Less alcohol- February 2018- one day at a time
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I've been dry since I starting using Myfitnesspal about 1 month ago. I only miss it when I watch The Winnipeg Jets play. Stay strong folks.7
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"Weekends are made for Michelob." Or maybe not.
I'm planning a dry one. Wishing strong resolve to all!6 -
looneycatblue wrote: »Has anyone else noticed a drop in appetite & cravings since going AF or cutting back? Nice bonus for me!
At first, yes. Now at 44 days, I'm starving all the time.2 -
Omnimous69 wrote: »I've been dry since I starting using Myfitnesspal about 1 month ago. I only miss it when I watch The Winnipeg Jets play. Stay strong folks.
I feel ya there! We would drink beer every time the Red WIngs played...and hockey is always on! Congrats on your AF days. That is awesome!
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@JulieAL1969 Great job of your progress!!2
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PhotogirlTX wrote: »So I am sitting here in Abita Brewery after the tour, at the bar and I ordered a beer. I had a few sips and gave it to my husband. I tried their sodas and about went into a diabetic shock. I am not missing it. It’s just blah and gross. I can’t believe I stopped my 54 day streak for this. And do you know... I feel a headache starting. After less than 2 oz of beer!! Not worth it! I am really wanting my sparkling water now.
No worries at all! I know in the Annie Grace book , she does say , sometimes you have to taste alcohol again to see that it doesn't feel good anymore. Maybe you and I should stop counting our days . That's a lot of pressure in a way to keep it going.
Like my sister says, "if you're alcohol free 99 percent of the time, then you're doing great." Xo6 -
It's been just over a week since my last alcohol drink. Last night i was poured a vodka but able stay focused strong and told them i didn't want it. Said, "i don't mind a drink but without the alcohol". The biggest victory was, there wasn't the emotional fight i normally would have to battle.
Great job! What a clever way to say it that you'd like a drink but without alcohol. You are strong!1 -
Here is a funny story, actually it’s not that funny but I am in a better mood today so I was able to laugh it off.
Was talking with a coworker who is also trying to get healthier and drink less, and we were talking about how tough it is working in the alcohol industry and trying to live this way. She has a beer to sample - I don’t mind trying a 1 oz sample just to see how new products taste. But after I tried a small pour she poured me a full cup and said “i’m off the wagon today, and I’m bringing you down with me”
I just laughed at her and told her to give it to someone else. Haha
Good one, Erik! She tried humor, but you were too strong for her! Xoxo3 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »"Weekends are made for Michelob." Or maybe not.
I'm planning a dry one. Wishing strong resolve to all!
Aren't you near two months AF? You are doing awesome!2 -
I'm in too! Been cutting back drastically since January but want to keep it going.6
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Been dry since 1-1-18. Feel better and sleeping better. My regular bout with acid reflux has subsided also. Along with diet and exercise, I'm now missing 20 lbs. I hope to not find it anytime soon.15
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I am not drinking this weekend, even my one usual planned day ... but mostly in preperation of next weekend. My company is sending a lot of the employees to North Carolina to visit one of our brewery partners. All expenses paid: flight, hotel, food and yes drinks. And I plan on enjoying all of it. So not even one drink this weekend and I am going to hit the gym extra hard this week.
I think this is a huge win. The old me would have never thought ahead like this. Would have just drank twice this weekend and then moved on to the next one. I know this may not sound like a big deal to those completely abstaining, but this is a great win for my goals.15 -
I'm not drinking this weekend either although I'm visiting family and boy do they make you wanna get wasted in a hurry16
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Only club soda with lemon for me tonight, awww success7
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Good morning (maybe it is still evening to some, depending where you are in the world)
I am go to venture off the trail a little and vent about the lack of nutritional information on menus when you go out. Now unless you know where you are going to dine and can pull up a menu ahead of time to view, if they offer a nutritional break down, your screwed.
I was filling out my food diary and seriously almost had a stroke by seeing the calorie content for a menu item I had for dinner out last night. 1180 CALORIES without the side that came with it or the beverage. That is nearly my entire days worth of calories all at one meal.
UGH....UGH.....UGH.7 -
Good morning (maybe it is still evening to some, depending where you are in the world)
I am go to venture off the trail a little and vent about the lack of nutritional information on menus when you go out. Now unless you know where you are going to dine and can pull up a menu ahead of time to view, if they offer a nutritional break down, your screwed.
I was filling out my food diary and seriously almost had a stroke by seeing the calorie content for a menu item I had for dinner out last night. 1180 CALORIES without the side that came with it or the beverage. That is nearly my entire days worth of calories all at one meal.
UGH....UGH.....UGH.
I was at Macaroni Grill and was going to get Eggplant Parmesan , my favorite meal, and saw it was 1300 calories. I immediately chose something else. I think at some places they have calories on menus; that really makes you think about your choices.
Oh well, I bet it was delicious! Xo3 -
Hi Friends! I hope everyone is well!
Here's the question: Does alcohol make you fat?
This is the answer: Yes!
We all know that. I've seen many of us comment on weight gain as we drank more and more over the years.
Short 2.5 minute video on this.
https://youtu.be/Mk7ep_eWqr04 -
Alcohol really ages you. After years of drinking, I noticed my face was becoming puffier and skin was splotchy. Over the last two months, I think my skin looks so much smoother and no red tones at all. Today, I am the grim reaper of bad news and alcohol. LOL I'll lighten up soon, I promise.
A new research study indicates that alcohol even ages you biologically at the cellular level, putting you at higher risk for age-related illnesses like diabetes and dementia — and the more you drink, the more your cells age. This revelation appears to contradict previous research that indicated moderate drinking might reduce the risk for these conditions.
Adding insult to injury is the fact that alcohol is hepatotoxic — damaging to the liver, which inhibits the cells that detoxify our bodies. This affects our skin. Also, because alcohol is fermented, it contains chemical substances called congeners that are the main cause of hangovers, and the reason why we look bad the morning after drinking.
So, if drinking ages us at multiple levels, how exactly do these effects manifest?
Here are six ways alcohol ages you:
Depletion of vitamin A and other healthy nutrients – Alcohol can impact your nutrition levels by depleting healthy nutrients that help carry oxygen throughout your body. Alcohol depletes vitamin A levels in particular, and this vitamin is a crucial antioxidant for your skin and body as it aids in the formation of new cells. Vitamin A is also crucial for the production of collagen — a depletion of which can result in premature wrinkles.
Loss of collagen and face fullness – Reduced levels of collagen lead to a loss of elasticity and fullness in your skin, which are essential to keep it looking young and supple. Less collagen equals less tautness and tone. If you drink too much or too frequently, you speed up the aging process by accelerating collagen loss. Skin is already delicate and vulnerable to the elements — wind, smog, smoke and the sun. When you drink, you are hastening the aged, weathered look of your skin.
Dehydration – Alcohol is very dehydrating because it acts like a diuretic. The more you drink, the more dehydrated you will be. This means your skin will appear less plump and fresh the morning after and, over time, will appear dry and wrinkly. (It is a good idea to drink lots of water in between alcoholic beverages to hydrate yourself and help avoid a hangover.)
Redness, puffiness and swelling – Alcohol works as a vasodilator, widening the blood vessels that bring blood to your face. This leads to puffiness or swelling and redness. If you consume a lot of alcohol over time, the blood vessels will steadily enlarge, leading to permanent redness and blotchiness like rosacea. The blotchiness can be compounded by broken capillaries or vessels that burst under the skin’s surface, typically around the nose and eyes. The excess sugars in beer and wine are most likely to cause these effects.
Weight gain – A few extra pounds around the middle and through the jowls can add years to your appearance. Alcohol can cause you to pack on an extra 10 pounds or so. Because alcohol is a sugar source, it raises insulin and triggers fat storage by increasing fatty deposits in the liver, leading to fat storage around the stomach, manifesting as a “muffin top” or “beer belly.”
Sleep disruption – It’s no secret that dark circles or puffy bags under your eyes make you look old and tired. Because alcohol messes up your sleep cycles, drinking before bed makes it more likely that you’ll wake up during the night and get less deep sleep. Even if alcohol makes you doze off quickly, you’re still likely to wake later in the night. You need those deep stages of sleep for healthy, restorative rest to help you look good and also to maintain good cognitive function, say experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
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Good morning! I've rarely posted this month, but I'm still here reading this thread daily! The January thread kicked me into gear and gave me the support to cut back on drinking alcohol. The February thread has sustained me to where I am now: 50 continuous days free of alcohol. I never would have believed I could do this, nor that I would want to
Life is good! I'm happier, more relaxed, eating more, sleeping more, engaged with my family more, doing more!
I'm like an energizer bunny, finishing projects (sewing, knitting, quilting, and home improvement) that have languished for years.
I've kept a personal blog here on MFP since those early days in January, and it has helped tremendously with my awareness and self-reflection.
I'm tracking on the Dry January app and love seeing the little teacups! I also like seeing the Report Card, with my $$ and calories saved.
I still can't figure out why now, though. Why was I able to stop now, when I couldn't (wouldn't) a year ago or 5-10-15- years ago? What is it about this time around that made everything click? Reading The Naked Mind most definitely helped me, but I was already committed to change before I started reading it. I would love some insight into what it is that made this time work for others on the thread.
Hope you all have a wonderful day today! Hope this thread continues into March.
Karen9 -
kcn2bluesky wrote: »Good morning! I've rarely posted this month, but I'm still here reading this thread daily! The January thread kicked me into gear and gave me the support to cut back on drinking alcohol. The February thread has sustained me to where I am now: 50 continuous days free of alcohol. I never would have believed I could do this, nor that I would want to
Life is good! I'm happier, more relaxed, eating more, sleeping more, engaged with my family more, doing more!
I'm like an energizer bunny, finishing projects (sewing, knitting, quilting, and home improvement) that have languished for years.
I've kept a personal blog here on MFP since those early days in January, and it has helped tremendously with my awareness and self-reflection.
I'm tracking on the Dry January app and love seeing the little teacups! I also like seeing the Report Card, with my $$ and calories saved.
I still can't figure out why now, though. Why was I able to stop now, when I couldn't (wouldn't) a year ago or 5-10-15- years ago? What is it about this time around that made everything click? Reading The Naked Mind most definitely helped me, but I was already committed to change before I started reading it. I would love some insight into what it is that made this time work for others on the thread.
Hope you all have a wonderful day today! Hope this thread continues into March.
Karen
Wonderful to hear~ your reflection is very motivating! Keep it up!
Yes, I'll be sure to post a March thread ; it has helped me too so much. Without it, I dont think I would have lasted this long AF. Love the January App, too!
I don't know why it has clicked for me this time, just like you, and not over the years. I have found that I need a goal, a concrete plan. Just like dieting, since I've actively been on the MFP app since the end of October, I've lost over 10 pounds. The dieting thing has clicked too.
I think what I am striving for is creating equilibrium in my vibration. I think that when we get in alignment with our vibration, we attract others like us. Hence, this thread popped up for me in October. It was run by a wonderful lady. She could'nt continue the thread in December, so I volunteered. And then found ALL of you wonderful , inspiring people. The Law of Attraction...
I don't know if I am saying this right. But overall, it is clicking because we are aligning ourselves with our intention.
The other thing that made it click for me was READING lots of alcohol related information, books, blogs, videos. Immersing myself in my goal of going AF.
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