Less Alcohol - December 2018 - One Day at a Time
Replies
-
Made it through a holiday party Saturday night AF. 66 days AF8
-
Not yet! Slipping back into bad habits. Planning for better today. This may just be day 1... again6
-
Made it through a holiday party Saturday night AF. 66 days AFNot yet! Slipping back into bad habits. Planning for better today. This may just be day 1... again
1 -
Tracking is key for me in everything.
Shooting for 5 days AF this week.
Dec 01 - Cocktails
Dec 02 - AF
Dec 03 -
Dec 04 -
Dec 05 -
Dec 06 -
Dec 07 -
Dec 08 -
Dec 09 -
Dec 10 -
Dec 11 -
Dec 12 -
Dec 13 -
Dec 14 -
Dec 15 -
Dec 16 -
Dec 17 -
Dec 18 -
Dec 19 -
Dec 20 -
Dec 21 -
Dec 22 -
Dec 23 -
Dec 24 -
Dec 25 -
Dec 26 -
Dec 27 -
Dec 28 -
Dec 29 -
Dec 30 -
Dec 31 -2 -
Great goal @dawnbgethealthy. There will be a bunch of us waiting for you at your finish line of at least five days AF.1
-
I've been looking for a group such as this one. I'm an everyday wine drinker and it has definitely wrecked havoc on my weight and overall appearance. I hate it! I was drinking, at times, two bottles per night and I still pretty much do on the weekends. But during the week, it's no more than a bottle but usually 1/2 or 3rd of the bottle which I know is still really bad! I really have to kick this awful habit. Drinking as I do has caused me to have high blood pressure and being prediabetic (although once I kicked other carbs my AC1 was better a couple of weeks ago). I don't crave alcohol (I don't think), it's more of the habit! I'll cook, get my child in bed and then start my evening. I would love to go days without drinking! I like the thought of AF days during the week. I think I should try that first. Any suggestions, support, motivation is most welcomed! Thanks6
-
GDowning2Fit wrote: »I've been looking for a group such as this one. I'm an everyday wine drinker and it has definitely wrecked havoc on my weight and overall appearance. I hate it! I was drinking, at times, two bottles per night and I still pretty much do on the weekends. But during the week, it's no more than a bottle but usually 1/2 or 3rd of the bottle which I know is still really bad! I really have to kick this awful habit. Drinking as I do has caused me to have high blood pressure and being prediabetic (although once I kicked other carbs my AC1 was better a couple of weeks ago). I don't crave alcohol (I don't think), it's more of the habit! I'll cook, get my child in bed and then start my evening. I would love to go days without drinking! I like the thought of AF days during the week. I think I should try that first. Any suggestions, support, motivation is most welcomed! Thanks
Well I was just going to pop in and say Hi but I saw this post and since it reminds me of my story I decided to reply. I am a very routine oriented person and I made the mistake of making it a routine to drink in the evenings. I enjoyed doing it so I probably craved alcohol some but after the countless stories here I realized I was not quite like everyone else. There are things I think all daily drinkers have in common but we are also unique people and so it is natural that we can also be completely different from each other.
I started my weight loss journey mid February of this year and my initial goal was to drink only on every other Sunday. I did "okay" with that goal. I certainly did drink on nights that I had not intended but I was making progress. I was not happy with myself and I kept thinking that it was too much even on the nights I was "allowed" to drink and I hated drinking on nights I was not allowed. Instead of celebrating the victory of less alcohol overall I kept beating myself up over perceived shortcomings.
It all came to a head in April when I had a mini-relapse into my old behavior and I was really down in the dumps over it. But one night in early May it kind of hit me that I was not the same person I was the previous year and I had accomplished quite a bit and I snapped. I unintentionally went for the next 160 days with absolutely no alcohol. I didn't plan it, it just happened. Instead of thinking of alcohol as something to fear I realized I need to be more of an adult about it.
Alcohol was a pretty big presence in my life and then it wasn't. I have enjoyed a few nights of drinking and when I have had it I have probably had a bit too much but I don't worry about that anymore. Less overall is still less. There are all these rules about what we think we are supposed to do but moderation can be unique just like people.
I don't really have goals anymore. I guess I wouldn't mind making it to May 6th of next year (when I started my 160 af adventure) with less than 10 nights overall of drinking but that doesn't really accomplish anything really. A number is just a number. I grew up and broke my routine. Drinking nightly is too hard on me and I have no desire to go back to those days. What is important is that I have lost a lot of weight and even though I am going through a medical scare (scare is too strong, make it alarm) at the moment my health is greatly improved.
I wish you and everyone here great success this month and all months in the future. My time here was well-spent and if there is way to summarize this ridiculously long post it is don't focus on whatever rules society has for drinking in moderation instead of focusing on how much better it is to drink less.9 -
Welcome @GDowning2Fit there are many different ways to approach drinking less.
