
I also know that we gain belly fat when cortisol levels rise.
Keep up the great work!1 -
I posted this morning in the hotel breakfast room but think I neglected to actually post it. Anyway, I woke up from amazing sleep so grateful I didn’t drink in response to the day from hell. Also thankful for those angels-in-disguise friends who said I looked “lost” last Sunday. Today is Day 6 and I already see and feel a big difference. Apologies if this posts twice. Hope everyone is having the weekend you want.
Today is your day 7 , I think. I'm so happy for you. And you are even more empowered because you didn't turn to drinking to deal with the day from hell.1 -
@kittybenn Hooray! Two weeks AF - you're on a roll. Stay strong!1
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@erikNJ You're in a tough spot. Your job does involve alcohol. That has got to be hard to abstain when it's there in your face , always. But you're making great strides; you're more aware and cognizant of what you want for your own personal health. Stick to your goals. You're amazing!2
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@wigi41 Great quote! Keep them coming as you read, I love to hear more.0
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@snoo61, I always sleep like crap a few times early in the AF process, but then that great restful sleep kicks in. Melatonin helps, too.
Day 7 for me, too. Funny, the “One drink when I get home today won’t hurt” thought hit me as soon as I awoke in my hotel. Alcohol lies!! And I am way too often willing to believe the lies. I look forward to the 4-hour drive home enjoying the Texas wildflowers on this beautiful day. “Normally” I’d be fighting a miserable headache.5 -
@snoo61, I always sleep like crap a few times early in the AF process, but then that great restful sleep kicks in. Melatonin helps, too.
Day 7 for me, too. Funny, the “One drink when I get home today won’t hurt” thought hit me as soon as I awoke in my hotel. Alcohol lies!! And I am way too often willing to believe the lies. I look forward to the 4-hour drive home enjoying the Texas wildflowers on this beautiful day. “Normally” I’d be fighting a miserable headache.
Oh how I wish I could get back those Sundays spent with hangovers. Now, you'll drive and your senses will be so clear. Like you said, you'll enjoy the beautiful day. Have a safe trip.
Yes, alcohol does lie!2 -
Went to a friend’s last night and we opened and drank a bottle of red while catching up, which would have been “on plan” for me but we were in the middle of some heavy topics and so I opened a second bottle (not on plan!) and we each had another glass. When I got home and got the kids to bed I really wanted one more glass. My drinking brain was playing the “you already overdid it why not just keep going since this day was supposed to be AF, does it really matter if you have one more glass?” But my abstinence brain said “there’s no wine open in the house and if you open a bottle you’ll feel like you need to drink the whole thing in the next few days and that’s not the plan”. I got a big glass of water and some popcorn and fell asleep (passed out?) watching NetFlix. I don’t feel great about it, but I guess it could have been worse.
Today is a wine event with friends - Rose All Day. It’s going to be sunny and 70 and it’s in my neighborhood and we paid quite a bit for the tickets. I had been really looking forward to it but I’m still mad at myself from last night. I know it will be fun when I get there I just need to pace myself and remind myself that I can enjoy the company and the beautiful weather without pounding back the rose (my weakness)! Sigh.2 -
JulieAL1969 - this is for you! (and anyone else who is interested - warning, it is kind of graphic, if factual): http://your-daily-verse.com/index.php/2018/04/19/the-truth-about-booze/
I got a lot of this info from Annie Grace's book, as well as from Allan Carr, and William Porter's "Alcohol Explained".3 -
I understand you. I'm always trying to be good and something always comes up alcohol related. Then o say I'll go AF tomorrow.
For me trying to lose LOTS of weight and alcohol dont mix. Excuses are easy!!
Enjoy your wine day !!! It was planned!!1 -
A little off topic but I think I need to start a Less Caffeine One Day At A Time gameplan. I notice that if I don’t have any by mid morning I get a terrible splitting headache that advil won’t even help. I actually just made a cup of coffee to kill the headache and I didn’t even want coffee. That is not the way to handle that3
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »@erikNJ You're in a tough spot. Your job does involve alcohol. That has got to be hard to abstain when it's there in your face , always. But you're making great strides; you're more aware and cognizant of what you want for your own personal health. Stick to your goals. You're amazing!
Thanks Julie! Not only for those kind words, but everything over the past four months!1 -
Hey guys,
This isn’t my first weight loss journey, I’ve been up and down with my weight since 2010. I have 50lbs I’d like to lose.
Alcohol is everywhere! And so Ingrained socially in everything I do. I am making a huge effort to cut it out or at least minimize consumption to once a week. I know if I cut booze I’d lose weight much faster and feel more energized. The last two weeks I’ve done really well! One day at time...
My daughter passed away in August after a two year cancer battle. During her battle I spiralled. I ate whatever, and drank whatever. When you spend weeks in a hospital room with your child, food becomes comfort. When you are discharged home, a drink was my reward. Now that she is gone, alcohol increases my depression and contributes to weight gain. I know cutting booze is the ticket to better health mentally and physically
When I don’t drink I feel less foggy and more ready to work out!
Good luck to you all!8 -
Rayanne203 wrote: »Hey guys,
This isn’t my first weight loss journey, I’ve been up and down with my weight since 2010. I have 50lbs I’d like to lose.
Alcohol is everywhere! And so Ingrained socially in everything I do. I am making a huge effort to cut it out or at least minimize consumption to once a week. I know if I cut booze I’d lose weight much faster and feel more energized. The last two weeks I’ve done really well! One day at time...
