Less Alcohol - OCTOBER 2020 - One Day at a Time (Try a Sober October)
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Hello everyone, it's Monday. Well I haven't been around in a few days... because I drank 3 nights in a row. Nothing extreme but still, I guess I'm not as motivated to come and post when I am drinking.
It's still possible for me to meet my 20 days AF goal this month, but I probably need to concentrate a little harder. Friday night I had a whiskey cocktail with my husband at happy hour, which led to 3 more cocktails and a board game night. It was fun, no regrets. Saturday, I was going to settle into my reading chair and vote, and I cracked a super good bottle of red to celebrate the occasion. Then on Sunday night we had pizza and the bottle of super delicious red was calling me. I'm proud that I did not drain it on Sunday, there is still a small glass remaining, so clearly I had the motivation to stop. And tonight, avoided it all together so back at it for the weekdays.
We have a new kitten that our neighbor found in the blackberries. We were on the hunt for a barn cat since one of ours died, and the remaining barn cat has been very forlorn. The kids and I took it to the vet today because it was infested with worms and fleas and I found out that he is only 6 weeks old, poor thing. I have no idea where he came from and how he ended up in the blackberries. The vet doubted he had been feral because he seems very friendly. We live in a very rural area. None of the other people living on the road claimed him. Sometimes, and sadly so, people dump unwanted cats in the country, that could have been what happened to his mom and litter and perhaps he wandered off somehow. Anyway, he will have a good life in my barn. I provide basic health care and food in exchange for rodent control.
Other than that, not much exciting news around here.
I can still have 3 more drinking days this month and meet my goal.
Oct 1: 2 drinks
Oct 2: 6 drinks
Oct 3: 4 drinks
Oct 4: AF
Oct 5: AF
Oct 6: AF
Oct 7: AF
Oct 8: 3 drinks
Oct 9: AF
Oct 10: 4 drinks
Oct 11: AF
Oct 12: AF
Oct 13: AF
Oct 14: AF
Oct 15: AF
Oct 16: 4 drinks
Oct 17: 2 drinks
Oct 18: 2 drinks
Oct 19: AF
So far in Oct: 11/19 days AF7 -
Some times I have to give my anger the 10 minute rule as when I am wanting another drink. NOW back to Less Alcohol~One Day At A Time6
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Some times I have to give my anger the 10 minute rule as when I am wanting another drink. NOW back to Less Alcohol~One Day At A Time.
Happy Tuesday gang.5 -
@shorepine it is ok if you do not feel like getting in here during those times. It sounds as if you were under control and remembered all happenings! I believe you will make your October goal. Good job.6
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@Lilylady3k fingers crossed for you this week at camp. We will be hiding out in the woods if you need our assistance.7
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I have been trying to push through some pain my gull bladder is causing me. Certain foods trigger it and I know I have not been a good girl. To much spice, to much coffee, etc.
So this morning and all day has been coffee free. 😬
Which also means AF because alcohol is a huge irritant when one of these attacks happen.
Have a successful week everyone.
MissMay, how are you feeling today? I have never experienced gallbladder pain, sounds terrible, I hope you are feeling better today.
3 AF / 3 days
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After posting here I poured out the last glass of wine last night, washed the glass and put it away. Turns out my body is telling me when enough is enough ... 3 glasses over hours seems to be it these days. Only reason I could have 3 glasses is because we had 2 bottles sharing with someone. I did have a 32oz Yeti cup filled with water that I was also sipping during that time.
The rest of the week ... opening only 1 bottle during the evening. So my goal will be only 1-2 glasses when those bottles are opened.
@MissMay - Thank you thank you thank you for the support! I feel ya'lls presence!
@MissMay - ((Hugging)) you and hoping that the gallbladder rights itself! My goddaughter (25 yrs old) had hers removed fall 2019. With it or without it ... seems like the symptoms are painful.
@shorepine - Sounds like that little kitten found a wonderful home. Do you name your barn cats?
