Less Alcohol - SEPTEMBER 2019 - One Day at a Time

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Replies

  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I don't drink anything other than water. I just wanted to stop by and wish you all well on your journey. It's not easy, I'm sure, but you'll be better off for putting this effort in. 💙
  • kellystarrn
    kellystarrn Posts: 23 Member
    fitand50inSD wrote: »
    My plan is to have more AF days than drinking days each month. I will need to build up several in a row for September since I am starting my tracking on the 7th.

    9/7 - AF
    9/8 - AF (the Packer's played Thursday night so no need to drink today!)
    9/9 - AF

    Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cut the 40 year Diet Coke habit? I think this is contributing to my acid reflux as well :( !

    Go slow. Cutting caffeine too quickly can be uncomfortable- headaches were bad for me. Cut one serving out every 3 or 4 days until you get to where you want to be. Good luck!
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,928 Member
    As usual, I am going to work on 4-5 AF days per week.
    I managed 18AF days out of 31 for August somehow.
    I am going away the last week of September and first week of October, and I will be in a bathing suit every day, so am wanting to rack up lots of AF days before that.

    September 01 - Sunday 5 drinks! (Saturday between 1pm and 1am at the music festival I had 7 drinks and didn't even throw up strangely). Drinks 2 days in a row is such a no-no, it makes it become normal to have drinks on the 3rd day 4th day etc. But I won't.
    September 02 - AF
    September 03 - AF - my "scheduled" day to have drinks, but there is ice skating at one of the arenas tomorrow and I haven't skated since April, so, well, I don't want to have a hangover or anything and fall and break my head : - P
    September 04 - AF - I was invited over to a friend's house for some wine, but declined. Skating was exhilarating today, even though it took me a few times around to get comfortable. Definitely didn't want to wreck the added calorie burn by having drinks.
    September 05 - 3 drinks. Feeling so much different than yesterday. My second sleepless night this week and a stressful workday coupled with Anxiety that I just couldn't seem to meditate away even though I ran (drove) to the lake after work for a float under a cloudless clear blue sky with sparkling glass-like water and some deep breaths. Sleep deprivation is crappy. I realize that booze probably doesn't help Anxiety, but it has somehow tonight numbed me and relaxed me. Still using booze as a crutch I guess, although I tried other things first. Not going to beat myself up. Us humans can be so fragile! If only I could skate every day... : - )
    September 06 - AF
    September 07 - AF - I didn't intend to be, but I burned over 1100 calories through exercise and didn't want that to be wasted, so stayed AF
    September 08 - 3 drinks - next planned drinks, Tuesday
    September 09 - AF

    Running total: 6 AF days out of 9 days so far
  • looneycatblue
    looneycatblue Posts: 1,489 Member
    fitand50inSD wrote: »
    My plan is to have more AF days than drinking days each month. I will need to build up several in a row for September since I am starting my tracking on the 7th.

    9/7 - AF
    9/8 - AF (the Packer's played Thursday night so no need to drink today!)
    9/9 - AF

    Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cut the 40 year Diet Coke habit? I think this is contributing to my acid reflux as well :( !

    I gave it up (well mostly), realizing how bad the artificial stuff is... maybe I wasn't really addicted, I used to drink 1 or 2 cans a day, and it was easy for me to quit. I still have one as a treat, usually on Sat or Sun, still love the flavor & fizz. I now tend to drink more iced tea and sparkling waters. I think the caffeine withdraws will be the worst effect, so I suggest you sub in some iced tea or coffee, and ween yourself off slowly. Good Luck!
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,784 Member
    Hmmmmm wonder how @AbandondedKSCharger is doing? Teri...........
  • anglilacs
    anglilacs Posts: 165 Member
    I had 2 and a half drinks last night. I didn’t feel great this morning and am planning to be AF the rest of this week. I would type out my days but my daughter is yelling at me from the bathroom. :)
  • fitand50inSD
    fitand50inSD Posts: 166 Member
    My plan is to have more AF days than drinking days each month. I will need to build up several in a row for September since I am starting my tracking on the 7th.

    9/7 - AF
    9/8 - AF (the Packer's played Thursday night so no need to drink today!)
    9/9 - AF
    9/10 - AF (4 cans Diet Coke - ugh)
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,784 Member
    edited September 2019
    Good Morning everyone.

    @fitand50inSD I used to drink TAB all the time way back in the late 70's. For my morning wake up instead of coffee, then all day until it was all gone. It was a bad habit. If you try to ween slowly from it with a beverage to substitute that would probably be best. Right now my go to beverage is the Zero Arnold Palmer by Arizonia Iced Tea. Hope you find your thirst quencher.
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,813 Member
    fitand50inSD wrote: »
    I have been an active lurker for a long time. Thank you all for being open and honest about the challenges and benefits of cutting back on acohol consumption. I am going to join in to hold myself accountable.

