Less Alcohol ~ JULY 2021 ~ One Day At A Time

dawnbgethealthy

My usual goal, 16-20 AF for the month. This is sustainable long term for me.


Monday July 12 - AF - Time to rack up some AF days.
Tuesday July 13 - AF - Back to day shifts tomorrow after 2 evening shifts in a row. Body is a bit out of whack as is my eating schedule.
Wednesday July 14 - AF - Into another heatwave here, but not as intense as the last one. I was working day shift at the restaurant, so it was nice and cool in there.

Rolling total - 7 AF days out of 14 days

looneycatblue

Hello everyone, I am back lurking, really enjoying your posts, so inspiring!
I finally, at age 60+, have decided that I really need to get my stuff together, and stop wasting so much time and energy on drinking. I've been in the habit of pouring a strong drink while making dinner, to help me with winding down from my long work days. Often not stopping at 1.
The drinking leads me to mindlessly munching after eating really healthy all day. I ruin all of my earlier good efforts towards losing weight and making healthy choices. It also sometimes gets in the way of my lovely morning walks. This all leads to guilty feelings.
I now have 5 AF days in a row, and will make tomorrow number 6! I will most likely have a drink or 2 Friday night, bowling nights. Then planning to get 6 in a row again.
I'm feeling really good right now, physically and mentally, trying to keep focused on my new lifestyle. Thank you for the support.🙂

Womona

@MissMay congratulations on selling your artwork! That’s so exciting. Very proud of you!!!

@vvlucky I have not tried (or even heard of!) that medication. If you think it might help, it’s worth at least looking into to determine side effects, efficacy, etc.

After work last night, Stopped into the restaurant where my son tends bar. My youngest son and I had to drop off the car we picked up from the shop so eldest son could drive home. At any rate, the kitchen was closed but we were able to get some bread. I had a glass of wine, with a few crackers and no dinner. Luckily my underage son drove me home. No way should I have gotten behind the wheel. I would not have finished the wine if I didn’t have a ride home.

While the wine was really good and it was nice to hang out with my kids, it wasn’t worth it. I just don’t like the feeling of being that tipsy. Note to self: don’t drink on an empty stomach!

globalhiker

Applause to you @dethstar77 - WOW not only surpassing your goal but also not drinking on a fun vacation, that is one I've yet to even think about...!

vvlucky

@looneycatblue I'm turning 61 in a few weeks. I'm also tired of my bad habit of drinking wine at night - and not just a little. 5 AF is really, really impressive!! Thanks for sharing.

J6BLA

did 7 months 2 yrs ago due to a Deep Vein Thrombosis and was on blood thinners i felt great everyday so much energy but soon got back on it when the treatment was finished but i'm a typical binge drinker anyways dont drink during the week then hammer it on a weekend i go 10/11 days regular (work away a lot) without drink but then hammer it on the weekend.

globalhiker

@vvlucky I only tried the stress gummies and the calming teas just because I am hypersensitive and get all the side effects of pills so I avoid them. Oh and the outdoor exercise helps a ton with motivation. This was mandatory for me because without it, I tended to fall into the depressive side and lose all motivation to take great care of myself. Best of luck in finding the solution that works best for you.

globalhiker

Hi @looneycatblue good to see you and really good you did 5 AF in a row, definitely something to feel proud about. Ride that positive wave....when the momentum is there, grab it and go

dethstar77

globalhiker wrote: »

Applause to you @dethstar77 - WOW not only surpassing your goal but also not drinking on a fun vacation, that is one I've yet to even think about...!

@globalhiker Honestly wasnt that hard especially since it had been 75 days. If it was earlier on, most likely would have given in for a beer at one of the brewpubs!

ahoy_m8

@dethstar77 You are doing so well. A brewpub is a setting that makes it hard to resist beer, so you really must have created new mental associations/habits that give you that freedom to choose. Impressive!

@vvlucky That medication doesn't ring bells with me, either. I have read that some medications work by making you feel sick when you drink alcohol. While I can't knock something I haven't tried, it sounds really unappealing to me. I would be motivated to try many other strategies first. Some things that helped me:
1) alternate beverages I really like.** I sometimes make something when I'm cooking if I'm really craving something, but usually make it to sip after dinner. Hard to believe, but sometimes I actually prefer the TASTE of mocktail to the alcohol drink.
2) alternate treats I really like. Nuts are my favorite. E.g. instead of having a glass of wine while DH and I watch a program on TV, I'll have a 50g bowl of pistachios that are about the same calorically and that I can savor slowly.
3) walk around block after dinner clean up in summer. (The end of daylight savings takes away this option, sadly). Started this with whole family during pandemic. We have a 1/2 mi route and a 1 mi route, so it's just a few minutes either way. Sometimes I start the walk totally intending to have wine upon my return, but somehow the walk interrupts my thought pattern and I don't want it by the end. It doesn't have to be a walk, but maybe there is some easy physical activity that only takes a few minutes that you use to interrupt established thought patterns and get a mental reset. It's worth a try. It's got to be something you genuinely enjoy, though.

** Mocktail examples: muddled fruit + fresca/diet sprite for sweetness + soda water. In summer I might puree (then strain) a pineapple core or make oversized watermelon ice cubes to flavor sparkling water. In winter I use a lot of citrus and ginger. Also made a hibiscus concentrate that provides a gorgeous color and unique taste to soda. Muddled blueberry makes a great color, too. Muddling strawberry with basil is a great taste, and if you like acidity, add a drop of balsamic to the muddle. There are super creative bitters out there that dress up a soda water.

