LESS Alcohol ~ NOVEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time
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Well I didn't live up to my October commitment to myself, but I am back to work on less alcohol again.
Last night I went solo to a production of Waitress at the Phoenix Theater Company. I enjoyed it immensely and remained alcohol free.
This morning I did a 4.25 mile hike and even jogged a little bit of it. My plan is no alcohol again today. I would really like to string a full week together. It has been almost 3 years since I have done that!
I have been back in my happy place for about 10 days and am staying very busy with golf, hiking and some social engagements.
The evenings are when I get lonely and turn to alcohol (mostly in moderation).
Thank you all for your inspiration.
AF - 1
A - 08 -
In for November!
October was
A: 4
A: 27
I have a wedding this month, and my usual monthly dinner where I'll have a cocktail and a glass of wine, and really the only other factor which might influence how I go for November is the outcome on Tuesday lol.7 -
AF = 0
A = 2
This may be TMI, but hubby and I made love for the first time since his prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. He is just so sensitive and tries to read so much into stuff. But, he had nothing to worry about this time. 😉
Having a glass of wine since… well… the bottle is open🤷🏻♀️
Don’t forget to fall back if you’re in a DLST area… enjoy the extra hour of sleep!10 -
@NonnieDoiron happy things are going well in that department! You two have been through a lot this year. 🤗
Pretty quiet Saturday here, just cleaned the house and spent time with the grandkids tonight.
November stats:
AF - 1
A - 16 -
I made it through today alcohol free. I sipped my Pelegrino and Diet 5 Cranberry with lime this evening. I didn't have an urge to drink so that was a plus.
November totals
AF - 2
A - 09 -
I picked up the champagne glass at the wedding, basically on auto pilot, when they did they toast. After I had a sip I said, "well I broke my Dry November pretty fast". Ended up having one additional glass of white wine but that was it. Still, I want to be accountable here. Back on track today.
Nov 01 AF
Nov 02 A8 -
SunnyDays930 wrote: »I picked up the champagne glass at the wedding, basically on auto pilot, when they did they toast. After I had a sip I said, "well I broke my Dry November pretty fast". Ended up having one additional glass of white wine but that was it. Still, I want to be accountable here. Back on track today.
Nov 01 AF
Nov 02 A
@SunnyDays930 one minor slip from the "reward devil" doesn't mean the drink cycle needs to continue.
You came in, gave your accountability from the wedding and owned it.
NOW back to your plan, right? Answer YES!
One other point I will make here. For those who have been having AF streaks and read sunnydays930 post from yesterday. This is not a green flag for YOUR drink devil. I know we tend to be like sheep following...but please keep on your own path.
Normally I don't get this emotional about a slip. I have heard some incredible AF successes in the past 2-3 months on here from some long time contributors. I really want you to stay with your AF goals.
YOU GOT THIS JEN!
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AF 2 months, 2 days. I had a great time at the BBQ party yesterday and drank NA. Of course I overate but every calorie was damn worth it. Food tastes better AF.
Time to start making that holiday gift list. I'd like to get all the holiday "work" done before Thanksgiving. Just because I really want to enjoy my December with low stress. One thing "AF" life teaches you, always think ahead and plan ahead. Never shop hungry. Avoid stress traps! Oh, and definitely prioritize #1 (you), go book a haircut and style, a manicure, a massage, go dancing, etc.
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After the grandkids left last night, I had one glass of wine from a mini bottle but stopped there. My thought process was “well it’s DLST and only 8:00 p.m. now”.
Planning on 4-5 AF days this week.
November stats:
AF - 0
A - 28 -
This continues to be a safe space for those who are seeking less alcohol in their lives and my personal opinion is how important it is to be honest with ourselves (telling ourselves the truth) and sharing with others for support (triumphs, roadblocks and struggles). Wherever you are today, you are special and important. Thank you for being here!11
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Nov 2024
1 AF, 1 A7 -
@MissMay Thank you for your insightful words. I am back on track. Today my husband, brother in law, and I watched a football game. I made a lot of food and we all 3 had 00 beers. It was fun. I have to admit it is easier since my husband is not drinking either, he says, until Thanksgiving. I'm not thinking of anything but today and tomorrow at this point. One day at a time, indeed.10
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Nov:
AF=0
A=3
I have a short vacation coming up starting this Friday, and I've been really inspired by a number of you here to do an AF vacation. It will be an absolute first for me so we'll see what happens, but that's the plan for now.10 -
Checking in. Back from our 30 hour drive with 2 year old twins, a 5 and 11 year old, and a 60 pound dog. We made it in 42 hours. We stopped around midnight the first night and slept about 6 hours and got the kids ready and headed back out around 8 am. Then we pushed through until 4 this morning. That was a long trip!
