Less Alcohol - JANUARY 2021 - One Day At A Time
Replies
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CryingBlue wrote: »Totally fell off the wagon the last 2 days. Feeling really depressed and defeated about it. I also have gone crazy with the eating and carbs. I wish I had a middle ground. It's either all or nothing 😭
@cryingblue you have had a rough time in the past few days with your Mom falling....UNDERSTANDABLE that you would be stressed out and need a release. NEW DAY right here right now.
I do hope your Mom is doing ok and is out of the hospital.
We got your back!!!!5 -
After a long day yesterday at work with no sleep the previous night, I went home and took another look at my checking account. I totally knew it would be a dumb mistake on my end and not the banks and I was right. And I can recall the stupid moment I made the mistake. While fuming over an over charged leaf clean up, I was paying a bill via phone and FORGOT to write that debit in my records.
Exhausted I napped for a well deserved hour.
Today fresh as a cucumber.
AF last night.
Have an incredible day.10 -
@CryingBlue we have all been there! Don’t be too hard on yourself, today is a new day, new opportunity to meet your goals.
@brittgreenlikethecolor88, sorry to hear you’re feeling blah. Hope you’re able to make some plans soon, it does lift the spirits!
3 nights in a row AF. between that and eliminating food in the bread family (3 week challenge at work), the weight is falling off me! I’m sure it’s just water weight but Jimmy crack corn, and I don’t care! Haha! Now to build muscle and reduce fat... means I have to start doing strength training again for the first time in years.
Hope you’re all having a good week!6 -
After a long day yesterday at work with no sleep the previous night, I went home and took another look at my checking account. I totally knew it would be a dumb mistake on my end and not the banks and I was right. And I can recall the stupid moment I made the mistake. While fuming over an over charged leaf clean up, I was paying a bill via phone and FORGOT to write that debit in my records.
Exhausted I napped for a well deserved hour.
Today fresh as a cucumber.
AF last night.
Have an incredible day.
Doing the bills always puts me in a bad mood!!! Especially when I have to chase down an errant charge, always seems to take forever. Glad you’re having a better day already!
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Darn it. I planned AF last night but then a nice bottle of wine was opened. I poured 2 glasses for myself ... but only a few sips into the 2nd glass I was done and drank no more. Handed it to DH when he finished his wine since he was thinking about opening a 2nd bottle.
Calling it 1.5 glasses LOL12 -
Caved lastnight and had a couple drinks after spending 2 HOURS in traffic after work. My usual commute time is 30 mins, which includes picking the kids up from daycare. Not the best night. Counting my blessings though, I would much rather be stuck in traffic than in the wreck that caused it. Thank you, Lord! Today is a new day!!
2 AF days / 3 Days.
Goal- 5 AF Days/ 7 days. (AF Sun-Thurs)8 -
I love this! I was an alcoholic. After many years of addiction and being hospitalized twice with alcohol induced pancreatitis I was finally able to make a change. I have been sober for 2 years now.
I am looking for some other people who are AF or for people looking to make that change and to be a support system.
Please friend me ♥ Good luck to everyone looking to make a change.12 -
My original plan was to cut out drinking 5 days out of 7 to aim for 20 AF days per month, but a series of upsets, false starts, and mental challenges got in the way. Not making excuses, it is all down to my own choices in the end.
I thought of giving up and starting in February, but then I realized that was just wasting time, so I gave myself a good talking to and I'm going to continue with my original plan just a new goal number. There is more than half of the month left and I had no alcohol yesterday.
I won't get the 20 days I had hoped for unless I abstain completely for the rest of the month, but I should get 14 AF days by the end of the month on my original plan.
New Goal 14 AF/20
Today 1/149 -
Welcome, @Jeeplet18 ! Sounds like you're doing amazing! This group has people who are drinking less (which means different things for different people). There is also a thread called The Sober Squad where you might find and share inspiration as well. I hop back and forth as I realize I'm becoming less and less tolerant of alcohol.
@Amanda_Brit_Expat Great decision. It's so easy for some of us to have an All or None mentality which usually just a stupid construct in our heads that's counterproductive. You Go Girl with whatever goal is going to be an improvement for you!
@brittgreenlikethecolor88 At least you weren't drinking IN traffic! You're not in Maine, are you? We had a fatality accident that caused huge backup last night.
@MissMay I never have balancing headaches. Cuz I don't try to balance
. (Except on ice skates.)
