Less Alcohol - September 2018 - One Day at a Time
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Nice to see people are still making comments and reading our posts from as far back as the threads from "Less Alcohol" in January and March.
Positive impact, support and reassurance.
If it changes one life for the better. That is a gift in itself.3 -
https://tendaily.com.au/views/a180916hdv/why-drinking-wine-is-a-dangerous-way-to-unwind-20180917
"On the other hand it is a somewhat risky self-care tool, one that is hard to cap at one or two, largely because it is almost too effective at helping us unwind. We generally stop at one bubble bath, or one cup of tea a night – but alcohol is a self-care tool that is fairly difficult to shut off, due to its powerful effects on a stressed out brain."
"If you are finding that alcohol is a major part of your evening self care ritual, it might be helpful to consider what other kinds of rituals might accompany, or replace it. This might look like creating a new evening ritual of having a shower as soon as you get home, and then going for a walk - or it might involve pouring that glass of wine, but also pouring a large glass of soda water."
I saw this posted on a friends feed this morning and came over to share it here I’m glad you already did. I think the article hits on what many of us have been trying to accomplish - instead of relying on alcohol to help with self care, stress relief, depression, etc - to find other alternatives. I’m pleased that this article reinforces what many here are alreadly practicing - for me replacing the nightly glass or two or three of wine that I used to believe was my “reward” for making it through stressful days, has now become tea, a magazine, better sleep.
But what I also like is that the article isn’t totally demonizing alcohol either. I believe that now that I’ve broken the habit and reliance on alcohol for self care, I’m back to really enjoying it in moderation. I can have a couple beers while watching football and then drink water for the rest of the night. I can have wine with dinner and one more glass on a Saturday night while sitting outside by the fire pit and even pour the second half glass down the drain when I realized I didn’t desire to finish it.
I wake up with no regrets or feelings of remorse about my intake because it truly is mindful moderation and I’m not going to feel guilty or that I have failed since I continue to consume and enjoy alcohol on a weekly basis, but I am going to feel proud and confident that I don’t rely on it for the wrong reasons any more. Maybe not for everyone but for me it was possible to break the habit and reduce the excess, but still enjoy my wine and the social aspect.
Thanks for sharing this Orphia.
Back to the sidelines cheering everyone on.8 -
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https://tendaily.com.au/views/a180916hdv/why-drinking-wine-is-a-dangerous-way-to-unwind-20180917
"On the other hand it is a somewhat risky self-care tool, one that is hard to cap at one or two, largely because it is almost too effective at helping us unwind. We generally stop at one bubble bath, or one cup of tea a night – but alcohol is a self-care tool that is fairly difficult to shut off, due to its powerful effects on a stressed out brain."
"If you are finding that alcohol is a major part of your evening self care ritual, it might be helpful to consider what other kinds of rituals might accompany, or replace it. This might look like creating a new evening ritual of having a shower as soon as you get home, and then going for a walk - or it might involve pouring that glass of wine, but also pouring a large glass of soda water."
Thank you for posting this. I think it really hits home for me. I have often thought that I needed something to replace the habit of having a glass or two of wine every evening. I never really thought about changing my entire evening rituals. It makes total sense though.
@WinoGelato Your post exactly describes what my goal is. I know it is possible to get there. I'm getting closer, but still have a ways to go.
I have still been struggling to stay AF for more than a few days at a time. I have cut wayyyy down. Some evenings I will pour a glass and don't even want to finish it, but yet I still pour that glass. It's like an old friend. I seem to have many Day 1's. Well, I am happy to say, today is a Day 2. Yayyyy!!! Hoping I can keep cruising into Day 3, 4, 5, 6 and beyond.
Hope everyone has a great week. Happy Monday!5 -
On my daily list of "things to be grateful for" is this group. Thanks y'all.10
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Day 25 completely alcohol free! It's a good friend's 50th birthday this Saturday and we've been invited to a pub "booze-up". I'm not sure yet if I'll be partaking, but if I do it'll probably just be one glass of wine which I'll savour. I actually intend on carrying on this pattern next month too.
The only problem I'm finding is that I'm used to eating very little on fridays and saturdays to make room for alcohol calories and I'm starting to fill that space with extra food now, so if I go back to drinking alcohol I'm worried I'll be regularly going over my calorie goals! 3 -
Hi all - a bit late to the party for September, but having a bit of a reset after a very unhealthy/boozy few months. Have been alcohol free for 4 days and planning to be alcohol free until (at least) 24th October. I'm allowing myself 2 days off in that period - only if specific things/events/outings come up and not just because I "fancy a drink" though.
So far has been ok but was with my 5yo over weekend so relatively easy to avoid temptation. I'm still waiting for sleep improvements to kick in and energy levels to increase.
NB: Combined with no alcohol also trying to quit cigarettes [again!], and over the next couple of weeks will be reducing caffeine and processed sugar/carb intake as well as generally trying to eat healthier.
Well done everyone for your progress so far.6 -
Hi All,
I've been reading and lurking for a while. I love the idea of this thread and it's made me feel stronger just by reading it... So, I've decided to jump in...a little late for September but better late than never right? I'm trying to cut down on my wine, I was up to 3 LARGE glasses a night (spins and everything when laying down afterwards).. I can go 1 night every once and a while, but noticed I was starting to go straight home from work, pour myself a glass of wine before doing anything else, and then not being able to go anywhere afterwards, because I'd already been drinking (by 6pm!). Today will mark my day 2 of no alcohol, and I purposely did not buy anymore wine so there's no temptation in my house either... I'm not sure if I'm going to go completely AF or just cut down to only Friday/Saturday evenings. I think I want to see how long I can go without drinking at all.. Thanks for listening! 9 -
So I took a seriously wrong turn this weekend, being overly ambitious by deciding to do intermittent fasting at the same time as cut out alcohol and go on 2+ hr long runs and hikes. Haha and I am a female in my 50s so my body likes to remind me of this. Went great for 3 days- felt amazing - no hunger pangs, feeling light and happy- then wow did my brain take notice and decided it was time to overeat and overdrink to make up for lost days! So I'm back in the game, realize I need to change something up. Tonight I limited myself to 2.5 4oz servings wine (2017 yellow tail sauvignon blanc 11.5%, super-chilled, light frozen dinner, green salad, and 4 egg whites scrambled with some salsa for added protein to help me feel full and keep my blood sugar level. Feeling totally satisfied, no craving for anything. Let's see if this works!!!!4
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Good morning. I would like to welcome our new comers to the thread. It is never to late to jump in. So many of these stories of struggle I can relate to. At some point in my life over the decades I tried different means of cutting back. I admire those who just one day wake up and say "Enough is enough I'm done with this habit".
The one ah ha moment I had was 20 minutes ago. "Omg...this is already my 7th day w/o an alcoholic beverage. Gee that went fast".
I told a friend yesterday I had few planned drink days coming up in October. Once again I get that deer in the head light look. She asked, what do you mean planned? And I explained I enjoy social events and people and there are just times that I have decided I CAN drink responsible within my given limit. It is my drinking limit, kind of of like a speed limit. Then we both laughed uncontrollably. It was pretty funny.
So yes Oct will not be as dry as this month has been. But hey, cider season, corn mazes and all those Fall sensations only come but once a year. I will still enjoy them with some alcohol but I will enjoy them without getting out of my set goals.
Have a great day-3 -
@FeelinFooFoo Well done chucking in the e-cig too. Like you the two are linked for me so it's not too difficult for me to not smoke when not drinking. I've decided to go cold turkey rather than via a vape as can imagine I'll be on that for years if I do - the real test will be the nights I do have a drink!
I'm now on Day 6 without booze, (and Day 7 without cigarettes), and so far so good.6 -
Day 2 did not go as planned...
Went to dinner with my oldest daughter who informed me she's moving to Florida by no later than Dec 1st, Long Island is too expensive for her and she has some great opportunities in FL, and while I get it, it doesn't make me any less sad... So wine was consumed, but I only had the 1 glass, and even though my daughter ordered me a 2nd glass, I didn't drink it. Previously, I would have had 3-4 glasses and then had to have called my son to pick me up and drive me home. I stopped at the 1 glass of wine. Now, I'm back in the saddle today, and planning AF until Saturday (date night with the hubby). Hope everyone has a great day! 6 -
Day off, pub lunch and no booze. Go me!!
@Stephaniev51697 Considering your day I think you did very well. As you've pointed out you had 2-3 glasses less than you would normally, didn't need to bother your son and even managed to turn down a glass in front of you - that's some strong willpower and multiple wins. Well done!4 -
@FeelinFooFoo Well done chucking in the e-cig too. Like you the two are linked for me so it's not too difficult for me to not smoke when not drinking. I've decided to go cold turkey rather than via a vape as can imagine I'll be on that for years if I do - the real test will be the nights I do have a drink!
I'm now on Day 6 without booze, (and Day 7 without cigarettes), and so far so good.
Hello, old friend, this is so great to hear!!!
You are doing so well and it makes me happy. I remember you have good determination.
I quit cigarettes cold turkey in 2014. Like you I just wanted it to be over and done with.
I quit at the end of a work week. I'd geared up for a really crappy weekend, but only the first day was awful, made bearable by sleeping tablets to sleep at night.
Instead of getting up every half hour for a cigarette I'd get up and do household chores.
It was very productive!! 😀2 -
Hi @Orphia - inspiring how you've kept going so strong, and will really help me as I get back on it properly once again.
