Less Alcohol - JUNE 2020 - One Day at a Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,755 Member
in Challenges
~THIS IS A MONTHLY CONTINUING THREAD THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE AS FAR BACK AS 2017. ALL WELCOME ~
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 information
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 information
0
Replies
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Up until the end of February 2020 I had this Less Drinking thing under control. I have not ended up in a gutter from drinking over my limit the past 3 months, but it is more than I want to put into my body.
My new found excuse for the past 3 months...."hey drinking at home is ok, not going anywhere". For me it does not solve a thing, because I had always refused to drink then drive, I suppose this was my new found escape.
Getting my shitz together again starting now, ONE DAY AT A TIME.13 -
@MissMay Thank you for continuing this for all of us... This group has helped me so much with my own journey, so supportive.
I understand where you are coming from, until this week, I was also drinking nearly every night, considering it my reward for getting though another day, and to tamper down the anxiety of coming home to an unpleasant home situation at times. But the drinking really didn't help, and on top of that I was mindlessly eating crap after dinner, which undid all of my weight-loss efforts during the day. Then because I didn't sleep well, I stopped getting my morning walks in. I really need my morning walks, time to re-set and better my mood. A cycle I am starting to correct again this week.
Here's to a Wonderful, less-alcohol and productive June!
8 -
@looneycatblue big hug to you, it is a vicious circle. We drink because we hope it will numb, lessen or erase a difficult situation. When it in fact turns around to bite us on the azz with a multitude of down falls.
You are welcome for the continuation, I need all of you folks as much as you all need this thread.
Here's to a brighter June. 🌞8 -
I am so angry right now, the rioters in Los Angeles / Beverly Hills, completely looted and destroyed a beautiful high-end wine & spirits, Italian deli that I work for, side job for the brother of my regular job. These people have been though so much already, they are really nice people and did not deserve this at all!!! this is their webpage:
https://www.melandrose.com/asp_pages/index.asp9 -
Welcome back @FeelinFooFoo , really like your new picture....
In for June! Less drinking equals better health and happiness, faster weight loss, and more cost savings....Bring it On!!!
Big Thanks @MissMay !
Challenging myself with no drinking goal and no counting drinking "days". Time to raise the bar!
Instead, the norm is no drinking. Yep, it's time.
If I chose to drink, the requirement is that it has to be for a special celebratory purpose and I will be recording # of drinks to stay mindful of the amount.
As my "warm up" for June, no drinks this last weekend in May.....7 -
9 -
Sorry to hear this @looneycatblue these people are out of control.
Welcome back girl ( @FeelinFooFoo ) love your new photo, so sweet lookin 👀.
@globalhiker YOUR GOALS ARE ON FIRE.
I am super excited for this month to get my grove back.7 -
I had a dry January, not excessive February and March. April and May, all hell broke loose...my goal is no more alcohol unless we have invitees or out for social occasions.10
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@MissMay Thank you for keeping this thread going. I too drank at home so I wouldnt be drinking and driving. Unfortunately it made what became a habit way too convenient so I totally know how easy it is to stumble into a daily habit. I also know you are a strong person who can achieve your goals at your own pace. I just hope we can all help you like you help us. You got this.
Personally, I am a little apprehensive about June temptations. My hubs will be out of state for 3 weeks starting the 3rd. If you all recall, he was the caring force that recognized my daily drinking ritual and helped me face the reality of it all. That was 15 AF days ago. Additionally, when he gets back my adult daughter and I are going on our annual beach vacation where alcohol is part of most activities in our community there. Fun people and times! She expects that I have drinks with her and I already know I will. The real problem is that I know I'm not good at moderation, which is why I went AF cold turkey. Not sure what June goal I am going to make but I suspect moderation will weigh into it heavily. We shall see. Happy New Month!8 -
@sklaw31
Save it up for the beach vacation. If you stay AF until then you will be mindful and possibly able to moderate, or intersperse NA drinks in between drinks when there.
What beach? Lucky to be able to travel! We are still under an essential travel only here in BC.
Feeling really glad that I was able to go to Dallas for 2 weeks in the fall, who knows when we can fly again without having to quarantine for 14 days on either end. Maybe not until there is a vaccine.8 -
Good for you @globalhiker to limit drinks to celebrations only!!3
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Good morning! Tomorrow will be 3 months AF for me. Like @sklaw31 I was nudged (firmly) by my husband, and definitely would have caved several times had he not been right here (like 24x7 here under one roof...did someone say She Shed???). However, he was away over the weekend and ohhhh, I thought about bubbles in the afternoon sun (well ok and then sunset, and then dark) And I had them--just with the scobe, not alcohol Why? Because I can't moderate. Yet. Maybe ever. And while I did binge on Peanut M&M's and didn't exercise Sat--both from feeling lonely, I didn't punish myself with a hangover that would just make me want to escape all over.
I am slowly creating a habit of dealing with crap without alcohol. I don't like it, but I'm only dealing with crap. Not crap on top of crap on top of crap which is what happens when I drink to cope. This is such a difficult time. Be kind to yourselves. Be kind to others. Little changes to habits matter. Everyone here is doing great because everyone is being mindful. Hugs to all, and hugs to @MissMay for keeping this going.11 -
@sklaw31 yes I put a firm hault to drinking and driving over two years ago. But since April 2020 with the pandemic and no where to go with the stay at home orders in our state, I GOT LAZY about my own at home accountability. I basically said %$#& it and started with my favorite flavored beer, only 4 ounces on occasion. Well that is all my husband needed to see and he would buy and bring home all these unusual alcoholic beverages for me to try. I THOUGHT since we had no where to go and were stuck at home that it was ok to have a few. A few turned into a few to many every week. This ride has now ended.
Glad you are getting lots of suport from us. Thanks to you as well.
8 -
@mainelylisa
Early CONGRATS on your 3 months. I can hear that it is really working for you and letting you be the person you want to be. I found a new flavor of kombucha. Watermelon Wonder by Synergy. It looks beautiful in a stemmed glass.
Dealing with crap without alcohol is a mind process I have discovered. I Iet it saturate my brain until my head hurts. When the hurt is gone, my crap is dealt with. Better than a hang over and no liver damage.
Great to see you here in June.7 -
@dawnbgethealthy is here as a great example of accountabilty. Awesome job with your AF records during stressful times. You rock!5
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New Month, new chances to make good choices. With everything going on around us, I need to take the time to be humble and grateful for everything that is good. My family and friends, far and near are safe, we all have roofs over our heads, a bed to sleep on, and food in the fridge. There are so many that go without, my prayers go out to all of them. I am also very grateful for this group, you all give me the strength with the sharing of your own personal journeys, and the positivity that is spread around is unbelievable and appreciated. Here's to a drier June!8
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I'm in
Jan-0 drink days
Feb-0 drink days
March-4 drink days
April-0 drink days
May-0 drink days
Goal for June is to just stay sane with all that's going on right now 😤12 -
@dawnbgethealthy Ft. Myers Beach. I will be staying on there a couple more weeks to WFH after my daughter goes back. Hoping the hubs will come back for part of the extra time, but either way--I'm a really great introvert! But while we are vacationing, I was thinking about having a large water first and between each drink. Hard to drink much when you "gotta go" all the time, right? lol
@mainelylisa Wow. We have a lot in common. Your 3 month AF streak is outstanding, as is your "only dealing with crap" attitude--love that. While parts of me are not looking forward to losing my AF streak in a few weeks, I'd like to call out @looneycatblue and forestdweller to take this as inspiration to turn your AF streak up so that when I break mine, you will be so far ahead of me I will never catch up!
@MissMay Not sure why it is but drinking AF from a stemmed glass is more satisfying than an ordinary glass. Made my ginger beer mocktail special!
Happy new month all!6 -
@mainelylisa : Congratulations on 3 months AF - that is a big deal. Bravo!!6
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dawnbgethealthy wrote: »Good for you @globalhiker to limit drinks to celebrations only!!
Let's hope I don't create too many "celebrations" for myself!!
Let's also hope our borders open after the restrictions are due to end June 22nd or so...but the way things are going, not looking too promising.4 -
Well May was a bust...and I finally weighed myself. Even more dismal than I feared...I have gained 10lbs in 3 months!
So this month, as I turn the big 4-0 in a little over a week, I am going to be dry until then. Then we shall see.
I feel like I am starting over! No excuses, just need to pay much more attention.11 -
@sklaw31 ...I've spent as much as a year AF simply because I was in a situation where I simply didn't WANT to drink. My last long AF streak was about 9 months, broken because I thought I could moderate my drinking. Boy, was I wrong. I will continue to teeter on the edge of moderation, for now.
Meanwhile, I accept the challenge, for at least 5 months. Then I plan to have quite a few...either in celebration or sorrow...time will tell.
Happy June !! Today WILL be Day 6, all day...
