Less Alcohol ~ DECEMBER 2021 ~ One Day At A Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,783 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
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
0
Replies
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November was pretty good, did drink but limited and honestly only got drunk once at a friend's 40th - first time in a long time.. This month should be better, but there are holiday parties - but will stick to light beer...
How is everyone liking this new messageboard format? Not used to it yet and maybe thats why I am not a big fan...5 -
Thank you @MissMay for starting the December 2021 thread. Can you believe that the year is almost over?
I have not been perfect by far these past few months but without this thread I would be a whole lot worse. As always I will keep taking those baby steps. I have found I need to set more realistic goals that are more attainable period of time. So instead of focusing on a full month I will now just set a weekly goal. A month is too hard for me to wrap my head around.
Can't wait to see how the short term 'goals' and I use that lightly play out in the coming weeks. Goodness knows the holidays are stressful for me.7 -
Well I need to front load some AF days like @dawnbgethealthy did in Nov. I made my 12 days AF last month but it was a close call! I went over my personal 2 drink limit more than I wish though I did hold the number down to 3 but still not my short term goal. November was much better than October! On to December!
December accountability: ?/31 days AF
Alcohol: ? days ( ?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.
12/01 -
12/02 -
12/03 -
12/04 -
12/05 -
12/06 -
12/07 - 🎭
12/08 -
12/09 -
12/10 -
12/11 -
12/12 -
12/13 - 📚
12/14 - 🍓
12/15 - 📚
12/16 - 🍓
12/17 -
12/18 -
12/19 - 🍓
12/20 -
12/21 -
12/22 -
12/23 -
12/24 -
12/25 - 🎄
12/26 -
12/27 -
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12/29 -
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12/31 -
4 -
Well HELLO and welcome to LESS ALCOHOL ~ DECEMBER 2021.
We have an Anniversary to celebrate.
LESS Alcohol has been on the Motivation and Support board for exactly 1 year. (We found this new home more accessible to others than where were located for three years in the challenges category.)
YAY US 🎉🎉🎉
I am still trying to sort out why I had a trigger moment over the weekend and had more than my goal 2 drinks on one day.
I don't want another replay of that. I don't like that person I transform into after that 3rd drink. I can hear my speech slipping, notice my anxiety rising and I am short to make a comment that non drinking MissMay would keep to herself.
With all those don'ts in my head on this first day of December I move FORWARD.👉
7 -
I'm in for December...thanks again @MissMay for keeping this going!
My goal is Zero drinks except for New Year's Eve, Christmas Eve, and a Birthday party I am going to. So, 3 AF days max AND I will exercise every single morning, 31 days straight.
@ahoy_m8 - I am sold on your cake and making it for the holidays
@dawnbgethealthy thanks for the info...I will plan to visit you before any event and will reach out by the Spring to confirm plans. Your route sounds fine to me.
6 -
@Marmelade75689, just catching up on Nov. posts.....wanted to say I am sorry to hear about your breakup and I've had several and all kicked my xxx, and when I look back at those times, I always noticed that each time I did something huge to better myself and had those breakups not happened, I never would've met my wonderful husband. So things happen for a reason -mysterious as it is.
I see this month as your transformation month where you allow good things to come into your life. Write down what you want and go for it.5 -
Good day to all,
I am happy to report I was AF last night so going to call that a win. I know it was the last day of Nov but it felt lie a celebration for December
Today I will pick up the packages from my mom's to take to the post office for her. Every year she makes a vat of chex mix and mails it out to all the grandkids and believe me they all wait for the box to arrive. LOL you would think they have no clue how to make it. But something about being made with grandma's love.
Then maybe today I can get back to focusing on some painting. I have neglected it this past 2 weeks. Just was not motivated to pick up where I left off. I may just set the painting I was working on aside and come back to it at a later date.
Tonight I plan to be AF, I am trying new things to keep me occupied in the evening....my danger zone times from 6pm-10pm.8 -
Thank you @MissMay. I'm a relative newcomer, but I see and really appreciate how helpful this thread has been to so many, so happy anniversary for that!
Excited for you to try the kransekake, @globalhiker. I googled bunches of recipes and images for how to make & how to decorate. There's tons out there. Good luck and share photos!
November. Sigh. Fell short of goals despite the optimistic start. I stuck to my goals the first week then slowly unraveled into a Thanksgiving tangle.