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January: 4 AF days/12
Insomnia and nervous stomach was me yesterday. Hit my stress max capacity. At 99% stress load and my energy battery feels like I am operating at 20%.
All the bottled-up stress wine was suppressing is coming out and I have to put my big girl pants on and deal with it. At least try.
I tell myself- I can't control everything all the time, nobody can, and it's OK.
I need to learn to quit carrying that feeling of worry and just give it to the universe to deal with.
Also came to the conclusion that I am chasing too many goals at once and so, inflicting extra stress upon myself.
I am coming to agreement with myself that I will focus on less drinking and regular exercise and revisit calorie restriction in a few months. I need to practice being kind and gentle to myself.10 -
@Jeeplet18 welcome and congratulations - wow 2 years is a major accomplishment and you deserve applause....curious to hear more on what you did to achieve this success.7
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Good day to all!
AF last night so this makes 8 out of 12 days, and tonight I plan to be AF again (no booze in the house helps LOL)
I am planning a nice walk this afternoon at the local park. I can get a good 1.5-2 miles in to meet my step goal for the day.
@Jeeplet18 for being sober for 2 years. give yourself some well deserved kudos.
@globalhiker I too had to re-evaluate my goals and I am letting go of such strickness as my calories. Instead of a hard and fast number I am keeping them in a 'range'. It is difficult enough going AF --so one day at a time eh?
@Amanda_Brit_Expat I believe you can do this 14 days is a great number to aim for!
@Lilylady3k give yourself a pat on the back for stopping with just one plus a sip or two...that is some willpower
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Amanda_Brit_Expat wrote: »My original plan was to cut out drinking 5 days out of 7 to aim for 20 AF days per month, but a series of upsets, false starts, and mental challenges got in the way. Not making excuses, it is all down to my own choices in the end.
I thought of giving up and starting in February, but then I realized that was just wasting time, so I gave myself a good talking to and I'm going to continue with my original plan just a new goal number. There is more than half of the month left and I had no alcohol yesterday.
I won't get the 20 days I had hoped for unless I abstain completely for the rest of the month, but I should get 14 AF days by the end of the month on my original plan.
New Goal 14 AF/20
Today 1/14
Thank you for pushing forward and not throwing out Janauary.
14 DAYS is amazing. Most folks could not go 14 minutes 😊😊😊6 -
globalhiker wrote: »January: 4 AF days/12
Insomnia and nervous stomach was me yesterday. Hit my stress max capacity. At 99% stress load and my energy battery feels like I am operating at 20%.
All the bottled-up stress wine was suppressing is coming out and I have to put my big girl pants on and deal with it. At least try.
I tell myself- I can't control everything all the time, nobody can, and it's OK.
I need to learn to quit carrying that feeling of worry and just give it to the universe to deal with.
Also came to the conclusion that I am chasing too many goals at once and so, inflicting extra stress upon myself.
I am coming to agreement with myself that I will focus on less drinking and regular exercise and revisit calorie restriction in a few months. I need to practice being kind and gentle to myself.
Stress can make us all nuts. Pick a small number of things to chase this week let the others go until next week.
Mole hills not mountains.💙5 -
Hi
I'm late to this thread. I've been trying for Dry January. We finished the last bottle of champagne on New Year's Day. There is no alcohol in the house. If it was there I know I would have caved already, especially with the state of the world. It's so depressing.
I'm disheartened by my lack of weight loss, though. Food was never really my problem but I did gain the "covid-15" because I stress baked & had no meaningful, consistent exercise outlets. My favorite gym exercises have always been elliptical & swimming. I'm unwilling to enter a gym at this point. There isn't a good space in my house for a work out but I'm trying to figure that out, doing deep knee bends & some other stretches in the kitchen.
DH is participating but he is drinking near beer -- alcohol free beer substitutes. I haven't found a good substitute. Water & tea just don't cut it. I actually feel jealous which isn't good.
Since going 12 days without all the booze, I was hoping for some movement on the scale. Not drinking has reduced my calorie count significantly, so I'm blue that the scale isn't moving. Last time I was super active on MFP, the weight melted off once I reduced the booze.
How's everybody else doing? (I kind of skipped from page 2 to here, without reading).
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@trish1c I was surprised as well that the scale did not automatically drop during this dry streak. It did during the March 2020 dry streak, but I was also walking 3-4 miles a day which I am not now. That is likely the difference for me as I am still on the same calorie deficit.