I may have gone a bit overboard this week by also cutting out caffeine (only intended to reduce but have only had one cup of coffee in a week) and severely upping my running (only because my bike broke), but will try to chill out a bit over the weekend so as not to burn out too early! Must admit on my run home from work today was severely tempting to stop at the pub - I didn't and ran straight past. I also turned down glass of prosecco with dinner so chuffed with myself so far. Be interesting to see how the weekend goes though - I've turned down what should be a fun night out on Saturday as think that would be too much temptation too soon, but there's plenty of other shoulder devil opportunities sadly.2 -
@dkabambe Thank you!!! 0
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Hi @Orphia - inspiring how you've kept going so strong, and will really help me as I get back on it properly once again.
I may have gone a bit overboard this week by also cutting out caffeine (only intended to reduce but have only had one cup of coffee in a week) and severely upping my running (only because my bike broke), but will try to chill out a bit over the weekend so as not to burn out too early! Must admit on my run home from work today was severely tempting to stop at the pub - I didn't and ran straight past. I also turned down glass of prosecco with dinner so chuffed with myself so far. Be interesting to see how the weekend goes though - I've turned down what should be a fun night out on Saturday as think that would be too much temptation too soon, but there's plenty of other shoulder devil opportunities sadly.
@dkabambe I avoided a few events in the beginning for self-preservation / self-care. But as I wrote in the OP, we need to be careful of avoidance, so I made sure I eased into social events, starting with just one-on-one meals with someone else who was drinking when I wasn't. This worked great, and one day when at lunch with workmates who all suddenly ordered Prosecco, I realised I was more scared of losing my AF streak and that cancelled out any urge to drink.
I should add I always planned/plan to drink again, but adding to my streak daily and now being sober nearly 8 months so far has made such a difference to my creativity, sleep, productivity, no headaches, and relationships that I'm just enjoying not tempting fate for now.
I find the natural high from doing nice things (eg running, de-cluttering, self-care thread stuff) feels more beautiful than anything from drinking.
Being a part of this thread since February has helped make awesome changes to my life.5 -
Hi, I would like to join this group. I was a bottle a day kinda girl, weight was creeping up and drinking equals bad food choices. Finally decided to do something about it. I was planning to do Stoptober, but actually started 4 days ago. I know early days and I am taking it a day at a time, I believe I had/have a drink problem.6
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@claireybell66 I'm new too! Stoptober, love that!!0
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WELCOME to the new posters. Recognition is a powerful start on the right foot no matter how far you wish to cut back on your own level.
We will be heading over to an October thread after Orphia creates it for us. So please don't forget to post there come Oct 1.1 -
FeelinFooFoo wrote: »
Where do we find the October thread ? Sorry if I sound daft but I'm not the best with finding threads lol thanks
That is not a silly question at all. I looked but I don't see it yet.
When I see it I will copy the link over here.
And you can always check by going to community, then challenges and scrolling down the recent threads.
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@Stephaniev51697 ...please don't let your daughter's move change your resolutions. Thanks to my children's wanderings I now have a winter vacation place on the Louisiana coast, and a summer retreat on a tiny isle in Maine. Just be sure to let them know you're coming !! It sure isn't like having them across the street, but, when life hands you lemons...make lemonade.
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forestdweller1 wrote: »@Stephaniev51697 ...please don't let your daughter's move change your resolutions. Thanks to my children's wanderings I now have a winter vacation place on the Louisiana coast, and a summer retreat on a tiny isle in Maine. Just be sure to let them know you're coming !! It sure isn't like having them across the street, but, when life hands you lemons...make lemonade.
Which isle in Maine? That is where I am.0 -
October's thread is here!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10698343/less-alcohol-october-2018-one-day-at-a-time4 -
Thank you Orphia for the new link. See you over there Monday.
I have been extremely kind to myself this month as far as drinking goals go. Even at times when DH wanted to hit the social scene for happy hours. I stuck to my iced teas and then refused to keep "hopping" through out the entire night from place to place chasing fun. I am not an anti social but I know from common sense thst one more drink and one more tavern all night long does not end well for most people.
I am so thankful for everyone what has been following us and giving insight and inspiration and receiving it back as well. No one is ever alone in this journey. There are more souls trying to find their balance between life and alcohol than I ever realized.
Wishing everyone a wonderful day.
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Little Deer....
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Hi all. I decided to allow myself 250ml of wine last night. It's the only alcohol I've had in september. I was worried that once I had a glass I might want the rest of the bottle. Strangely though, after the first couple of sips, I wasn't really all that fussed about it. I think I'll carry on the minimal alcohol throughout October too. 4
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KKHKISHZKH wrote: »Hi all. I decided to allow myself 250ml of wine last night. It's the only alcohol I've had in september. I was worried that once I had a glass I might want the rest of the bottle. Strangely though, after the first couple of sips, I wasn't really all that fussed about it. I think I'll carry on the minimal alcohol throughout October too.
Wow...nice work getting through all those days and then only one small glass a wine. Great success story.2
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