Less alcohol- January 2018- one day at a time
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@suzJok85, Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful post. I am the person you quoted and your post was a welcome eye-opener for me. These 12 dry days have been illuminating. I’ve struggled with this long enough that I can flip back through years of journals and see some version of “I am going to limit myself to 2 drinks max” popping up at regular intervals. Who am/was I kidding? All of the excuses or rationalizations you list ring true to many of us, I’m sure. I’m happy that your journey has led to a good place. In a very stressful week I confess I’ve been tempted to lose heart and give up. I’m grateful for this thread, which goes to show what support from like-minded people can do.9
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3 days down - 47 to go to hit goal.6
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I struggle with too many calories from beer. I LOVE good thick calorie laden porters! I have been successfully keeping those at bay for the last week.
I also enjoy red wine. I can easily cut down on the calories consumed with red wine and still feel indulged. I buy crimson berry tea in bulk. Make a strong pot of tea. Mix it 50/50 with red wine. Yummy, relaxing, slightly warm and super comforting.5 -
I woke up early and feel good! I was just thinking about how much I like NOT drinking. These 12 days have really been so wonderful. I really didn’t expect to feel so upbeat and my mood improved. It’s not always easy, my dad came over with a bottle of wine and when I was uncorking it I had a brief longing but it passed. We played cards and laughed and not for one second did I miss it! Such progress. Wish me luck at the wedding today. I’m not worried about drinking or caving, more just wondering how it will be to be with a bunch of intoxicated people
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@suzJok85, Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful post. I am the person you quoted and your post was a welcome eye-opener for me. These 12 dry days have been illuminating. I’ve struggled with this long enough that I can flip back through years of journals and see some version of “I am going to limit myself to 2 drinks max” popping up at regular intervals. Who am/was I kidding? All of the excuses or rationalizations you list ring true to many of us, I’m sure. I’m happy that your journey has led to a good place. In a very stressful week I confess I’ve been tempted to lose heart and give up. I’m grateful for this thread, which goes to show what support from like-minded people can do.
I have “cut down wine intake” in pretty much all my January goals in my past journals too
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I’ve discovered another pro! I don’t wake up at 3am to pee anymore, lol. I thought I was just getting older but I’m realizing it was directly related to evening drinking and consequently trying to chug water before bed to prevent a hangover. I have been sleeping completely through the night this whole week and it’s so nice. Day 12 today!
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »I’ve discovered another pro! I don’t wake up at 3am to pee anymore, lol. I thought I was just getting older but I’m realizing it was directly related to evening drinking and consequently trying to chug water before bed to prevent a hangover. I have been sleeping completely through the night this whole week and it’s so nice. Day 12 today!
Oh my gosh I told my mom the same thing last night!!!!!!!3 -
So I am 3 out of 13 for this month. @SuzJok85 your post really hit home. Not to go into all the details but last night I drank, but the the outcome has been amazing and something clicked in my brain. I realized that alcohol needs me, and I don't need it. That is the reason we hear it cry and try to get us to drink it. I did not have fun last night, it quickly became a habit and I felt like I reversed everything I worked so hard this week to accomplish. It did reinforce that this is not a month long challenge, it is a lifelong challenge and I really don't want it anymore. I can say I won't be drinking tonight and I really can't say when I will again. So I am glad it is pass me and I am glad I am in this group.7
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »I’ve discovered another pro! I don’t wake up at 3am to pee anymore, lol. I thought I was just getting older but I’m realizing it was directly related to evening drinking and consequently trying to chug water before bed to prevent a hangover. I have been sleeping completely through the night this whole week and it’s so nice. Day 12 today!
