Less Alcohol - APRIL 2021 - One Day At A Time
Replies
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Anybody else find they drink more at home? That seems to be my issue. I pour myself one glass and then go back for a half glass more- and if history is any guide, that one glass is going to turn into two eventually.
I very rarely order a 2nd glass at a restaurant to split with someone. 90%of the time I can stick to just one glass.
Perhaps it’s because I’m already home and comfy, and don’t need to worry about driving. As the weather gets nicer, it will be more of a challenge for me to drink less and have AF days.
This past Monday I had a tough day at work, and could not wait to get home to have a glass of wine. I chose to drink to relieve stress. Yeah, I was mindful of it, but I drank for the “wrong” reason and didn’t care.6 -
@lmlmrn I know carob powder is hard to find. If you want fo substitute with a light dusting of regular cocoa I am sure that would work. I was using what was in my kitchen. Oh and the cool whip, not many calories at all, but that is what gives the mocktail it's creamy thickness.
My husband took a sip the other night, the only reason he did was because he thought it was an alcohol based drink. He never knew any different and I did not tell him it was a mocktail. He had already had many shots of tequila and beers, so his buzz was in full bloom. A delicious mocktail was not going to sour his taste buds. 😉6 -
Accountabilty 9th day of April
2 days alcohol (3 drinks total)
7 days NO alcohol
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What I see being really great about this forum is the fact that one can create their goals and any goal regardless of how big or small is a Good goal.
So many choices and you decide the pace....!
Not feeling ready? Drink half a drink less
Feeling unsure you can? Drink the same volume, just replace one drink with a non-alcoholic drink (some of the AF beers taste real and made from real beer).
Sensing you can't do it, that it is impossible? That's not you talking, that is your wine devil by the way....we all had that bad guy tell us the same BS....you can fool him, just use a smaller size glass, pour an ounce less, space drinks, there's lots of tricks.
Think this is all way too hard? It can be as EASY or as HARD as you make it.
Worried? There is nothing to lose, at all.
As you make yourself take those first steps and master these micro-goals, over time self-control and confidence starts to build. A feeling of readiness to start improving goals happens.
Don't delay like I did, I could've hit my goals a few years earlier....my biggest regret....waiting for the right day and the right time could be VERY far into the future.
Today is always a perfect day to start.
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@MissMay today is a perfect day for a hike. Actually for me, every day is!
One 7 mile forest trail, actually a section of the Arizona trail....planned and maybe a walk through our old neighborhood where our cabin used to be.....my bad foot has improved but I start physical therapy for it tomorrow so I need to take it easy today and stop if the pain begins. Fingers crossed!
@dawnbgethealthy I had a Friday night craving.. not for wine...but for that green mint sauce the Indian restaurants serve with the samosas....when you find out what secret delicious stuff they put in there...please share....
@Womona I am using chocolate to relieve my late-day stress since I am not allowing myself drinks. Not ideal but I don't eat a lot of it. Still working on that one. I've seen some products called Stress Mints. Curious if they work ?5 -
@Womona , much easier for me to drink more than planned at home than in public, and I am impressed with your modest quantities in both cases. I realized I had a checklist of reasons not to drink-- am I driving, do I have calories for it, are kids around, will I attract attention to myself, etc. The checklist seemed effective for moderating unless none applied, and in that case, it was as if I was giving myself permission to over indulge. And that happened more than I would have wanted it to so I had to think about deeper reasons to keep it moderate. Longer term consequences are less compelling when my prefrontal cortex is a little impaired.
But about drinking for the "wrong" reason, IMHO if you had one glass and enjoyed it, no harm no foul.