@Jeeplet18 Good for you taking action and being successfully AF for 2 years. I am currently AF, but only for 30ish days. I've toyed with the idea of total AF permanently but hard to mentally make that commitment. Seems easier now that most social establishments are shut down and the hubs doesn't drink at home. I suspect my streak will end when the world re-opens. Not sure I will know how to say no in the bar-type environment. Maybe you can share some tips with this group?5 -
Plans to be AF this evening.
I'm planning to sort Christmas stuff that I've not decided how to put away and other things in my home office (it has a walk in door to the attic so there is a lot to cull in there). DH is planning an activity as well that will keep him from indulging.
Jan accountability: 3/13 days AF
Alcohol: 10 days (15.5 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month6 -
Throwing in some points to ponder:🤔
Tolerance to alcohol
It’s important not to assume that, even if you aren’t regularly ‘getting drunk’, that you are drinking within the low risk guidelines. People who drink regularly build up a tolerance. This might mean that you notice the effects of alcohol less but the fact is that the more you drink the greater the risk to your health. If you are building up tolerance that could be an early sign of alcohol dependence. If you think you might be dependent on alcohol, or if you have physical withdrawal symptoms (e.g. shaking, sweating, nausea before you have your first drink of the day) then you should seek medical advice from your GP before you stop drinking.
What's a standard unit of alcohol?
It's not as simple as one drink, one unit.
The size and strength of your drink will determine the number of units it contains. A glass of wine can range between just over one unit and more than three units depending on the size of the glass and type of wine. And people who choose to drink at home tend to pour measures that are larger than you get at a pub, bar or restaurant. So you could be regularly drinking far more than you think.
Weekly drink recommendations not more than 14 standard drinks/ not more than 2 standard drinks per day.
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Another day AF. I kind of wanted one after work but didn’t imbibe. I will this weekend though.
So we have this no carb challenge at work. I ate a light dinner, am still a little peckish but but don’t want to pork out right before bed, so none of my usual carby snacks. What’s on TV? All the food shows! My husband constantly flips between Man vs food, Guy Fieri, Alton Brown, etc. etc. all these delicious foods on screen! Ugh! Had to go into our room to read. And my son and his friends are making homemade pizza at the house tonight. Temptation everywhere! It’s worse than being tempted by alcohol!9 -
New month, new year.
I am Dawn, I live in SE BC
I will post with my usual diary style to keep track of my AF days.
Keeping to my usual goal of 16-20 AF days per month, which is manageable for me and doesn't put too much pressure on me.
Tuesday Jan 12 - AF - Really wanted to have a couple of drinks, but it would have been for stress relief and I am trying to avoid using it for that.
Wednesday Jan 13 - AF - Big wind/rain storms here. It would have been nice to have a drink after work, but I might slip up the mountain tomorrow for a skate at the arena in between jobs, so I want to be as fresh as possible in case the roads are okay to travel, so staying AF tonight. Planning to have drinks either Thursday or Friday.
Rolling total 12AF day out of 13 days5 -
@MissMay Thank you for the visual! It's an eye opener
Your welcome.
BEFORE I was motivated to have less alcohol in my life, my husband and I would frequent a local reastraunt because a friend was a server there. The server "loved" us. He would always have my drink ready when we sat at the table. I would always leave walking sideways.
One evening we went and he was not there. Another server waited on us, I gave her my drink order she brought it and my mouth dropped open. I asked why it was not in the same giant stemmed glass and filled to the rim like William gave me? The girl told me he was fired for over pouring because he was getting hefty tips.
The drink he would always pour me was three times the required measure. So I was telling people and myself all along, I only had one drink there when it was really three. What an eye opener when I first saw these drink charts back in 2018.8 -
Another day AF. I kind of wanted one after work but didn’t imbibe. I will this weekend though.
So we have this no carb challenge at work. I ate a light dinner, am still a little peckish but but don’t want to pork out right before bed, so none of my usual carby snacks. What’s on TV? All the food shows! My husband constantly flips between Man vs food, Guy Fieri, Alton Brown, etc. etc. all these delicious foods on screen! Ugh! Had to go into our room to read. And my son and his friends are making homemade pizza at the house tonight. Temptation everywhere! It’s worse than being tempted by alcohol!
