Less Alcohol - JULY 2019 - One Day at a Time

Lazy_Bones_85

beebva4 wrote: »

She has the cone of shame

She’s beautiful!

globalhiker

Back from a wonderful holiday and while on a very long day hike, some thoughts came to mind, about what is my next direction. I realized some important elements in my life were missing. There are voids in my life. Kids grown and gone. Dog passed away. The empty nest. I was filling those voids with food and beverage. So sharing this with you given it's a healthy thing to stop and contemplate and really focus on designing your best life and what's needed to make it a happy and fulfilling one. Fill it with good things. When it's off track, humans naturally "fill it" artificially but we know this is not the long term solution. When we get to the "root cause", good things happen. Solution is different for all us, but I hope you are inspired to find your happiness and your direction.

GretaGirl8

I struggle with alcohol. And I could use the encouragement and ideas to keep it under control. I am not currently working at this time and depression and anxiety certainly play a part. I know I can’t go cold turkey, but would appreciate support in cutting down. Thank you.

mainelylisa

@GretaGirl8 We are here, and many have struggled with depression and anxiety--both of which are often medicated/numbed with alcohol. Please check out the resources here. This is a wonderfully supportive and non-judgmental community. I've been laid off several times and it can not only be concerning financially, but really can mess with your self-esteem. You are not your job. Take advantage of this time to take stock of your life and where you want to go from here. Sometimes it's easier to exercise without a taxing work schedule--the more you exercise, the less you'll want to sabotage your progress with over-indulgence.

mainelylisa

@globalhiker It sounds like filling your days with some amazing hikes is a FABULOUS way to fill some of the void left by loved ones who are no longer part of your daily life. And we can't design our meaningful lives while in a numb state. Or probably even a comfortable state. Thanks for sharing...

beebva4

7/4 - AF
7/5 - bad
7/6 - kept to my goal of waiting till night time, however had more than I wanted. But better then the night before so thats good.

Today's goal is allowing one night cap but ultimately I will push for AF today.

dawnbgethealthy

I am going to continue into July with a goal of 4-5 AF days per week. It is great to be able to check in here each day. Thank you for looking after us @MissMay : - )

May - 18 AF days
June - 16 AF days - Really had to backload that one! It was nearing the end of the month and I was only at 12 AF days. Maybe going to try to get more in at the beginning of the month this time.

July 01 - AF
July 02 - AF - Guess that I will start my tally at the bottom : - ) I realize now that 16AF days (4 per week) in a 31 day month is like having drinks every second day!
July 03 - AF - Today was no problem to be AF, but yesterday was a long hard day and I really felt like kicking back and having a couple of drinks - I just didn't. I even bought some of that fake beer that I have heard some of you talking about (I got Grolsch) - but it didn't occur to me to go to the fridge and have it. I am not a beer drinker, so I guess that it wouldn't have really been a substitute for a brandy or a glass of red wine : - P
July 04 - 3 drinks
July 05 - AF
July 06 - 3 drinks

Running total: 4 AF days out of 6 days so far.

dawnbgethealthy

@mainelylisa
What a fabulous photograph!! You definitely wouldn't want to stay out on the lake with a storm like that, but so beautiful.
You have an hour to edit a post, in the top right there is a little icon that looks like "settings" which you can click and a drop-down of "edit" appears and you have to click it.
Your post wasn't a bummer, we are all sharing stuff : - )

MissMay

Yesterday at 6:12PM Hubbie texts and says he is finished at work, come get him. So I zipped right down(he can not drive due to drinking and driving from as far back as 13 years ago), thinking gee he had to work an hour over, must have been busy at work for him.
WRONG. He quit at 5:00PM and had been sitting at the pub pounding tequila shots until I arrived. The bartender just kept pouring, no regaurd for his slurring and stupidness.
Just GREAT because now I have to be the one (not the bartender) that is being harrassed by a man who has already been diagnosed with liver cirohsis and by then the toxins from the tequila that could not be filtered from his half marbleized liver are causing him to experience encephalopathy.
He rambled angerly for 3+ hours. Of course everything according to Hubbie at that time was, is and in the future will be my fault.
It was not a fun evening and I am a zombie today and can not even enjoy this sunny day..

@mainelylisa I apologize for not getting back to you during that time😥

mainelylisa

@MissMay I'm so very sorry for your situation...can't imagine. You're such a support to us here, but please make sure you get support and take care of yourself. Thank you for sharing such a personal story. Hugs and more hugs...we are here for you too...

dawnbgethealthy

That is a sucky situation @MissMay
I am sorry that you are having to live with that. So not fair!

dawnbgethealthy

I am going to continue into July with a goal of 4-5 AF days per week. It is great to be able to check in here each day. Thank you for looking after us @MissMay : - )

May - 18 AF days
June - 16 AF days - Really had to backload that one! It was nearing the end of the month and I was only at 12 AF days. Maybe going to try to get more in at the beginning of the month this time.

July 01 - AF
July 02 - AF - Guess that I will start my tally at the bottom : - ) I realize now that 16AF days (4 per week) in a 31 day month is like having drinks every second day!
July 03 - AF - Today was no problem to be AF, but yesterday was a long hard day and I really felt like kicking back and having a couple of drinks - I just didn't. I even bought some of that fake beer that I have heard some of you talking about (I got Grolsch) - but it didn't occur to me to go to the fridge and have it. I am not a beer drinker, so I guess that it wouldn't have really been a substitute for a brandy or a glass of red wine : - P
July 04 - 3 drinks
July 05 - AF
July 06 - 3 drinks
July 07 - AF

Running total: 5 AF days out of 7 days so far.

MissMay

Thanks very much @mainelylisa, @dawnbgethealthy and all those hugs from others in reference to my venting post yesterday.
My saving grace is that now I do not add fuel to his fire when this occurs. IF I had also had alcohol I would have been firing back trying to hold my position in this battle and then regretted my actions the next day for being in the wrong to.
And this my friends is a huge reason I DRINK LESS. 💞

@mainelylisa your photo was spectacular. The beauty of the ocean and calmness within the boats wake....yet in the back ground a foreseen problem brewing with the darkness creeping in.
Also love all your awareness of good changes with your week of less alcohol. So much energy, and improved self worth.

@beebva4 your darling dog with the head cone.........priceless!

Time to exercise. Check in later.

fitchick37

Can’t believe i last had a drink 2 weeks ago. I’m still undecided whether it’s a short, medium or long term thing rather than a glass of something every day.

mainelylisa

@fitchick37 That's an awesome accomplishment. Don't over-analyze it--just keep enjoying the benefits of not having a glass (or more) everyday!

beebva4

7/4 - AF
7/5 - bad
7/6 - kept to my goal of waiting till night time, however had more than I wanted. But better then the night before so thats good.
7/7 - AF

Last night I couldn't fall asleep and thought to myself if I had a quick nightcap it would help me fall asleep or get tired. I had a quick internal battle. But it was 11:30pm and my goal was AF for the day, so why make it all the way to the end and ruin it. I went upstairs and laid down and was asleep within a half hour. I proved to myself I didn't need a drink and it doesn't actually help.

@MissMay I am so sorry to hear that situation happened! I can honestly say you handled it very well and you are so right, not drinking on your part definitely helped the situation! I have been in that position where my husband and I had both been drinking and the argument was only made completely stupid and worse. Had we not been the argument wouldnt have probably even occurred. I'm glad to see it hasn't set you back, keep it up girl!

pennyks88

Today is day 9 of no alcohol. I almost gave in and had a drink yesterday, but I'm so glad I didn't. Weekends are hard because the kids are home all day and let's face it, they can be stressful. I really admire stay at home moms because that's a tough job taking care of little tyrants all day! 😂

@MissMay Sorry to hear about that situation. I'm sure that wasn't easy to deal with. I hope things look up for you.

renpup

@MissMay that sounds so stressful. I'm sorry you had to deal with that and I hope today is better and that you had a great workout.

I definitely overdid it this weekend--I had five drinks (5!!!! ugh) on Friday night and four on Saturday, and my long run was absolute *kitten* yesterday...hmm, I wonder why? I love @jcammoile 's point about basically undoing all your hard work by drinking even one night. It's gotten much, much easier to abstain during the week, now I just need that to carry over into the weekends!

Hope everyone has a great week.

mainelylisa

I got a text from a young woman I'd recently met at one of my Meetups--we had drinks and really connected a few weeks ago. Asked me if I wanted to grab some Froses (frozen Rose's)--talk about hitting me in my sweet spot. Replied that I'm taking a break, but sure they have other drinks (maybe not--Blue Lobster Wine Co) if she's still game. Wasn't positive I'd hear back, but she came back with a Kambucha cafe!

@renpup Weekends are difficult--maybe if you have a plan going into them, it might help a bit to push that Off button after 1 or 2. Or just to have an alternative.