Less Alcohol - JANUARY 2020- One Day at a Time
Replies
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Will_Run_for_Food wrote: »Not doing too badly so far, but could tone it down on the weekends. I've been doing well with not drinking during the week with the exception of a couple nights where I've had one or two drinks on a Thursday.
So far 13/20 days completely AF, two days with one drink and five days 3+.
What helps: distractions, feeling satisfied food-wise, proper nutrients during the day, setting intentions. Of course, the later in the week we get, the harder it is to say no!
13 out of 20 is GREAT! Distractions is a perfect way to keep out of trouble. Most bored persons tend to lean towards filing the void with drinking. Nice job4 -
bourbon_n_barbells wrote: »Over the hump! 19 days AF. It's been tough on evenings when I get home after a long day at work or a hard workout. Kombucha or a seltzer in my beer glass has helped, however, drinking those last night, watching football with my friend who was drinking "not Kombucha" was hard. 12 more days!
Yes over da hump! Congrats on your 19AF. I hear ya on watching people drink down cold ones during the football games. Me? I had coffee. Not exciting but I was able to keep both eyes open for 6 plus hours.4 -
Today has been a trying day.10
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Awwwwwwww thank you, I'm okay. Eating a couple of jelly beans and then I'm going to bed. AF but...I had distressing thoughts. I'm looking forward to sleep and a better day tomorrow and it will be...8 -
As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I just made it to 16 for December.
Wednesday January 01 - 3 drinks
Thursday January 02 - 3 drinks
Friday January 03 - AF
Saturday January 04 - AF - Had to delay and delay and delay today, really wanted to have drinks...but I didn't.
Sunday January 05 - 3 drinks
Monday January 06 - AF
Tuesday January 07 - 3 drinks. Although I have skipped some Tuesdays in the past, it is my designated drink day. I felt off the rails today and know that I need to make some changes with jobs, because the Tuesdays are increasingly just too much for me. Tough to find another job at 59, but the stress is ridiculous. That first sip of alcohol was nicely numbing. I know intellectually that it is not the best way to decompress, but it certainly is surefire and quick.
Wednesday January 08 - AF
Thursday January 09 - 3 drinks - worked early morning until 8pm today, started thinking by 7pm of having a drink when I got home after a grueling day...and I did. I sure am not racking up many AF days this month so far! I know that I won't get rid of that 5 pound gain over the holidays (which took me 7 months to lose!) unless I stop the alcohol. Work in progress.
Friday January 10 - AF. Planned wine tomorrow evening with a friend.
Saturday January 11 - Wine and Brandy. The conversation flowed so easily as those of you who have imbibed in alcohol know how that goes. I was pretty good about having a water in between each drink, that made me feel as if I was "drinking less". Ready to get serious about racking up some AF days soon.
Sunday January 12 - AF
Monday January 13 - AF
Tuesday January 14 - 3 drinks. Pretty much 1 for 1. Going to try to do a little better. No regrets for having drinks tonight. I am never going to be an abstainer, but definitely want to drink less.
Wednesday January 15 - AF - halfway to the lower end of my goal for the month.
Thursday January 16 - 3 drinks - wanted the 4th, but knew that it would make me throw up, so didn't. I want to get back to trying to get 2 AF days in a row each time in between.
Friday January 17 - AF
Saturday January 18 - AF - It was touch and go there for a couple of hours, I really felt like having a couple of drinks. I am sure that I will be happy about it in the morning that I managed to resist.
Sunday January 19 - 3 drinks. Definitely will be AF tomorrow, Tuesdays are usually a very busy day for me.
Monday January 20 - AF
Running tally: 11AF days out of 20 days so far.8 -
15AF days and going strong! Met friends over the weekend at their ranch. Usually this would mean drinks around the campfire at night, but they are also cutting back so no one brought any at all. And guess what? Still had a great time, and nothing seemed missing.
proof that if you can find supportive company to hang with on days of highest temptation, it will help!11 -
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bourbon_n_barbells wrote: »
Thank you, it already is! Have a great day!5 -
Old habit: 1-4 drinks/evening.
Goal: Ease into only drinking on weekends! Consistantly be AF 5 days a week.
