Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time
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Doing good so far, haven't had any all month.8
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salleewins wrote: »@ehseeker. My liver was abnormal at one point over the last year. Even when it was back to functioning normal, it was very enlarged. So much so that I believe that it was pressing on my rib cage. I broke a rib easily on the right side, just from stretching (I also have thinner bones). There were times I had difficulty breathing when having anxiety. I was the only one to really know how these things happened. No I need to abstain. A harmless habit that turned into a monster.
Oh my! That is awful. I hope it is now healing and will go back to normal.
Your note here made me look at my blood tests from last January 2017; I noticed that kidney function and liver function was not optimal. Each test showed a little flag. I am positive it is related to alcohol intake. I am curious to see how my blood work will look next year.
Wishing you success. After a few weeks of abstaining, it gets so much easier. What has worked for you?1 -
MaryBethHempel wrote: »I did a dry January with no problems and I felt awesome! Weight loss was steady and I had such clear thinking. This month I haven’t had any binge drinking but I still have 1 or 2 drinks several times a week. Since I’m keto those two beers or glasses of wine hit me extra hard. Also it’s slowing my weigh loss greatly even though I count the calories and mostly stay within my macros. Love this group and I’m late to February but love following everyone’s progress and reading your stories.
I also found that having a definite Dry month was easier than the mostly dry month - its psychological
I agree totally!
Ditto to both of you! For me, saying I will be dry is much less of a struggle, because I don't have to negotiate with myself.
I know not everyone needs to abstain. I read that 50 percent of the adult population drinks. And only 2 percent of them truly have an addiction or trouble moderating. I wish I could moderate. I really do.5 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Day one in Dublin complete and I felt it was a success - went out to Temple Bar, first bar had a Harp, tasted great.
Second bar ordered a different beer, didn't love it, drank about half, didn't mind leaving it unfinished on the bar. Old me would have ordered something different and drank it quickly to catch up to the others.
Third stop was for dinner, had a small glass of white wine with dinner, all of us declined to order a second.
Went back to the hotel, did a quick pass through the bar to see what colleagues were up to, decided sleep sounded better than socializing so went up to my room and was in bed by 9pm local time - great for my jet lag, my head cold and my moderation confidence.
Only real failing is I can't figure out how to work the electric tea kettle in my room to enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit (getting into the Irish groove here).
Have a wonderful trip! Enjoy every second! Sounds like you have a good plan to moderate and still enjoy life. Xo2 -
Absolutely love waking up and excited to fill out my health and exercise calender for the previous day.
Since the beginning of 2018 being able to look back on what I did or more importantly did not consume practically brings tears to my eyes.
Way back when.....I recall having a horrible time in life with partying and enjoying life a little to much. I decided to count up for that week exactly what I had drank. Holy crud, how and why would I have over 28 drinks in one week? Why would I drive or walk from club to club taking advantage of cheap happy hour drinks? Why would I risk my driving license? Why would I become an unresponsible pet owner and forget if I fed my dogs or not after I woke up? Why would I risk my health and life?
I feel blessed to have this group of supportive folks. Just needed to get that all out.
Happy to have you here to inspire us!1 -
I was having pain on right side under rib cage. I was so certain it was my liver that my Dr. sent me for a sonogram on it. As I was laying there I was thinking, "I have done this to myself" and feeling terrible regret. Miraculously, it was not swollen after all, but it was a wake-up call to get my act together. I am not going to say I am never drinking again but I want it to be way, way more occasionally than in the recent past. Like one drink every 2 weeks or something. One glass of champagne at a wedding. That kind of thing. @NormInv Hang in there. A lot of us know how you are feeling. Just keep coming here and venting. Hopefully that helps.5
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Thank you....I think I have realized I cannot do moderation...I cannot say I am borderline anymore...I AM an alcoholic. therefore, I need to go dry again completely and learn to abstain 100%. I will need to learn new skills, new techniques. But in my heart I know I cannot do moderation. these are my confessions21
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@ norminv, your honesty and willingness to look at things as they are will surely serve you well. You are an inspiration. I hope you are keeping a journal. As I said before, there’s a book in you. Maybe just for your loved ones. Or beyond.6
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »shareebarnett2017 wrote: »Help! They want a ‘girls night’ with pre drinks.... so I’m going for a sober 2018. I haven’t missed alcohol AT ALL so far and I always regret having it the following day. It’s not worth writing my car off for a day and not getting stuff done
Just plan ahead. Go and have the bartender make you a yummy mocktail or drink club soda with lime and some cherries to make it look pretty. I survived a weekend in Nashville with my drinking buddy girlfriends and just told myself alcohol that weekend was not an option. Think of how good you'll feel the day after. Cheering you on! Xoxo
Soda and cherries sound delightful actually! Thanks!5 -
2nd night in Dublin not as successful from a moderation perspective. Had a chance to end my night at a decent time after 2 glasses of wine but got pulled into a long conversation that led to another glass of wine, and then one more at the lobby bar after dinner before calling it a night. I’m still counting some small victories - I spread out the consumption over about 5 hours so it was less than a glass per hour, I remembered to drink water with each glass of wine, and when I got back to my room my cheeks weren’t flushed, I didn’t feel drunk, I didn’t have any concerns that I couldn’t remember conversations.
