Less Alcohol ~ AUGUST 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
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I am Dawn. I joined this thread in November of 2018
My usual goal: 16-20 AF per month.
I had 19AF days for July.
Diary style (I post the next morning)
Saturday August 20 - AF - I am sure that I can get 5 more AF days in this month to reach my AF goal.
Sunday August 21 - AF - I really felt like having drinks, but had a mock cherry sling, which felt like it was giving me the little buzz that I was looking for lol. Busy day Monday, so it was best to be AF. I may have a couple of cocktails Tuesday night after work.
Monday August 22 - AF - Long workday with my 2 jobs, felt like having drinks (like usual) afterward, but didn't. My waistline (and weight) sure does reduce after AF days.
Tuesday August 23 - 2 drinks, felt like a 3rd but knew that would be too much. Enjoyed the flavour and my little "buzz". 7 days to get 3 more AF days in, pretty sure that I can do it.
Wednesday August 24 - AF - Made myself a mocktail with bitters instead of any of my flavour extracts. It was okay, I prefer the banana, orange or cherry extracts in these drinks. Bitters are almost 50% alcohol, so I used just 3 drops.
Rolling total: 14AF days out of 24 days5 -
This thread has been a game changer for me and I sincerely appreciate every one of you!
I joined in July 2022 and it has already made a big impact!
8/1-8/7: 5 AF out of 7
8/8-8/14: 5 AF out of 7
8/15-8/21: 6 AF out of 7
Rolling total 16 AF out of 21
8/22: AF Back to work yesterday and it was as bad as everything I stayed up the night before worrying about. I need a life coach to get me away from this job. Sorry, just feeling sorry for myself this morning.
8/23: AF
8/24: AF
8/25: AF
Going to the doctor today to discuss some bloodwork I’m not happy about. Proud to be able to tell her I’ve cut way down on alcohol-and it will be the truth.8 -
I am Dawn. I joined this thread in November of 2018
My usual goal: 16-20 AF per month.
I had 19AF days for July.
Diary style (I post the next morning)
Saturday August 20 - AF - I am sure that I can get 5 more AF days in this month to reach my AF goal.
Sunday August 21 - AF - I really felt like having drinks, but had a mock cherry sling, which felt like it was giving me the little buzz that I was looking for lol. Busy day Monday, so it was best to be AF. I may have a couple of cocktails Tuesday night after work.
Monday August 22 - AF - Long workday with my 2 jobs, felt like having drinks (like usual) afterward, but didn't. My waistline (and weight) sure does reduce after AF days.
Tuesday August 23 - 2 drinks, felt like a 3rd but knew that would be too much. Enjoyed the flavour and my little "buzz". 7 days to get 3 more AF days in, pretty sure that I can do it.
Wednesday August 24 - AF - Made myself a mocktail with bitters instead of any of my flavour extracts. It was okay, I prefer the banana, orange or cherry extracts in these drinks. Bitters are almost 50% alcohol, so I used just 3 drops.
Thursday August 25 - AF - Planned drinks Friday and or Saturday. Getting close to my goal of 16. Working a split shift on Friday, so that would be nice for me to kick back and have a couple of drinks after that.
Rolling total: 15AF days out of 25 days4 -
@Lilylady3k I hope you get to have your vacation. I understand the retirement transition thing. Believe me, in my family it's a current topic of conversation, too. At my mom's funeral, my cousin's husband (who we are hiking with in September) said his goal was to die broke and at this rate he has 100% probability of success. Ok maybe it was funnier in person.
I'll toss a comment in the sleep conversation... Last week (mom died, funeral 5 days later with no arrangements having been made in advance) I had nowhere near enough sleep. Even nights I had enough TIME to sleep, I just laid there awake processing the information of the day. So Monday I emailed my Dr. to discuss Temazepam. It really helped me 20 years ago when I had major depression (divorce) but could not tolerate antidepressants. He thought trying it was a good idea. OMG I forgot how awesome that Rx is for me. (I know everyone reacts to meds differently). I spring awake with happiness and well-being. The day might go straight downhill from there, but at least it starts in a better place. I know Rx is not the solution for a long term or chronic sleep problem, but man, I'll take the help for now.
@MissMay I am so, so sorry for the family drama. My heart goes out to you. My family had fuckups and misunderstandings and it was hard enough without intentional drama. I just can't imagine getting through it with people putting obstacles in the way. It is just a rough patch of road.
Alcohol... I was doing ok with AF weeknights until last night when stepdad and his granddaughter (in town for weekend before college starts) came for dinner. DH asked if anyone wanted wine. At that point, I felt perfectly ambivalent - didn't care either way. But after the first glass I had 2 more. WTF?
Also, I'm doing my mileage but tanked on strength training and have lost weight. Not a good combination as that muscle mass is so. hard. to. gain. Honestly, the reason I'm on MFP in the first place is I "intuitively" eat more than I need to maintain. If I am not making some effort to eat the right amount, I will gain. I maintain at the low edge of "normal" BMI so technically being underweight doesn't make me feel good about retaining lean mass, especially in the absence of strength training. Not feeling great about myself on that front, either.6 -
@dawnbgethealthy thanks for the shout out with the bitters! I like (haha) the 'old fashioned' in diet tonic water. That one gets me going.
@MissMay ..damn the drama! Come visit me I have a few tubes of paint that are calling your name.
Long mindless post.........about silly things
So my mom is doing so much better. She is even cutting back on the amt of oxygen the concentrator is putting out; moved it down from 3 to 2.5 in hopes to 'wean' herself off. I think her motivation is....we played cards at her house on Saturday..... She is a huge huge huge card player and has not been able to go to the senior center since becoming ill to play pinnacle 3 days a week. So yesterday I drove her to her hair appt and she has her portable with her. She thought that went real well so now she is on a mission to get back to cards.
I went to my mandatory fair meeting last night to get the details for work starting next week. Good news is I am at the same gate selling tickets as before. Bad news is the one woman who was such a 'stick in the mud' last year will now be the supervisor over that area.
She hated, hated, did I mention she hated that me and another gal had these dowels with ribbon on them and we waved them out our little booth to attract people to come to our booth? She was given one that was made for her and she said to me that this so silly a thing that she ever saw and she put the sticks in the corner of her booth.
So of course I took them home last year and really TRICKED them out lol. So I plan to bring them back and use them. Her words to me last night. You better not bring anymore than just one for you. They are just too stupid. Why the F* is she even working there if you can't bring a smile to someone? Then she said it was her job to attract people and direct them to the booth???WTF? It's going to be a roller coaster of a ride this year!
AF last night.
I am sorry I could not remember who posted this but you mentioned about back in 2018 you could not remember stringing AF nights together and baby steps...something like that.
Sheesh I did not have an AF day for 20 years until I ventured on this thread in Jan 2021. Every night was the same thing Hard liquer+ diet something until you either blacked out or could hardly find the way to the bedroom. All while being able to get up at 4:45 am and go to the gym then on to work That was insane.
Ok TMI up there sorry
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@MissMay My best friend (46 years old) got diagnosed with cancer last September. Her husband and I were her primary caregivers. When she got put on hospice care two weeks before her passing, family came out of the woodwork. Both her husbands and hers. There was so. Much. Drama. I just wanted to scream “isn’t this terrible enough? Why are you acting like this?” Thankfully she had written down her funeral wishes and her husband and I went to the funeral home, alone, and planned it all. Humans can be terrible at grieving. I know I certainly don’t know what the heck I’m doing.
And you’re moving during all this too…I can’t imagine. My parents are packing right now, moving September 9. It’s a nightmare and they are only moving 20 minutes away, not across the country! You are a very strong person!4 -
@ahoy_m8 big hugs for you and I know you have a very extraordinary amount of hell to deal with at this time. Lots of deep breaths, lots of patience, prayer or wherever you draw strength from.
For you and all of us really, when life smacks you upside the face (yes been there too many times)...trust me on this one, choose to lift yourself up because it's in your power and control to do it, as super-difficult as it sounds, but ask for strength to come to you and lean on good friends for support. If you believe in a higher power, do it and ask for what you need. Lift yourself first, then lift others around you.
My past 48 hours sucked, not as much as some of you. I'm OK and you will be too.
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My oldest son, his wife and baby ~8months and their 2 dogs are staying with us until their AC is fixed. So Thurs-Wed I believe. Meals have been crazy times which I need to begin planning instead of just letting things get picked up or eating out! Example they bought bagel sandwiches for breakfast, then we had Popeyes fried chicken for lunch and Grimaldi's pizza for dinner at the restaurant.
The house is crazy messy with all their "stuff" in the kitchen and dining room which are open concept and basically in the den. Today I need to get some semblance of order to it all. It didn't help that Thursday I started sanding and painting the walls around the windows which were damaged last spring when we replaced all the windows in the house. But now at least the blinds and curtains for the 7 windows in the kitchen are back up! Yesterday we cleaned the wood blinds which really needed it being in the kitchen. Need to do the same for the 2 windows in the den ... paint paint paint touchups are needed everywhere!