AF = 3
A = 0
Have a great week, everyone❤️11 -
I made it through today alcohol free again. I'm still feeling down, but am determined to honor my commitment to myself. I again did not have an urge to drink.
November totals
AF - 3
A - 09 -
@chicbuc wow I can't imagine 42 hour drive with kids and dog, quite a challenge and to arrive at the destination and not drink even better!
@Breathe57103 yes, keep going strong because you are worth it. I find AF life is the best anti-depressant in the world.
@SparkSpringtime69 what are some place you are considering for vacation? Sounds exciting. Honestly, I thought up until a few months ago that it would be impossible to vacation and not drink. Like the two go hand in hand. Then I was challenged to sort of do it. I negotiated with myself first and committed to 50% AF , thought about it more as the AF days went by and I realized, well maybe I could vacation AF with my drinking husband after all if I came super prepared with sodas and NA wines and beers and bought sweets here and there. I probably transferred my craving to these things but it worked and my head became more focused on places and experiences as the focus of the trip and it was really a wonderful experience. Now I see my thinking prior to the trip was really wrong. What was impossible, wasn't. What was too hard, wasn't that hard at all. And some days the thought of drinks never entered my mind and honestly that is the best liberating feeling ever.
8 -
Happy November!!!!
I wound up going to see the Rocky Horror show (the actual stage performance) with a friend on Halloween, so I wasn’t alone on the big day. It was a fantastic show. Two drinks.
This weekend did NOT get off to a good start… FOUR, count ‘em, four glasses of wine Friday night, and was definitely hung over Saturday-not as bad as I normally would be, but not great. Probably because I had a late dinner. My digestive system was not happy.
Only one glass Saturday night, but by Sunday, I had that haggard look, a telltale sign for me that I way over-drank.
Yesterday, a drink and a glass of wine after doing more work on the boat.
So, not off to a rollicking start. However, the month is still young, and I have plenty of time for less alcohol, and even no alcohol days. I’m getting right on that!
I found a great mindfulness exercise, which I’ve used for intrusive thoughts with a lot of success. I am going to try it with alcohol cravings starting tonight. Here it is:
Find 5 things you can see
Find 4 things you can touch (and actually touch them)
Find 3 things you can hear
Find 2 things you can smell ( and actually smell them)
Find 1 thing you can taste (and actually taste it)
You’d be surprised how much thinking is involved with 3 and 2! Takes me away from whatever else I’m thinking of.
I also need to check in on this thread every day, it really helps me meet my LA goals.
May we all enjoy the beautiful fall weather, and continue to strive to meet our goals.
7 -
A few of you have mentioned how there is a lot of thinking going on in our minds about alcohol. This happens to me (and I hate it) mostly when I’m not busy enough fulfilling my time with hobbies and other healthy activities.
Thanks also @globalhiker for sharing your mental pre vacation experiences (reviewing whether to stay AF vs. 50%). What resonated with me is how you went from thinking what seemed impossible to what was totally possible! Super happy for you and obviously this was an example of putting in the mental work for a desired outcome. 💜
I was feeling super anxious yesterday over some personal issues and felt I needed to get out of the house! I went on (forced myself) to go on a solo walk around rose gardens and a lake at a local park. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and I felt 💯 percent renewed afterwards. Came home and did a 20 minute mindfulness meditation (YouTube fav) and that helped too.
I’m going to re-incorporate extra walks outside and positive meditation exercises this month.
I also looked back at my LA journal when I was really doing well each month and feel motivated.
May you have the best day 🍁🍁🍁
November stats:
AF - 1
A - 310 -
AF = 1
A = 3
Busy day. Ready for bed.8 -
I made it through another day with no urge to drink. I have been drinking daily to numb my feelings rather than dealing with them. I'm feeling more depressed and anxious, but it is probably best to find a constructive way of dealing with the cause rather than burying the feelings in alcohol.
AF - 4
A - 011 -
AF tonight! Woo hoo! Came home from an event late, and while I did think of having a glass of wine, I was able to say “nah” pretty easily.
