LESS Alcohol ~ MARCH 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

Sinisterbarbie1

@joans1976 congratulations on being NED!! I don’t think there is any better news possible! On the chemically induced menopause issue - that happened to me too when I started chemo though so it might have been different because I couldn’t separate chemo effects from menopause effects. The main bad symptoms for me were terrible night sweats (not so much hot flashes during the day though i did have a couple crazy ones that left me drenched like I had taken a shower) and some brain fog/chemo brain. Both can be from menopause as well as from chemo so who knows. I came through most of it fairly quickly though. I didn’t have any options to reduce recurrence risk post treatment like anti estrogen treatments since my cancer was triple negative and as much as others worried about possible side effects, I would have given an arm and a leg for the extra protection. In the first few years after treatment I was constantly checking for lumps and worried about every ache or pain and at the same time worried that I couldn’t ask bc I would sound like a hypochondriac. I had never been sick before, now I was worried about everything and lots of stuff went wrong.

My biggest post treatment struggles were mental. You go from dr appointments and attention to your health every day to essentially nothing. Also many of the people who have supported you may think that everything is done now and expect you to bounce back into your old way of life as if nothing ever happened — or to be super happy - but you have come through something life changing and need to process that. Plus you are pretty physically run down and it takes a long time to get back to truly feeling normal. I struggled with depression in a big way. Additionally, all of the treatments themselves as well as menopause affected me sexually/my sex drive/pain actual physical changes to my anatomy that no one warned me about or talked to me about later. People are getting better about talking about these issues both i survivorship treatment and general menopause counseling but it is a real issue and if you care about it you should raise it now with your nurse practitioner and get referrals.

Obviously the issues I mention are huge triggers for drinking and weight gain. Both of which I did post chemo. My situation was a bit more extreme because I was in the hospital and unable to walk for 6 weeks/had lost nerve feeling and also ability to sense where in space I was but the risks for drinking/overeating and otherwise self medicating are real if you don’t give yourself grace and instead try to make everyone else around you feel better. That is often my problem and instead of ending well it ends in disaster - like with me in the hospital for 6 weeks, gaining 50 lbs and drinking daily.

Happily, all that is well behind me, I lost the weight plus some, I look better than pre cancer, I am not as strong as I used to be and can’t do everything I used to, but I do Pilates most every day which is so great for me and i walk and I don’t drink at all anymore. It isn’t a challenge at all anymore not to (though it was at the beginning). That ended up being easier for me, though I am not suggesting it for others, of course.

Anyway, sorry for the long note and very personal story - Ive said most of this on the boards already in dribs and drabs, but thought it was worth saying specifically to you, and in relation to thinking about staying healthy and avoiding some of the pitfalls people didn’t warn me about that ended up directly related to drinking and weight as well. I am super happy for you and want you to feel great and wonderful and don’t mean to bring you down at all but I also want to say it is OK to not feel great, to feel worried, to even feel depressed and scared, and that if you do you should share that with your friends and family instead of trying to put on a brave face … yet again.
Much love

MissMay

Guesss what day it is? The link to our next monthly thread is up.

Click here to follow over to APRIL 2023
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10887700/less-alcohol-april-2023-one-day-at-a-time/p1?new=1

Womona

Michieb125 wrote: »

Thursday 3/30.
I can’t believe tomorrow will mark the end of the month.
This thread has helped me so much to stay accountable to myself and meet my personal goals. Thanks to each of you!

What I learned this month:

1. I am able to meet my goals for LA
2. It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t impossible
3. There is a direct correlation between having LA and my weight loss goals.
4. I am feeling more energetic, rested and mentally clear with my new choices.

Rolling total: 22 AF out of 29 days
AF - 22
A - 7
Just returned from my 45 minute walk and I will most likely enjoy a glass of wine later tonight.
Tomorrow I have an afternoon hike planned with daughter-in-law and then will go see a local play with DH.

Let’s stay true to ourselves and finish the month strong.

I love this!

Womona

joans1976 wrote: »

Hello! I’m Amanda, I’m a crazy cat lady from Michigan! I joined this forum in June of 2022 and since September I have decreased my drinking to one day a month! This is a huge accomplishment from where I was and I absolutely could not have done it without the wonderful mix of people in this group!

