Less Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2022 ~ One Day At A Time

Womona

Breathe57103 wrote: »

I feel like I'm regressing in my grief. I suppose it isn't linear and I should expect to take 1 step forward and 2 steps back for awhile. I just want my person back. I drank alone tonight - not proud of it.

9/1-9/13 AF
9/14 A
9/15-9/19AF
9/20 A

Sept totals AF - 18 A - 2

Oh big Internet hug to you! Grief is absolutely not linear. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

Womona

@dawnbgethealthy what a lovely spot for a massage! Happy birthday by the way! Sorry to hear Montezuma stopped by but at least it was a short visit.

Ah, work/life balance. Seems to be something we all struggle with, no matter what stage of life we are in. I’m happy to see some great self care and fantastic insights in this thread!

I played 9 holes today, it was really windy. I had a glass of wine at lunch, and my friend ordered us vodka sodas as we golfed. I had maybe a quarter of it. I just couldn’t drink much after my one wine. Nothing tonight with dinner.

Speaking of which, I’m trying to not only cut down on alcohol (which I’ve actually been quite successful at this month), but also counting macros for the first time in my life. I need to up my protein, big time. I was hoping my husband would grill some salmon I defrosted, but instead he made homemade tomato sauce with pasta! It was delicious, don’t get me wrong, and I appreciate his efforts. But my carb macros are off the charts today! Ah well…

globalhiker

I am so inspired about what you all wrote. I swear I must work for the same company @joans1976 works for.....!

Thank you Dawn for showing us what a real weekend should look like...glad you are having a lovely time:)

Balance is everything in life. Social media is great for connecting with friends but it's necessary to balance it out with movement in nature...and travel to experience different perspectives. All in balance and moderation.

If I can only apply this one simple principle to work, I can fix me.

I am in learning and in transition like some of you -stress management is huge....I feel for me, it makes or breaks my success in all I do....relationships, happiness, coping mechanisms (drinking and eating are those!!). IMO I do feel that some of these simple things mentioned here - taking a time out, get a massage, consulting a therapist, setting boundaries with others (I am a miserable failure here), this is what i need to do.

Here's to a good weekend of relaxation, less alcohol, connecting with nature and an overall "re-set".

globalhiker

@Breathe57103 I agree with you, if the diet coke gives you something that you want and need now, why not keep it. Too many AF days in a row and I need my chocolate, I love it and it's OK.

It's so much better than drinking which can result in anxiety and depression and nobody needs that. I think you are doing great and glad you are engaged with others. It's not easy and everything in life is challenging...you and the rest of us owe it to ourselves to keep up and find strength.

globalhiker

Thank you @pezhed, I have been on the "backburner" my whole life, putting others in front of me. What you said sounds like me.

We are smart people with sound goals and we need to just prioritize ourselves.

Think about it...I prioritized my kids, they met their goals , I prioritize husband (he's fed, happy, and in bed), I prioritize work (still employed and the leader of the team, of course the cost is too many work hours), and then there is no energy left for me and I am left....unhappy.

Sorry for the rant, I need to read this back to myself Saturday to reflect on what it is I need to change.

Stockholm_Andy

Just a quick check in as I've been very busy this week with work onboarding 2 new hires.

I caught up with all your post and I really hope you all have a chance to relax and recalibrate this weekend. A lot of posters seem to be going through a lot this week so it's amazing seeing all the mutual support in the group. (Sorry I've not been a very big part of that!)

I'm still on the wagon (much to my surprise). 34 days AF now.

joans1976

I love this group ❤️
I have greatly reduced my drinking since June and had a great month in August with 26 out of 31 AF days. This month I am trying to be mindful and make self care a priority.