M-Th AF: 3 out of 4 weeks (only 2 days AF the last week)
2 drink max: 7 out of 14 drinking days. Only 50% adherence.
Hello, December. It's my most festive month. By far. DH and I joke we spend the rest of the year paying for it.
I think I need to find some of that AF prosecco. Please send your AF suggestions my way. Now is the time for AF libations for me if there ever were one. 7 -
Hello, everyone
I am going to try to be a bit more active this month, though the holidays may have me logging fewer AF days than last month! I finished November with 22 days AF. I am still not sure what my goal is (maybe drinking 50% of the days or fewer?), but I guess I just mostly want to *not* be drinking every night. I have found some reasonable alternatives to my nightly wine ("Sparkling Ice" Ginger Lime has been a life-saver!) and I've been re-reading a series of books I loved in my youth. It's hard to focus on the page after a drink or two, so that's been encouraging me to skip it as well.
Good luck to everyone. Oh, and today UPS brought me a gift from my godmother. It's a 12-night wine advent calendar. 9 -
Thanks @MissMay for firing up December for us! Happy anniversary ‘less alcohol, one day at a time!!’ ❤️
Not happy with my November, my 5/30 ended up being 11/30 and consumed more than I wanted on each occasion. Most definitely does not help with anxiety. I have a glass to ‘relax’ and then it goes down too well and I’m rushing to bed so I don’t have ‘that one too many’….. so where is the relaxation in that?!
It’s the last month of 2021, the year I finished my extensive, full on, chemo protocol. I’ve a lot still to process and get through, anxiety, PTSD…. (three years ago I went into hospital and got told I would have about 2/3weeks to live (max) if I didn’t do treatment, needless to say I never left the hospital for the first 5 months and my hairs grown back with a mortisha addams streak 🤦♀️😆)……weight gain from treatment which I’m now fighting to loose, loss of my Dad……and so so much more. Sorry for posting a bit TMI but when I read back through here it helps me remember what I’m trying to achieve.
So with that been said, I am still going to track if I do have anything to drink but I’ve decided not to give myself any more targets or additional pressures this month, this includes stressing over alcohol, calorie counting and weight loss. Instead I am going to be good to my body with exercise….gentle, regular exercise. Most of which will be on the treadmill as the snow has finally started in Calgary and I love a white Christmas ⛄️
Have an amazing and successful December all ❤️❤️
Dec 1st - AF10 -
Thanks @MissMay for firing up December for us! Happy anniversary ‘less alcohol, one day at a time!!’ ❤️
Not happy with my November, my 5/30 ended up being 11/30 and consumed more than I wanted on each occasion. Most definitely does not help with anxiety. I have a glass to ‘relax’ and then it goes down too well and I’m rushing to bed so I don’t have ‘that one too many’….. so where is the relaxation in that?!
It’s the last month of 2021, the year I finished my extensive, full on, chemo protocol. I’ve a lot still to process and get through, anxiety, PTSD…. (three years ago I went into hospital and got told I would have about 2/3weeks to live (max) if I didn’t do treatment, needless to say I never left the hospital for the first 5 months and my hairs grown back with a mortisha addams streak 🤦♀️😆)……weight gain from treatment which I’m now fighting to loose, loss of my Dad……and so so much more. Sorry for posting a bit TMI but when I read back through here it helps me remember what I’m trying to achieve.
So with that been said, I am still going to track if I do have anything to drink but I’ve decided not to give myself any more targets or additional pressures this month, this includes stressing over alcohol, calorie counting and weight loss. Instead I am going to be good to my body with exercise….gentle, regular exercise. Most of which will be on the treadmill as the snow has finally started in Calgary and I love a white Christmas ⛄️
Have an amazing and successful December all ❤️❤️
Dec 1st - AF
Sorry to hear you’ve had a rough year. Hopefully now onward and upwards. I really love how you’re choosing to not stress over calories, drink counts, etc. Just doing what feels good for body, mind and spirit is really brilliant, and profound for this stressful time of year!6 -
Hi all, Happy December!
