Less Alcohol - APRIL 2020 - One Day at a Time

Womona

Yesterday I was down for the count- and I’m not sure if it was PMS or a hangover. From my ONE glass of wine. That I had on a full stomach, didn’t even get tipsy.

So is this a thing? Has anyone experienced this near the start of their TOM? I had a headache and fatigue all day long. I know I didn’t drink nearly enough for a hangover. Granted, I’m 51 and going through peri menopause. So I don’t know if it’s my changing body as I eventually wind down, or if I just can’t process alcohol anymore.

Last night, no alcohol and I feel much better today. I don’t get it.

shorepine

Hi everyone~ hope your April is going well (or as well as can be expected) so far. This past weekend on Friday and Sunday I indulged in some wine with my dinner- I had some really good dinners. My favorite seafood restaurant is doing meal kits since they are closed- it's really an amazing restaurant. I live at the coast and they get the seafood right off the dock so it's fresh and amazing. The meal kits were so easy and came with everyone already chopped, it felt like I was eating a meal out! I had to have some nice wine with the meals.

What I didn't need to do was have THREE glasses of wine each time - I was a little disappointed with myself on that end. Two would have been better. But, oh well. These are strange times we are in and in previous times I would have been having three glasses every night at least.

Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF

So far in April: 4/6 days AF

My goal is to have a few more AF nights before enjoying wine again. I can't afford the extra calories anyway since I've been stress eating. Lots to be stressed out about these days. Job is having some uncertainty, I'm stuck in the house with my kids trying to telecommute/homeschool/not lose my *&%$ mind, and I'm struggling to be honest.

MissMay

Hey there everyone. I have had a pick me up recently, must be the warming weather and I can be out of doors doing "my thing". I actually felt happy today, humming outside and acting normal. Put the weekend behind me with what I thought was a back slide. But when I stop to think what has been going on for a month in the world it was no biggy after all. And the rest of April is going to be me sticking to my less alcohol personal goals of no more than 2 standard drinks in a 24 hour period.

Lots of great reads. Thanks to everyone who is participating this month. Welcome to our new posters too.😎
4AF / 7 days

Womona

@shorepine that fresh seafood sounds delicious! Lucky you to be able to get it, and whip up a great dinner!

Don’t worry about having one more than you would have liked. We have all been there! Tomorrow is a new day!

Oh, and I think we are all losing our #{%{*}+* minds a little bit! You’re in good company. Hang in there!

Womona

5/7 AF days. You know, I had to look at the calendar to figure out what the date was! I am losing track of the days. Well, at least I’m not a slave to my calendar like I usually am.

shorepine

Thanks @Womona ! I know we are all going through it right now. My focus is that I need to keep up the exercise, and not fall back into the daily drinking trap. Stopping working out and drinking more would be easy to have happen right now, and I know how terrible I will feel if that happens.

Another AF day for me here! Drinking my tea and feeling sleepy. Managed a run on the treadmill after dinner as it was the only chance I had. Didn't feel like doing it, but i survived!

Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF
Apr 7: AF

So far in April: 5/7 days AF

helen_goldthorpe

Hello everyone, I've been a bit absent recently. After a month or two of fairly little alcohol I've gone back to drinking most weekends, but I think I'm fine with that for now.

April...

1 - AF
2 - AF
3 - 3 glasses of wine on 2 different 'virtual pub' video calls
4 - AF
5 - 1 glass wine
6 - AF
7 - AF

4 day weekend will involve some drinks, but the plan is to stay AF until then

globalhiker

5 AF days/7 days. @helen_goldthorpe, glad to see you back!

@womona: wine is not the same for me now, I get an immediate headache depending on which one I drink, think I developed an allergy or reaction to the sulfite preservatives

I'm very much agreeing with everyone's comments here - exercise super helpful in staying sane and necessary to find ways to create daily enjoyment for ourselves.

Time to put on the rose-colored glasses and go out for some exercise....

whitpauly

shorepine wrote: »

Hi everyone~ hope your April is going well (or as well as can be expected) so far. This past weekend on Friday and Sunday I indulged in some wine with my dinner- I had some really good dinners. My favorite seafood restaurant is doing meal kits since they are closed- it's really an amazing restaurant. I live at the coast and they get the seafood right off the dock so it's fresh and amazing. The meal kits were so easy and came with everyone already chopped, it felt like I was eating a meal out! I had to have some nice wine with the meals.

