Less Alcohol- June 2018- One Day at a Time
RubyRed427
Posts: 4,347 Member
in Challenges
Welcome to a fresh start! This month, join our thread by commenting and telling us what your moderation goals may be. Do you want to take a month off from alcohol and see how it feels? Do you want to share your tips, advice and problems you had reducing or quitting alcohol? Do you want to reduce and readjust your consumption patterns? Whatever you choose, we are here for you. We are a non-judgemental, friendly, supportive group of people. Join us on a journey to less alcohol, one day at a time. Xo
16
Replies
-
Hi! My name is Margie and I would like to participate for June! I have always had challenges with drinking and I really want to cut back to help with my weight loss goals. I want to be realistic so I am gong with a moderation goal. AF Sun - Thurs and F-Sat mindful moderation. I read through May's thread and I am looking forward the help and support for June!6
-
Hi there! I'm looking to be AF for all of June. I had started drinking 4 years ago after 20 years of not. There's been some weeks and months these past 4 years that I have gone with out but then get back into it. February and March this year I had gone AF, but I started my Ancestry journey and got my DNA results and have been learning all kinds of things since. Which has led me on a roller coaster of drinking the last couple months with all the excitement and revealed secrets! I got matched up with a first cousin who had been adopted out, and will be going to meet her and visiting family I haven't seen in over 20 years this Summer, so the weightloss from not drinking will be awesome!15
-
Hi all! I’m looking to be AF six out of seven days a week. Date night with partner is the one day that I will drink but only four beers.
My calorie count is great each day but then add in the alcohol calories and I’m way over. Weight lost has stopped and I need to drop down and clean up my diet. Last blood work wasn’t good and I have high BP. So gotta get my act together.
Looking forward to getting and giving support here.11 -
Looking to be AF this month! I’ve also signed up for the Alcohol Experiment (day 2 today) to help me along this journey. Looking forward to chatting with you this month!10
-
Welcome new folks...Thanks for keeping this thread going, Julie! My goal for June is once again be AF Sunday thru Friday and be mindful during the weekend.13
-
I can't believe this is our 6th month! Where does the time go? My goal is to be completely alcohol free. I have fooled myself too long, pretending I can actually be a moderate drinker. I need to be completely present at this time in my life. Welcome to all the new people! You will love this thread.16
-
Hello, all! Going for an alcohol-free June
Glad to be with you. 8 -
So last night I had a dream about drinking. I was debating with myself and then decided I was going to do it and I needed to get some vodka chilled in a hurry because my time was running out and I don't like ice in my drink normally. I ran to the kitchen with a full bottle with the idea of dividing it so I could put it in the freezer. When I got there the counters were covered with half bottles of vodka because I apparently had already made that trip many many times. I was confused and then embarrassed about all the bottles.
Doesn't really take a dream expert to figure that one out...15 -
Hi and welcome to all the new people who have posted and will post. If this thread is anything like its previous incarnations it should be a helpful tool in reaching whatever goal you feel comfortable setting for yourself. I personally failed my goal within a week last month but I learned from it so I still consider May a good month.
I guess that is my tip... be happy in success and objective in failure. Hopefully none of you will have to use the latter part of that advice.11 -
I couldn’t keep up with last month’s thread, but maybe if I get in early on this one I’ll be able to! Haha! So, I’m 229 days sober and in the process I have lost 70 pounds (Through counting calories, but I was such a binge drinker before that I was never able to count calories or stick with any plan to form healthier habits.). I’ve gone from a 5x to a 2x, but even better is that I’m living my life instead of drinking myself to death. I used to drink to self-medicate depression and anxiety, but eventually I realized that it had become something else entirely. I was drinking to cope with everything and I could barely go a day without drinking 2-3 bottles of wine. Sometimes I would get it together for about a month, but that was it. October of last year I looked in the mirror while I was drunk and I didn’t know the face that was looking back at me anymore. Her eyes were so sad. The face was round and swollen. The double chin could no longer be hidden from clever angles. But the eyes. That’s what really got me. I couldn’t believe those sad eyes were my own eyes looking back at me. And that was it. That was the last time I drank. Anyway, I just got new labs done and I will find out how much I have improved my health tomorrow. I’m nervous. My cholesterol was insane and I was pre-diabetic this same time last year. Even though my doctor was trying to get my attention and showing me that I couldn’t go on like this it still took me 6 more months before I would stop drinking and start facing reality. I just hope I hear some good news tomorrow...like hey, you might actually be decreasing your chances of having a stroke or heart attack (Both of which run rampant in my obese family.).41
-
@NovusDies You are a winner. Dreams are crazy. They may reveal something about yourself, but they may also be just an aspect of what is worrying you during the day. Warm thoughts going your way!
