Less Alcohol - JULY 2020 - One Day at a Time
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »I find that reminding myself of what I'm gaining, instead of what I'm giving up, very helpful.
Love this! I haven't been checking in lately as 2020 has raised yet another ugly sword on top of my family's (not my household) bout with COVID. Friday's news was hard to comprehend. Tragic death of our friend's 30 y.o son at a country road intersection with no stop signs on either direction on his way home to his bride of 15 months and 5 mo old son. Not sure how a parent or wife ever recovers from that, even with support from friends and extended family.
Myself? Minor social drinking, no binge-no hangovers and never drinking alone. I don't track AF days like some but prolly at 10 days AF of 13 so far this month. So different from the "excess every day me" that joined this group short of 3 months ago.
@feelingfoofoo Thank you for sharing your pina coloda mocktail. I cannot wait to try it. You mention that you missed the rum. Do you think adding rum extract might help? I don't want to mess with perfection if you think not!
@LDemi333 A late welcome to you! I need to start doing this again, but I read that "dry brushing" in a circular motion, helps with the cellulite. I feel it helped mine somewhat, plus removes dry skin so double-win! Tips are to start at your extremities and work in toward your heart. If I remember correctly it has to do with benefiting circulation, but I should probably refresh my memory on that!
@MissMay Love your "12 week to get in shape/2 weeks to fall out". That is so much the truth and it's hard to see it happening until it's too late!
@forestdweller1 It was too late for the 4th for us, but our dog groomer just started carrying a product that worked for Ping and her "any loud noise" anxiety during the latest "crashing storm" we had. She was totally calm. It was a chew made by Pet Relief. They also have oils that are supposed to act faster. While it is a CBD (hemp) product, Ping did not get the munchies!7 -
@forestdweller1 I had to chuckle when you mentioned dinner being nothing worth opening a bottle of wine for. I’ve been buying more expensive bottles ($15-20) so I actually enjoy each glass and I don’t open it just because it’s habit.
I picked up a selection of low-cal/carb IPA beers. I was looking for AF and didn’t even know this was a thing. I’ll keep you all posted on the ones I like. Tried one from Dogfish Brewing. Surprisingly good!5 -
Good morning all,
I forgot myself and had one of my Greek days yesterday, ended up cooking the quantity needed for a small nation and now its left-overs tonight coupled with freezing several boxes. I must remember that the kids have left home, I don't live in the village anymore and no yiayia is popping in to be fed on the excuse of a bowl of sugar.
I don't do this often but sometimes a 20 year habit simply takes over.
I had several white wines last night and as usual one goes into a bottle.
Not that I chattered as an unexpected documentary about decimation of the rain forest through the eyes of an orangutan. It was soul destroying. So sad, all for our consumption of palm oil. I was so glued to it I didn't realise how much I had and now I have a headache this morning.
So here we go again.
Thanks for this platform for being able to be honest with myself and share.
Tesha - I am so sorry for your loss and the terrible news. I can't imagine how the young wife and son feel. That is tragic, they must have had so many plans. Probably happy plans for this weekend. We must all live life to the full every day even in these weird times.
Feeling FooFoo - Thanks for the recipe - the ingredients are on the list for the weekly shop.
Global hiker - hot, humid weather and the need for an ice cold drink just go together.
You have done so well so far. I put my chocolate in the fridge - it just all goes togeather.
Rubyred - it can take a couple of weeks until good sleep? I didn't realise this.
Samand - I have never tried an AF beer - I might buy one and see. Though beer is not my thing I can't get hold of AF wine.
I would love to be one of those elegant ladies who sip an excellent wine from a crystal glass and as she reclines in a very slim shift dress. That will be the day!
Everyone, have a nice day.9 -
Not going to count AF vs drinking days this month - essentially a fail. On the plus side there has been no binging, no hangovers, keeping it to one can of 10% Dark Horse Brut Bubbles (OK, maybe 2 cans).
@shorepine: WHEW!!! on the negative Covid tests.
@Tesha231: My condolences for your loss. What a tragedy. Not to mention the positive Covid tests. How is your family doing?
@dawnbgethealthy: I will track down that article link for you. Just read an op-ed by a surgeon about wearing masks. In a nutshell: Get over it. I will post that link as well. Or as my Infectious Disease RN colleague likes to say: "Mask it or Casket"
I'll end on that line
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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.
Monday July 13 - AF
Rolling total: 10AF days out of 13 days.5 -
Mocktails only make me want "real" drinks. Those are beautiful though!!
AF beer doesn't make me crave a real beer, I guess because I don't normally drink beer.
So I heard on the Provincial radio news early this morning that the Deer in Cranbrook BC (my town!) are following people, charging pets, children, and one ol' guy with a walker.
