Less Alcohol - September 2018 - One Day at a Time
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Wow, all these carefree happy childhoods, in spite of being overweight. I don't envy, but cannot imagine. I grew up way out in the country with no neighbors except my father's parents next door. I was a shy skinny solitary child who was not allowed to leave the yard unless to go to visit with my Grands. That ended when I was 5 and my mother had a falling out with my Grandmother3
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Day 2, I find that after a long workday, and caring for everyone else, I just want to melt away with a bottle of wine. Then its days of undereating to compensate for it. And the "wineover" the next day stops me from being active. Its weird but I've never been a drinker. It's only the last 2 years that this new behavior has popped up. It's just lots of extra empty calories.5
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Day 2. Thought about not drinking all day. I hope some day I can just have one but know I can't right now.6
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My last bit of alcohol was 9/1. I drank entirely way too much. I drank a pint of vodka and 4 shots of tequila. I was of course the only one drinking.
I want to take a break, hangovers aren't tolerable anymore.3 -
trishahalberstadt wrote: »My last bit of alcohol was 9/1. I drank entirely way too much. I drank a pint of vodka and 4 shots of tequila. I was of course the only one drinking.
I want to take a break, hangovers aren't tolerable anymore.
@trishahalberstadt You're off to a great start in September!2 -
Back to childhood?
Wow, I've been doing that!
I spent my childhood drawing lots and lots.
I mentioned my burst of creativity that's happened this year, which coincides with quitting drinking.
Now I'm drawing more and more.
I also did gymnastics as a kid. I've been practicing my handstands and splits every day for over 3 months.
This is so cool, guys! Let's play!!
@MadisonMolly2017 also recently has inspired me to play more.4 -
I needed this...3
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Yesterday I received a disturbing phone call that really got my blood boiling. I kept replaying the conversation in my head for maybe 20 minutes. Then I noticed how in raged I was becoming. At that second, I thought, "wow....old me would already be thinking about having many drinks to calm down after I got out of work". Luckily I absorbed that thought and remembered that days like that NEVER ended well. And I certainly did not want to have a drink that would add fuel to my already smoldering emotions. Instead I put on Pandora to play some of my favorite music. Thank you James Taylor for always being there.5
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trishahalberstadt wrote: »My last bit of alcohol was 9/1. I drank entirely way too much. I drank a pint of vodka and 4 shots of tequila. I was of course the only one drinking.
I want to take a break, hangovers aren't tolerable anymore.
Taking a break is the perfect phrase. Whether it be one day or several consecutive days of "a break" is your own path. I hope your hangover was not to long lasting. Hugs2 -
forestdweller46 wrote: »Wow, all these carefree happy childhoods, in spite of being overweight. I don't envy, but cannot imagine. I grew up way out in the country with no neighbors except my father's parents next door. I was a shy skinny solitary child who was not allowed to leave the yard unless to go to visit with my Grands. That ended when I was 5 and my mother had a falling out with my Grandmother
I think this experiment was to occupy our mind with other thoughts other than booze related. All childhood thoughts are worth remembering. They make us or have made us who we are good, bad, glittery or not. 🤗 big hug1 -
@RubyRed427 @MissMay @mainelylisa
My fun and activity today is swimming and running the chubby kid the alcoholic adult is now long done and gone. As I am a Grandpa nothing is more fun than entertaining visits from my older grandkids and visits to my youngest grandson.
I am lucky both my daughters run and my SILs as well and I have run and raced with them over the years. I am contemplating a run at a half marathon now that I am in my 70s I get into another age bracket away from those pesky 60 somethings
What an awesome healthy life at 70+! You hit on something that I've been thinking a lot about. I feel a bit of an empty spot in my heart. I always thought I'd have grandkids at my age. I don't and may never. (I was so desperate, I offered to go in on a 3-way adoption with my sons of a little Asian girl a few years back--yes, my fantasy was very specific, lol.)
But--look around--life is NEVER what we thought it was going to be. I didn't turn out to be a princess and marry my prince and live happily ever after (are we still feeding our kids that BS?) My neighbor didn't expect to marry twice and have a double mastectomy. I'm learning to be more grateful for life and all its unexpecteds--and even embrace them. The Happiness Trap is a great book and helping me look at life differently.
But I bring this up also because I think sometimes I drink (which for the most part has replaced overeating), as I'm sure do others, to console a sadness in our soul, or calm our anger that life didn't turn out how we expected--and sometimes we might not even realize it.
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Hi folks, I am trying to reduce my alcohol as I know I am self sabotaging my weight loss. Just like jacq0220 one glass leads to the whole bottle (especially Prosecco!) and then onto late night snacks. I decided to have a sober September and so far so good - I have gone 5 days without a drink!!! So glad I have found this thread.9
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Well, broke my AF weeknights promise to myself last night. Had dinner with my sweetie and we shared a bottle of wine. I had 2 glasses. Even though I gave in to that voice in my head, I still feel like I had a victory. Normally one or two glasses continue into way more and feeling bad the next day. I definitely had less and I felt fine this morning. I still would like to get to the point where I have none during the work week, but this is definitely a big improvement for me.
@Ke22yB go ahead and train for that half marathon. Embrace that new age bracket. Much less competition as we graduate to the new age groups. There was a woman here where I live that was running half and full marathons in her 90's! Such an inspiration. She ALWAYS placed in her age group (usually she was the only one
). Go pick a half marathon and own it. I bet you will place. 5 -
Awesome! Victory it is. I think it's important to feel good about progress. Use that good feeling as motivation. Start the next day with a plan to do a little better than the day before. Me, I had 2.5 glasses yesterday during cooking dinner. I made a decision to stop when dinner started. After eating, I felt full and the cravings stopped. Yes my mind asked me for more and I went to watch TV - show called Ugly Delicious - which was good and totally distracted me rest of the evening.
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@mainelylisa Sometimes we romanticize what we want and can get depressed and in the past sad drinking and mad drinking was one of the ways I dealt. I have replaced some of the empty feelings with further activity. I am in the pool Monday to Friday before 6AM and swim for over an hour. Strangely a lot of the guys swimming are retired over 65, and we keep asking ourselves what are we doing here at 6AM well it gives us something healthy and we see each other every morning and its part of our social structure. In town a lot of people know me as the running man and we have conversation and we will stop and chat some times, it's part of our social structure. Two of my kids are in California and One is in Rhode Island and I am in New Jersey. As many young families they are busy and we don't see each other often so I replace when I can with my friends and neighbors and other seniors. I don't drink anymore to fill that need I replaced other activities instead.
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Hi! After spending some time reading the comments, I've decided I'd like to join your party! I have just returned to MFP after realizing I've gained 15 pounds since I retired one year ago. Looking for some motivation, I stumbled across this group and I really think this is going to be beneficial to me. I got into the habit of coming home from work and having wine while I made dinner. In my mind, it was like a reward for getting through another stressful day at work. I'd usually mindlessly go through half a bottle. I no longer work at the stressful job, but the habit is ingrained. A while back I realized I wasn't really getting enough reward - just a bigger derriere and less money in my wallet, but I lacked the motivation to do anything about it. WHY do I keep doing things that don't serve me well?? Well, now I don't fit into my jeans and I'm motivated! Last night I decided to see what a "glass" of wine really looked like. (It's subjective, you know. I usually just use a larger "glass" - actually a half pint mason jar - 'cause I'm classy like that
) I actually measured a 5 oz pour. Not too bad. I had the one glass and that was it and I tried to be mindful of how I felt. I was ok with the one and didn't want anymore. So, my plan is to baby step it because I know me. If I tell myself NEVER AGAIN, whether it's wine or ice cream, my mind will try to convince me I'll die without it. LOL My short term goal is one 5 oz glass IF it works into my calorie count for the day. 8 -
Day 3 was a AF success. It was a very long very busy day. I had extra calories at the end of the day, which I would have used to justify my choices in the past. I had crackers instead. New day new plan. Its Friday! Another reason, you know it's the end of a long week and again used it to relax. So to prepare, I'll take a little time this morning and make my plan. My focus is lose 1 lb by Tuesday, and list my whys. Yes we do a little better each day, I like that. @sonomagirl2 and @viceam @Ke22yB yes yes!
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I am in.... it has been too easy to get into the habit, will go AF Sunday to Thursday and drink moderately Friday and Saturday.6
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Mainelylisa you brought up some great points on underlying reasons for drinking. Later today I will check out the happiness trap you mentioned. Thanks
thesnackmonster welcome to our group. Oh boy.....prosecco. That was always my go to choice of drink. Now I have to limit it to just ordering it when I go out and limit it to one glass and I absolutely do not purchase it by the bottle to have at home. Just like Doritos, I KNOW if I buy a bag and take it home it will disappear in one sitting.
USCBMOM22 this is still a huge positive forward motion. Your aware of many things in your post and you adjusted your amounts to get to where you eventually want to be. Win-win.
sonomagirl2 welcome. It truly does makes a big difference when you measure out a standard sized drink to see if it is close to what we may have been pouring before. Enjoy that 5 ounces knowing you don't need to find the bottom of the bottle that night.
jacq0220 awesome job on your 3rd day AF! Good plan in place for Fri-Sun. I call it the Bermuda Triangle Weekend. We don't want to get sucked into it never to be seen again. Lol
richshed welcome nice to have you posting and following us. One step at a time.
I have no real big plans or events this weekend that would trigger a binge episode. That is always a nice feeling and being the only driver in the family it keeps me in check when we go out. Have a great day everyone.
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Leaving for Cape May this morning to help our friends daughter spread her ashes and celebrate some of her favorite beaches and bars. Probably a pub crawl all day tomorrow. This would have resulted in an out of control weekend 10 years ago. I plan to swim in the hotel pool in the morning tomorrow followed by a 5 mile run on the beach and breakfast and will still have hours to sightsee and explore before the rest of the group gets together.
I love that traveling and vacationing 5 or 6 times a year I now have the opportunity to run on many different beaches.9 -
How do I join this challenge? Thanks!3
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I think I've got it. Is this a discussion group? Either way, I'd like to participate. Thanks!3
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Leaving for Cape May this morning to help our friends daughter spread her ashes and celebrate some of her favorite beaches and bars. Probably a pub crawl all day tomorrow.
You are an inspiration. Such a wise use of your extra time to not be taken up by drinking. The term "pub crawl" always makes my skin crawl.JenBlalock wrote: »I think I've got it. Is this a discussion group? Either way, I'd like to participate. Thanks!
Yes you are more than invited to participate, in any form you wish. Posting, reading, lurking......it is all beneficially.2 -
Hi all. I'm pretty sure my weight gain this past year is due to alcohol. I was on medication for a year and a half and couldn't drink alcohol (actually hated the taste of wine!) and lost weight without even trying. Once I got off the meds, I was able to drink alcohol again Within a year I gained almost 30 pounds. I was probably eating more also. So, now somehow alcohol in the evening is part of my daily routine. Most of it due to boredom. I think I will try to only have alcohol on Friday nights when we have pizza. We'll see how this goes! I'm happy to have found this group.6
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@JenBlalock Glad you found us. This is a great group. Lot's of support and good advice. I can relate to the evening drinking. Somehow that glass of wine has become a daily thing. It started as having a glass while cooking dinner. Then another with dinner. Many times some more after. I have managed to reel that in, but I would like to get to where I am AF on weeknights and perhaps only one or two on the weekends.
This weekend will not have as many challenges to stay AF. I am meeting a friend at 6:00 tomorrow morning for a long run, so that means no wine tonight and early to bed. I have my 3 year old granddaughter tomorrow evening so definitely nothing tomorrow evening. The only temptation might be during the football game Sunday afternoon. Since we plan to watch at home, I will be fine. I just won't buy any and there won't be anything in the house to tempt me. Hmmmm....maybe the scale will actually cooperate on Monday morning.
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Nice to see some new faces here along with some of the originals. We all have something to share, something to learn..
I've got 3 days AF behind me, working on # 4. The scale hasn't moved much but that's beside the point right now. Have decided not to driink at all this weekend, the slope is too slippery for me... "just one" will lead to "oh well, that was yummmm, (unlike others, I do love the taste of my fav drinks) might as well have another" and before you know it the bottle is gone, the crunchy-munchies hit and its morning and I'm disgusted with myself. That's gotten old. And farther behind on my goals.
Have a great day everyone and enjoy your weekend, remember what you believe in, be good to yourself. Peace8
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