Less Alcohol - December 2018 - One Day at a Time

Made it through a holiday party Saturday night AF. 66 days AF

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.

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...

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.

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?