I hear you on the food temptation. My husband loads the cart with snacks, sweets, pre packaged frozen high sodium foods. I always ask him where the real food is? He tilts his head like he does not understand the question.
Then I go shop by myself the next day to pick up fresh veggies, grains and ingredients to make us dinners. Our eating habits collide and it makes it difficult to eat healthly at times.
WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS. Good luck on your no carb challenge at work.6 -
January 13th 2021 check in:
1 A
12 AF
😎
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Jan: 5 AF days/13
Had great sleep finally....it's nice to wake up refreshed and relaxed. I never have that feeling if I drink the night before or in the first few days of going AF, but after day 4 it starts to kick in.
Here's to another day to get better, stronger, smarter, faster, and most importantly, happier.....!
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High five👋 to what @globalhiker said
"Here's to another day to get better, stronger, smarter, faster, and most importantly, happier.....!"7 -
Another AF night!! With almost no cravings I find myself being more productive and spending more time with the kids when I'm not standing in /consistantly returning to the kitchen for a sip off my drink. Good change all around!
3 AF days / 4 Days.
Goal- 5 AF Days/ 7 days. (AF Sun-Thurs)7 -
Sharing something that popped up in my feed ... 25 Mocktails that aren't just juice.
https://bonappetit.com/gallery/best-mocktail-recipes5 -
@MissMay Your share on tolerance building and drink "unit" really hit home. It's like you read my very deep thoughts from about two months ago. I was actually afraid I would have reactions to going AF and am still shocked I have not. Also knowing that I have tendencies to hide that I am drinking when home and overpouring at that, I found it best to simply stop. (simply = not the best word choice). Now 30 days in, I am as @globalbiker said, "most importantly happier" on many levels--totally uprooting my prior justification that I could only be happier (and stress-free) if I could just have "a drink." ( "a" drink = unrealistic #). For now, I am finding happiness looking forward to sitting with my hubs each evening, reading a book, drinking herbal teas. Whenever the drink urge pops into my head, I think of the happiness I would miss if I cave. For now, that is enough for me. Thank you for the thoughts to ponder!4
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Throwing in some points to ponder:🤔
Tolerance to alcohol
It’s important not to assume that, even if you aren’t regularly ‘getting drunk’, that you are drinking within the low risk guidelines. People who drink regularly build up a tolerance. This might mean that you notice the effects of alcohol less but the fact is that the more you drink the greater the risk to your health. If you are building up tolerance that could be an early sign of alcohol dependence. If you think you might be dependent on alcohol, or if you have physical withdrawal symptoms (e.g. shaking, sweating, nausea before you have your first drink of the day) then you should seek medical advice from your GP before you stop drinking.
What's a standard unit of alcohol?
It's not as simple as one drink, one unit.
The size and strength of your drink will determine the number of units it contains. A glass of wine can range between just over one unit and more than three units depending on the size of the glass and type of wine. And people who choose to drink at home tend to pour measures that are larger than you get at a pub, bar or restaurant. So you could be regularly drinking far more than you think.
Weekly drink recommendations not more than 14 standard drinks/ not more than 2 standard drinks per day.
Thank you for posting this. I only recently found out that it is recommended that women drink no more than a single 5oz glass and I was shocked! I think I knew that I was consuming too often, but I didn't know that my 2-3 glasses of red wine were so much over the amount considered safe! I thought I was a safe moderate drinker, that just drank too often. It was a real eye-opener for sure.
The other thing that really brought it home to me was a British documentary I watched recently that showed the effects on the liver, and what life is like for those living with severe liver damage. How it creeps up silently until suddenly it isn't silent at all anymore, but by then massive damage might have been done and the way it compromises their lives is quite terrifying.
In July last year, I had a CT scan to look at my colon which was inflamed and bleeding, they think it was food poisoning, but anyway - I was able to look at my notes as I had to take them by hand to my own GP. On the notes, it said a lot of things that I didn't understand but what stood out was it said "Low-density liver". I still don't know really what that means, how low is low, what does in mean in practical terms, but the fact it wasn't mentioned to me indicates that it isn't advanced liver problems, and I am taking it as a wake-up call to take all of this very seriously. The liver can recover up to a certain point, and I literally can't take a drink now without thinking about that line on the CT scan notes, and those poor people for whom it is too late in the documentary.
Goal 14 AF by the end of the month.
Today 2 AF/14
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