Who was saying not long ago that alcohol is a carcinogen? Dang! That sucks!!6 -
Nov:
AF=1
A=3
4 -
@Breathe57103 You are feeling your feelings because you are no longer numbing them. I call that being in my feelings, or sitting in my feelings. It is definitely weird at first because I was not used to it. I kind of meditate through them and try to think, "I am grateful to be alive and feeling these feelings, whether bad or good." You are doing GREAT with your LA goals.7
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@globalhiker thank you so much for this encouragement. I also always believed that vacation and drinking go hand in hand. I also thought about doing about 50%AF, figured I'd sit down and plan out which of the days I'd drink. But, after reading your post, I realized that that was too much work! It's just easier to decide not to drink at all, and it's not impossible. And I know on some levels it's not really "easier" because that wine devil that's been talked about here does rear it's ugly head. But I was just thinking yesterday, 'how nice would it be if I can actually remember every moment of the vacation'. So AF vacation it isglobalhiker wrote: »@SparkSpringtime69 what are some place you are considering for vacation? Sounds exciting. Honestly, I thought up until a few months ago that it would be impossible to vacation and not drink. Like the two go hand in hand. Then I was challenged to sort of do it. I negotiated with myself first and committed to 50% AF , thought about it more as the AF days went by and I realized, well maybe I could vacation AF with my drinking husband after all if I came super prepared with sodas and NA wines and beers and bought sweets here and there. I probably transferred my craving to these things but it worked and my head became more focused on places and experiences as the focus of the trip and it was really a wonderful experience. Now I see my thinking prior to the trip was really wrong. What was impossible, wasn't. What was too hard, wasn't that hard at all. And some days the thought of drinks never entered my mind and honestly that is the best liberating feeling ever.
.
7 -
@Womona
"Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen like tobacco. In the body, alcohol turns into acetaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent. When this toxic chemical builds up in the body, it damages DNA and prevents the body from repairing itself."5 -
I wanted to start chatting about strategies for thanksgiving-
I know for me my cousins will be like WHAT your not going to just have one! I feel prepared to just do my thing. I will be running a 5k that morning before the day so my endorphins will be high- I won’t need anything to support that.
My strategy is bringing canned flavored seltzer with me. The habit of having something in my hand during convos will be all I need. I’ll be super hydrated! 🤣
What’s your thanksgiving strategy?8 -
Good morning LESS alcohol family.
I have also been re-reading about what exactly is in alcohol chemical wise So scary. Because I complain about inhaling second hand tobacco, fumes from cars and other irritants. Makes me wonder why our government allows and promotes this.
My accountability for Nov so far has been 4 AF. Today I am struggling with feeling crappy from pain pills prescribed by my dentist because of oral surgery yesterday. I will suffer through the pain as my body does not like pills . I will.take the antibiotics only, until they are gone.
9 -
brittanynotaroberta wrote: »I wanted to start chatting about strategies for thanksgiving-
I know for me my cousins will be like WHAT your not going to just have one! I feel prepared to just do my thing. I will be running a 5k that morning before the day so my endorphins will be high- I won’t need anything to support that.
My strategy is bringing canned flavored seltzer with me. The habit of having something in my hand during convos will be all I need. I’ll be super hydrated! 🤣
What’s your thanksgiving strategy?
Thanks for asking this question. My husbands birthday is Nov 28 along with Thanksgiving. He has been planning a hopla since early Jan '24 when he got the 2024 calender.
I have a plan to not drink on his day. We will be away from home and I more than anything want to have control of my wits.
Traveling with my AF favorites will ensure I am not stranded in a hotel in Biloxi without my Fevertree or H00.
Doing your race the day of Thanksgiving is a cool idea. Best wishes for a good finish time.
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Feel better soon @MissMay! I think there is (almost) nothing worse than having oral surgery as I’ve been there a couple of times. Hopefully you will be all fixed up soon.
@brittanynotaroberta great conversation starter! Thanksgiving strategies are important and help us plan ahead for different scenarios……who is hosting (me or them), is anyone abstaining 100 percent (me or them), and the time of day for the gathering.
There are tons of great strategies outlined online but many point to bringing your own mocktails, a favorite NA beer, or flavored seltzers for yourself or to share. It’s easier for me to bring my “supplies” any time we’re invited somewhere so I don’t have to rely on my host. I will serve a light non alcoholic holiday drink when people arrive. But yeah I agree with you, having a drink in hand helps with the long day and keeps the hydration going. I think your plan for the run in the morning is a PERFECT idea!
Side note: in the past, when my DH and adult DS and DD were still drinking, we would have a case of wine on hand and a bottle of tequila or whiskey for drinks. Those days are LONG gone (thankful for this) so I will have one bottle of wine on the table or in the refrigerator for the dinner and lots of non-alcoholic beverages available.
7 -
I spent the afternoon listening to episodes of the From Sobriety to Recovery podcast. It is a really good podcast.
I didn't have an urge to drink again today, but the depressive mood continued.
AF - 5
A - 08
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