Less Alcohol - JULY 2020 - One Day at a Time

Samand303

@forestdweller1 great idea...

Happy Birthday @RubyRed427 !! I'll be singing to YOU as I wash my hands today.

dawnbgethealthy

Samand303 wrote: »

@forestdweller1 great idea...

Happy Birthday @RubyRed427 !! I'll be singing to YOU as I wash my hands today.

Very witty : - )
Happy Birthday sung twice right?

Yes, Happy Birthday @RubyRed427 !!

dawnbgethealthy

Hi. 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. If I exceed that, then great.
I have never ever been able to exceed 3 drinks or I throw up. Moderation is thrust upon me.

Wednesday July 01 - AF - Happy Canada Day.
Thursday July 02 - AF - Super long day at work. I kept thinking about having drinks tonight if I could ever get through the day. I used the delay tactic when I finally did arrive home so hungry and tired. I'm sure tomorrow will be better for having abstained.
Friday July 03 - AF - Scheduled Mojitos with a gf tomorrow after garage Sale-ing and the farmer's market. Would have liked to have a couple today after being up a ladder painting in the hot sun, but saving it up.
Saturday July 04 - Mojitos and stuff.
Sunday July 05 - AF - Felt like having drinks though.
Monday July 06 - AF - I might have drinks at band practice tomorrow, we'll see.
Tuesday July 07 - AF - I was going to have drinks if the guys were drinking beer at practice, but they drank water today, my super water : - )
Wednesday July 08 - 3 drinks. I have been trying to not have drinks unless I am happy and celebrating, or on a nice sunny day when I have spent many hours working in my yard. Now that I am back to working long stupid days my will power just went out the window. I didn't get home until 10pm and hadn't eaten since the morning. I was hungry, tired, stressed. The first sip of a drink felt really nice.
Thursday July 09 - AF - Another late night getting home, I didn't finish dinner until 11:30. I worked for Foster Grant today, and they require us to wear masks and gloves when servicing stores. Not comfortable. I peeled the mask and gloves off outside the store into a garbage bin, really thinking about having a drink when I got home. I could too easily slip back into daily drinks after work, I will have to work at not doing that.
Friday July 10 - AF - I have a friend in town staying with another friend. I was invited for drinks on the outdoor deck. They are not heavy drinkers, but drinkers nonetheless. I wanted to at least get my 2AF days in a row. I am getting together with them tomorrow afternoon. I may have drinks. I avoided going tonight because I can't always resist when others are drinking around me and getting giggly.

Rolling total: 8AF days out of 10 days.

LDemi333

Hi everyone,
I would like to join this club and be accountable each evening to someone else bar myself who I can always talke myself around.
I also hate what the booze has done to my body over the years - its gone completely soft. If soft is a word for all over cellulite on arms and legs and a stone on top.
I'm not sure of the first day, so I am not making huge commitments that will see me fail and then I leave. I know myself too well. However, cutting down is the aim and AF is the goal. I hope weight-loss comes with it too.
Thanks for having me. (In advance)
L

globalhiker

@RubyRed427 : Happy Birthday! And thanks for your wonderfully inspiring posts!

@LDemi333 : yes come join the club and welcome! - many benefits will come and you will be surprised- cellulite is melting over here because I've gotten rid of most inflammatory beverages and foods, not to mention balancing hormones.

@shorepine : news last night is to be ready for a statewide 2-4 week stay-at-home order. I have a feeling it will be announced soon. About schools, Phoenix district (K-12 I think) already said they won't open till October. If the governor doesn't shut down our state border, I think we're toast. Just my opinion and I'm usually an optimist.

0 days/10 days...I'm too much on a roll with my diet and making progress that I don't want to slow progress, so no planned drinking this weekend....

MissMay

Omgosh...I read yesterday, but forgot to post.

@RubyRed427 I hope your birthday was lovey, you deserve it. 🎉

Welcome @LDemi333. It is very eye opening to see how quickly more than your desired booze intake, train wrecks our bodies. BUT in 12 short weeks you can have some of that back. Glad to have you with us.

Yes remember this everyone:
**It takes about 12 weeks to get into shape.
It only takes 2 weeks to fall out of shape.
Not fair odds.

July 9 & 10 AF
8-AF out of 10 days for July 😎

whitpauly

Happy Birthday @RubyRed427!!! Have a fab day, 7:31 am in Vegas another 24 💖

mainelylisa

@RubyRed427 Hope your birthday was smashing (I think my British friends here are rubbing off on me and I LIKE it )...but smashing without getting smashed. I too have bawled my eyes out many times before people that have no idea what's wrong (and neither do I). Alcohol can take one to very dark places. Hope you were bright (lit, but not lit with alcohol, lol). I'm realizing we have a lot of euphemisms for getting drunk. I'm trying to work "pissed" in here, but there's really no positive connotation with that word.

I'm so sorry and sad about the Covid situation. I'm getting so fed up with stupid people. My tolerance is at an all time low, and part of me thinks...be compassionate for those who are ignorant--somehow this blatant disregard for decency and respect and facts and science and responsibility and caring is stemming from fear and insecurity. But the other part (which I don't let out very often) says the world would be a better place without them. There. I said it.

globalhiker

0 drinks/11 days...busy weekend working on our travertine floor project in our master bedroom....180 tiles, all 16x16, super heavy, and each one very unique. My job is to decide the pattern and placement. I love it. It's like a big puzzle really so I enjoy it, but damn those tiles are super heavy....

I have to say I am enjoying our Netflix nights at home but need to find to find a new series to get hooked on....

RubyRed427

forestdweller1 wrote: »

Happy Birthday @RubyRed427 !! I'll be singing to YOU as I wash my hands today.

So sad that the virus is affecting so many of our [not so little] community here. May the best outcomes happen for all.

Good morning! You're cute- singing HB song while washing your hands. Thanks!
I was the sober one Friday night. My friends consumed...
5 Long Island ice teas
4 vodkas with a splash of soda
4 glasses of wine or more???

And that was between the three of them!!
I was happy to be sober and controlled. Last year on my birthday evening with friends, I ended up the evening crying hysterically and telling my two friends exactly what I think of them. **It was like Festivus, sadly.

This year, I woke up with no regrets. Phew!
Have a happy day!

RubyRed427

@FeelinFooFoo I saw GOD with Morgan F. too. It was good.
I will try Dark. xo

RubyRed427

@mainelylisa Thanks for your kind words! You're witty!

RubyRed427

Thank you everyone for birthday messages! I love the feel of sober but also know to stay vigilant. I like to romanticize me drinking.Sadly, I have gone past the happy drunk phase. I am now a mean drunk and a hysterical drunk. Sure, not every time... but it's too much of a risk. I admire you all for your goals. Like I said, I have no problem if you drink and moderate, I just can't.

I have found lots of extra free time when I am not drinking. So, now I have turned to arts and crafts. And I love to paint. I also signed up with a personal trainer 3x a week. I plan on spending my 50s improving myself as much as I can.

Last year when I got divorced, my husband pointed out that our marriage broke down 100% because of me. He took no responsibility. I pointed out the breakdown of our marriage I think was 60/40 (me being 60) HE refused to accept that.

My point is we all are working towards being a better human. I have no problem identifying my negative traits and trying to be better. Anyway, not sure why I told you all that about my divorce. I am a million times happier this year!

Doxmum

Happy mid-summer to all the "Less Alcohol, More Dogs (and cats)" people! What have I been up to? When adult daughter and SIL call to say, "Hey Dad, remember the idea you had about us vacation-renting our lake house since we can't cross the border to use it? We like it! But we're going to need your help." I recommend you do the following: 1) claim "phone static" 2) hang-up 3) change your names 4) leave the country.

Beginning a week ago Friday, through the long weekend, and up until last Thursday, DH and I were consumed with sorting, packing, lifting, organizing, staging, repairing and cleaning (along w/ their excellent house cleaner) the kid's home. It had never been rented so a TON of personal items lived there. It also had not been deep-cleaned in over a year. We fell into bed exhausted every night. And it's taken two more days for us to get back to some semblance of 'normal'.

I have not exercised, recorded food intake (mostly junk at that), increased EtOH intake to daily 1-2 cans of Brut, and not checked-in here. I have REALLY missed this forum! And walking the dogs/exercising. I did like the daily Brut Bubbles though. What can you do? It's family, and it was DH's idea.

I am now going to go back and catch-up on 80-something posts.

forestdweller1

@Doxmum ...sounds exhausting !! but fruitful !! now time to concentrate on YOUR well-being.

skimmed the last part of your post too quickly... thought it said "now back to catch up on something 80 proof". Whew !!

back to trying to coax Cat out from under the recliner...first constant fireworks, now constant thunderstorms.

stir-fry for dinner, nothing worth opening a bottle of wine for. ..this is becoming a habit.

