Less Alcohol - October 2018 - One Day at a Time
Replies
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Well, October 1 was a letdown and a sort of victory. I had hoped to get down to my target weight by my 72nd birthday and celebrate by resuming LIMITED wine consumption. 10 stinkin' pounds to go, so no celebratory sip...
But, on the other side, it's been 107 days. Long dry summer and I hardly noticed.
Okay, I lied.
Good luck and good decisions to all the new posters.
And Happy B-Day to Miss May.
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »I'm noticing a few changes so far. I found myself thinking about alcohol today and perhaps buying some for this weekend. The good change I noticed, the urge or impulse to actually buy it isn't as intense. I kinda feel as if I have a choice.....hmmm. That's definitely good. And when I concidered not buying any I didn't panic quite so much, only slightly. I'm liking this. Still thinking about alcohol, but I can feel it's grip loosening. Even if only a little.
It's like an itch inside your brain that you just want to sctratch. It does subside more as time goes on. I always try to focus on how I'll feel after scratching the alcohol itch. It never feels better.. only makes the itching come back worse. Ignoring it definitely lowers it's intensity each time.
Keep up the self discipline and brain rewiring!! Everyone can do it!!9 -
I'm in! Not sure what less alcohol looks like for me right now... I just know I'm tired of drinking my calories! I normally have 1 or 2 glasses of wine 3-4 times per week. I don't like the high cal/sugar intake, which made me think of switching to a different form of alcohol. Which made me realize it is not just an indulgence, but a crutch. I certainly don't want alcohol to be a replacement for the emotional eating. Thank you for this group!8
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »I'm noticing a few changes so far. I found myself thinking about alcohol today and perhaps buying some for this weekend. The good change I noticed, the urge or impulse to actually buy it isn't as intense. I kinda feel as if I have a choice.....hmmm. That's definitely good. And when I concidered not buying any I didn't panic quite so much, only slightly. I'm liking this. Still thinking about alcohol, but I can feel it's grip loosening. Even if only a little.
It's like an itch inside your brain that you just want to sctratch. It does subside more as time goes on. I always try to focus on how I'll feel after scratching the alcohol itch. It never feels better.. only makes the itching come back worse. Ignoring it definitely lowers it's intensity each time.
Keep up the self discipline and brain rewiring!! Everyone can do it!!
@jhilkene That's an awesome analogy!!0 -
Days off are always harder for me to not drink because I tend to use it as a reward or treat for making it through 6 days (nights) of work.
Then it would always spill into other days of the week.
Let's ignore the "itch" today everyone!
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sounds great. i'm in. my goal will be 30 days in a row. texting to my inner-coach right now.some can think this is not fun but no it will be. here's my first inspiration for this game:
https://youtu.be/nF8paxAqIRE?t=47 3 -
Had the itch yesterday, but was able to ignore it. Another day down.
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I was itchy yesterday too. Did not scratch it. I'm finding that changing up my evening routine is helping. I'm keeping busy and not just coming home after work to indulge in wine o'clock. It seems to be helping.7
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Well done!
I tend to do fine during the week, but then the weekend rolls around and we go out to eat, everybody kicks back and drinks... I might just stay home all weekend to avoid temptation and use the money on a new pair of workout leggings instead.5 -
I was itchy yesterday too. Did not scratch it. I'm finding that changing up my evening routine is helping. I'm keeping busy and not just coming home after work to indulge in wine o'clock. It seems to be helping.
This is what I need to do @USCBMOM22 !! I was coming straight home from work and pouring myself a glass of wine every night.. The last few nights I've had something else to do or somewhere else to go and it's been too late when I get home to even think about having a drink.1 -
I’m so happy to see this group continuing. Even though I don’t post daily like I used to earlier this year (or even much at all) I like to check in and read all the posts. Love seeing old friends doing well, as well as the new people joining in.9
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Going strong here in France, 10 days in a row now, I think that calls for a row of these: 7
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I happened upon this thread while reading another in an entirely different category...
I don't know that I've ever even clicked on "Challenges" before tonight.
I'm in for this. 4 days late, but in. I really appreciated Miss May's list of accomplishment for the past month, & made a screen shot so I could refer back easily.
I read through all the posts, & it sure does seem that that I drink more than anyone else..
Not exactly what I want to be "good at".
Glad to be here.11 -
As mentioned I did end up having a "few" drinks on Tuesday - actually a lot, but still a lot less than I would normally. Was really annoyed with myself though - we ended up not going out in the evening, so felt like a complete waste of one of my two days off during current AF period. Back on it now though, and have a few outings planned over next 10 days so those will be the real tests.
As a side note on Tuesday I also really felt like a cigarette as the two are linked for me. I lit one and had less than half but it was awful and couldn't finish it, so guess that's good news. I had a full pack at home and so gave that away yesterday, and feeling a little hopeful may be able to make it stick this time.9 -
stephanne13 wrote: »I happened upon this thread while reading another in an entirely different category...
I don't know that I've ever even clicked on "Challenges" before tonight.
I'm in for this. 4 days late, but in. I really appreciated Miss May's list of accomplishment for the past month, & made a screen shot so I could refer back easily.
I read through all the posts, & it sure does seem that that I drink more than anyone else..
Not exactly what I want to be "good at".
Glad to be here.
Hi Stephanne13, don't be fooled my run of 10 smileys, I was on a bottle of wine a night through most of the summer and before. It just became a habit, I craved it every evening and never really gave it a thought, once that bottle was open, down it went, sad thing is I was on my own most of the time, not a good place to be!
I had put on weight, so started logging again and couldn't face logging a bottle of wine everyday, what a waste of calories, so here begins my journey of less alcohol and hopefully to lose some weight, which I am finding incredibly difficult, maybe my age (51). Good luck with your journey, one day at a time
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Good morning all.
@erikNJ we always know you are out there and listening. Hope work is going well and the workouts too.
Many thanks for the birthday wishes.
As it turned out I did have my planned alcoholic drink at dinner when I went out Tuesday night. But ya know what? I really did not like the taste of it. Now that was not what I was expecting at all. In the past I would have sucked it down like an anteater. And kept ordering. Tuesday my taste buds said "really?" And I had to agree. What I once thought was a delight to have and kind of look forward to was a waste. Only good thing I did not have to pay for it, as the owner new it was my special day and it was on the house. Another feather in my cap!
I agree with @claireybell66 to her reply on @stephanne 13's comment (welcome by the way) You no not drink any more than anyone else here. So give yourself a big pat on the back and I will give you a hug. Back in Jan Feb March I posted a lot on the absolute horrible drinking habits I have crawlded out from under. It is a slow process, we all can attest to that. Keep with us and we will help you reach where you want to be with your relationship with alcohol.
That last sentence goes for everyone because each persons goal is their own and personal.
Positive vibes to everyone today. 😎7 -
stephanne13 wrote: »I happened upon this thread while reading another in an entirely different category...
I don't know that I've ever even clicked on "Challenges" before tonight.
I'm in for this. 4 days late, but in. I really appreciated Miss May's list of accomplishment for the past month, & made a screen shot so I could refer back easily.
I read through all the posts, & it sure does seem that that I drink more than anyone else..
Not exactly what I want to be "good at".
Glad to be here.
I was very close to drinking a bottle of wine a night. I would come straight home from work and start drinking... I didnt even want to do anything else after work because it would interfere in my wine...It scared the crap out of me because I come from an alcoholic family. Like you, I found this challenge and lurked for a while before I had the courage to post. This is week 2 for me, but I'm taking it day by day. 4 -
marieamethyst wrote: »Had the itch yesterday, but was able to ignore it. Another day down.
Yes! Awesome!
Let's do it today too!0 -
Good morning
I would like to join you guys.
This summer was very BIG for me in terms of alcohol. I had a glass of wine or a beer almost every day since the temperature started to go up in spring and I'm not even mentioning weekends and vacation. Don't feel very comfortable thinking of the frequency and the ammounts of consumption.
So ... I decided to down it to social events and even then to avoid drinking too much. So it would be 1-3 times a month or so. The hardest would be the weekends to me. I often need to tell myself that Friday is not a reason to drink.
Hope that will work out well me and I'll be cheering your success here 4 -
I'm on day 5 of not drinking and although I told my husband it would be non-drinking for 30 days, my real ambition is to quit entirely. I've quit in the past, the longest time for 18 years, but being alcoholic, it just took a few drinks and I was off to the races and now, after too much time wasted drinking (easily a bottle of wine a night), it's just time for me to quit.
My eating habits have always been pretty healthy, but now I have the wine-belly and I'm curious how long it will take for it to go. Last time I quit drinking for about 3 months I think I noticed a distinct difference about a month in.
My go to drinks of choice now are green tea and La Croix. The craving still hits every day about 3:30pm, but I've noticed it passes in about 10 minutes. So far, I went to the neighbors and just had iced tea instead of the 3 - 4 glasses of wine, and yesterday I had lunch with a great friend who had a martini and I stuck to ice tea.
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shortchange1 wrote: »I'm on day 5 of not drinking and although I told my husband it would be non-drinking for 30 days, my real ambition is to quit entirely. I've quit in the past, the longest time for 18 years, but being alcoholic, it just took a few drinks and I was off to the races and now, after too much time wasted drinking (easily a bottle of wine a night), it's just time for me to quit.
