Less Alcohol - November 2018 - One Day at a Time

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  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Congratulations @Orphia! What an amazing accomplishment . . . on top of your other amazing accomplishments!

    Thank you so much, sweetie!
    I had an unplanned drink last night, and it was hard to stop. I was both hormonal and emotional. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday, and we are going to an NHL hockey game with our son, so I was planning to have one. I will try not to now. I don't know. I'm feeling like progress is happening because I'm being more aware of how it is making me feel, both while drinking it and over the next twenty-four hours, and particularly just how hard it is to stop at one. My plan going into November was to allow one drink a week; I don't know if that is possible for me. I may need to be AF.

    Love this! You've made some great realisations there.

    Yes, willpower is hard when the body is giving more energy to the reproductive system at those times of the month. The brain can miss out! :smile: Totally understandable "lapse".

    I'm impressed with your progress. You seem to be moderating well. But I agree, it's hard. That's a big reason why I've gone 9 months. It's too hard to stop at one, and too hard to quit again a few times a week, let alone once.

    @MissMay and @ngk2000 Love the November slogans.

    Yes, I agree!

    NOvember to REMEMBER!! :heart:

  • mainelylisa
    mainelylisa Posts: 375 Member
    Having gotten through the end of October, decided last night that I would have a drink with dinner out with girlfriends before seeing Bohemian Rhapsody (awesome, BTW). I had half glass of wine before going and then one drink. I love that I planned and stopped after 1.5. I did enjoy it. If only it were always that easy. Even one drink ending at 6:30 p.m. is still slightly felt this morning--a good reminder that the piper is just around the corner.

    Great insights on this thread already. I think awareness, if drinking, as @RunRachelleRun mentioned, is a fabulous tool.

    Congrats, @Orphia....what an amazing amazing accomplishment!
  • mainelylisa
    mainelylisa Posts: 375 Member
    Having gotten through the end of October, decided last night that I would have a drink with dinner out with girlfriends .... Even one drink ending at 6:30 p.m. is still slightly felt this morning--a good reminder that the piper is just around the corner.
    UPDATE: I progressively felt worse as I worked and the morning wore on...heading into my noon workout with a trainer. Good news is that I didn't puke. The other good news is that this is (or rather should be) a pretty strong deterrent. Bad news is that I probably would have felt better if I had.

    Have to say at this point, it was not worth it for sure. This is from 1.5 drinks at age 57. I started Googling why hangovers get worse with old age, and the articles were referring to old as 30, so I quit reading. >:)

    Have a great and as @MissMay says, successful weekend!

  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,746 Member
    edited November 2018
    @mainelylisa OHhhhhhh ouch a delayed reaction to your evening. That is no fun. This same "mind game" kept throwing me under the bus last Spring. I would "reward" myself out of the blue for going x number of days AF. Then I would have 2 or three and they would react to my system as if I had drank 5 or 6. My tolerance was lowered, but my mind still wanted to party like a rock star. It all ends up back to balance and control over that brain.

    Hope your better now.
    p.s.57 is the new 42😉

    @Ke22yB you look awesome for 70. Keep it up.

  • ElC_76
    ElC_76 Posts: 3,054 Member
    I think when it comes to the old to the 'new age' I think they mean, the wiser of the society :)
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,746 Member
    ElC_76 wrote: »
    I think when it comes to the old to the 'new age' I think they mean, the wiser of the society :)

    Wiser-
    Eat well
    Exercise your body
    Control your drinking
    Have a healthy and positive mind set
    Listen to your bodies warning signs
    Enjoy your sleep time
    😊

  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,746 Member
    @shortchange1 that is an impressive AF number. Good luck on your long term goal.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,746 Member
    8th day of AF.
    I hear a lot of people say they don't like keeping track of days they are not drinking. I happen to enjoy it. It gives me comfort to know that I am aware of my consumption.
    Just like any other task you have to be aware of....this just happens to be drinking less.
    My plan is to go 20 days AF and then a planned controlled drink or two on Nov.17th.

