Less Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time

lmlmrn

Busy day for me, took me by surprise
Af again last night and tonight. Mr. & Mrs. Sock are home with the nips. I am sure I will catch them this week and post a picture

dawnbgethealthy

My usual goal, 16-20 AF days per month.

My schedule pretty much dictates my AF days.
I will be AF on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for the next few months.

Diary style is how I keep track


Friday January 7th - Drinks, Mulled Cider with Spiced Rum. Planned drinks for Saturday also.
Saturday January 8th - Drinks, 2 in the afternoon and none after.
Sunday January 9th - AF - Had a nice glass of hot mulled cider after skating, no booze needed to make it delicious, the cloves and cinnamon had really mulled in it well.
Monday January 10th - AF - Working (and skating) out of town tomorrow with an evening shift at the restaurant so wanted to be AF. Heck, I am usually in my pjs in the evening, not at work.

Rolling total: 7AF days out of 10 days.

dawnbgethealthy

@Lilylady3k

Sorry that you had a bad day. I had one too, they happen.
Glad that you are able to turn to positivity.

I live a bit of a bohemian lifestyle, so leaving the tree up all year round probably would have been okay lol. I needed the space though.
I have so many candles and those battery powered blingy little light up things. I get up super early in the mornings usually and enjoy turning them all on and lighting some candles with my coffee. Glad to hear that you also do that.

The 12th day of Christmas (and also women's Christmas, an Irish tradition) is usually the signal that I have to at least put the ceramic Santa Clauses back in the Christmas bin. Porch lights are white, I leave them up year round. Snowflake type things are safe to leave out and around until spring in my mind.

Heck @lmlmrn didn't you just find your decorations? ; - )

Turtlemummy

@missMay thank you for the encouragement. I get 4 glasses (or 3 large ones) from a bottle, so yes it's progress. If counting units, it's significant!
Tonight we'll see. I'd like a drink BUT also have a good reason not to. DH is leaving early for work tomorrow so I have to do the school run, which means being up, dressed, awake enough to drive and with my act together by 07.00. I'll aim for AF but not beat myself up if one drink sneaks in. Will update later!

GiveHerGrace

Posting for accountability. Day 17 AF.

12/25 - 12/31 AF
1/1 - 1/10 AF

Turtlemummy

I am choosing AF today.
For various reasons I will choose to drink tomorrow and Thurs.
I am remaining mindful, and my ultimate aim is to make wine something I choose to have, rather something I have to choose *not* to have.
4 days AF
1 day half normal
6 days normal.
Revised aim at least 12 AF days

sarah7591

Day 12 here and doing well. My only problem is I have been binge eating more. Not sure what is worse. Oh well...this too shall pass.

Fit_Happens_2021

sarah7591 wrote: »

Day 12 here and doing well. My only problem is I have been binge eating more. Not sure what is worse. Oh well...this too shall pass.

Grats on day 12! I am on day 11. The alcohol is worse. I mean, yes the calories in foods can add the lbs, and some of it might not be the healthiest choices (when I binge they aren't ) but the calories in the alcohol combined with what I now know alcohol actually does to the brain, and the rest of the body, that is worse.

@GiveHerGrace Very inspiring, that is what... 27 days now? Have you used a particular program or method to help you? Are you noticing differences in how you feel? I am already feeling physical differences and it has only been 11 days.

@MissMay That is fantastic, and yes why not keep going if you can!!

Fit_Happens_2021

Lilylady3k wrote: »

I know it is crazy but for some reason Bob Saget passing away at 65 hit home. I don't follow him but do remember Full House. But the thing is ... I'm 61 and NOW a grandma. Things just hit me and I felt old which then made me think about all the people in my life that have passed away ... and how much closer I'm getting to that timeframe of losing friends and family that die. Crazy how it just spiraled out of control today. So drinking was definitely not the answer!!!
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@Lilylady3k It is sad, 65 is still young, and he had all those tour dates planned not knowing, yes very sad
It hit me hard when Robin Williams died, I actually went into a few weeks of depression.

We are more removed from death in our modern societies than we used to be, and it looms scarily somewhere in the future, while we try not to think about it. I take comfort in the fact that I have loved ones who went ahead of me, and I believe I will be with them again. My Mum lived to be 86, and my father, who had three heart attacks in his 60's, lived to be 94.

You have so many good things in your life, that little grand baby for a start! It is part of the human condition, we are the only creature on the planet who really actually understands and knows that we will die one day. We are blessed, and cursed, with a consciousness that no other animals possess, and in a way, that makes life so much more precious, each day counts.

ducky133

@Fit_Happens_2021 I agree that we are quite removed from death, and I do think it makes it more frightening. I am 63 so hearing that folks my age are dying does make me pause, and also make me want to get more out of whatever time I have left. Had a rare AF night last night. Suggested to my husband that we skip cocktail hour and watch a movie. Although he also drinks most nights he never goes overboard and he was happy to skip the drinks. (It was a bit harder for me.) We watched the Judy Garland movie. Talk about sad.

