Less Alcohol ~ JULY 2021 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
-
@MissMay
Those Lilies are so beautiful!! They look like they are blushing : - )
@Lilylady3k
OMG, I am so freaked out by that Alligator!!
@lmlmrn
Glad that you had a chance to check in with us. So fabulous the adventure that you are on. Looking forward to photos and tales.5 -
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.
Rolling total - 6 AF days out of 13 days6 -
-
Lilylady3k wrote: »@lmlmrn - I had sweet potato fries for lunch! But I can't blame it on the national French fry day.
I'm exhausted after hiking with a 5 year old
in Brazos Bend State Park. Ran across an alligator that required me to walk softly and carry her since my daughter-in-law is pregnant and not suppose to pick up her niece (visiting for a couple of weeks). Also took them to a neighborhood water park after the little girl's nap. So I'm exhausted! BUT I'm AF ... sipping flavored coffee this evening.
Wow you meet alligators on your walks! That's pretty damn cool!!!
To be honest I'm not sure I even knew there were alligators in Texas, but that probably because of the places I've been in Texas.
5 -
@lilylady3k you are braver than I. Knowing there were alligators lurking on trails, would keep me inside. I did however walk up on a moose more than once , but you know they run around like squirrels up this way🤣
Fact is you hiked, visited and got fresh air all while staying AF.
7 -
Woke up STLL wanting french fries. Darn that power of suggestion.
AF again yesterday. It could have easily went to the other side and become a drunk fest if my husband had his say in the matter. I was excited to tell him around 4:45pm that I recieved a call from the art gallery and another piece of my art sold.
My first thoughts are, alright now I have to replace that spot with another piece, which one will I take in? My husbands first thought is......let's go celebrate in town( go drinking).
I went with my thought and stayed in to prepare another painting to deliver today.
😎
7 -
Google says: "French fries trigger dopamine, the feel-good hormone that drives people to get that fix from fries".
We knew it, didn't we...
69 AF days left and I am tempted to get away Saturday to go north somewhere for a hike and I would LOVE a drink with lunch (on our way up we stop at an Asian place that has $5 wine...the place with the heavy pour). @GiveherGrace this is Ayothaya Thai in Payson. Darn it, I've only been AF a week and my head is already planning wine for the weekend.
No wine-ing today....Phoenix Suns game 4!
8 -
@MissMay people are buying your art, how exciting and fun is that! Congratulations....and congrats on not going out drinking too!5
-
That is a fantastic streak @Stockholm_Andy.
Ermm it was more of a badly worded post than a streak
That was my running total for the month 
Now on 8 days AF for July.6 -
Woke up STLL wanting french fries. Darn that power of suggestion.
AF again yesterday. It could have easily went to the other side and become a drunk fest if my husband had his say in the matter. I was excited to tell him around 4:45pm that I recieved a call from the art gallery and another piece of my art sold.
My first thoughts are, alright now I have to replace that spot with another piece, which one will I take in? My husbands first thought is......let's go celebrate in town( go drinking).
I went with my thought and stayed in to prepare another painting to deliver today.
😎
Congrats on your art piece being sold!!! That is so reaffirming and rewarding to be appreciated. Congrats Miss May!
5 -
Greetings, all. When I checked in to this thread, it said 120 new posts and I confess I did not catch up on all of them but I did see the scary alligator photo. Alligators are no joke. Especially with small children in tow! How ever did you juggle children AND snap a photo, @Lilylady3k ?
Returned from eating & drinking in Napa on Monday. I saw the Nickel & Nickel you recommended, @Lilylady3k, but we didn't stop in. Gone are the days of sauntering in to a tasting room unannounced. And getting a free taste. Reservations only everywhere we went, and tastings now are "experiences" that cost anywhere from $20 pp to way over $100 pp and even more for meals with pairings. Tastings used to be a marketing expense. Now they're a revenue stream. DH and I went back and forth re: getting a driver. He was adamant he wanted to drive and just not drink enough for that to be a problem. So I downsized our itinerary to 2 winery tastings/day, and actually, we thought that was perfect. It would be hard for me to really enjoy more than that. Plus towards the end I taste less and forget more. We stayed in town so we walked to dinner every night, which I really enjoyed. It was fun family time. Many funny stories.
I didn't log a thing. It would be super cumbersome to log stuff like little tasting spoons of chopped orange seasoned with olive oil and lavender. Millions of tiny tastes. DH is talking about maybe AF August? We'll see if the inclination persists. Last time he said he wanted to do an AF month it lasted a week, but he has stuck with it whole months in the past. Alas, today our oldest's birthday and we're going to a Bastille celebration, so I expect wine will be flowing again tonight. And with any luck souffles.
ETA: @Lilylady3k, I took your advice and packed a soft sided cooler. We bought a case of water and iced it down every morning. It was handy to have in the car. Thanks for that tip!6 -
Was on vacation for the past week and a half (Denver - Mt Rushmore - Yellowstone - Big Sky - Aspen - Denver). Amazingly beautiful country! Did a few trail runs and got addicted!
