Less Alcohol - August 2018 - One Day at a Time
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@Callandscaper, that sounds like a great moderation plan. I'm glad that works for you!
@RubyRed427, have you tried subbing sparkling water (Pellegrino or Perrier) for the club soda? I can't tolerate soda either, but the water is fine. I have trouble finding good subs for alcohol because I don't like sweet "mocktails," but I do get sick of plain old water. This weekend my husband mixed grapefruit juice and diet ginger ale, and I really liked it. Heavier on the juice so not so sweet. He laughed when he offered me a second one and I said, "No, one's my limit."
On that note, I've noticed that I expect to have a drink in my hand pretty constantly, albeit a non-alcoholic drink. I wonder when that will fade. Surely other non-drinkers don't constantly need to be drinking something. I guess that's a habit I got into with the alcohol.
Have a great week, everyone.
I do like Pellegrino and Perrier; I think I’ll switch to that always instead of soda.
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Just checking in to say that last night was my hardest in terms of really wanting to drink, and convincing myself that was ok...if it hadn't been Sunday I most likely would have gone to specs for a bottle of vodka. Thankfully, I didn't have that option!9
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Ksandoval0401 wrote: »Just checking in to say that last night was my hardest in terms of really wanting to drink, and convincing myself that was ok...if it hadn't been Sunday I most likely would have gone to specs for a bottle of vodka. Thankfully, I didn't have that option!
Congratulations on getting through it!3 -
Made it through the weekend with no drinks. Saturday was hard for me. We went to a family member's house that turned out to be a bad choice and I really wanted to join in but told myself that it wasn't worth it.8
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@Ksandoval0401 and @bdbchick - Congrats on the AF weekend! Hopefully just knowing you can do it will be enough to do it as many times as you want going forward.7
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Well, NovusDies, took your advice and got my 71 year-old self capering to Nothin' Fancy's "I Met My Baby In The Porta John Line". I feel GREAT, but my Catpuccino has now confirmed that his Person is crazy.8
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I have a personal challenge for everyone this week. At least 3 times this week turn on one of your favorite upbeat songs and dance. If, like me, you can't dance that well then dance awkwardly. Have yourself a 2-3 minute celebration whether you have a good reason or not. It doesn't matter if you do it alone or with someone else.
You're on. Challenge accepted. I think that is a great idea!!3 -
Day 2 AF-today was easier than yesterday.7
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pjmfitforme wrote: »Day 2 AF-today was easier than yesterday.
@pjmfitforme Fantastic!
The first day is the hardest, and requires courage.
Then, I found, the happy hormones kick in and make subsequent days easier and easier.5 -
forestdweller46 wrote: »Well, NovusDies, took your advice and got my 71 year-old self capering to Nothin' Fancy's "I Met My Baby In The Porta John Line". I feel GREAT, but my Catpuccino has now confirmed that his Person is crazy.
Nice and lol. You get extra points for the use of capering. I think it is good to let loose and be crazy occasionally. Who wants to be serious all the time?
Come on people and shake your groove thing!
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lorrainequiche59 wrote: »I have a personal challenge for everyone this week. At least 3 times this week turn on one of your favorite upbeat songs and dance. If, like me, you can't dance that well then dance awkwardly. Have yourself a 2-3 minute celebration whether you have a good reason or not. It doesn't matter if you do it alone or with someone else.
You're on. Challenge accepted. I think that is a great idea!!
I did my first installment this morning. Got my blood pumping and felt silly and youthful the entire time... what is not to love?
Oh and appropriately I chose "I Can't Dance" by Genesis for today's song selection.5 -
So what are some of the things you do to distract yourself from wanting that drink? Such as when, happy hour rolls around just before dinner or the usual drink after work, etc....0
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Well done, stick to it, it’ll get easierKsandoval0401 wrote: »Just checking in to say that last night was my hardest in terms of really wanting to drink, and convincing myself that was ok...if it hadn't been Sunday I most likely would have gone to specs for a bottle of vodka. Thankfully, I didn't have that option!
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Personally I think of alcohol as a poison, for me why would I want to poison myself so not drinking is so easy.So what are some of the things you do to distract yourself from wanting that drink? Such as when, happy hour rolls around just before dinner or the usual drink after work, etc....
It’s funny to sit and watch people convince themselves, it tastes nice, or it quenches their thirst.
By the way, I was an alcoholic
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Really great thread. Thanks to all for sharing!2
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So what are some of the things you do to distract yourself from wanting that drink? Such as when, happy hour rolls around just before dinner or the usual drink after work, etc....
I like to make a big pot of tea (even in the summer), I keep pouring and sipping. I also change my scenery- go for a walk, take a bath, etc.5 -
My house is a lot cleaner than it's been in a while, lol. I'm shampooing my carpets right now, which is desperately needed. I'm thankful to have all this extra energy!!7
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Same here @MonkeyMel21. I’ve rearranged my pantry, frozen fruit and kale for smoothies, and mastered a few Southeast Asian dishes. The energy feels like that week or so before going into labor.
As far as cravings, it is still really working for me to think “I’m glad I don’t have to subject myself to drinking and its many negative effects on me” rather than thinking I’m depriving myself of a treat. The more I’ve done this since July 22 the less I even think about having a drink. I know we’re all different but that’s what is working for me.7 -
I was just going to comment like some people above I have a lot of energy these days. It’s been 17 days AF. Last night, most of the reunion guests had champagne and whiskey including my husband. Today, I drove home and felt so alert while my husband was sleeping in the passenger seat. Another benefit to less alcohol.8
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@RubyRed427, Yay you!!!3
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i was a little nervous that i’d give in and have a drink, just because my coworkers always make the fanciest, nicest looking delicious drinks! but, i went prepared with my favourite flavor of La Croix and it was no problem! Day 7 going strong!
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So what are some of the things you do to distract yourself from wanting that drink? Such as when, happy hour rolls around just before dinner or the usual drink after work, etc....
Watch a Craig Beck or Annie Grace video on YouTube. All kinds of info on how to deal with cravings and changing habits. Very informative.4 -
andysport1 wrote: »
I miss the early months when everyone supported everyone in this group. Go back and read Jan and Feb threads. It was support for LESS ALCOHOL. Not an AA group. Nothing but love in those days.
As opposed to the constant attacks on those of is that are able to moderate and enjoy alcohol.
I came back from vacation on Sunday night to catch up on this thread, and half of it was more debate of that. So I ignored for a few days and come to this.
I truly truly thank all of you who have supported me and helped me get my health on track this year. I love a lot of you. But I can’t come here and read this stuff everyday.8 -
I have never said anything about moderation....if you can moderate all power to ya....I cant moderate and have to go dry....if you can moderate and be within the recommended healthy guidelines of 2 a day for men and 1 a day for women, you are actually doing it right5
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@erikNJ, I hear you. I have decided that going AF completely is what I personally have to do. However, I am totally supportive of and rooting for anyone who can successfully moderate and keep alcohol in their lives in a reasonable way and not overdo it. I'm sorry for anyone who ever feels that their path, whether going AF or moderating, is being "bashed" or at least not validated.
I don't want to get into this issue again, because it seems like it just keeps cycling around. I don't want "moderators" to feel threatened by AF folks who share their successes/struggles or AF folks to feel threatened by or dismissive of those who are working on moderation. That shouldn't be so hard, right?
I do just want to say ONE thing about the "taste" issue. Annie Grace and others make a big point about how yucky alcohol tastes. Well, of course it does. Straight alcohol tastes horrible (I guess . . . I've never had it nor has anyone I know). I wouldn't chomp on a stalk of rosemary, either, but it sure tastes good when added judiciously to certain recipes. I feel it's very disingenuous to say that anyone "pretends" alcohol tastes good. I know from my own experience that certain wines and beers taste very good indeed. Alcohol is a component of those drinks, and like the rosemary in an omelet, it adds something that simply cannot be duplicated--witness how horrible non-alcoholic wines and beers taste! Those writers (Grace, Beck, Carr, Vale) have helped me a lot on my AF journey, but I don't think it's necessary to harp on how bad alcohol tastes. It seems like a red herring to me.
Anyway, I AM glad I don't have to drink alcohol any more because it has devastatingly negative effects for me. I just can't handle it in moderation. But come on . . . Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. Let's not demonize each other's choices or attitudes. Sorry for the long post. I'm zipping my lip on this subject.5 -
To clear my last post up:
MOST people in this group do not judge us moderators. So you guys are not the issue. As I said, you guys have been a huge part of my positive journey and I love you guys.
But there are a few people who make those kind of comments like their thought process is the only thought process cause that is what worked for their recovery. And those people are the ones that have made me decide to move on.
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And my Denver trip was great. I visited a lot of breweries and I didn’t get drunk. I had small sample pours of the beers I wanted to taste and enjoyed the town and live music at Red Rocks.
And those beer samples tasted delicious! And that is the truth not me convincing myself
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I danced. Kind of.
Bit hard knowing how to move to post-metalcore punk/rap.
(Hellions - "X (Mwah)")2
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