Less Alcohol- July 2018- One Day at a Time
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Starting on Independence Day - Alcohol Free 4 days, Alcohol 1 day (shared a bottle of wine with my husband dining out). I am feeling really good about moderating. We went to a couple golf and dine event last night and happily drank my water. I appreciate all of you sharing your journey.8
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »It is a beautiful journey we are all on. For each of us it is unique. We all support and care for each other and never judge. Let's continue to post what works for our individual goals. I'm positive there are many people out there who don't post but read each of our posts, and it helps them in some way. I take nuggets from each person's ideas and try to be a better person. Whether you are moderators or abstainers, continue to express your views. I will also continue to share my success and struggles without reservation.
Being free to express what you feel, is such a rare thing. I feel more freely to express myself on this thread than in most of my personal relationships. Because it's a safe place without judgement.
That is what makes this thread work. Like the saying goes, "It takes a village." I am so happy to be on this journey with each and every one of you. Xo
Thank you! Well said and I agree completely! xo3 -
Well today I wanted to drink once again. The problems were a mountain. However I enjoyed part of the day going out to eat with a friend and tried to help someone who really needed it. Half the day I was good on my diet, the other half well anyone here long enough, can guess how that went. Sugar.......................... All day at work there were a ton of motorcycles and even one looked like my late son's, too, on top of it being a bad there...............ugh. Work was the worst and I was filling in for someone..............Okay enough out of me. At least you can't be pulled over for eating a ton of sugar, better that, than too much alcohol. I decided after I joined the local gym Saturday, that when I can after work, I am going to go there before I go home instead of eat junk. Looking for the endorphines, dopamine or whatever those happy feelings are, lol, in a more positive way. Let's see if it works...14
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I was interested to see a television ad for San Pellegrino sparkling water (my favorite) yesterday. It had all the elements of the usual alcohol ads--good-looking friends enjoying a meal on the beach, laughing, pouring . . . but it was all bubbly water. Yay! I just found it interesting because I don't recall ever seeing such a thing. Sure, there are soft drink ads all over the place, but I've never seen a plug for adult fun meal time with water to celebrate and no alcohol in sight. I hope this means Madison Avenue is seeing a market for AF products and that this means demand is growing. Also, if such ads do their job, the message that fun can be had without alcohol should sink into the viewer's subconscious.10
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New to this group. I want to be AF - just not sure how to make it happen. I am loving all the posts here - makes me hopeful and motivated. I wanted to start July 4 - but drank twice since then. But I will keep going and keep trying. I will make it 30 days - I know I can.8
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OMG!!! Has anyone ever lost a day while being SOBER??? I had a "Twilight Zone" moment yesterday when I woke up thinking it was Monday. I even showed up at one of my jobs for work!! The whole family was home & I asked if they were still on vacation??? I would switch my day to Thursday and they said, "NO, it's Sunday" AND I said, "NO, it's Monday!!" I KNOW whoever it was recently that made a suggestion to me "#1 put down the wine," is likely thinking the same thing right now if they are reading this, but this was a stone-cold, sober moment!!
It frieked me out! I began to consider early-onset dementia but then thought that I didn't actually forget what day it was, I just thought it was a different day. LOL I remember having a dream about work the night before & when I awoke thought it was Monday. I don't normally listen to the radio & never looked at the day on my devices, not even the date....I'm driving through town thinking WOW, it's pretty quiet today, maybe everyone's on vacation.....little did I know that my brain was on vacation! Too funny!!
Oh well, now today feels like "Groundhog Day!!" If anyone has had any kind of similar experience, please share.6 -
salleewins wrote: »All day at work there were a ton of motorcycles and even one looked like my late son's.
I'm sorry. Hugs
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New to this group. I want to be AF - just not sure how to make it happen. I am loving all the posts here - makes me hopeful and motivated. I wanted to start July 4 - but drank twice since then. But I will keep going and keep trying. I will make it 30 days - I know I can.
If you look on page 1 of this thread the second post has some general starting tips from our hostess @julieal1969. There are also some other resources listed there when you are ready for one of them.
Please remember that any day that was once spent drinking that becomes AF is an achievement. So even if you haven't lived up to what you wanted since the 4th if any of those AF days were new to you that is not something to dismiss.
I am rooting for you to achieve your goal(s). Please stop in and post as often as you want or need. There are people here with varying experience from where you are now to several months and years of being entirely or mostly AF.6 -
I had drinks on vacation but not every day and only one day had a few. Otherwise I had one glass of wine. I was also happy as I maintained my weight. I am now down to the last 5-10 lbs so worried I would have added a few pounds with eating out all the time. I plan on going AF again until all the weight is gone.
@CSYounce I found Annie Grace's 30 day experiment so helpful on going AF for 30 days. I went to 60 days without too much struggle after the first week.4 -
Hi Guys! I'm back from vacation. Had an AF trip- my norm last year would have been 4 drinks a day times 7 days. I saved a lot of calories, I think. I hit over 13,000 steps each day and had a 19,500 step day. I know that I wouldn't have had the energy to do all that walking last year. I am nearly done with Jack Vale's book Kick the Drink Easily. I liked it because it debunked all the reasons we think we drink. Like boredom, depression, celebrations, stress.... he says alcohol does not improve any of these. Reading it was like sitting with a life coach. It was pretty good.
I think for me, after I get past about 10 days AF my brain starts to say "Hey, I can handle anything. ". and I start to see myself in the mirror more positively (skin brighter, belly flatter). It helped that my extended family just shares a bottle of wine at dinner each night- they're not big drinkers. It was much easier to stay AF this vacation than my girl's weekend in January.
This Thursday, I will be indulging- it's my birthday and I"m going out with 8 girlfriends, so I don't think I"ll have the wherewithal to abstain. I hope to one day though. I hope one day I wont view a birthday as an excuse to have a few drinks. Baby Steps right now.
@CSYounce Welcome to our thread. Like @NovusDies says go to the first page of this thread and you will find tons of great resources we all gathered through our time together.
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@lorrainequiche59 That's a good one! I have never had that happen but I am sure that it's part of human nature. You made me smile! Sorry you wasted your Sunday heading to work though!
@donimfp Love Pellegrino and Perrier! And yes, I think that's an improvement seeing a commercial like that- basically imitating a beer commercial but with water! Awesome!
@salleewins I read your post with sadness. Sorry you had such a tough day- and seeing those motorcycle - that is really heartbreaking.2 -
fitand50inSD wrote: »Starting on Independence Day - Alcohol Free 4 days, Alcohol 1 day (shared a bottle of wine with my husband dining out). I am feeling really good about moderating. We went to a couple golf and dine event last night and happily drank my water. I appreciate all of you sharing your journey.
Great way to start the month! Happy you are on this journey with us!1 -
You know you have reached a good place when the thought of a drink does not cross your mind on your way back home from work....knock on wood11
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@norminv I'm so proud of you. I've followed your journey since January. Your determination inspires me!
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@norminv, I'm proud of you, too. And don't give up on the country music career. Keith Urban is totally sober. I agree with @JenT304 that you are an inspiration.
Re: the recent discussion of moderation and abstinence: I think it's wonderful that many of you seem to be having good success at moderating, especially the idea that alcohol and food moderation are similar. I really like reading your posts. I've been a regular, almost daily drinker since I was 27, and I'm now 62. My takeaway personally is that 35 years is just too much water (or make that vino) under the bridge to do anything but put the brakes entirely on. So that's my path right now, and I'm feeling more confident by the day that I'm getting there.
However, for you guys without those years of baggage, I encourage you to keep working that plan if it's working for you. I think we know when it's working and when we're kidding ourselves. I've kidded myself enough. The positive for me is that 2018 has so far been a very productive journey of exploration and revelation. Like others, I really appreciate this open and non-judgmental venue to work out our issues, make our plans, re-think our plans, etc.13 -
@donimvp I couldn't have said that better myself. After being a daily drinker for over 20 years, maybe 25 years, it's time to let that go. I really hope those that can moderate can continue to do so. That Craig Beck video about why some people can moderate and some people can't, was really good. Just like I could probably take an opiate for an injury and not get addicted, someone else could not. We are all wired differently.7
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »This Thursday, I will be indulging- it's my birthday and I"m going out with 8 girlfriends, so I don't think I"ll have the wherewithal to abstain. I hope to one day though. I hope one day I wont view a birthday as an excuse to have a few drinks. Baby Steps right now
I think this seems to be an ongoing struggle for everyone, in this group and out. We all seem to have some guilt when we want enjoy something when there is a health goal we are working towards. I did it last week when I came here and cried over how I spent July 4th and my nephews grad party. And then a day later I was over it and back focusing on cutting back drinking/eating and at the gym again.
Don’t let any guilt tell you how not spend your birthday how you want to. In this short time I’ve known you, I have complete confidence you will be right back on track the next day. And Happy (early) Birthday!
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lorrainequiche59 wrote: »OMG!!! Has anyone ever lost a day while being SOBER??? I had a "Twilight Zone" moment yesterday when I woke up thinking it was Monday. I even showed up at one of my jobs for work!! The whole family was home & I asked if they were still on vacation??? I would switch my day to Thursday and they said, "NO, it's Sunday" AND I said, "NO, it's Monday!!" I KNOW whoever it was recently that made a suggestion to me "#1 put down the wine," is likely thinking the same thing right now if they are reading this, but this was a stone-cold, sober moment!!
It frieked me out! I began to consider early-onset dementia but then thought that I didn't actually forget what day it was, I just thought it was a different day. LOL I remember having a dream about work the night before & when I awoke thought it was Monday. I don't normally listen to the radio & never looked at the day on my devices, not even the date....I'm driving through town thinking WOW, it's pretty quiet today, maybe everyone's on vacation.....little did I know that my brain was on vacation! Too funny!!
Oh well, now today feels like "Groundhog Day!!" If anyone has had any kind of similar experience, please share.
Count me in on this one. This happens when there has been a long tiring stretch of work with extra work days and more demanding clients or something for me. I totally forgot about another extra commitment with work or it got botched up somehow just this last week. I was really wondering about my memory then. I know all the heavy drinking has not helped me. It is going on 6 mo. sober and will be the 23rd. I am sure years of drinking, some heavier than others and some with years sober in between was still too much for me. When my schedule is off with work, can't get my daily water in or even plan how to do it because the clients are so demanding at times, then I can expect an off day. This groundhog thing happens to the best of us anyways at times without the drinking history. I am sure. Anyways we are either abstaining or moderating and trying to improve our health by doing this. I am sure our liver function, other organs are repairing and brain cells are increasing as we speak.4
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