Less Alcohol - January 2019 - One Day at a Time
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Day 6 AF! So far I haven’t really been craving it, I really hope this lasts. So much healthier and cheaper
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This is a great online drinking awareness site. Check it out https://drinkaware.co.uk
Even though I am in the United States I find this UK site very helpful.3 -
I'm going AF for a month or two too - currently 8 days in, and starting to finally not crave it. Summer is the hardest time, because the weather is great and I want to sit outside sipping a cider, but there's a reason why I gained back the 15+kg I had lost.... damn booze
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I'm so glad to have come across this thread and what looks like a pretty active group of posters. I think this could help keep me on track.
I'm doing a Dry January because I drank way too much during the holidays and my body needs a break. I did Sober October with the Alcohol Experiment and I did really well... so well that I gave myself way too much permission to drink thru November and December. Overall my goal is to learn to moderate my drinking back to some weekends and special occasions. That's how it used to be, but I think stress from a job I don't enjoy plus loneliness have been my excuses to drink wine every night and then some. It went from drinking on weekends to drinking every night while I cook dinner and continuing while I eat and until bedtime. 2019 is the time to get this back in control as I'm really focusing on health and fitness this year. I am posting here to hold myself accountable.
So far I've been AF since Jan 1. Saturday night was the most difficult and I ended up distracting myself by doing an extra long workout and then cooking a meal that took a long time. I sipped on flavored water in a wine glass to try and substitute for my usual wine. It definitely wasn't the same as I love the taste of wine with food, but I made it.
Having some issues with sleep, not feeling tired at bedtime and not staying asleep all night. I know this will get better the longer I am AF, but it's frustrating at the moment.10 -
I still enjoyed time with friends without over drinking: Saturday game night one can of beer like a tall one though but did not give in to late night munching. Sunday one flight of beer after a hike and even had a salad at the brewery I wanted a burger but they ran out and I wanted chili fries but ordered a salad instead5
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I missed this thread. Thanks @kittybenn for pointing me toward it. I'm also doing a dry January. I have weight loss and fitness goals (post menopause!) that I suspect this will help with. And, in a post meno world I need to see what sleeping is like if I regularly abstain completely. I suspect even one glass of wine affects my sleep now.
Thanks for having this thread.
Six days done. So far so good.
School (work) starts tomorrow. So I'm sure I'll be wishing for an after work glass of wine.
But, the scale is ticking downward, so that's motivating me!6 -
I like this challenge. My nightly wine habit was creating havoc on my waistline. So far this month I am winning 6 to 0!! Yeah me! 🙌5
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Yes, I seem to have acquired better senses since having less alcohol also. Hope last night was not to much of a challenge for you to get through.looneycatblue wrote: »I am finding that my taste and smell senses are becoming stronger since cutting back on the alcohol. Has anyone else noticed the same?
I stuck with my 1 drink last night, 1 shot of TQ... feeling good this morning, even with only 5 hours sleep.
Tonight might be more of a challenge...
Kinda blew it last night but today was a new day, and happy to say a dry one despite having a little family dinner party. We finished our Christmas celebration with my husband's family, they even gifted me with some wine. The bottle will have to wait until I am ready for it. 😇4 -
I'm pleased to have successfully navigated the weekend without being derailed from my goal. I've been AF since New Years Day.
We went out for dinner with friends on Saturday night and I could have a glass of wine or two but I'm not good at "one or two" so knowing my weaknesses I opted to drive and drink sparkling water instead. Before we left we had a discussion and my wife said it would be rude not to drink if the others were but I asked her to support me and I'm glad to say she did. So while she did have wine while we were out and some single malt when we got back she didn't try and offer me any.
I guess this week will be harder than last as my initial zeal and motivation inevitable fades a little but I'm planning to stick with it as I know from other things in life it'll start to get easier again.
I don't plan on giving up booze forever but I want to change my relationship from daily house guest to occasional friend I see at parties
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Hi everyone. Just checking in. Today is day 7 AF for me (since New Year's Eve). I used to have a few drinks 1-2 days a week, but stepped it up in December with a (mini bottle) wine advent calendar. I'm here to cut back on my drinks in hopes to lose some weight. I'm still tap-dancing around the idea of the dry January, but not sure i'm 100% committed. MY girlfriend is coming over tomorrow for a playdate for our kids, and is bringing a bottle of wine since it's her birthday. I'm not feeling cravings, but almost feel like it'd be rude not to have a glass with her. Still deciding. I may buy sparkling water to mix with the wine if I do have a glass....6
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? I am reading into a lot of posts that it’s rude to decide for yourself you would like to be AF for January
I don’t understand
I have been AF for over 10 years
My friends my family sometimes drink wine with dinner out their choices I don’t consider them rude for drinking in front of me
And they love knowing that they are free to decide what to drink and I am always available to drive3 -
My personal goal is to drink less alcohol. Targeting 4 nights per week AF usually M-Th ~16 AF nights per month. DH & I are dropping the nightly bottle of wine with dinner. Listing my social challenges and plans to not go with the flow drinking 2-4 glasses of wine when out with friends!

January accountability ~6 day so far
Me:(no alcohol) 3 days
Alcohol: 3 days
This past week Monday thru Sunday I hit my 4 days of AF by reigning it in Sat and Sun! No social challenges next week. It will be just me and my own willpower to bank AF days for the month to offset the challenging weeks ahead.
To view the weekly count toward 4 ... AF Mon Dec 31!
Jan 1 - AF
Jan 2 - Dinner out with hubby after challenging day at work transitioning my role. Looks like it will take weeks to ramp them up. Didn't leave chair for 9 hrs. (excuses) - limited myself to 1 glass of wine
Jan 3 - Bunco - limit 1 glass wine. Slipped up and had 2-3 (I call it 12 oz 3 if light pour / 2 if heavy pour) What happen to my resolve to drink water after 1 glass?
Jan 4 - Traveling with my mom & sister 7 hrs today for a funeral Saturday. Plans to limit to 1 glass of wine was blown. I lacked the willpower which I need to work on. 1 margarita at mexican restaurant, 1 glass of wine in hotel suite everyone gathered at after dinner.
Jan 5 - Driving 7 hours return trip … AF
Jan 6 - AF
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Love reading about all the weekend success! Yay, @Sabine_Stroehm, @Stockholm_Andy @RubyDarling and everyone for getting through the weekend so well. I can't tell you how delighted I am to be starting day 7 AF feeling really great. No hangover, no regrets about the weekend. I did join a gym Jan. 1, like half of the world it seems. Haven't been to one in five years, but am finding it's super motivating to be pushed a bit in the classes. Went to one this morning and left feeling - how can I describe this? - great, filled with well being, feeling healthy and happy and proud of myself. Now that I've gotten through the first weekend I feel like I can go all the way.
@meggers123 the wine advent calendar is just hilarious and something I probably don't need to know exists, LOL.8 -
@Kittybenn wrote:
the wine advent calendar is just hilarious and something I probably don't need to know exists, LOL.
This cracked me up! Very true.
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Hi everyone! I'm back! LOL... Dry January for me here. So far I've been successful. I made it through my first weekend without a drink and I'm pretty proud of that. It wasn't always easy. There were a few temptations but I powered through. Yay!
I was a little late so I'm on day 5 AF. Better late than never!
I hope everyone is having a good Monday.5 -
Congrats! You are on a roll now. I feel like once you get through the first weekend you've proven something to yourself and you are pretty sure now you can go all the way to the end of the month. I feel exactly the same. Great feeling of accomplishment. Plus my Dry January app keeps telling me how much money and how many calories I've saved. Feels great!It felt great to wake up today not severely bloated (sodium bomb last night) and also proud of myself to resist.
@kittybenn which Dry Jan app are you using? The only one I found so far is a UK one that keeps track in pounds, no dollars.
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@sweetnic - seeing that scale budge a little bit IS super motivating. Exactly what I needed and congrats to you!
I can't wait for this to happen! My scale needs batteries, so I haven't weighed myself at all yet. But I don't feel quite as bloated and gross as usual, so that's good.0 -
@Kittybenn wrote:
the wine advent calendar is just hilarious and something I probably don't need to know exists, LOL.
This cracked me up! Very true.
It sounds fun though! Crazy creative haha!1 -
Day 7 is here and I'm feeling great! Woke up before the 445 alarm to get to the gym. Typically Monday mornings were met with resistance to get out of bed because I had a couple drinks watching football Sunday evening, but not this Monday So proud of myself! Love surrounding myself with this support group!! 5
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Does anyone else feel extremely tired? I cannot wake up this morning. This could be from a number of reasons but I was just curious if anyone here felt similar?1
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Post-weekend check in! My husband and I were planning on having a low-key weekend at home, but we got invited to a party on Saturday night that he really wanted to go to. I managed to stay dry, but it was harder than I thought it would be. I wasn't very present the first couple hours because I was "negotiating" with myself in my head with things like, "maybe you can just have one and nurse it," or "just wait until you get home and then you can have a drink." It took a good couple hours before I felt fine sitting there, but I ended up having a great time and am proud that I was able to stick to it.