Lilylady3k

@Fit_Happens_2021 Thank you for your words.
One of the reasons I'm here is that one grandparent was a heavy drinker ... dare I say alcoholic. She died from liver cirrhosis in her 70s. So good to get things under control now verse later. Not being a daily drinker is definitely an accomplishment in my books since I dropped in here on Dec 28 2019 and been back over and over for accountability.

@Turtlemummy - "I am remaining mindful, and my ultimate aim is to make wine something I choose to have, rather something I have to choose *not* to have." --- LOVE how you worded this and the thought process behind it. Great goal!

looneycatblue

quick check-in: 8 AF / 2 A

lmlmrn

I am happy to report I am doing well being AF....so far 9/11 days. I am surprised it is not as hard as I expected. My longest streak is 14 days and I am on my way to break my record I set last year in April. It was also the month I had 24 AF days. I think I want to break my record LOL

I am beginning to wonder/worry if I have any liver damage after 25+ years of daily drinking? About 7 years ago I had a liver biopsy because of the dangers of a medication I was taking and it came back fine. But is it still that way? I don't have any symptoms that this may be a problem but I am a worry wart.

I did run into the 'socks' family. Of course baby sock had to photo bomb the picture

Fit_Happens_2021

lmlmrn wrote: »

I am beginning to wonder/worry if I have any liver damage after 25+ years of daily drinking? About 7 years ago I had a liver biopsy because of the dangers of a medication I was taking and it came back fine. But is it still that way? I don't have any symptoms that this may be a problem but I am a worry wart.

I did run into the 'socks' family. Of course baby sock had to photo bomb the picture

hahaha I love their hats! Brilliant

Liver disease, yes, that is my number one 'why'.

Alcohol doesn't ruin my life, I keep a steady weight with a healthy BMI, I don't get into arguments or act out when drunk, it isn't wrecking my relationships, I rarely feel depressed, my anxiety is caused by watching the news, but it isn't that bad that I would consider giving up wine for it, it doesn't stop me doing anything or being happy.

Nope, my only reason is health - when I saw that documentary about liver damage in people who thought they drank moderately it made me sit up and listen. I was shocked, then I found out about it causing cancer as well and was even more shocked that I didn't know it was a major carcinogen.

Lilylady3k

@lmlmrn Love Love Love your growing sock family!! You are quite creative. Thanks for the reminder and entertainment.

jonsek

Really enjoying reading your stories and accounts. Such positivity!
I’m 11 days AF and feel AMAZING 🤩
There really is now no denying in my mind what excess alcohol was doing to me.
I sleep well, have so much more motivation and energy and my anxiety has improved massively.
I listened carefully to your stories and advice, joined the AE and got a better understanding of how alcohol was affecting me and the science behind the cravings.
Most importantly I got from you all how important it is to be present and appreciate what I have now. I’m 39 with a great husband and 3 amazing young children and I don’t want to miss out on giving them everything I possibly can because of alcohol.
I’m still working out what my future relationship with alcohol will look like. I plan on having some wine for my husband’s birthday this weekend. I’ll make more definitive plans as I get closer.
Well done everyone and thank you all for sharing

jonsek

Womona

Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »

Womona wrote: »

@Fit_Happens_2021 ah, rage porn. That’s pretty much what news is. I think it’s amazing that you are looking at this habit now that you’re paying attention to your drinking. So many benefits to being mindful!

Here’s my hot take- we are being manipulated by news and social media to feel rage and fear. Rage and fear keeps our eyes on the media, and makes them, their advertisers and stockholders gobs of money. They more they keep us engaged by getting us hopped up with emotion, the more they win. Think about it. There are just as many feel-good stories out there that never get the attention they deserve, because good news doesn’t sell. Bad news does. Perhaps knowing we’re being manipulated will make it easier to just turn off the TV, get rid of the news apps on your phone, etc.

Whether you agree with me or not, if the habit of watching the news is setting you up for stress, and is affecting you and your DH’s, you may want to take a media break for a week or two and see how you feel.

As my dad once said when I told him I need to stay on a budget, “stay out of the stores.” Same idea!

You hit the nail on the head! I absolutely agree. I never used to be like this and I am going to take those news apps and social media apps off my phone, and stop tuning into the news every morning.

Day 9 AF

Atta girl! 😆

Lilylady3k

@jonsek - You have a beautiful family!!! I had 3 kids too seems like many many moons ago. Now they are married and starting to have a family of their own. Thank you for sharing the picture.

tmbg1

Jan 1-6 AF
Jan 7-9 Had wine
Jan 10- 11 AF - 8 AF out of 11 - less is definitely feeling more sustainable