Was able to abstain from alcohol even though I was tempted and had completed by 75 days in the middle of vacation. Plan on having a couple of drinks (just a couple) with the friends who supported me during this challenge on Friday. Anyway it was great seeing all the activity here, but havent fully caught up yet, but will do so soon.9 -
Greetings, all. When I checked in to this thread, it said 120 new posts and I confess I did not catch up on all of them but I did see the scary alligator photo. Alligators are no joke. Especially with small children in tow! How ever did you juggle children AND snap a photo, @Lilylady3k ?
Returned from eating & drinking in Napa on Monday. I saw the Nickel & Nickel you recommended, @Lilylady3k, but we didn't stop in. Gone are the days of sauntering in to a tasting room unannounced. And getting a free taste. Reservations only everywhere we went, and tastings now are "experiences" that cost anywhere from $20 pp to way over $100 pp and even more for meals with pairings. Tastings used to be a marketing expense. Now they're a revenue stream. DH and I went back and forth re: getting a driver. He was adamant he wanted to drive and just not drink enough for that to be a problem. So I downsized our itinerary to 2 winery tastings/day, and actually, we thought that was perfect. It would be hard for me to really enjoy more than that. Plus towards the end I taste less and forget more. We stayed in town so we walked to dinner every night, which I really enjoyed. It was fun family time. Many funny stories.
I didn't log a thing. It would be super cumbersome to log stuff like little tasting spoons of chopped orange seasoned with olive oil and lavender. Millions of tiny tastes. DH is talking about maybe AF August? We'll see if the inclination persists. Last time he said he wanted to do an AF month it lasted a week, but he has stuck with it whole months in the past. Alas, today our oldest's birthday and we're going to a Bastille celebration, so I expect wine will be flowing again tonight. And with any luck souffles.
ETA: @Lilylady3k, I took your advice and packed a soft sided cooler. We bought a case of water and iced it down every morning. It was handy to have in the car. Thanks for that tip!
I've only just realised the DH is an abbreviation for "dear husband" (after Googling it LOL) up until now I thought Lilylady3K's other half had the initials DH then I saw you used it!
I'm learning so much here
7 -
Greetings, all. When I checked in to this thread, it said 120 new posts and I confess I did not catch up on all of them but I did see the scary alligator photo. Alligators are no joke. Especially with small children in tow! How ever did you juggle children AND snap a photo, @Lilylady3k ?
@ahoy_m8 - We were at Brazos Bend State Park which is known for alligators. We saw a total of 3 but that was the closest one we ran across. I insisted that the 5yo stay between us and not walk/run ahead which turned out to be an excellent idea. I picked up my DIL's niece. My DIL took the picture as we did an about face. Then we ran into a group of people (about 7-9 college kids) and asked if we could join them so we could get passed the alligator up ahead. We made it!
I was really glad that we did not bring our dogs even on a leash that would have been scary. Also glad that we did "how to behave around alligators before setting out" ... so the 5yo did not scream, squirm or anything ... and did not show fear. Just asked if we thought it was real LOL
@Stockholm_Andy - Too funny! Sorry about that. Here is a short key of ones I use often:
DH = dear husband
DS = dear son
DD = dear daughter
DIL = daughter in law4 -
Has anyone tried Naltrexone? The NYTimes had an article about RIA Health, which is an online support group that prescribes this. I'm just not hacking it with will power and even if I have an AF day, it lasts only one day. I succumb to evening cravings. I have read some quit lit etc... and am in therapy for family problems which preciptated my over drinking. And yet, here I am, not quitting. Not moderating. And I know I should and I want to.
https://riahealth.com/how-it-works/
I'm really thinking of doing it. Apparently they take insurance.5 -
1 Torchy's Tini: 100% pure agave reposado tequila by Exotico*, served in a shaker with lime juice, simple syrup & olive juice. You pour it yourself into a short stem martini glass.
With a Matador off their secret menu ... combination of chopped brisket, grilled jalapenos, pickled onions, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro ... but I had it in a bowl with lettuce instead of the crisp corn tortilla inside a flour tortilla it is normally served.
4 -
Hello from then road!
Today was a great scenic drive, had lunch at a cute house turned restaurant that had housed one of either a Hatfield or Mcoy. Stopped at a monument/battlefield that was pretty cool. Oh this is all in Kentucky.
All while being AF
13 -
AF today. One side benefit of AF is I am a lot quicker at answering the Jeopardy questions when we watch the show in the evenings!
Goal to end month with more AF days than drinking days. No plans to drink the rest of this week.
AF - 5
Drinks - 9
Started the month with 8 of 9 days drinking so making progress!7 -
6
-
@lmlmrn
That is a great photo. I look forward to more of them : - )
Living vicariously through you lol.
What memories you are making!4 -
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 days4 -
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.🙂10 -
@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!5 -
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...!
7 -
@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.8
-
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.7
-
@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.
5 -
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 6
-
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!6 -
@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!10
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions