Less Alcohol - March 2018- One day at a Time
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Happy Saturday to everyone also! Day 3 AF and feeling so good. Getting ready to go to gym to do yoga and work on weights. So inspired reading everyone's comments! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!6
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Thanks everyone for the kind words I’m glad my thougts were helpful. I was also thinking about it a little more on a long drive yesterday, why have I (so far) been able to successfully maintain my weight loss when so many people do struggle to keep it off? As I said before I think a big part is I’m a creature of habit and so once logging and monitoring my intake became a habit for me it’s fairly easy to keep doing... but the other thing is that I’m a very active member of this community, as my post count suggests. I also think that helps me quite a bit, not only having the support of others but just participating in threads, answering questions, trying to help others dispel some of the myths about weight loss and all the pseudoscience out there. It keeps me focused and thinking about weight loss, maintenance, nutrition, fitness, etc.
Anyway, that’s why I also think having these threads about cutting back alcohol will help ensure my success on that front - it’s a combination of habit, accountability, support from others and support for others. It’s knowing that you don’t have to be perfect but you do need to learn from mistakes. It’s just showing up and checking in, even if you don’t post it’s a reminder that the individual goals we are all striving for are important and we shouldn’t abandon them, even if we run into challenges along the way.
Thanks to all of you for continuing to post - the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. All of those things help this group at large, so even if it’s an individual set back for one of us - it may serve as a reminder or a lesson for others so I hope people continue to share successes and challenges (I won’t call them failures!) and I truly hope Julie that you’re willing to keep these threads going in future months! They’ve been so helpful for so many of us!9 -
Oh and for accountability’s sake... I’m visiting my siblings this weekend, there’s been a lot of family drama with cancer diagnoses, surgeries, complications and just general craziness that is inherent. Staying with my younger brother and his wife, they asked if they could vent to me and if I could bring some booze for the venting. This was actually a good opportunity to bring some of the beer sitting in my fridge at home that isn’t being consumed now that I’m cutting way back, and a couple bottles of wine. On the long drive I thought about whether I was going to abstain, drink freely, or try to control my intake. Sitting around talking and drinking with plenty of chances for refills has always my biggest downfall.
Anyway I’m proud to say that I drank but felt very good about the intake. I had a beer before dinner, one at dinner, and a glass of wine when we got back. That was over about 5 hours time so it was really spread out - my brother and SIL (who is going through medical stuff as well) hit it pretty hard but they’ve had a rough week carrying a huge family load. I think they will be feeling it this morning but I’m preparing to bundle up and take their puppies out for a long walk!6 -
I am three days without alcohol, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it is for me! You see, I work in a winery (I may want to rethink that), so I am around it all the time. I want to reduce my alcohol consumption, because it has become a 'crutch' - a way to spend the evening even when I am alone. I don't like waking up in the morning feeling less than 100%, which is how I often feel even after one glass of wine.
Now I am know I am not giving up wine completely. But I do want to keep it to only very occasionally and in social situations only. Never alone. I am looking forward to the support of this group!9 -
@jemalme Welcome! 3 days without alcohol when you've been drinking everyday (like some of us here) is a great accomplishment!6
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Good Morning guys, back on the dry wagon again, I feel so much better on this wagon than the booze wagon....I crave this feeling...I hope ya'll have a great weekend and just hold onto this feeling of goodness11
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After a very tough week at work, I kept thinking about having a shot of TQ, however... lucky for me I can still remember that it would not have stopped at 1! I don't moderate well, so best for me not to indulge.
Feeling good this morning about my choice:)9 -
looneycatblue wrote: »After a very tough week at work, I kept thinking about having a shot of TQ, however... lucky for me I can still remember that it would not have stopped at 1! I don't moderate well, so best for me not to indulge.
Feeling good this morning about my choice:)
Well done, your honest and brave enough to tell us, thats three ticks to you.
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Playing cards with my husband last night I decided to have some wine . . . practice for Italy. I had 2 glasses (not 4 oz. glasses) and feel horrible today. It seems like I used to drink much more and not feel so horrible, but maybe I just ignored it and worked through it and didn't realize how bad drinking makes me feel. Yuck. I don't want to feel this way in Italy, so I'll need to be very moderate. Acqua minerale seems much more inviting now. I don't understand why I do this to myself. It's not nice.8
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Playing cards with my husband last night I decided to have some wine . . . practice for Italy. I had 2 glasses (not 4 oz. glasses) and feel horrible today. It seems like I used to drink much more and not feel so horrible, but maybe I just ignored it and worked through it and didn't realize how bad drinking makes me feel. Yuck. I don't want to feel this way in Italy, so I'll need to be very moderate. Acqua minerale seems much more inviting now. I don't understand why I do this to myself. It's not nice.
Im with u here.. xo. I dropped out as well.. and feel shocking too. I have to say, after not having it for so long u do forget how it really make u feel.
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Playing cards with my husband last night I decided to have some wine . . . practice for Italy. I had 2 glasses (not 4 oz. glasses) and feel horrible today. It seems like I used to drink much more and not feel so horrible, but maybe I just ignored it and worked through it and didn't realize how bad drinking makes me feel. Yuck. I don't want to feel this way in Italy, so I'll need to be very moderate. Acqua minerale seems much more inviting now. I don't understand why I do this to myself. It's not nice.
Im with u here.. xo. I dropped out as well.. and feel shocking too. I have to say, after not having it for so long u do forget how it really make u feel.
I did it about a month ago. I was shocked at how awful I felt after the first glass, of course, I kept on going for a few days, because I am an A s S.
The awareness of how bad I felt was something new, it was nice to be able to view it honestly. I'm not saying it will never happen again, but I for sure know I didn't "love" it like I did before so that has been the beauty of this journey. We just pick ourselves up and start where we are is my philosophy. 
Happy Saturday, Peeps. Make the most of it, whatever your goals are!
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I really cannot believe you cannot use the word A s S. Seriously laughing my *kitten* off over here! Now I understand why the word kitten pops up. I wish it was a different word. Kitten makes me cringe!2
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islandbeez wrote: »I really cannot believe you cannot use the word A s S. Seriously laughing my *kitten* off over here! Now I understand why the word kitten pops up. I wish it was a different word. Kitten makes me cringe! 2
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WinoGelato wrote: »Thanks everyone for the kind words I’m glad my thougts were helpful. I was also thinking about it a little more on a long drive yesterday, why have I (so far) been able to successfully maintain my weight loss when so many people do struggle to keep it off?
Thanks to all of you for continuing to post - the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. All of those things help this group at large, so even if it’s an individual set back for one of us - it may serve as a reminder or a lesson for others so I hope people continue to share successes and challenges (I won’t call them failures!) and I truly hope Julie that you’re willing to keep these threads going in future months! They’ve been so helpful for so many of us!
Yes, I will keep this thread going! I love it, too! I have benefited immensely. Flashback to December 1, 2017. I had the worst hangover ever after a night of way too many vodkas, throwing up, and even forgetting my credit card at the bar. The next day all hungover I had to drive back across town to get it.
Today, ran a St. Patrick's running race with friends. As I ran, I couldn't believe how good I feel AF now for about 70 days; I think I'll stop counting and keeping track. Like many of you have said it's a lifestyle. And now, I have the lifestyle of a non-drinker.
Afterwards, we all went to a bar; everyone had shots and beers, and I was the DD. The way I feel now, far outweighs the way I used to feel after a race. I'd go home after a few drinks and a good run and feel so lethargic and tired. But not today! Drinking tea, lit a candle and reading this wonderful, helpful thread. Life is good.7 -
I am three days without alcohol, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it is for me! You see, I work in a winery (I may want to rethink that), so I am around it all the time. I want to reduce my alcohol consumption, because it has become a 'crutch' - a way to spend the evening even when I am alone. I don't like waking up in the morning feeling less than 100%, which is how I often feel even after one glass of wine.
Now I am know I am not giving up wine completely. But I do want to keep it to only very occasionally and in social situations only. Never alone. I am looking forward to the support of this group!
It is a lot! Bravo! It is not easy! Proud of you!1 -
looneycatblue wrote: »After a very tough week at work, I kept thinking about having a shot of TQ, however... lucky for me I can still remember that it would not have stopped at 1! I don't moderate well, so best for me not to indulge.
Feeling good this morning about my choice:)
You did great! The craving passed and today you can go on with your day feeling 100 percent.1 -
@JulieAL1969, Yay you!!!! That is a new goal for me to aspire to . . . being AF long enough to lose count of the days. And @islandbeez, I agree that feeling like crap (hope I can say that!) is an eye-opener. Did I really used to feel this way on a regular basis? So much for the "joys" of drinking.1
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Playing cards with my husband last night I decided to have some wine . . . practice for Italy. I had 2 glasses (not 4 oz. glasses) and feel horrible today. It seems like I used to drink much more and not feel so horrible, but maybe I just ignored it and worked through it and didn't realize how bad drinking makes me feel. Yuck. I don't want to feel this way in Italy, so I'll need to be very moderate. Acqua minerale seems much more inviting now. I don't understand why I do this to myself. It's not nice.
We are all learning from each other. Thanks for sharing ! It helps me to know that I will have to be vigilant next weekend on St. Patrick's Day. I may have a few drinks. My first since Jan. 1st., but I better be very careful.
I think in Italy you will save your wine for those really amazing bottles or wine tastings. And not just indulge in table wine. That way you can have more gelato and desserts! Xo
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islandbeez wrote: »I really cannot believe you cannot use the word A s S. Seriously laughing my *kitten* off over here! Now I understand why the word kitten pops up. I wish it was a different word. Kitten makes me cringe!
Me, too! I always wondered what was up with the word kitten! LOL2 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Sitting around talking and drinking with plenty of chances for refills has always my biggest downfall.
