Less Alcohol ~ AUGUST 2021 ~ One Day At A Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,750 Member
~THIS IS A MONTHLY CONTINUING THREAD THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE AS FAR BACK AS 2017. ALL WELCOME ~
Do you want to drink LESS?
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet that thinking a day off is a sort of punishment and hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR USERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You":
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
Do you want to drink LESS?
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet that thinking a day off is a sort of punishment and hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR USERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You":
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
6
Replies
-
I'm getting ready for August with new good intentions.
Just thinking through what goal I should set for myself for the month.
I look forward to following along with everyone through August and a huge thank you @MissMay for all the wonderful information and links above, and for keeping this thread going.7 -
Thank you @MissMay. Reporting here is really helping me be more intentional about my alcohol consumption.
My August goal is 2 AF days for every 1 drinking day (So 21 AF and 10 drinks days). On the drinks days I plan to have no more than 2 which should be doable since I rarely have more than 2 drinks in a sitting.8 -
Looking forward to another month with this group ... the support and inspiration are truly appreciated!
Goal:
- Limit 1-2 glasses per day
- 12-16 AF days per month
- Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.
10 -
Goal for August; no more alcohol at home (my liver talked to me). I don't mind occasional social drinking.12
-
Excited to find this - is what I've been looking for.9
-
Welcome @fighting4chickens . This is a great group of very supportive people who are all walking in similar shoes.7
-
AND WE ARE OFF TO DAY ONE......->
10 -
Good morning AUGUST 1ST and welcome to the Less Alcohol page.
Thanks and hugs for the warm welcome back, I couldn't do it without all of YOU!
Want to get serious about cutting back on your drinking?
We aren't pushing you to quit (unless of course that is your goal of what LESS means to you). We are a group of males and females who have come to the conclusion that the amount of alcohol they have/had been drinking was in fact to much, to often, drinking for in our eyes for the wrong reasons or __________ (fill in the blank).
We meet here, share our sometimes daily accountability which helps to achieve our personal goal(s) for the day, week or month.
We aren't trying to change the whole worlds outlook on drinking, only the little corner of it that we personally occupy.
7 -
Happy August!
12 -
Thanks, @MissMay for starting the thread and being the leader by inspiration that you are (not just here). W!hite sober girls can dance, but it's sure not pretty when I do! But WHO CARES?
You might feeling like me, who was dragged (I mean companioned) by my visiting son 12 miles around Old Port and Back Bay Portland yesterday. I don't think I've EVER walked that far. There was a $27 lobstah roll and real gelato for motivation/reward.
Had either of us been drinking, instead of hitting TWO Kombucharies, a dispensary (lol) and 12 miles, we would have hit one...maybe two...breweries and called it naptime after 2 miles.
Make it a great month--drink less...feel more--is my new motto!9 -
Big thanks to @MissMay !
Changing up goals - allowing myself up to 2 drinks max on Wednesdays and Fri-or-Sat-or-Sun (depending on which days we have anything social going on). My husband agreed on this this schedule.
@ahoy_m8 - I so agree with your last July post...that keeping emotions in check goes a long way. This is why I am working on my stress level. I literally play gregorian chant music on pandora much of the day and it really helps. When it goes up, seems everything goes to hell.
@mainelylisa - I also agree with your findings about intermittent fasting based on my personal experiment. I gave it a go for about 5 months. It did wonders for curbing my appetite and regulating my blood sugar. BUT the 50+ year old woman does not have the same body chemistry as a man or even a young woman. Supposedly our cortisol goes up and our metabolism really slows. Go figure. And I could not run well, my VO2 max went from a 41 (I was so proud of that) to a sad 36. Tells me my body isn't working right. I did lose weight, but sadly my scale says it was muscle. So I am back on eating my 6 egg whites with a dash of louisiana hot sauce. It's hardly any calories and my skin and hair are back to being bright and shiny.8 -
@Lilylady3k Beautiful (lake and lake house yard)! I'm looking forward to some nature/Zen time off at my cabin next week!
@globalhiker Great to know your experience. How do you measure VO2 and what kind of scale do you have? I'm going to dig into any studies specifically for our age group on both low carb and intermittent fasting.6 -
Hi all! Got to go sailing yesterday, and didn’t think to take any pictures! Next time. Had a spiked seltzer on the boat, and 1.5 glasses of wine at home. I really felt that extra half glass.
I need to get my butt off this couch! Inertia is a powerful thing!9 -
@Womona Give yourself some credit! Sailing yesterday is decidedly not butt-on-couch. It's work! I love when people are in the moment and enjoying it and don't think to snap pics, so good on you for that, too.
Although I do really enjoy your scenic vistas, @Lilylady3k. The colors are just magnificent. Many thanks for the uplift!
Thanks to you, too, @MissMay, for keeping us going. It's a very helpful way you have framed the group's coming together. Easy to take that for granted once the group is working so amiably but not so easy to do, so please know you are appreciated.
@globalhiker Thanks for understanding the emotional processing. I spoke with DD#2 and she helped me wrap my head around it.
I am appreciating the perspective, new to me, of the monthly look-back on my goal. I realized that I've been 50-50 on my goal the past 2 months, so obviously more room for improvement.
M-Th AF (July was 3 weeks yes, 2 weeks no)
F-Su 2 drink max (July was 2 weeks yes, 3 weeks no)
We had a vacation in there which encompassed weekday drinking and also having >2, although I have taken to heart the riotous fun one can have AF free from the wonderful example @lmlmrn set last month. The weekday drinks are typically special occasions that do not get out of hand, and for better or worse I'm reconciled to stepping outside my normal practice for those when they come along. Even if it's 2 nights of 4 weeks per month, it's not half the time. Plus I've become habituated to weekday AF sufficiently that it's not a mental struggle and most of the time it doesn't even cross my mind. Limiting weekend drinks is another story. It kind of goes to the old question of which is easier: moderation or abstinence. Evidently, I have an easier time with the latter. DH proclaims he is AF in August to drop a few vacation pounds, so I've got wind at my back this month!8 -
This month I really need to make a difference. So day 1 here I come.9
-
Whoo-hoo, August here we come! My birthday and wedding anniversary are this month, so I am going to try to plan for them and keep within my goals.