    Less alcohol has really helped with my workouts to. Especially my ab workouts. Last Winter I struggled with having a tummy that looked like a new mommy tummy. Now I have a flat stomach. 😊

  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Here goes day one af. :):)

    @saracantthink How did you go?

    Just remember, every try makes the next try easier.
  • pjmfitforme
    pjmfitforme Posts: 161 Member
    Well i did well this weekend. Only drank Friday and Saturday and was able to moderate-so I am extremely happy. I am going to keep this approach through November (only drinking Friday and Saturday) and reassess at the end of the month.

    Good luck to all on your individual goals regarding alcohol
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Well i did well this weekend. Only drank Friday and Saturday and was able to moderate-so I am extremely happy. I am going to keep this approach through November (only drinking Friday and Saturday) and reassess at the end of the month.

    Good luck to all on your individual goals regarding alcohol

    @pjmfitforme Awesome! All the best.

    I'm going to a pub today for Melbourne Cup Day. Not going to drink, and looking forward to it.
  • ElC_76
    ElC_76 Posts: 3,054 Member
    Good on you!!.. well do what we can to support you @RunRachelleRun :)<3
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Thanks, @RunRachelleRun !

    I enjoyed the pub. My friends didn't comment when I ordered a bitters, lime, and lemon, and it was only later the topic came up that I've gone 9 months AF, and they were impressed, so it was nice.

    Yes, I had 3 bitters, lime, and lemon. Then I didn't want to use up any more calories so I had sparkling water.

    I also won $45 on a $2 bet, so I was happy with that! (Melbourne Cup Day is the one day I bet, as it's a tradition my friends have.)

    It's lovely to come home and not feel frazzled after Cup Day from too much beer, for the first time in 17 years. Looking forward to tomorrow morning with no hangover or headache too!
  • ElC_76
    ElC_76 Posts: 3,054 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    Thanks, @RunRachelleRun !

    I enjoyed the pub. My friends didn't comment when I ordered a bitters, lime, and lemon, and it was only later the topic came up that I've gone 9 months AF, and they were impressed, so it was nice.

    Yes, I had 3 bitters, lime, and lemon. Then I didn't want to use up any more calories so I had sparkling water.

    I also won $45 on a $2 bet, so I was happy with that! (Melbourne Cup Day is the one day I bet, as it's a tradition my friends have.)

    It's lovely to come home and not feel frazzled after Cup Day from too much beer, for the first time in 17 years. Looking forward to tomorrow morning with no hangover or headache too!

    Well done!!.. you've done awesome all round.
    The weather wasn't the best for the wraces.. but it obviously didn't stop u from winning.. ..lol
    Keep the good work ;):)
  • karenesg
    karenesg Posts: 318 Member
    Congratulations @shortchange1 That is wonderful!

    @MissMay I can see the appeal of counting the days. That's awesome that you are noticing a difference in your abs/ab workouts! Whenever my weight creeps up, it all seems to go to my belly now.

    Hope you enjoyed the pub @Orphia! That would be difficult for me. Did you have something instead?

    I may need to allow myself to drink beverages with calories if I am going to stay AF. When I only have water while others are drinking, I seem to end up having a drink. Not drinking is hard!

    And . . . I am restarting. Day 1 AF for me.

    Good for you! I'm on my 12th or 20th restart. Today is Day 3. I don't moderate well so abstinence is the way to go for me right now. Yes, I think indulging in yummy beverages as long as staying within daily calorie limit is a good idea. Think I'll try Orphia's bitters with lime & lemon.

    Hang in there, you can do this!
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,746 Member
    ckparis wrote: »
    This will be day one for me. I’m trying to get in better shape before the holidays kick my butt.

    Welcome @ckparis. WOO HOO on day 1. Keep those holidays in check.
  • iholly1212
    iholly1212 Posts: 1 Member
    Please add me. I’m on my 3rd day of sobriety and think this thread will benefit me immensely.