Jan 5- 2 drinks
Jan 6- 1 drink
Jan 7- AF 😁
Jan 8- AF 😁
Jan 9- AF 😁
Jan 10- None work night! 4 drinks
Jan 11- AF
Jan 12- 1 drink
Jan 13- AF
Jan 14- 3.5 drinks. Whoops! These snow days are throwing me off lol
Jan 15- 1 drink. Ok, today is the day! Need to be AF. I do a weight check on Friday mornings with a group of ladies on Facebook. Drinking alcohol the night before weighing in will make me retain water. So that will help me refrain
Jan 16- AF 😁
Jan 17- 1 drink
Jan 18- 3 drinks
Jan 19- 3 drinks
Jan 20- 2 drinks- I need to get my butt into gear! Determined to be AF the rest of the week!!
6 AF Days / 16 Days7 -
1 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
2 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
3 - 2 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium
4 - 3 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium/overnight ferry home
5 - AF
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (sensibly sized glass – splitting a bottle between 4 of us)
11 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (ditto)
12 - AF
13 - AF
14 - AF (although I did put some wine in the risotto I cooked)
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - AF
18 - AF
19 - AF
20 - AF
(14/20)3 -
helen_goldthorpe wrote: »1 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
2 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
3 - 2 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium
4 - 3 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium/overnight ferry home
5 - AF
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (sensibly sized glass – splitting a bottle between 4 of us)
11 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (ditto)
12 - AF
13 - AF
14 - AF (although I did put some wine in the risotto I cooked)
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - AF
18 - AF
19 - AF
20 - AF
(14/20)
Belgian beers are my favorites! I could not do this/would not do this if I was on holiday in Belgium! Hope you had a great time!2 -
bourbon_n_barbells wrote: »helen_goldthorpe wrote: »1 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
2 - 1 Belgian beer – on holiday in Belgium
3 - 2 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium
4 - 3 Belgian beers – on holiday in Belgium/overnight ferry home
5 - AF
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (sensibly sized glass – splitting a bottle between 4 of us)
11 - 1 glass wine – at OH’s parents’ house (ditto)
12 - AF
13 - AF
14 - AF (although I did put some wine in the risotto I cooked)
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - AF
18 - AF
19 - AF
20 - AF
(14/20)
Belgian beers are my favorites! I could not do this/would not do this if I was on holiday in Belgium! Hope you had a great time!
We brought some home and I'm amazed by my willpower. They are just sitting in the kitchen unopened.3 -
AF all month so far. I'm at the gym now and am thinking about how much I really want a drink tonight. I wasn't drinking every day before, but some days this is hard (good things often are though, right?) Ugh.5
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I'm in. I like all the tips here on the the original post!7
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Week 1 total: 21.5
Week 2 total: 14
Week 3 total: 15
WOW, from this viewpoint I honestly can't believe I am already at 40.5 drinks. That's easily 4,000 calories. Need to change my behaviors to show you all a better week 4!
Separately, starting an challenge with my husband - 5 week challenge - no restaurants, no take-out, no bars. Last time we did this, we both improved A LOT very quickly (10lb + weight loss, less drinking). Our normal outing looks like this: mexican restaurant happy hour - unlimited and free chips, salsa, bean dip, and really good specials on supersized drinks. When the happy hour is over, then we go next door to the market (too convenient) to buy beer and wine and continue our happy hour or two at home. It really becomes a 3-hour happy hour in total.....and the next day we are not-so-happy....!6 -
wine_n_weights wrote: »AF all month so far. I'm at the gym now and am thinking about how much I really want a drink tonight. I wasn't drinking every day before, but some days this is hard (good things often are though, right?) Ugh.
