Less Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
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@looneycatblue I struggle with the witching hour!! (Hours!!!) mine always hit early between 4-6pm. Once I pass that I’m home dry so to speak!!
Realised mine have a lot to do with hunger and likely low blood sugar around that time. I’m trying to work something out to help with that - thinking maybe a banana/other snack to have at that time,
What does everyone else find helps them through the witching hour?
Jan 1-2 AF
DH & I go for a walk around 5pm … it usually helps break the pattern for me. Though he still struggles when we get home. But more often than not we both drink less if taking that evening walk.
The other thing that works for me is to move away from the kitchen and den … or at least away from the chair I usually sit in when drinking wine.
Good luck!7 -
I hate the witching hours! mine hit between 6-10pm. not only is alcohol witch on my shoulder so is her cousin chippy chip grrr....
The sock stayed on
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I got past the urge and the fat cat socks stayed on too! Didn't even peek. 😏
Thank you all for being here. 😻9 -
Hello fabulous people! Looking forward to making friends who can walk this journey with me. Feel free to send me a friend request. Good luck to everyone! We can do it!9
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I think it's my 3rd year doing this and looking back, hey we've come a long way! Feeling happy!
My "witching hours" went away ages ago, when I did a 3 month AF stretch. Looking back, eating dinner early helped as did keeping a bottle of pellegrino at my desk so I was always hydrated. I'd have 2oz of super-tart pure cranberry after dinner, because I "needed" something sour. And I allowed myself a small piece of chocolate if I needed it.
Month-to-date: 1AF day for me and husband. I'd like to hit 29 myself and if I can get husband to hit 20, I would be super happy.8 -
Back to witching hour conversation....I can relate with @lmlmrn and @jonsek - I did have the 4-6pm witching hour in the beginning and that went away after 1-2 weeks of AF. I agree hunger/low sugar and likely being worn out did not help. During dinner I was fine but after dinner, I had round 2 of witching hour where I craved a "taste". That lasted longer, maybe 1-2 months before I no longer needed my sweets and cranberry. I managed that stress by getting out of the kitchen asap after dinner, distracting myself by watching a movie, relying on an emergency chocolate, a melatonin gummy and early to bed.
But it took way longer to get rid of what I called my "wine devil" that would bug me in the supermarket if I went shopping late in the day. That was my biggest struggle. It was like a year. I just trained myself not to shop anymore in the late afternoon.10 -
Back to witching hour conversation ... a fancy glass with a non-alcohol beverage helped to also get me through that timeframe. Training myself in college and for the past 40 years to indulge in happy hour has been a hard habit to break.
Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit in champagne glass while DH has wine.
Margarita mix with a little club soda
Kombucha that I actually like ... Kevita Lemon Cayenne
Fridge stocked with yummy options to distract me
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Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »looneycatblue wrote: »Witching hour... staying strong... reminding myself how much better I will feel tomorrow morning, as long as I don't take the "sock" off the bottle!
Witching hour indeed, holding fast here too.
Using distractions, got a bubble bath and listening to audio book "This Naked Brain, Control Alcohol".
Don't touch the sock!
Witching hour got me too last night! Not one, but two of my AF martinis, and I was STILL was craving alcohol! I held fast though, and I’m glad I did. Those first couple of days going AF are always a challenge, but folks, it does get easier! Chocolate definitely helps!
@Fit_Happens_2021 ”The Alcohol Experiment “ is really good. I’ve done it before and really learned a lot. I love how there is no absolute requirement to be AF, so that took the pressure off!!! Also, I think a lot of us have the resolve of a wet tissue at the end of the day, so don’t feel bad! Some days it’s easier, some days we’re hanging on like grim death!
P.S “Don’t touch the sock” is freaking hilarious!!!10 -
Fluffdevil wrote: »Hello fabulous people! Looking forward to making friends who can walk this journey with me. Feel free to send me a friend request. Good luck to everyone! We can do it!
Welcome!!!!! Great to have you here!6 -
Witching hours~
My hour(s) in many past years would have started as early as when we went out for lunch. Or even Sunday brunches.
Getting out of the habit of following my DH's drinking pattern(s) has helped me out the most. I have even told him I will be your wife , BUT NOT your drinking buddy. We need to share and enjoy more than just alcohol together.
