Less Alcohol ~ JULY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,755 Member
Do you want to drink LESS?
Then join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.
■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time.
•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.
•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:
▪▪▪▪
•Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol
by Holly Whitaker
•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
~Established 2017~
Then join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.
■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time.
•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.
•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:
▪▪▪▪
•Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol
by Holly Whitaker
•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
~Established 2017~
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Replies
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Hello and welcome to July 2022 LESS ALCOHOL
No matter the reason:
if you HAVE to
if you WANT to
if your going to give it a BREAK
WE are on this thread to support each others choice to consume LESS ALCOHOL in our lives.
Start today with the 4 day holiday weekend knocking at the door.
TODAY is tomorrow. There is no good reason to wait.
Happy Friday. 🇺🇲
4 -
Hi : - )
My name is Dawn.
My continuing goal is 16-20 AF days per month.
I had 19AF days in June.
Diary style:
Friday July 1st, Canada Day: Planned Mojitos today. I am off of work at 3pm and the celebrations (very close to my house) start at 2pm with the dignitaries' speeches etc. There will be bands and all sorts of fun stuff. I will be back and forth from my house throughout. @globalhiker you are familiar with my Mojito process, and with my friend and guitar player Fred who I will be hanging with for the duration amongst others. Love love love that you know where I am now when I describe stuff : - )4 -
So...I have these Egyptian walking onions. They are beginning to do their stuff, forming clusters of tiny onions at the top, which will tip over and replant themselves at some point, essentially "walking".
@globalhiker you saw these before they got to this step.
I do sometimes eat the little ones from the top.6 -
Thank you for keeping us going, @MissMay . And thank you especially for the timely Fourth of July warnings.
Same goals:
M-Th AF
F-Su 2 max
In June, I complied with the M-Th AF (18 days AF for the month, although I account by the week). On weekends, however, I drank >2 at least one day every week. I continue to have more success with abstinence than moderation. I'm going to work on the Scott Pinyard notion of approaching moderation from a place of liberation vs. rules. Actually, this concept applies equally to eating for me.
Maybe it's not the best way to start a new month, but I am assenting to drinks on Monday, 7/4 if the mood strikes. Usually we would go to our sailing club which is a big all day drinking scene. This year we have decided to stay home and sit in the pool. Mostly because of the heat. It's uber hot trying to sail when it's 101F with no wind. Rolling sails in the harbor is hotter still. And DH's power boat needs work he has been strenuously avoiding, so that is a stressor for him, not relaxing. The club pool is warm and laughably crowded, so it feels like taking a bath with 50 drunk people. The fireworks are great, though, so we will miss that. And I do miss my sailing friends tons. All 3 daughters will be in town but with friends on 7/4 proper, so it will be a fun weekend with tons going on even if quiet on the 4th. Here's hoping everyone who celebrates it has a fun and safe holiday!4 -
Hi there, I’m new here, I lurked the June thread the last few days of June. I drink 2 drinks 4-5 days a week. I never get behind the wheel and I am not getting drunk from these two drinks. Back in 2018 I was stuck in a really crappy job and was drinking a 1.5 L bottle of wine every night by myself, so I’m glad to say I’ve cut down from that. That continued up through 2020. Job got better and I drink less now. The things that are worrisome to me are:
My sleep
My blood pressure
If I don’t have alcohol in the house, I’m anxious, even if I don’t plan to drink it. To the point where I go out and buy it, put it in the fridge and go to bed
I am also on a weight loss journey, with 80 pounds to lose so I must admit, I do sometimes use those 200 calories of drink instead of having a healthy snack.
I’m not sure what my goal is in being here yet, I’m hoping to learn from this board.
Thanks for reading, happy July to all!15 -
I think Dawn and I cross posted and I didn't get a chance to admire or comment on her walking onions. Love these photos! I totally would eat the ones on the top!
ETA: Welcome back, @joans1976. I like how you describe your progress and how you are approaching new goals. It's smart to be circumspect. I hope you glean all the insight that's useful to you.5 -
thank you @MissMay for starting our thread of good cheer and encouragement. what are your plans now for the summer?
