Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time

DCRunnerGirl78 · February 2018

I made it a solid 7 days with no alcohol! I haven't done that since October (made it 9 days that time). The biggest achievement was that it was through a Superbowl Sunday when I had finished a 9 mile run. I always use long runs as an excuse to reward myself with a beer or 6.

SunnyDays930 · February 2018

I played pool yesterday afternoon with my husband his sister and her bf. We ate hideous amounts of junk food at the bar; nachos, wings quesadillas etc. I had my recent go-to seltzer and cranberries and they had 4 beers each. I figure I saved myself 1000 calories not keeping up with them, beer-wise. I didn't lose any weight but I didn't gain any either when I looked at the scale this morning. That is very motivating to me. Came home and watched super bowl while hubby was snoring away and missed the first half. I hope everyone had luck sticking to whatever personal goals they set for themselves yesterday and if not, today is new day!

lporter229 · February 2018

Thanks for sharing your story. I know what you mean about using running as an excuse to convince yourself you don't drink that much. I have run 5 marathons including qualifying for and running the Boston marathon all the while being what would likely be considered a "heavy" drinker. I am definitely wanting to kick that habit to the curb. I have forced myself to get out there and do training runs hung over more times than I care o admit. And while I actually find running to be a great hangover "cure", it for sure feels 100 times better to run with a well rested and hydrated body!

lporter229 · February 2018

2/1-Dry
2/2-Dry
2/3- 2 Manhattans and a 5oz glass of wine (planned)
2/4- 10 oz beer (less than planned!)

I had a great run on Saturday after managing to stay dry on Friday night. Saturday we were going out to dinner and I had planned for 3 drinks for the evening. I had a cocktail and glass of wine at dinner and then a night cap when we got home. This was over the course of about 5 hours, so I was feeling absolutely fine when I went to bed Saturday night. I woke up early on Sunday, met some friends for a 12 mile run and had a productive day of cleaning before we headed to our friends' house for the Superbowl. I told my husband to pack 2 of his home brews for me and that was all I was going to drink. I ended up having less than one bottle (I shared half or more of each bottle with somebody) and drank water the rest of the night. It was nice to come home with a clear head. And added bonus to all of this is how much my husband has cut back on drinking as well. He had 2 beers last night and we returned home with an almost full cooler. This morning he said "no alcohol tonight", which really surprised me. I told him that I have been trying to cut back, but that is all that I have mentioned to him.

dbanks80 · February 2018

I did well Friday and Saturday. I didn't do well Superbowl Sunday. I few glass of beer and went home with some wine. Woke up this morning with a slight hangover and drinking A LOT of water right now. I will be AF for the rest of this month though!!!

Nessiechickie · February 2018

Feb. 01 - no
Feb. 02Fri- yes
Feb. 03Sat - no
Feb. 04-yes
Feb. 05- no
and plan to not drink till Friday.

PhotogirlTX · February 2018

I am proud of my husband.. he didn't drink on Super Bowl Sunday! (Neither did I.) Probably the first time for him in years. We are now drinking a lot of La Croix.. and because I like the experience of having the stemless wine glass in my hand... they have a really nice hand feel... we are pouring our La Croix in those at night, instead of wine. My favorite is Blackberry and Cucumber. I need to go get some frozen blackberries and rosemary and add it to my glass to make it really feel like something special!

Good job for everyone that went alcohol free or even alcohol minimalist yesterday! I can't believe I am starting my 6th week of no alcohol.. pretty incredible for me to think about that!

kittybenn · February 2018

Won't bore you with details, but things went completely off the rails yesterday at the Super Bowl gathering I went too. Wayyyyy too much eating and drinking. I'm not gonna dwell on it. Today's another day. My goal was to stay dry Mon-Thurs so here we go!

SanDiegofitmom · February 2018

Ha! I drank more than I planned. Not terrible but looking forward to a nice dry workweek

you’re not alone!
Also, I woke up a ton last night and thought “drinking is dumb” ha

redredy9 · February 2018

Whoa. What a weekend. I had a few glasses of wine on Friday. Went on a bender on Saturday with my girlfriends and then had 4 glasses of wine on Sunday.

Sunday I woke up hung over at 5 but went back to sleep for a few hours and felt well enough to go running at 9.

Fiancé and I did make sure we hit our exercise target before doing any drinking. We went for a long walk, and two run/walks over the weekend.

I am back on the wagon today and will not be drinking until Friday.

This is hard.

NormInv · February 2018

Before I met you, a big part of my daily and weekly routine was planning my booze:

Wonder how much vodka I have left in the fridge
Do I have enough olive brine
Should I stop at the liquor store on my way home. But I was there just the day before and the check out lady was being too friendly for my taste. She pretended I was an acquaintance
Maybe I go to the other store today.. But traffic....
Do I have enough for 3 doubles. What if I need a 4th
Yes I know I'm getting fat but I workout
My doctor will never know

Yes I was having alcohol problems

Westschmeis · February 2018

Super Bowl was wet, but maybe drinking helped to defeat the Patriots??LOL

Anyway it was great they lost, and I did not have a hangover even after 3 brandys when the wine was gone.

Back to work today, extra exercise to burn the empty calories and get back to a healthy deficit.