I would also want to drink in the past the momet I got off work. Be it 4:00 in the afternoon or 12:00 noon. Something about rewarding myself for getting through another work day 🙄. Plus the draw to sit on the deck in the warm sun having a cold alcoholic beverage.
It also took many years to wean out of " the habit" I had got myself into.
Keeping busy, on the move, trying new things, reading and posting here helps so much.
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Welcome to our new posters. Where ever you are on your drinking journey and headed with your goals you have come to the right place.
AF 2/28 -
So I drink most days (probably 350 days in 2021). Working from home the last year has made it worse on me and I have found myself 'needing' a drink in the evening instead of just wanting one. With that in mind I decided to take January off. I know its on the third but so far so good, this thread will help me keep on track!12
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@bionicrooster
I wasn’t quite there with 350 days + but had been approaching the late 200’s with ease.
I cut right back in November when I first joined this thread then drank through most of December.
I learnt a lot last time around and also learnt a lot about what I don’t want to re-start looking back at December.
I’m finding that treating my body well in the day (eating well + exercise) helps me through the evening cravings as I don’t want to ‘ruin’ my good work.
Well done everyone- this feels like the beginning of a new relationship with myself 😊10 -
Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »Thanks for the responses regarding alcohol in the house. It is interesting to see everyone has a different take on it. If I were living alone I probably would prefer not to have any in, but my husband likes an occasional drink so we will have some.
I have started the 'Alcohol Experiment' on 'This Naked Mind' and I am feeling really inspired!
It has even kindled a tiny glimmer of hope inside me that maybe I could go dry for January, but I am realistic and don't have a high expectation that will happen. Just a cautious wish really, like a little secret desire that feels too grand for someone like me, with all the resolve of a wet tissue in the evenings.
Jan 2022
01/01 - AF
That's my favourite thing about the Alcohol Experiment, it doesn't require you to be sober to benefit. It has totally different, but equally good benefits whether you drink during it or not.
I highly recommend reading This Naked Mind alongside the experiment if you are enjoying it. It's a great companion to the process and it's an easy read. I read it in the evenings as a relaxing alternative to drinking, because the one drinking rule with the experiment and the book are that you can still drink, just not while doing the experiment or reading the book. So since I was enjoying the book and couldn't drink while reading it, it helped me get through those first two weeks.8 -
@lilylady3k that Kimono was a scream.
I was expecting someone to say "sock- ee" to my sake question.
I am looking at my sock draw in a new light.7 -
I am doing this as well. Yes, you can get through January alcohol free! If you need support you can friend me! After 2 weeks you will start to forget about it (well I am hopingFit_Happens_2021 wrote: ».
I have started the 'Alcohol Experiment' on 'This Naked Mind' and I am feeling really inspired!
It has even kindled a tiny glimmer of hope inside me that maybe I could go dry for January, but I am realistic and don't have a high expectation that will happen. Just a cautious wish really, like a little secret desire that feels too grand for someone like me, with all the resolve of a wet tissue in the evenings.
Jan 2022
01/01 - AF ) . We can do this!
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Hiya! I'm in! Hopefully this will be my first dry January ever, it's my birthday on the 1st of Feb so its the perfect reward for making it that far. Let's see how I do
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For January I'm planning to extend my usual Mon-Thu AF to Sun-Thu AF.
I like tart cherry juice with sparkling water or club soda as a non-alcoholic beverage. It provides the stronger flavor that I prefer. I'm going to start trying to create a mocktail of the week for this month as well.8 -
December wasnt that great... but looking on the positive - havent fallen all the way back... But recently been having more difficulty keeping in check.. falling into the its only a beer, its only one drink etc etc. I think I am going to set small goals and stay away from Alcohol till the end of the week. The main reason being I havent caused any issues on the homefront yet, but I feel like I might if I continue drinking the way I am and set back all the progress we have made. 14
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My "Dry January" has been a bit damp as of yet!
For some reason I can't seem to find the motivation I had in November and the start of December. I am drinking less than I was in October, so I guess that's something, but I can't seem to give it up completely. I have also restarted "The Alcohol Experiment," but am not finding it as motivating as I did last year. Perhaps because I didn't really see all the benefits I'd hoped to see. Oh, well - less is still less, right?