9 -
AF 1/1 for June and something else for Take a Break. Need to catch up with the end of May
But definitely in for June! 6 -
@lilann1961 it is a NEW month, with new goals to strive towards. Sorry to hear your scale was crule to you. Cut back on the empty calories from excess alcohol and that with help a lot.
Looks like we have a 40th birthday party to plan for you. I remember turning 40.......years ago! 🤣6 -
@dawnbgethealthy is here as a great example of accountabilty. Awesome job with your AF records during stressful times. You rock!
Thanks @MissMay
Pressure lol!
Actually I have been way less stressed self-isolating than working, more time to work out, more time to work on my little business, more time to eat healthily. No need of "numbing". The drinks days that I did have were for pleasure only, and mostly planned.
I go back to work tomorrow for one of my companies (I work as a merchandiser in all of the stores around here) and I am already stressing about going back into the crowds.
6 -
I am Dawn. Turning 60 in September.
I live in SE BC, Canada.
I started on this thread November 28.18 - at that time I was having drinks every day. That first AF day was very hard! I vowed to have 1AF day per week to start, then progressed to 2AF days per week etc.
My goal now (that is working for me) is 16-20 AF days per month. I have been keeping within that since last October. I am comfortable and happy with that goal.
I have never ever been able to exceed 3 drinks or I throw up. There is moderation for you : - P
I log in here every day with a running calendar/journal of the month at a glance. It helps me.
Monday June 01.20 - AF
1AF day out of 1 day so far.7 -
Update: AF 1/1 for June. 9/11 for Take a Break. I caved and had 2 IPAs with a killer pizza yesterday evening. I've been off-line over the weekend while I try and process what's going on in the country. Full disclosure: I'm a card-carrying political progressive raised on the social justice side of the Catholic Church. We love Pope Francis - as opposed to some of his predecessors. I was in a great mood on Friday because, although I was aware of it, I was choosing to ignore the unrest in our cities. My bad.
@looneycatblue: I am so sorry for the loss of your friend's business. What a heart breaker, senseless and needless.
@FeelinFooFoo: Good to see you on the L.A. thread as well as everyone checking in from awhile back.
@mainelylisa: Congrats on 3 months. Yep - I mentioned the "She Shed." Right now mine is located in the guest room downstairs. So technically it's "A Room of Her Own!" Speaking of dealing with crap with alcohol. That is probably the most important skill I'm learning in the Take a Break program. Rachel Hart is big on "allowing" (as opposed to caving in or fighting) the urge to drink. To allow it in, then sit with it until you figure out where it's coming from and why. She's all about, if you're going to drink, do it with intention and mindfully. Knowing you are not using it to kill pain, avoid an issue, etc. Even though I've had two days of drinks on the program, I drank exactly half as much as I would have normally.
@MissMay: Can't say thank you enough. You're an angel
As destructive and counterproductive as the rioting, looting, and violence is I look at it this way. Too many women have lived and continue to live, in brutally abusive relationships. But when one of them lashes out and kills her abuser, she gets charged with murder. I don't condone the violence, but I sure understand the rage and frustration.
"I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in 1967. "Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?"
Namaste8 -
Hey everyone, it's good to be back. I've been on these threads since January with the goal of drinking less. My old habit was drinking every night. Not a lot and I rarely would get "drunk", but I would have 2-3 glasses of wine a night. And then of course sometimes on the weekends I'd overindulge. I seem to be able to drink a lot and still keep in together.
In 2020 I set about trying to change this behavior and learn how to drink in moderation. For the first 4 months of the year I think I did pretty well, most weeks I only enjoyed alcohol 2 days a week and I even had a few weeks where I had seven day stretches of no alcohol. I even made it through the first 6 weeks of COVID with sticking to the plan, but it all fell apart in May. I found out I am losing my job, and I am the primary breadwinner for our family and do not have an easy job to pivot from, it's a real niche and I'm in a rural area. My husband has been traveling for his job, and was gone most of the month. I have been trying to homeschool the kids and telecommute (because I am still working even though I've been given a timeline for a layoff), which has been tough. All the while feeling isolated and a bit anxious. So, I drank almost every day in May. Usually just a little bit. I didn't drink a lot when my husband was gone because I feel irresponsible with the kids, even when they are in bed, so there's that to be proud of, I guess. But on the weekends when he was home I would overindulge.
It's a new month now and I'm not sure I feel any less anxious, but I have gained 8 lbs over the last 6 weeks and I'm not feeling my best. I'm sure drinking less will help me. So, I'm back for June and plan to try for half the month AF, and hope to surpass that goal. My goal for this week is not to drink at all during the weekdays.
10
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