Less Alcohol ~ DECEMBER 2021 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
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Hi : - )
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days, Diary style
Tuesday December 21 - Drinks. Not planned. I did the 6 minute wait 6 times and then caved. Planned drinks for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Wednesday December 22 - Drinks. Trying to be AF for Thursday
Thursday December 23 - Drinks. Well, I had only planned on 2 AF days this week...and drank on both of them. Not planning on another AF day for awhile, but will continue checking in. Happy holidays to all : - )
Friday December 24 - Drinks - Mostly I have been having 2. Being indulgent with food and drink, and I am okay with that : - )
Saturday December 25 - Drinks throughout the day of all sorts. We are snowed in here : - )
Rolling Total: 14AF days out of 25 days.5 -
Christmas Day indeed was "drinks throughout the day of all sorts". Great time. Today I was AF and right under my calorie goal for a change. I did not feel deprived one bit since Christmas filled my tank full of joy, laughter, and family love.5
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Hi : - )
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days, Diary style
Tuesday December 21 - Drinks. Not planned. I did the 6 minute wait 6 times and then caved. Planned drinks for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Wednesday December 22 - Drinks. Trying to be AF for Thursday
Thursday December 23 - Drinks. Well, I had only planned on 2 AF days this week...and drank on both of them. Not planning on another AF day for awhile, but will continue checking in. Happy holidays to all : - )
Friday December 24 - Drinks - Mostly I have been having 2. Being indulgent with food and drink, and I am okay with that : - )
Saturday December 25 - Drinks throughout the day of all sorts. We are snowed in here : - )
Sunday December 26 - Drinks day, starting with all sorts of yummy liquerus in coffee: espresso baileys, raspberry chocolate irish cream, spiced rum, orange brandy etc. Not ready to pull back the reigns on delicious food and drinks just yet. Loving being snowed in and just about to watch "White Christmas" with another full turkey dinner. Had so much fun shoveling today : - ) Photos to come.
Rolling Total: 14AF days out of 26 days.5 -
Here is an important reminder: doing your “best” looks different day to day. Not every day looks the same. What’s reasonable to expect yourself to do on some days is not necessarily reasonable on other days.
12/26 - 3 drinks 1 Torchy’s Tini @ lunch + 2 wine with dinner
December accountability: 11/26 days AF
Alcohol: 15 days (34 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF dabys per month. Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.4 -
Dragging in here from an uneventful Christmas. Spent probably an hour trying to enjoy the tree ceremony in our house. Then the rest of the day was in bed sleeping. Now husband has my illness. Oh this is going to be loads of fun.
I'm taking a new outlook on my decisions to go against two of my less drinking goals in the past months.
One being *no drinking two days in a row AND the other being *no more than two drinks per day.
After this many years of hard devotion to cutting back I feel I have MORE willpower to keep it in under control. Notice I did not say I have total willpower, I always want to be able to keep myself in check.
I have also learned that vodka and I do not get along in any way. Looking back at some of my worst moments with alcohol, vodka was in those drink recipes.
I'm looking forward to continuing my less alcohol journey out of 2021 and into 2022.
With a little more ease on my end to enjoy a stemmed glass of alcohol in a nice setting without guilt and over indulgence.
Look here-> the path to our January 2022 LESS ALCOHOL THREAD!!!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10851763/less-alcohol-january-2022-one-day-at-a-time/p1?new=1
👉 👌 👍 follow us into 2022
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I'm looking forward to continuing my less alcohol journey out of 2021 and into 2022.
With a little more ease on my end to enjoy a stemmed glass of alcohol in a nice setting without guilt and over indulgence.
I totally agree ... being able to enjoy a glass of wine or drink without guilt and over indulgence is a wonderful feeling! and a great goal.3 -
Well said to all of you!
This past month has not been my best by far with alcohol. I have been reflecting as I usually do this time of year about the year in general. I am not sorry I am on this journey and recognize that baby steps add up. When I think back to a year ago as a daily (and heavy) drinker to where I am now there has been improvement and awareness.
1. I started to have a handle on drinking less despite the health issues
2. I let the progress slide beginning in September and watched it start to spiral out of control through December.
3. Thinking back I can see my triggers, so baby steps to avoid them the best I can.
4. When I slip, I will not beat myself up about it. Accept it and move forward
5. Put app back on the phone for daily accountability or at least so I can monitor moods, triggers and amount of alcohol drank or skipped.
6. Be honest with myself8 -
Today I ran an hour and a half which is a lot (for me). No wine today because I have zero energy to get in the car and drive to the market. I have no desire to drink since I was off work today and was able to simply relax at home, took a nap and a warm bath, read up on places to travel. Zero housework
. I'd say today was a pretty good day. 5 -
Lilylady3k wrote: »Here is an important reminder: doing your “best” looks different day to day. Not every day looks the same. What’s reasonable to expect yourself to do on some days is not necessarily reasonable on other days.
This is such an excellent point.
My partner who still works is on vacation this week and even though I'm retired I tend to go into vacation mode with him which means I probably won't be AF for the rest of the month in spite of intending to earlier in the month. I'll still be reasonable with quantity.
I wonder about "triggers" ... I genuinely like the flavor of alcohol or more specifically a well balanced cocktail or an excellent wine with a nice meal. I don't drink to get buzzed though I do enjoy the relaxed state to a certain point.
I have a question to you all ... Do you drink for the buzz, the flavor, your general lifestyle or some other reason?
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@LazyBlondeChef
In response to your question:
I love the taste, the little buzz, the immediate relaxation.
I avoid it for my weight loss.3 -
Hi : - )
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days, Diary style
Tuesday December 21 - Drinks. Not planned. I did the 6 minute wait 6 times and then caved. Planned drinks for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Wednesday December 22 - Drinks. Trying to be AF for Thursday
Thursday December 23 - Drinks. Well, I had only planned on 2 AF days this week...and drank on both of them. Not planning on another AF day for awhile, but will continue checking in. Happy holidays to all : - )
Friday December 24 - Drinks - Mostly I have been having 2. Being indulgent with food and drink, and I am okay with that : - )
Saturday December 25 - Drinks throughout the day of all sorts. We are snowed in here : - )
Sunday December 26 - Drinks day, starting with all sorts of yummy liquerus in coffee: espresso baileys, raspberry chocolate irish cream, spiced rum, orange brandy etc. Not ready to pull back the reigns on delicious food and drinks just yet. Loving being snowed in and just about to watch "White Christmas" with another full turkey dinner. Had so much fun shoveling today : - ) Photos to come.
Monday December 27 - Drinks. I continue to enjoy lots of seasonal foods and a few drinks. In order to make my 16 this month I am planning AF for Tuesday and Thursday.
Rolling Total: 14AF days out of 27 days.3 -
@LazyBlondeChef "I have a question to you all ... Do you drink for the buzz, the flavor, your general lifestyle or some other reason?"
I think it is lifestyle & flavor for me when it comes to wine ... I like a nice wine with dinner. It makes for a relaxing evening.
I do like cocktails for the taste but rarely indulge ... avoiding them as I try to lose/maintain weight.
I no longer seek alcohol for the buzz ...4 -
When I drink, I drink to feel happy but definitely the flavor has to be good. I don't drink to relax though. The right wines actually energize me and make me chatty, so I like that effect. The downside is my husband falls asleep on me, meanwhile I feel like going out dancing all night long. LOL.
I'm planning on continuing AF until Friday night. And restricting calories too. It will help me start the new year a little less fat. 5 -
Winding down 2021. Last month, last week.
I love the thoughts and realizations that we come to think about as the New Year approaches.
The one I had the other day was an epiphany of sorts. I had not thought about alcohol for several days. Busy with the holiday season, still working during it all and then coming down with strep throat right before Christmas kept my mind busy in other directions.
Not even considering a New Years bash this year. Mostly because times have changed, and disappointments after putting out lots of money and having to travel to find venue for New Years celebration seems so foolish.
@LazyBlondeChef in answer to your question: I would always go for flavor/taste. But be unsatisfied by the overwhelming alcohol drowning out my flavor. Example- lemon drop martini or chocolate coconut martini.
PLUS I am a stemware nut. If it looks beautiful in lovely stemware it must taste good, right?
December accountability so far-
9 days alcohol
18 days AF
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Hi guys. Some really inspiring posts for December and some with similar hopes of a healthy low alcohol January.
So … December wasn’t a good month for alcohol or health in general. Too much booze, junk food, chocolate and general lazing around!
Feeling positive though for the New Year and a healthy January.
Happy Christmas all6 -
LazyBlondeChef wrote: »Lilylady3k wrote: »Here is an important reminder: doing your “best” looks different day to day. Not every day looks the same. What’s reasonable to expect yourself to do on some days is not necessarily reasonable on other days.