It's really great you go to the gym. It builds resiliency and mental strength and I firmly believe it helps one's self-control with everything, in general. I know for me, that running or hiking outside for much of the day would make me crave alcohol at end of day - maybe to cool down, maybe I needed water instead, maybe I needed to eat more instead, or to ease the tiredness, or maybe because I felt I deserved a "reward". Still trying to figure this one out. But the gym - I would do in the early morning, and it would definitely give me a major "motivation boost" to do good things for myself the rest of the day. I need to re-start the gym......3 -
@globalhiker you hit on exactly how I feel so often and where every now and then my mind will begin to drift while I run. I run long distances, 25 miles in two days this past weekend and I'm running 20 miles on Sunday alone and I come back with a huge calorie deficit where I could shove a bunch of alcohol in there. Then I remind myself how hard it is to just stop at 1 and that my next day run will suffer. I'll "reward" myself after I run this marathon.
Your outings sound so fun. The challenge sounds like a great idea!
@wine_n_weights I'll get a craving like that too, just right out of the blue like "where did you come from?" That ugly little devil...4 -
As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I just made it to 16 for December.
Wednesday January 01 - 3 drinks
Thursday January 02 - 3 drinks
Friday January 03 - AF
Saturday January 04 - AF - Had to delay and delay and delay today, really wanted to have drinks...but I didn't.
Sunday January 05 - 3 drinks
Monday January 06 - AF
Tuesday January 07 - 3 drinks. Although I have skipped some Tuesdays in the past, it is my designated drink day. I felt off the rails today and know that I need to make some changes with jobs, because the Tuesdays are increasingly just too much for me. Tough to find another job at 59, but the stress is ridiculous. That first sip of alcohol was nicely numbing. I know intellectually that it is not the best way to decompress, but it certainly is surefire and quick.
Wednesday January 08 - AF
Thursday January 09 - 3 drinks - worked early morning until 8pm today, started thinking by 7pm of having a drink when I got home after a grueling day...and I did. I sure am not racking up many AF days this month so far! I know that I won't get rid of that 5 pound gain over the holidays (which took me 7 months to lose!) unless I stop the alcohol. Work in progress.
Friday January 10 - AF. Planned wine tomorrow evening with a friend.
Saturday January 11 - Wine and Brandy. The conversation flowed so easily as those of you who have imbibed in alcohol know how that goes. I was pretty good about having a water in between each drink, that made me feel as if I was "drinking less". Ready to get serious about racking up some AF days soon.
Sunday January 12 - AF
Monday January 13 - AF
Tuesday January 14 - 3 drinks. Pretty much 1 for 1. Going to try to do a little better. No regrets for having drinks tonight. I am never going to be an abstainer, but definitely want to drink less.
Wednesday January 15 - AF - halfway to the lower end of my goal for the month.
Thursday January 16 - 3 drinks - wanted the 4th, but knew that it would make me throw up, so didn't. I want to get back to trying to get 2 AF days in a row each time in between.
Friday January 17 - AF
Saturday January 18 - AF - It was touch and go there for a couple of hours, I really felt like having a couple of drinks. I am sure that I will be happy about it in the morning that I managed to resist.
Sunday January 19 - 3 drinks. Definitely will be AF tomorrow, Tuesdays are usually a very busy day for me.
Monday January 20 - AF
Tuesday January 21 - AF - Very busy day tomorrow working out of town. No booze today!
Running tally: 12AF days out of 21 days so far.6 -
AF 19 | A 2
dare i say it, its starting to get easier. The replacement mocktails are really working / fooling my brain....5 -
@lovelychar fair play for getting those miles in... less drink, is less weight, is faster running...6
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January goal - Alcohol free until January 27th - exams are over and I have a concert that night
January 1 - Too many drinks from NYE
January 2 - AF
January 3 - AF
January 4 - AF
January 5 - AF
January 6 - AF
January 7 - AF
January 8 - AF
January 9 - AF
January 10 - AF
January 11 - AF - This one was harder than the others as I was with friends who were drinking wine while I helped one move!
January 12 - AF
January 13 - AF
January 14 - AF - I really wanted one after my exam because I feel TERRIBLE about it...but I stayed away and said that I can always re-sit for the exam in August if I need to
January 15 - AF
January 16 - AF
January 17 - AF - While sitting at home on a Friday is boring, I'm loving what abstaining is doing to my wallet AND waistline. Since I've stopped drinking, I am losing steadily and am loving it!