My daughter passed away in August after a two year cancer battle. During her battle I spiralled. I ate whatever, and drank whatever. When you spend weeks in a hospital room with your child, food becomes comfort. When you are discharged home, a drink was my reward. Now that she is gone, alcohol increases my depression and contributes to weight gain. I know cutting booze is the ticket to better health mentally and physically
When I don’t drink I feel less foggy and more ready to work out!
Good luck to you all!
Welcome, and I am so, so sorry for your loss. I can’t fathom losing a child. This group will be a great support system as many have experienced life challenges that we’ve used alcohol to help numb us to.
Great goals!3 -
YES, Alcohol lies!1
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Before waking up, I dreamed about having a glass of wine, and thinking it tasted too good -- despite not being a wine I'd normally consider wanting to drink. My take away is that at some level, I miss the alcohol, but it is the first time, as much as I can remember, that I've dreamed of wine in 4 months AF. So far, then, I've been lucky, and it hasn't been too much of a fight. Knowing the first few sips of that "just one" glass would probably taste rather bad .... and then likely before finishing that glass, all the reward centres in my brain would light up ... this is what our stop drinking expert, Craig Beck says.2
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Rayanne203 wrote: »Hey guys,
This isn’t my first weight loss journey, I’ve been up and down with my weight since 2010. I have 50lbs I’d like to lose.
Alcohol is everywhere! And so Ingrained socially in everything I do. I am making a huge effort to cut it out or at least minimize consumption to once a week. I know if I cut booze I’d lose weight much faster and feel more energized. The last two weeks I’ve done really well! One day at time...
My daughter passed away in August after a two year cancer battle. During her battle I spiralled. I ate whatever, and drank whatever. When you spend weeks in a hospital room with your child, food becomes comfort. When you are discharged home, a drink was my reward. Now that she is gone, alcohol increases my depression and contributes to weight gain. I know cutting booze is the ticket to better health mentally and physically
When I don’t drink I feel less foggy and more ready to work out!
Good luck to you all!
Oh I am so sorry. My deepest sympathies to you. We are here for you. Xo1 -
A little off topic but I think I need to start a Less Caffeine One Day At A Time gameplan. I notice that if I don’t have any by mid morning I get a terrible splitting headache that advil won’t even help. I actually just made a cup of coffee to kill the headache and I didn’t even want coffee. That is not the way to handle that
I agree with this. I quit drinking alcohol years ago, but the amount of coffee I drink is ridiculous.
Good luck to everyone that's trying to cut back on their drinking.3 -
I understand you. I'm always trying to be good and something always comes up alcohol related. Then o say I'll go AF tomorrow.
For me trying to lose LOTS of weight and alcohol dont mix. Excuses are easy!!
Enjoy your wine day !!! It was planned!!
So true. There's always an event, and then I'll say, I'll start after that party or whatever it is. In January, I survived a death in the family and a wild girls weekend Alcohol free. It's very empowering. Hang in there. You're already making progress, I'm sure.
A video I saw says, the body throws its energy to digest the alcohol first and then works on the the food later. That's why we have the belly fat, etc.0 -
Annalee82_ wrote: »A little off topic but I think I need to start a Less Caffeine One Day At A Time gameplan. I notice that if I don’t have any by mid morning I get a terrible splitting headache that advil won’t even help. I actually just made a cup of coffee to kill the headache and I didn’t even want coffee. That is not the way to handle that
I agree with this. I quit drinking alcohol years ago, but the amount of coffee I drink is ridiculous.
Good luck to everyone that's trying to cut back on their drinking.
I am also drinking way more coffee than I used to. @erikNJ You both are right. I need to make a hard rule for myself. And do it.
Happy to hear you quit drinking years ago! Bravo! Xo
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JulieAL1969 - this is for you! (and anyone else who is interested - warning, it is kind of graphic, if factual): http://your-daily-verse.com/index.php/2018/04/19/the-truth-about-booze/
I got a lot of this info from Annie Grace's book, as well as from Allan Carr, and William Porter's "Alcohol Explained".
You are amazing in so many ways! This is truly art. It's eye opening, raw and real. Hits to the core but that's a good thing. Just Beautiful! You are so talented - Xo
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A little off topic but I think I need to start a Less Caffeine One Day At A Time gameplan. I notice that if I don’t have any by mid morning I get a terrible splitting headache that advil won’t even help. I actually just made a cup of coffee to kill the headache and I didn’t even want coffee. That is not the way to handle that
My husband switched to half n half (caffeine/decaf). He really likes it.2 -
@Rayanne203 I am very sorry about your daughter. My son passed, too, and it is hard. We are here for you!4
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salleewins wrote: »@Rayanne203 I am very sorry about your daughter. My son passed, too, and it is hard. We are here for you!
I'm so sorry for both of you. My mom died in her early 50s, before her parents, and it was brutal for them. I cannot imagine being a parent and going through this. Thoughts and love with you both . . .6 -
Thank you kittybenn. I am sorry about your Mom. Mine died at 52 as well. It was about a year and a 1/2 before her mother. That is so young.4
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My heart goes out to everyone with these poignant stories of loss. I posted in January about going to help my daughter out when her best friend's 30-year-old husband died. This weekend, my 4-year-old granddaughter told me that her friend Maggie (the 5-year-old who lost her father) was "going to counseling because she has big feelings." I thought that was a beautiful way for a 4-year-old to put it, or to have had this explained to her.
We all "have big feelings" at times like this. Those of us here have experienced turning to alcohol with those feelings. It's so tempting. I'm glad we have this space to get support and have another alternative.8 -
Thank you guys3
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Well what I came here to write now seems extremely trivial. Let me just say this is all very moving. My heart goes out to all of you. My late father used to say, "Everyone carries an invisible bucket of tears." Sending peace and love - Jen6
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