@JenT304 Congrats on the new grandchild!6 -
I'm in for June again!
I have a specific weight loss goal for the end of June. I think I'm dropping my 3 days of Moderation down to just 1 day, and if I can do it, none.7 -
Hello. Alcohol has been the primary reason that I struggle with my weight. I would also like to join and not drink 5 days per week and only low calorie and moderation the others.14
-
So last night I had a dream about drinking. I was debating with myself and then decided I was going to do it and I needed to get some vodka chilled in a hurry because my time was running out and I don't like ice in my drink normally. I ran to the kitchen with a full bottle with the idea of dividing it so I could put it in the freezer. When I got there the counters were covered with half bottles of vodka because I apparently had already made that trip many many times. I was confused and then embarrassed about all the bottles.
Doesn't really take a dream expert to figure that one out...
Dang. That’s deep! I sometimes have dreams where I forget I’m sober and so I drink. Then, I suddenly remember my sobriety and I’m absolutely crushed that I drank again. This last time, though, I didn’t forget and I didn’t drink. So, that was nice. But the other times I would wake up in a panic until I realized it was just a dream and that I had not had a drink.6 -
I'm in for this, alcohol is a serious weakness of mine and I believe to be the primary cause of the occasional bout of depression. I know I don't need a drink but my mind likes to trick me that I do. My mind can go and ***k itself tbh, it needs to learn who's boss.7
-
I am in again. No drinks in June. Going on vacation June 30th. Not sure if I will drink or not.5
-
crazykatlady820 wrote: »I couldn’t keep up with last month’s thread, but maybe if I get in early on this one I’ll be able to! Haha! So, I’m 229 days sober and in the process I have lost 70 pounds (Through counting calories, but I was such a binge drinker before that I was never able to count calories or stick with any plan to form healthier habits.). I’ve gone from a 5x to a 2x, but even better is that I’m living my life instead of drinking myself to death. I used to drink to self-medicate depression and anxiety, but eventually I realized that it had become something else entirely. I was drinking to cope with everything and I could barely go a day without drinking 2-3 bottles of wine. Sometimes I would get it together for about a month, but that was it. October of last year I looked in the mirror while I was drunk and I didn’t know the face that was looking back at me anymore. Her eyes were so sad. The face was round and swollen. The double chin could no longer be hidden from clever angles. But the eyes. That’s what really got me. I couldn’t believe those sad eyes were my own eyes looking back at me. And that was it. That was the last time I drank. Anyway, I just got new labs done and I will find out how much I have improved my health tomorrow. I’m nervous. My cholesterol was insane and I was pre-diabetic this same time last year. Even though my doctor was trying to get my attention and showing me that I couldn’t go on like this it still took me 6 more months before I would stop drinking and start facing reality. I just hope I hear some good news tomorrow...like hey, you might actually be decreasing your chances of having a stroke or heart attack (Both of which run rampant in my obese family.).
Wow great work Crzykatlady! Awesome work on getting sober and losing weight! Yo should be so proud of yourself!6 -
I'm in for June again!
I have a specific weight loss goal for the end of June. I think I'm dropping my 3 days of Moderation down to just 1 day, and if I can do it, none.
Same here! My weight loss hit a wall the past month and a half. Now I joined a weight loss challenge for June, and that has my focus back like I was in Jan/Feb.
So my goal is to keep my drinking to moderation only on one weekend day and light beers only. I do have two weekday events where I will allow myself some drinks as well. So I am hoping when I report at the end of June I only had 6 or 7 days where I had any alcohol.7 -
I am in for June. My goal is to drink only on our vacation. Even then I plan to moderate.6
-
I’ve been lurking this thread for a while but ready to join in! I come from a hard drinking town, and both me and my husband are heavy drinkers. New Years Day 2017 I decided to seriously cut down my alcohol, and I came up with some “rules” to regulate my drinking (Stopping altogether is not an option for me; booze is the one vice I have left!). When I’m on the wagon- so to speak- I only “socially” drink: if I’m out, or if people come by my house. Social drinking does not include just me and my hubby drinking at home. It helps that I’m not a terribly social person lol.