*You could decide to only drink on the weekend or to cut down the number of bottles you consume.
*You could say M-W-F are drink days with an only one glass limit, leaving T-TH as dry days and then have it a little less restricted on weekends.
*Play around with it find your own niche that fits you.
Nice to have you here.1 -
Today I decided to flip my AF count. It's 169 days AF, and 27 days til my goal of 6 1/2 months.
New Year's Day seems an appropriate time [to me] for testing my resolve to severely cut back from my previous out-of-control habit. And I'll find out if it is truly a "habit" or an addiction.
February may find me marking a "last day of my drinking life" on the calendar.and using my wine glasses to start a herb garden...
5 -
forestdweller1 wrote: »....and using my wine glasses to start a herb garden...
This cracked me up and yet makes so much sense. Congrats on 169 that is fantastic. A habit would be what I would be hoping too. Fingers crossed !1 -
Dec 01 - Cocktails
Dec 02 - AF
Dec 03 - AF
Dec 04 -
Dec 05 -
Dec 06 -
Dec 07 -
Dec 08 -
Dec 09 -
Dec 10 -
Dec 11 -
Dec 12 -
Dec 13 -
Dec 14 -
Dec 15 -
Dec 16 -
Dec 17 -
Dec 18 -
Dec 19 -
Dec 20 -
Dec 21 -
Dec 22 -
Dec 23 -
Dec 24 -
Dec 25 -
Dec 26 -
Dec 27 -
Dec 28 -
Dec 29 -
Dec 30 -
Dec 31 -4 -
Small victory to share. After 11 months of mindful moderation I have made it half a pound below a target weight I was striving for(not that it was a large number to lose only 5 pounds). Exchanging the bloated belly into noticeable abs has made a huge difference in how I feel and how my clothes fall again on my body.
Combination of not snacking after dinner, serious moderating of drinking habits and keeping up with a varied routine of exercise has paid off.
13 -
Now I know I need to buckle down on my less-drinking goal. I was just asked by a patient at work if I'm pregnant.
I went against my goals and binged last Saturday. Immediately regretted it, like I knew I would. I even lied to cancel plans with some friends so I could isolate at home.
No good comes from this behavior. So I need to figure out a way to change my mindset before this weekend so I don't do it again.5 -
Dec 01 - Cocktails
Dec 02 - AF
Dec 03 - AF
Dec 04 - AF
Dec 05 -
Dec 06 -
Dec 07 -
Dec 08 -
Dec 09 -
Dec 10 -
Dec 11 -
Dec 12 -
Dec 13 -
Dec 14 -
Dec 15 -
Dec 16 -
Dec 17 -
Dec 18 -
Dec 19 -
Dec 20 -
Dec 21 -
Dec 22 -
Dec 23 -
Dec 24 -
Dec 25 -
Dec 26 -
Dec 27 -
Dec 28 -
Dec 29 -
Dec 30 -
Dec 31 -4 -
My husband told me today that it's gluttonous to drink 7 beers in a night. When he puts it that way....I don't do it a lot....ok I'm in denial but we are dieting together now, he told me I don't need to quit drinking, just limit to 1. Which is a good idea. But I can't for the life of me think of what hed quit for dieting. He doesn't seem to have a binge item.2
-
Dec 01 - Cocktails
Dec 02 - AF
Dec 03 - AF
Dec 04 - AF
Dec 05 - 2 drinks. Can't lie, it was lovely. No regrets. Still within my calorie range today.
Dec 06 -
Dec 07 -
Dec 08 -
Dec 09 -
Dec 10 -
Dec 11 -
Dec 12 -
Dec 13 -
Dec 14 -
Dec 15 -
Dec 16 -
Dec 17 -
Dec 18 -
Dec 19 -
Dec 20 -
Dec 21 -
Dec 22 -
Dec 23 -
Dec 24 -
Dec 25 -
Dec 26 -
Dec 27 -
Dec 28 -
Dec 29 -
Dec 30 -
Dec 31 -2 -
GDowning2Fit wrote: »I've been looking for a group such as this one. I'm an everyday wine drinker and it has definitely wrecked havoc on my weight and overall appearance. I hate it! I was drinking, at times, two bottles per night and I still pretty much do on the weekends. But during the week, it's no more than a bottle but usually 1/2 or 3rd of the bottle which I know is still really bad! I really have to kick this awful habit. Drinking as I do has caused me to have high blood pressure and being prediabetic (although once I kicked other carbs my AC1 was better a couple of weeks ago). I don't crave alcohol (I don't think), it's more of the habit! I'll cook, get my child in bed and then start my evening. I would love to go days without drinking! I like the thought of AF days during the week. I think I should try that first. Any suggestions, support, motivation is most welcomed! Thanks
I had drinks every day since June. Work hard all day, it was a nice reward. My weight got out of control and I got back on MyFitnessPal on October 27th. Cutting down on alcohol cuts down calories, not to mention instead of having a reasonable amount of food alcohol has that thrown out the window. I don't think that I realized that I was having drinks every day. I was surprised when I started MFP that the first day I was actually craving alcohol! Also the second day. Like you, I didn't think that I craved it, it was just a really nice taste, and really nice effect.
