LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

Pokey4321

@SurferGirl1982

Thank you for insight! So far Sept has been AF. Lots if challenges in front of me including weddings and start of football, areas where I traditionally pound the alcohol down. Just need to be strong. Thanks!

Michieb125

A big welcome to @Michelle9912. I also lurked here for a few months before ‘joining’ back in Feb. 2023. I know you will find the support you are looking for, as many of us have. We all have individual goals but share the one big denominator, and that is to drink Less.

Came down with a bit of a cold so will have lots of hot tea over these next few days. I want to be much improved for the weekend so we can still attend a baseball game on Sunday afternoon.

NonnieDoiron

AF - 2
A - 3

Calling tonight AF now. Don’t even have it in the house.

@forestdweller1 thanks for the encouragement. I am just overwhelmed with work, my son’s future, and… well… just everything basically. But, I’m trying to not let it drag me down and wallow at the bottom of the bottle. 🙂

@globalhiker I’ve wondered the same about sodas vs wine prices. My husband used to be a heavy soda drinker. He finally quit. He’s switched to iced tea and Monster drinks 🙄 I’m not sure those are any better. 😂

Welcome @Michelle9912 Glad you decided to join us. I stalked the group for a bit too before I decided to join. It has helped so much. I hope you get as much out of this group as you need. And don’t beat yourself up if you have a drink here and there, this is LA not AA! 😁

globalhiker

5 days AF done. A bit of insomnia going on but otherwise ok and keeping my cravings in check today with popcorn, even measured out 3 cups worth and put the bag away. My nightcap tonight shall be half a glass of OJ on ice.

For me, the only way I have been successful at mostly AF is not daily moderation but total abstinence. It's the only way I've been able to shut up the 5pm nagging drink devil. I can usually keep it going and never think about it for some months and get away with 1 random drink day here or there at a birthday party or celebration. My downfall is that I let myself totally go if I am on vacation and travel anywhere. It's wonderful to have no restrictions but returning home from travel with bad habits and a fatter butt doesn't make sense either.

SurferGirl1982

globalhiker wrote: »

5 days AF done.

For me, the only way I have been successful at mostly AF is not daily moderation but total abstinence. I can usually keep it going and never think about it for some months and get away with 1 random drink day here or there at a birthday party or celebration.

You're doing really well. I like your plan! Total abstinence with a random drink day here or there. That's really what I'd like for myself. Moderation on a day to day basis doesn't work for me because I can't just have a couple of drinks and say, "OK...That's all for today".

I've tried many ways to moderate my drinking. Some are almost comical:

• No drinking on Sundays or Mondays.
• Drink only on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Drink only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

I haven't been successful with any of them ☹️

I did really well last month. But so far this month, I'm having troubles getting on a roll. Last night after I posted, I went to the store and bought a half pint of Black Velvet. And I bought some today.

So September totals are:

AF - 1
A - 4

I really hope to get back on track tomorrow!

SurferGirl1982

@Pokey4321 I'm very impressed with how well you're doing! I enjoy football myself. I'm a Seattle Seahawk fan. Hey, I live in the PNW 😁

I don't have to worry about having football parties because I don't have many close friends where I currently live. So that shouldn't be a problem for me.

I'm like that about other things though. Back years ago, everything I did revolved around drinking. Going to the beach, boating, camping, fishing, skiing (you name it), I always had a ice chest with me or we'd bury liquor in the snow (at the top of the lift) while we were skiing.

It's hard to break old habits! Stay strong!

Michieb125

Popping back in tonight and thank you @globalhiker for sharing your wisdom. Kudos to you for finding your rhythm to abstain daily. That is worthy of praise!

No cravings tonight - happy about this…..hoping to go a couple more AF days before any planned Prosecco.

I’m having Himalayan pink salt popcorn tonight with a Watermelon Poppi drink. Quite satisfying.

tmbg1

4 AF
2 A

Womona

I am not exactly off to a rollicking start this month. Two drinks every night since the beginning of the month, when my goal is one during the work week. Today we christen the boat and I know I will be at least two drinks overall today. My weight is creeping back up, but I also this it’s the pasta I’ve been eating all week- I need a lot more protein than I’ve been consuming! I’m not anti carb, but there is something at our pasta that I have trouble digesting. Clearly I need to go to Italy and eat the good stuff! Haha!

SparkSpringtime69

September:
AF=2
A=3
The bottle of red I bought in case my DS came over got opened and polished off even though DS couldn't make it
Will be traveling to take Mom home over the weekend, so I'm planning a few AF days while on the road.
Probably won't be checking in til I get back next week.
Hope everyone has a great and successful weekend!