MissMay

@FeelinFooFoo those mock cocktails look so delish. Nice job!

Last night we went out to dinner. I ordered a virgin frozen drink. It was strawberry. The bartender was very proud of herself that I enjoyed it so much. Said she may start making mock cocktails her specialty. That made me smile.

Welcome back @docmum.

July 12
10 AF days

dawnbgethealthy

Hi. 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. If I exceed that, then great.
I have never ever been able to exceed 3 drinks or I throw up. Moderation is thrust upon me.

Wednesday July 01 - AF - Happy Canada Day.
Thursday July 02 - AF - Super long day at work. I kept thinking about having drinks tonight if I could ever get through the day. I used the delay tactic when I finally did arrive home so hungry and tired. I'm sure tomorrow will be better for having abstained.
Friday July 03 - AF - Scheduled Mojitos with a gf tomorrow after garage Sale-ing and the farmer's market. Would have liked to have a couple today after being up a ladder painting in the hot sun, but saving it up.
Saturday July 04 - Mojitos and stuff.
Sunday July 05 - AF - Felt like having drinks though.
Monday July 06 - AF - I might have drinks at band practice tomorrow, we'll see.
Tuesday July 07 - AF - I was going to have drinks if the guys were drinking beer at practice, but they drank water today, my super water : - )
Wednesday July 08 - 3 drinks. I have been trying to not have drinks unless I am happy and celebrating, or on a nice sunny day when I have spent many hours working in my yard. Now that I am back to working long stupid days my will power just went out the window. I didn't get home until 10pm and hadn't eaten since the morning. I was hungry, tired, stressed. The first sip of a drink felt really nice.
Thursday July 09 - AF - Another late night getting home, I didn't finish dinner until 11:30. I worked for Foster Grant today, and they require us to wear masks and gloves when servicing stores. Not comfortable. I peeled the mask and gloves off outside the store into a garbage bin, really thinking about having a drink when I got home. I could too easily slip back into daily drinks after work, I will have to work at not doing that.
Friday July 10 - AF - I have a friend in town staying with another friend. I was invited for drinks on the outdoor deck. They are not heavy drinkers, but drinkers nonetheless. I wanted to at least get my 2AF days in a row. I am getting together with them tomorrow afternoon. I may have drinks. I avoided going tonight because I can't always resist when others are drinking around me and getting giggly.
Saturday July 11 - A bunch of drinks in the hot sun on my friends patio.
Sunday July 12 - AF - Slept early and awoke early (4am). I didn't feel fantastic, but after lemon water and some coffee I went for a nice 2 hour hike and felt back to normal after that.

Rolling total: 9AF days out of 12 days.

LDemi333

Hi everyone,
Rubyred - I hope you had a great birthday and Global hiker - great to know that cellulite can disappear on cutting back with the wine and calories. There are so many people who say "Oh I am a size 4 and I still have it." Grr. So thanks for being positive.

Yesterday was AF but I certainly did not sleep that well. I thought it would be long lovely sleep, but there you go.
Learning through the process. I really do not want to stop altogether, but I do want to be mindful and not start chatting non-stop in the evening like I tend to do after too many
glasses.

I have cut back in a different way that has worked for me. I have given up gin. I have given up boxed wine (cheap and no good for you). I rarely drink beer unless its sweltering and I can only think of twice in the last year.
So now its only one nemesis - white wine to regulate..............perhaps with a straw and ducktape!

Though FeelinFooFoo those mocktails looked superb!
What is the recipe?????????????

RubyRed427

@LDemi333 Thank you I'd say youre doing great. Tapering off the alcohol that doesn't serve you. AS for the white wine, I would suggest buying good quality wine so I agree no boxed wine. That way you might stave off a headache; I find certain wines dont give me that wine headache like others.

I was thinking for myself I can be a "nondrinker" but drink on special occasions if I see the need or feel like it.

As for sleep, I heard that it takes a few weeks of being Af for your sleep cycle to get back to normal.

globalhiker

5 drinks/12 days....said to myself, well it's almost mid-month, can't go anywhere, 115 degrees, let's go off the diet for the afternoon and drink wine, eat chocolate and popcorn. That's what I did. It was fun for a few hours now I have a headache...Only 19 days left ...think I can go rest of the month without wine...I will shoot for this.

@FeelinFooFoo, I will check out your movie recommendations tonight, thank you!