Less Alcohol - JUNE 2020 - One Day at a Time
Replies
-
globalhiker wrote: »4 drinks/12 days...in prior years, alcohol was always associated with summer/hot weather and also vacation. I used to be one of those people drinking 2 wines before boarding (if it was past 10am), drinking on the plane if it was British Airways and the wines were free and plentiful, drinking at any connecting airports, then drinking while on a vacation, both at lunch and at dinner. The mentality was that I was "off" my diet and I had "no set limits".
Why did I do this? That is a heck of waistline wrecker, costly, likely did some internal health damage, and likely returned home needing to drink more to get the same effects.
I suppose I will need to establish some sort of "vacation policy" with myself.
It sounds as if I could have written your alcohol/Summer, hot weather, vacation association. I have done all those to. Certainly not worth the back slide. I like that, vacation policy! Give us some good examples.3 -
mainelylisa wrote: »I used to fill up my coffee thermos (multiple times) with gin and juice (yet I never morphed into Katy Perry) and lie in the sun. I wanted to get to pure relaxation while jamming out with my music. But then at some point in the day I would have to sober up, which felt kinda depressing. Now, when we have an occasional day where it's actually warm enough to sunbathe, if I exercise first, I'm pretty relaxed. No depressing sober-up needed. And this combo of exercise and not drinking and tracking for 3.5 months has contributed to my lowest weight in 10 years.
Have I told you CONGRATULATIONS yet on your 10 pound loss? 🎉☕🎉 that is such a fantastic acomplishment Lisa. (Although I did not see any excess on you last July in that sweet little sun dress you had on.) My Sister is your height. At one time in our lives we weighed the same. Me being 5'6" it really looked so differently on us both.
I know you will feel happier and have the momentum to keep moving and keep it off, especially with not taking in those empty alcohol calories. Keep it up. 😎6 -
@shorepine, I take it Juneary means it is colder and damper than it should be? My cute little mule mugs tricked my drinking brain the other day on my deck. Hope you get some sun soon.6
-
@dawnbgethealthy
(If the neighbours don't like seeing me on the porch in my jammies they can look away)
I love this! I tell my husband all the time. If the neighbors can see what I am doing on my deck, then the are spying to hard through the thick woods.
Brandy and wind and rain seem to go together.
Have we missed your garden photos? Or have you not put them up yet?5 -
day 12 of June / 11 AF.
Thanks to getting back to mydrinkaware and logging in my AF days on their drinking tracker, I like seeing all green days instead of the yellow caution days or Tge dreaded RED days on the drinking calander.5 -
6:24 am in Vegas another 24 💖 hope everyone enjoys their day!7
-
4 drinks/13 days....ok, so how to limit drinking while on vacation....I've never done this but here's some ideas:
Rules:
1-Non alcoholic bev allowed only - at airports, on planes. Strict no drinking policy. Plus wines on planes usually not great.
2-Avoid long haul flights that trigger fatigue and headache leading to drinking...instead plan for shorter flights and stay overnight somewhere along the way. Keep firm with no drinking on planes
3-No purchases of wine bottles for hotel room or rental. Strict policy.Typically it will all get consumed if you have to check out the next day (otherwise it goes to waste). Better don't buy it at all. Get Pellegrino or something similar.
4-Allow drinking days on alternating days. Limit drink to 1 glass wine when out to lunch.
5-Be prepared with nonalcoholic options on hand
6-Stay super hydrated, drinking 10 glasses or more of water daily
7-For visitors, provide them with drinks that are not a problem (beer). If they want wine, they can purchase it themselves. Don't feel guilty by not providing wine and tell them in advance you won't have any. Provide an honest excuse if needed (ie: makes me stuffy, gives me allergies, doctor wants me to cut back, etc), this way they won't get pushy about it. If it gets difficult, excuse yourself to go run an errand etc.6 -
@MissMay Thank you. I do feel good, but I was so tempted again today while on the deck with music. Passed now and after no lunch and a run, looking forward to sushi! Used to really only look forward to the drinks at dinner.6
-
gone without drinking for almost 2 weeks!10
-
globalhiker wrote: »4 drinks/13 days....ok, so how to limit drinking while on vacation....I've never done this but here's some ideas:
Rules:
1-Non alcoholic bev allowed only - at airports, on planes. Strict no drinking policy. Plus wines on planes usually not great.
2-Avoid long haul flights that trigger fatigue and headache leading to drinking...instead plan for shorter flights and stay overnight somewhere along the way. Keep firm with no drinking on planes
3-No purchases of wine bottles for hotel room or rental. Strict policy.Typically it will all get consumed if you have to check out the next day (otherwise it goes to waste). Better don't buy it at all. Get Pellegrino or something similar.
4-Allow drinking days on alternating days. Limit drink to 1 glass wine when out to lunch.
5-Be prepared with nonalcoholic options on hand
6-Stay super hydrated, drinking 10 glasses or more of water daily
7-For visitors, provide them with drinks that are not a problem (beer). If they want wine, they can purchase it themselves. Don't feel guilty by not providing wine and tell them in advance you won't have any. Provide an honest excuse if needed (ie: makes me stuffy, gives me allergies, doctor wants me to cut back, etc), this way they won't get pushy about it. If it gets difficult, excuse yourself to go run an errand etc.
BRAVO very impressive. That took a ton of thought. I am going to copy and send to a few folks I think would benefit.6 -
blue_killen wrote: »gone without drinking for almost 2 weeks!
CONGRATULATIONS on your two week AF streak.👍5 -
Yes the tunes and the sun and the reminiscing trigger those want an "alcoholic beverage blues". Good name for a song, huh?
4 -
6:24 am in Vegas another 24 💖 hope everyone enjoys their day!
Thanks @whitpauly. Hope you are as well having some fun this weekend. In sin city!🎲🎲3 -
@dawnbgethealthy
(If the neighbours don't like seeing me on the porch in my jammies they can look away)
I love this! I tell my husband all the time. If the neighbors can see what I am doing on my deck, then the are spying to hard through the thick woods.
Brandy and wind and rain seem to go together.
Have we missed your garden photos? Or have you not put them up yet?
No coffee on the porch in my jammies this morning, it was way too cold. I do have a heater out there, but it is a covered porch, not a sun room.
No garden photos yet, the wind and storms knocked everything all over the place, I spent like 2 minutes only in the garden today checking on stuff, nothing was looking too happy except for the potatoes who didn't seem to mind the unseasonably inclement weather. It doesn't look to improve until Thursday. We have had some hot days here, and it felt like summer, but it just isn't full throttle yet.5 -
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 - AFSunday June 14 - AF - I had company this afternoon, coffee drinkers. Nice to know at least a few people who don't drink!
Tuesday June 02.20 - AF - Very long, very stupid day, my first back working for a company that I loathe. This is why i always designated Tuesdays as my drinks days in the past. However, I am coming toward the end of a 100 day weight challenge thread, and that is my motivation to stay "dry" for at least the next 5 days. In the previous round of it I lost 1.7 pounds in 100 days. Hoping to lose 2 pounds this time. (I know, painfully slow, but better than gaining, and it really does get more difficult to lose weight with aging.)
Wednesday June 03.20 - AF - Really wanted drinks after working hard in my yard. Didn't.
Thursday June 04.20 - AF - Ditto to yesterday, really really wanted a couple of drinks. I hate being back to work, and thought a couple of drinks tonight would relax me. Hanging tough to hopefully lose another 0.02 pounds over the next few days.
Friday June 05.20 - Having a couple of drinks. My last half hour digging and planting seeds was raining. I decided there and then that I would have a few drinks tonight. My weight was up 2 pounds today for no reason, so sacrificing having drinks really didn't appeal to me today. I have had my half a drink from my freezer lol, and have just poured a second. It is nice for me. Watching "Caribbean Life" on HGTV where they are always having yummy looking cocktails, and I am happy to not be white knuckling it resisting having some drinks today. All good : - )
Saturday June 06.20 - Hadn't planned on a drinks day, started out at a friend's place (who is a wine drinker) with water, and then caved. First time to have 2 drinks days in a row since the beginning of the pandemic. I will get back on track.
Sunday June 07.20 - AF - Feeling back on track, I think that I just wanted to be self-indulgent for a couple of days. Next planned drinks day is Wednesday or Thursday.
Monday June 08.20 - AF - Browsing holiday trips for my 60th, could be a pipe dream, who knows if travel will be possible in September. Watching too much HGTV (Caribbean Life, Bahamas Life, Mexico Life, Mediterranean Life, Beach Hunters etc.) and getting wanderlust.
Tuesday June 09.20 - AF - Had a horrible workday, as in every Tuesday now that I am working again for that one company (still layed off from the others at this point). This is why Tuesday were always my designated drinks day. Toughing it out, I will have drinks on a happier day...this week.
Wednesday June 10.20 - AF - Had an N/A beer on the porch, really did not do the trick. Had a good scale victory this morning though, so I am abstaining...today. Half way to my 16. No Mojito girl parties at my place just yet.
Thursday June 11.20 - 3 drinks - Started out on my porch. Very nice. Now to string together some more AF days.
Friday June 12.20 - AF - Got the lawn cut and more work done in the yard before the forecasted couple of days of rain. The sky was getting pretty dark by 6pm. Felt like having a drink after working hard, just didn't.
Saturday June 13.20 - 3 drinks. Not a planned drinks day. Brilliantly sunny with the threat of thunderstorms for 2 days in this region. At about 3pm the sun disappeared and the winds kicked up like crazy. I felt like having drinks on my covered front porch to watch it, but got dressed and went out in my car instead to do some shopping since it was no longer bathing suit weather. I delayed another 5 times after getting back home, but finally caved. I did not accomplish my 2 days in a row AF which I like to keep as my rule. Can't say that I didn't love having a Brandy on my porch with the wind howling and the skies swirling. That was hours ago. I should drink some water so that I feel okay tomorrow. Nothing important happening tomorrow except for some of my favourite shows on the radio and more forecasted storms. I am going to savour my morning coffee in my jammies : - ) (If the neighbours don't like seeing me on the porch in my jammies they can look away)
10AF days out of 14 days so far.5 -
Ah, vacation drinking - I’ve definitely been in that mindset this whole month. What is it about beautiful weather and wanting an alcoholic drink? Sitting out on my patio at the end of the day with a gin and tonic, plus wine with dinner = I am packing on the pounds again. Ordering in Stromboli’s and making spaghetti and meatballs contributed also!!!! I need to rein it in.7
-
4 drinks/14 days...made it through the weekend AF. Treated myself to 2 pairs of new running shoes instead.
Thanks @MissMay for nudging me to think about handling vacations and visitors. No flying for me this year. I have a road trip in the fall to Utah parks with my drinking sister and her drinking family, so will be able to test out the AF strategy.
Let's add "give yourself a non-AF reward" for following the new vacation drinking plan....this way I know if I do good with following my rules, I get a reward at the end (I need a new handbag anyway!).5 -
OOPS - typo sorry - meant "give yourself an AF reward" in the post prior. Blame the wine devil.2
-
working on getting 3 AF days in a row... wish me luck!8
-
hey everyone, hope you all had a nice weekend. Mine was fairly uneventful. More struggles of trying to entertain my kids in the absence of any structured external activities! We have some families we are socializing with- but one was out of town and the other is in quarantine as they were exposed to the virus. Our little community is having a really crazy COVID outbreak now, the worst in our state. Restaurants have closed again and everyone is feeling sad and frustrated.
Anyway, we laid low at home but I did get out Sunday to ride my horse on the beach. Saturday night we got takeout Mexican food (I had crab enchiladas- YUM) and my husband picked up a bottle of tequila because we both had a strong desire for margaritas. I had two. And then a beer. But it was okay, we were having a nice time chatting and I was doing a puzzle, it felt like a vacation. Yesterday I was back to being alcohol free.
June 1: AF
June 2: AF
June 3: AF
June 4: bottle o' bubbly for no particular reason
June 5: 2 drinks
June 6: AF
June 7: 3 drinks
June 8: 2 drinks
June 9: AF
June 10: AF
June 11: AF
June 12: AF
June 13: 3 drinks
June 14: AF
So far in June: 9/14 days AF6
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 388 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 908 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.2K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions