Less Alcohol - September 2018 - One Day at a Time

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  • JenBlalock
    JenBlalock Posts: 16 Member
    This is me! Exactly!
    karenesg wrote: »
    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. Peace

  • JenBlalock
    JenBlalock Posts: 16 Member
    Ditto with the drink while I cook dinner. That's what motivates me to cook. Probably a good idea to just take alcohol out of the house. I used to always drink wine but then I discovered a grapefruit vodka with grapefruit LaCroix and lime that I prefer in the summer. One drink would be okay but then I always have LaCroix leftover from the can so make another and so on............ Then I eat. Arrrrgggh.... so sick of waking up, taking inventory of the night before, and then being disgusted. I was a runner for many years then somehow developed a lung disease where I had to go on medication for 15 months (which I am now off of) and haven't gotten started again. I think because it's so hot here but should be cooling off soon. I am supposed to exercise my lungs so no excuses there! But that's another topic for another group I think. Right now, I will focus on the alcohol moderation. Thanks for the support and good luck to you this weekend!
    USCBMOM22 wrote: »
    @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.

  • USCBMOM22
    USCBMOM22 Posts: 31 Member
    karenesg wrote: »
    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. Peace

    Yup...that voice in my head says the same thing. ESPECIALLY on the weekends. I think I will join you in an AF weekend. Sadly, I can't remember the last time I had one. Let's give it a shot (not the usual kind of shot :D ).
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,749 Member
    USCBMOM22 wrote: »

    Yup...that voice in my head says the same thing. ESPECIALLY on the weekends. I think I will join you in an AF weekend. Sadly, I can't remember the last time I had one. Let's give it a shot (not the usual kind of shot :D ).

    😂 love it
  • KKHKISHZKH
    KKHKISHZKH Posts: 187 Member
    Friday night. The first real test. It's curry and wine night, and I usually have a whole bottle. Going to have G&T without the G and hope it fools my brain...
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,749 Member
    How I keep track of my accountability:

    1st by day.
    If I can get through a happy hour offered or a friend trying to give/buy me a drink because they think I need one, then I am half way there. When I do plan or feel I need to drink. I try as hard as I can to keep it to no more than two for any single day.

    2nd by week.
    I tally up Sun-Sat. Some weeks have no tally, other weeks do. For the week I want to keep it under 6. Because I know as the weeks progress, I do not want to have a high number mid month. Especially if I have a special event planned to consume at the end of the month. It is a lot of strategy and mind work which is good for me.

    3rd by month.
    An over all good month tally at this stage for me is 8 -14 total standard size drinks (not drinking days). A number I can recall from several years ago was 11 drinks in one day...horrifying now that I look back on it.

    My grand tally will be on Dec 31 2018. Looking forward to seeing that.

    Hoping everyone is having a wonderful day.
  • donimfp
    donimfp Posts: 795 Member
    @FeelinFooFoo, awesome post!! I’ve been working at this since Jan 1 and am just now looking at Day 40 tomorrow. I think the most important insight is the one you already have: This is a journey. In fact, I’d add that it’s not just any old journey but an adventure. With this mindset, any bumps in the road are just that—bumps. Keep that lovely hangover-free feeling in your consciousness. Yay you!!!!
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,749 Member
    FeelinFooFoo wrote: »
    smoothies

    Congrats on you successful AF day. What a nice treat a spa treatment! Good rewards for good deeds done. Now how about a mango smoothie? Lol

    Donimfp great to see you in here again and congrats on day 40

    Welcome FranksSandwich, cut down by half that is SUPER. Hope to hear from you again.

    KKHKISHZKH: how did your Friday night turn out?

    sonomagirl2: nice job on sticking to your goal of only 5 ounces of wine. Woot woot!



    Today makes a dry streak of 6 days in a row for me, after indulging in 2 Mich Ultras last Sunday during a theater play.
    No harm done.

  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,374 Member
    FeelinFooFoo wrote: »
    Well I planned an AF weekend and iv done it. It wasn't straight forward, I noticed that Friday is my worst day for urges, after work I have this urge to buy wine! And I realise how much I do need support at this stage to get me through. I'm not strong enough yet. I wanted to go to the pub on Friday, it was my other half who said no. Ah well.