It does not bother me to have alcohol in the house. In fact, I think it helps remind me that it's a choice, not a punishment. However, if I tell myself "you CANNOT have a drink!" it just makes me crave it. I'm obstinate that way. 9 -
I can understand that @Mouse_Potato ... I had thought about doing a Dry January but in the end just decided an extra day to my normal AF days. I'm doing it more to keep calories at the lower range as I seem to be up 2-3lbs from the holidays in spite of eating maintenance level calories. I'm sure it was related to what I ate (charcuterie, cheese, etc). I want it all gone within in the next couple of weeks.6
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Hey all, this is my first time ever doing a dry January, or striving for any AF goal actually. It’s partially for calorie control, partially for the anti-inflammatory effects on my autoimmune issues, and partially because I got so inebriated on Christmas Eve that I vomited for five hours straight. Getting sick like that made me rethink aaaaall my life choices.
I have no problem being AF in my own home. I do think I’ll need some extra motivation when I do social things with my friends.11 -
Mouse_Potato wrote: »My "Dry January" has been a bit damp as of yet!
For some reason I can't seem to find the motivation I had in November and the start of December. I am drinking less than I was in October, so I guess that's something, but I can't seem to give it up completely. I have also restarted "The Alcohol Experiment," but am not finding it as motivating as I did last year. Perhaps because I didn't really see all the benefits I'd hoped to see. Oh, well - less is still less, right?
It does not bother me to have alcohol in the house. In fact, I think it helps remind me that it's a choice, not a punishment. However, if I tell myself "you CANNOT have a drink!" it just makes me crave it. I'm obstinate that way.
I personally got a lot of the benefits of not drinking at about the 3 month mark. It varies, especially for women.
I can't remember what the phenomenon is called, but I read research where daily alcohol drinking creates these random spurts of exhaustion in women especially, and they can continue to occur for many months after quitting. Mine disappeared around the 6 month mark.7 -
@dethstar77 - You've come so far in this journey! It sounds like you have a wonderful plan for the week to prove to yourself that you can again cut back. Congrats on checking in and making the effort for you and your family!!!7
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A couple of glasses of wine this evening with DH. We have a baby granddaughter that made her debut today!!! She is adorable.9
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Jan 1 AF
Jan 2 AF
Jan 3 AF - The witching hour conversation has been helpful- I've resisted the witching hour tonight!8 -
Mouse_Potato wrote: »My "Dry January" has been a bit damp as of yet!
For some reason I can't seem to find the motivation I had in November and the start of December. I am drinking less than I was in October, so I guess that's something, but I can't seem to give it up completely. I have also restarted "The Alcohol Experiment," but am not finding it as motivating as I did last year. Perhaps because I didn't really see all the benefits I'd hoped to see. Oh, well - less is still less, right?
It does not bother me to have alcohol in the house. In fact, I think it helps remind me that it's a choice, not a punishment. However, if I tell myself "you CANNOT have a drink!" it just makes me crave it. I'm obstinate that way.
I personally got a lot of the benefits of not drinking at about the 3 month mark. It varies, especially for women.
I can't remember what the phenomenon is called, but I read research where daily alcohol drinking creates these random spurts of exhaustion in women especially, and they can continue to occur for many months after quitting. Mine disappeared around the 6 month mark.
That's very interesting! I was really tired for the first 2-3 weeks, but then it leveled out. I never stopped being jealous, though, of the people who kept gushing about all their newfound energy!
So, I sat with my thoughts for a bit today and I think I've figured out my problem. It's the whole "dry January" concept. When I started TAE in November, I went in with no commitment and no expectations. Each night I'd ask myself "are we having a drink tonight?" and I would answer "No, not tonight. Maybe tomorrow." The cravings disappeared surprisingly quickly and if I didn't feel particularly "good," I also didn't feel "bad." Nor did I feel any pressure one way or another. I think perhaps I will do better if I go back to the one-day-at-a-time mentality.11 -
LazyBlondeChef wrote: »I can understand that @Mouse_Potato ... I had thought about doing a Dry January but in the end just decided an extra day to my normal AF days. I'm doing it more to keep calories at the lower range as I seem to be up 2-3lbs from the holidays in spite of eating maintenance level calories. I'm sure it was related to what I ate (charcuterie, cheese, etc). I want it all gone within in the next couple of weeks.
@LazyBlondeChef I think you have the right idea. Progress over perfection. 6
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