Less Alcohol - MAY 2021 - One Day At A Time

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  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,025 Member
    edited May 2021
    @womona & @MissMay
    No returns and as I said sort of expensive for some of these wines. My guess is that the restaurant venue was closed up during the pandemic and wondering if they keep all the wines at the right temp. But most have been really excellent so that theory is probably not the issue. We looked the bottle up ... it was a red that should be enjoyed young within ~5 yrs. hmmm 2012 so it was too old for a red but too old for this one! Not all reds age well.

    @dawnbgethealthy - Love your garden pics! I love Iris. It has been raining here daily which makes pulling weeds easier but I can't dig in the dirt much since it compacts the soil. Hoping to plant my vincas this week that I bought right before all the rain.
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    22 days AF/25 days. Husband declared his next drinking day will be Memorial Day. I asked why, he said because it's a holiday and that's his rule.
    I personally, don't "feel" that my rules need to match his. I also don't have a desire to drink that day. I remember how I felt the past 3 times.

    From what I remember:

    1.Taste was great, but the good feeling that came from it was very short-lasting
    2. Started to binge-snack pretty quickly, a blood sugar nose-dive
    3. After 2 hrs, husband fell asleep, that's his body protecting him from drinking more
    4. Started to feel slight nausea starting on drink 3, but I was on drinking autopilot and finished it just because...just because why? Drink 2 drank drink 3.
    5. Felt mad at my husband because I wanted to chat away (drinks energize me) but he's snoring
    6. Disappointment set in, a bit of regret at wasting a perfectly nice afternoon
    7. No exercise the next morning because I feel too sluggish

    Let's see...is an hour or two of fun worth the price of MANY hours of disappointment, anger, nausea, hunger, fatigue? Something for me to think through.....

    So... Can I ask why there’s a drink 3, or even a drink 2, on days you choose to drink? My doctor once told me “You can have one drink a day, but they’re not drink coupons, you can’t save them all for the weekend.” I certainly wouldn’t classify 3 or 4 drinks spread out over the whole day as binge behavior, but it seems like it’s having that effect on your body, so why get to that point?

    I totally get if there’s some urge to “make the most” of your drinking days, or if you open a bottle of wine and don’t want it sitting around tempting you later, but ultimately that’s working against you.
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,951 Member
    [quote=

    @dawnbgethealthy - Love your garden pics! I love Iris. It has been raining here daily which makes pulling weeds easier but I can't dig in the dirt much since it compacts the soil. Hoping to plant my vincas this week that I bought right before all the rain.[/quote]

    Oh, what are Vincas? I shall have to Google!
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,025 Member
    @dawnbgethealthy - vincas = periwinkle = Madagascar periwinkle. Really pretty little flowers like an impatient but can handle heat, sun, and does not require as much water. Hence at the camp they grow without much trouble! Usually they are almost like a perennial in the south except we had that hard freeze this year! I have purple at my camp house all along one side and down the other side :). They also easily reseed themselves so at the camp I have some already coming up but I added a touch of white and pink last time I was at the camp to mix with the purple. I planted some white at home this spring.
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,025 Member
    edited May 2021
    DH poured the partial bottle of wine left from last Thursday down the drank since I did not use it for cooking this week :)

    Dinner out last night with friends to celebrate her 60th birthday. Enjoyed 2 glasses of wine but I was really thirsty when I got home ... could not get the waitress to refill the water glasses.

    It is going to be challenging this weekend and next week ... we'll see where my mind controls and when it just lets loose. DH has a 4 day weekend ... company decided to give them Friday & Monday off so we are headed to the fishing camp ... where cocktails and sunset viewing over the water is the norm BUT there will be mosquitos! I WILL stick to my 2 drink limit per day and no more than 2 nights of drinks in a row. And I WANT to get at least 2 more AF nights in this month to hit my 12 AF goal for May.
    Then moving into next week DH is on vacation and we are headed to New Orleans for 2 nights and Natchez for a wedding Saturday night. I know that will likely be 3 nights in a row of drinks. So thinking ahead that some of the rest of the week needs to be AF ... to help my weight loss.

