Less Alcohol - JANUARY 2020- One Day at a Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,783 Member
in Challenges
Do you want to drink LESS?
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet that thinking a day off is a sort of punishment and hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING OUR THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You" (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this informatio
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet that thinking a day off is a sort of punishment and hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING OUR THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You" (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this informatio
5
Replies
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Welcome all to the year 2020.
100 years ago in 1920, there was a huge movement known as prohibition. The 18th Amendment only forbade the “manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors”—not their consumption. By law, any wine, beer or spirits Americans had stashed away in January 1920 were theirs to keep and enjoy in the privacy of their homes. For most, this amounted to only a few bottles, but some affluent drinkers built cavernous wine cellars and even bought out whole liquor store inventories to ensure they had healthy stockpiles of legal hooch.
Enough of the history lesson. Needless to say there is always a need for some of us to curb our alcohol consumption. That is what this thread and those who choose to post, read, participate or lurk are all about. Cutting back in their own personal way. We do not ask or push the notion to stop drinking. We encourage drinking responsibly and at a level of your own choice. Yet there is always that Dry January challenge that is ever so tempting.
So whatever your reason is for checking us out. We are happy to have you.😎8 -
Thank you @MissMay : - )4
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2019 was a pretty good year for me for cutting down on alcohol, but I bet 2020 can be better (there were a few speed bumps here and there. Thanksgiving. Ugh.). The longest I went AF in a row last year was 6 weeks, so I'm sure I will be able to do Dry January. Then after that, hoping to keep it to drinking once a week or less.
Good luck to everyone with whatever your goals are!
8 -
I’m in for January!6
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I'm in, my goal is for a dry January.4
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I'm in for January! Setting up 2 do-able goals: 1) track daily, 2) maintain a good mood with daily exercise. Wishing you all a wonderful and very successful New Year!4
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This is exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you!!5
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I'm in for January as well. I plan on drinking one day, either brunch on Jan 12 or Jan 19th with friends.4
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Welcome to our new folks. And to our long time contributors from months past.
Plenty of room here for everyone that wants to take control of their drinking habits.
If you want to cut out one drink a day or one drink a month...LESS is LESS. It all begins with self awareness and commitment.
I plan on taking a break and having a dry January. But you don't need to follow me, choose the path that suits you best and GO for it.
4 -
Count me in! I'm doing Dry January. And I just signed up for a 100 day challenge, Although I know that I can only control today.
https://www.tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com I get Belle's emails. I would caution you they come often and every day, but they usually land in my junk emails so I don't mind. I do read them at times. They're short and to the point.7 -
Hello! I'm new here, but in setting my goals for 2020, less alcohol is one of them. I enjoy drinking in moderation, and usually I am a 1-2 drink/night person. I'm that mom who is pouring a glass of wine after the kids go to bed, finally. However, over the past year I've made a few concerted efforts to reduce my intake and everytime I do, I feel better. I notice I have more energy, in particular.
The holidays and all their overindulgences, including alcohol, have got me down a bit and I'm really feeling the need to change this habit. Additionally, I know it will help me lose weight since those empty calories are not what is needed in my life.
My goal is to enjoy alcoholic drinks only one night a week for January. I don't have a particular night in mind, I will go with the flow and plan accordingly.
Thanks for starting this thread and I am looking forward to being a part of it!9 -
Hello! I'm new here, but in setting my goals for 2020, less alcohol is one of them. I enjoy drinking in moderation, and usually I am a 1-2 drink/night person. I'm that mom who is pouring a glass of wine after the kids go to bed, finally. However, over the past year I've made a few concerted efforts to reduce my intake and everytime I do, I feel better. I notice I have more energy, in particular.
The holidays and all their overindulgences, including alcohol, have got me down a bit and I'm really feeling the need to change this habit. Additionally, I know it will help me lose weight since those empty calories are not what is needed in my life.
My goal is to enjoy alcoholic drinks only one night a week for January. I don't have a particular night in mind, I will go with the flow and plan accordingly.
Thanks for starting this thread and I am looking forward to being a part of it!
