LESS Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time
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Welcome, @shpuniarsky Sounds like you're on the right path. Keep on going!
Well. Mission AF getaway FAIL! I had wine each day. The first day, I limited pretty well. Day 2 and 3, notsomuch. Back home and back at today! I can still get more AF than A days this month.
On the plus side, I got my workout in on Friday before we left and went for a long walk on Saturday in Biloxi. On Sunday it was freezing and the wind was blowing so I used the gym and did my weight workout and walked on the treadmill. I made pretty good choices food wise as well. So, there's that.
I did read everyone's posts and got caught up and please know I'm empathizing with all of you struggling and cheering for all of you doing well!
AF = 7
A = 124 -
Welcome @shpuniarsky!3
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Setting up for success!!!
Goals for January - 85% Dry (AF = 26 A=5)
Monthly Stats - On Target If When I finish strong, the best I can do is 81% Still a win!
AF = 13 ~ 65 %
A = 7 ~ 35 %
Current Streak - AF = 0
Longest Streak - AF = 7
(Through and including 1/20)
Yesterday was full of good intentions until around noon. I have a puzzle that I was planning to start work on. Husband says, let's make a hot toddy and start the puzzle....and so.... it was also almost zero outside...
all sounded good. Then, I sipped wine while watching the football games. I have to remind him NOT to make suggestions....I know I can say no but it rarely happens...
Just got invited to a new friends home for drinks on Saturday and then to go see a live band performing at the neighborhood restaurant. Goal > AF the rest of this week!
@Womona ~ did you get snow? That's all that was missing for us yesterday
@nonniedoiron ~ it was very kind of you to offer up your phone number for support.
@MissMay ~ 15 weeks is Amazing!! Great work! Florida, Snow? Wait, what???
@michieb125 ~ I hope that cold didn't catch up with you. I'll have to try the Pinot Noir. I don't think we have a Total Wine near us and I always chuckle going into a liquor store looking for NA wines! It look like Wisconsin is the closest Total Wine.
@sparkspringtime69 ~ you are on your way!!!
@surfergril1982~ way to get back on it! Nice going and you didn't wait until Monday, that's HUGE!
@shpuniarsky ~ welcome. From one red wine drinker to another, I feel your pain!! And yes, drinks =poor eating, extra calories and extra weight. Congrats for taking the first steps!
@chickbuc ~ but did you have a good time? Sounds like you made other healthy/good choices so I still call it a win! And yes...you still have time to get more AF than A, so let's do it!!
Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tracker ✅️🍷🍸
1/1 - 1/7 ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
1/8 - 1/14 ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅
1/15 - 1/21 ❌❌❌✅❌
1/22 - 1/28
1/29 - 2/4
Exceptions for January
1/8 🍷🍷🍸 ~ Husband's birthday
1/11 🍷🍷🍷 ~ Lunch out prior to MIL birthday celebration
1/12 🥂🥂~ Mimosa's at brunch
1/15 🍷🍷🍷 Book club
1/16 🍸🍷 Unplanned Pizza and cocktails
1/17 🍷🍷🍷 Dinner out with friends
1/19 🍵🍵🍷🍷Lazy, cold Sunday...
2023 - 2024 Stats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2024~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January AF =87% A=13%
February AF =58% A=42%
March AF = 0% A = 100%
April AF = 0% A = 100%
May
June AF =58% A=42%
July
August
September
October
November
December AF = 13% =87%
Best AF Month = January
2023 St AF =12% A=88%
Best AF Month = January5 -
12 AF
5 LA (LA means 1-2 drinks)
3 A (A means 3+ drinks)3 -
@shpuniarsky welcome, we're always glad to have another person on board for this journey. There's a lot of support and encouragement here, just keep coming back.
@chicbuc despite the A days, it sounds like you really did well with other healthy choices. Glad you had a good time, welcome back home.
@itladyee you're so close to your goals, I'm sure you'll end up with great stats by the end of this month. Keep up the great work.
@tmbg you've got some great stats for the month too, it's very inspiring.
@SurferGirl1982 Hope you're doing well today, see ya tomorrow.
Jan:
AF=10
A=10
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@Michieb125 thank you for reporting on the LA Meiomi! Can’t wait to try it. I’m still salty about all the really good LA wines being so freaking expensive though! But I’ll deal with it!
@shpuniarsky welcome!!!!
@chicbuc don't worry about not having your vacation AF. You enjoyed yourself, and you’re back at it.
@itlaydee it really is hard to resist when the suggestion is made!
@SparkSpringtime69 glad to hear that he’s in the mend. I know of so many people with pneumonia this year! Ugh! God Bless antibiotics!
@NonnieDoiron ok now I have to know what particular wine makes you mean!!!! How weird that it’s just that brand and not other wines!
@MissMay congrats on 15 weeks!
Yesterday I went to brunch and had one glass of wine-and none later in the day with all the games. AF tonight. Finished the NA wine finally. From now on I’m back to club soda and a splash of cranberry for my AF drinks at home.5 -
Trying to catch up responding to everyone. Thanks for all of your grace on my totally A vacation. I'll be able to do an AF one someday because I won't stop trying. AF last night after getting back and doing some work. I ate horribly yesterday, but such is life. Today is a new day and I have meals planned and I got my walk in this morning.
@NonnieDoiron Your workload sounds stressful! I know you will take time for yourself to decompress, but just a reminder to make sure to do that! And, like several others have said, your kindness in offering your phone number for support was awesome. Thank you for being so kind and supportive.
@Womona Hope your back feels better soon! It's frustrating not to be able to do what you want to do. Your ability to stop with one glass of wine is nothing short of amazing to me.
@eahrenee Great stats! Keep up the good work!
@MissMay Sorry to hear about your friend. Sounds like she's in denial and going to do what she wants. It's tough to watch someone you love go down that path. Your streak is amazing! My go to AF when I'm out is just a simple club soda, no ice, in a wine glass with a lime or orange for a little flavor.
@forestdweller1 BRRRRRRR! Always nice to see you chiming in here!
@Michieb125 I'm going to seek out that Pinot Noir by Meiomi. That is one of my favorite full alcohol wines when I'm out. Thank you for your trials and suggestions!
@itladyee I love how you can get off track and just bounce right back. I'm trying to get there instead of having the "oh well, I messed up today. Might as well throw the week in the trash."
@tobinross Way to meet that first goal!
@SparkSpringtime69 What a scary story, but I'm glad it turned out OK and he's on the mend, and like @Womona said, "there are no coincidences." You were meant to be AF that night, and now look at you! Great job!
I had a similar scare in October when I was doing well with limiting that I talked about in here. My 13 year old granddaughter ended up with a hospital stay. Normally, I would have had too many drinks to drive and help when my daughter called, but it happened to be "sober October" and I was able to drive 45 minutes and stay with my granddaughter at the hospital overnight so her mom could stay home with the toddler grandbabies. I would have felt like a complete idiot if I had to tell my own daughter that I couldn't help because I was drinking. (PS, we went to Biloxi, Mississippi. We stay at the Beau Rivage on the water when we go)
@SunnyDays930 Great job getting back on the horse! Those beach days get us even if it's cold!
@globalhiker Thank you for encouraging me. I failed this time, but I know there will be success in my future. I love seeing your streak keep on climbing. It's very inspirational!
@tmbg1 Doing great!
@SurferGirl1982 Please be careful with allowing yourself too much too fast. You may have broken the PHYSICAL dependence, but the EMOTIONAL dependence is so much harder to break. People like me and you know that. Of course we support any LA goals. Stick to them for you and never stop trying, lady!!
AF = 8
A = 12
4 -
4 months and 20 days AF. Long hike with husband yesterday, then we went to our Mexican restaurant happy hour for fajitas. He's moderating when drinking out (limits himself to 2). We agreed to take a portion of 12 or fewer chips from the very dangerous all you can eat free tortilla chip bowl. Just because we don't want to leave the place fatter than when we walked in.
I had my new standard go-to diet coke with many lemon slices squeezed in there. It does taste like my old bourbon and diet drinks but it does not tempt me. When I got home, had 2 decaf coffees since I "wanted something" but wasn't hungry.
What I've learned: when the alcohol is gone for even a short time, all our other emotional baggage is totally exposed. All the feelings and moods and behaviors I used to remedy or cover up now are there in plain sight. Possibly even hormonal deficiencies causing depression and anxiety or moodiness or insomnia that need to be addressed. The alcohol medication is gone and all the problems are exposed and need to be intelligently dealt with. Self-care work doesn't end.
Here is a new day, AF for me. With windchill it's 15 degrees outside and so I will go exercise in front of the TV before I join my work friends for another long busy day.5 -
Current:
AF days - 18
A days - 35 -
A comment about this LA and AF mission, the journey involves developing the skill of failure management. Fewer failures, failing better, faster failure recovery, not planning failures to begin with, not putting oneself down after a failure, not self-punishing oneself with alcohol due to a failure, not suppressing the bad feeling with alcohol, and preventing potential failures. Each time we fail, it's an opportunity to reflect and learn and figure out how we want next time to be.
Self-reflection: Looking back, I intentionally planned my failures. That doesn't make logical sense does it?
10 -
SurferGirl1982 wrote: »I want my Day 1 to be February 1st. So I have a planned A day on Friday 1/31. It will be easier to count months that way. I also have a possible planned A day next Monday (after my doctor appointment).
@SparkSpringtime69 You're doing well. You're finally even with your A and AF days. Hey! You're no longer oddSee you tomorrow!
I'm with you for an AF February and maybe a 90 day run (I have a wedding mid-March, so I'll need some strong willpower to get through not just that day, but a whole week visiting my sister). I have to agree with @chicbuc, that emotional dependence is very hard to break.
I hope your power outage ends quickly.
@chicbuc glad to hear you're back to AF last night. I wish I could walk here, but it's so friggin cold I just won't do it! Of course I could just go to the gym, they have an indoor track upstairs, but I think I just don't want to walk today.
Our stories are similar, and it does feel so good to be there for others - now when I want to drink, I remind myself that an emergency can happen at any time and I need to be 100% for it.
@womona nice job skipping the game time wine. I like the seltzer with cran added, I also add pomegranate juice to seltzer or mineral water sometimes.6 -
Jan 2025
AF - 21
A - 0
Quick update...working on 21 days AF (with the help of some NA beers....)...realized that the last time i went this long AF was over 35 years ago while on deployment...wow! Amazing how daily habits form and persevere over time.
As for other goal - scale this morning has me 6 pounds lighter than beginning of January...4 more to go and then assess the next milestone...the food diary and tracking on MFP have been essential for the weight loss...that and ensuring protein and fiber in the diet (which has been more challenging than I would have thought!)...packing my own meals and snacks and avoiding the vending machines has worked!! I have also amped up more workouts either at gym or home.
@SurferGirl1982 - hope the power outage is short-lived! And February is AF...
@MissMay - awesome on the streak...15 weeks AF...very nice!6 -
globalhiker wrote: »A comment about this LA and AF mission, the journey involves developing the skill of failure management. Fewer failures, failing better, faster failure recovery, not planning failures to begin with, not putting oneself down after a failure, not self-punishing oneself with alcohol due to a failure, not suppressing the bad feeling with alcohol, and preventing potential failures. Each time we fail, it's an opportunity to reflect and learn and figure out how we want next time to be.
Self-reflection: Looking back, I intentionally planned my failures. That doesn't make logical sense does it?
3 -
globalhiker wrote: »A comment about this LA and AF mission, the journey involves developing the skill of failure management. Fewer failures, failing better, faster failure recovery, not planning failures to begin with, not putting oneself down after a failure, not self-punishing oneself with alcohol due to a failure, not suppressing the bad feeling with alcohol, and preventing potential failures. Each time we fail, it's an opportunity to reflect and learn and figure out how we want next time to be.
Self-reflection: Looking back, I intentionally planned my failures. That doesn't make logical sense does it?4 -
@tobinross wow, nice job on the weight loss and AF streak. I’m with you on tracking food in MFP. It makes such a huge difference. My biggest challenge is approximating portions when I’m out to dinner, even if I am eating something simple like steak and veggies. Also despite my good efforts, I can’t seem to get enough protein or fiber in-a supplement of both is an absolute must!!! I’ve found good quality ones (Earth Fed Muscle- I’m partial to the vanilla one, but they are all good), and the MiraFiber gummies. I don’t care for drinking the powder form of fiber.
I am home today, need to clean the house stem to stern, and my back really freaking hurts. I know to take it super easy, but it’s going to be a serious challenge and I won’t be able to get nearly as much done as I had hoped. This sucks, plus I am missing tennis today 😠 As long as I can wash my kitchen floors after vacuuming, I’ll be very happy! It really needs to be cleaned.6 -
Went back to the mall this past weekend to prove to myself I could go without drinking. we walked around and went bowling with the family there. No drinks. I had a monster to sip on something. Didn't overeat, didn't feel like crap that night or next day. This is the first month in a long time that we haven't had a drink during the week at all.
AF - 20
A - 1
Sunday and Monday we are going to Atlantic city for my daughter's birthday. We are going to try our hardest to not drink but I won't take it out on myself if I have one or two.8 -
globalhiker wrote: »Self-reflection: Looking back, I intentionally planned my failures. That doesn't make logical sense does it?
Now that statement bears pause... My first thought was "wow!, I think I've been doing that for the last year or so".
I'll have to think about that one, thank you.
5 -
Setting up for success!!!
Goals for January - 85% Dry (AF = 26 A=5)
Monthly Stats - On Target If When I finish strong, the best I can do is 81% Still a win!
AF = 12 ~ 60 %
A = 8 ~ 40 %
Current Streak - AF = 0
Longest Streak - AF = 7
(Through and including 1/20)
I didn't do as well as I intended yesterday. Came home after a long day at work, including a 6 hour meeting. We ordered in food for lunch, I had chicken tenders. Didn't really fast. Made Chicken Tortellini for dinner. Wine just seemed right .... Quite the slippery slope I see...
@sparkspringtime69 ~ I've started down the slippery slope and I've got to do better. But compared to what is usually the "norm", I am still doing well. I won't hit 80, but maybe 60%. I see you climbing back, good job!
@Surfergirl1982 ~ Well, 80% is no longer doable but I will still have some AF days before the month is out. I owe it to myself!! Don't get caught up in the all or nothing thinking, that I often do. There's no really good reason to have your Day 1 be February 1. Sure, easier to count but when you start adding days to the end of February, it will become confusing again. Let this forum continue to be your counter. Just a suggestion...
@Womona ~ I'm with you on the expense for LA wines. I typically pay between $10 and $20 for a decent bottle of A wine and every once in a while splurge but no more than $40 (and that's rare). So to spend that kind of money, I'm going to drink something else!!
@NonnieDoiron ~ I wanted to know about the "mean" making wine as well ! LOL
@chicbuc ~ I'm not bouncing really well right now!!
@globalhiker, you are 100% about feelings, moods, and behaviors. A while ago, I read how alcohol numbs your feelings. What was eye-opening to me is that it numbs ALL feelings—even the good ones! You might "think" you're feeling good, but genuine happiness is also numbed. Planning failures....I'm with @longrun22 and need to give that some thought as well, but yes, I can see this....
Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tracker ✅️🍷🍸
1/1 - 1/7 ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
1/8 - 1/14 ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅
1/15 - 1/21 ❌❌❌✅❌❌
1/22 - 1/28
1/29 - 2/4
Exceptions for January
1/8 🍷🍷🍸 ~ Husband's birthday
1/11 🍷🍷🍷 ~ Lunch out prior to MIL birthday celebration
1/12 🥂🥂~ Mimosa's at brunch
1/15 🍷🍷🍷 Book club
1/16 🍸🍷 Unplanned Pizza and cocktails
1/17 🍷🍷🍷 Dinner out with friends
1/19 🍵🍵🍷🍷Lazy, cold Sunday...
1/20 🍷🍷Bla
2023 - 2024 Stats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2024~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January AF =87% A=13%
February AF =58% A=42%
March AF = 0% A = 100%
April AF = 0% A = 100%
May
June AF =58% A=42%
July
August
September
October
November
December AF = 13% =87%
Best AF Month = January
2023 St AF =12% A=88%
Best AF Month = January5 -
@globalhiker a wonderful post, so true!! Thank you!5
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Happy to see all the great dialog and support flowing here!
I finished the Meiomi Bright last night, and it did satisfy very nicely. I have planned out my weekly targets for mindful drinking as I continue to cut back days and limits.
It’s cold everywhere!! Good month for soups, teas and hot cocoa’s!
Current:
AF - 11
A - 7
LA - 3 (2 Prosecco or low abv%)6 -
@Womona - thanks for the kudos and yes...the powdered fiber in water is quite an acquired taste...more like an 8 oz shot of sludgy water at the end of the day!
@SurferGirl1982 - glad to hear power back on...and thank you for the invite for AF February as well as your tips on protein and fiber sources! Will certainly consider AF Feb since seeing good progress and curious when my streak may (or may not) end....@MissMay at 15 weeks setting the bar for me!
6 -
I'm standng at the edge of the slippery slope and my feet are sliding downwards....
I see that I'm sliding, so I'm tossing some gravel in front to regain some traction, about-face and head back up that slope to safety....
Had 3 other outings prior to Friday this week.
Friday 1/17 went out to dinner.
Saturday was my last "good" day. Fasted for 19 hours. Went for an outside walk. No Alcohol
Sunday =Bad ~ lazy cold sunday ~ comfort foods & hot toddies
Monday = Off on the wrong foot. Meeting Monday > the one day a month that we have a 6 hour meeting and lunch is brought in. 650 calories in after lunch. Fruit snacks, Dinner and over, might as well enjoy a glass, make that 2 of wine.
The brain is thinking all or none mentality...
Going out for drinks and food on Saturday will most likely kill any progress made on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday......or will it?
Let's be optimistic.
If I'm good Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, that's 4 days with a 500 deficit calories. I will be home so I will be active. There's a great possibility of breaking even including Saturday's shenanigans.
vs
Blowing it Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (even at the top of the range). Still with exercise , add Saturday and most likely get a gain.
Then...
My husband is planning a 9 to 10 day fast starting Monday the 27th. He ramps up for 3 days, fast for 3 and then ramps back down. I'm not doing it BUT it will significantly reduce my cooking, other temptations and make it much easier for me to stay within range and without alcohol.
So I'm making a plan:
Today's ~ Lunch is already done - Skinnytaste Chicken Florentine. Dinner Pepper Steak over riced cauliflower. I already have wine on my mind, so I will probably have some. Cut by 7:30 and start fast.
Wednesday - Gym for a workout. Fruit/veggie smoothie upon return. Dinner, kale, Italian sausage soup. No wine or alcohol
Thursday - Baby sit in the am. Exercise/Walk with audible in the afternoon. Dinner Leftover Tuesday or Leftover Wednesday. No wine or alcohol
Friday - Gym for a workout. Fruit/veggie smoothie upon return. Salmon with salad for dinner. No wine or alcohol
Saturday - We already know we're going out for drinks. So the plan is to eat nutritionally for lunch staying around 500 calories and leaving 1500 for 3 drinks and food, so a 2000 calorie day.
Done!
6 -
@tobinross Tracking food definitely helps in the weight loss department; I've been pretty lax about it these last few weeks, and it's showing on the scale. Nice job on the AF days (my favorite NA beer is the Stella Liberte)globalhiker wrote: »A comment about this LA and AF mission, the journey involves developing the skill of failure management. Fewer failures, failing better, faster failure recovery, not planning failures to begin with, not putting oneself down after a failure, not self-punishing oneself with alcohol due to a failure, not suppressing the bad feeling with alcohol, and preventing potential failures. Each time we fail, it's an opportunity to reflect and learn and figure out how we want next time to be.
Self-reflection: Looking back, I intentionally planned my failures. That doesn't make logical sense does it?
@Stepawayfromthetable nice job staying AF at the mall. AC and a birthday sounds like a lot of fun (and temptation), there's definitely no reason to get upset with yourself if you decide to have 1 or 2.
@SurferGirl1982 hooray for power!
@Michieb125 I was in Lowe's Foods yesterday and almost bought a Meiomi; I ended up getting an Ariel Cab instead. It was ok for change of beverage taste, but I wouldn't spend 14 bucks on it again. I haven't had hot cocoa in ages MMMMM.
5 -
SurferGirl1982 wrote: »Sounds weird. But I just eat to get the nutrition I need with keeping my calories in check.
Isn't it weird how we all start to do that when we drink too much? I eat a lot of cottage cheese and chicken breast whether I like it or not
5 -
Good morning. AF last night with intent to be AF tonight, BUT, I am meeting up with my friends to play darts, soo.... I don't want to be the one planning to fail, but here we are.
AF = 9
A = 126 -
Setting up for success!!!
Goals for January - 85% Dry (AF = 26 A=5)
Monthly Stats - On Target If When I finish strong, the best I can do is 81% Still a win!
AF = 12 ~ 57 %
A = 9 ~ 33 %
Current Streak - AF = 0
Longest Streak - AF = 7
My "A" days are catching up with my "AF" days
My plan for today says:
Wednesday - Gym for a workout. Fruit/veggie smoothie upon return. Dinner, kale, Italian sausage soup. No wine or alcohol
Too cold and snowy for the track to the gym, so basement instead.
All else on track.
Add water 64oz +
Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tracker ✅️🍷🍸
1/1 - 1/7 ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
1/8 - 1/14 ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅
1/15 - 1/21 ❌❌❌✅❌❌❌
1/22 - 1/28
1/29 - 2/4
Exceptions for January
1/8 🍷🍷🍸 ~ Husband's birthday
1/11 🍷🍷🍷 ~ Lunch out prior to MIL birthday celebration
1/12 🥂🥂~ Mimosa's at brunch
1/15 🍷🍷🍷 Book club
1/16 🍸🍷 Unplanned Pizza and cocktails
1/17 🍷🍷🍷 Dinner out with friends
1/19 🍵🍵🍷🍷Lazy, cold Sunday...
1/20 🍷🍷Bla
1/21 🍸🍷 more bla....
2023 - 2024 Stats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2024~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January AF =87% A=13%
February AF =58% A=42%
March AF = 0% A = 100%
April AF = 0% A = 100%
May
June AF =58% A=42%
July
August
September
October
November
December AF = 13% =87%
Best AF Month = January
2023 St AF =12% A=88%
Best AF Month = January4 -
Going out after work with my colleagues. Am sticking to only one glass of wine. Nice and planned. Tomorrow for wine night, it’s my turn to bring the wine. I am going to get the Meiomi Bright- IF the PA state store sells it! If not I have a LA white.
Hope you all ha e a rest day! I love reading everyone’s posts.6 -
14 AF
5 LA (LA means 1-2 drinks)
3 A (A means 3+ drinks)6 -
@shpuniarsky - how are you doing? Getting prepared to handle those weekend red wine cravings?3
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Found this at Sprouts today!
Tasty for 35 calories-I added squeezed lime and a few drops of stevia for a bit of punch.8
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