9/1-9/7: 7 out of 7 AF
9/8-9/14: 6 AF out 7
9/15-9/21: 7 AF out of 7

9/22: AF
Well I didn’t end up taking a mental health day but I did end up seeing my therapist who forced me to set up some hard boundaries with work notifications (on my computer and phone) and I also punched out an hour early. Obviously, a different job needs to be found. This makes my stomach hurt to think about. But the job I have now makes my stomach hurt too.
Away from work today, helping my parents unpack. They are out of the hotel and in to the condo, all limbs intact thank god. This should be the downswing of the stress of the move
Thanks for listening ❤️
9/23: AF
Funny story: my parents each have 2 glasses of wine starting at 4:00 everyday. My mom mixes hers with Diet ginger ale (🤢) and each glass is definitely under 2 Oz of wine. My dad’s glasses are more like 5-6 Oz each. He spills his glass every night. Every. Single. Night. So I’ve got him drinking out of a plastic tumbler but they just moved into a new, clean, beautiful condo. Last night I threatened him with a sippy cup.

joans1976

@Stockholm_Andy Yes! Way to go! I was thinking about you since you had not posted, glad things are going well, if busy.

@globalhiker Balance and boundaries, yes. I took almost 90 minutes setting up notifications on my personal phone so as not to be bothered by “urgent” work questions outside of working hours. Then yesterday when I was off and getting notifications, realized I set it up wrong 🤦🏻‍♀️Whatever, reset it. BUT setting those notifications up was a big step for me. I’m hoping for some self care tomorrow, to actually unplug. I don’t envy you being a leader at work, that sounds like added stress. I wish some self care for you this weekend!

MissMay

Hi gang.
Well it is official. We left our home yesterday and hit the road towards our new home destination /Florida.
No booze in my future as I am doing all the driving.
Not as much stuffed into the car I thought there would be. YAY.
More check-ins and updates as I get to hotels.

tmbg1

9/1-9/4 - A
9/5-9/6- 9/7 - AF
9/8-9/9-9/10 - A
9/11- 9/12-9/13 - 9/14-9/15- AF
9/16 - 9/17 -9/18 A
9/19 - 9/21 - AF
9/22- 9/23-9/24 A

Breathe57103

AF today. Spending the evening with my grandbabies.

9/1-9/13 AF
9/14 A
9/15-9/19AF
9/20 -9/21 A
9/22-9/24 AF

Sept totals AF - 21 A - 3

Lilylady3k

Sept accountability: 7 days AF
Alcohol: 17 days (39 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.

9/19 - AF @ book club
9/20 - 2 wine
9/21 - AF @ book club
9/22 - 3 wine ; vacation 1 at Nury’s + 2 in evening around campfire. Enjoyed Fredericksburg ... now on to Austin to meet up with my youngest son & his wife for the weekend.
9/23 - 2 drinks; 1 frozen gin & tonic @ Loro’s + 1 wine @ Aviary Wine & Kitchen. WIN was not ordering beer at lunch instead I ordered a frozen Lemonada AF at Tubby’s Ice House
9/24 - 2 drinks; 1 Tijuana Spa Water (blanco tequila, jalapeño, mint, pineapple, cilantro) @ Culinary Dropout during lunch. Dinner 1 Skinny Sage Margarita (Tequila Tromba, Magdala Orange Liqueur, Sage Agave, lime juice) + 1 AF Lyre’s Orange Italian Spritz @ Tillery

@dawnbgethealthy - I know you love cocktails ... Austin definitely is a city of options both alcoholic and non alcoholic. I listed some of the ingredients ... I think you would love the one that was the tequila spa water ... mint jalapeño, pineapple cilantro were crushed ... soda water probably it had a very green look to it as a result of the herbs then the tequila with a floating slice of jalapeño.

joans1976

I love this group ❤️
I have greatly reduced my drinking since June and had a great month in August with 26 out of 31 AF days. This month I am trying to be mindful and make self care a priority.

9/1-9/7: 7 out of 7 AF
9/8-9/14: 6 AF out 7
9/15-9/21: 7 AF out of 7

9/22: AF
Well I didn’t end up taking a mental health day but I did end up seeing my therapist who forced me to set up some hard boundaries with work notifications (on my computer and phone) and I also punched out an hour early. Obviously, a different job needs to be found. This makes my stomach hurt to think about. But the job I have now makes my stomach hurt too.
Away from work today, helping my parents unpack. They are out of the hotel and in to the condo, all limbs intact thank god. This should be the downswing of the stress of the move
Thanks for listening ❤️
9/23: AF
9/24: AF
I spent the last two days helping my parents unpack (how did the silverware end up in the bottom of the linen closet?) and today is self care Sunday for me!

joans1976

@MissMay Hello! Good to see you! Glad you made it out alive!

Lilylady3k

@MissMay - Sounds like you are on a roadtrip heading south to your new abode! Keep us posted and enjoy the trip.

Breathe57103

AF today.

9/1-9/13 AF
9/14 A
9/15-9/19AF
9/20 -9/21 A
9/22-9/25 AF

Sept totals AF - 22 A - 3

tmbg1

9/1-9/4 - A
9/5-9/6- 9/7 - AF
9/8-9/9-9/10 - A
9/11- 9/12-9/13 - 9/14-9/15- AF
9/16 - 9/17 -9/18 A
9/19 - 9/20- AF
9/21-9/22- 9/23-9/24 A
9/25 - AF

Alatariel75

OK, so the long weekend didn't go to plan but I'm going to call it a success anyway.

Thursday, as I said, we had unexpected guests who are 2 of my favourite people and so there was wine and celebration.
Friday, my husband and I had a lovely day together which included some beers, but I did not over-do it, and didn't wake up with a sore head.
Saturday, again - a few beers while I was making salami, and then a solo glass of wine that night, again no sore head on Sunday.
Sunday I stuck to my "no drinks the day before a work day" without any issues.

So my original AF goal was "not on a work night" and while I didn't meet my stretch goal of an alcohol free weekend, I did moderate myself and did meet my original goal. So I'm going to stick with that.

joans1976

I love this group ❤️
I have greatly reduced my drinking since June and had a great month in August with 26 out of 31 AF days. This month I am trying to be mindful and make self care a priority.

9/1-9/7: 7 out of 7 AF
9/8-9/14: 6 AF out 7
9/15-9/21: 7 AF out of 7

9/22: AF
Well I didn’t end up taking a mental health day but I did end up seeing my therapist who forced me to set up some hard boundaries with work notifications (on my computer and phone) and I also punched out an hour early. Obviously, a different job needs to be found. This makes my stomach hurt to think about. But the job I have now makes my stomach hurt too.
Away from work today, helping my parents unpack. They are out of the hotel and in to the condo, all limbs intact thank god. This should be the downswing of the stress of the move
Thanks for listening ❤️
9/23: AF
9/24: AF
9/25: AF
Yesterday I got some self care in, a nap and some yoga, a walk. Organized my linen closet. Lots of TV. Turned off the phone completely. My anxiety about working today started to creep in at about 6 pm. Just another sign it’s time to go.

Lilylady3k

Sept accountability: 7 days AF
Alcohol: 18 days (42 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.

9/19 - AF @ book club
9/20 - 2 wine
9/21 - AF @ book club
9/22 - 3 wine ; vacation 1 at Nury’s + 2 in evening around campfire.
9/23 - 2 drinks; 1 frozen gin & tonic @ Loro’s + 1 wine @ Aviary Wine & Kitchen. WIN was not ordering beer at lunch instead I ordered a frozen Lemonada AF at Tubby’s Ice House
9/24 - 2 drinks; 1 Tijuana Spa Water (blanco tequila, jalapeño, mint, pineapple, cilantro) @ Culinary Dropout during lunch. Dinner 1 Skinny Sage Margarita (Tequila Tromba, Magdala Orange Liqueur, Sage Agave, lime juice) + 1 AF Lyre’s Orange Italian Spritz @ Tillery
9/25 - 3 wine Home from vacation. DD & her little one + her 2 golden doodles will be staying with us this week. Her hubby flew to London on a private plane (work) for the week.

pezhed

Had a very boozy weekend. We ended up at breweries on Friday and Saturday. Friday wasn't SO bad because the beer lines were so long at the Oktoberfest event we went to. Saturday my husband was DD and I was apparently very excited to hang out with my brother and his family at the other brewery, because I got very carried away. Yesterday we just stayed the drinking course at home while making apple pie with the apples we picked from the orchard yesterday morning. AF for the rest of the month shouldn't be a problem after a weekend like that.