    May accountability: 10/31 days AF
    Alcohol: 16 days (39 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.

    5/1 - 4 … 1 beer + 3 wine @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/2 - 1 margarita @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/3 - AF
    5/4 - 3 … 2 wine + 1 rum & diet coke
    5/5 - 2 … 1 Morejito + 1 tequila shot. Meeting up this evening with “Sisters Who Sip” for Cinco de Mayo at Be More Pacific - Filipino Kitchen and Bar. Our first monthly gathering in over a year. https://www.bemorepacifickitchenandbar.com/covid-19-menu
    5/6 - 3 … 1 whisky + 2 wine; Virtual Whiskey Experience Tasting w/ DH’s team from work (samples provided)
    5/7 - AF
    5/8 - 5 … Hosted Mimosa Brunch Bridal Shower. 1 mimosa w/ champagne then AF mimosas (YEA for Spanish Zero Codorniu non alcoholic champagne /cava). However, the evening I decided to drain the fridge of leftover alcohol but did not pour it down the sink. Evening 2 glasses wine + 2 glasses champagne
    5/9 - AF . mimosas for Mother’s Day Brunch; AF in the evening too!
    5/10 - 1 wine
    5/11 - 2 wine
    5/12 - 3 … 2 wine + 1 rum & diet coke
    5/13 - 3 … 2 wine + 1 bourbon & diet coke
    5/14 - 1 Torchy’s Tini
    5/15 - 4 … 1 St Arnold’s Summer Pils lunch + 3 wine at dinner
    5/16 - AF
    5/17 - 1 wine @ Book Club
    5/18 - AF
    5/19 - AF
    5/20 - 2 wine
    5/21 - 2 wine @ Central Market Cooking Class (DH started AF focus)
    5/22 - AF
    5/23 - AF
    5/24 - AF
    5/25 - AF
    5/26 - 2 wine Friend's 60th Bday
    5/27 - TBD @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/28 - TBD @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/29 - TBD @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/30 - TBD @ fishing camp 🎣
    5/31 - TBD @ fishing camp 🎣
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,025 Member
    Long drive this afternoon/evening to get to the camp (5hrs) ... but we are here.
    AF this evening!

    Hope everyone has a fun & safe US Memorial Day holiday weekend.
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,951 Member
    My May Goals:
    16-20 AF days per month.
    Changing my goals as my schedule is changing, but sticking to the 16-20 AF days.

    My daily check in:

    Sunday May 16 - AF - I begin the Canada Post training tomorrow morning, for 3-4 weeks on top of my other jobs. Need to have a clear head.
    Monday May 17 - AF
    Tuesday May 18 - AF - I actually am enjoying getting up at 2:30am for my newest extra job. Definitely would not be able to have alcohol and feel well at 2:30.
    Wednesday May 19 - AF - Planning on a couple of drinks on Friday eve, (just a 3 hour shift starting at noon on Saturday, my lightest day).
    Thursday May 20 - AF - Said a teary goodbye to Canada Post, then had a very long day trying to catch up on other jobs. Up at 2:30 and didn't finally get home until 10pm. I really felt like having a nice drink, but didn't. Up to Kimberley in the morning for my favourite Foster Grant job. I want to be fresh.
    Friday May 21 - 2 1/2 drinks, I knew that the rest of that 3rd drink would have put me over the top. Planned AF until next Thursday
    Saturday May 22 - AF - I had an awesome day today, caught up with a few things that I was too busy for the last few weeks - died my roots, took off one hand of gel polish and painted those, went to work at the restaurant from 12-3 then went for a hike with a friend. If I got any good photos I will post them. Hit my 16 today : - )
    Sunday May 23 - AF - I worked a split at the restaurant today and had plans for a hike in between but it was raining, so we didn't go. 4 hour shift at the restaurant tomorrow, all other jobs not happening because it is a holiday. Queen Victoria Day. Most Canadians call it May two four (24 of beer), because it is typically a big boozing weekend.
    Monday May 24 - AF - Being grateful thinking about Victorian Furniture on her birthday. Busy day tomorrow, so AF tonight.
    Tuesday May 25 - 2 1/2 drinks - It wasn't a planned drinks day, Thursday is, but that could change as the restaurants are now being opened for (limited) indoor dining and my schedule there will change.
    Wednesday May 26 - AF - Possibly a few drinks tomorrow.
    Thursday May 27 - Drinks - Just being indulgent. Not sure about Friday - drinks or not.

    Rolling total: 19AF out of 27 days
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    @MissMay I wasn't the original bitters experimenter but I have been playing around with them this week after stocking up on Saturday!

    They're a lot more aromatic than flavorful, so like 80% of the "taste" is coming from the smell, IMO. I'm using 1 tsp bitters to 6 oz of soda, so they're pretty diluted.

    Fee Brothers Lemon - refreshing, slightly more herbal than a squeeze of lemon, but maybe not worth the $$ since lemon juice is similar enough
    Fee Brothers Peach - a little disappointing, tastes too artificial, ends up leaving me thirsty even though I'm only doing 1 tsp in a giant glass of sparkling water
    Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate - I'm kinda digging this even though it's weird in plain fizzy water. I love chocolate everything. We forgot to buy chocolate last week at the grocery store and this has been getting me through. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I could see a dash being good in a cup of decaf after dinner. I might try it in my mushroom tea because I'm crazy adventurous.
    Angostura Orange - by far the best of the bunch. Refreshing and herbal like the lemon, but a much deeper flavor. Naturally goes well with sparkling water, I don't feel like I need to add to it. 10/10 will always have in stock.

    I mixed the chocolate and the orange bitters and told myself it was a Terry's Chocolate Orange. It wasn't. But I liked it.
  • lmlmrn
    lmlmrn Posts: 788 Member
    edited May 2021
    Good morning to those that it is still morning LOL

    hmm on the subject of bitters.....I asked about this a few months ago and got some great responses. Since then we have tried so many new flavors, some good, some I pitched in the trash after the first sip. But so far my favorite mixed with diet tonic water is:
    Fee Brothers: Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
    Fee Brothers: Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters
    Jack Daniels old No. 7: Tennessee Cocktail Bitters

    I am a big whiskey fan hence the whiskey flavors. There was done that the sales person said was like cinnamon whiskey...lies lies. It was like tasting a ghost pepper with no warning and I wish I could remember the name of it

    Today, I will be finishing a mandala painting I hope, two colors yellow ocher and white on a black background. So far I like how it is turning out. I will post when I am finished, the process is not all that exciting
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,770 Member
    Husband and I decided to drink Monday....at some point I have to strike a balance between not feeling overly deprived and indulging without going overboard....

    @chocolate_owl, I will do my end of month weigh in/body fat read Monday morning before planned midday festivities. I'm struggling with less exercise and more sitting due to long required work hours, but I will kick it up a notch Sat and Sun, especially with exercise and staying low-cal.

    House rules are no drinking after 4pm on Monday so I am sharp and energetic Tuesday when I have to be fast-thinking giving presentations at work.

    #1 weekend goal is hangover prevention
    #2 is indulgence management
    #3 catch up on quality sleep
    #4 enjoy life
    #5 probably shopping :)




  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,813 Member
    @chocolate_owl good thoughts for you to choose the right thing this weekend in reference to drinking / drinking less😊
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,951 Member
    My May Goals:
    16-20 AF days per month.
    Changing my goals as my schedule is changing, but sticking to the 16-20 AF days.

    My daily check in:

    Wednesday May 26 - AF - Possibly a few drinks tomorrow.
    Thursday May 27 - Drinks - Just being indulgent. Not sure about Friday - drinks or not.
    Friday May 28 - 2 drinks several hours ago. Census (Statistics Canada) training all day today via zoom, and again tomorrow before my evening shift at the restaurant. So far no days off in the past 2 weeks, and none seen for the foreseeable future. My garden and lawn are sooooo behind!!

    Rolling total: 19AF out of 28 days
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,025 Member
    edited May 2021
    2 glasses of a nice red wine from the anniversary party for steak night at the camp. It is the only bottle that we brought with us, but mom seems to have collected 2-3 bottles. I'll wait and see if those get opened.

    Water after dinner! And a walk but the mosquitos are terrible.