This is such an excellent point.
My partner who still works is on vacation this week and even though I'm retired I tend to go into vacation mode with him which means I probably won't be AF for the rest of the month in spite of intending to earlier in the month. I'll still be reasonable with quantity.
I wonder about "triggers" ... I genuinely like the flavor of alcohol or more specifically a well balanced cocktail or an excellent wine with a nice meal. I don't drink to get buzzed though I do enjoy the relaxed state to a certain point.
I have a question to you all ... Do you drink for the buzz, the flavor, your general lifestyle or some other reason?
I thought I drank for the flavour until I quit for a few months and then hated the taste of all alcohol. It smells and tastes like gasoline to me now, and I used to think red wine was the most gorgeous smell in the world.
It turns out the brain has the capacity to change the way you smell things to make you want them, so at 5pm every day, my brain made wine smell and taste absolutely exquisite.
Now the smell makes me gag, and a single sip will put a scowl on my face, the same way it did when I was a teen trying to choke back vodka to fit in.
I like high quality dealcoholized wines though, and there are some good ones on the market now. So it turns out I do actually like the smell and flavour of the non alcohol part of the wine. I just can't stomach the foul ethanol anymore.7 -
dawnbgethealthy wrote: »@LazyBlondeChef
In response to your question:
I love the taste, the little buzz, the immediate relaxation.
I avoid it for my weight loss.
That immediate relaxation and buzz aren't from the alcohol though. It can't work that fast. That's from the flood of brain chemicals that your brain is releasing to reward you for drinking the alcohol that *it* is craving.
The biggest high from alcohol comes from the happy drugs released by your brain to encourage you to drink, not from the booze itself. That's why a lot of people feel instant relaxation just from opening a bottle, pouring a glass, and taking the first sip.
The actual effects of drugs are nowhere near as powerful an enjoyable as the chemicals released by a brain that wants those drugs.7 -
I agree, @Xellercin , that the dopamine rush When deciding to have a drink (before it’s even poured!) is more powerful than the slight depressive effect of the drink. I also sometimes share the feeling of enjoying a mocktail taste better than an alcoholic drink taste. But not always. I was stunned by the delicious smoothness and body of our Christmas wine. It tasted so good. We poured a magnum for our reduced size crowd, so more for everyone. Then we had a champagne we bought on family Napa trip so happy memories.
December has been like a toboggan ride down an icy hill and I’m in a snow drift at the bottom. I’ve lost ground on some good habits that will take some effort to resume. But we’re still celebrating here! DH received a dozen Tiff’s cookies delivered hot, a dozen sprinkles cupcakes and an enormous 12” 5 layer Blum’s coffee crunch cake on his birthday, all from people who don’t know he’s trying to lose 10 pounds 🤣. That on top of buche de Noel, Christmas present sweets and birthday cake left over from my birthday. We still have our anniversary and NYE to go. I’m having a treat every day, keeping it to one of what I like best and not worrying about what gets “wasted.” My weight is flatlined in the middle of my maintenance range and that’s fine given how much splurging is still happening.
I had less than 2 glasses wine on DH bday only because the bottle went quickly and I didn’t drink fast enough. I would have liked more in that very moment but was glad we didn’t open more. I, too, am lingering over what is happening in my prefrontal cortex impaired brain that makes me want more when simultaneously I know more is a bad idea. Maybe it’s taste, but it’s also gaining momentum on an icy incline that is sweeping me down the hill. I may be enjoying the ride but I’m not entirely in control and that probably isn’t good.5 -
DH & I are AF this evening. Made my 12 days for December!
December accountability: 12/28 days AF
Alcohol: 16 days (36 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF dabys per month. Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.
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I like high quality dealcoholized wines though, and there are some good ones on the market now. So it turns out I do actually like the smell and flavour of the non alcohol part of the wine. I just can't stomach the foul ethanol anymore.
Can you recommend any brands?
Someone posted about some of the non-alcoholic "spirits" a while back but they are more expensive than alcohol and when looking at the ingredient list it seemed to mostly be sugar water so I'm reluctant to spend money on that type of thing. Especially since there are a ton of mocktail recipes out there that seem quite good with normal ingredients.
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@ahoy_m8 I just love how you write. So expressive. I feel like part of your post!
All those delicious sweets on top of everything else!?
I baked for the holidays and made sure it was all package and gifted within the same day as to not be tempted.
