LESS Alcohol ~ NOVEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

SunnyDays930

@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.

SparkSpringtime69

globalhiker 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.

@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 is .

SunnyDays930

@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."

brittanynotaroberta

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?

MissMay

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.

MissMay

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.

Michieb125

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.

Breathe57103

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 - 0