Also went plant shopping and bought beautiful flowers for the pot at the front door as well and some new indoor plants to scatter around the house. Working towards decorating for fall which I want to finish before next weekend since we are having everyone over for my sister's 60th birthday and the LSU football game on Sunday evening 9/4. I have time and can get this done!
Vacation wise ... I'm going to plan something not sure what. But DH would like it to be under $10K instead of the >$20K trip + flights I almost booked.
https://www.tauck.com/tours/venice-dalmatian-coast-cruise?tcd=dc2023
Good news! All of us were AF last night (Fri)! Red wine for steak night on Thursday. I think I'll make my 12 AF days this month!
August accountability: 11 days AF
Alcohol: 15 days (32 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.
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This thread has been a game changer for me and I sincerely appreciate every one of you!
I joined in July 2022 and it has already made a big impact!
8/1-8/7: 5 AF out of 7
8/8-8/14: 5 AF out of 7
8/15-8/21: 6 AF out of 7
Rolling total 16 AF out of 21
8/22: AF Back to work yesterday and it was as bad as everything I stayed up the night before worrying about. I need a life coach to get me away from this job. Sorry, just feeling sorry for myself this morning.
8/23: AF
8/24: AF
8/25: AF
8/26: AF
8/27: Plan AF
Today is my best friends birthday. She passed away March 1st. This is the first birthday without her. She left behind a 16 year old daughter and her husband. I am spending the day with them. Her husband has a drinking problem. Deep breath, here goes.6 -
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I am Dawn. I joined this thread in November of 2018
My usual goal: 16-20 AF per month.
I had 19AF days for July.
Diary style (I post the next morning)
Thursday August 25 - AF - Planned drinks Friday and or Saturday. Getting close to my goal of 16. Working a split shift on Friday, so that would be nice for me to kick back and have a couple of drinks after that.
Friday August 26 - 2 drinks. I was tired after working late, since I normally wake up around 5am. I might have drinks on Saturday too, the variety will depend on the weather which changed by 20 degrees this week. We might get rain or thunderstorms. Different cocktails for me on sunny days versus cool days. Gin cocktails are for hot and summery days only for me.
Rolling total: 15AF days out of 26 days3 -
August AF days: 16. Only 4 days left.
Can't wait for Aug to be over! Too hot!
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@Lilylady3k your cruise/tour looks cool. Go! If you come across any that are longer and cheaper, lemme know!!
An organized tour can save you money and stress, especially if you don't have to rent a car and deal with all that (parking, fueling, different driving rules, toll, vignettes, the crazy rotaries, all of it stresses me out).4 -
Spent all day cleaning the house yesterday, and it was a beautiful, sunny day, but no one was home to sail with me. Planned to go sailing today, and it’s going to rain, so that’s out. Grrr, the weather and my families schedules should have been flip flopped! At least I won’t be drinking the two High Noons I had planned on the boat.
I split a Manhattan with my son at dinner Friday night after my glass of wine with dinner. It was a big pour! Last night killed off the bottle of wine, 1.5 glasses total. Plan on one glass tonight, that’s it.3 -
Someone who really cares about you does not ask why. They will support you.
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My sister was over for dinner ... margarita before dinner and 2 glasses of wine with dinner. Seems I always drink more with her around.
August accountability: 11 days AF
Alcohol: 16 days (35 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.
8/22 - AF
8/23 - 3 wine (Start tracking when my sister is around)
8/24 - AF
8/25 - 2 wine
8/26 - AF
8/27 - 3 wine (Note my sister joined us for dinner)4 -
Aug 1- AF
Aug 2 - A
Aug 3- AF
Aug 4- A
Aug 5 - AF
Aug 6 - 7- A
Aug 8 - 9 - AF
Aug 10-11 - A
Aug 12-13 - AF
Aug 14-15- A
Aug 16-17 AF
Aug 18-19-20 A
Aug 21 - AF
Aug 22 - A
Aug 23-24 - AF
Aug 25-26-27- A
Aug 28- AF6 -
@Lilylady3k
I like the quote. Yes, sometimes people are on antibiotics or whatever and can not have alcohol. Yeah, it is rude to ask.
On the flip side, we wouldn't think of asking someone why they were having alcohol.
Conundrum with your sis!