There was a viral video around Cranbrook a couple of years ago, a cat was stalking around a Deer's Fawn, and the Doe went and stomped a sleeping blind dog that wasn't near her Fawn : - (
I can't unsee it. They are aggressive. None of them have ever been in a forest, born on the streets here for generations.
Tourists love to see the Deer walking around town. Of course local gardeners despise them.6 -
@Tesha231 sorry to hear about the loss of that young man.
@dawnbgethealthy holy shitz that is not a safe situation with those deer that think they own the town. Is there no hunting regulations to get rid of them? Came home yesterday around 2:00 in the afternoon. A deer was standing right at my lily area, looked up and kept munching. So I kept driving, right onto and into my yard. Should have seen his face then.
@docmum however you want to drink less is totaly up to you. Not wanting to count the AF verses A days is not part of any rule for us.....oh yeah, we have no rules, only support. Do it your way.
As I have said in the past. Even if a person gets in here and only has one drink every couple of months, but feels they need to cut back, then so be it. It is all personal preference. 😊
I was a tad peeved off last week and this weekend. My husband is getting to relaxed and wanting to go out socializing every other night. The bad part is, he does not drive and I have to be dragged along to participate. He actually got very upset with me. Not being able to pound sense into his drinking brain at times is exhausting. We are still in a health crisis mode throughout the world I try to explain to him. Some days it is like being married to a toddler.
Rant over!
13th day of July:
11AF
2A
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5 drinks/13 days...time to wake up and take charge of creating a good day for myself...starts with getting out the door to walk/run the hills and beat the morning rising sun.....there are actually a lot of people out in my neighborhood exercising at 5am. Sounds crazy but with gyms closed and the temps hitting 100 after 6am, it's what we have to do! Plus, we all wave and say good morning to each other. I may greet something like 30 or more people like this in a 1-2 hr span, so it's way to socialize Covid-style.
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Finding solace in walking the past couple days--need to get up earlier for cooler weather like @globalhiker . Not even an urge to drink alcohol. The scale is responding favorably as well, until I get addicted to @feelingfoofoo mocktails anyway! Looking forward to getting the ingredients on my next visit to the store.
@Doxmum Half the infected family has recovered from COVID. My parents still have comparatively minor symptoms compared to my brother-in-law, but at least he tested negative for pneumonia with "only" a nasty cough instead. Thanks for asking. Here's a question for everyone...after you have recovered COVID, is there still a point to wearing a mask any longer?
@dawnbgethealthy Sounds like I should be grateful "my" deer were born in the forest and are content with just eating from my flower gardens. Sounds like @MissMay offered a good surprise defense for her lilly-eater. Made me lol. I woke up to a deer outside my window, in the cloak of darkness, eating one of my lillies. As she look arrogantly up at me (and not wanting to wake up the hubs by being too loud) I made a "click-click" noise like a gun being cocked. She high-tailed it away!
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Hey everyone, been a few days since I've checked in. I'm still plugging away! I did enjoy some alcohol both Friday and Saturday, we went camping Sat night and I popped open a good bottle of pinot. I drank the whole thing. Maybe over the course of 4 hours, but still. I'm not proud of my lack of moderation to be honest.
tonight's challenge is that it is midweek and I really don't want to drink, but I have a friend coming over for dinner. Because social events are so far and few between, they are extremely triggering for me to drink alcohol at this point. I plan to not drink, I can do it.
July 1: shared a bottle of wine
July 2: AF
July 3: AF
July 4: a lot of wine at a friends house for the 4th
July 5: AF
July 6: 2 beers
July 7: AF
July 8: AF
July 9: AF
July 10: had 2 margaritas after work... thanks to my husband's bad influence, haha
July 11: bottle of wine on a camping trip
July 12: AF
July 13: AF
So far in July: 8/13 days AF6 -
@dawnbgethealthy holy shitz that is not a safe situation with those deer that think they own the town. Is there no hunting regulations to get rid of them? Came home yesterday around 2:00 in the afternoon. A deer was standing right at my lily area, looked up and kept munching. So I kept driving, right onto and into my yard. Should have seen his face then.
The forest Deer are huntable, but those Deer are skittish of people and don't come into town.
No hunting allowed in downtown Cranbrook : - )
It did get bad a few years back with them sort of stalking people and being aggressive, so there was a cull. I expect that there will be another cull because of current behaviours, even though some people are against it.
Hopefully the Deer that you chased with your car won't be back! What a picture you paint!5 -
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.Saturday July 11 - A bunch of drinks in the hot sun on my friends patio.
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.
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.
Monday July 13 - AF
Tuesday July 14 - AF - Time to trim this long post down. I do like to look at it when I log on, but I can do that with reducing it to a spoiler.
