Less Alcohol- April 2018- One Day at a Time
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@JulieAL1969 I don’t think you have to worry about anyone here being disappointed in you. You know that this group is nothing but support for each other. I think it’s admirable you were able to only have one. I know I have been there, and that first time it feels odd, but also proud to know I could stop at one.
Thanks, Erik! I appreciate your words:)
That's true about stopping at one.
Also, that first drink sure doesn't taste as good as it used to.5 -
@salleewins Craig Beck is a straight shooter. The reason I like him is because he says it exactly like it is. No sugar coating.
I sometimes listen to his videos when I get ready for work in the morning.
He always says how he was a heavy drinker for 20 years. One wine bottle a day plus whiskey. He said that after a weekend of binging, he would feel a pain in his right size. He said that was his liver telling him that's it being damaged.
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »
So sorry to hear that about your job! I once heard that when you lose your job it's the perfect time to reinvent yourself. What are the dreams you've been holding back on? What else inspires you ? Don't panic however. After the shock, make a plan. You are a wise, highly capable person ! A champion and a thriver (play on the word survivor)
When I got laid off the last thing I could think about was reinventing myself...
@donimfp, I tried Zip Recruiter, Indeed and Nexxt, and got a lot of responses and some interviews in the same week. I always went through craigslist, and never heard back about any job. And check temp agencies in your area, they are a great way to get something to tide you over. Good luck!!2 -
water sodium is the best0
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I had two glasses of wine today2
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Hi all! Day 4 AF for me so far. I signed up for the Annie Grace 30 day experiment that one of you guys recommended. So far I really like it! The only down side is that I can't hear the videos (I'm hard of hearing) and there are no captions!!! Why on earth not? Maybe I should send Annie Grace an email? Anyway, for those of you who did the program, do the videos add a lot to it or is the reading good enough?
@donimfp so sorry about your job but I like your positive outlook!4 -
Ready for another GREAT sleep!4
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Ready for another GREAT sleep!
The sleep is the best! I struggled with disrupted sleep at first but once that AF sleep kicks in it really is something to celebrate!! Sweet dreams.3 -
I’m so amazed by this thread. The title captured my attention last week and I posted a comment in the very beginning congratulationing everyone. My thinking was ‘this won’t last long’ but I keep coming back every few days to check and see, and read all the comments, and am so thoroughly impressed to see it continuing. From a recovering alcoholic, 9 years sober, it’s truly inspiring to see everyone dealing with the real day to day issues of whether to drink or not. When to drink or not. And seeing the progress of those realizing it’s perfectly ok not to drink. I never had these options, I was a full blown alcoholic, drinking a nearly a fifth of vodka every night starting at 6pm sharp. I was 46 when I went rehab for a month. Coming home sober was incredibly hard. Staying sober was even harder. Now? It’s not even a thought anymore.
I just wanted to say to each of you going through your experiences, it’s not about the beginning, or the end, it’s about the middle. It’s the middle where we experience life, where we live life to the fullest. The middle is about us becoming what we’ve always envisioned our lives to be. Y’all are truly blessed with such an incredible support system here. I’ll keep checking in every few days, and reading everyone’s comments, and experiencing your days of accomplishment as well as your days that aren’t so accomplished. Good or bad, it’s a process, and y’all are doing fantastic! Chin up to each of you. You can do this17 -
Hi all! Day 4 AF for me so far. I signed up for the Annie Grace 30 day experiment that one of you guys recommended. So far I really like it! The only down side is that I can't hear the videos (I'm hard of hearing) and there are no captions!!! Why on earth not? Maybe I should send Annie Grace an email? Anyway, for those of you who did the program, do the videos add a lot to it or is the reading good enough?
@donimfp so sorry about your job but I like your positive outlook!
The videos are a big part, for sure. It stinks they are hard to hear, though
I loved the experiment and do not think I would be where I am without having gone through those 30 days of being really introspective and honest in the journal.
It was so important to me that I gave a donation at the end because it goes "poof" and you don't have access to it after about 32 days. I still want to be able to see some of the videos and read the things I wrote as I battled through that first month.
I know we all have different goals and there is so much help in the way she teaches regardless of where you want to go in your relationship with alcohol. Good luck to you!
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@SouthernCountryGirl Thank you for those most inspiring words of encouragement and personal reflections.
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Yes I have binge watched all I care to binge, and do read more, been riding my bicycle and getting back in shape and that feels great. I just want the friends, good times, and laughs without the tab... both financially and physically. I wish sober people would dance funny, sing poorly, and laugh at everything
Perhaps join some meetups that focus on things you're interested in: reading, exercise, whatever you like. You might make some friends there that don't depend on alcohol to have a good time.2 -
Made it through this week. Tonight is the 5th day AF. When watching TV and people are drinking, in the past I'd think, 'Mmm', I likey. This week, a show had people drinking wine with dinner, something I enjoy, and I found myself looking at the glass of wine and thinking, 'oh no.' A nice change re the thought process instead of craving it.5
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@SouthernCountryGirl Thank you for those most inspiring words of encouragement and personal reflections.
I agree that was a very inspiring post to read.3 -
I’m new and I’m in! I’m not new to MFP having used it before to lose 15kg. However I’ve put it all back on so I’m back. Since last time I was here my husband has pointed out to me that I have a problem with alcohol. I don’t know what you call it, whether it falls into alcoholism or not, but when I am out socially and have a few drinks, I can’t stop and end up getting ridiculously blackout drunk. I don’t drink at home much, and if I do, it’s a max of 1-2 drinks maybe 1-2 days a week, but it’s the social setting that kills me! So my goal will be AF Monday-Thursday and max 2 drinks at home/social occasions Friday-Sunday.6
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nickiwalsh5 wrote: »I’m new and I’m in! I’m not new to MFP having used it before to lose 15kg. However I’ve put it all back on so I’m back. Since last time I was here my husband has pointed out to me that I have a problem with alcohol. I don’t know what you call it, whether it falls into alcoholism or not, but when I am out socially and have a few drinks, I can’t stop and end up getting ridiculously blackout drunk. I don’t drink at home much, and if I do, it’s a max of 1-2 drinks maybe 1-2 days a week, but it’s the social setting that kills me! So my goal will be AF Monday-Thursday and max 2 drinks at home/social occasions Friday-Sunday.
Welcome! I am happy you set some healthy goals for yourself. It really is for overall wellness and truly is a better lifestyle. I've read when you drink alcohol, the Body goes straight to metabolizing that alcohol and focuses all body organs on that, so the food is not metabolized effectively. Hence, the bigger belly, etc.
Keep updating us on your journey!
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Made it through this week. Tonight is the 5th day AF. When watching TV and people are drinking, in the past I'd think, 'Mmm', I likey. This week, a show had people drinking wine with dinner, something I enjoy, and I found myself looking at the glass of wine and thinking, 'oh no.' A nice change re the thought process instead of craving it.
Sometimes, I think how come every one else can drink a few with dinner, but I cant seem to handle that or it turns into more or many days of nightly drinking. BUT it really is an illusion that we have been fooled into thinking that it's so harmless and so natural to have a few drinks of wine. Congrats on 5 AF days. Keep up the good work!3 -
@SouthernCountryGirl Thanks for your beautiful insights. You are an inspiration.2 -
Made it through this week. Tonight is the 5th day AF. When watching TV and people are drinking, in the past I'd think, 'Mmm', I likey. This week, a show had people drinking wine with dinner, something I enjoy, and I found myself looking at the glass of wine and thinking, 'oh no.' A nice change re the thought process instead of craving it.
I know exactly what you mean. I am working on changing my thought process too. Understanding how our mind is being controlled by all of these little subtleties is important, I think.
I am also on day 5. I am trying to recognize the things that trigger my urge for a drink. Last night we cooked on the grill. Immediately my mind says grilling out=cocktail. So I asked myself why I need a cocktail just because we are grilling. What is the benefit there? And I realized there really is none. It was purely habit. And the habit probably evolved from seeing all of these ads and TV shows with cookouts and beer and wine and everyone having fun. But beer and wine are not what makes the fun. It's the company. I had water with my dinner and enjoyed it just the same.
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@SouthernCountryGirl Love your wisdom and encouragement.
@ehseeker Don't watch Mad Men then. That show is reeking with bad habits with drinking at the top.4 -
Hi, I’ve had one drink since 1st week in Feb. I was a 2 or 3 drink a night before that for many years. I knew I had to quit, but it was my way to relax and unwind in the evenings (I have 2 autistic kids). Hubby and I started Keto diet, and well alcohol doesn’t really work on the plan. While having that one drink I was like, dang we gotta do this once a month! But the next morning I felt nah, I’m good for a bit, I got goals! We plan to celebrate every 20 lbs with a small drink.7
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@SouthernCountryGirl Love your wisdom and encouragement.
@ehseeker Don't watch Mad Men then. That show is reeking with bad habits with drinking at the top.
I think Peaky Blinders is even worse. They're drinking straight whiskey constantly. My son asked 'How do they get anything done?"3 -
@JulieAL1969 - always appreciate these videos and, believe me, am passing them on to my son, his girlfriend and other people I know who are trying to moderate or become AF.
BTW, congrats on your amazing victory the other night when you had only one drink. Way to go and work that moderation muscle. You rock!1 -
@donimfp - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your job. I'm not trying to sugarcoat anything here, and I'm sure you're bummed and probably in a bit of a panic, BUT . . . I can't tell you how many people I know who've been through this who come out the other end in a better situation: better pay, more fulfilling work, etc. I have many friends who've said losing their jobs is the best thing that ever happened to them. Again, not trying to by Pollyanna here and for sure this is rough. Just trying to be encouraging. Thinking of you!4
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After watching a few tea videos, I learned that those trianglular tea bags are best, because they left the tea move around while steeping. Call CNN- big tea news. LOL
Tonight, I'm going to an upscale bar for a friend's 50th birthday party. The irony is that she and her husband do not drink. That's the good news; I won't be the only one not drinking.
The bad news is lately I've been feeling a little left out of the fun when I attend social functions. It's like I'm trying to have fun but just not quite enjoying myself. I'm still of the mind that I'm being punished by not letting myself have any alcohol. Oh well! That's for me and my mind to work through. On the positive side, I'll wake up refreshed and energetic without a hangover.
@Leeg5656 and @ehseeker Yes, Mad Men is the worst show you can watch while quitting alcohol. Haha. They are constantly pouring a stiff drink and yet still able to work at the office. Except for Don Draper, it is not working for him after awhile.6 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »
Agreed about Mad Men! I stuck it out for four episodes because of all the rave reviews but one of the main reasons I stopped watching is that I found the constant drinking, smoking, and sexual harassing to be distracting and ultimately, tiresome! Ok, we get it! They drank and smoke and harassed women! All the time! Constantly! We get it! Lol.
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Hello from Sayulita Mexico - it’s been a great week. The food and margaritas have been fabulous, but I definitely feel like I need a good long break from eating and drinking. I get home Sunday and then have to go to SF a week later for work so my goal is AF until then. I don’t feel bad about what I’ve have this week. Last fall in Costa Rica I definitely “thought” more about drinking - when I would get to have a glass of wine and how much I would have. This trip I feel very relaxed and tonight my husband poured me a Pacifico to have to watch the sunset and I ended up just giving it to him. It just didn’t seem necessary. This is a nice change! But I feel like it might be a tough week to transition out of vacation mode next week!4
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@Cleosweetie I felt the same way about Mad Men!1
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@JulieAL1969 you have been inspiring! I hope the party was fun AF. I went to a wedding in Jan when I was dry. It was fun but not “as” fun, mostly because of that mental thought process - like feeling punished. The next day I was so grateful to feel awesome, but I definitely didn’t want to stay late at the party by any means. I also hung out at the dessert table a little too much ha!2
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