Welcome! Happy to have you here. Those are some great goals! Less alcohol usually means weight loss, so that is a huge plus. Also, more energy and better sleep is just wonderful.6 -
I am in! I have been thinking about drinking less for a few months, as I have let my nightly drink habit get out of control and often wake up feeling slightly hung over, even during the week, and on the weekends have been ending up not remembering going to bed. I don't think I need to stop completely, but need to redirect my daily life to much healthier habits. I would say my goal for the first few weeks is to not drink at all to help break the routine and then find ways to set limits when I do decide to indulge.
Glad to have found a group pursuing the same goals!10 -
Oh my gosh @RubyRed427 is in da house! How wonderful to have you in the ole neighborhood again. I feel as though I should be handing back the baton to you. It is an honor to have you in for January.
And more new faces. GREAT!
Last night I dropped down to the local Walgreens. I heard two woman talking about New Years resolutions, dieting and so forth while we were all waiting in line. They were already cursing having to commit to something. I felt bad for them.
5 -
I'm in
January-0 drink days
February-2 drink days
March -0 drink days
April-0 drink days
May-0 drink days
June-2 drink days
July-7 drink days
August-0 drink days
September-0 drink days
October-0 drink days
November-0 drink days
December-0 drink days
What a year! Least I've drank since 2005 when I started drinking casually to fall asleep 😒 that quickly spiraled into daily drinking, then heavy drinking, then day drinking, then dependant drinking I'm glad I was able to achieve a mostly AF years, cheers for 2020!💗16 -
I'm in! The nightly bottle of wine with DH needs to come to an end. At least there are not 2 bottles of wine these days but I noticed recently that a rum/bourbon & diet coke have slipped into the routine before the wine opens in the last two weeks. No more. Just because others around me drink ... does not mean that I need to as well. I do not need to feel guilty and supportive trying to drink a few glasses to keep DH from drinking the whole bottle by himself. That helps no one. Especially me as the lbs start creeping back on when I gave up tracking my AF nights each month this past year in July.
AF last night on New Year's Eve!
My personal goal for 2020 is to drink less alcohol. Targeting 3 nights per week AF usually M-Th ~12 AF nights per month.13 -
HAPPY NEW DECADE!
I hope the evening was kind to those who lifted a glass and toasted in the new year. Mine consisted of Arnold Palmer iced tea.
Day one of Dry January for me.
10 -
Happy 2020! I was in bed by 9 party animal I am, did overdo it on wings, pizza and Velveeta dip😲 gotta take my eating down a notch now, 7:19 am in Vegas another 24 💖7
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Happy New Year! Woke up with no hangover, had a workout and feeling optimistic about the new month. xo
10 -
Oh my gosh @RubyRed427 is in da house! How wonderful to have you in the ole neighborhood again. I feel as though I should be handing back the baton to you. It is an honor to have you in for January.
And more new faces. GREAT!
Last night I dropped down to the local Walgreens. I heard two woman talking about New Years resolutions, dieting and so forth while we were all waiting in line. They were already cursing having to commit to something. I felt bad for them.
Miss May- the baton is yours! You have done such a lovely job with your posts and encouragement. Happy to be back!
I am thinking about my "word for the year". Instead of a resolution, you think of a word you want to be your word of the year. So far, the word "Fearless" is in the lead in my mind. Last year, it was "transformation". Hmmmm I'll keep thinking.3 -
Hi my names Michelle. I love that this group is here. Im trying to make healthier choices. I hace 27 day with no alcohol. I drink to ease stress but in a very unhealthy way so this year im really trying my hardest to remain sober.11
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RubyRed427 wrote: »Oh my gosh @RubyRed427 is in da house! How wonderful to have you in the ole neighborhood again. I feel as though I should be handing back the baton to you. It is an honor to have you in for January.
And more new faces. GREAT!
Last night I dropped down to the local Walgreens. I heard two woman talking about New Years resolutions, dieting and so forth while we were all waiting in line. They were already cursing having to commit to something. I felt bad for them.
Miss May- the baton is yours! You have done such a lovely job with your posts and encouragement. Happy to be back!
I am thinking about my "word for the year". Instead of a resolution, you think of a word you want to be your word of the year. So far, the word "Fearless" is in the lead in my mind. Last year, it was "transformation". Hmmmm I'll keep thinking.
