LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay
MissMay Posts: 3,864 Member
in Motivation and Support
Do you want to drink LESS? Completely stop or just cut back?

Cutting back can mean ONE less drink a day, week or month. Or deciding to drink on only weekends or at special occasions.

On the flip side, maybe you could use this nudge to finally get to that completely sober point and be all in-alcohol free.

Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.
«1

Replies

  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,864 Member
    ■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■

    USING THIS THREAD:
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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:
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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:
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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)
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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:
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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":
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    •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".

    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~
  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 658 Member
    "Surfing" into February *LOL* After yesterday's win, I feel pretty confident!

    @tobinross I'm with you and the whole bunch! And, congrats on having your cigar without the whiskey.
    You know I most likely wouldn't have been able to do that 😕 Especially with whiskey being my favorite. I'm happy to see so many of you are back!
    chicbuc wrote: »
    My biggest problem comes if I allow myself a drink night at home. It turns into more every time. So no drinking at home!

    @chicbuc Our drinking patterns have a lot of similarities. For me, though, the only time that I do drink is at home. My husband isn't into bars or gambling. And we don't have a major social life. We both relocated here. So, we don't have family or many friends here. We don't even socialize with our neighbors. We live in a 55+ community and most people just stay to themselves. The only time that I drink while I'm out is when I go gambling across the street and an occasional drink at a restaurant.

    I can relate to your saying that when you drink at home that it turns into more every time. I mentioned that when I'm coming off of a streak, I'll just drink a half pint for two or three days. Then I decide to start a little earlier, so I'll buy a pint and dump out some at the end of the night for a couple of days. Before I know it, I'm drinking the whole pint. And, at times, I would start drinking earlier (5-o'clock somewhere thing), so I'd buy a fifth. And, then, that was all she wrote.

    For most people that develop a problem with moderating their alcohol, it is a slow progression. I was once a moderate drinker. But I was working full-time, so I'd have a couple after work. I also worked swing and graveyard shifts (at times) and would have a few to unwind.

    It never really affected my life either. I didn't miss work, get into trouble, or be mean. I too was a "fun drunk". I also don't have an "off" switch. Once I start drinking, I drink until it's time to go to bed. Although I do tend to pace myself. In the summer, I used to go to the liquor store around 1pm and drink all day. But I was out in the yard working. So I was more like just sipping.

    Then, I retired early. I think I was around 55. We were doing pretty good financially and I couldn't find a decent job in this valley. When you don't have to get up to go to work...it can get out of hand real quick!
    globalhiker wrote: »
    TIP: ten minutes of youtube videos before bed (Sober Again...series) did help my motivation a lot in months 1-3 FYI. Now I am intrigued to see what month 6 AF improvements will bring.

    @globalhiker Thanks for the tip...I will check it out! It's also good to know that being AF has reduced your stress. I can see that. Alcohol does cause anxiety. I guess it messes up our brain chemistry. I hope I experience the same thing. Maybe I can get back to driving again! I used to drive for a living and I used to drive between SoCal and Southern OR (a 12-hr drive) sometimes several times a year all by myself. But I've developed a phobia and I suspect alcohol is the culprit!

    @MissMay I got a kick out of you using my sentence. I especially like the purple sign you made!

    @NonnieDoiron I hope you're MIL is OK. Try to get some rest!

    Have a great day everyone!
  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 993 Member
    Here we go Day 1! Thank you @MissMay for caring about us so much and opening up another month to support our Less Alcohol goals! You guys are my second family ☺️. Way to hold yourself to the line during said potential negative interactions with individual.

    Happy 2nd anniversary to you too, @itladyee! I started mid-February 2023 right after you. I had been lurking for a couple of months and happy I jumped in with you through the ups and downs. We’re better together.

    @globalhiker no hate! A great share. It is so true how stress and anxiety go hand in hand with a regular drinkers lifestyle.
    I tripled my ‘days off’ in January from December and my anxiety has been dialed way down….a feeling worth holding onto.

    @tobinross way to show up prepared for a NA night at your friends place. Good to see you here today.

    @Womona you had such a great January - way to go!

    @chicbuc loved hearing about your background which led you here. In my 40’s and early 50’s we had many parties with my young adult kids before they were married off…..I get how fun it is to drink and hang with them! Now they are doing LA on their own. So interesting! Enjoy those grandkids.

Categories