Onward as nd downward.

Skyweigh · February 2018

This reminds me of the commercial we used to have here saying, "alcohol makes your world smaller" ..... drinking planning indeed uses up a lot of mental real estate.

islandbeez · February 2018

All of this is me...except the working out part.
I'm glad you are here, Norm.

I am so glad to be learning how to deal with all of this in such a supportive atmosphere.
We kinda rock, guys!

redredy9 · February 2018

I can totally relate.

30ABob · February 2018

OK, I'm in starting today. I really enjoy a couple of cold beers in the evening but it's 400+ calories a DAY.

Poston1966 · February 2018

I had been cutting back and not drinking during the week. All has been great and I have lost weight. On Friday, we would have a glass or two of wine. Saturday usually at a concert with 2-5 beers. Maybe a glass of wine on sunday. This has been the routine since Jan. I am really struggling with the way I feel. I am fine drinking Friday night but on Saturday morning, i feel horrible. It just continues until Monday night. I think I am going to stop it all. The "binge" drinking is not for me. Has anyone else felt thid way?

SunnyDays930 · February 2018

@NormInv You honestly and openly just articulated a lot of our stories. Thank you.

springsweet · February 2018

Well, I drank Saturday at the wedding. I decided to ahead of time. I don't regret it, but I sure felt like poop yesterday. I don't know what I hate more about hangovers - the headache or the slow-motion thinking. I was just a zombie all day. But the good news is I'm going to take that 2 weeks of no drinking and apply it to my life moving forward. No more drinking every day. That's no way to live.

Instead of drinking a cheap bottle of wine every night, I'll have higher quality wine every once in a while.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend!

Alzzi76 · February 2018

Hello to all our awesome team.. i am going good so far this month. Ive got out off the way of thinking, the way to have a good time is to drink. Also i don't have pull toward the drive thru when i drive past.

I have now found a few other complications.. i have lost my appetite. Im not sure if its a passing stage. Party of getting the toxins out of the body.

Another is im finding myself going into hibernation
mode, not wanting to physically be with others.
I think and hoping very much itll pass.

There's another thing but im a little shy to say here, but i wish i could ask, has anyone else found the same problems.

runtodayamyrun · February 2018

I think this speaks volumes to a lot of us who have had these same thoughts. Thanks for writing them out for us to reflect on!

salleewins · February 2018

@Alzzi76, for me it is this time of year in the northeast USA where it is cold out and I am finding I am inside too much because of winter. I started having cabin fever well before I quit drinking. I am sure my body is healing after what I did to it with the drinking so much. Maybe it is the same for you? Just something to think on. Maybe you are feeling that way because of the toxin release, too?

SunnyDays930 · February 2018

@Alzzi76 There are no dumb questions here but if you prefer not to share, simply google whatever your concern is. I am certain it is out there on the internet somewhere. Good luck

salleewins · February 2018

Yes, alcohol was trying to take over my life. It wanted to be #1. Slowly but surely it really was happening.

lporter229 · February 2018

@Alzzi76 - I also find myself wanting to be a little less social. It's not easy for me to be in big groups of people and even harder when most of them are drinking and I am not. Most of my social situations revolve around, or at least include, alcohol. I think it may take a little time to adjust to this for me. I also have been finding myself seeking out more social opportunities that do not involve alcohol.

dbanks80 · February 2018

OMG You are hilarious!!!

We all have those thoughts!!

eddie_fields · February 2018

There’s a tremendous little local liquor store in Cocoa Beach, Florida that I went to nearly everyday for three years when I lived there. When I was moving, I told the owner (a pleasant Indian man) that I was relocating out of state. He said “I love you man and will miss you, I see you more than many of my family.”

I thought it was very polite...and that maybe I had a problem. Haven’t drank since Jan 1...hoping to make a nice little run here.

Thanks for sharing

donimfp · February 2018

@Poston1966, I completely understand. I've found that, at least at this point, I can't moderate. It's too soon after the daily excessive drinking. I let myself have "just one" back on January 15 (yep, I remember the date), and by January 21, I had drunk (I wanna say "drank" but I'm a former English teacher and just can't) every night and inched back up to crazy amounts. Since Jan. 22, I haven't had any alcohol. Today is Day 15, so I've tied my January consecutive record. Anyway, I just figure that for now I'd better not kid myself. I DO plan to incorporate good quality wine back into my life at some point, or at least try to. I'm going to Italy in mid-March and have decided to allow myself to taste some good Tuscan wine. I'll see how that goes, and maybe report in if we keep this group going in March. But I know better than to think I can drink at home to any extent right now. Maybe give yourself a little time off. That's what seems to be working for me.

@norminv, what a great post. There's a book in you (and I say that as an editor). Or at least a blog. I'd follow for sure!

MissMay · February 2018

You are AWESOME. Big hug!

RubyRed427 · February 2018

I cannot binge drink but used to anyway. My body isn't resilient after binging. And, I just couldnt stop after one or two drinks. I found that by staying dry, I see how I never want to go back to binging again. I would get the worst hangovers. Once, I begged my friend to just take me right to the hospital, because I felt soooo horrible. I feel for you.

Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time

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