Feeling tired today and had a slight headache but probably as much to do with jet lag and lingering head cold as the drinking.
Tonight is an awards dinner which always leads to constant filling of the wine glass... followed by dj and dancing. Am really hoping to skip that part as I have to give a presentation tomorrow morning and want to be fresh and focused for that then Flying home tomorrow. Ready to get back into my time zone and routine - eating, exercising, and sleeping.5 -
Here's the lowdown mid month but not including today the 14th. 7 A.F days out of 14, on the 7 drinking days, less then half my ''before" normal consumption
I' m impressed with the results so far. Yes you can actually moderate for those who have trouble with it but you must pair with A.F days. The days i did drink we'll it didn't taste as great as when i drank regularly. Here's to the next 14 days, cheers everyone( with coffee). 6 -
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Happy Valentine's Day everyone! This will be my first AF VD in forever (barring pregnancies). I'm just making a nice dinner and we will watch Olympics with our tea. Maybe that sounds boring but I am looking forward to knowing that tomorrow I will wake up feeling peaceful and well rested.9
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[quote="JenT304;c-41425552"]Happy Valentine's Day everyone! This will be my first AF VD in forever (barring pregnancies). I'm just making a nice dinner and we will watch Olympics with our tea. Maybe that sounds boring but I am looking forward to knowing that tomorrow I will wake up feeling peaceful and well rested.[/quote]
From me too!!
Great job, sounds like s great plan3 -
I'm in I have been abstaining from alcohol as a new year's resolution and want to stay that way! 6
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islandbeez wrote: »
D I T T O3 -
I had a really down day yesterday. Work has been beyond busy and taking too much of my personal time, and I just had a general feeling of sadness.
I managed well. Went to the gym, no unhealthy food or drink.
Something I noticed last month and is standing out more. On stressful days I dont have urges to go for the bottle too often, so that’s a win. But I really notice that I just want to eat everything in the house or go get some food that is terrible for me. So that is a whole other thing I guess I need to keep working on9 -
Thank you....I think I have realized I cannot do moderation...I cannot say I am borderline anymore...I AM an alcoholic. therefore, I need to go dry again completely and learn to abstain 100%. I will need to learn new skills, new techniques. But in my heart I know I cannot do moderation. these are my confessions
I am right there with you! For the last five years I have consumed more cheap vodka than a small frat. I thought moderation was possible. In 2016 I did dry January successfully. Thought I had things on the right track. Went well for February and March, didn’t drink on any week nights. First week of April was Spring Break, I am a teacher, so I drank for 9 straight days...at least 10 shots a day. Went hard. After that week I slowly let alcohol creep back into my week days. By summer break I was drinking four days a week, during summer I was going 6 out of 7...why? Just a case of the eff-it-why-nots I guess.
I tried dry January 2017, made it a week and said screw it. If I am going to drink a ton after this month anyway let’s get back to business. And went hard all year.
December 2017 I was listening to a podcast and the guy said be careful what you are doing in front of your kids because you are their hero. Well I immediately remember my 9 year old asking me one night when I was drinking if I liked being drunk. What? I told him the truth. But when I heard that podcast it got me thinking I don’t want my son to grow up thinking he should drink 6 nights a week because I did.
So I went into dry January 2018 knowing that I really wanted to slow down my drinking long term but took the dry January goal just in case I was strong enough to stick to it long term. End of January came I was motivated to keep going. Still hanging in there.