MonkeyMeI21 this made me laugh, I totally know what you mean. I use to chug water all night in hope it would fend off the dreaded dry mouth and hangover.3 -
Day 13 begins - so great to see the amazing success here and to feel like I have compatriots in the struggle. Last night we went to a big pig roast our friends have every January. I remember so many of these pig roasts for all the wine I drank and how crappy I felt the next morning. Still I remembered enjoying myself and the struggle not to drink felt real. Took my tea with me in my beloved adult sippy cup, had a couple of spare diet ginger ales in my purse and did just fine. One of the bonuses is I could eat more because I wasn't using all my calories on wine. Plus I could be the DD so my husband could enjoy all the delicious IPA (I guess? I don't drink beer) from the keg without worrying about it. Feeling strong today. It helps that we don't have any social events scheduled, and I'm rewarding myself with a massage!7
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I am doing that this year. The last time I had anything alcoholic to drink was 1/4 glass of champagne on new years eve and before that I had not had a drink in a while. I plan on not drinking at all this year. I told my husband if I never drink alcohol again I would be fine..=)6
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AmandaEdwards1 wrote: »
I started buying boxed wine about a year ago because it was more cost effective but it took a huge toll on my health because i started just drinking whenever I felt like without measuring... and you cant really look inside the box to see how much you've had either.
Anyways, I will keep following this thread to help look for inspiration when times get tough!
Boxed wine is the worst for moderation. I just used to keep it on a shelf in my closet and fill my glass whenever I pleased. I could kill the whole thing in 2 days. Lost a lot of weekends that way which is sad. Stopped buying the boxes about a year ago, seeing wine bottles add up is a bit harsh and helped me slow way down.
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I made it through the whole week. No drinks on Friday again. Today is Saturday, which is my one day a week i am allowing some drinks. And my beloved football team has a playoff game so I am going to enjoy some light beers (though i wosh it was craft beer)
The positives - beside how amazing i have done all week/month - is that I got up and went straight to the gym. Now I am off to do some yoga. So at least I am getting a positive start to my day!5 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »Gotta say I am struggling tonight. However, I wont drink - this will be Day 12. BUT I started to feel grouchy that I "couldn't drink" tonight; what will I look forward to now? Negative self talk.
So, I just had a little pep talk in my mind and said, "You can look forward to no hangover, more weight loss, no headache tomorrow, sleeping better, and working on a hobby you havent done in awhile..."
So, I poured a La Croix in a wine glass. And will make a big pot of tea and chill. I will watch a movie or maybe journal or read. I have to continue to be strong. And read these posts. I look forward to them !
Due to the blizzard, my plans were cancelled ; I was going to the bar to listen to a band. So, now there is no temptation which is good.
GREAT JOB and Self Talk!0 -
Goal — January under 7 drinks a week- for my health.....my mind.....my body....Freedom from alcohol ruling my life!
1/1 =alcohol free
1/2 = 4 wine spritzers
1/3 =alcohol free
1/4 =alcohol free
1/5 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine....I wasn't tempted, which was great!
1/6 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine
1/7 =alcohol free while my husband must of drank almost 2 bottles of wine-I copy and paste! Rerun! I feel that now I don't even want one drink as it is never enough...I always want more! I will see how long I can be FREE from alcohol. Losing weight and feeling great!
1/8 =DITTO...I slept better last night--had an Atkins bar around 8...maybe that was it...I also had to go to my guest room again for my husbands snoring started again!
1/9 =DITTO and lost another pound---Wow! 7 days alcohol FREE!! This is the longest I have gone for years!
1/10 =8 days freedom
1/11 =9 days freedom- looking forward to reading my new books...This Naked Mind and Blackout-Remembering The Things I Drank to Forget...
1/12 =10 days clean! My hubby only drank during the day, not last night. He didn't snore last night, so I didn't have to go to our guest room to sleep. Read the first 2 1/2 chapters of This Naked Mind and finding it interesting.
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I joined "The Alcohol Experiment" with Annie Grace, the writer of "The Naked Mind". I read about 2 1/2 chapters of the book yesterday. I received this email that I thought I would share to you all!
Hello Mary Beth,
"True happiness comes from gaining insight and growing into your best possible self. Otherwise all you're having is immediate gratification pleasure, which is fleeting and doesn't grow you as a person."
-Aristotle
Clearly, we like drinking. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it, right? At least, in the beginning we liked it. Right now, you might be struggling with how much you actually hate the after-effects. But there’s no denying that the first drink feels good.
Before we can unpack all the complicated pieces of the alcohol puzzle, it’s important to understand what’s actually happening in the brain when we drink.
So, I’m out with my friends at a bar and I order a glass of wine. I’ve had a hard day at work, and I’m looking forward to relaxing and laughing with people I love. That first glass makes me feel giggly and there’s a little rush of euphoria that makes me feel good, maybe for the first time all day.