I was able to cut down my alcohol use probably about 50-60% doing this- it not only makes me feel better but it’s ALOT easier to lose a pound here and there if I’m not mixing 300-500 alcohol calories into the daily mix.
I want this to be my normal, so that I can (for the most part) cut out all no-damn-good-reason drinking.14 -
Welcome to the thread everyone! It's exciting to read so many voices and hear your stories. I never imagined I would ever be able to stop drinking. Back on Jan. 1st, I did stop , mostly because of this thread and the people who give advice and support. I also immersed myself in books and blogs and videos about alcohol and its effects on the body and mind.
I stopped for 2.5 months and it was a beautiful thing; my drinking had been escalating over the last few years and I was starting to sneak drinks and hide the bottles.
While I quit, I lost weight, face got less puffy and pink; I went through a death in the family and dealt with it sober. I cannot imagine how I could have coped if I had been drinking. Anyway, we all have had success and failures. Since then, I've drank a few times and cannot imagine why I still want to drink once in awhile. I know how great it feels to be sober , so I cannot figure out why I go back to drinking. That's the gist of my own story.
Anyway, we are all here for you. Some of you want to moderate and that's a wonderful goal. Others want to try sobriety for 30 days or the rest of your life. Go for it!
The other part of our success on this thread is sharing what works for you. Of course, share if sometimes you don't reach your goal. We will not judge you -we have all been there.
Let us know some of the ways you have found to withstand the cravings. So happy to start fresh this June. Xo16 -
My mind is so sneaky, it tried to convince me last night that as it was only 29th May and not June 1st, I could mix some Chivas in my sparkling water. I spoiled its night by not going to the bar and drinking just the water. F!!! my lazy mind.5
-
I would like to join too. Had too much wine last night4
-
This was a good read this morning. As some of you know, The Sober school is a great resource.
https://thesoberschool.com/give-up-on-your-alcohol-free-goals/7 -
In today's Guardian, sobering stuff!
https://theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/30/one-weekend-bender-can-ruin-your-life-pancreatitis5 -
As I have been following this awesome thread (and commenting occasionally), I am again in for the month! I have made a lot of excuses and am finally facing them. Here is to a mainly dry month.6
-
In today's Guardian, sobering stuff!
https://theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/30/one-weekend-bender-can-ruin-your-life-pancreatitis
Wow- very sad. But so important to know. These poor young people werent drinking every day and now to be dying from this chronic condition makes me so sad. I also pray every night that my own kids don't drink. It's such a curse. And I don't want them to every experience the pain alcohol can cause. It's important to read these articles- it helps me so much to stay the course. Xo4 -
That was shocking. I mean why do we not remember that alcohol can kill us? We've all seen those awful frat hazing stories on the news. I am rereading Alcohol Explained. I swear this should be required reading by everyone; high school, college kids, everyone. It's an eye opener to say the least.5
-
Here’s to June, everyone! Great to see newcomers joining in. I think you will find a warm welcome and tons of non-judgey support here.
At the end of the May thread, three of us who are grandmothers (but so young in spirit!) shared experiences of having our children express some concern about our care for our grandchildren because of our struggles with alcohol. Nothing drastic in any case but just the hint of any unfitness when it comes to those most precious to us can be devastating.
I know one of my primary motivations to get control is my love for 2 little girls whom I hope to see grow up, graduate, marry, or whatever life holds for them.
I’ve been on this thread since January and don’t think I’ve ever given “advice”. I’m way too fragile for that. Maybe I’ve recommended a book or two. But in all humility may I urge you guys who are way too young to be grandparents yet not to let this opportunity slip away? This thread and group is a great blessing and I so wish I’d been aware of something like this at a much earlier time in my life.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have it now, but I’m even more delighted that YOU have it and hopefully will have profited from these ups and downs and decisions so that alcohol struggles won’t be a blip on your radar by the time you hold your first grandchild.
Ok. Enough elder-speak from me. Back to “Help, guys!”12
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.2K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 421 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions