Less Alcohol- July 2018- One Day at a Time

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  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,155 Member
    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!

    Awesome month for you!! Bravo for making the change. Xo
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,155 Member
    edmudman wrote: »
    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.

    A birthday without alcohol - now that's a great gift to yourself. i may try that this year. Happy the four weeks were great to you!
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,155 Member
    salleewins wrote: »
    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.

    Some time things all pile on us and we feel awful emotionally. I hear you and I am sending a big hug. I hope you can find time to go into nature or some place you find quiet and peace and just sit. You are making great strides despite all the weight on your shoulders. Remember someone on the thread used to say we are exercising our will power muscles. Well, your will power muscle is strong and fit!!
    Have you ever tried journaling. Just write like crazy , get everything down on paper and then burn it! And of course, let us help you on this thread. I love your honesty and continue to lean on us for a safe place to express. Xo
  • SunnyDays930
    SunnyDays930 Posts: 1,479 Member
    @kcn2bluesky I love to hear these inspiring stories. I am so happy for your success.
  • kcn2bluesky
    kcn2bluesky Posts: 187 Member
    edited July 2018
    wigi41 wrote: »
    I am still here, as well, reading all of your posts. I continue to find everyone's insights so helpful. Karen, I deleted the Dry January app a few weeks ago, too; it did help a lot at first but I no longer feel I need it. Since Jan 1st I have had two beers, one on March 15 and one on June 17. The summer season has felt more difficult in some ways- a bunch of firsts without alcohol, as others have said- but I do feel that I will continue to be 99% AF moving forward. I feel better without it, and although weight was not a reason that I quit, my fitness has continued to improve with me being AF, too. All the best to everyone this month, whatever your goals!

    I really like your post @wigi41! I'm glad to hear that deleting the Dry January app hasn't derailed you. I'm going to do that today, and also I have realized I'm at the point where I can gift the bottles of wine I have to a friend. I won't be needing them and she enjoys wine, so it's a win-win :smile:

    There was a discussion awhile back (maybe in the May thread??) about the cravings for sweet foods increasing dramatically after quitting alcohol. I have definitely found that to be the case for me, and I thought it would decrease back to normal levels after a few months. Improved sleep took a few months and I thought craving sweets would decrease over time too but that hasn't been the case for me. I'm at maintenance for my weight, so have just traded the calories I used to expend on alcohol to expending on desserts. I'm curious what others have experienced with regard to craving sweet foods and how you manage that?
  • wigi41
    wigi41 Posts: 42 Member
    I am absolutely having the same issue with sweets, kcn2bluesky! Continuing to eat a loooottt more dessert and ice cream and chocolate than I used to. But I am really enjoying it all and my weight has not gone up (actually, it's gone down a few pounds since Jan, which I do not want either). I do sometimes worry about the amount of sugar I'm eating, but it's usually not too much more than what MFP says I should be having, so that should be ok, right? :smile:
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    I've heard several people comment on increased cravings for sweets. I'm thinking the sweet cravings could be the same part of the brain that houses the reward center & that sugar gives the same response that alcohol used to...alcohol converts to sugar so there's likely a connection. I'm sure one of the videos: Annie Grace or Craig Beck could explain it much better than I am. ;)

    As far as the sugar consumption, there is a difference between processed sugar & sugar that occurs naturally in fruit, so even though MFP may allow a certain amount of sugar, I'm thinking for optimum health desserts should be kept to a minimum.
  • salleewins
    salleewins Posts: 2,308 Member
    My sweet cravings have been there. They seem to increase with the more stress I am under. When I was drinking, I would drink more and more with the increased stress. I probably programmed my brain for this as I wasn't always a sweet craver to this extent.
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,155 Member
    @MissMay I do remember your posts - you're doing very well these days ! Happy you checked in and let us know. Xo
    @bufger @jugar welcome ! Yes, this thread is good for that! Motivation and community are pretty effective tools for cutting back. Besides the liver, our brain and pancreas thank us too! Xo