Stay away from that slippery slope.4 -
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@LazyBlondeChef I have a variety of the LYRE'S non-alcoholic spirits. Calories and carbs are very low per serving size. (17-25 calories 1 ounce)
They were a gift to me early October and I am surprised they are not empty yet 🤣. I think it is because I know they were a bit on the pricey side and I love the beautiful labels and bottles to look at in the frig.
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Three more witching days/ nights to get through for 2021.
Just getting my voice back on a limited basis. Not wanting to dry it out by consuming moisture sucking alcohol right now.
So now that I've written about my LYRE'S spirits above I can enjoy those if I do want a flavorful beverage in my new German glassware/stemware husband surprised me with.
Looking forward to getting back to a routine soon for so my different things. Mostly lifting weights.
New years come with new hopes in all sizes.
AF last night3 -
Glad people are having a good time this holiday season. I want to lose one more pound before the year is out. Just one more pound, please....
Best "fake" fizzy non-alcoholic rose: Senorio de la Tautila. And yep, hard to find and $$$$. I thought I tried all of them a year ago. I have not shopped for non-alcoholic stuff this year because juice and water is just cheaper and I could use some anti-oxidants anyway. And a good coffee or frozen yogurt hits the spot in a good way.3 -
Hi : - )
Going for my usual goal of 16-20 AF days, Diary style
Tuesday December 21 - Drinks. Not planned. I did the 6 minute wait 6 times and then caved. Planned drinks for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Wednesday December 22 - Drinks. Trying to be AF for Thursday
Thursday December 23 - Drinks. Well, I had only planned on 2 AF days this week...and drank on both of them. Not planning on another AF day for awhile, but will continue checking in. Happy holidays to all : - )
Friday December 24 - Drinks - Mostly I have been having 2. Being indulgent with food and drink, and I am okay with that : - )
Saturday December 25 - Drinks throughout the day of all sorts. We are snowed in here : - )
Sunday December 26 - Drinks day, starting with all sorts of yummy liquerus in coffee: espresso baileys, raspberry chocolate irish cream, spiced rum, orange brandy etc. Not ready to pull back the reigns on delicious food and drinks just yet. Loving being snowed in and just about to watch "White Christmas" with another full turkey dinner. Had so much fun shoveling today : - ) Photos to come.
Monday December 27 - Drinks. I continue to enjoy lots of seasonal foods and a few drinks. In order to make my 16 this month I am planning AF for Tuesday and Thursday.
Tuesday December 28 - AF - For the first time in awhile. Inching toward my 16AF for the month
Rolling Total: 15AF days out of 28 days.2 -
We are in a deep freeze here, no cross-country skiing or outdoor skating.
Before the freeze came we got so much beautiful snow. (It doesn't snow when it gets too cold)
And this was after shoveling a few times!
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Amazing ! Laughed at the one after shoveling multiple times. Meanwhile 80s in Texas, which was pretty convenient when COVID relegated our celebrations to the outdoors. DD#2 actually wore swimsuit all Xmas day5
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LazyBlondeChef wrote: »I like high quality dealcoholized wines though, and there are some good ones on the market now. So it turns out I do actually like the smell and flavour of the non alcohol part of the wine. I just can't stomach the foul ethanol anymore.
Can you recommend any brands?
Someone posted about some of the non-alcoholic "spirits" a while back but they are more expensive than alcohol and when looking at the ingredient list it seemed to mostly be sugar water so I'm reluctant to spend money on that type of thing. Especially since there are a ton of mocktail recipes out there that seem quite good with normal ingredients.
That's the thing, you can't buy them if you are looking at them as an inferior product to the alcoholic versions, they'll just seem like a ripoff. I perceive them as worth the value because they keep me very happily sober. I hate overly sugary beverages, so my options are usually water or soda water, that's it. So I'm willing to pay a premium for options at social events.
I'm in Canada, and my favourite brand is the grocery store house brand, President's Choice. They have a tasty merlot and a really nice sparkling white.
That said, I didn't start drinking NA wines until I had been sober for nearly a year, so to me they don't taste like imitation wine, they taste like a nice, not overly sweet, adult beverage when I want something at a dinner or party an don't want to be stuck with juuuuust water.
If I drank pop and juice, I would probably just stick to that like most sober folks do, but I hate pop and juice, I find them disgusting. I like NA beers though, especially Heineken, which is pretty much available everywhere here now.4
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