This Months Goals:
Alcohol
16 AF days
Drink max 2 consecutive nights
Max 2 drinks (3 on birthday and anniversary)
Exercise
Continue the Aquafit classes x2 p wk
Restart yoga videos at home x3 p wk
Walking 1.5 miles per evening
Food
Log consistently for the month
Hobby/Activity
Sewing projects, finish linen top, start cotton lawn top.
Plan the fall RV trip7 -
August is going to be a great month. I am going to push myself a bit only allow myself on day in 7 to have a drink or two. I know it is do able but will I do it??
I love coming on here and see the commitment everyone has! You all are very inspiring and so supportive when doing well or when we hit a bump in the road.
Hugs to all8 -
My August goal is at least 2 AF days for every 1 drinking day (So 21 AF and 10 drinks days max). On the drinks days I plan to have no more than 2.
8/1 AF
It is very interesting that I seem to not be thinking about drinking very much at all. I hope this is the start of a new relationship with alcohol where it is enjoyed on special occasions in the company of others.
Good luck to everyone on your August goals. I am here to support you.9 -
GiveHerGrace wrote: »My August goal is at least 2 AF days for every 1 drinking day (So 21 AF and 10 drinks days max). On the drinks days I plan to have no more than 2.
8/1 AF
It is very interesting that I seem to not be thinking about drinking very much at all. I hope this is the start of a new relationship with alcohol where it is enjoyed on special occasions in the company of others.
Good luck to everyone on your August goals. I am here to support you.
I hope this is the start of a new relationship with alcohol where it is enjoyed on special occasions in the company of others.
Excellent....I want this on a coffee mug
7 -
What fantastic responses to our first day of August. I love your enthusiasms, goals, mental awareness and support for others.
I always feel great when my first day of a new month is dry. It sets pace for me. This month I see no events that would make a bump along my road to tilt my wagon and have it flip me to the ground, get run over and then dragged down a ragged gravel slope.
Kinda graphic? Yea, but that is exactly the kind of reminders I need not to go that direction.
Last August 2020 for me I went 31 days AF, I needed the added discipline to distract me from the pandemic Summer....I had my husband pulling at my willpower the whole way, telling me one won't hurt. "Won't hurt who?" I asked.
Loved and read all your posts, sorry not much time this AM to comment on each. 😍
AUGUST 2021
1 dry (more to follow)9 -
Day 1 completed but sleep was a problem only got 3 hours tossing and turning but fingers crossed for day 2.10
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Kicked off August with 2 glasses of wine with dinner at the camp with my mom. Heading home today and plan for this week to be AF at least until Friday evening.
🩺 Annual Physical on Friday morning
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month. Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.
8 -
Everyone sounds motivated and optimistic....we've got this!
Today I am going to try to go through a glass of water every 2 hours. Keep it on my desk and just keep sipping it all day long.
@mainelylisa I have a garmin forerunner 45s watch (love it) and a weight watchers brand scale (ugh) from Bed, Bad and Beyond. Both items provide estimates, nothing is perfect. The scale is hypersensitive so if I move it to another floor or room it tells me I am 4 lbs less.
@Fit_Happens_2021 your RV trip sounds exciting. Keep us posted on your itinerary ideas 8 -
2 days off and 1 day on with no more than 2 drinks on drinking days - put a colored marker on calendar when it's an off day (this plan will let me drink when we have company or going out, etc) - also write the difference in how you feel on non-drinking days12
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@MissMay Thanks for keeping us going.
Love the accountability of this.
I am continuing with my usual goal, 16-20 AF days for the month, diary style
Sunday Aug 01 - Drinks, planned drinks day - 2 1/2 drinks. Thursday is next planned drinks day.
Rolling total: 0AF days out of 1 day7 -
Day 1 completed but sleep was a problem only got 3 hours tossing and turning but fingers crossed for day 2.
I have had a lot of sleep problems because the alcohol tends to let me fall asleep but wake up a few hours later and not be able to get back off. I tried melatonin once and it did nothing for me, then I saw someone on this thread mention Olly sleep gummies and thought I would try them. Well, I was shocked, they really do help me stay asleep! They aren't a 'forever' solution because most of us will gain a tolerance to them after about 2 weeks, but they help to sort of 'reset' your sleep pattern.
@globalhiker I will. I am not sure what I am doing as it is the first long distance RV trip I have planned, but we are in Texas and plan to first visit Colorado, then Utah and not sure how far we will get to after that. We are trying to keep it to 2 weeks.5 -
I just did July AF (easily) & am trying to come up with a new plan to lower my alcohol consumption. I had crept up to 2 glasses of wine every day & that had to stop. Now to decide on the way forward. I think having a couple of glasses 2-3 nights a week would be OK, but usually, that creeps back up. Thanks for this thread MissMay. I have bookmarked this page & will have a good read of your intro.9
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My August goal is at least 2 AF days for every 1 drinking day (So 21 AF and 10 drinks days max). On the drinks days I plan to have no more than 2.
8/1 AF
8/2 AF
Happily drinking my Cranberry Diet 5 and Pellegrino.
I also have been having sleep issues like a few others mentioned. 3 nights in the last week I didn't sleep well. I normally don't have sleep issues at all. Hopefully this is just a temporary phenomenon.7
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