Sober October 2017
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Count me in too! I've really enjoyed being alcohol free in September, so long may it last!! I just feel so much fresher and my workouts haven't been suffering, which is also a good thing!5
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For those who are looking to reduce rather than completely abstain, this is what worked for me in September:
I have a calendar where I mark in advance the days I allow myself a drink. A blue dot day means I can have up to four drinks (so usually Saturday), a green dot means I can have two or three, and a yellow dot means I am allowed one. I usually plan a week or two in advance if I know what I will be up to. If my plans are up in the air, I just keep it blank.
I am working towards reducing all dots, but right now I am allowing myself three blue dot days and three green dot days every month. I don't plan yellow dot days - those are the unexpected days where I might go out after work for a beverage with a friend or have a glass of wine with dinner.
I find it easier to abstain during the week if I look at my calendar and see that I only have a couple more days until a blue or green dot.
I don't know if this is the healthiest or best way for everyone, but it's working for me - someone who used to drink every other night.11 -
I'm so in!
I blew September
I think I was only good for like 1 weekend. Ughh.
But I want to be confident in myself and my body, and definitely by Halloween.
So maybe Sober October will be better for me. *Fingers crossed!*5 -
I'm in! I'm looking to cut back.2
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Will_Run_for_Food wrote: »For those who are looking to reduce rather than completely abstain, this is what worked for me in September:
I have a calendar where I mark in advance the days I allow myself a drink. A blue dot day means I can have up to four drinks (so usually Saturday), a green dot means I can have two or three, and a yellow dot means I am allowed one. I usually plan a week or two in advance if I know what I will be up to. If my plans are up in the air, I just keep it blank.
I am working towards reducing all dots, but right now I am allowing myself three blue dot days and three green dot days every month. I don't plan yellow dot days - those are the unexpected days where I might go out after work for a beverage with a friend or have a glass of wine with dinner.
I find it easier to abstain during the week if I look at my calendar and see that I only have a couple more days until a blue or green dot.
I don't know if this is the healthiest or best way for everyone, but it's working for me - someone who used to drink every other night.
That's awesome!!! I have used an excel spreadsheet for the past few years and I have green when I have zero, yellow when I drink moderately and red when I drink too much (in my opinion). The colors, dates and history help me see trends, problems and help me stay motivated to improve or make changes. I now track my workouts, water intake and weight on there too
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Maybe I could change my thinking of alcohol as something I can't have to something I don't want. Right now, I still feel I'm denying myself - sort of like chocolate ice cream which only sometimes do I choose to eat rather than lima beans which I don't want and which tempt me not in the least. For now, I'll just decide not to drink during the month of October.8
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I'm in! I have already decided to give up alcohol so if there are a bunch of us doing it it would help so much!3
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Maybe I could change my thinking of alcohol as something I can't have to something I don't want. Right now, I still feel I'm denying myself - sort of like chocolate ice cream which only sometimes do I choose to eat rather than lima beans which I don't want and which tempt me not in the least. For now, I'll just decide not to drink during the month of October.
Saying I don’t instead if I can’t has helped me with both drinking and food choices. Giving yourself the power in the choice is helpful. It’s not about deprivation or dieting but decisions for a healthy lifestyle in line with what your goals are.4 -
I don't want the "day after" and the "night of". Slipped one night in the past 3 months. Refused some scotch last weekend from a friend, at a weekend get away. I ate way too much but didn't have a drink.
As someone else posted, who wakes up in the morning and says "Boy, I wish I'd had a drink last night"?8 -
These may help!
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I quit drinking (almost totally) a YEAR ago September and I can tell you first-hand that everything on these charts is true. The most significant for me being mental clarity. Knowing exactly what happened the night before, where you left your keys and what you have planned for the next day is an outstanding sense of empowerment.
I started drinking heavily in college and the habit lasted for 30 years. It took a serious toll on my body (weight and otherwise). Don't let it be a become a habit for you. Don't count on a glass (or bottle) of wine to unwind. Anything outdoors is a way better option.
Today I will have a glass of wine on a truly special occasion, not just a Wednesday. I have no fear of judgement when ordering water in a bar. I've lost a lot of weight, my skin looks amazing, I'm focused, alert and much, much happier. I'm not preaching sobriety by any means, but would love to see you younger folks not go down the same path as me.
Oh, and I paid off all my bills by saving a gazillion dollars in bar tabs and have a healthy savings account to boot. DO IT! Even if it's just October.
PS - if you can make it through Halloween, you can make it through anything! And being sober might just keep you from eating the 10th mini bag of M&M's.19 -
I am willing! Sounds like a very beneficial goal!4
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dogeatdogworld wrote: »I drank vodka and v8 juice tonight I had no idea that spirnoff had 291 cal per 3 shots I'm bummed some one please help me motivate to stay sober for October any feedback would be much appreciated
Hey there. Here's a strategy I've started using. Log the food & drink before you consume them. That way, you can make a conscious choice in advance.
I'm finding that if I log my drink (wine is my poison) before I have it, I'm less likely to have another... and maybe another... and then not care about what I eat afterward.
Hard liquor typically has more calories than wine or beer, along with a higher alcohol content. Add a mixer, and you've doubled calories and often added a boatload of unnecessary sugars.
I'm tired of the very slow weight gain (lost 65 lbs in 14 months, gained 20 lbs in 24 months). I'm also tired of feeling gross from dehydration at least one morning a week.
So, I'm in for October!6 -
As a certified enologist (winemaker) I learned that you should consume 4 glasses of water for every glass of wine to prevent dehydration. It is also a good strategy for slowing down and drinking less.13
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In for October
I tried this back in the spring and made it 5 weeks. Summer came & I've put almost 20 lbs on, mostly from booze. Whiskey & red wine have not been my friends over the last few months.
My first week may be touch & go, I have a friend coming to visit for 7 days and I'm sure there will be cocktails. So maybe I will commit to "cutting back" during that time frame & abstaining after she leaves!!
Good luck with your goals everyone!!!4 -
I drink/drank every day because it's always around me and I make homemade wine. There are so many reasons not to drink, I don't understand why I do it. I did sober September in 2014 and lasted 10 months. Soo, I'm just finishing Sober September 2017 and I feel fantastic. I'm all in for Sober October. Good luck all!10
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Im in like Flynn. Less to do with the alcohol itself but the side effect for me of food trigger..... I drink Coors light and would limit myself to 3 beers on the weekends but the eating was off the charts and hard to control. So here I am.....8
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I need to do this this month. Drinking has been a weak spot of mine for a long time and I'm really wanting to get control over this part of my life.
Count me in and please help me be accountable.☺7 -
I want to be here! This drinking helps me not lose and slowly gain in the end. I looked at my trend yesterday for weight loss---I am going down at times, but in the end it is a slow uphill. It has a negative impact on most every goal I have. Thank you for starting this!6
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October will be here on Sunday! Do you have your goals in mind? Have your plan of action?
Do what works for you! Moderate, abstain, reduce.
For me, I plan on abstaining most of all of October. I may give myself a pass or two for a milestone birthday (mine) near the end of October. However, my hope is it will come and I’ll end up abstaining.
I just want to give myself some grace if I need it!
I still have ten pounds I would like to lose, and alcohol does not help me lose weight. So that’s in the back of my mind as well.
Whatever your goals are for October, I’m glad you are here. Believe in yourself!2
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