First day of the month is AF, but this is a little tough for me, as I’ve had drinks every day for the past two weeks at least- plus of course the holiday weekend meant I drank over my planned limit. Boy did I pay for that. It’s almost a week after Thanksgiving, and today is the first day I really felt like myself. I am finally not dragging and being apathetic to the final T-day clean up and Christmas decorating. I can’t bounce back from all that celebratory alcohol. It was a 5 day hangover! Ugh. Back on track today with food and drinking.6 -
I've re-started my anti-inflammatory diet for at least the first 16 days of the month in hopes of alleviating some of my joint pain among other things which means no alcohol during that time. I may end up doing it for the whole month. I've not yet decided.6
-
Dec 1: AF & exercise done! I did what I call my half-n-half.....half hr. bike, half hr. bodypump.
Nothing bad happened..simple filling dinner, drank water, watched TV and off to bed by 8pm (that's the secret)
@LazyBlondeChef, anti-inflammatory works great for me, when I am diligent all the bloat disappears. Years ago I had my kids on that as well and all of us lost weight, with no portion or calorie restriction. If you find good recipes, please share
@77topcat sounds like you're on the way up and that bad time is over, but you beat it and on the way up, so congrats to you. Maybe time is right to start creating the next chapter and make it a great one....
One thing I've learned by being on this thread is that we have way more power than we think we do. And with more AF days under one's belt, the stronger that sense of mental power gets.
Bring on Day 2 and make it a great one......9 -
LazyBlondeChef wrote: »I've re-started my anti-inflammatory diet for at least the first 16 days of the month in hopes of alleviating some of my joint pain among other things which means no alcohol during that time. I may end up doing it for the whole month. I've not yet decided.
I suspect you’re going to get great results with that! What kind of foods do you get to eat, what do you need to avoid? I imagine bread and alcohol are high inflammation foods!3 -
Hi : - )
I managed 21AF days for November.
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days
Diary style
Wednesday December 1 - AF - Had to start the month out right.4 -
@77topcat It's not TMI! I always appreciate your comments on this thread, and I had no idea about what you have been through this year. I appreciate the backstory. Wow. Traumatic indeed. Like @Womona, I love your focus on just taking care of yourself. And I'm going to take that to heart, too.
I am admitting to myself that abstinence is easier for me than moderation, and If I am ever going to be able to stop at 1 or 2 drinks (and more importantly, to feel like 1 or 2 is a treat vs. feeling deprived), it is going to have to come from a place of self care. Well, also a cold eyed embrace of reality. My prefrontal cortex gets a little anesthetized and it's like my subconscious wants to buck reality. I really need to have a think about why.
8 -
For those interested in anti-inflammatory diet I posted on another thread I participate in:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10850083/december-2021-accountability-month/p1
It's near the bottom third of the page. In a nutshell no alcohol, no sugar, no gluten, minimal dairy, minimal red meat, limit saturated fat, lots of fish & beans, a bit of poultry. And tons of vegetables especially leafy green. Some fruit. There are a number of links to anti-inflammatory meal plans of one week to 30 days.
In some of the reading it seems dairy is possibly a problem for some people but not others so at the moment I'm mostly sticking to yogurt and kefir with minimal cheese. I eat a fair amount of pork and beef so now I'll limit to once a week. I can only eat small amounts of beans as I find them too harsh on my system. Eggs are also questionable for some people. So listen to your body.
Yesterday I mixed one serving of pesto sauce with half a serving of greek yogurt to dress a chicken breast and it worked quite well. I usually eat drumsticks or thighs because I find chicken breasts to have no flavor but the sauce took care of it.6 -
I met with some strong temptation last night. I ended up on an unplanned technical call with my colleagues in Singapore that kept me working (and irritated!) until late. I thought to myself "I will definitely need a drink or two after this!" but when the call was over I started my nightly routine and as I grabbed my glass to fill it for the evening I asked myself "will having wine really help?" I decided the answer was "no" this time. I filled it with Sparkling Ice instead, took a melatonin to help me sleep, and read for an hour before going to bed.
So, I think I've decided my goal is "mindful drinking." I have no intention of giving it up entirely, but I don't want to reach for the bottle out of habit. I do not plan to drink tonight, but tomorrow night we are going to see Cirque du Soleil and I will not refuse a glass if it's available!9 -
One glass tonight. I wish I had a better dinner than cheese and crackers but nothing is defrosted, and I can’t face another chef salad!!6
-
@Mouse_Potato congratulations on not "mindlessly drinking" and being more "mindful". I can speak for myself in saying that hits the nail on the head where I am concerned too
I was AF last night and plan to be tonight. But it seems when I don't drink in the evenings I snack and snack and snack. I am going to have to look harder for a game plan to curb the urge5 -
Last night DH opened a nice bottle of wine at home for dinner and I indulged. This evening we were out and he asked if we wanted a bottle of wine with dinner at the restaurant. I said not for me ... so he ordered 2 glasses ($24) for himself instead of a bottle. I can see where cutting back could put more change in my pocketbook. LOL
I felt good about my decision to stick with water.7 -
Hi : - )
I managed 21AF days for November.