    I currently drink most days of the week and have for years (1-2 glasses of red wine or vodka/soda). I don't have an issue with overdrinking, but I just want to reduce the frequency and make it more of a special occasion thing. Benefits from cutting back:

    (1) Get back down to my happy weight zone - I am a few lbs above the top of my happy range so cutting out the extra 125-250 calories per day from alcohol will help me get back where I prefer to be.
    (2) I started having some mild acid reflux and read that red wine can be a contributor.
    (3) Improved sleep
    (4) Drink more water in the evenings (all kinds of benefits from upping my water intake)

    My plan is to have more AF days than drinking days each month. I will need to build up several in a row for September since I am starting my tracking on the 7th.

    9/7 - AF

    Welcome! All great reasons to cut back. You got this!
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,813 Member
    I really wanted a glass of wine with dinner (at home) last night after being a little disgusted with myself for such an unproductive day. BUT! I poured myself a seltzer and cranberry (my go-AF drink ) and the feeling passed. Plus my weight is down slightly from yesterday, which, considering what I’ve eaten this week, is a minor miracle!
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,928 Member
    As usual, I am going to work on 4-5 AF days per week.
    I managed 18AF days out of 31 for August somehow.
    I am going away the last week of September and first week of October, and I will be in a bathing suit every day, so am wanting to rack up lots of AF days before that.

    September 01 - Sunday 5 drinks! (Saturday between 1pm and 1am at the music festival I had 7 drinks and didn't even throw up strangely). Drinks 2 days in a row is such a no-no, it makes it become normal to have drinks on the 3rd day 4th day etc. But I won't.
    September 02 - AF
    September 03 - AF - my "scheduled" day to have drinks, but there is ice skating at one of the arenas tomorrow and I haven't skated since April, so, well, I don't want to have a hangover or anything and fall and break my head : - P
    September 04 - AF - I was invited over to a friend's house for some wine, but declined. Skating was exhilarating today, even though it took me a few times around to get comfortable. Definitely didn't want to wreck the added calorie burn by having drinks.
    September 05 - 3 drinks. Feeling so much different than yesterday. My second sleepless night this week and a stressful workday coupled with Anxiety that I just couldn't seem to meditate away even though I ran (drove) to the lake after work for a float under a cloudless clear blue sky with sparkling glass-like water and some deep breaths. Sleep deprivation is crappy. I realize that booze probably doesn't help Anxiety, but it has somehow tonight numbed me and relaxed me. Still using booze as a crutch I guess, although I tried other things first. Not going to beat myself up. Us humans can be so fragile! If only I could skate every day... : - )
    September 06 - AF
    September 07 - AF - I didn't intend to be, but I burned over 1100 calories through exercise and didn't want that to be wasted, so stayed AF
    September 08 - 3 drinks - next planned drinks, Tuesday
    September 09 - AF
    September 10 - 3 drinks Tuesday. I didn't have enough to eat I guess and really felt it, thought that I was going to puke but didn't. I drank a lot of water after the drinks, so actually feel okay now. Time to rack up some more AF days.

    Running total: 6 AF days out of 10 days so far
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,928 Member
    @MissMay

    Wow, I didn't realize that you were old enough to remember Tab!!

    And yes, we haven't heard from Teri for awhile. Teri, if you are just lurking at least say "hi" to us.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,784 Member
    edited September 2019
    dawnbgethealthy wrote: »
    @MissMay

    Wow, I didn't realize that you were old enough to remember Tab!!

    And yes, we haven't heard from Teri for awhile. Teri, if you are just lurking at least say "hi" to us.

    YEP......I am no Spring chick. Lol. 🤣
  • anglilacs
    anglilacs Posts: 165 Member
    Stayed AF last night and plan to again tonight and the rest of this week.

    9/3- AF
    9/4- AF
    9/5- AF
    9/6- AF
    9/7- AF
    9/8-AF
    9/9- 3 drinks (rounding up)
    9/10 - AF

    Tips for avoiding the first drink - I bring my own drink to the party. La Croix, pellegrino, cranberry and seltzer, etc. depending on how well I know the person, I will tell them I am not drinking to keep myself in check. I have my reasons “why” in my head and review them when I get tempted.

    I’m definitely not perfect and give in but every time I don’t, I’m strengthening that part of myself.
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,928 Member
    As usual, I am going to work on 4-5 AF days per week.
    I managed 18AF days out of 31 for August somehow.
    I am going away the last week of September and first week of October, and I will be in a bathing suit every day, so am wanting to rack up lots of AF days before that.