I've been reflecting on the 2nd bottle of wine thing since @Lilylady3k posted about that. That's hard, especially when it's at home only with DH. More broadly, though, I've been pondering any situation where other are drinking more than me, for whatever reason. More specifically, I'm lingering over two different cases:
- I recognize the other being caught in the grip of "the devil" as you guys say, feel pity for him and grateful that for the moment I'm free of that
- I want another drink but want to stick to my plan more, feel resentful that I'm not getting more
I definitely experience both and am reaching for insights that will let me experience the 1st more than the 2nd.5 -
@ahoy_m8 I can certainly resonate with your two different cases:
1. recognizing the 'the devil', but I never felt pity for him, just for myself who feel the pull and feel powerless to stop
2. wanting to stick to my plan more, but feel resentful that I'm not getting more....that whole fear of missing out
I am on month 3 of less alcohol days (Feb 21 days AF, March 23 AF days) with longer and longer stretches in between drink days. I read all these posts and the insights have been more helpful for me than any book I read, or 'blogs and vlogs' those always seemed so general and impersonal that left me indifferent to my 'situation'. After being here now for 3 months I have learned more about myself and alcohol in general and how it effects your body than anywhere else. Big shout out to @MissMay @globalhiker @Lilylady3k @Womona and all the rest of you wonderful people.4 -
@ahoy_m8 - I know for DH, my sister and I we would each pour and double check that equal portions were in the glasses ... no one got a deeper pour. However I've been working on this personally. Now I pour and it is usually a lighter amount. Also when DH pours mine I say its okay ... don't worry about making sure it is even / fair. Now they are getting use it it ... and I feel less like the wine devil is on my shoulder making sure I get 1/2 or whatever of the bottle. It is freeing ... to look at the glasses and take the one that has the least amount of wine
And they are now use to my passive behavior around wine ... it is a powerful feeling over my past trials resentment and guilt about trying to get more.
But as I said earlier ... I've been working years on improving my mental state around wine. This doesn't happen over night. BUT now I'm able to enjoy ... really enjoy a glass of nice wine.5 -
@MissMay Whoop whoop, chocolate mocktail turned out great! I too used what I had. I did not have the type of protein drink so, enter some powdered slim fast that is so old it expired last month. Then I blended with water and milk. dusted my glass with cocoa powder and unsweetened coconut flakes. A few drops of rum and coconut extract....a shake shake shake with whip topping and I drank that down like a kid with a soda. I would have taken a picture but it looked so sloppy I would be embarrassed7
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DH & I worked in the yard all morning/afternoon after my walk. My daughter brought over her dogs and they played in the baby pool she & her husband bought last year and left in our garage. Too funny. It was a beautiful day.
One St Arnold's Summer Pils beer (my favorite beer is back in season) with fajita dinner.
April accountability: 4/30 days AF
Alcohol: 6 days (11 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month. Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.
4/1 - AF
4/2 - 3 wine
4/3 - 2 wine
4/4 - AF
4/5 - 2 wine
4/6 - 2 wine
4/7 - AF
4/8 - AF
4/9 - 1 wine
4/10 - 1 beer3 -
Hi : - )
I joined this thread November 2018. I was a daily drinker at that point.
My goals now are the same as they have been since January 2020, kind of my sweet spot.
16-20 AF days per month
NO drinking 2 days in a row
Keep 2 AF days in between drinks days.
3 is my max or I throw up.
Here goes my diary style:
Friday April 2nd - AF - tomorrow will be too so as to get my 2AF in a row.
Saturday April 3rd - AF - just trying to stay consistent with my goals.
Sunday April 4th - Drinks. April showers bring May flowers and all of that. The trails were just...wet. I worked out indoors, got a bunch of little stuff done around the house, then had a few drinks several hours ago followed by water.
Monday April 5th - AF - easy one to do, busy early workday tomorrow.
Tuesday April 6th - AF - I got hired for 2 jobs today that I had previously interviewed for. I turned down the one, and I start training on the one that I did pick tomorrow, so AF tonight for sure. It will be a fun job at an East Indian restaurant where I will become a server once the lockdown is lifted. I will learn the ropes and take phone calls for take-out and things like that until then. Less than half of the money of the other job prospects that I had a few weeks ago, but I think that it will be great and it will supplement my other jobs well financially. Good thing that it will be an active job because I love Indian food a little too much : - )
Wednesday April 7th - AF - Really really wanted to have a few drinks, but I have a video interview in the morning, a busy day with one of my jobs, and then possibly another training shift at the restaurant in the evening. Planned drinks for tomorrow night.
Thursday April 8th - 2 drinks, didn't even attempt 3. Nice warm feeling, it was a few hours ago. I will be AF for at least 2 now to follow.
Friday April 9th - AF - I find that I always want drinks the day after having drinks. I don't want to do that though.
Saturday April 10 - AF - I have a training shift tomorrow, plus I wanted my 2AF days in a row.
Rolling total: 7 AF days out of 10 days5 -
@globalhiker
Oh yes, that green stuff. The other girls call it green chutney there, but it doesn't look like chutney at all. Yoghurt based I think. I will see what I can find out : - )
Most of the samosas come with tamarind at this place, the green dip comes with chicken pakora and tandoori tikka.
I have started doing 2 hour training there each day, so am pretty much staying off of alcohol prior to, so that I am as sharp as possible for learning.5 -
Hi! My name is Jan & I have been on MFP for about 6 weeks or so!
Made the decision to join this group as I enjoy alcohol at the weekends too much and I do not like that.
I am thinking that alcohol is a trigger that makes me go over on my calories and I need to lose weight for my health - I am clinically obese.
I can be okay with having just one glass of wine, but often at the weekends in particular, one glass then becomes to 2 ... and then 3. And then I overeat.
My Aim- I would like to have one glass of wine at the end of the working week, and one glass at the weekend, but to remain within my calorie limits to lose this weight.
Gonna to have a trial run this week & aim for alcohol free days in the week - to be fair this isn’t too hard as I have been working on stress at work, my work life balance and I don’t like to drink on work nights anyway as I am often my son’s taxi to footy training sessions & matches!
Edited to include plan for weekend - 1 or max 2 glasses of wine on Friday & Saturday if planned & can be incorporated Ito calories
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@ahoy_m8 I can certainly resonate with your two different cases:
1. recognizing the 'the devil', but I never felt pity for him, just for myself who feel the pull and feel powerless to stop
2. wanting to stick to my plan more, but feel resentful that I'm not getting more....that whole fear of missing out
I am on month 3 of less alcohol days (Feb 21 days AF, March 23 AF days) with longer and longer stretches in between drink days. I read all these posts and the insights have been more helpful for me than any book I read, or 'blogs and vlogs' those always seemed so general and impersonal that left me indifferent to my 'situation'. After being here now for 3 months I have learned more about myself and alcohol in general and how it effects your body than anywhere else. Big shout out to @MissMay @globalhiker @Lilylady3k @Womona and all the rest of you wonderful people.
@ahoy_m8 and @lmlmrn YES!!! This! FOMO! I feel like I’m missing the fun when DH drinks and I don’t.4 -
Hi! My name is Jan & I have been on MFP for about 6 weeks or so!
Made the decision to join this group as I enjoy alcohol at the weekends too much and I do not like that.
I am thinking that alcohol is a trigger that makes me go over on my calories and I need to lose weight for my health - I am clinically obese.
I can be okay with having just one glass of wine, but often at the weekends in particular, one glass then becomes to 2 ... and then 3. And then I overeat.
My Aim- I would like to have one glass of wine at the end of the working week, and one glass at the weekend, but to remain within my calorie limits to lose this weight.
Gonna to have a trial run this week & aim for alcohol free days in the week - to be fair this isn’t too hard as I have been working on stress at work, my work life balance and I don’t like to drink on work nights anyway as I am often my son’s taxi to footy training sessions & matches!
Edited to include plan for weekend - 1 or max 2 glasses of wine on Friday & Saturday if planned & can be incorporated Ito calories
Welcome!!!! A number of us in this thread found that cutting back on alcohol helps the pounds drop off. There is definitely something about drinking that makes us reach for food we aren’t particularly hungry for- either we have lowered our inhibitions, or we need something salty to counteract the taste of the alcohol. Or, in my case, both!!!4 -
I think I’m done drinking for the weekend. Had a cocktail before dinner last night, at least it was a single pour. Then just one glass of wine with dinner. My weight is creeping up so I need to rein it in. This, a mere two weeks after reaching my goal weight! Plus my sleep has been pretty terrible. Wash rinse repeat.