The area of your brain called the nucleus accumbens, or the pleasure center, is artificially stimulated by the wine. The chemicals responsible for that euphoria are endorphins (the same chemicals responsible for feeling good when you exercise) and glucose. The glucose is just a sugar-rush that happens anytime you eat or drink something with a high carb content. Alcohol is almost all sugar, so that sugar high happens pretty quickly.
There are two main chemicals that work in the pleasure center. Dopamine, which is responsible for desire and craving, and serotonin, which is responsible for the feeling of satiety and inhibition. In a healthy brain, there is a delicate balance between the two. But alcohol throws off that balance and lots of dopamine gets dumped into our system, making us want more of what gave us pleasure (the alcohol).
Since the pleasure center has been artificially stimulated by an outside substance, our brain seeks to regain the correct balance. So it sends out a chemical downer, called dynorphin. This actually suppresses our feelings of euphoria, and as the effects of that first glass start to wear off, our sense of well-being actually falls below where it was when we started drinking.
That means we’re lower than when we got off work after a hard day. Bummer.
All my best,
Annie
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Regarding night time pee, I am still waking up to pee because of the increased intake of teas and water. If anything, alcohol was dehydrating me and reducing peeing. But its a small price to pay.
If you are not a recovering alcoholic, look forward to enjoying a cold one in Feb....I suspect that we will enjoy it and not have the urge to go back to drinking6 -
Regarding night time pee, I am still waking up to pee because of the increased intake of teas and water. If anything, alcohol was dehydrating me and reducing peeing. But its a small price to pay.
If you are not a recovering alcoholic, look forward to enjoying a cold one in Feb....I suspect that we will enjoy it and not have the urge to go back to drinking
I’m with you on that. I pee a lot more in the middle of the night cause im drinking so much water and staying hydrated!2 -
Went to dinner with some friends last night. I did share a bottle of wine so that is 2 glasses. Then I ordered a third glass. But what I am proud of was that after dinner I didnt stop to get anymore wine and cigarettes. The temptation was there and I almost caved in but I was strong and went home. That was a MAJOR victory for me. I got up this morning and ran on the TM for 30 mins and took my Zumba class.
I have plans to go out to dinner tonight with some friends and I will NOT be drinking.
Hope everyone is having a great Saturday!!!6 -
I hurt my already bad knee this morning. I’ve just been sitting in the recliner icing it and watching Netflix hoping I can stay strong and not listen to myself saying one day out of 30 isn’t a fail.5
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MaryBethHempel wrote: »I joined "The Alcohol Experiment" with Annie Grace, the writer of "The Naked Mind". I read about 2 1/2 chapters of the book yesterday. I received this email that I thought I would share to you all!
Hello Mary Beth,
"True happiness comes from gaining insight and growing into your best possible self. Otherwise all you're having is immediate gratification pleasure, which is fleeting and doesn't grow you as a person."
-Aristotle
Clearly, we like drinking. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it, right? At least, in the beginning we liked it. Right now, you might be struggling with how much you actually hate the after-effects. But there’s no denying that the first drink feels good.
Before we can unpack all the complicated pieces of the alcohol puzzle, it’s important to understand what’s actually happening in the brain when we drink.
So, I’m out with my friends at a bar and I order a glass of wine. I’ve had a hard day at work, and I’m looking forward to relaxing and laughing with people I love. That first glass makes me feel giggly and there’s a little rush of euphoria that makes me feel good, maybe for the first time all day.
The area of your brain called the nucleus accumbens, or the pleasure center, is artificially stimulated by the wine. The chemicals responsible for that euphoria are endorphins (the same chemicals responsible for feeling good when you exercise) and glucose. The glucose is just a sugar-rush that happens anytime you eat or drink something with a high carb content. Alcohol is almost all sugar, so that sugar high happens pretty quickly.
There are two main chemicals that work in the pleasure center. Dopamine, which is responsible for desire and craving, and serotonin, which is responsible for the feeling of satiety and inhibition. In a healthy brain, there is a delicate balance between the two. But alcohol throws off that balance and lots of dopamine gets dumped into our system, making us want more of what gave us pleasure (the alcohol).