What I didn't need to do was have THREE glasses of wine each time - I was a little disappointed with myself on that end. Two would have been better. But, oh well. These are strange times we are in and in previous times I would have been having three glasses every night at least.

Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF

So far in April: 4/6 days AF

My goal is to have a few more AF nights before enjoying wine again. I can't afford the extra calories anyway since I've been stress eating. Lots to be stressed out about these days. Job is having some uncertainty, I'm stuck in the house with my kids trying to telecommute/homeschool/not lose my *&%$ mind, and I'm struggling to be honest.

Awesome you get fresh seafood,the restaurants here are doing deliveries and take out but with all the casinos closed the trucks that deliver seafood aren't really delivering as much anymore so they're just selling their other dishes,I think we're all doing pretty good for all the craziness,yes I had my blowout when everything shut down but I've brushed it off and TRYING to be positive 😖 some days it's terribly difficult but oh heck I dunno what else can I do? It's outta my hands what happens only how I react to it,6:22 am in Vegas another 24,hope everyone makes the most of today(whatever day it is😆)

dawnbgethealthy

As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I had 18AF days for January
I had a surprising (and record setting for me) 21AF days for the short month of February!
18AF days for March
Onward to April : - )

Wednesday April 01 - AF
Thursday April 02 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but really determined to get back to at least 2AF days in between.
Friday April 03 - AF because I have a webinar in the morning that I want to be sharp for. Planned wine with a friend for her birthday - yes, we will stay 2 metres apart and likely outside.
Saturday April 04 - Drinks
Sunday April 05 - AF
Monday April 06 - AF
Tuesday April 07 - AF - My Tuesdays have changed, no longer working my tail off and stressed out for the first Tuesday "off". Normally my drinks day. I am really battling to get off the March weight gain, and I know that being more AF helps.

6AF days out of 7 days so far

dbanks80

I am back to binge drinking on the weekends. With all the stress that's going on and being quarantined I've taken the "F" it attitude there is nothing else to do. This weekend I plan to reboot and not drink. Seems like everyone else is staying strong and doing well!

Beka3695

Husband went to the basement den this am to watch a movie. Stepped onto wet carpet.... Beer fridge was leaking. As I was unloading it - ALMOST drank one of my favorites. I did not.

I'm still in the tub!!!

lilann1961

@dbanks80 I have also significantly upped my intake, you are not alone. I think the positive out of this is we recognize it and set goals to adjust.

I am much more sedentary here at home, even though I work at a desk when at work. I don't even want to think about stepping on the scale. I can feel my clothes getting tighter, and this is with logging everyday, maybe not perfectly (like if I have some wine after I have logged dinner and snacks) AND taking a 1-2 mile walk with the kiddos and dogs about 5 days a week. It just isn't enough to counteract this new version of normal. I have upped my water intake, in hopes some of it is truly just water retention. Hopefully, by the time we come out of this, I have managed to maintain or am maintaining at that point (hopefully you all can tell the difference in that).

I have noticed ALLLLLLLLL of my friends, whether working from home, laid off and worried at home and/or working kiddos with school at home, have upped their alcohol consumption. Some do it seemingly proudly. I am very lucky to be able to work from home, but with the kids' lesson plans and the fact that my husband was laid off, it is a totally new routine. I don't want to be the one posting my delivered margaritas on social media.

2/7 days AF, with yesterday being one of them and I plan on being AF this evening. I am taking it day by day. Hope you all are well and are staying safe.

dbanks80

lilann1961 wrote: »

@dbanks80 I have also significantly upped my intake, you are not alone. I think the positive out of this is we recognize it and set goals to adjust.

I am much more sedentary here at home, even though I work at a desk when at work. I don't even want to think about stepping on the scale. I can feel my clothes getting tighter, and this is with logging everyday, maybe not perfectly (like if I have some wine after I have logged dinner and snacks) AND taking a 1-2 mile walk with the kiddos and dogs about 5 days a week. It just isn't enough to counteract this new version of normal. I have upped my water intake, in hopes some of it is truly just water retention. Hopefully, by the time we come out of this, I have managed to maintain or am maintaining at that point (hopefully you all can tell the difference in that).

I have noticed ALLLLLLLLL of my friends, whether working from home, laid off and worried at home and/or working kiddos with school at home, have upped their alcohol consumption. Some do it seemingly proudly. I am very lucky to be able to work from home, but with the kids' lesson plans and the fact that my husband was laid off, it is a totally new routine. I don't want to be the one posting my delivered margaritas on social media.

2/7 days AF, with yesterday being one of them and I plan on being AF this evening. I am taking it day by day. Hope you all are well and are staying safe.

We got this! We have to get refocused and reboot.

They did say alcohol sales have increased significantly. Maybe it's because the bars and clubs are closed maybe it's the stress of dealing with all of this or both.

I've been staying active with exercise that helps a lot with dealing with the stress.

So sorry that your hubby got laid off.

Everyone keeps saying adjusting to the new normal. I really hope this doesn't become the new normal.

Womona

6/8 AF days. Doing much better so far this month than last.

I had a book club Zoom call, and a friends Cabi party on Zoom this week. Everyone was drinking but me. I only looked like I was. Pelligrino and a little cranberry looks an awful lot like a nice glass of rose!

Doxmum

Doxmum signing in - again. I've been lurking since DEC. I finally got the courage to join the challenge in early MAR only to have an EPIC FAIL. No s**t, a flat-on-my-face-fail, with a glass of Chardonnay in hand (I failed for lots of reasons I will not bore you with). This month (I know, late start) my goal is to just check in daily, period. Everyone on this challenge is so honest and vulnerable, thank you. It is incredibly reassuring that I am not alone in my struggle to manage my ETOH consumption.

Issue: I pride myself on being the "functional" half of "functional ETOH abuser." Currently I am managing my "stress" with a bottle of Prosecco or Chardonnay daily. I justify the quantity with, "Hey, it's over 5-6 hours, and I don't ever get really high, just relaxed."

Goal: For now I'm simply going to fess-up to how much I'm 'really' drinking and we'll go from there.

@dbanks80: Seriously? You can get margaritas delivered?

globalhiker

6 AF days/8 days done.....so my last four years or so I worked as a project manager from home. It had to be so because I had meetings with people in different time zones and that was too impossible to do during a day shift in an office. Being home, socially isolated and sitting down all day, resulted in a weight gain of about 25 pounds and regular daily night time drinking...then came hypertension and prediabetes from the weight gain and alcohol. Then came the arthritis in the hips from the weight gain. Then a pre-cancerous condition cropped up and I had to have surgery.

The whole problem crept up very quietly, it was insidious and I didn't notice it happening while it was happening.

So I chose the path of changing to find the better me. I learned I needed to really "move" a lot more throughout the day. I scheduled time to exercise at least twice a day. Invested in a nice garmin watch to track progress and made "me" a priority. Last year when I cut back to half my drinking amount, 7 lbs came off. And this year so far another 7.5 lbs disappeared without diet.

No medicines for me. All problems reversed themselves once I got rid of regular drinking. The less I drank, the better I became, physically and mentally. Natural happiness came back. Anxiety gone. Life is so much better now.

For anyone out there not yet feeling "ready" to improve, just start in an easy way.....even if it's one ounce less, one glass less, and then keep going....before you know it, life will get so much better too!

LoveyChar

Marathon scheduled for June 6th was rescheduled to September 26th. In a way I'm happy, though, because I'll have more time to train. I'm looking at the bright side of things...

Beka3695

AF IRONY...

On 03/13 - my world was super crazy. Corona was just gearing up, my dad was in ICU with flu and pneumonia, brand new grandson that I cannot see... just crazy.

Hubby bought me a bottle of Fireball for just in case. I was 13 days into my AF journey and I did not want it. I asked my daughter to take to the basement and put in the freezer of the beer fridge - a dorm type fridge. The bottle was keeping this freezer compartment from closing completely causing a huge ice shelf. This is what was melting and did the damage to my basement.

Water mitigation company came out today. Drying and cleaning up the mess is about $1000.. minor mold started forming. This does not include the reconstruction.

DARN FIREBALL!!!

Still AF today. Fireball is sealed!

dbanks80

Beka3695 wrote: »

AF IRONY...

On 03/13 - my world was super crazy. Corona was just gearing up, my dad was in ICU with flu and pneumonia, brand new grandson that I cannot see... just crazy.

Hubby bought me a bottle of Fireball for just in case. I was 13 days into my AF journey and I did not want it. I asked my daughter to take to the basement and put in the freezer of the beer fridge - a dorm type fridge. The bottle was keeping this freezer compartment from closing completely causing a huge ice shelf. This is what was melting and did the damage to my basement.

Water mitigation company came out today. Drying and cleaning up the mess is about $1000.. minor mold started forming. This does not include the reconstruction.

DARN FIREBALL!!!

Still AF today. Fireball is sealed!

Wow all that from a bottle of FB that you didn't even want in the first place!! Darn husbands!!