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days
Diary style
Wednesday December 1 - AF - Had to start the month out right.
Thursday December 02 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow evening.
Rolling Total: 2AF days out of 2 days.4 -
Snacking instead of imbibing in alcohol is interesting.
I find that a bit of alcohol pretty much changes my whole eating, and definitely removes willpower not to eat "bad" stuff. Some stuff I only eat if I am having alcohol. When I was still tolerant of red wine I would only have steak on my planned drinks days (hours) for example. Of course I have had steak since - sans the wine, but feel like pairing it with wine would have been more delicious.
I am sometimes guilty of foregoing healthy calories to fit the calories from booze and snacks in and stay within my range.
Does anybody eat more when they are drinking?
Does anybody eat less when they are drinking?
Do the substitutes of snacks help control alcohol cravings?
Curious to know what y'all think about this.
@lmlmrn has got me thinking about it.4 -
Hello and happy FRIDAY group.
A quick check in:
My decision to drink one personal size/one serving prosecco turned out really well last night.
I opened it had a few sips and then put the glass into the frig and sipped on it several hours later after I returned to the house.
Normally I would have downed it within seconds and then been in search of another tiny bottle to open.
I know my weakness and I am working through it.
Will catch up later on posts. So happy to see so many joining us for December.
December 2nd accountability:
1 A
1AF7 -
Day 2 AF done & ran 50 minutes straight with no stopping or walking. It was slow, but I moved....
Fiber is what keeps me full and prevents the desire for snacking. Salad, sweet potato, vegetables, you name it. I even got used to black beans and brown rice. Split pea soup. And what about Indian spicy lentils? I love those ready-to-heat types of foods too.
If I need to re-fuel mid-afternoon, my go-to is 2 cucumbers seeded and peeled and cubed with balsamic dressing (I ditch 75% of the oil from it).
I'm not perfect at all though. My sodium level is through the roof. But I love spicy and salty....! Oh and quality parmesan cheese is a daily thing and sorry never giving that up 5 -
Does anybody eat more when they are drinking?
-Yes, most always! I definitely would lose 15 lbs if I didn't drink for a year.
Does anybody eat less when they are drinking?
-Only when it's red wine (dampens my appetite) but it makes me stuffy so I don't have red
Do the substitutes of snacks help control alcohol cravings?
-For me, I don't have regular alcohol cravings since I did my 3-4 month abstinence. It went away. BUT I do find it easier to stay full. Like I don't go to the supermarket starving because I am more apt to make a bad choice with a low-blood sugar brain and buy wine and chips.
5 -
dawnbgethealthy wrote: »
Does anybody eat more when they are drinking?
Does anybody eat less when they are drinking?
Do the substitutes of snacks help control alcohol cravings?
Curious to know what y'all think about this.
Good questions. This is interesting to me, too. My answer is "yes" to all 3.
Definitely I have to cut food calories on weekends to make room for alcohol, and it shows in my macros (don't quite hit protein minimum, way below fat minimum). I have to front load nutrition to have my weekly macro minimums come out right. Inadequate nutrition is decidedly not a problem for me, but I do have to pay more attention to it when making room for alcohol.
Definitely also I sometimes say IDGAF to the carefully laid plans when drinking. So yeah, I eat more, too. Generally, though, snacks do help me stay on my plan (whether it's AF or not). Better for macros, too.5 -
dawnbgethealthy wrote: »Does anybody eat more when they are drinking?
Does anybody eat less when they are drinking?
Do the substitutes of snacks help control alcohol cravings?
Curious to know what y'all think about this.
For me the answer is no, yes, no. Being a smaller person my calorie limits are low so to fit alcohol in I have to eat less which isn't the best thing for my macros. Or I spend more time on the treadmill to get extra calories. I don't generally have alcohol cravings. It's more that it's a habit to have a couple of drinks on the weekends.4
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