March goals: just make it through the month unscathed! (27 doctor appointments)
Alcohol goals: 95-100% AF

3/1-3/7: 7 out of 7 AF
3/8-3/14: 7 out of 7 AF
3/15-3/22: 7 out of 7 AF
3/23-3/29: 6 out of 7 AF

3/30: AF
I have some news....yesterday I saw my oncologist and I am considered "no evidence of disease" (as far as they know)! This is such a positive thing to hear and I feel so lucky to have made it through the worst of this successfully. I have to start anti-estrogen therapy next week and that will put me into menopause at a faster pace than if I did it naturally but Im 46 so I think it would be happening soon anyway. I have some severe pain in my breast and surrounding areas so I have more appointments lined up but not 27 like this past month.
I really, really want to say how much I appreciate everyone's support and encouragement these past 6 months! I dont know where I would be without all of you and I value everything everyone posts. Everyone has their own stuff in life and has struggles and there were days when I needed a supportive word and I could usually find it here. I sincerely thank all of you from the bottom of my heart!
Now, off to seriously job hunt so I can move forward to the next phase of my life!

What is everyone doing for the weekend? Thank you for the bingeing recommendations!

I am so, so happy for you!!!! That is such wonderful news- you truly deserve it after all you’ve been through. Good luck on the job search, we are all rooting for you!!!!!

RockinRobyn672

Hello My "LA" friends! Happy March! I am SO ready for spring! My goal is 16 AF days minimum in a month. I'm drinking less for weight loss and the additional health benefits. I usually post the next morning.

Thu 3/30: Drinks (2) - I had a couple glasses of red wine with dinner. I didn't sleep well. Red wine gives me night sweats and I have bags under my eyes this morning; another reminder why I'm drinking less alcohol! The plan is AF today. I'll meet my goal for the month (yay!). However, I had more drinks than my daily goal on most of the A days, which was more like three or four rather than a couple (boo!). I'm looking forward to warmer weather and doing a better job in April!

Rolling Total: 15 AF Days out of 30

RockinRobyn672

@joans1976 If you like Sly Stallone, we just binge-watched him in Tulsa King on Paramount+. It's a lot of fun.

RockinRobyn672

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

I really appreciated one dinner party where there was an emphasis on mocktails. The host put out a number of interesting mixers, seltzer water, lemons, and limes. Alcohol was available as well, but it led to a group adoption of moderation. It was a very nice evening with lots of nice conversations.

This is a fantastic idea and something I've never thought of doing. My next party or one that I attend will have mocktail options.

Congrats on a successful March and good luck in the 5k!

RockinRobyn672

All - I haven't had a lot of time lately so haven't been able to respond to some of these great posts, but I'm here and reading. It means so much to me to be part of this community.

RockinRobyn672

@joans1976 Congratulations! I ditto @Womona in that "I am so, so happy for you!!!! That is such wonderful news- you truly deserve it after all you’ve been through. Good luck on the job search, we are all rooting for you!!!!!" And @Sinisterbarbie1, thank you for sharing your personal story. I'm glad you are on the other side of it and doing well! Amanda - You will get there too!

dawnbgethealthy

I am Dawn, I live in South Eastern British Columbia.
I joined this thread in November of 2018, a daily drinker at the time
My primary goal with drinking less is weight loss.

My usual goal is 16-20 AF days for the month,
I had 16AF days for the shortened month of February.

I do this diary style, I normally post the next morning.

Monday March 27 - AF - Very busy week for me, that will keep me AF until at least Thursday or Friday.
Tuesday March 28 - AF - Planning on hitting my 16 Wednesday.
Wednesday March 29 - AF - Hit my 16. Going to try to stay AF Thursday.
Thursday March 30 - AF - Planned drinks for Friday. It has been an emotionally charged 2 weeks for me, plus started the month out with Covid. My favourite job of 10+ years has terminated 100% of Canadian staff due to mergers etc. Very sad, it was part of my identity, it was my happy place, I was very good at it, and it is over as of today. I will re-evaluate and make a plan to move forward next week.

Rolling total: 17AF day out of 30 days.

Michieb125

Friday 3/31
@joans1976 you are an inspiration with all you have been through, and the news of no evidence must feel GREAT! So happy for you. A new job sounds like a great way to spring forward
@Fursian glad you are here…..your monthly stats you posted are so admirable!
@RockinRobyn672 - try not to beat yourself up, you racked up your AF days - a very worthy accomplishment!
@forestdweller1 I am positive you are not the only one struggling! We are all in this together.
@Womona the only way I can control my LA and weight loss is by tracking ….. tried too many other ways to no avail!

