Less Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2022 ~ One Day At A Time

pezhed

Alatariel75 wrote: »

Drinking makes me not want to cook.
Drinking makes me lazy and justify take out
Drinking makes me tired, but ironically sleep poorly.
Drinking makes me want to do nothing the next day.
Drinking is wasted calories.

This is all so true for me too. Thanks for the reminders!

Had an easy AF day yesterday, aided by having an activity planned after daycare. That's only day 7 this month for me, so 7 out of 19 days. I need 8 more days to reach my goal which means very few A days left for the month. I will have to choose them carefully. Going to a brewery on Saturday and to a high school reunion on the 30th, so I guess those plus one more are my only A days! I can do it! The key is going to be cooking at home because I love getting a drink when we eat out.

sarah7591

Alatariel75 wrote: »

But. Drinking is the number 1 cause of my bad decisions on weekends. Not the only cause, but the primary.

Drinking makes me not want to cook.
Drinking makes me lazy and justify take out
Drinking makes me tired, but ironically sleep poorly.
Drinking makes me want to do nothing the next day.
Drinking is wasted calories.

I need to keep telling myself these things! I'm perfectly happy not drinking, can keep all types of alcohol in the house, can be around people without hankering for a drink ( though noted above, I start to cave when they start to be annoying). I sleep better, feel better, make better decisions.

o.

@Alatariel75 This is so me!! I need to read this every weekend! Thanks for posting.

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

Womona

AF tonight! I had my faux sparkling rose, and it was a good alternative to the white wine I contemplated. Of course it was in a wine glass!

Happy birthday @dawnbgethealthy!

@Alatariel75 so true about the lazy factor and bad sleep with alcohol - and it being an easy solution to being able to deal with insufferable drunk people!

Breathe57103

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

Alatariel75

Me: "I'm going to have a healthy, alcohol free long weekend"

My brother, 500 miles away: "I feel a disturbance in the force. Better plan an immediate impromptu trip to Al's house!"

Give me strength! Can't wait to see him and his partner, I'll cook so I can control food, but I expect that there will be some drinks on the one night that he and his partner are there. I plan to minimise, they do need to drive back the next day so I can't imagine (*cough*, famous last words) that it will get messy.

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: AF
Lots happening here but too long to ramble on about. I hope everyone is well.
9/16: AF
My car has died. I was trying to make it through September with it since so much is going on but it just couldn’t hold on. Car shopping today. The fun never stops!
9/17: AF
9/18: AF
9/19: AF
9/20: AF
My goal at the beginning of this month was to be more mindful and to practice self care. Pppppfffftttt. That has NOT happened. I wasn’t expecting September to be this stressful but getting my parents moved was more work than I thought. And they are just now moving into the new place today and tomorrow. The unpacking, connecting technology and just getting them used to the place is a whole different chapter. They also might kill each other, they’ve been living in a hotel since the 10th. We will overcome though!

joans1976

@Breathe57103 I am trying really hard to not compare my loss to yours but I lost someone very close 6 months ago. I know what you mean about “just wanting your person back.” I wish there was a step by step manual I could complete about grieving and then not be sad anymore. I think you have a lot of courage.

Lilylady3k

Sept accountability: 7 days AF
Alcohol: 14 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.

9/19 - AF @ book club
9/20 - 2 wine
9/21 - Plan AF @ book club

Going ahead and counting tonight since I have confidence in myself passing on alcohol now at book clubs when we are out at restaurants. 1. Cheap expensive wine does not interest me 2. Others (even if it is just 1 person not drinking) feels like a support network

Monday night I passed on both wine & beer at the Texas Biergarten where our book club met. 2 of us out of the 10 were not drinking. I felt like I was supporting my friend of 30 years whose husband is in a trial now to tackle his rare cancer which the doctors say there is nothing more they can do. She supported me in not drinking when I'm out with friends.

DH home alone Monday night drank 1.5 bottles of nice wine. But Tuesday night we each had 2 glasses with dinner and the 5th glass in the bottle remains in the fridge with the leftover half bottle from Monday night. Baby steps for him.

Tonight is my other book club at mexican restaurant which yes there will be margaritas, wine & beer. The margaritas are hard to pass up during happy hour but actually when I think about it they are not my favorite in any way shape or form so I'm finding them easier to say "no" to when ordering.

Vacation plans Thursday through Sunday!!! No plans to stay AF then but I will track my consumption and report back on Monday.

pezhed

I shouldn't be proud to be AF for two consecutive days, but here I am, proud to be AF for two consecutive days. I don't know how long I've been in the pattern of almost daily drinking but it's been too long. Really want to find a new normal, which would be: not drinking daily. 8/20 days AF for September.

globalhiker

Hi friends,

OK...super insane rough work week (I can't describe). You all inspire me to become a better person, so thanks to all of you!

@Breathe57103, when you are back in your winter residence, do reach out. The weather is getting better and we had a bit of light rain to cool things down. It was really nice tonight, like a breathe of fresh air that you may welcome.