@joans1976 wecome to the thread, you story is so familiar with me. Can't wait to keep up with you on your journey
@dawnbgethealthy I have never heard of walking onions. I am going to look for them for next year
New month and new fun in the sun????
So much a new month I started it with a much (in my head) deserved 2 beer lunch/dinner complete with nap.
The remodel is mentally draining. But stove and frig are installed. Master bath demo on Monday. Counter tops go in on Wed and hope to have water in kitchen on July 11 (Monday). Shifting stuff from one place to another in our home trying to function with water only from the tub and bathroom sink. My nerves are taking a beating. But today bought my shelf liner and will start that tomorrow and Sunday. Saturday afternoon time out at my brothers for cookout. Sunday finish what needs to be done for demo.
Ok I am going to run I am tired and going to bed x5 -
Hello friends,
I am in for July!. @looneycatblue and anyone else who wants to do a "sprint" AF challenge, ......please join me. July 5th start is IDEAL. I will stock my fridge with lot of carbonated water and some treats to "prep". Chocolate and cheese is my back-up plan.
First, thanks for @MissMay for keeping the thread going. You do good things for us all!
Kudos to everyone battling daily life stresses - me too - plans are to relax and re-set this weekend and of course, double up on missed exercise and beef up my protein intake (fan of my Fage 2% fat greek yogurts, they seem to kill my appetite).
Let's make July successful for us!
4 -
@dawnbgethealthy - Never heard of walking onions. Very cool pics. I too would me roasting a few of those onions on the tops of the plant ... they look tasty!
Welcome! @joans19763 -
July accountability: 0 days AF
Alcohol: 1 days (1 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.
* 7/1 - 1 wine3 -
@dawnbgethealthy I can’t decide if walking onions are creepy or not! I do like the idea of these little guys planting themselves, thus saving you work, but I can see them taking over the yard!
Good to see you all for July! My June was pretty good with 9 AF days, but 4 of them were because I was sick, so… not quite on plan. We have a lot of celebrating this weekend. My son just graduated Army Basic Training (he is National Guard) and OMG what a joy to see him after 10 weeks. He is walking taller, and is more confident and focused. He left a guy, and came back a man. I am so incredibly proud of and inspired by him. His next step is Officer Candidate School, but doesn’t yet have his orders as to where and when, so he is in limbo for now. Hopefully he’ll find out next weekend.
My other son came home from his internship, so I’m looking forward to some nice family time with everyone. We plan to go sailing, eat delicious meals, maybe golf. I am in the bosom of my family and am beyond happy.
As for alcohol, well, the plan is no more than two drinks per day this weekend, then back to AF Mon-Wed, and only 1-2 max on weekend.
I’m back to exercising four days a week, so hopefully between that and good food choices, I can get those last five pounds gone. I’ve been struggling with them for a few years now! I just want my “mom Pooch” to go away and my pants to fit better.
6 -
Hello all, thank you for the welcomes!
7/1: 2 drinks
((I’m not sure what I’m aiming for yet so I can’t really put goals in. I would like to be able to not have alcohol in the house, even if I don’t plan to drink it)
We have our annual 4th of July pool party tomorrow and drinks will be had, along with foods that aren’t exactly going to fit in my calorie goals. Small portions or no portions I guess!
Everyone stay safe!6 -
July accountability: 1 days AF
Alcohol: 1 days (1 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.
* 7/1 - 1 wine
* 7/2 - AF; All the kids were here for our family celebration with the new grandbabies. Though Saint Arnold Summer Pils (my personal favorite) was an option … I instead drank 1 Heineken 0.0.5 -
Hello All! Its your occasionally posting totally AF friend dropping in with two awesome non alcoholic cocktail tricks I picked up on vacation … the first was a miso margarita… it might sound weird, but it was amazing. NA margaritas are usually either too acidic or too sweet for me - the bartender was blending the marg mix with a bit of miso paste, ginger and chinese five spice powder. The saltiness of the miso balanced everything out and also added a fuller mouthfeel. I havent tried to duplicate at home yet but worth experimenting with.
The other was a hibiscus tea based drink - you could mix it with elderflower lemonade or normal lemonade or with one of the san pellegrino flavored sparkling waters, what made it special was that they ground up some dried hibiscus flowers (same that they otherwise brew the tea from) with sugar and it created a very tart maroon colored sugar. To serve the drink they shook the hibiscus tea and an egg white over ice to create a foamy drink, poured it in a coupe glass, added the lemonade or sparkling water (pour along side of glass to not ruin foam) and then create a decorative design on the foam with the sugar (or alternatively you can just rim the glass with it before making the drink). They basically made a thick line of hibiscus sugar (or you could do a swirl) and topped it with some tiny edible flowers.
Happy belated Canada Day and early 4th!5 -
July 1-2 = had wine both days. Gonna kick off this week AF now. Did very well in June and want to do even better for July!5
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@Sinisterbarbie1 your drinks sound amazing!
Stuck to 1 can fizzy rose past 2 days. Celebrating today w/ BBQ and family and will limit myself to 1.5oz gin mixed in with blended fruit. Set a drinking window between 12-2 pm. Gin is so strong I can mix 0.75 oz of it into a drink and make 2 drinks out of 1 gin serving.
Today, BBQ! Skipping breakfast and getting in some cardiokickboxing (youtube). Too hot run outside.
For the 4th,I I will strap on my garmin and hit 1-2 nice, cold malls and walk, walk, walk, all day. Hopefully get lucky and squeeze into a size 8 jean. This is my "mall workout" plan.
Weight is starting to come off and my appetite in control!!! UNREAL! I'm eating 2 meals a day, brunch: full fat greek yogurt, bowl of broccoli w/grated parmesan or sauteed zucchini, then a red grapefruit or orange. If I am starving still an hour or two later, I have a cup of chili beans or indian-style lentils. Dinner is chicken/fish/meat with salad. If I have a craving after dinner, I tbsp crunchy peanut butter it is (addresses my craving for peanut butter cups). I ditched the potatoes, they were bloating the heck out of me. Drinking my daily whole bottle of fizzy italian mineral water. It's pricey but it's way cheaper than wine I tell myself. Plus I need a lot of water to carry the fat away.
AF and skinny jeans are in my future
6 -
Everyone sounds like they are doing so great and has everything planned! We have a party today so I’m not sure what will happen food wise.
7/1: 2 drinks
7/2: 2 drinks7 -
July Accountability
Goal: 3A days per week, a glass of water between drinks when drinking more than one, and no more than 3 drinks on a high activity day. I've been stuck at the same weight for a while now and want to lose 15 lbs.
6/27 - AF
6/28 - AF
6/29 - 1 double IPA + 1 wine
6/30 - 1.5 hazy IPAs
7/1 - AF
7/2- 2 hazy IPAs at lunch, 1 wine & 1 orange crush at dinner4 -
Hi : - )
My name is Dawn.
My continuing goal is 16-20 AF days per month.
I had 19AF days in June.
Diary style:
Friday July 1st, Canada Day: Planned Mojitos today. I am off of work at 3pm and the celebrations (very close to my house) start at 2pm with the dignitaries' speeches etc. There will be bands and all sorts of fun stuff. I will be back and forth from my house throughout. @globalhiker you are familiar with my Mojito process, and with my friend and guitar player Fred who I will be hanging with for the duration amongst others. Love love love that you know where I am now when I describe stuff : - )
Saturday July 2nd - Got into Gin Slings after working in the yard in preparation for 2 rainy days. Grass got cut and stuff. Planning AF for Sunday. Have fun on the 4th everyone.
Rolling total - 0AF days out of 2 days.6 -
I tried a non-alcoholic beer by Athletic Brewing Company today and it was so good and refreshing! Love that I found a good alternative for when I'm craving a cold one.7
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July accountability: 2 days AF
Alcohol: 1 days (1 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.