March 3/31 Stats:
Goal: 20-23 AF days
Rolling total accountability: 23 AF out of 31 days (counting AF tonight)
AF - 23
A - 8
I read somewhere in order to change a habit for the long term it is best to ease into bigger goals, so I will keep the same goals for next month and thinking about a few tweaks.
Hope to see you on the April thread!

ahoy_m8

@joans1976 Yay, yay, yay! Still here for you. You have had an inspirational outlook throughout, so thank you for sharing with US. Here's to being on the "back 9"!
@womona May the force be with you.
@dawnbgethealthy On no. Was that the Foster Grant job? I remember once you said you would never quit that one. I hope it was not that one. But in any case, it is the end of a great chapter. Maybe something just as wonderful will fill the space that that job leaves in your life. I always think of "You can't pour into a full cup" and that creating emptiness makes room for joyful things to happen. (So sorry I cannot give proper attribution on that expression, I thinks its old Chassidic wisdom. But don't hold me to it.)

Happy Friday, LA friends. AF so far this week. A glass of wine sounded good last night (for several hours, at that) but I just waited it out. Hope that "pent up demand," as it were, doesn't pull me off a reasonable balance tonight. No big plans this weekend. Hopefully more progress in the yard. Concert at a friend's house Sunday then stepdad coming to dinner afterward. Boy, the weeks are flying by.

March for me was ok re: M-Th AF but all over the map with F-Su<2.

RockinRobyn672

@dawnbgethealthy Thinking of you on your last day with your happy job!

RockinRobyn672

@joans1976 and @michieb125 - Thanks for the encouragement. I did beat myself up for a couple days there but I'm over it and ready to do a better job in April.

MissMay

Hey everyone checking in with this month's accountability.

Have to admit that I was feeling, how can I phase this? Full of myself these past two and a half weeks. Letting caution blow in the wind because as you know I can get real wild at times. (Laughing hysterically here)

But seriously I tossed my NO drinking consecutive days and my NO MORE than two drink limit rules right out the window.

Lucky thing is I was not drinking anything real high power, but still my brain is trying to scold me for breaking my own rules. Maybe I am just finally relaxing now that I made my big move out of Maine to Florida. 6 months tomorrow we have been here!!!

Either way no harsh regrets and no lamp shades on my head during my partaking.

Looking forward to April 2023 and staying clear of the oh to tasty MANGO-RITA.

See ya all over on the April thread.

mfowler883

Busted hump today in the studio, went through a lot of stuff. Some things got redistributed to various closets and other spaces. Some things are getting given away or donated. Some things went to the dumpster. It's a mixed bag, I have a lot more space in here now, but I think it's had a negative affect on the acoustics. Next step is absorption panels, I have some in place but not nearly enough for a room this size and shape - I have materials already, so it's just a question of building them. Once that happens, I'll be looking at building quadratic diffusers for the back wall and we'll see how the room sounds.
AF again today.

-m

joans1976

Hi, I’m Amanda! My only March goal was to come out unscathed. I sort of did! Healing radiation burns and 27 medical appointments under my belt!
My A intake was low: 30 out of 31 days AF.

As usual, everyone has been so supportive and kind and I couldn’t do this without you!
On to April!

joans1976

@dawnbgethealthy I am so sorry to hear about your loss of your favorite job. I know you’ve got your chin up but we are here for you.

joans1976

@Sinisterbarbie1 (Still my favorite username on the internet) Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply! I am very aware survivorship and getting closer to it is a mental struggle. I am very aware of my mental health but that doesn’t mean I’m in a good place all of the time. I have quite a bit of support but I’m still pretty lonely in this struggle. I live alone, no kids (cats though) and there have been times the past 6 months I really needed help and didn’t get it. I start the hormones next week and honestly, I’m really apprehensive about them but I feel like it’s another tool in my toolbox to prevent recurrence. And I am lucky to have this option. I’ve found what helps the most is relating to other women who have gone through cancer or are going through it. My family and friends are supportive and mean well but getting a cancer diagnosis changes you and your body and seeps into almost all aspects of life. A silver lining is I have developed more of an IDGAF attitude and I needed to do that to set some boundaries with certain people. It’s very freeing.

I appreciate all your advice and the time you took to write to me! I am sorry you had to face TNBC and so glad you made it through! I hear you and I am glad you’re here!

RockinRobyn672

Fri 3/31: AF - I met my primary goal for March, which is 16 AF days (yay!). However, I didn't do that well on the number of drinks on the majority of the A days. On several of the A days I had three or four, and five on one day (followed by a hangover). I also did not lose weight. However, I'm still doing better than before I joined the group. Before joining, I was having at least 2 drinks on a daily basis. For April, I'm going to cut down the A days from three to two and have a goal of a 2-drink limit on those days.

Rolling Total: 16 AF Days out of 31