Less alcohol- January 2018- one day at a time
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I'm up for this. I gave up vodka ten years ago this month and all other hard alcohol several years ago. My beer drinking has been cut back to summer barbecue and college football games, so that's out right now. It's just wine, but more than I want to have. I have, before the holidays, been passing on it several nights a week. I want to hit the New Year with my best effort in diet, exercise and alcohol. My wife will be going to visit her family in Britain on January 15. She's going to be cutting back, which is good, but since I will be doing the shopping, I should have two weeks with no wine in the house. If I choose sobriety until then, I should be able to be free for the rest of the month.
One thing that I am concentrating on is that I'm not choosing to give up alcohol. I am choosing to enjoy life sober.
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Definitely in! I think my liver needs a break after holiday season and ski trip! I’m more of a 1-2 glasses of wine or a beer or two on a weekend night usually but my intake was definitely more than average over the holidays! So I’m going no alcohol at all for January! Trying to eat healthier as well so this should lend itself nicely2
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@MaryBethHempel, I'm 60% through This Naked Mind. She recommends going through it slowly, and I'm going to do that when I finish this blitz through. There are so many insights I never thought of before. For me personally, I've always dreaded the idea of the AA-type approach. I figured if I have to be thinking about drinking every day for the rest of my life, I might as well be drinking. I know that doesn't make sense, and I do not mean to bash AA in any way; I know many people, including my best friend, who have really been helped in that program. However, Ms. Grace gives me hope that I can come to a place where I don't even think about alcohol much. And her rationale makes a great deal of sense to me. One insight is that alcohol doesn't make you feel good . . . it just gives you relief from the distress it, itself, has caused. Anyway, I'm glad others recommended it. She was a 2-bottle-a-night drinker, so she knows what we're going through in terms of struggling to moderate or quit.4
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I would love to join this challenge. I drank a lot over the holidays and it had a horrible effect on my stomach. Taking it as a lesson learnt and aiming to have a dry January.2
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0996715002/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - This book changed my life.
Thanks for sharing this book title. I plan on buying it. I read the first 40 pages which were free to download. I also like the author's videos on youtube.
I think this will be supportive for me. It sounds very similar to a successful program I had experience with in the past which was primarily for weight loss but in reality applies to all behaviors that are used as a tool to manage feelings. i.e. over spending, eating, gambling, drinking . . . .2 -
KombuchaKat wrote: »lporter229 wrote: »I drank more than I wanted to on New Year's eve...fail : ( I did at least keep my promise to myself to get up in the morning and meet my running group for a "kick off the year right" run and then breakfast. It was no easy task since it was -1F outside, but I managed and it definitely put me in a positive mind set for January. No alcohol yesterday, which wasn't too tough because my husband wasn't drinking either.
I do have a bit of a confession to make. The thought of a dry life kind of scares me. Like so many of you have expressed, my life in many ways seems to revolve around alcohol. I know that is sad, but it's the reality of it. Does anyone else feel frightened about the changes they will need to make in order to stay alcohol free. I have to admit that this is the number one reason that I keep saying I need to cut back but not give it up entirely.
You are definitely not alone. I have thought of giving up alcohol completely many times but I always come back to trying to moderate. I live in a big city and everything includes alcohol, dinner with friends, work functions, on and on. I know I'm not a good moderator, really of anything in my life, but I can't seem to let go of booze.
I feel the same. It is such a habit ingrained in me, that I think I'm being sentenced to jail or something, because I'm having a dry January. Today, I was picking out menu and wine for a relative's funeral luncheon. And I thought to myself, Damn I can't have any. I really have to change that thinking. It's day 2 of no alcohol, and I feel really good.
One thing that keeps me motivated is I sleep better when I don't drink, and I won't have to worry about that nausea/headache hangover again. That would be a relief. The book I read said, if one day at a time is too difficult... Then, just say one minute at a time. Maybe I'm make a list of positives of not drinking and put it where I can see it. Wishing you all well. You're not alone. I am frightened too. But I"m also encouraged. I'm not saying no to drinking forever, just for 30 days. *Secretly, hoping I won't drink ever again though.5 -
Im in!!!! New Years Eve was my last hurrah for a while...once I start I dont stop for the night and then there is the whole eating everything in sight, mindless calories..... Its a vicious cycle and I would like to make more positive and less embarrassing choices in 2018. Thanks for the support, look forward to getting to know you all Happy New Year to US!!!3
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I'm in. Going 100% dry.4
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crazykatlady820 wrote: »I'm in again! I'm on day 80 of being sober and I don't miss it at all. I'm not a person who can just cut back, so in order to take control of my health and life I'm done with alcohol for good. It's nice to talk to people who can understand your struggles (and not judge you) even if our struggles aren't exactly the same.
I can relate, I have tried to cut back and it just does'nt work for me. Congrats!!!!! on day 80!!!!Thats awesome1 -
So day 2 and I feel pretty good. I came home worked out and killing time till dinner is ready, This is the waiting game till dinner. Normally if I can make it to 8:00 pm I am good, dinner, tea and then bed. My concern is Friday night, hubby already bought V for the weekend. Uggg I am going to take 1 day at a time. I hate that I get irritated in the evening, sometimes I just need my space to get through it. Keep up the good work. @JulieAL19693
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Goal — Dry January
1/1 = no alcohol
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This is going to be a long month. Anxiety + sobriety = ugh8 -
Soooo - 189 hours since my last drink and I could really go for a glass of wine right about now.