Happy Monday, everyone!6 -
Post-weekend check in! My husband and I were planning on having a low-key weekend at home, but we got invited to a party on Saturday night that he really wanted to go to. I managed to stay dry, but it was harder than I thought it would be. I wasn't very present the first couple hours because I was "negotiating" with myself in my head with things like, "maybe you can just have one and nurse it," or "just wait until you get home and then you can have a drink." It took a good couple hours before I felt fine sitting there, but I ended up having a great time and am proud that I was able to stick to it.
Happy Monday, everyone!
This is what frustrates me. It's so much harder to make the decision to NOT drink than it is to just drink. Congratulations for sticking it out AND having a good time!1 -
springsweet wrote: »Does anyone else feel extremely tired? I cannot wake up this morning. This could be from a number of reasons but I was just curious if anyone here felt similar?
Yesterday, for seemingly no reason I was exhausted. I slept an average of 8.5 hours every night last week/weekend and barely even left the house. I was just bone tired.
My husband was sick over the holidays that partly included feeling run down and tired so I'm still watching out for that but even today I don't necessarily feel sick so I don't know.1 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »
This is what frustrates me. It's so much harder to make the decision to NOT drink than it is to just drink. Congratulations for sticking it out AND having a good time!
@MonkeyMel21 Thank you! That's so true. At the end of the night, I just felt emotionally exhausted. Trying to break habits (and form new ones) is hard work!1 -
My aim is regulation. I am not doing "dry January", but good for all of you that are!
Having this thread keeps me accountable.
I'm not really into deprivation, just trying to be more moderate with food and alcohol.
My primary reason for AF days is weight loss. Once alcohol is in our bodies our liver concentrates on only that and not on metabolising fat or anything else. Also, being puffy is not ideal : - )
My goal is 4 - 5 AF days per week.
I was 16 day AF out of 30 for December, not counting the 31st. Up until October 27th.18 I was having drinks every single day. I have cut back for sure.
I do plan to have champagne NYE.
December 31st - 1 pumpkin spice cream liqueur, 2 mixed drinks. I did not get to the champagne.
January 1st - AF
January 2nd - AF
January 3rd - AF
January 4th - 3 drinks Friday night. I actually had 4, but then threw up lol. This is the reason that I never have more than 3 if I choose to have drinks. Good reminder. Yes, I can never be "drunk" because I can't have more than 3.
January 5th - AF So curious that each and every day that I have drinks I am down 2 pounds the following day. I think that I read somewhere on this post that it dehydrates you. It comes back the next day of course : - )
I don't log my AF or not AF until the following morning for the night before.
January 6th - AF - 5 days out of 6. Very busy week, so more AF days to come.
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@springsweet - the one I'm using is the Try Dry app and, yes, it's in pounds! I just convert here if I need the info down to the penny, but one pound is a bit more than $1, so even just knowing pounds is pretty close. I get an email from them every morning, which I like.
And, yes, I felt tired this morning. Just weird, not hungover. I had to push myself to get out of bed at 6:15, which is rare for me.0 -
I wasn't very present the first couple hours because I was "negotiating" with myself in my head
Oh wow, I could not have described this better. You're sitting there looking around at everyone else with a glass in front of them, and your mind is buzzing. Boy, do I get it. Congrats to you for resisting, and all I can say as a veteran of last year's Dry January, is that it will get easier.
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MonkeyMel21 wrote: »springsweet wrote: »Does anyone else feel extremely tired? I cannot wake up this morning. This could be from a number of reasons but I was just curious if anyone here felt similar?
Yesterday, for seemingly no reason I was exhausted. I slept an average of 8.5 hours every night last week/weekend and barely even left the house. I was just bone tired.
My husband was sick over the holidays that partly included feeling run down and tired so I'm still watching out for that but even today I don't necessarily feel sick so I don't know.
I was super tired saturday I think it was a result of working out a lot and eating less calories due to starting to track my body just wanted to rest I guess that is why rest days are important but I feel pretty normal today.1 -
Just wanted to say hi! I’m 2 yrs AF (Or as I like to say AFAF) lol. Absolutely LOVE it but I’m soooo bad with sugar and sugar cravings - even after 2 yrs! Congrats and good luck to those trying it out or cutting back or moderating 😁3
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