@LoveyChar - I loved tent camping with the kiddos. Wind can be a problem, rain, snow, cold, heat LOL It looked like a lovely camping ground spot! Thanks for posting the pics!5 -
Oct 1-7: 12ish drinks, 4 AF days
Oct 8-14: 4 drinks, 4 AF days
Oct 15: 1 beer
Oct 16: 3.5 wine
Oct 17: AF
Oct 18: 1 wine
Oct 19: AF
Put in a full day yesterday and then had to work for 2 more hours after dinner. Right now the ease of working from home feels a bit like a curse. @dawnbgethealthy definitely feeling you on wanting drinks after a rough work day, but we both stuck to our goals, go us!
@MissMay Hope you feel better soon. My mom had her gall bladder removed when she was in her early 40s, and it made a world of difference for her pain, but surgery is such an extreme measure if you can manage it through diet. Sorry you have to go without coffee!
@Lilylady3k You seem like you're set up for success on this vacation. You're listening to your body, and a half bottle of wine every day for a week is a reasonable amount. Hopefully it's a good reset and you both come back refreshed and ready to focus on your goals.
@shorepine I WANT KITTEN PICS. He may have had a rough start to life, but it sounds like he got pretty lucky in the end. He's gonna be so happy in your barn.
Something you said plus lurking in the sober thread has me feeling contemplative - "I can still have 3 more drinking days this month and meet my goal." I'm in this mindset all the time. On the one hand, it feels pragmatic. I know I'm going to drink, but I know I don't want every day to be a drinking day, so I should plan the days out in advance when I can. On the other hand, it feels like the focus and excitement is on when I can drink, and that I'm just hanging in there on AF days. I'm not thinking about better sleep, more energy, clearer skin, controlled calories, lower risk of breast cancer, etc. while I'm bummed I "can't" have a glass of wine. At a bare minimum, I'd like to start seeing my AF days as neutral instead of mildly disappointing, but I've got a decade of habits and deeply rooted ways of thinking about alcohol to work through to get there.
Ok, enough morning musings - here's a squirrel and some chipmuks nibbling a pumpkin to remind everyone to eat their vegetables.
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10 days AF over here...but today I will limit myself to a can of Dark Horse Rose Bubbles, 10%.
@LoveyChar wonderful you enjoy training and racing and that is your passion. The longest race I did was the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon years ago. I have never done an Ultra but I would be game for the easiest one out there. I'm talking a 50k, low altitude, shade, nice cool weather, soft ground, not too early or late start, leniency on times, etc. I am super-Diva in that sense.
My motivation for that would be just so I could schedule a multi-day trek somewhere soon thereafter and be at my "peak" optimal fitness level to cover more ground and explore and enjoy more of it. That's it.
The important thing is to do something daily that energizes us, motivates us, makes us feel good and resilient, releases pent up emotions, relaxes, and recalibrates and replaces or reduces behaviors that aren't in line with optimal health. And latching on to a new passion changes our thinking, perspective, etc. It's nice to forget about drinking when one is obsessed with their new hobby or activity and enjoys it.
And if there's a boost of endorphins, anti-depressant action, youth presevering growth hormone, maybe testosterone energy as an added benefit, I will take it since I need all of the above...:)
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@chocolate_owl in reference to your comment to @shorepine, I feel the same.
Something you said plus lurking in the sober thread has me feeling contemplative - "I can still have 3 more drinking days this month and meet my goal." I'm in this mindset all the time.
I too am calculating drinking days available in my monthly allowance, treating this as a Weight Watcher game with available points to use up or else you lose them. I am basically rewarding myself for not drinking - with drinking days.
I need to have a think about this before setting November strategy.6 -
@shorepine waiting for kitten pictures and kitten name.
My animals settled together last night. If it weren’t 2020, I would say that was unusual. But it doesn’t even move the needle on the odd-scale for this year!😁
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Couple of glasses of wine after fishing this evening while eating dinner. I did not finish the second glass. Switched over to water.
Oct accountability: 6/20 days AF4 -
I am Dawn and live in South East British Columbia. I am 60.
My goal remains the same as it has been for quite some time, 16-20 AF days per month.