Since the pleasure center has been artificially stimulated by an outside substance, our brain seeks to regain the correct balance. So it sends out a chemical downer, called dynorphin. This actually suppresses our feelings of euphoria, and as the effects of that first glass start to wear off, our sense of well-being actually falls below where it was when we started drinking.
That means we’re lower than when we got off work after a hard day. Bummer.
All my best,
Annie
I just joined this morning too!2 -
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT - stay away from golf this month. To me golf is fun in two ways - driving the cart and the cute beer girl in her cart. Went to play today and wanted a beer so so so so bad, like so so bad. Almost gave in but in the end a voice said, how will you show your face to the anonymous people on the interwebz....trust me driving back sober from the golf course is no bueno12
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Saturday night! No drinkies for me. Got in a solid run this morning/afternoon and spent the rest of the day hanging with my husband. He had some drinks, but I’m just not feeling it this weekend. Helps keep the calories down today too!10
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@MichSmish you're on a roll- good for you!
@NormInv Funny guy! Can't break that record even if she's cute! Are you at 13 days?2 -
Day 13 - alcohol free. Now, it's getting easy. Today, I had no craving, but i did eat a few extra peppermint patties that I shouldn't have eaten. Probably trying to get a sugar fix somehow. Hope everyone is on a roll, too. I am living by a simple motto I got from that guy on alcohol mastery on youtube. He ends his videos with "and keep the alcohol out of your mouth."
I'm convinced if I just take one sip, I will go down hill fast.
Once i make it to 30 days, I'm shooting for another month alcohol free. But must say that these 13 days have felt like 30 ! This month is going really slow.8 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »Day 13 - alcohol free. Now, it's getting easy. Today, I had no craving, but i did eat a few extra peppermint patties that I shouldn't have eaten. Probably trying to get a sugar fix somehow. Hope everyone is on a roll, too. I am living by a simple motto I got from that guy on alcohol mastery on youtube. He ends his videos with "and keep the alcohol out of your mouth."
I'm convinced if I just take one sip, I will go down hill fast.
Once i make it to 30 days, I'm shooting for another month alcohol free. But must say that these 13 days have felt like 30 ! This month is going really slow.
Weekends are harder than week days but stick with it, we will see Jan 31 dry. Yes its Day 13 for me too. I also indulged a little with hot dogs and dark chocolate, so not too bad.
I know some people will say if you wanted the beer so bad you should have got it. True, but I have never gone a month without and I want to see what happens7 -
I got through the wedding reception at the brewery without a sip! I was tempted to taste my husbands beer but he wouldn’t let me at first I felt weird, and almost like I was without the “protection” of a glass of wine, but pretty quickly it became easy. Talking to people was great, and I didn’t feel deprived. It was a brewery so they didn’t have any fun non alcoholic drinks - but I had some lemonade and club soda and I drove us home. My hubby was thrilled in the passenger seat. 6
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »Day 13 - alcohol free. Now, it's getting easy. Today, I had no craving, but i did eat a few extra peppermint patties that I shouldn't have eaten. Probably trying to get a sugar fix somehow. Hope everyone is on a roll, too. I am living by a simple motto I got from that guy on alcohol mastery on youtube. He ends his videos with "and keep the alcohol out of your mouth."
I'm convinced if I just take one sip, I will go down hill fast.
Once i make it to 30 days, I'm shooting for another month alcohol free. But must say that these 13 days have felt like 30 ! This month is going really slow.
Awesome.. Remember.. I'm holding you to the Feb challenge! 0 -
SanDiegofitmom wrote: »I got through the wedding reception at the brewery without a sip! I was tempted to taste my husbands beer but he wouldn’t let me at first I felt weird, and almost like I was without the “protection” of a glass of wine, but pretty quickly it became easy. Talking to people was great, and I didn’t feel deprived. It was a brewery so they didn’t have any fun non alcoholic drinks - but I had some lemonade and club soda and I drove us home. My hubby was thrilled in the passenger seat.
To me, that would be a HUGE victory. At a wedding reception in a brewery - double whammy!! Well done!5 -
4 down - 46 to go to hit my personal challenge.3
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