Rolling total: 11AF days out of 14 days.5 -
globalhiker wrote: »5 drinks/13 days...time to wake up and take charge of creating a good day for myself...starts with getting out the door to walk/run the hills and beat the morning rising sun.....there are actually a lot of people out in my neighborhood exercising at 5am. Sounds crazy but with gyms closed and the temps hitting 100 after 6am, it's what we have to do! Plus, we all wave and say good morning to each other. I may greet something like 30 or more people like this in a 1-2 hr span, so it's way to socialize Covid-style.
What a great post. "Creating a good day for myself". I certainly hope you did just that. I am an early person, the second the sun starts to come up I want to be up and motivating. BUT those temps sound wicked. ☀️☀️☀️6 -
@shorepine yes few and far betwen social gathering are having that effect on many. I have a friend that is begging to come ovef and spend time at our out door fire pit. But I know what itvwill turn into. A giant drunk for them and me having to console the female as she becomes very emotional and cries over everything when drinking.
@FeelinFooFoo said it best in her response about your open honesty. You did not mention hangover, so that is a plus.
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Great job on seeing that scale moving downward. LOL...I have done the gun cocking sound as well. These deer just keep a munching. Last year one was standing in my driveway and would not move when I came home. So I got out of the car and was able to walk within 6 feet of it. They have no fear. I suppose he/she thought " if I dont move or blink, they won't see me"Finding solace in walking the past couple days--need to get up earlier for cooler weather like @globalhiker . Not even an urge to drink alcohol. The scale is responding favorably as well, until I get addicted to @feelingfoofoo mocktails anyway! Looking forward to getting the ingredients on my next visit to the store.
@Doxmum Half the infected family has recovered from COVID. My parents still have comparatively minor symptoms compared to my brother-in-law, but at least he tested negative for pneumonia with "only" a nasty cough instead. Thanks for asking. Here's a question for everyone...after you have recovered COVID, is there still a point to wearing a mask any longer?
@dawnbgethealthy Sounds like I should be grateful "my" deer were born in the forest and are content with just eating from my flower gardens. Sounds like @MissMay offered a good surprise defense for her lilly-eater. Made me lol. I woke up to a deer outside my window, in the cloak of darkness, eating one of my lillies. As she look arrogantly up at me (and not wanting to wake up the hubs by being too loud) I made a "click-click" noise like a gun being cocked. She high-tailed it away!
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@FeelinFooFoo please do not ever think you can't get in here and voice your down side days like you do your victory days. We did miss you terribly while you were absent and quiet. So good to have you posting again, you are still a less alcohol warrior, because "less" means different things to all of us. So if your less, happens to be none, than that is fine.
❤7 -
@dawnbgethealthy you have a good AF tally for the first two weeks. Nice work. How are your veggies doing?
Me:
14th day of July
12 AF
2A3 -
5 drinks/14 days...some interesting thoughts came to me yesterday after a call with a friend who is always in and out of hospitals and attracting one drama after another, living in the "negative" zone.
Taking control of mindset is key. If I wake up with the wrong attitude or feeling down, I have the power to change it.
Today I can choose to be "victim" or I can choose to be "powerful"
I know people who are perpetually stuck in victim -thinking, they draw negative energy towards them and hold onto it. They don't progress, have health problems, and complain lot. They don't take full ownership of themselves or their actions, but let external influences direct their life. They don't see the way out since they are stuck blaming situations and others and make excuses.
On a journey here for continuous self empowerment......
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@Tesha231 So sorry to hear of that young man’s passing. That’s such a tragedy.
Just caught up to all your posts! Amazing how the days slip away if I don’t check in more regularly!
I moderated well this weekend, except Friday night, I found myself getting really loud at dinner during my 2nd glass of wine. Mercifully we were having a family dinner at home but I’m still a little embarrassed because one of our adult sons was eating with us. Amazing how tolerance for alcohol plummets when we cut back! It’s so weird!
7/15 days AF!
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@FeelinFooFoo Thank you for your honesty. I fall into the same trap of being harder on myself than anyone else. I am surprised that I seem to accept that this thread allows me to share fully.
I ended up drinking a bottle of wine last night. It started with a few glasses of cheap stuff to finish off. And then I opened a nicer bottle, started talking with my sister, and soon had half of that bottle gone. Of course I added most of a candy bar and a lot of peanuts too. Headachey and groggy this morning. I thought I was going to tackle some yard work before it got hot (only humid 87* here), but last night’s adventure put the kabash on that. Disappointed with myself. Trying to get my head back in the game.
My usual Today’s a New Day slogans don’t seem to be cutting it though this morning. Any “get off my butt” words of encouragement? Thanks!9
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