If I can stick to one 5 oz glass of wine when I drink this upcoming week (Tue, Fri Sat Sun), that will be a HUGE win for me!6 -
Saturday went for a nice hike on a beautiful day. Afterwards my husband and I enjoyed a restaurant meal (it's been 8 months!) and I had half a glass of wine. Yes, only half because it didn't taste great. Can it be it's losing it's appeal???
No more drink passes for me this month. It's AF all the way and let's hope some pounds roll off me.
Hi Jan! Sounds like you have a good plan. Cute dog picture too!!
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As you can see from the photo, the Arizona trail is very long. I was just at a tiny section in the midpoint, Mogollon Rim. The top of the Rim is about 8000 ft in elevation and we were at 5700 ft or so. It was only 55 degrees but it really felt hot because the air is dry.
@lmlmrn I have North Cascades national park on my radar, I think that one is in your state. Now that looks like neat place to take a cool summer hike
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Stated to DH this morning during our walk that I'm AF today since I drank 2 days in a row (Fri-Sat). He said I'm getting to understand your routine. Tonight he opened a bottle of wine but didn't offer me a glass ... and I grabbed a sparkling flavored water. Alls good.
April accountability: 5/11 days AF
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Spent a wonderful 3/4 hours just sitting next to the water painting this afternoon while DH did what he does with a pick and rocks LOL
AF last night! this is 10 days out of 11 AF for April
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Friday and Saturday were my two AF days in a row, Sunday was not. In the ole days, for some stupid reason I took a lot of pride in being able to be the one to drive the gang home after a night of party activities. I could drink hardy and be the only one who could keep the car between the lines on the road.
After cutting back drastically on my daily, weekly, monthly consumption I am EXTREMELY thankful my lower tolerence when booze kicks in and says "Ok, enough".
Two mini bottles of prosseco on the deck in the sun and I was almost asleep.
Back to racking up AF days and being productive.10 -
Every day offers a new opportunity to live a happier and richer life.....especially rich in health and well-being. It all starts with an early morning game plan and t....then just go with it....
Today I have physical therapy on the agenda. Hope they get my feet working better so I can book all those hikes in Washington and Canada!
@lmlmrn hope you share your work of art when you are ready...and good that you are taking advantage of all that lovely scenery.
AF yesterday and game plan is AF today + get back on the healthy-eating plan....and get in 60-90 min easy cardio.7 -
@globalhiker I like that message, thank you! I need to get back on the healthy eating bandwagon as well. My DH is going away for 2 weeks on Wednesday so it will be a good time to do a reset with both food and alcohol. Good luck with the PT.7
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I stopped drinking last year for 4 months and it’s the best I’ve ever felt. Unfortunately, I let myself down and life got messy again. Fast forward to now and it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve drank, I feel amazing and I won’t mess it up again. It’s about time I looked after myself the same way I look after others.... like a boss 😁11
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Since only parents and siblings attended my DD's wedding last year at the last minute ... I decided to wear the same dress to her 1 year anniversary party (which is basically last year's reception pushed out). But the dress was way too big so I had it tailored. I forgot to take a pic after I lost the weight and before it was tailored but they had to take LOTS out of the hips and waist ... plus I cut it mid-length since the event is not as dressy.
Here is a comparison 2020 vs 2021 ~ down about 30 lbs!
Paying attention to how much I drink is paying off
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@Lilylady3k 30 lbs is awesome, great work! Your dedication is definitely paying off.4
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@Lilylady3k congrats on your 30 pounds GONE. I love evrything about your dress, the color, the length now, the sash and bow detail. Look at that flat tummy in this years pic. Your going to be the belle of yhe ball. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Oh and the smile tells a whole story on it's own.5
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@LessOfLisa13 nice work on getting back on track. Two weeks in and feeling fantastic. Win win for sure.6
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