Less Alcohol - OCTOBER 2019 - One Day at a Time

TheSunAndTheRainfall

Four days in, AF so far. I've found that cravings come and go, and it's a matter of keep your head down and your self discipline up.

But tonight... Saturday... going out with friends for a birthday... to check out a brand new bar... this is the acid test. If I can stick to my tonic and lime, I think I'll have cracked it.

MissMay

Catching up with some recent topics-

☆ "significant others" and wanting to drink less.
It is always a plus to have a support system within your own home. Having a friend, soul-mate or relative that wants to have the same goals with alcohol consumption certainly can help. But for those that do not, it can be a struggle. No one wants to hear they are "no fun anymore" or "maybe you should have a drink you seem crabby". Misery loves company in my opinion. What a drinking mind THINKS will make them feel better can very many times be the opposite. Fuel for the fire as I refer to it.

So for those who do have an in home support system I applaude you and your supporters.

Womona

ellie117 wrote: »

Successfully beat this month's first temptation - Wednesday night bowling league. Actually had our whole team refrain from beers this week!

Today is Friday - temptation #2. If we can make it through this weekend without caving, I think we can do it the rest of the month. Husband is not exactly thrilled to be trying this, but hopefully he'll see the benefits over time.

For casual drinkers that used to indulge every Friday/Saturday, what are some of your alternative activities you do with friends, significant others, etc that doesn't center around alcohol?

Not drinking after your weekly sports event is huge! Congratulations! And that your teammates didn’t either is triply huge!

As for non-drink centric activities, there’s always a high school football game, tickets to the theatre, one of those trampoline places, a concert. But they sell alcohol at theatres. I guess you just have to go in with an AF plan and stick to it, or plan on one and done.

Womona

Had one drink yesterday after tennis. Knocked me out for the rest of the night! I kinda like that I’m a lightweight now!

Won’t drink again until dinner out with friends tomorrow night. Only having one glass of wine, and will only have water on the golf course.

lilann1961

Can anyone tell me their experiences with tolerance as they went more AF? I am wondering if my tolerance will be affected by this challenge or if it is more based off of my weight (you know, the main reason I am on MFP . I do not plan on being AF forever (17 days AF - yay!) but I never want my tolerance to be that high again. I truly believe it affects your pshyce when it takes that much to have any sort of relaxing affect. It is habit AND mental.

lilann1961

And yes, this is apparently what I do while AF on a Saturday night. I think. Who knew?

brandorogers

Knowing I have to post here has really kicked the guilt into overdrive. AF since September 20. Way too many consolation diet sodas.37 miles run this week.

10/1 - AF
10/2 - AF
10/3 - AF
10/4 - AF
10/5 - AF

MissMay

Your having pizza and coffee? Someone asked me last night when we went out for a bite to eat.
"Yup that's right........pizza with java.......it's all the rage these days..............Of course it can only be paired with a white sauce pizza, not a red!!"🤣

fitand50inSD

Aiming for completely Sober October as part of the Last 90 Days challenge.

10/1 - AF
10/2 - AF
10/3 - AF
10/4 - AF
10/5 - AF

TheSunAndTheRainfall

Last night was the toughest yet (out for a birthday bash in a brand new bar) but I stuck to my tonic water like a limpet.

Although I was aiming for a full month AF, I kinda thought, in my heart of hearts, that I'd slip up at some point, probably early on, and last night seemed like the time. But once I'd got through the first hour, it just seemed natural to carry on. After all, I reasoned to myself, I'd already come this far. We had such a good time, and it was funny watching others get progressively more raucous!

Seeing others post here, all for similar reasons and for the same length of time, helps a lot. This thread's always in the back of my mind whenever I start getting cravings. Succeeding last night, while a small thing in itself, feels something like a milestone of sorts. Suddenly, a month AF doesn't have *quite* the force it did, although I'm not intending to let my guard down now.

Also, my bank balance hasn't looked this untroubled on a Sunday morning in years!

LoveyChar

lilann1961 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me their experiences with tolerance as they went more AF? I am wondering if my tolerance will be affected by this challenge or if it is more based off of my weight (you know, the main reason I am on MFP . I do not plan on being AF forever (17 days AF - yay!) but I never want my tolerance to be that high again. I truly believe it affects your pshyce when it takes that much to have any sort of relaxing affect. It is habit AND mental.

This was a concern of mine, also. And I agree, it does affect your psyche when it takes that much. If I take a week off, then have a drink, I can definitely feel a difference as opposed to day after day drink. The longer the break, the less alcohol you need (my opinion) to get that feeling.

anglilacs

Hi all! Great job to everyone checking in! I agree that this thread helps me stay strong.

I am 4/6 days AF. On the two days I drank, I drank less than I normally would have. Woohoo! Still aiming for 23 days AF this month. I have a girls’ night on Saturday night so I will be having two drinks then.

10/1 - AF
10/2 - AF
10/3 - 1 drink
10/4 - AF
10/5 - 2 drinks
10/6 - AF

fitand50inSD

Aiming for completely Sober October as part of the Last 90 Days challenge.

10/1 - AF
10/2 - AF
10/3 - AF
10/4 - AF
10/5 - AF
10/6 - AF

jsparks4000

I committed to this Sept 1 but have pre-planned breaks (had a weekend trip to Nashville planned in Sep and took that weekend off, next break is Thanksgiving, then Christmas).

My primary goal is weight loss. I find just one glass of wine destroys my food discipline. So it's not just the alcohol Cal's.

Need to lose 20 lbs. Have lost 5 so 15 to go. Making progress. But for me if I am sincere about weight loss I have to completely cut alcohol. I can do it no problem but still looking forward to having wine.

(Is it bad that I have days where I hit my goal because the sooner I shed the weight the sooner I can fall off the wagon? He he...😆).

One thing that works for me...I stock a boatload of flavored sparkling water (Spindrift, La Croix) and over ice with lime ...it could almost be a cocktail?

I am very hydrated now. 🤪

TheSunAndTheRainfall

jsparks4000 wrote: »

I find just one glass of wine destroys my food discipline. So it's not just the alcohol Cal's.

Oh, I hear you there. One glass of red wine and it feels like I start to medically (and I mean *medically*) need chocolate, stat.

d_ganggreen

5 AF / 1 multi-drink. Goal this week is all week AF.

dawnbgethealthy

Back home with reliable wifi and my scale.
I actually lost weight while away on vacation in Dallas despite Margaritas and stuff! Lots and lots of ice skating : - )

October 07 - Planned AF

Running monthly total: 2AF days out of 6 days so far.

LoveyChar

813 alcohol calories and 32.5 ounces of wine consumed this month and 3 AF days/ 3 non.
I beat myself up for what I do. I beat myself up for what I don't do. I have to stop punishing myself, for what I am not sure. Anyway, I'm giving myself a 300 calorie budget for the week. Two 6 ounce glasses is at least a plan.

ducky133

I have posted here a couple of times but tend to disappear. I think the idea of being accountable scares me, as does the success of many of the participants. I'd like to start having an AF day now and then and stop over drinking when I partake.

ellie117

Successfully made it through the weekend without drinking!

Well, we did have a squire of sake at our hibachi dinner last night, so technically not 100% AF. But I'm still counting it as an AF day.

Keep it up, gang!