I think I’ll call it an early night to help rush this day along!!8 -
amymoreorless wrote: »Goal — Dry January
This is going to be a long month. Anxiety + sobriety = ugh
I went through an awful year of anxiety in 2016 and I sadly would drink wine in the evening just to feel normal. I have an aversion to hangovers so it’s always been 2-3 glasses just enough to calm my mind, but it became really habitual and daily. Now that my anxiety is so much better, the habit is clearly something really unhealthy. I pride myself on clean eating, working out, but I drink much more than I should — my trigger in anxiety too. My goal in this 30 days is to work through anxiety without the crutch of a glass of wine!
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Hubby at home most of the week so not drinking is a challenge. It is easy not to when he is out. However, got home from work last night and asked him to make me a lovely cup of coffee from our new Expresso machine... Then I had a bath. Then a meal. That stopped the fatal, "chat, drink and snack time" which, although lovely, undermines my efforts to cut down. It worked.. I think he is trying to cut down now too. Early days yet but hopeful! Thanks for starting the January thread.. and good luck everyone!3
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PS, I am taking a break from work for 3 weeks and will be downloading the book and reading it carefully.I have been fairly successful in cutting back and am trying to reduce gradually. Going cold turkey does not work for me. Negatives: My hip pain is worse without booze as the painkillers are not good enough! Positives: I am sleeping and feeling much better and on nights when I do drink I am drinking less. Happy New Year!2
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I made it yesterday. Reserved the "Naked Mind" from the library. It was tough yesterday. My anxiety is there still, but overall I am already calmer. I was tired, which makes me more tempted to throw in the towel. I won't be able to focus on how many days I don't drink for some reason. That feels overwhelming. I am doing what has worked before. I get a bottle mixed up of diet fruit punch to drink especially after work, or when tired. I am even drinking it sometimes when I am passing a liquor store. I make sure I have healthy food with me wherever I go. I try to get the necessary requirements that I can't miss earlier in the day. Like exercise, water, supplements, enough calcium, protein.... The food later in the day can be more varied healthy and fun. Anyways I want to join an accountability group for diet. Today I try out TOPS. My other goal is to be here to support and be supported. It may take having some kind of buddy system as well.3
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No wine yesterday, but I did drink on New Year's day. No wine on NYE. This seems to be a pattern for me. Drink every other day. Today will be the test as I'm sure I'll be tempted. I'm facing some of the same struggles as many of you here, but reading all the posts helps knowing that I'm not alone.4
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I was using alcohol to self-medicate anxiety and depression as well. That's what made the first several weeks of quitting drinking pretty rough. But I have an excellent support system in place through some family members and friends and that's how I got through each day.
As soon as I quit drinking some events happened that were very hard to deal with. My husband got in a car accident that made him miss a week of work. He's our sole source of income. Our budget is already tight and everything that followed (car rental, deductible,
Christmas) made for a rough few months. We're still getting back on our feet from it. Then, my dad is hospitalized and still fighting for his life in ICU. It was/is hard to face all that without alcohol. But I did.
Anyway, it's been almost 3 months and that anxiety that I was using alcohol for is completely manageable without it. In fact, it's more manageable without it. I wasn't expecting that.
What makes me successful in facing my anxiety and depression while giving up alcohol is my support system which includes my doctor. It also includes you guys and being able to share here. And I use the blog feature on here (set to private) to help me sort through feelings. Although my blog isn't working at the moment.
If anyone is trying to manage anxiety and/or depression while trying to cut back or quit drinking my first suggestion is to talk with your doctor and get them involved in your plan. And then find someone you can confide in and talk to if you need it.10 -
SanDiegofitmom wrote: »amymoreorless wrote: »Goal — Dry January
This is going to be a long month. Anxiety + sobriety = ugh
I went through an awful year of anxiety in 2016 and I sadly would drink wine in the evening just to feel normal. I have an aversion to hangovers so it’s always been 2-3 glasses just enough to calm my mind, but it became really habitual and daily. Now that my anxiety is so much better, the habit is clearly something really unhealthy. I pride myself on clean eating, working out, but I drink much more than I should — my trigger in anxiety too. My goal in this 30 days is to work through anxiety without the crutch of a glass of wine!
This is me too. I don't think I ever have admitted to myself that I have anxiety. I just go, go, go and keep going because if I ever stop then the anxiety takes over. I don't drink to where I am hung over most of the time, but I can put 3 glasses per night down without even thinking about it, because it definitely calms me down. These past two days I have not minded not drinking, but I have been a whirlwind of activity...working out, playing with my dog, cleaning obsessively, just to keep my mind busy. I am not sure if this is good or bad. Clearly I have some other issues I need to address here. I think I will look into getting the "Naked Mind" since it comes so highly recommended here.
There is another book I read a few years back called "Lit" by Mary Karr. It is a memoir of her struggles with alcoholism and I remember thinking at the time "Well, I'm not THAT bad", but there were definitely some elements of her story that I could relate to. It's a very good read if anyone is interested.
Again, @crazykatlady, thank you for sharing your experience here and for your continued, non-judgemental support!2 -
Am I the odd man out here in that I feel like alcohol helps me to sleep? I rarely wake up during the night when I have had a few glasses of wine, but I almost always do without it.1
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