* 7/1 - 1 wine
* 7/2 - AF; 1 Heineken 0.0
* 7/3 - AF; 1 Heineken 0.0
Steak night and both DH & I drank water instead of opening a bottle of red wine. Our cocktail ... he had Summer Pils my favorite but there was only one left from yesterday's celebration. I stuck with the AF version of Heineken.5 -
I tried a non-alcoholic beer by Athletic Brewing Company today and it was so good and refreshing! Love that I found a good alternative for when I'm craving a cold one.
That’s great! Seems like there are a lot of good NA beer options out there. Now, if there could only be a good one for us wine drinkers….5 -
I’m meeting my goal of no more than two drinks this holiday weekend! That’s huge for me because I usually pour that next half or full glass of wine. Very proud of myself for that!
Yesterday we played 9 holes of golf, and I wasn’t planning on having a drink in the cart, but my partners all did, so then of course I wanted one. Big mistake. The first two holes I played amazing, but as the alcohol consumption went up, alas, so did my score (which, if you know golf, is bad!). I started out so strong and was a disaster by the end of 9 holes. Ugh. Next time I’ll have a few sips of my husband’s drink, and just stick to water!
Today we go on the boat. Sail to a shoal, drop anchor, swim and chill. Can’t wait! I am going to keep to my 2 drink maximum. Not sure if I’m going to have both on the boat, or one on the boat and one with dinner. I do find that I am really sleepy on the ride home, so I should definitely just have an iced tea at dinner instead to wake myself up after a day out in the sun and wind. Oh, and a drink definitely does not help with that!
I am thoroughly enjoying both my sons being home this weekend! BTW if anyone wants to completely change their physique, join the army and go to boot camp! My son left kinda doughy, came back ripped and freaking jacked! I have never seen abs or biceps on this guy. Wow, what a transformation!5 -
I too have found an AF beer that I like that has 35 calories.
I am not a beer drinker, so it is a nice treat and it doesn't trigger me like mocktails do.
7 -
Hi : - )
My name is Dawn.
My continuing goal is 16-20 AF days per month.
I had 19AF days in June.
Diary style:
Friday July 1st, Canada Day: Planned Mojitos today. I am off of work at 3pm and the celebrations (very close to my house) start at 2pm with the dignitaries' speeches etc. There will be bands and all sorts of fun stuff. I will be back and forth from my house throughout. @globalhiker you are familiar with my Mojito process, and with my friend and guitar player Fred who I will be hanging with for the duration amongst others. Love love love that you know where I am now when I describe stuff : - )
Saturday July 2nd - Got into Gin Slings after working in the yard in preparation for 2 rainy days. Grass got cut and stuff. Planning AF for Sunday. Have fun on the 4th everyone.
Sunday July 3rd - AF - Got out for a nice lake walk during a break in the rain.
Rolling total - 1AF days out of 3 days.8 -
Hello all! Everyone seems to be doing so well with their goals! It’s inspiring. I came here to kind of sort things out but there’s a holiday in here so my whole schedule is off. We had our annual (and last-house is going up for sale) 4th of July pool party yesterday. I stayed under calories but had 3 drinks! I haven’t had 3 drinks in a day since Christmas. And very little water and out in the sun for 6 hours. The only kind thing I did for my body yesterday was apply and re-apply sunscreen. I felt awful at the end of the day, all that salty food and no water. I feel fine today but today will definitely be AF and full of water.
7/1: 2 drinks
7/2: 2 drinks
7/3: 3 drinks (!)8 -
I tried a non-alcoholic beer by Athletic Brewing Company today and it was so good and refreshing! Love that I found a good alternative for when I'm craving a cold one.
That’s great! Seems like there are a lot of good NA beer options out there. Now, if there could only be a good one for us wine drinkers….
So true! Haven't found a wine alt yet. However, I do like Curious Elixirs for mocktails but they are expensive.5 -
Happy 4th!!!
July accountability: 2 days AF
Alcohol: 2 days (2 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.
* 7/1 - 1 wine
* 7/2 - AF; 1 Heineken 0.0
* 7/3 - AF; 1 Heineken 0.0
* 7/3 - 1 Saint Arnolds Summer Pils then switched to an AF beer 1 Heineken 0.04
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