    September 01 - Sunday 5 drinks! (Saturday between 1pm and 1am at the music festival I had 7 drinks and didn't even throw up strangely). Drinks 2 days in a row is such a no-no, it makes it become normal to have drinks on the 3rd day 4th day etc. But I won't.
    September 02 - AF
    September 03 - AF - my "scheduled" day to have drinks, but there is ice skating at one of the arenas tomorrow and I haven't skated since April, so, well, I don't want to have a hangover or anything and fall and break my head : - P
    September 04 - AF - I was invited over to a friend's house for some wine, but declined. Skating was exhilarating today, even though it took me a few times around to get comfortable. Definitely didn't want to wreck the added calorie burn by having drinks.
    September 05 - 3 drinks. Feeling so much different than yesterday. My second sleepless night this week and a stressful workday coupled with Anxiety that I just couldn't seem to meditate away even though I ran (drove) to the lake after work for a float under a cloudless clear blue sky with sparkling glass-like water and some deep breaths. Sleep deprivation is crappy. I realize that booze probably doesn't help Anxiety, but it has somehow tonight numbed me and relaxed me. Still using booze as a crutch I guess, although I tried other things first. Not going to beat myself up. Us humans can be so fragile! If only I could skate every day... : - )
    September 06 - AF
    September 07 - AF - I didn't intend to be, but I burned over 1100 calories through exercise and didn't want that to be wasted, so stayed AF
    September 08 - 3 drinks - next planned drinks, Tuesday
    September 09 - AF
    September 10 - 3 drinks Tuesday. I didn't have enough to eat I guess and really felt it, thought that I was going to puke but didn't. I drank a lot of water after the drinks, so actually feel okay now. Time to rack up some more AF days.
    September 11 - AF - Skated today, but with having drinks last night I didn't really feel that steady.

    Running total: 7 AF days out of 11 days so far
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,813 Member
    globalhiker wrote: »
    I am dragging today and would love a cold glass of wine. But it's never 1 glass for me, 1 equals 3. Always. Sigh. One of those days, worked too long, tired, hot, tummyache, hot flashes, you name it, all the excuses are pouring out. It's good for me to write this down and declare I choose to be successful and am not giving into the "wine gremlins" today. I visualized they would've died off by now, that I deprived them of alcohol, but no, those suckers mess with me every now and then....Crap now I have to get in the car and get some chocolate to shut them up....!

    “Wine gremlins”. I love that!

    Actually I read that chocolate is a fantastic substitute for alcohol. Maybe it’s the little rush of sugar. Also it’s delicious.
  • anglilacs
    anglilacs Posts: 165 Member
    Good to know about the 6 minute craving thing! I’ll try to remember that next time.

    Following my plan so far this week. Next planned drinking night is Saturday. I’m thinking that drinks 2x/week on average will be good.

    9/3- AF
    9/4- AF
    9/5- AF
    9/6- AF
    9/7- AF
    9/8-AF
    9/9- 3 drinks (rounding up)
    9/10 - AF
    9/11 - AF
    9/12 - AF
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,928 Member
    As usual, I am going to work on 4-5 AF days per week.
    I managed 18AF days out of 31 for August somehow.
    I am going away the last week of September and first week of October, and I will be in a bathing suit every day, so am wanting to rack up lots of AF days before that.

    September 01 - Sunday 5 drinks! (Saturday between 1pm and 1am at the music festival I had 7 drinks and didn't even throw up strangely). Drinks 2 days in a row is such a no-no, it makes it become normal to have drinks on the 3rd day 4th day etc. But I won't.
    September 02 - AF
    September 03 - AF - my "scheduled" day to have drinks, but there is ice skating at one of the arenas tomorrow and I haven't skated since April, so, well, I don't want to have a hangover or anything and fall and break my head : - P
    September 04 - AF - I was invited over to a friend's house for some wine, but declined. Skating was exhilarating today, even though it took me a few times around to get comfortable. Definitely didn't want to wreck the added calorie burn by having drinks.
    September 05 - 3 drinks. Feeling so much different than yesterday. My second sleepless night this week and a stressful workday coupled with Anxiety that I just couldn't seem to meditate away even though I ran (drove) to the lake after work for a float under a cloudless clear blue sky with sparkling glass-like water and some deep breaths. Sleep deprivation is crappy. I realize that booze probably doesn't help Anxiety, but it has somehow tonight numbed me and relaxed me. Still using booze as a crutch I guess, although I tried other things first. Not going to beat myself up. Us humans can be so fragile! If only I could skate every day... : - )
    September 06 - AF
    September 07 - AF - I didn't intend to be, but I burned over 1100 calories through exercise and didn't want that to be wasted, so stayed AF
    September 08 - 3 drinks - next planned drinks, Tuesday
    September 09 - AF
    September 10 - 3 drinks Tuesday. I didn't have enough to eat I guess and really felt it, thought that I was going to puke but didn't. I drank a lot of water after the drinks, so actually feel okay now. Time to rack up some more AF days.
    September 11 - AF - Skated today, but with having drinks last night I didn't really feel that steady.
    September 12 - 2 drinks, just couldn't have the 3rd which is unusual for me. Too tired to even make a 3rd drink. Long workday today, I must say that it was nice to have a couple of cocktails. Off to bed early.

    Running total: 7 AF days out of 12 days so far
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