MissMay

Quick checkin-

19 day dry streak since Aug 19
September 0 Alcohol/5 AF

Happy Friday

SurferGirl1982

@Womona I haven't had a very good start this month either. I've only had 1 AF day this month. And I had a couple of A days at the end of August. So I've only had 1 AF day in 7 days. And my weight is already showing it. I leveled out for a couple of days and then the weight started creeping up again (my weight was steadily declining while I was on my AF streak). I look at my weight chart under "Reports" and there's no mistake that I'm already starting to gain. Can you image where my weight would be if I continued drinking for a few more weeks? ☹️

I'm sure today will be AF. I've had enough! I don't want to drink anymore. I feel so much better with a few AF days under my belt. Not to mention the weight loss! I'm going to try to go the rest of the month AF.

Wish me luck!

globalhiker

@SurferGirl1982, that's the spirit! You can totally do this. By the end of the month, we'll both weigh less too, even with sneaking in some food treats here and there.

I'm having a Yasso frozen yogurt (mint chocolate chip) tonight. Tastes like ice cream to me.

@Michiel125, I actually had 2 Poppi drinks today, they were on sale. The ingredients are way better than diet sodas. I really liked Ginger Lime. The orange one left a sweet aftertaste.

Last year I had a period of time where my husband and I would be AF every other day. It was easy to get through the 24 hours, but we both found that the day after we'd drink more than normal. So, no more drink cycling for me. This week husband declared he'd move forward with AF Mon-Thurs (4 days) and beer Fri-Sat-Sun. I see this cycle difficult since every Monday he'd have to re-experience that abstinence feeling but we'll see.

@MissMay congrats on 19 AF days straight and being such an inspiration, we'll be catching up to you soon

SurferGirl1982

@globalhiker I just realized I'm experiencing exactly what happened to me last month. I had problems getting to Day 1 AF. If I drink one day, I always want to drink the next day. That's why the drink cycling didn't work for me either. The plan I had where I would only drink on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays was a reasonable plan (at the time). But I could never be AF on the in between days.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if today will be AF or not. We dropped off our car for service and the liquor store is on the way 😕

Michelle9912

You all are doing so well, and I really am inspired by all the folks that have a set-back here and there, but pick it up and keep moving it forward.

For a long time I thought success for improving my relationship with alchohol had to be limited to something rigid like no more than x amount per week. I've decided success is more of a fluid process and just changing my thought process, trying other approaches to cut back/quit, and just sharing that I'm struggling is a huge success for me. I've sorta been quietly living in shame.

I did go over my target amount yesterday - but only by a couple ounces. The weekend will be the "big test"

Keep up the great work everyone!

SurferGirl1982

Michelle9912 wrote: »

You all are doing so well, and I really am inspired by all the folks that have a set-back here and there, but pick it up and keep moving it forward.

For a long time I thought success for improving my relationship with alcohol had to be limited to something rigid like no more than x amount per week. I've decided success is more of a fluid process and just changing my thought process, trying other approaches to cut back/quit, and just sharing that I'm struggling is a huge success for me. I've sorta been quietly living in shame.

@Michelle9912 You been quietly living in shame. I've been publicly living in shame 🤔

We went to pick up our car at the repair shop. I drove right by the liquor store and didn't stop. But the whiskey devil had been whispering in my ear all day long. So I broke down and went back to the store.

Don't give up on me everyone! I will get this!

NonnieDoiron

@SurferGirl1982 you’ve been here long enough to know we don’t give up on anyone! 😉

AF - 3
A - 3

There I go, evened out. I’m exhausted this week has been a rough one. And, it’s not over. Oh well. Non-drink or weight-loss related goals for this weekend: clean the bathrooms, dust the living room (at least), can my chicken stock, cook dinner on Saturday and Sunday, and plan meals for during the week next week. I don’t think I’ve cooked all week, and my refrigerator is devoid of leftovers now.

Michieb125

Happy Friday night - will cozy up tonight with another Poppi followed by hot tea.
Calling it a good day.

Current:
AF days - 3
A days - 3

SurferGirl1982

@NonnieDoiron Thank you...pretty soon I'll be evened out also.

Take care of yourself...you've had a lot on your plate lately.

Michieb125

@SurferGirl1982 - this group doesn’t give up on our LA friends! You can do it, each day is a new beginning for each of us to start again.