For all the tips and encouragement I offer to others, I need to take my own advice. As I type, DD#2 is on a plane with a one way ticket to NYC. She has been home since graduating and starts work in Manhattan Monday. I'm of course very excited for her. Also, as a mom, I'm safety aware and a little freaked out by the finality of it. She has left home. It's official. This is no longer her home address. DD#1 left home but she lives/works local and we see her weekly (more often than the other 2 in college) so this move feels different. I drank a lot of wine last night. I have no idea how much since waiters were pouring before my glass was empty and they weren't standard size glasses so who knows. But I was definitely drowning my sorrows, and THAT would be a great association/habit to break!

Lilylady3k

From today's Beck Diet Solution post:
"Thursday Think Tip: Have you checked in lately with ways in which all-or-nothing thinking might be impacting you? It's always good to look for and check this type of thinking so you don't buy into the notion that either it's a 60-minute walk or no walk, or that it's either a "perfect" eating day or a failure, or that it's either zero desserts a day or way too many. There is (almost always) a HUGE middle ground. "

I think many of us can relate with our journey for Less Alcohol One Day At A Time as well.
Drink as many as I want on the weekend vs AF. The middle ground could be to limit our drinks to 1 or 2 per day on the weekend. Drink every day of the week or only on weekends or not at all. So many options to determine what is right for each individual. No one answer fits all. There is (almost always) a HUGE middle ground.

Lilylady3k

Quesadillas this evening with a margarita mocktail (Neon Zebra + club soda & crushed ice) in a pretty glass!
AF tonight




July accountability: 5/31 days AF
Alcohol: 10 days (20 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.

7/1 - 4 wine @ fishing camp 🎣
7/2 - 2 wine @ fishing camp 🎣
7/3 - 3 wine @ fishing camp 🎣
7/4 - 1 wine + 1 Heineken 0.0 @ fishing camp 🎣
7/5 - 2 wine
7/6 - AF
7/7 - 2 wine
7/8 - AF
7/9 - 2 wine
7/10 - 2 wine
7/11 - AF
7/12 - 1 wine
7/13 - AF
7/14 - 1 Torchy’s Tini
7/15 - AF

GiveHerGrace

AF today. One day closer to more AF days than drinks days this month.

Goal to end month with more AF days than drinking days. No plans to drink the rest of this week.

AF - 6
Drinks - 9

Started the month with 8 of 9 days drinking so making progress!

@vvlucky I'm not really sure what my strategy is, but my issue with drinking is that it has just been part of my daily routine after a long day of work. I am starting to cut back on my work (hired someone to replace me) so I think part of it is just not being so wiped out and stressed at the end of the day. I don't have an issue of excessive drinking (other than on the very rare occasion), but I would have a drink or 2 daily. I just don't want that to be who I am anymore. My husband doesn't drink so there is really no reason for me to drink alone. I have been happily drinking San Pellegrino and Diet Cranberry in the evening. Good luck with your goals!

Womona

AF last night, but I was starving and ate too much too late at night. Gak. Weight is up, too. 😠

Had my sparkling pink lemonade and Pelligrino in a wine glass because someone put away my cute martini glass way up high and I didn’t want to deal with hauling over a chair to get it. Well, the glass matters! In a martini glass, I can sip that drink and enjoy it, like a non alcoholic Cosmo. In a wine glass? It felt like drinking sweet wine, which I don’t care for. Amazing how the glass impacted my enjoyment of the same drink!!!

globalhiker

67 AF days left to go. Agree with the comments about all-or-none thinking. And the cool glassware ideas....

Today I am working on better addressing my work stress. I don't like who I have become.

My management techniques have been bad. If it's not alcohol, it's chocolate, if not chocolate, it's tortilla chips. Looking back, these are really my top 3 stress management tools AND it's never one itty bitty piece. It's all of it, the whole bag, the whole large candy bar (think Cadbury Fruit and Nut size), or a whole bottle of prosecco, incorrectly justified because gee, the alcohol % is "not so high".

I didn't drink this past week so been hitting the junk...

I'll try today to stop the desk snacking and hold myself accountable. Glass of water every 2 hours...and I'll pick up blueberries and strawberries to have on hand.

dawnbgethealthy

My usual goal, 16-20 AF for the month. This is sustainable long term for me.


Monday July 12 - AF - Time to rack up some AF days.
Tuesday July 13 - AF - Back to day shifts tomorrow after 2 evening shifts in a row. Body is a bit out of whack as is my eating schedule.
Wednesday July 14 - AF - Into another heatwave here, but not as intense as the last one. I was working day shift at the restaurant, so it was nice and cool in there.
Thursday July 15 - Drinks. Started with a mini champagne out of a 3-pack, then had 2 more drinks.

Rolling total - 7 AF days out of 15 days

Lilylady3k

Steak night with red wine tonight.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

looneycatblue

Just a quick check-in... I managed to get 6 AF days in a row! I cannot remember the last time I did that.
Bowling night, going to allow myself 1 shot & 1 spiked seltzer.
Have a great night/day y'all!

MissMay

Hello everyone.
Great to see you back with us getting accountability @looneycatblue.

@lilylady3k that stemmed glass is the bomb. LOVE IT.

Wonderful picture @lmlmrn of you and your Sis. Any clue where you will end up?

Those days are getting checked off fast and furious @globalhiker.

I was away for a day and a half. Wednesday night we took off and since I didn't have to drive home I indulged in alcohol. Yup more than my 2 drink goal , but not a stupid amount and no hangover. Husband called it "blowing out the cobwebs"......whatever that means.

AF Thursday and tonight, glad to be back home and back on track.

Lilylady3k

MissMay wrote: »

@lilylady3k that stemmed glass is the bomb. LOVE IT.

The glass is an original! My oldest son gave it to me years ago ... purple & gold ... LSU Tigers I usually use it for football games (@Stockholm_Andy ... talking US college football Louisiana State University and not soccer) but decided I really need to use it more often for mocktails too. Just feels special!