Going to have to add some moderation to my drink days in the coming months, but 15/30 days this month will be a good start regardless of going overboard on my drink days. I went more than a thousand calories over my goal yesterday and Saturday, ugh! Very unfortunate since Saturday morning I touched a new low weight. I'm afraid to even step on a scale today.

forestdweller1

Day 26 of Wine vs Water [bloop bloop] 🐠🐟🦀🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🍷🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🍷🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🍺🍺

Nope, not "real" beer...Coors Edge last night, and now that I've entered for today, it'll have to be the same tonight.
Spaghetti squash "tater tots" with that. Never made them before, so it could end up being a loaded baked potato if they aren't edible. 🤢

Happy Trails, @MissMay !!

tmbg1

9/1-9/4 - A
9/5-9/6- 9/7 - AF
9/8-9/9-9/10 - A
9/11- 9/12-9/13 - 9/14-9/15- AF
9/16 - 9/17 -9/18 A
9/19 - 9/20- AF
9/21-9/22- 9/23-9/24 A
9/25-9/26 - AF

globalhiker

I did get my "reset" in this weekend - long hike with my husband mixed in with a trail run, followed by an hour in the pool.

Thanks for the inspiration folks! Some of you are hitting are on an amazing AF streak! Proud of you all and keep leading the way.....I did not get anymore AF days on my scoreboard, but am working on getting my mindset back on kilter. At least I am getting myself to bed by 8pm and not having more than 2.5 beers a day.

Good luck on your move @MissMay, exciting adventures await!

Breathe57103

I went over to some friends and had some Michelob Ultra tonight while sitting outside around the fire table. It's starting to get cool here in South Dakota so it was nice and cozy.

I did a big self care thing today! I booked a trip to the Amalfi Coast of Italy through One Fit Widow Adventures. It is a small group of 16 and I will be sharing a room with someone I don't know. This is so far outside my comfort zone, but decided it is time to start living. There trips are very active, so I need to make sure I am in tiptop shape before next July!

9/1-9/13 AF
9/14 A
9/15-9/19AF
9/20 -9/21 A
9/22-9/25 AF
9/26 A

Sept totals AF - 22 A - 4
I'm very happy with my totals. The only downside was 2 of the 4 A days were drinking alone.

Lilylady3k

1 glass of wine in the evening. Better than 2 but not as good as none that I had planned.

joans1976

I love this group ❤️
I have greatly reduced my drinking since June and had a great month in August with 26 out of 31 AF days. This month I am trying to be mindful and make self care a priority.

9/1-9/7: 7 out of 7 AF
9/8-9/14: 6 AF out 7
9/15-9/21: 7 AF out of 7

9/22: AF
Well I didn’t end up taking a mental health day but I did end up seeing my therapist who forced me to set up some hard boundaries with work notifications (on my computer and phone) and I also punched out an hour early. Obviously, a different job needs to be found. This makes my stomach hurt to think about. But the job I have now makes my stomach hurt too.
Away from work today, helping my parents unpack. They are out of the hotel and in to the condo, all limbs intact thank god. This should be the downswing of the stress of the move
Thanks for listening ❤️
9/23: AF
9/24: AF
9/25: AF
Yesterday I got some self care in, a nap and some yoga, a walk. Organized my linen closet. Lots of TV. Turned off the phone completely. My anxiety about working today started to creep in at about 6 pm. Just another sign it’s time to go.
9/26: AF
Unfortunately my mom fell and broke her kneecap last night. She’s in a lot of pain. I will be her primary caregiver. She has fallen and broken many things in her life and I’m thankful it wasn’t worse.

Lilylady3k

@Breathe57103 - The trip to the Amalfi Coast sounds like a wonderful adventure and a step into life and living. Great idea to have a goal for the selfcare that you have planned.

joans1976

@Breathe57103 That sounds amazing! The Amalfi Coast! That takes a lot of guts to room with someone you’ve never met but how exciting!

Womona

@joans1976 sorry to hear about your mom! Does she need surgery? Poor thing.

@Breathe57103 your trip sounds delightful! Good for you!

AF last night. 13 so far this month, which is a record!!!!!