My eating habits have always been pretty healthy, but now I have the wine-belly and I'm curious how long it will take for it to go. Last time I quit drinking for about 3 months I think I noticed a distinct difference about a month in.
My go to drinks of choice now are green tea and La Croix. The craving still hits every day about 3:30pm, but I've noticed it passes in about 10 minutes. So far, I went to the neighbors and just had iced tea instead of the 3 - 4 glasses of wine, and yesterday I had lunch with a great friend who had a martini and I stuck to ice tea.
You’re doing great! You’ve done it before so you know this is totally possible. What an inspiration. You got this!!2 -
Good morning
I would like to join you guys.
This summer was very BIG for me in terms of alcohol. I had a glass of wine or a beer almost every day since the temperature started to go up in spring and I'm not even mentioning weekends and vacation. Don't feel very comfortable thinking of the frequency and the ammounts of consumption.
So ... I decided to down it to social events and even then to avoid drinking too much. So it would be 1-3 times a month or so. The hardest would be the weekends to me. I often need to tell myself that Friday is not a reason to drink.
Hope that will work out well me and I'll be cheering your success here
@Venus_88
Looking back, I can see that:
The warm weather made me feel bad because I was hungover from the day before, and never got a good sleep;
I drank daily because I felt like crap and it gave me about an hour feeling "better" but kept making me feel worse and worse;
I drank because I was addicted to drinking.
I used to love the Tim Minchin song, "White Wine in the Sun", but it is tinged with sad memories of not drinking for a special occasion, but because it was a bad habit.2 -
Good morning
I would like to join you guys.
This summer was very BIG for me in terms of alcohol. I had a glass of wine or a beer almost every day since the temperature started to go up in spring and I'm not even mentioning weekends and vacation. Don't feel very comfortable thinking of the frequency and the ammounts of consumption.
So ... I decided to down it to social events and even then to avoid drinking too much. So it would be 1-3 times a month or so. The hardest would be the weekends to me. I often need to tell myself that Friday is not a reason to drink.
Hope that will work out well me and I'll be cheering your success here
@Venus_88
Looking back, I can see that:
The warm weather made me feel bad because I was hungover from the day before, and never got a good sleep;
I drank daily because I felt like crap and it gave me about an hour feeling "better" but kept making me feel worse and worse;
I drank because I was addicted to drinking.
I used to love the Tim Minchin song, "White Wine in the Sun", but it is tinged with sad memories of not drinking for a special occasion, but because it was a bad habit.
Hmmm I have trouble to admit that I'm addicted or something. I see myself ( or I want to ) as a strong person who can say no before things go downhill. I think my problem is ... I don't take time to stop and think over my actions. I'm one of those who's doing something and then ask myself why the hell I did it?! So it is not just drinking for me it is trying to be mindful in every aspect of my life.
Today I told my BF about my plan to stick to social events drinking. He thought it is a bit harsh but it is my decission to make afterall. And then he mentioned that he was off all the summer and that might be a reason we were drinking more. I agree he was kinda in vacation mode but I have my on head on my shoulders. I'm responsable for my own actions.
So I'm still in the mood to stick to my plan and maybe to set a good example for BF.4 -
IM IN!!!!!
I am 5 days clean today
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Nice to see this thread is back to supporting and not completely demonizing alcohol. As of 3 days ago I'm done with OctoberFest(ing). At this point, I'm aiming for being AF until the end of the year - if not longer.9
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Day 5 complete with no cravings. Day 6 is underway.
TMI question:
Anyone else less regular when they don’t drink?1 -
The brain is a complex machine. Like a computer. I have found with my own journey of less alcohol my brain seemed preprogrammed for years.
*It liked doing things at certain times ( a drink the minute I got through the door after work, happy hours, drink with dinner)
*Responding to situations good and bad with certain "rewards" or "comforts" (party or celebrations GET DRUNK - bad day or bad news GET DRUNK)
There are many comparisons.
Any how what I am trying to say is when it seems very difficult and you are having a hair pulling moment. Step back, "unplug" and try thinking in a different mode. Use the other part of your brain that is not set on auto and allows you to make good and right decisions on what you want.
Tonight will me a planned alcoholic beverage (no more than 2) evening. I already plan to not get all crazy and order something again that will bring great disappointment in taste like the other night. A fancy name highlighting a signature drink for me would always end in disaster. Not all bartenders are mixologists. So a standard glass or two of prosecco will be my choice.
Hello again to all our new additions out there. Love reading your posts.
Keep strong.
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anothermfpuser wrote: »Nice to see this thread is back to supporting and not completely demonizing alcohol.
I forgot to include this in my earlier post in response to yours. YES...ME TO .
As the saying goes " to each his own".
And fantastic goal you are striving for. 😊
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