Maybe she will have an AF day one day, spurred by your example.5 -
I am Dawn. I joined this thread in November of 2018
My usual goal: 16-20 AF per month.
I had 19AF days for July.
Diary style (I post the next morning)
Thursday August 25 - AF - Planned drinks Friday and or Saturday. Getting close to my goal of 16. Working a split shift on Friday, so that would be nice for me to kick back and have a couple of drinks after that.
Friday August 26 - 2 drinks. I was tired after working late, since I normally wake up around 5am. I might have drinks on Saturday too, the variety will depend on the weather which changed by 20 degrees this week. We might get rain or thunderstorms. Different cocktails for me on sunny days versus cool days. Gin cocktails are for hot and summery days only for me.
Saturday August 26 - Drinks, small ones. I actually made a gin cocktail when the sun came out for a bit, then it began to rain so I put it in the freezer. I had a 1/2 shot of Bailey's in coffee at 11am, and then a few other 1/2 shot drinks later. Now for some more AF days.
Rolling total: 15AF days out of 27 days5 -
I’m in. My drinking is greatly reduced since having pneumonia in June and as a result I find my memory and energy have improved a ton10
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Thank you for the encouraging words, @globalhiker. I'm in the same sibling boat, @Lilylady3k. I drink more when my brother is around but he lives in another state so it's not a frequent challenge. So true about when people do (and do not) interrogate others' choices.
Welcome, @malinda5903. Pneumonia is no joke. I hope you are feeling stronger every day.5 -
@Womona I actually get paid to work at the fair BUT, there are no rules about the sticks so I will be waving away......
@Lilylady3k Well said!
@dawnbgethealthy The after question was perfect....
Today was 2 beer at lunch. So I will finish out the month with 18 AF days. Not my best but again I am good with it. Each drinking 'day' was a limit of 2 beers mid day.
In the old life it would have been 2.5-3 beers then home for a bit of a nap before starting in on the 6-10 shots of whiskey or vodka. I use to tip the bottle up and count to 15 then add the mixer. I know that was a lot. So to look back to where I am now compared to 1.5 years ago. I am happy.
Still work in progress but so much better7 -
This thread has been a game changer for me and I sincerely appreciate every one of you!
I joined in July 2022 and it has already made a big impact!
8/1-8/7: 5 AF out of 7
8/8-8/14: 5 AF out of 7
8/15-8/21: 6 AF out of 7
Rolling total 16 AF out of 21
8/22: AF Back to work yesterday and it was as bad as everything I stayed up the night before worrying about. I need a life coach to get me away from this job. Sorry, just feeling sorry for myself this morning.
8/23: AF
8/24: AF
8/25: AF
8/26: AF
8/27: Plan AF
Today is my best friends birthday. She passed away March 1st. This is the first birthday without her. She left behind a 16 year old daughter and her husband. I am spending the day with them. Her husband has a drinking problem. Deep breath, here goes.
8/28: AF
8/22-8/28: 7 AF out of 7
Rolling total: 23 out of 28 AF
I have been AF since 8/20! This is the longest I have been AF since 2017. My thoughts are more clear and I wake up feeling better but my anxiety is very, very high. I’m not saying alcohol helps my anxiety but it sure makes me more aware of it. I have resources for this, I just have to find the time to use them.
The weekend with my best friends husband went a lot like I thought it would, he got drunk and belligerent in front of his daughter and she left. We didn’t end up remembering my friend in any sort of positive way. I know he is hurting but I don’t know how I can help him and I sound like a broken record around him. I came home and celebrated her life as best I could although I was feeling despondent.
Sorry for the long post, I hope others weekends went better! Have a good day!
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@joans1976 so sorry to hear the remembrance wasn’t what you hoped it would be. Your friend’s husband will find his way eventually, but sounds like he’s not ready to hear guidance yet on the AF front.5
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@Lilylady3k I have a friend who has the same effect on me, I always drink more than planned , all of the spirit of having so much fun together. Oh, I also love the quote.
@lmlmrn nice that it’s a paid job!!!! You wave those sticks, girl! Haha!
@malinda5903 welcome!! Glad your pneumonia is over. It’s amazing how much better our bodies feel with so much less alcohol.
Speaking of which, I had only one glass of wine last night, took me almost 3 hours to drink it, and to be honest, I didn’t even enjoy it. It’s what we normally drink, so not like it was a bad wine or anything. I also slept poorly, so I will remember this experience to get me through the end of August AF. Totally wasn’t worth it.3 -
The entire household was AF last night yet again. My son, his wife, our granddaughter and their 2 dogs are with us Thurs thru ... looking like Wed at this point.
