Less Alcohol- July 2018- One Day at a Time

RubyRed427 · June 2018

Welcome to a fresh start! Join us on this thread by commenting and telling us what your moderation goals may be. Do you want to take a month off from alcohol and see how it feels? Do you want to reduce consumption and set some moderation goals? Whatever you choose, we are here for you. We're a non-judgemental, friendly, support group of people. Join us on a journey to having less Alcohol in your system, one day at a time. Xo

I will be posting a concise, helpful document if you are beginning from scratch or continuing with your health goals. This post will have our groups' favorite books, videos, resources, blogs and advice that we compiled from months of open dialogue on this thread.
There is no formal way to join, but please contribute regularly. Share with us if you are doing well, or even if you're not meeting your own personal goals.

RubyRed427 · June 2018

MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME
RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST

Always remember that we are here for you; we care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!

TIPS:
General Tips to Get Started by @JulieAL1969:

After ten days remaining Alcohol Free you will feel a sense of accomplishment and feel more healthy!
Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment. You can join anonymously and get a Facebook-type page for posting on your wall (exclusive to members).
Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mocktails, activities, etc.
For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
Educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
You will put in a lot of work but you can do it.
To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.

When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance by @Orphia:

We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.

The Takeaway on Avoidance:

Our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
I've learned that not drinking makes the problems often go away (e.g. drinking out of worry about drinking).
Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.

How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You" by @Orphia

Instead of lumbering myself with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, I think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
I worry about "me" and don't want "Tomorrow Me" to feel awful.
Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic, I might add.)
We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to Tomorrow You.

LINKS:
A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/

General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/

The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/

Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp

The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision

Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/

To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/

Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations

ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep

Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails

APPS:

Dry January & Beyond - The Dry January & Beyond app is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
EasyQuitDrinking - Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
nomo - Sobriety Clocks - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.

BOOKS:

The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale

VIDEOS:

https://youtu.be/T3eIiS-Rl4k

https://youtu.be/Qiueo1nVyF8

https://youtu.be/VB5WyBeFc8U

Credit and Thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants for their resourcefulness in finding and sharing this information.

MFPLARD 06.24.18 Version 1.0

Orphia · June 2018

Thanks, Julie, love you guys!

Just checked my Nomo app.

Hahaha, yay, I'll have to remember it's Day 150 AF tomorrow. 🙂

SunnyDays930 · June 2018

I'm back for our 7th month together. Love you guys

RubyRed427 · June 2018

@Orphia amazing 😉! You have made many mindful decisions these last 149.5 days! I'm really happy for you ! Xo

jjwolfie0201 · June 2018

Month 2 with you all! I wanted so badly to be AF for June. In total I drank 6 days out of 30. About 2 glasses of wine each of those nights. I can make it for a week or so then feel I deserve a drink and cravings get the best of me. I really need to dedicate time each day to reading, learning, meditating, etc to help me on this journey. So often I race through the day and not take the time to reflect and learn. Hoping July will be completely AF as that is my ultimate goal. Thanks for the support!

erikNJ · June 2018

I’m back for month 7 family

WinoGelato · June 2018

I’m in!

snoo61 · June 2018

I'm in too!

kittybenn · June 2018

Orphia wrote: »

Just checked my Nomo app.

Holly s***, @Orphia - that is fantastic. Many congrats!

kittybenn · June 2018

I'm in. Had quite the mediocre June and want to have a better July. Going to my summer boat home in Seattle next week and I tend to see this as a two-month long party/vacation, and that's kinda dumb. I need that Nomo app! Glad my fam is all here!

RubyRed427 · June 2018

jjwolfie0201 wrote: »

Month 2 with you all! I wanted so badly to be AF for June. In total I drank 6 days out of 30. About 2 glasses of wine each of those nights. I can make it for a week or so then feel I deserve a drink and cravings get the best of me. I really need to dedicate time each day to reading, learning, meditating, etc to help me on this journey. So often I race through the day and not take the time to reflect and learn. Hoping July will be completely AF as that is my ultimate goal. Thanks for the support!

You did well! 6 out of 30 AF is so much better than what you probably would have been if you didn't have a goal. So, I think you were a great success. Xo

RubyRed427 · June 2018

kittybenn wrote: »

I'm in. Had quite the mediocre June and want to have a better July. Going to my summer boat home in Seattle next week and I tend to see this as a two-month long party/vacation, and that's kinda dumb. I need that Nomo app! Glad my fam is all here!

It is tough because your past practice at the lake house was one of alcohol/food and fun ( I imagine), Just like someone said earlier, it's a year of "firsts" - and establishing new patterns. Here's hoping the next two months bring you peace and satisfaction. Xo Safe Travels!

RubyRed427 · June 2018

This video is only for those who want to be alcohol FREE. It's tough love by my fav Craig Beck. It's only ten minutes long. It may be just what you need to start July. Xo

https://youtu.be/NirkJ4c537o

kittybenn · June 2018

@JulieAL1969 - so true! I have those party/vacation habits firmly implanted in my brain. It's a new year and here's to moderation! Thanks for the good wishes!

salleewins · June 2018

Yes @JulieAL1969 , I needed that video. Thank you!

I am tired of many things this week and plan old tired. The holiday is almost here and the liquor store has been calling me. Well I have won. I just drank my diet Pepsi, stocked the fridge and got 2 slices of pizza. One meal a week off my regular plan is okay. I have done well with my meal plan lately. Decided that I am tired, missing my son on a holiday and other family that have passed and need to prune back with work and commitments somehow instead of drinking. I had to stick up for myself with a client who was yelling this week and another who continually asks me to do something that I have asked not to do. Next week I have to tell a different male client that I work for to not call my gorgeous and babe. I leave soon to go to church and be around some sane people. Sticking up for myself more often has been part of how I stopped drinking and stay stopped. I have to stay in balance as well or I feel out of control and then I may as well drink. Stupid thinking yes, but I did it for quite awhile. I have to remember and talk to myself that that if I am tired, lonely, hungry, fearful or angry (even angry about not being on my exercise plan lately!!) or even being thirsty has prompted me to drink before.

I am happy that I can tell you all these things. I am grateful for this group and it helps keep me from drinking. I sure did drink excessively before. Thank you to all the sane people here.

donimfp · June 2018

I’m in. Thank you Julie for keeping us organized. Another lovely day of freedom getting peaches in the Texas Hill country. However, we’re under an eye-irritating dust from the Sahara. How weird is that? I should be better in science or meteorology or whatever would explain this.

lorrainequiche59 · June 2018

I'm definitely in.

LC0924 · July 2018

Went AF all June (which is !!! for me), aiming for almost no alcohol this month. Will be having some drinks later this month when visiting with one of the besties, but already made some rules for myself regarding moderation

Very excited to be tackling another month with all of you!

Orphia · July 2018

LC0924 wrote: »

Went AF all June (which is !!! for me), aiming for almost no alcohol this month. Will be having some drinks later this month when visiting with one of the besties, but already made some rules for myself regarding moderation Very excited to be tackling another month with all of you!

@LC0924 Well done, you!! I'd love to hear your rules. xoo

edmudman · July 2018

This challenge in June made me address my drinking issues. I got some good info and book recommendations, joined ClubSoda and have been AF for nearly 4 weeks. All the usual triggers such as work stress, travel, holidays and celebrating my birthday ( where I was the only one not drinking ) have been dealt with successfully. Here’s to an AF July.

Less Alcohol- July 2018- One Day at a Time

Replies

Categories