LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay
MissMay Posts: 3,749 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:
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•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:
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•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:
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•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)
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•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:
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•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":
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•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:
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•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.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:
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•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:
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•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:
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•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~
«13456

Replies

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 800 Member
    Thank you for creating our board for September @MissMay! Really appreciate you and your dedication to this LESS Alcohol community of wonderful people.

    I always love a new season so good
    bye to summer and hello mindful fall.

    September goals:
    20-22 AF days
    A - 8-10
    2 glass limit

  • mfowler883
    mfowler883 Posts: 226 Member
    Here for September. August was 16 A, 6 LA, 9 AF. No specific goals, just trying to do better.

    -m
  • 2timesacharmmfp
    2timesacharmmfp Posts: 79 Member
    Here for September! Still trying to align my goals with how I will meet them!
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,775 Member
    @mfowler883 if you haven’t already, check out Michael Pollan’s book on psychedelics:

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  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 800 Member
    Happy Saturday ~

    I’ve been here since February and this group has helped me to be more accountable to myself and encourages me to set and reach my LA goals. I’m doing this for improved energy, to achieve my weight loss goals this year and to prevent disease as I get older. I usually post the next day like many.

    Happy Labor Day to all, let’s do this!

    Min. Goal: 20 AF days in Sept.
    Current:
    AF - 1
    A - 0
  • mfowler883
    mfowler883 Posts: 226 Member
    Womona wrote: »
    @mfowler883 if you haven’t already, check out Michael Pollan’s book on psychedelics:

    I will absolutely put that on my list. The name is familiar to me for some reason. Yesterday, I bumped one of the .085g capsules of older mushroom up with some of the fresh Mazatapec to make a full .1g capsule. That's still considered pretty small but I like nice round numbers, so...

    September so far: 1 AF, 0 LA, 0 A. No alcohol in the house at the moment.

    -m
  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,434 Member
    2 - A
    1- AF
    Celebrated the long weekend a bit but didn't go crazy.
  • mfowler883
    mfowler883 Posts: 226 Member
    2 AF. Tonight is planned A, a little wine with Dark Wave.

    -m
  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 800 Member
    No plans other than a walk, then organizing and washing to catch up on house stuff. But, I came home to my overgrown garden with tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs that need picking and prepped to pickle, can or freeze. That can be both fun and time consuming. Tomorrow is a Pilates class in the morning. Back to a routine!

    Goal: 20 or more AF days in Sept.
    Current:
    AF - 2
    A - 0
  • zensome
    zensome Posts: 104 Member
    1 AF
    1 A

    Plan for AF today too.
  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,434 Member
    2 - AF
    2- A
    It's been a great long weekend but sadly back to work tomorrow.
  • mfowler883
    mfowler883 Posts: 226 Member
    2 AF, 1 A. No alcohol in the house, and today should be AF.

    -m
  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 800 Member
    Posting tonight for Tuesday check-in.
    Stayed active today and accomplished all the things before a busy week begins in the morning.

    Goal: 20 or more AF days in Sept.
    Current:
    AF - 4
    A - 0
  • mfowler883
    mfowler883 Posts: 226 Member
    MissMay wrote: »
    Good thing was NO dancing on the bar for me at Coyote Ugly. Fun place, but heck what if they slipped and fell off??? They don't make you even signs waivers when they walk through the door.

    Wow, reminds me of my younger days...22 and living in New Orleans, I once fell off the bar at The Abbey on Decatur. Walter was tending bar at the time, and made me help clean up all the resulting mess. My girlfriend thought the whole situation was hilarious! (Of course she did, she was the one who put me up to it in the first place. Shenanigans, I tell ya.) I wonder what ever happened to Walter, he was kind of a regular around the Quarter. These days, I suspect a fall like that would land me in the ER.

    Anyway, 3 AF and 1 A so far and today should be AF as well.

    -m

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,434 Member
    3 AF
    2 A
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,775 Member
    Exhausted! We sailed 3 days in a row, which is great, but the sun and waves really tire me out. I stuck to two A per day, but on Monday had 4! Ugh, way too much for me. Plan to be AF tonight, for sure, and get caught up on the house. I haven’t been home all weekend!