August accountability: 12 days AF
Alcohol: 16 days (35 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.
Made my goal of 12 days AF! A few bumps in the month with more than 2 drinks and a few more nights in a row than I wish but my main goal was a success. Probably add at least another before the end of the month.
8/1 - AF
8/2 - 2 wine
8/3 - 3 wine
8/4 - 1 beer; Passed on the open 1.5 bottles of wine available to me during dinner and drank sparkling water instead. The old me would have said you blew the day and can’t count it as AF so go ahead and have wine with dinner. But I decided to just be accountable and move on.
8/5 - 3 wine
8/6 - 1 wine
8/7 - 2 wine; Great late lunch out with friends where I remained AF followed by a dinner of just wine & cheese with DH & my sister
8/8 - AF; babysat granddaughter while DIL took her mom to the ER. Returned home at 1:30am
8/9 - AF @ 🍓🍽
8/10 - 3 wine
8/11 - 2 wine
8/12 - 2 wine
8/13 - AF; 1 Clausthaler Original Non-Alcoholic beer
8/14 - 2 wine
Bra
8/15 - AF @ 📚
8/16 - AF
8/17 - AF @ 📚
8/18 - 2 wine
8/19 - AF
8/20 - 2 wine
8/21 - 2 wine
8/22 - AF
8/23 - 3 wine (Start tracking when my sister is around)
8/24 - AF
8/25 - 2 wine
8/26 - AF
8/27 - 3 wine (Note my sister joined us for dinner)
8/28 - AF6 -
I didn't do well refraining from alcohol last week, but I'm here being accountable so that's a victory. Other than one glass of wine, I have only had Michelob Ultra since starting tracking on 8/11. Today is a new day ... one day at a time.
8/11 AF
8/12 AF
8/13 3 drinks
8/14 2 drinks
8/15 AF
8/16 2 Michelob Ultra at golf (planned)
8/17 3 Michelob Ultra planned AF
8/18 4 Michelob Ultra (on the bright side it is only 395 calories and I was on plan for the day.)
8/19 2 Michelob Ultra, 1 glass of crappy cab. (At late husband's family dinner.)
8/20 2 1/2 Michelob Ultra. 1 after golf early pm, 1 while talking to neighbors, 1/2 at home alone. I will count as a victory that I was able to pour it out rather than drinking it.
8/21 AF
8/22 4 Michelob Ultra over course of afternoon / evening
8/23 2 Michelob Ultra
8/24 AF
8/25 2 Michelob Ultra
8/26 3 Michelob Ultra
8/27 2 1/2 Michelob Ultra
8/28 AF
Since 8/11/22
AF 6 days
A 12 days6 -
Still at 16 days AF. Sunday, I indulged in a bottle of fizzy rose and chocolates and woke up feeling FAT.
Can I be AF Mon-Tues-Wed and finish the month with a bang? Make it a 3 day stretch?
I want to
It would be good for me
It may suck but maybe I will be just fine
Wait, I've done this before and all that happened was insomnia and feeling a bit edgy on day 3 and I could take my melatonin and stress gummies and just exercise my stress off. I could.
Ok, I think I am going to shoot for a 3-day AF event. Join me if you wish.
Here we go......
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I am Dawn. I joined this thread in November of 2018
My usual goal: 16-20 AF per month.
I had 19AF days for July.
Diary style (I post the next morning)
Thursday August 25 - AF - Planned drinks Friday and or Saturday. Getting close to my goal of 16. Working a split shift on Friday, so that would be nice for me to kick back and have a couple of drinks after that.
Friday August 26 - 2 drinks. I was tired after working late, since I normally wake up around 5am. I might have drinks on Saturday too, the variety will depend on the weather which changed by 20 degrees this week. We might get rain or thunderstorms. Different cocktails for me on sunny days versus cool days. Gin cocktails are for hot and summery days only for me.
Saturday August 27 - Drinks, small ones. I actually made a gin cocktail when the sun came out for a bit, then it began to rain so I put it in the freezer. I had a 1/2 shot of Bailey's in coffee at 11am, and then a few other 1/2 shot drinks later. Now for some more AF days.
Sunday August 28 - AF - Had some weird AF pinot grigio sparkling pear thing, it actually was pretty good. Hit my 16 : - )
Rolling total: 16AF days out of 2 days4
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