I am like you. I know I can’t moderate. It’s much easier to just abstain than it is to cut back. It’s like having a chocolate cake in the kitchen. Some people can eat one piece and forget about the cake. Me I become obsessed and can’t think about anything but getting that cake in my face. When I open up the possibility to drink, I am introducing a vodka-cake into my life...not good.
I am new at this so don’t know if I can offer much good advice. I am highly motivated because of my son so that is maybe not encompassing. The other thing I try to do is stay busy. Go for a ton of walks, read, golf, anything to avoid temptation and create an opening to give into that temptation.
Good luck!17 -
Got frustrated with family last night right before dinner. Stood there contemplating whether or not I wanted a glass of wine and ended up saying 'f it' and had 2 small ones. Blah. One good thing is I didn't care for how it made me feel. It was a kind of 'so now what?' There is a difference, for me, between having a glass with a friend and drinking alone. Something I never truly appreciated before. I think what I want is to not turn to it as a solution to a problem as much as something I like the taste of and enjoy occasionally. This thread is making me more aware of why I drink.
I'm eating clean mostly and trying to lose weight so there's that too.
Re the liver. I have hemochromatosis which means my body retains way too much iron which puts stress on the liver. It went undiagnosed for years. I now get a phlebotomy every 3 months to keep the levels at normal. It has made me aware of my liver and conscious of wanting to do better for it. Limiting alcohols presence in my life certainly helps it.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all.
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@eddie_fields So honest. How wonderful to include your son in those walks or teach him golf. You're teaching him another way to be.3
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I did not drink Monday but went to an orchestra rehearsal. Dinner at Turtle Bay with one of my best friends. She had a glass of red and I had non-alcoholic ginger ale. About half way through the meal I really started craving her red wine and found myself thinking "one glass would not hurt". I resisted and the temptation passed. Husband home for Valentines tonight so will probably have something to drink. Dinner with sister-in-law tomorrow but not drinking. And so it goes. I am sleeping better since cutting down.6
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I woke up early to get some extra work in this morning, but problems with the other computer so decided to check out the discussions here. So, I happened upon this one, so glad I did! This is just the type of support group that I need. I come from a family with an alcoholic history, but never thought it applied to me. I can stop drinking for days, weeks... but then something happens, triggers me to have just one, to help me cope with the day... but it leads to 2, 3, 4...6. So, yes, it is a problem. I was doing fine, 1 or 2, 4-5 nights a week, just something to take the edge off from a long day. But then, for no reason overdid again this past Sunday. With Lent starting today, on Monday I decided to take a break... I know it has only been 2 dry days, but so far so good, and no cravings. I am feeling much better mentally and physically. Sometimes you just feel you are the only one that feels this way. Thank you for starting this discussion! So let's all lift up our glass of water and say cheers to a new wonderful day!10
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The half way mark of the month and I'm feeling grand!6
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I have to admit I have been stalking this thread for the last several weeks. I have been struggling hard with reducing my alcohol intake. Though I have been drinking a lot less, I find that I am constantly fighting with myself about it. I am an extremely social person and I go out a lot with friends who all enjoy drinks frequently. It's not hard at all when I am not out, as I don't drink at home, but going out to a meal with friends is incredibly hard for me because I love craft beer and wine and cocktails (OY). I often go out 4 nights a week (I mean... for dinner. Not bars or clubs or anything like that. But I could easily put back 2-3 drinks x 4 nights). It is really interfering with my weight loss goals and triggering my anxiety. I know it isn't good for me. I'm actually welling up in tears as I write this. I've been embarrassed to say these things out loud or even write them down- I'm 35 and still feel social pressure to drink! And then once I have 1, it's definitely 2 if not 3. What's crazy is that 4 years ago, I used to not drink AT ALL. I don't know how all of this happened. It's expensive and unhealthy, and I wish I could save it for extra special occasions only like trips or weddings or after completing a marathon but it's much harder than I ever imagined.
Anyway, thank you for reading this and I look forward to being on this journey with all of you. I am going to start small. One day at a time I guess?
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I'm very appreciative of the support. Thank you. This morning I listened to the meditation app I found out on the January thread. I listened to it at the gym. It was about self love. So 1) I was at the gym, 2) I did so good completing dry January. So I'm happy with myself.
Trigger for me was work stress. And once I opened the door I wasn't happy. But put an end to it and today is a new day.15
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