My goal that first week was to get through 2 days with no drinks. The next week was to be 3 days with no drinks, and then of course 4 days the following week. I did one week AF for 5 days. I will be happy if I keep it to 4 or 5 days per week AF.
Wine is so soothing!! Not to mention tasty.
I get a really bloated face and belly the next day whether I had one drink or three. Vanity and weight loss is pretty much all that motivates me not to have drinks every day. I love all sorts of drinks, but don't want to be fat anymore. This is a great challenge to keep me accountable and mindful. You too! 1 AF day per week to start and see how you feel and look the next day. Best of luck. See you here.3 -
Hi old friends! It has been probably two months since I have checked with this group, and there is a story to that, but not a good one ...
My goal this whole year was to drink less, which for me personally meant one night a week and less drinks on that night. My other goals were to eat better and work out several times a week. I did really well for over 10 months and stuck to that very well, even a bad week was maybe a second night of drinks. I lost 30 lbs over those ten months.
Mid October I got in a very dark place in my head. That led me to stop caring about my health. Stopped going to the gym. Ate horrible food every night and, yes, drank a lot more. That went til right before last week. I gained back 7 of those lbs, but shocked it wasn’t worse.
I can’t explain my mental condition. But I feel great now. Been back at my gym for a week, eating properly and off the booze for a bit too. Haven’t even had a beer during a football game for a few weeks.
I’m extra glad this happened right now, cause we all know how people can use the holidays to give up on health for a month. I feel like now I’m getting a head start on the new year vibes.
I know I won’t go completely alcohol free over December but my goal was never to quit for good. Holiday parties will happen and I will have some drinks at those events. But hoping I go back to my drinking habits of Jan-Oct. and planning to keep eating well and stay at the gym - btw the gym this time of year is great cause no one goes, you have the place practically to yourself!
Sorry for the long post! Great to catch up on all of your progress!8 -
Everestchick11 wrote: »My husband told me today that it's gluttonous to drink 7 beers in a night. When he puts it that way....I don't do it a lot....ok I'm in denial but we are dieting together now, he told me I don't need to quit drinking, just limit to 1. Which is a good idea. But I can't for the life of me think of what hed quit for dieting. He doesn't seem to have a binge item.
I drink 7 beers a night, but I used to drink 9 a night. If You decide to cut back or quit, do it at your pace or it won't work. I cut back 1 a night, and then another one. If this is a trade, as in I cut back and he cuts back something, its not your decision. You decide, what do you really want to do?5 -
Hi old friends! It has been probably two months since I have checked with this group, and there is a story to that, but not a good one ...
My goal this whole year was to drink less, which for me personally meant one night a week and less drinks on that night. My other goals were to eat better and work out several times a week. I did really well for over 10 months and stuck to that very well, even a bad week was maybe a second night of drinks. I lost 30 lbs over those ten months.
Mid October I got in a very dark place in my head. That led me to stop caring about my health. Stopped going to the gym. Ate horrible food every night and, yes, drank a lot more. That went til right before last week. I gained back 7 of those lbs, but shocked it wasn’t worse.
I can’t explain my mental condition. But I feel great now. Been back at my gym for a week, eating properly and off the booze for a bit too. Haven’t even had a beer during a football game for a few weeks.
I’m extra glad this happened right now, cause we all know how people can use the holidays to give up on health for a month. I feel like now I’m getting a head start on the new year vibes.
I know I won’t go completely alcohol free over December but my goal was never to quit for good. Holiday parties will happen and I will have some drinks at those events. But hoping I go back to my drinking habits of Jan-Oct. and planning to keep eating well and stay at the gym - btw the gym this time of year is great cause no one goes, you have the place practically to yourself!
Sorry for the long post! Great to catch up on all of your progress!
Eric, I'm glad you're not beating yourself up about it! Everyone falters, that isn't a failure, glad you know that too.
Good timing btw, I am rarely here and glad to see you.2
Categories
- 1.5M All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 387.1K Introduce Yourself
- 42.7K Getting Started
- 258.4K Health and Weight Loss
- 174.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.1K Recipes
- 231.8K Fitness and Exercise
- 316 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.4K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.1K Motivation and Support
- 7.4K Challenges
- 1.2K Debate Club
- 96.1K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 2.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 20 News and Announcements
- 564 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 1.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions