LESS Alcohol ~ July 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

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  • Fursian
    Fursian Posts: 623 Member

    I’m not seeing how to snip bits out of someone’s quote in this latest format, so I’m quoting your question like this, @itladyee .

    For those of you who have read books that have helped, please share your choices.

    I went through and read most of the suggested books that are kindly mentioned at the beginning of these LA threads, and even read a few of the memoirs out there after that and, overall, the three books that stood out to me were,

    Alcohol Explained by William Porter. For straight to the point science. I found it useful in the way it helps explain what alcohol is and what it isn’t, and the misplaced credit we give it.

    Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck. Because, IIRC, a wine connoisseur, respected and called on by the people around him for his choices and thoughts on wine, reading how ingrained into his identity it had become and how he broke free made me sit up and take notice. If this person could separate this drug from their ego, I could maybe stand a chance.

    Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale. By the time I had gotten to this book, I had a few days away from alcohol at this point but was still behind the moderation merry go-round fence. Towards the middle of the book I found myself thinking and actually exploring the question “What if I don’t actually have to do all this mental acrobatics anymore? This boring dance, I don’t have to do it anymore…” Cogs were turning in my head and the seeds were being planted. This book and the others also do good with explaining, with their science-y background, the knowledge of there genuinely being nothing to miss and go back for.

    Something a wise past LA friend once said, an individual is the only one who can decide when they are ready to change their relationship with alcohol - no one else has the power to do anything about it but them.

    Very true, @Michieb125 . It was a readiness that I felt within. The well meaning nags and desperate guilt trips from loved ones unfortunately never seemed to really sink in on any serious level.

    Thank you for keeping the thread going, @itladyee and everyone. :)

  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,996 Member

    @Fursian thabks for the book recommendations. I think I’ll start with Alcohol Lied to me. Also, I love how you snipped those quotes! I need to learn.

    @Michieb125 not only alcohol, but weight loss, budgeting, going for a new career, etc. great point no matter what it applies to!

    @LittleSurferGirl7 aww man, so close! You can absolutely do this!

    @NonnieDoiron it’s possible your MIL is getting sick from the Ozempic, but I assume she has diabetes and needs to lose weight in a hurry, which is why the endocrinologist won’t take her off. Would be great if they could at least adjust her dosage. At any rate, I wouldn’t want to eat either if I were constantly nauseous all the time. How’s her mobility getting to the bathroom? Dare I ask?

    Oh one other thing, I take all my meds and supplements before I go to bed at night. That’s the only way I’d remember them!

  • NonnieDoiron
    NonnieDoiron Posts: 485 Member

    @Womona MIL is overweight, but not nearly as much as she was last year before she spent a couple months hospitalized for her aortic dissection. She was in a 5xl before, and now she can wear XL. She feels more comfortable in 2xl, but she can wear XL just fine. I feel like the endocrinologist is just pushing the ozempic too hard. Her mobility is bad. She is slow and uses a walker and is well on her way to a wheelchair.

    Thanks for the night time meds/vitamin suggestion. I have to eat something before I take them (can’t just drink milk, tried that) because I feel ill when I take them on an empty stomach. I am trying to remember at breakfast/lunch to take them, but I tend to forget if I get distracted. Trying not to get distracted when I eat is the hard part, but I have been keeping them on my desk in front of my face which helps a little.

  • SparkSpringtime69
    SparkSpringtime69 Posts: 1,406 Member

    @NonnieDoiron glad to hear your MIL is home, but sorry to hear she's so sick, hopefully her doctors can adjust her meds or find out what else is causing it.

    @Womona It's great that you can use your calorie budget as inspiration to avoid the A. I usually just stop tracking my calories for the day it I start in on a bottle wine 🙄. Nice job with the 3 days straight.

    @Fursian and @itladyee thank you both for the book recommendations.

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,620 Member

    12 AF

    3 LA

    8 A

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,276 Member

    Happy Thursday!
    Logged my 5th AF day out of 7 days; also I’ve had 3 glasses of wine in 4 days this week.

    I wanted wine last night after a concerning doctors appt with my mom, but didn’t because I really wanted to stick to my plan.

    Thanks for sharing book recommendations everyone. I like these as well:

    Kick the Drink

    Alcohol Explained

    The Unexpected Joy 

    The Naked Mind

    Very eye opening for anyone seeking LESS. I used to be wary about exploring the subject matter but now love the science, facts and myths behind it.
    I currently love videos from Journey to the Sunnyside!
    Remember, each day is a new beginning!

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,276 Member

    Well said @Fursian on the “well meaning nags inside” that beckon us to look at our choices and behaviors! That’s how I got started.

    Looks like a good read too @itladyee.

    Yes! @Womona we can insert any other thing or bad habit into that quote….we are the ones responsible to make changes - not others!

    Congrats on two days in a row @SparkSpringtime69 - great work!

  • LittleSurferGirl7
    LittleSurferGirl7 Posts: 1,124 Member

    @itladyee Save a glass for me…I'll be right over! 😋

  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,996 Member
    edited July 25

    @NonnieDoiron that’s a huge weight loss for your MIL! I’m sure at least half of that was her being hospitalized for her procedure. Sorry to hear she’s that slowed down, must make things tough for everyone. On a happier note, I love that yesterday was a pretty mild day for you, work wise. Except for being hunched over the kiddie table! Hope your daughter’s infusion went well. I also your husband playing with the kids in the pool. I can just picture everyone having a blast.

    @itlaydee have so much fun hosting tonight! Your patio area is beautiful, and I’m sure this is the first of many great memories with friends. Sign me up for a frozen drink too!

    @LittleSurferGirl7 hey, waking up with no alcohol in the house is huge! That’s actually a giant step forward. Proud of you!

    @tmbg1, @Michieb125 and @SparkSpringtime nice stats! Way to go!

    Planned drinking night last night. 2 glasses that fit within my calories. Tonight is a concert and then 2 days on the boat. I’m not worried about the concert since I have to drive, but the boat is where I tend to lose all my progress, so I will concentrate on turning off my “*kitten* it” gene.

  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,996 Member
    edited July 25

    @itlaydee this popped up on my FB feed and I immediately thought of you and you’re awesome new patio that we all want to hang out on!

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18gAZPBHmG/?mibextid=wwXIfr


    You’re welcome.

    P.S. to view, highlight the whole link and then press “open link”. Not sure why it says it’s not allowed. Maybe hyperlinks aren’t allowed to FB.

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,276 Member

    Did a powerful BodyBalance yesterday morning - wow my blood was circulating hot the rest of the day!

    Had some planned wine last night and it surely made me so tired! Would have been better off just hydrating and not having any. Will gladly welcome two more AF days as I head into the weekend. Will wait and have some Prosecco on Sunday with friends.

    Make it a great LA day!

  • LittleSurferGirl7
    LittleSurferGirl7 Posts: 1,124 Member

    @Michieb125 You sure do have a lot of exercise classes where you live. We have a gym but I'm not sure what they offer. I know they used to have a boot camp thing. I would see the participants running down the sidewalk by the gym from time to time. But, I'm not able to do anything that intense. After having knee replacement surgery, I was told not to run, jump, or do any high-impact exercises.

    So I just stick to walking and hiking (we have quite a few hiking trails nearby), weight training, body-weight exercises, and my floor exercises that I like that mainly focus on the core and hips. The floor exercises aren't sit-ups and things like that; but bridges, bird dogs, dead bugs, side-lying leg raises and many more exercises that I enjoy. But, with daily drinking, it's hard to stick to an exercise program. I plan on having that under control very soon. Plus, the 10-pound challenge that I'm involved in starts next Friday. I've got to get moving 😀

    Have a great day everyone!

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,620 Member

    14 AF

    3 LA

    8 A

  • NonnieDoiron
    NonnieDoiron Posts: 485 Member

    MIL went to her follow up with the primary after Tuesday’s ER visit only to be sent by ambulance back to the ER. It appears her edema around her lungs has gotten worse. She’s been there all day, and we still don’t know what they plan to do. My husband left a little bit ago to go get her something to eat because for some reason they won’t get her a tray from the food service though they told her she can eat. Because of this, my husband has been ill-tempered all day. When he started yelling at me, I yelled back. I’m not playing this game with him. He started to get pissed and walked away, but he came back about 45 seconds later and apologized. I know he’s stressed, but I don’t deserve his anger. He doesn’t like it if I take my stress out on him, so he better not do it to me.

    Anyway, still no wine in the house. We were supposed to go to my friend’s house out of state tomorrow, where I had planned to drink if she was drinking which is hit or miss with her. But, I don’t think that’s happening now. I would go alone, but the purpose was to take her son the powerlifting bar my husband got for him. It won’t fit in my car. 😕

    Work was uneventful until 3:45 (I log off at 4:00) when my boss called and needed a full run through of our online workflow management system and all the items in it. I worked another hour to get her what she needed. One of these days, she’ll remember I’m on the east coast. Lol

    AF-22
    A-3

  • nbruns83
    nbruns83 Posts: 2,702 Member

    @NonnieDoiron, I'm sorry to hear that your MIL health's declining. I'm sorry your DH doesn't know how to handle it. No excuses for taking it out on you, but sadly many people don't know how to deal with the fear they have concerning serious or perhaps terminal illnesses, so it manifests as denial or anger. As a culture we just don't have the support for recognizing that life is finite. I know my own mother's dementia, and physical decline, was an experience I wasn't prepared for. I had so much anger because, there was nothing I could do to control or reverse what was happening to her. Sending you sympathy and hugs, and praying your whole family will find strength and patience.

    @LittleSurferGirl7, I'm thinking about you and hoping that today's the day. Prayers and hugs.

    My Stats:

    AF 19
    LA 4
    A 2

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,276 Member

    Hiking in Oregon sounds wonderful, @LittleSurferGirl7 - hope you will be able to enjoy that type of activity again very soon.

    You are living proof on how wine can be avoided @NonnieDoiron with all the extra stress of work and family life and MIL. Obviously you are doing something very right.

    Thank you for sharing your experience with your own mother’s dementia @nbruns83
    I’m sure it’s an understatement to say it can be the most confusing time for both the individual and all family members. Your stats are admirable for July BTW.

    Your stats are terrific @tmbg1 - way to go on the AF days!

    I hear you on fitting the wine into your calorie intake @Womona-A good reminder for me.

    Made an intentional choice to have some Prosecco last night instead of waiting until Sunday - did enjoy it and the lower abv%.

    Now I am looking at 2 AF days ahead - today and tomorrow. Starting off today by cleaning the refrigerator out and taking a long walk in the foothills on this coolish morning.

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,353 Member

    Hello All,

    To help make things a bit more streamlined and efficient each month, I’m considering turning our ongoing “LESS Alcohol” discussions into a group. Before I move forward, I wanted to get your thoughts—this is our community, and I value your feedback.

    🌱 What would change?
    The group would be called:
    LESS Alcohol ~ One Day at a Time

    Here’s how it would work:

    Announcements (pinned posts) would house the intro, helpful resources/links, general information and a link to our spreadsheet, maybe a post for mocktails…..No more reposting the basics every month—they’ll live in one easy-to-find spot.

    Each monthly thread (discussion and tracking) would become a new “post” within the group. For Example..this entire discussion would have been LESS Alcohol - July 2025.

    Anyone who wants to post each day will need to “join” the group initially.

    Members can leave at any time—no pressure, no questions asked.

    The group would remain public, so anyone can browse (“lurk”) without joining—just like many of us did before diving in.

    We can also promote the group more easily if we ever choose to.

    ✅ Potential Advantages:
    No more copying and pasting the intro each month—hooray for saved time!

    Resources and links are always available at the top via announcements.

    Easier to look back at past months if we ever want to reflect or reference something.

    Keeps everything contained and organized in one place.

    Establish Mini challenges <ie: 7 day streak challenge>

    Allows us to build a growing archive of encouragement, wisdom, and shared experience.

    🤔 Possible Disadvantage:
    Inactive folks would remain part of the group, but I would never remove anyone unless there was a clear reason—such as trolling, rudeness, or excessive profanity. This space will continue to be supportive, kind, and inclusive.

    What do you think?
    I’d love to hear your thoughts—any concerns, questions, or suggestions. If the group idea feels like a helpful next step, I’ll move us forward and get it set up, hopefully in time for August. We can also try it and if we don't like it, revert back to the way it's always been done. If absolutely not, then I will resume creating the discussion for August as always. Perhaps this was attempted in the past….

    @LittleSurferGirl7
    @chicbuc
    @barabaradem
    @SparkSpringtime69
    @NonnieDoiron
    @BurnMode05
    @nbruns83
    @Michieb125
    @SparkSpringtime69
    @globalhiker
    @Womona
    @tmbg1

    @dvmmcw7442

    @tiff8083

    @Walela617

    @Fursian

    @Jthanmyfitnesspal

    @looneycatblue

    @carlabisong

    I tried to tag everyone that has posted this month. If I didn't include you, not intentional, feel free to also provide feedback.

  • LittleSurferGirl7
    LittleSurferGirl7 Posts: 1,124 Member

    @nbruns83 Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and hugs. You're right about people not knowing how to deal with serious or terminal illnesses. When my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I refused to belief that she wouldn't make it. So, I guess I was in denial. I went to her home (my childhood home) to care for her. I was there by myself for about six months. I had no experience at caretaking. But, she was my mom, so everything worked out OK. And, fortunately, her insurance paid for some external caregivers, whom after a short period of time, we became friends. They were wonderful and told me to call them any time of day or night if I needed any help.

    @Michieb125 Yes, we do have some really nice hiking trails. We have a fairly large reservoir within a mile of here with a trail all around it. Obviously, I'm not up to that right yet. And, the city recently turned an old log pond into a recreation area with a paved path around it with picnic and playground areas. My favorite trail was a little ways from here (not far…30, 40 minutes) in the Cascade Mts on the way to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake. Unfortunately, there was a huge fire and it hasn't recovered yet. The fire almost reached us. We were at evacuation Level 2, (Level 1 is Be Ready, Level 2 is Get Set, and Level 3 is Go Now!) Fortunately the firefighters stopped it in it's track. Here's a couple of photos of the aftermath of the fire near my trail:

    IMG_20240921_123153628.jpg IMG_20240921_124220523.jpg

    So for my plan concerning my drinking. I think we all know that I can't moderate very well. So I'm going to try my best to be AF. Even if it's only for 90 days…that would be long enough to see how I feel and if that's how I want to continue.

    The last 3 days I have not had any alcohol in the house in the morning. Which is a plus. But I'm ready to jump in! So I had my husband buy me enough to last me through tomorrow (Sunday). The liquor store doesn't open until 11 am on Sundays and it's always a problem. And, I didn't want him to have to go to that store again tomorrow. Anyways, the game plan is that today was the last day that either of us will visit that store again. I realize the first day or two may be a little rough. But, this is what I want. And, I plan on being successful!!!

    Plus, the new 10-pound challenge starts on the 1st 😀

  • SparkSpringtime69
    SparkSpringtime69 Posts: 1,406 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48702562#Comment_48702562

    @itladyee I think this is an excellent idea. My only question (and maybe someone who has been around a lot longer can answer) is - what reason did the original poster have for doing it as a discussion, and why did Miss May continue to do it this way? I guess it may not matter, but I wonder if there was an advantage that we have not thought of.

    I like the idea of having all of the months' conversations in one spot. Also, additional resource categories could be added at any time (like the way you added the drink size chart, and your suggestion for a mocktail category).

    Curious what others think.

  • LittleSurferGirl7
    LittleSurferGirl7 Posts: 1,124 Member

    @itladyee I'm going to have to let the others decide on most of this. Some of it, I can't even imagine what it may look like.

    The only thing that I don't think I would like is making it a group…where people have to join. I usually avoid groups. You usually can't tell who is in the group until you join.

    Personally, I feel that all the information at the intro is a bit wordy and could be streamlined a bit. I get motivation from the info about how cutting down or quitting alcohol can improve your life…the physical changes and health improvements that happen with our bodies (But, I'm a science nerd). I just skip over all the links. I was looking at my Kindle library and I've purchased six of the books that are recommended and I really didn't get anything out of them. But, that's just me. I know a lot of people enjoy the books. I've read so much on the internet and watched so many videos about cutting down or quitting alcohol, that the information in the books is just redundant. I think if a person wants to drink LA or become AF, the motivation comes from within and with the support of groups like this.

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