Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time
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Yesterday was a rough day after the day at work just prior being somewhat rough. I did not drink, however!! I always want to drink when there is about 10 inches of snow and sleet coming down. I just feel there is instant work to clear the driveway I guess. I had to drive in it yesterday and then Dad found out he needs a stent in one 80% blocked heart artery to open it up. He also has other blocked ones that aren't as bad. He is 80. Now off to work soon. Praying for a better day there, but I do know I have to leave that place. I did allow myself a piece of pizza yesterday, but calories were in line! If I was drinking, I would have doubled my calorie goal easily and eaten another piece with a blink of my eye. I am learning to deal with life again without drinking...10
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@salleewins WTG staying strong with all that stress! We have a ton of snow coming our way tomorrow and that would normally be an event I had an extra bottle of wine on hand for. No way I am even considering that now. I am sorry about your Dad, glad they found it and can fix it! Just breathe
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Another day without wineries (wine calories). Yay me!
And another day down. Whoot!
Great job! I love "wineries" and "menopot"!2 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Day 8 and loving it, I'm sleeping so well! Unfortunately, I had hoped it would help with the vertigo I've been experiencing, but apparently not - that's still there in full force.
Vertigo (dizziness) is an absolute scourge! I have had it (mostly now gone) and so many of my peers talk about it. I found these short articles somewhat helpful:
https://nyti.ms/2kd503e
https://nyti.ms/2k989Rh
PS This sort of problem is great motivation to avoid alcohol. It may be fun to get a buzz, but when the buzz won't go away, it's not fun at all.3 -
So happy this a.m. to report that I made it through last night's boozy, emotional night with my girlfriends (they were having some serious work and family problems) while staying dry. I'm committed to not drinking Mon-Thurs and am thrilled I stuck with the plan. Drank my tea and diet gingerale and listened a lot, which was fine. My pals were all supportive of my not drinking, and possibly inspired just a bit(?) to give it a try. I tried to pawn off my Fre chardonnay on anyone, anyone, who would take it, but had no takers, LOL. Drove home, delightfully secure in the knowledge that I could pass a breathalyzer. So, a great night and no more challenges today. I think a lot of this is just building habits and rewiring my brain, something we're all trying to do with food as well.
On the sweets front, I've been able to tamp down the chocolate a bit by telling myself how many Hershey's kisses (usually three) and TJ's mini peanut butter cups (usually two) I can have that day and then trying to stick to it. Making some progress. I'm finding that I like tea a lot more with a couple packet of stevia in it than not. It's probably part of the same sweet seeking behavior, who knows?9 -
SanDiegofitmom wrote: »No negative loop of regret.
@SanDiegofitmom - what a great way to put it. That is a thing for real.
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@kittybenn -- so wonderful that you could be there with your friends, and make your decision to be AF during the week stick. I think that could have been a sizeable stumbling block for anyone ... Good on you!6
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I’m still using the app Dry January to try my intake and keep me honest ha! I am trying to stay under the recommended 14 units a week which is like 6 glasses of wine or less a week. This helps. Also it’s fun to see the money and calories saved!
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It still baffles me that some people have never experienced a blackout.
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Wow, has this thread picked up steam! Awesome...
I am curious to view on this question. For those who are not planning on quitting long term - what is your definition of successful / sustainable moderation?
I consider myself having a 'healthy' relationship with alcohol (beer). For probably the last 8-10 years, I never (and can't) drink until I'm drunk. I have never in my life blacked out from too much. At this stage of my life, it is a exceedingly rare occasion I ever make it past two drinks in a day. If I do, I don't desire the taste again for a month or so.
My definition today is as it has always been.. knowing when to turn it off, knowing when to dial it back and knowing when to enjoy.
What is your "happy place" for successful / sustainable moderation. How will you know you've reached it?
My happy place is 2 drinks, beer or wine. Once I have that third drink, I transition from happy buzz to the beginning of the road to blackout city.
But my problem is a lot of times, I don't realize that point in the present moment. And I don't know how to make myself stay more present when drinking. Because a lot of times, when I want that third drink, I don't care anymore about the consequences... but I sure a hell do the next day.
It's a vicious battle. 5 -
Oh! One more thing - I sped read through This Naked Mind and Blackout, and now I don't have anything to read. I plan to reread TNM, but I want something new for now. Anybody have any good suggestions? TIA~2
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springsweet wrote: »Oh! One more thing - I sped read through This Naked Mind and Blackout, and now I don't have anything to read. I plan to reread TNM, but I want something new for now. Anybody have any good suggestions? TIA~
I'm not done with the Naked Mind yet, but how about some of the books her guest on the videos wrote?1 -
SanDiegofitmom wrote: »I’m still using the app Dry January to try my intake and keep me honest ha! I am trying to stay under the recommended 14 units a week which is like 6 glasses of wine or less a week. This helps. Also it’s fun to see the money and calories saved!
I love it! What app is this?4 -
springsweet wrote: »It still baffles me that some people have never experienced a blackout.
It’s been a long time- do you know about how many drinks it takes to give you a blackout? Two drinks is my happy place too. In terms of books it’s not an alcohol book but it did change my mindset and help me tremendously with anxiety — I loved Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - it feeds well into all of this because he teaches you to be the observer of your mind and disregard so much of the thoughts that pop up. For example, lately when I get some cravings for wine- I sort of step outside of my thought and view it and say, oh that’s just my mind wanting a drink but I - ME don’t want to drink. I can be present and disregard that thought and feeling. Sounds weird but it’s really lifechanging7 -
SanDiegofitmom wrote: »springsweet wrote: »It still baffles me that some people have never experienced a blackout.
It’s been a long time- do you know about how many drinks it takes to give you a blackout? Two drinks is my happy place too. In terms of books it’s not an alcohol book but it did change my mindset and help me tremendously with anxiety — I loved Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - it feeds well into all of this because he teaches you to be the observer of your mind and disregard so much of the thoughts that pop up. For example, lately when I get some cravings for wine- I sort of step outside of my thought and view it and say, oh that’s just my mind wanting a drink but I - ME don’t want to drink. I can be present and disregard that thought and feeling. Sounds weird but it’s really lifechanging
I am a believe in The Power of Now. I also like to view his youtube videos when I lose my way.
For me, I think 3-4 drinks gives me a "brownout" ; not a black out but it's when I don't remember every thing I said or did very clearly the next day.2 -
springsweet wrote: »Oh! One more thing - I sped read through This Naked Mind and Blackout, and now I don't have anything to read. I plan to reread TNM, but I want something new for now. Anybody have any good suggestions? TIA~
Drinking: A love story ( a narrative of a writer who struggled)
Alcohol explained (more clinical take on alcohol and the brain, but it's not a boring book. )
Both samples can be downloaded onto your kindle if you want to read a few chapters.
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Feb. 01 - no
Feb. 02Fri- yes
Feb. 03Sat - no
Feb. 04-yes
Feb. 05- no
Feb. 06-no
Feb. 07- yes
(damit!)
Feb. 08- deff dont plan to (hungover)
37.5 % --- only one day that is out of my goal though and that was yesterday...5 -
Last night was hard. I really wanted to have glass of wine while cooking but I resisted! No booze!
Thanks for sharing all your experiences. Its nice to have all these abstaining/reducing buddies.6 -
springsweet wrote: »It still baffles me that some people have never experienced a blackout.
I guess I am not really understanding what your experience of blackout is. I have had too much to drink at times and passed out. Or to much to drink and don't recall the entire evenings events. Is either of those what you mean?
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Well, it's already Feb. 8 but I'm in from here on out! Happy to have found this group.4
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