Less Alcohol - September 2018 - One Day at a Time
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This is me! Exactly!Nice to see some new faces here along with some of the originals. We all have something to share, something to learn..
I've got 3 days AF behind me, working on # 4. The scale hasn't moved much but that's beside the point right now. Have decided not to driink at all this weekend, the slope is too slippery for me... "just one" will lead to "oh well, that was yummmm, (unlike others, I do love the taste of my fav drinks) might as well have another" and before you know it the bottle is gone, the crunchy-munchies hit and its morning and I'm disgusted with myself. That's gotten old. And farther behind on my goals.
Have a great day everyone and enjoy your weekend, remember what you believe in, be good to yourself. Peace
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Ditto with the drink while I cook dinner. That's what motivates me to cook. Probably a good idea to just take alcohol out of the house. I used to always drink wine but then I discovered a grapefruit vodka with grapefruit LaCroix and lime that I prefer in the summer. One drink would be okay but then I always have LaCroix leftover from the can so make another and so on............ Then I eat. Arrrrgggh.... so sick of waking up, taking inventory of the night before, and then being disgusted. I was a runner for many years then somehow developed a lung disease where I had to go on medication for 15 months (which I am now off of) and haven't gotten started again. I think because it's so hot here but should be cooling off soon. I am supposed to exercise my lungs so no excuses there! But that's another topic for another group I think. Right now, I will focus on the alcohol moderation. Thanks for the support and good luck to you this weekend!@JenBlalock Glad you found us. This is a great group. Lot's of support and good advice. I can relate to the evening drinking. Somehow that glass of wine has become a daily thing. It started as having a glass while cooking dinner. Then another with dinner. Many times some more after. I have managed to reel that in, but I would like to get to where I am AF on weeknights and perhaps only one or two on the weekends.
This weekend will not have as many challenges to stay AF. I am meeting a friend at 6:00 tomorrow morning for a long run, so that means no wine tonight and early to bed. I have my 3 year old granddaughter tomorrow evening so definitely nothing tomorrow evening. The only temptation might be during the football game Sunday afternoon. Since we plan to watch at home, I will be fine. I just won't buy any and there won't be anything in the house to tempt me. Hmmmm....maybe the scale will actually cooperate on Monday morning.
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I had a "memories" show up on my FB from two years ago this morning.
UGH....the evening as I recall from the nice picture started out innocent and lovely. By the next morning "yeesh" I had wished we had stopped when that pic had been taken and posted. When I could still recall events.
Never fun to not remember if you'd been stupid the night before.
Small steps all in the right direction. Onward and upward.6 -
Nice to see some new faces here along with some of the originals. We all have something to share, something to learn..
I've got 3 days AF behind me, working on # 4. The scale hasn't moved much but that's beside the point right now. Have decided not to driink at all this weekend, the slope is too slippery for me... "just one" will lead to "oh well, that was yummmm, (unlike others, I do love the taste of my fav drinks) might as well have another" and before you know it the bottle is gone, the crunchy-munchies hit and its morning and I'm disgusted with myself. That's gotten old. And farther behind on my goals.
Have a great day everyone and enjoy your weekend, remember what you believe in, be good to yourself. Peace
Yup...that voice in my head says the same thing. ESPECIALLY on the weekends. I think I will join you in an AF weekend. Sadly, I can't remember the last time I had one. Let's give it a shot (not the usual kind of shot
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Friday night. The first real test. It's curry and wine night, and I usually have a whole bottle. Going to have G&T without the G and hope it fools my brain...4
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I used to drink 4 drinks daily yes DAILY. I'm down to drinking only three days per week and even though I still drink too much on those days, I am proud that I have cut my drinking by half. My next goal is to try to limit it to three drinks three days a week but I'm not ready yet.
Just found this.9 -
Welcome FranksSand, congrats on cutting back. Less is better than more in my book. I am working on mindful moderation: AF Sunday thru Thursday then 2 or 3 on the weekend. Some weeks are better than others, oh well. It’s just like my weight loss journey, one day at a time?5
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This is the 3rd evening I've allowed myself one 5 oz glass of red wine while making dinner. I've found that I'm perfectly ok with that and tonight I even set it aside and forgot about it for a long time. When I came across it, I considered throwing out the remaining half glass since I had forgotten about it anyway. But nope. Throw out wine?? Not yet! LOL I really am happily surprised that so far, I have no problem cutting back. I am thankful for the support and motivation of this group.7
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I'm inspired by you - sonomagirl2- for me tonight it's 9 oz - hoping by next week it will be 5oz. It's been a long, slow journey, 1 step forward, 2 steps back
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How I keep track of my accountability:
1st by day.
If I can get through a happy hour offered or a friend trying to give/buy me a drink because they think I need one, then I am half way there. When I do plan or feel I need to drink. I try as hard as I can to keep it to no more than two for any single day.
2nd by week.
I tally up Sun-Sat. Some weeks have no tally, other weeks do. For the week I want to keep it under 6. Because I know as the weeks progress, I do not want to have a high number mid month. Especially if I have a special event planned to consume at the end of the month. It is a lot of strategy and mind work which is good for me.
3rd by month.
An over all good month tally at this stage for me is 8 -14 total standard size drinks (not drinking days). A number I can recall from several years ago was 11 drinks in one day...horrifying now that I look back on it.
My grand tally will be on Dec 31 2018. Looking forward to seeing that.
Hoping everyone is having a wonderful day.2 -
@FeelinFooFoo, awesome post!! I’ve been working at this since Jan 1 and am just now looking at Day 40 tomorrow. I think the most important insight is the one you already have: This is a journey. In fact, I’d add that it’s not just any old journey but an adventure. With this mindset, any bumps in the road are just that—bumps. Keep that lovely hangover-free feeling in your consciousness. Yay you!!!!4
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »smoothies
Congrats on you successful AF day. What a nice treat a spa treatment! Good rewards for good deeds done. Now how about a mango smoothie? Lol
Donimfp great to see you in here again and congrats on day 40
Welcome FranksSandwich, cut down by half that is SUPER. Hope to hear from you again.
KKHKISHZKH: how did your Friday night turn out?
sonomagirl2: nice job on sticking to your goal of only 5 ounces of wine. Woot woot!
Today makes a dry streak of 6 days in a row for me, after indulging in 2 Mich Ultras last Sunday during a theater play.
No harm done.
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FeelinFooFoo wrote: »Well I planned an AF weekend and iv done it. It wasn't straight forward, I noticed that Friday is my worst day for urges, after work I have this urge to buy wine! And I realise how much I do need support at this stage to get me through. I'm not strong enough yet. I wanted to go to the pub on Friday, it was my other half who said no. Ah well.
Today I went to the spa and I'm getting ready to make some orange & pomegranate smoothies. They are gona be so refreshing. Was lovely waking up this morning hangover free as well. Tomorrow will be Sunday and not a day I'd drink anyway so not too worried about that but plan a nice walk round a local park, it has a small animal reserve so that will be a nice treat for going AF this weekend.
What I learnt this weekend, it's totally possible to have an enjoyable time without any alcohol. It is amazing waking up hangover free. I still have a lot of work to do and stuff to figure out but going in right direction.
Good to read your thoughts! Sounds like you are doing well and feeling good! 🙂1 -
Day 5. Doing ok with it. Am in a funk due to some other issues that normally I'd deal with with drinks. Not going there. Decided to lay down for a siesta instead, be good to myself, take advantage of a clear schedule and relax. Hope everyone’s having a good weekend4
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@MissMay I love your posts!FeelinFooFoo wrote: »What I learnt this weekend, it's totally possible to have an enjoyable time without any alcohol. It is amazing waking up hangover free. I still have a lot of work to do and stuff to figure out but going in right direction.
@FeelinFooFoo I'm so happy to hear you say that!! You are doing really, really well!
After a big running event, I haven't been celebrating with Prosecco. I'd rather enjoy the runner's high, and the satisfaction of achievement.
This goes for pretty much every day!
I always walk or run, and I do my handstands/yoga.
Being AF means I don't feel crappy in the morning and can get up and exercise, and then feel great after exercising! Win/win!
I didn't drink for my birthday, which was my first month AF. That was a huge milestone. Achieving that made me feel really awesome.
Natural highs are amazingly awesome!! 5 -
@MissMay I love your posts!FeelinFooFoo wrote: »What I learnt this weekend, it's totally possible to have an enjoyable time without any alcohol. It is amazing waking up hangover free. I still have a lot of work to do and stuff to figure out but going in right direction.
@FeelinFooFoo I'm so happy to hear you say that!! You are doing really, really well!
After a big running event, I haven't been celebrating with Prosecco. I'd rather enjoy the runner's high, and the satisfaction of achievement.
This goes for pretty much every day!
I always walk or run, and I do my handstands/yoga.
Being AF means I don't feel crappy in the morning and can get up and exercise, and then feel great after exercising! Win/win!
I didn't drink for my birthday, which was my first month AF. That was a huge milestone. Achieving that made me feel really awesome.
Natural highs are amazingly awesome!!
We were wondering what was keeping you from being in here.....you are a busy busy woman. Congrats on the running event. Your a great role model.
I too am a bit crazy for fitness myself (just can't run because I am missing an ACL In my knee) But waking up at the crack of dawn and doing kick boxing, heavy bag boxing or lifting is my drug of choice for the majority of my life. You can not properly perform in your exercise activity hungover. And even if some people "pull it off" after drinking to much, it does not reverse or turn back the clock from the previous night.
Turning the big 59 in a few weeks and I want to give the younger ( 40+ year old) women in my town confidence that they can keep the youth in their lives and fight the aging gene.
Wishing everyone a successful day in goals.
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Still doing ok. It's nice waking up clear-headed on a sunday!6
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Awesome. Just survived a craving. Prepared a drink of 1freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and a generous squirt of lime, added some ice. Ok followed by a bite of chocolate. In 3 minutes I forgot about the wine and feel fine 8
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Good morning.
Yes clear heads are a truly wonderful feeling. Glad you held your ground!!KKHKISHZKH wrote: »Still doing ok. It's nice waking up clear-headed on a sunday!
Excellent rebound from a craving. Also your a great poet I FORGOT ABOUT THE WINE AND FEEL FINE. Should be put onto a kitchen towel lol.Awesome. Just survived a craving. Prepared a drink of 1freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and a generous squirt of lime, added some ice. Ok followed by a bite of chocolate. In 3 minutes I forgot about the wine and feel fine
From Friday morning through Sunday night I struggled with a very bad sinus / allergy thing in my head. Well, every evening after DH arrived home he would say.." you know what you need, you need to add some tequila to your hot tea" or " you should put some rum in your hot coffee, that will clear your head". Luckily I have the good sense not to combine allergy medicine with alcohol and besides I have never liked when someone else trys to decide for me when I need to consume.
7 consecutive none alcohol days.
Also joined the challenge on here to stop late night snacking after your dinner meal. Yikes I had been bad at that the past few days.
Start Monday out on the right foot and do something nice for yourself!8 -
Awesome. Just survived a craving. Prepared a drink of 1freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and a generous squirt of lime, added some ice. Ok followed by a bite of chocolate. In 3 minutes I forgot about the wine and feel fine
This sounds yummy. I'm going to pick up some grapefruit today and give it a try.
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I have a question. How are you counting your AF days? I see many posts about consecutive days. Does anyone add up the AF days even if there is a moderation day or two in between? I have had way more AF days over the past month than I have had in quite some time. And the days I have allowed myself to drink have been in moderation. A huge improvement for me. I think if I challenge myself to pick up more AF days each month than the month before (even if not consecutive), it would be motivational for me.4
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I have a question. How are you counting your AF days? I see many posts about consecutive days. Does anyone add up the AF days even if there is a moderation day or two in between? I have had way more AF days over the past month than I have had in quite some time. And the days I have allowed myself to drink have been in moderation. A huge improvement for me. I think if I challenge myself to pick up more AF days each month than the month before (even if not consecutive), it would be motivational for me.
Hi. I believe that should be each persons own accountibilty tracking and no matter if you do completely AF. Or include very moderate days in between they are what is now your way of calculating. And your way is the right way for you.
I challenge myself every month to do the same with picking up more AF days. Hope that helps to answer your question.
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That does answer my question. Thank you. I'm actually considering keeping a journal to track my progress.
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Nice thread! I wish the best of luck to those trying to cut down or quit alcohol consumption, and congrats to those who are going without and building AF day streaks. I know from experience that it is very hard at first, but i also know it gets easier over time.
After 46 years of being a regular drinker my last drink was feb.24th of this year putting my AF streak @ 198 and counting. If i can do it....anyone can.10 -
MissMay, you are on a roll! Hope you feel better soon too!
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I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".
https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/
The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.
Woah, I was drinking a lot!
I recommend doing the check.
PLUS, the site has an app!
That's probably a way to monitor your AF days, @USCBMOM22
Also, from the article I read:
"Dr Julia Verne, a spokeswoman on liver disease for Public Health England said: "Having a day off drinking gives you a chance to clean your system and give your liver a rest. It also has an immediate impact on your sleep and calorie consumption."
"People have also told us that the idea of a 'drink-free' day is much easier to manage than cutting down, say, from one large glass of wine to a small glass of wine."
That's pretty much what we're learning in here!
I see it as "Intermittent Sobriety".
Quitting for a day is easier than having less for a day (due to "I'll just have one more").2 -
I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".
https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/
The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.
Woah, I was drinking a lot!
I recommend doing the check.
PLUS, the site has an app!
Orphia, I have belonged to this site since this past Spring. EXCELLENT tools and references for cutting back or quiting. I love the daily calender to keep track of either no drinking day or how many and what type you did have.
The only thing is I am SHOCKED that the UK has higher drinking standards ratios. Women are allotted 14 drinks per week there compared to the 7 for the USA standard.( I will stick to the USA standard thank you! )
@viceam yes I am finally feeling better as of yesterday. That darn goldenrod going in my field was getting the best of me.
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I read today that the UK have a new campaign called "Drink Free Days".
https://www.drinkfreedays.co.uk/
The site has a calculator that converts your glasses of alcohol to standard units.
Woah, I was drinking a lot!
I recommend doing the check.
PLUS, the site has an app!
That's probably a way to monitor your AF days, @USCBMOM22
Also, from the article I read:
"Dr Julia Verne, a spokeswoman on liver disease for Public Health England said: "Having a day off drinking gives you a chance to clean your system and give your liver a rest. It also has an immediate impact on your sleep and calorie consumption."
"People have also told us that the idea of a 'drink-free' day is much easier to manage than cutting down, say, from one large glass of wine to a small glass of wine."
That's pretty much what we're learning in here!
I see it as "Intermittent Sobriety".
Quitting for a day is easier than having less for a day (due to "I'll just have one more").
Thank you, Orphia! I will check this website out today. It looks like a great tool to keep track.2 -
OMG I found you guys! I have not been on this thread since May.
June, July and August are my travel, party, drinking, do it all before Winter months. I've picked up some weight. I don't regret it. I am back on track, I haven't had a desire to drink. But it feels good being back. I will have to catch up and do some reading.0
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