    Today I went to the spa and I'm getting ready to make some orange & pomegranate smoothies. They are gona be so refreshing. Was lovely waking up this morning hangover free as well. Tomorrow will be Sunday and not a day I'd drink anyway so not too worried about that but plan a nice walk round a local park, it has a small animal reserve so that will be a nice treat for going AF this weekend.

    What I learnt this weekend, it's totally possible to have an enjoyable time without any alcohol. It is amazing waking up hangover free. I still have a lot of work to do and stuff to figure out but going in right direction. :heart:

    Good to read your thoughts! Sounds like you are doing well and feeling good! 🙂
  • karenesg
    karenesg Posts: 318 Member
    Day 5. Doing ok with it. Am in a funk due to some other issues that normally I'd deal with with drinks. Not going there. Decided to lay down for a siesta instead, be good to myself, take advantage of a clear schedule and relax. Hope everyone’s having a good weekend
  • USCBMOM22
    USCBMOM22 Posts: 31 Member
    viceam wrote: »
    Awesome. Just survived a craving. Prepared a drink of 1freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and a generous squirt of lime, added some ice. Ok followed by a bite of chocolate. In 3 minutes I forgot about the wine and feel fine :)

    This sounds yummy. I'm going to pick up some grapefruit today and give it a try.
  • USCBMOM22
    USCBMOM22 Posts: 31 Member
    I have a question. How are you counting your AF days? I see many posts about consecutive days. Does anyone add up the AF days even if there is a moderation day or two in between? I have had way more AF days over the past month than I have had in quite some time. And the days I have allowed myself to drink have been in moderation. A huge improvement for me. I think if I challenge myself to pick up more AF days each month than the month before (even if not consecutive), it would be motivational for me.
  • USCBMOM22
    USCBMOM22 Posts: 31 Member
    That does answer my question. Thank you. I'm actually considering keeping a journal to track my progress.
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,689 Member
    MissMay, you are on a roll! Hope you feel better soon too!
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    edited September 2018
    I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".


    https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/

    The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.

    Woah, I was drinking a lot!

    I recommend doing the check.


    PLUS, the site has an app!

    That's probably a way to monitor your AF days, @USCBMOM22



    Also, from the article I read:

    "Dr Julia Verne, a spokeswoman on liver disease for Public Health England said: "Having a day off drinking gives you a chance to clean your system and give your liver a rest. It also has an immediate impact on your sleep and calorie consumption."

    "People have also told us that the idea of a 'drink-free' day is much easier to manage than cutting down, say, from one large glass of wine to a small glass of wine."


    That's pretty much what we're learning in here!

    I see it as "Intermittent Sobriety".

    Quitting for a day is easier than having less for a day (due to "I'll just have one more").
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,749 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".


    https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/

    The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.

    Woah, I was drinking a lot!

    I recommend doing the check.


    PLUS, the site has an app!

    Orphia, I have belonged to this site since this past Spring. EXCELLENT tools and references for cutting back or quiting. I love the daily calender to keep track of either no drinking day or how many and what type you did have.
    The only thing is I am SHOCKED that the UK has higher drinking standards ratios. Women are allotted 14 drinks per week there compared to the 7 for the USA standard.( I will stick to the USA standard thank you! )

    @viceam yes I am finally feeling better as of yesterday. That darn goldenrod going in my field was getting the best of me.



  • USCBMOM22
    USCBMOM22 Posts: 31 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".


    https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/

    The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.

    Woah, I was drinking a lot!

    I recommend doing the check.


    PLUS, the site has an app!

    That's probably a way to monitor your AF days, @USCBMOM22



    Also, from the article I read:

    "Dr Julia Verne, a spokeswoman on liver disease for Public Health England said: "Having a day off drinking gives you a chance to clean your system and give your liver a rest. It also has an immediate impact on your sleep and calorie consumption."

    "People have also told us that the idea of a 'drink-free' day is much easier to manage than cutting down, say, from one large glass of wine to a small glass of wine."


    That's pretty much what we're learning in here!

    I see it as "Intermittent Sobriety".

    Quitting for a day is easier than having less for a day (due to "I'll just have one more").

    Thank you, Orphia! I will check this website out today. It looks like a great tool to keep track.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    OMG I found you guys! I have not been on this thread since May.

    June, July and August are my travel, party, drinking, do it all before Winter months. I've picked up some weight. I don't regret it. I am back on track, I haven't had a desire to drink. But it feels good being back. I will have to catch up and do some reading.

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