January 18 - AF
January 19 - AF
January 20 - AF
January 21 - AF - This is much easier than I thought it would be and I honestly don't think I've even had soda in over a week and I was a daily soda drinker too.6 -
January accountability ~ 21
No Alcohol: 16 days
Alcohol: 5 days (10 drinks)
Goal: AF days 3 per week / 12 per month
DH went DRY for January which is a real challenge for him as well … and I’m trying to be supportive.
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 - AF
Jan 3 - AF
Jan 4 - AF
Jan 5 - AF
6 AF days out of 7 this week!!!
Jan 6 - AF
Jan 7 - AF
Jan 8 - AF
Jan 9 - AF Virgin Bloody Mary & water at happy hour. Water 😊 at Bunco!
Jan 10 - 2 glasses wine
Jan 11 - AF
Jan 12 - 3 glasses wine … DH & I visiting my sister
5 AF days out of 7 this week.
Jan 13 - AF LSU National Champions GEAUX Tigers! 😊💜😊💜😊
Jan 14 - AF
Jan 15 - AF 😊 Book Club usually split a bottle of wine with DD but she is doing Dry January so it worked this month
Jan 16 - AF
Jan 17 - 2 drinks @ fishing camp
Jan 18 - 2 glasses of wine @ fishing camp
Jan 19 - AF 😊 @ fishing camp ... Amazed!
Jan 20 - 1 glass wine celebrate with DH he passed a required certification test; AF 😊 at Book Club
Jan 21 - AF
@MissMay Yes the Fishing Camp is very "ruff"! At 5pm everyone (family & neighbors) sit out looking at the water and watching the sunset with a drink in hand. At least I stopped at 2 drinks ... unlike everyone else!6 -
achristian03 wrote: »15AF days and going strong! Met friends over the weekend at their ranch. Usually this would mean drinks around the campfire at night, but they are also cutting back so no one brought any at all. And guess what? Still had a great time, and nothing seemed missing.
proof that if you can find supportive company to hang with on days of highest temptation, it will help!
I am so thrilled to hear ypu had a successful and supportive meet up with friends. Congrats2 -
@brittgreenlikethecolor88 how was that AF day yesterday?? Yup we are keeping track with you. 😊3
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Welcome @erinmpayne. Glad ypu were able to catch the first page intro. Speak up anytime. Lots of support in our group.3
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wine_n_weights wrote: »AF all month so far. I'm at the gym now and am thinking about how much I really want a drink tonight. I wasn't drinking every day before, but some days this is hard (good things often are though, right?) Ugh.
Sorry to hear you were having a struggle while working out yesterday. That is suppose to be our happy place and time away from all things that make us stressed. Yes good things are tough but oh so worth the effort.☺3 -
globalhiker wrote: »Week 1 total: 21.5
Week 2 total: 14
Week 3 total: 15
WOW, from this viewpoint I honestly can't believe I am already at 40.5 drinks. That's easily 4,000 calories. Need to change my behaviors to show you all a better week 4!
Separately, starting an challenge with my husband - 5 week challenge - no restaurants, no take-out, no bars. Last time we did this, we both improved A LOT very quickly (10lb + weight loss, less drinking). Our normal outing looks like this: mexican restaurant happy hour - unlimited and free chips, salsa, bean dip, and really good specials on supersized drinks. When the happy hour is over, then we go next door to the market (too convenient) to buy beer and wine and continue our happy hour or two at home. It really becomes a 3-hour happy hour in total.....and the next day we are not-so-happy....!
I really like the challenge you and your husband are committing to. And supporting each other in. Just because something is free at a happy hour does not mean it is the best choice for us, especially when it is unlimited. Been in your same shoes a few years back. Sure it is fun to be social, but let's face it they want to fill us up with salty high calorie food so we have to buy more "cheap" drinks to curb the thrist from the sodium. Wishing you both 5 weeks of success.5 -
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wine_n_weights wrote: »AF all month so far. I'm at the gym now and am thinking about how much I really want a drink tonight. I wasn't drinking every day before, but some days this is hard (good things often are though, right?) Ugh.
I know that feeling 100%. Way to stay the course. 10 more days. (well 9 for you. I started Jan 2!) Keep fighting the good fight.4
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