Wednesday October 14 - AF. I worked out of town for my favourite company today (Foster Grant) and stopped on the way home for a wee trail walk. it was gorgeous with blue skies all day.
Thursday October 15 - AF. I had to do the 6 minute wait 3 times, but it worked. I had to get those 2AF in a row.
Friday October 16 - Drinks. Both of my tenants left to go home for the weekend. Yay. They are awesome guys, but I love having the house to myself. Rainy day, no opportunity to hit the trails, but all good.
Saturday October 17 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but refrained.
Sunday October 18 - AF - Had to get my 2 AF days in a row.
Monday October 19 - AF - My whole day's work got screwed up today because of a technical glitch - containing the instructions. I puttered around, felt like having drinks, but didn't.
Tuesday October 20 - Drinks. Had a great hike after work, came home and did my paperwork and then had a few. It was nice.
Rolling total: 14 AF days out of 20 days so far.4 -
Really thinking about all that has been said about using up our "drink" days. I do that for sure. I picked today out of the week because tomorrow is a work from home day, and an easy one at that.
Calculating out which of our 2 or 3 "drink" days (for those of us that are striving for around 20AF days) is either a part of the process of drinking less, or is showing our dependence. Not sure which.
Big food for thought.4 -
@shorepine
Awwwww you rescued a kitty!!!
Can't wait to see photos!
Actually, I would always love to see more photos of your two giant dogs too : - )
You don't have to stay away on drink days btw, I am sure that we all miss your presence when you are not here.2 -
@globalhiker
You are kind of like my hero. Love all that you write, and what you choose to do in life.
You go gurl!!3 -
HUMP DAY(who started that saying anyhow?🐫)
Chiming in on the use of goal days left for the month. As with the number of calories we should be consuming to reach our goal weight in the food calculations, I was once prisoner to them both. I have not logged food in a long long time. Because I would beat my self up even if I went over 5 calories.
This month I went through last weekend not thinking about the fact I told myself I could have 2 drinks while out. I had one that was it. And there was no second day, like I set my goal at.
I like how many of you like @dawnbgethealthy have a goal "range" a low end and high end goal number. If you don't already set it like that, try it. It seems to work well.
Yes need more pet photos and of your new kitty @shorepine. Cute cuddle time photo of your pets @Samand303
Thanks for all the concerns on my pain. Feeling much better yesterday and today. My spell checker knows I live near the ocean ~gull bladder~ sorry about that, I seldom proof read my posts.
Another night AF. (And coffee free😨)
15/203 -
globalhiker wrote: »10 days AF over here...but today I will limit myself to a can of Dark Horse Rose Bubbles, 10%.
@LoveyChar wonderful you enjoy training and racing and that is your passion. The longest race I did was the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon years ago. I have never done an Ultra but I would be game for the easiest one out there. I'm talking a 50k, low altitude, shade, nice cool weather, soft ground, not too early or late start, leniency on times, etc. I am super-Diva in that sense.
My motivation for that would be just so I could schedule a multi-day trek somewhere soon thereafter and be at my "peak" optimal fitness level to cover more ground and explore and enjoy more of it. That's it.
The important thing is to do something daily that energizes us, motivates us, makes us feel good and resilient, releases pent up emotions, relaxes, and recalibrates and replaces or reduces behaviors that aren't in line with optimal health. And latching on to a new passion changes our thinking, perspective, etc. It's nice to forget about drinking when one is obsessed with their new hobby or activity and enjoys it.
And if there's a boost of endorphins, anti-depressant action, youth presevering growth hormone, maybe testosterone energy as an added benefit, I will take it since I need all of the above...:)
Love this! Wow!2 -
@Samand303 I love seeing your perfectly imperfect tomatoes. I threw away two tomato plants (one a cherry tomato and the other a tomato on the vine) because mice kept eating them. Never just one tomato that they'd nibble on but all of them and they were scratched up something like yours are. Now I'm wishing I had saved them. This whole gardening thing is new to me, as of this year and I'm figuring it out.
@shorepine I'm sure little guy will be worm free and happily ready to chase mice soon! I so would love a cat for our backyard!2
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