Thank you to @Alatariel75 and I will agree that drinking is wasted calories and we pay the price (zero nutrition) and sometimes it does make me not want to cook too.

Thank you @dawnbgethealthy for posting your uplifting pictures. And Happy Birthday too! Your happy spirit inspires me. Enjoy Vacay! I hope you get to dance and sing down there!

Breathe57103

Drank alone again last night. Very disappointed in myself but at least I came here and held myself accountable. I see my counselor this morning. Hopefully talking things out will get me back on track. I am going to go dump the remaining alcohol in my house.

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

Sept totals AF - 18 A - 3

I want to finish the month AF.

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: AF
Lots happening here but too long to ramble on about. I hope everyone is well.
9/16: AF
My car has died. I was trying to make it through September with it since so much is going on but it just couldn’t hold on. Car shopping today. The fun never stops!
9/17: AF
9/18: AF
9/19: AF
9/20: AF
9/21: AF

Rolling total: 20 AF out of 21 (!)
My anxiety is so bad I’ve already been sick this morning (and it’s not a hangover) and i need a mental health day from work. I don’t know what to do.

pezhed

@Breathe57103 I'm so sorry you've been having a tough time. I can only imagine. Sending you love and strength. Hopefully speaking with the counselor will help you.

@joans1976 I think a mental health day is well within your rights!

Breathe57103

AF today. I dumped an almost full large bottle of vodka and the last beer that I had in my house down the drain this morning. Hopefully that will keep me AF through the end of September.

It is suicide awareness month and one of our regional health systems (the one my husband was the chair of the board for when he took his life) is running an "Ask the question" campaign. Studies show that asking the question "are you thinking of suicide?" actually helps prevent suicide (contrary to the fallacy that saying the word suicide to someone who is suicidal will plant a seed in their head.) There have been some major donations raised in my husband's memory to fund this campaign and other suicide prevention measures. I am feeling completely overwhelmed with the constant focus on suicide and have withdrawn from most social situations.

I had a breakthrough with my counselor today. During my previous appointments we had discussed my relationship with my husband, and I had mentioned that he was always the star of the show, and I was the best supporting actress. I accepted that role and was happy in my marriage. I told her now that he is gone, I am tired of being seen as "Gary's widow" and that I just want to be "Theresa." She hit it on the head when she said, "you felt like the supporting actor when he was alive and now you are the supporting actor in his death." In South Dakota it hasn't been easy to just be Theresa since he passed. In Arizona I will have a chance to figure out who I am alone without him.

Sorry for the diatribe. I just wanted to get that out.

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

Sept totals AF - 19 A - 3

@joans1976 I am so sorry you are dealing with anxiety. I had no idea how debilitating it could be until my husband started dealing with it. Please reach out and talk to someone. I recently started meds for anxiety - they have definitely helped (it's a pretty low dose, but enough to take the edge off.)

@globalhiker I am counting the days. My flight is on October 1st. I'm heading to NM on the 6th to see my son and his family and to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. I hope you are enjoying yoga and finding some balance between work and everything else. I look forward to meeting you one day. We may even have passed by each other at some point at Sprouts, Target, Usery or many other places in our neighborhood. By the way... have you ever been to Board and Batten? It was one of the nearby restaurants my husband and I really enjoyed. Who knows if I will go again as it is a romantic date night kind of place.

lmlmrn

Good evening to all of you!
I have been MIA working at the fair. I am not staying as AF as I hoped but still respectable. This is the last weekend for working and we have been put on notice we will be short handed and plan to work 'later' than your normal 11 hour shift. Yikes.

@Breathe57103 thank you for sharing your struggles and breakthroughs. When I read posts like yours it just solidifies my resolve to keep moving forward, try hard not to live in the past.

I can't go back and change the events in my life but I can choose to move forward and dwell less on the past. something that is so hard for me.

globalhiker

I so appreciate what all of you said this past week. We can and need to be the leaders of our own lives. Maybe you, like me, were always great at leading others (children, students, clients, co-workers, etc.) but I still struggle at leading myself. I go through good periods but then not-so-perfect ones.

We are so busy leading and directing and serving others that at the end of the day, I ask myself, was I a good leader to myself?

globalhiker

For those of us under extreme stress of any sort, we owe it to ourselves to balance that out with self-care. There are many solutions: outdoors, long walks, massage, spas, calling your best friend and ranting for an hour, unplug, even calling sick and doing a "movie" day or consulting with your medical professional..we are all humans and need to relieve that stress.

I am going to book a massage this weekend and if I can get in a Yoga class, I will. Looking forward to a state of bliss.

Alatariel75

Ugh, so the brother visit ended up in gin and wine, and today has followed on with beers (though a lovely, fun day with the hubster). Needing to dedicate myself to a booze free Sat/Sun - hubs is at least committed to a booze free Sun so we have a plan.

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- A