I love the idea of a word for the year as opposed to a resolution... mine is going to be “compassion.”
8 -
Hi all! Happy New Year! Drank too much last night at a New Years Party and felt lousy today. Can’t wait to get back into a normal routine tomorrow.
Met my goal of no alcohol today, and then had the crashing realization that I had a glass of Prosecco to ring in the new year. So technically it was today, but it was before I went to bed at 2:00 AM, so I’m counting it as last nights drinking!
Looking forward to (mostly) DryJanuary. I may have one at book club in a few weeks, but ugh I’m done for a while. Need to reset.13 -
So true, this is not easy, but worth it! I committed to being the DD last night, so glad I did. So many issues came up last night, friends car stuck on a very busy freeway, called us for help (we have AAA), then another friend missed his ride home... plus other crazy stuff, it was a very complicated night, didn't get home until nearly 4am. I was able to take care of everything, and everyone got home safely. If I had been drinking, things would have been even more complicated! Yes, I am patting myself on the shoulder right now.
Husband has been nursing a hangover all day... I have been very productive, even with little sleep. However, while making dinner, with basically the house to myself, I really wanted to pour myself a drink... this is a habit I got into the last few years... just something to help me wind down from long days. I had an argument back and forth with myself... I won... drinking some lavender tea right now, might be a 2 bag night!9 -
"Good" morning...and I seriously mean that.
Welcome the our new faces here.
@womona big hug for you....hope your feeling better. Last year I was confused as to how to count the champagne toast to. I believe I kept it in the previous year. Close ENOUGH. lol
@looneycatblue your a saint to have stayed up that long dealing with $%&#@. My husband also was nursing a very bad hangover. He kept telling me to relax yesterday, which I found hysterical. Was I making his head hurt by watching me flutter through the house getting things done?
My word for 2020 is simply NO. Short, sweet and to the point.
Some comparisons of my year 2019 to past years:
* I drank a third less total standard drinks in 2019 as to 2018
* Unfortunately I did drink over my goal limit six different times in 2019.
* I chose to have a totaly dry January and a dry September in 2019
* I avoided many drama filled confrontations because I was not drinking when someone else was drunk and in my face.
( this in the past was a huge problem of mine if I were drinking, because I felt fearless and would not back down when I clearly should have just walked away)
* Have kept within my weight goal from not having the extra empty calories and being sluggish or unmotivated.
Have a great LESS ALCOHOL day friends.
10 -
January accountability ~ 1
No Alcohol: 1 days
Alcohol: 0 days (0 drinks)
Goal: AF days 3 per week / 12 per month
You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
Including December in my weekly view.
Dec 30 - 2 glasses wine
Dec 31 - AF
Jan 1 - AF
Jan 2 -
Jan 3 -
Jan 4 -
Jan 5 -8 -
Jan 1- 6 glasses rose spritzers (all-day family New Years Day party); drank on a hungry empty stomach while cooking. All went down mindlessly. Not a repeat 8
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I drank more than I intended to on NYE (what a surprise). I saw friends who I haven't seen in a while and everyone made it home safely so that's a plus. I started the alcohol experiment over again yesterday and I'm looking forward to a Dry January. 8
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Good morning everyone. Thanks for the welcome!
@Womona and @BuffMom84 I am in your boat, drank too much on New Year's Eve and was a bit hungover for the first day of the New Year.
But, we had a good time with friends and spent the night at their house, so all was safe and enjoyable. We also drank really, really good champagne- so my hangover felt a lot less than it could have been. I rarely drink so much that I get a hangover, so experiencing that yesterday was a good reminder of why I am committing to having less alcohol in my life in 2020. I think because my drinking usually just consists of 1-2 drinks, I don't fully realize the negative impact it is having on my energy and health because it's more subtle than say, if I was drinking an entire bottle of wine a night. But, it's still impactful.
Anyway, I started out the New Year by not having any alcohol yesterday and I plan to keep it that way for an entire week. I am going to count NYE as my drinking day for the first week of Jan. Which is probably appropriate, since it spilled over in the wee hours of the morning. So, my next available week for indulging a little will be January 8.
(My goal is to enjoy alcohol only 1x a week in January)7
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