@WinoGelato - oh wow, I could SO relate to this. You don't realize how much someone else is refilling your glass til the next morning when you feel like utter crap.
@JulieAL1969 - Wow, you always inspire! Congrats on your race and having the "lifestyle of a nondrinker." Just excellent.
Not to be a bummer, yet again, about how out of control drinking can get, but . . . first there was the high school friend of my son's who was driving drunk and killed someone, a story I've already related. Now, on top of this my son and his GF of three years have just split up. The reason? Her out of control drinking. He's tried for a year to get her to moderate, get a grip, get help, etc. to no avail. She's a beautiful woman and also smart, talented, etc., etc. So many great qualities. But she's beginning to flush it all away - the relationship, the job, the life. He loves her so much and is mega depressed about the breakup, to the point where he's having to force himself to get out of bed in the a.m. But he just can't flush his own life away or enable her anymore. It's really just super sad and disturbing.
All this is making me very glad I'm doing extreme moderation, which at this point means three glasses of wine on a weekend and that's it. Yes, drinking is fun, right up until it becomes completely out of control, and I'm afraid I was right on the verge of that in Dec. One of the best decisions I ever made was to have a dry January.
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WinoGelato wrote: »Sitting around talking and drinking with plenty of chances for refills has always my biggest downfall.
@WinoGelato - oh wow, I could SO relate to this. You don't realize how much someone else is refilling your glass til the next morning when you feel like utter crap.
@JulieAL1969 - Wow, you always inspire! Congrats on your race and having the "lifestyle of a nondrinker." Just excellent.
Not to be a bummer, yet again, about how out of control drinking can get, but . . . first there was the high school friend of my son's who was driving drunk and killed someone, a story I've already related. Now, on top of this my son and his GF of three years have just split up. The reason? Her out of control drinking. He's tried for a year to get her to moderate, get a grip, get help, etc. to no avail. She's a beautiful woman and also smart, talented, etc., etc. So many great qualities. But she's beginning to flush it all away - the relationship, the job, the life. He loves her so much and is mega depressed about the breakup, to the point where he's having to force himself to get out of bed in the a.m. But he just can't flush his own life away or enable her anymore. It's really just super sad and disturbing.
All this is making me very glad I'm doing extreme moderation, which at this point means three glasses of wine on a weekend and that's it. Yes, drinking is fun, right up until it becomes completely out of control, and I'm afraid I was right on the verge of that in Dec. One of the best decisions I ever made was to have a dry January.
That is so sad for all. I feel sorry for her. Her addiction is out of control and just like in the book Drinking: A Love Story, things went downhill slowly for the author, and it affected all of her relationships.
I feel very sad for your son; he loves her so much. But I am also amazed by his strength and his decision. I think your subtle influences and your recent accomplishments have made him think about a life with her in her current condition. What a wonderful mom you must be. Xo
I can't imagine how hard it was for him to break up with her.
I hope it all works out for all of you. And as a mom, I can imagine how hard it is to see your son so depressed.1 -
@JulieAL1969 - thank you so much for those kind words. Yes, it's really hard to see your kids suffer, as you understand bc you're a mom too. It's miserable and you wish that you could some how suffer for them or make it all better. But alas. I do think you're right that he's been thinking harder about drinking and how much is okay since I decided to do a dry January. He kept saying (in front of the now ex-GF) things about how "they" needed to get a grip and back off the drinking too.
This is interesting. I am such a geezer and didn't realize this, but he told me that in dating apps you can look for people who don't drink at all, just drink on social occasions, etc. There are probably a ton of people who've dealt with a partner with a drinking problem who just don't ever want to have to deal with that again.2 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »islandbeez wrote: »I really cannot believe you cannot use the word A s S. Seriously laughing my *kitten* off over here! Now I understand why the word kitten pops up. I wish it was a different word. Kitten makes me cringe!
Me, too! I always wondered what was up with the word kitten! LOL Same here. I never understood why people wrote kitten in reference to this topic. 2 -
Nice new picture, @JulieAL1969!1
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Just found a Virgin Pina Colada recipe on Allrecipes. Has anyone tried this recipe or similar? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17565/virgin-pina-colada/1
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salleewins wrote: »Just found a Virgin Pina Colada recipe on Allrecipes. Has anyone tried this recipe or similar? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17565/virgin-pina-colada/
It sounds yummy!2 -
AF today! Yay!4
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The pina colada does sound good although my taste runs to less sweetness. I’ve found muddling mint leaves and a little lime juice, adding San Pellegrino and just a dash of simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled until sugar dissolves) over ice produces a refreshing mocktail without many calories. I guess it’s a nojito as someone pointed out when I first mentioned trying this.3
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bocasdelgrandpabob wrote: »AF today! Yay!
Same!!
I didnt have a problem today asking for soda water. Feel better already when everyone else is complaing of being tired.
Im back on track!!
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