Less Alcohol - February 2019 - One Day at a Time
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Lessons learned along the way...you cannot make someone else happy, and they cannot make you happy. "Happy" comes from inside yourself, realizing that you have worth, even if surrounded by others who don't see it. Set your own life goals and work toward them and rejoice in your progress. Tiny goals ? Tiny steps ? Tiny accomplishments ?
Any goal, improving your health, upgrading your lot in life, improving your relationships, [less alcohol can help with those three !!], aiding those less fortunate, saving stray animals...
It's all about you, after all. You are the ONLY person you can change.
Sermon from Greatgramma over now.
AF day #94 -
Goal: 4AF days per week. It is a short month.
February 1 - 3 drinks
February 2 - AF
February 3 - 3 drinks - Superbowl was boring this year. I have to rack up some AF days!
February 4 - AF
February 5 - AF
February 6 - AF
February 7 - 3 drinks
February 8 - AF, but was planning on some champagne in the bubble bath. I had such a nice dinner that I didn't have any calories left for champagne - heavy whipping cream chicken pesto with linguine. Lots of calories, but all within my range for the day.
February 9 - AF
February 10 - 3 drinks
February 11 - AF
February 12 - AF
February 13
February 14
February 15
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 8 AF days out of 12 days - need at least 8 more AF days to hit my goal for the month.1 -
WOW.....some great discussions going on in here today.
@cmorris30316 I am doing a completely dry February. I did a dry January and that went well. No real reason, event or occasion that is in February that I feel a need to drink at.
@mainelylisa you will need to give us the link to your new blog from the sample writing you gave us the other day. "Please" 😁0 -
Before I declared that I would be going AF the month of February I had mentioned to my husband that I wanted a nice bottle of rose for Valentines day. When I came home from work he surprised me with two beautiful (like the shapes of bottles are so pretty) of rose and some chocolate. I can't wait to try them because I usually don't buy wine for myself at that price point but for the moment I am happy looking at them nicely displayed on my mini bar.
Even though he bought me bottles of wine during an AF month he has been really supportive. We usually have beers or cocktails when we go out to eat but he has been ordering non alcoholic beverages with me. Some nights when he comes home from work he will have a 1 scotch and I'll drink a non alcoholic beer and things are good.8 -
mainelylisa wrote: »You're doing amazing! Brunch without Mimosas is HUGE. Let us know some of your outside strategies, as we're all heading into summer...it's coming...eventually, right? I've got to figure out how to enjoy outdoor things without alcohol (I've come to accept my "hold" button often--ok, usually-- doesn't work). I'm supposed to go ice fishing soon--eeek! Have you done that? I've heard you freeze and stare into a hole waiting for a fish. No wonder people drink. I just can't see me taking my teapot into a fishing hut. Or can I??? Let me see if there's a Youtube channel called Tea on Ice.
Thanks @mainelylisa Yes I think hot tea in a thermos or on a little burner in the ice fishing hut sounds like a great idea! Good luck!
Where I fish South Texas (it is already warmer and never ice / sometimes snow) we are out in boats to fish without alcohol which is a good thing. It is just that sunset time that gets to us looking out over the water at the end of the day. Not buying wine or hard alcohol for mixed drinks should help. We have beer in the fridge and I drink fewer of them. We'll see. Appreciate the encouragement!
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February accountability ~13 days so far
No Alcohol: 10 days
Alcohol: 3 days (7 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per monthYou’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
Including the last few days of January to monitor my weekly goal which I surpassed!
Jan 28 - AF
Jan 29 - AF ! Yeah me! Dining Out group.
Jan 30 - AF Office celebration mexican restaurant without margaritas
Jan 31 - Planned 2 but kept to 1 glass wine! Celebrating retirement from company after 30 years
Feb 1 - AF
Feb 2 - AF Brunch without mimosas
Feb 3 - AF
Hit my target of 4 AF days per week again! This is getting easier. It is all about balancing my life choices.
Feb 4 - AF
Feb 5 - AF - I wanted a bottle of wine but we didn’t buy it.
Feb 6 - AF - DH wanted a bottle of wine but we passed.
Feb 7 - Bunco: 2 glasses wine (planned for 1 but poured myself a 2nd out of habit)
Feb 8 - 2 glasses wine
Feb 9 - AF
Feb 10 - AF
Feb 11 - AF
Feb 12 - AF
Feb 13 - 3 glasses wine. DD moving day. DD’s thank you for us caring for their dog for 3 days while they packed and then helping with the move all day … was wine, pizza & Randazzo’s king cake. DH & my first date Feb 13 seems like a zillion years ago.
Feb 14 -
Feb 15 - At our fishing camp for next 3 days overlooking the water. One of my favorite times is sitting outside in the evenings for drinks with family & neighbors. Need to determine how to hold my consumption to 1 or 2. Great time to practice before summer.
Feb 16 -
Feb 17 -1 -
Yesterday was so crazy and stressful I can't believe I didn't cave and have a beer or ten last night! I got a text from the realtor lady saying that there was three more showings for our house, one yesterday and two today. Wow, thanks for the notice. Then I noticed my cat was going outside of his litter box on the living room carpet! I ran to the store and bought everything I could to clean up that mess and hide the smell. I was so worried that I'd have to get rid of my little guy but I couldn't have a cat going all over the house when there are so many people walking through it.
I scheduled a vet appointment right near the time that the people would be coming over to look at the house. The vet couldn't decide what was wrong with my cat so $80 wasted on nothing and I went home thinking I'd have to drop my guy off at the humane society. But then I thought he might just be scared of the basement (even though his litter box has been down there the past several months) so I moved it upstairs and he was just fine. Wow. Glad I spent $80 on nothing to figure that out.
I felt like having several beers last night but I figured I did not want to have a hangover when the next round of people comes through this house today. I was so exhausted from stress or whatever that when I woke up this morning I felt majorly hungover even though I didn't drink and I slept through my alarm which is something I never do! Well. Today has to be better.9 -
2/1: 3 drinks
2/2: AF
2/3: 1 drink
2/4: AF
2/5: AF
2/6: 1 Beer.
2/7: 6 beers, 2 shots and frustration
2/8: AF
2/9: Um, went to a rock concert...so too much to count
2/10: AF
2/11: 2 beers
2/12: AF
2/13: AF
So, i've had two days where i drank a lot...and those two days were about 2800 combined calories (ugh). However, for the month i've had about 4000 cals, last month halfway through i had about 8,000...so it's progress!
What i am am doing to avoid that late night urge (out of boredom) is take some melatonin, listen to a fitness podcast or rain sounds and just go to bed at 10 instead of midnight. I also get up early now and go to the gym in the morning! I think i need some friends to occupy time for me though!
Keep the stories coming. They have helped me!
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Goal: 4AF days per week. It is a short month.
February 1 - 3 drinks
February 2 - AF
February 3 - 3 drinks - Superbowl was boring this year. I have to rack up some AF days!
February 4 - AF
February 5 - AF
February 6 - AF
February 7 - 3 drinks
February 8 - AF, but was planning on some champagne in the bubble bath. I had such a nice dinner that I didn't have any calories left for champagne - heavy whipping cream chicken pesto with linguine. Lots of calories, but all within my range for the day.
February 9 - AF
February 10 - 3 drinks
February 11 - AF
February 12 - AF
February 13 - 3 drinks
February 14
February 15
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 8 AF days out of 13 days - need at least 8 more AF days to hit my goal for the month.0 -
@mabelsdaddy Great job on making changes in your life! I was drinking too much and dedcided a dry Jan for me and the positives in my life outweighed drinking for me. Feb I drank super bowl and will enjoy a bottle of wine with my hubby tonight. I am feeling so much better, working out harder, sleeping better etc.
Great free app called insight timer that goes through meditations for anxiety etc. awesome!1 -
Hi all and Happy Valentine's Day and halfway through the month of February (yeah short month!).
Mindful Moderation still at play here (for the newer members this is my personal approach for this group, replicating the success I've had with weight loss and now maintenance here at MFP by doing all things in moderation, with a similar approach to my alcohol consumption). I don't really try to rack up consecutive AF days, and while I'm trying to keep to a weekdays AF, weekends can have a couple of glasses of wine, I also am flexible with special occasions and business travel which tend to involve drinking (it is what it is).
I'm proud to report that for the month of Feb I'm so far more AF days than drinking days, AND I haven't had more than 2 drinks on a single day (well maybe one with 3, I'm not looking at my tally sheet right now).
So mine went like:
Feb 1-3 (drinks)
Feb 4-6 (no drinks)
Feb 7- 9 (drinks)
Feb 10-13 (no drinks)
Assuming I will have wine with Valentines dinner tonight (grilling steaks, baked potatoes and asparagus - yum!) and then probably once or twice more this coming weekend but no big plans.
Heading out for a work trip next week (first time to Amsterdam!) so I am sure this will flip my monthly tally over to the drinking days outweighing the non drinking days BUT...
Since finding this group in January 2018 I am proud to say that I've gone from being a pretty much every day drinker (unless sick or something else really wrong) to having a drink maybe half the days out of the month? And far less of them on the days I do drink. And not automatically reaching for wine when I've had a stressful day. Just this week had a group chat going with some friends about work and family stress and everyone was virtually toasting each other and while I'm sure the others actually did have wine, I just stuck to my pumpkin spice tea and shortbread cookies...
I still enjoy many aspects of it, don't get me wrong - love it with food, love it in social events - but whereas at first I had to really think about if I wanted to drink on a certain day and have a plan for how many I wanted to consume so that I didn't go overboard, that's really not something I have to focus on that much. I think the hardest occasions for me are still social events where there is an open bottle of wine on the table. I always feel like I'm the one eyeing the bottle and eyeing other people's glasses to see if I'm drinking faster than they are, if I'm the first one refilling my glass, if I'm the only one considering if we should order/open another bottle, etc. (Hey at least now I'm aware of it, before I wouldn't have given any of those things a single iota of my attention) I had one of those nights last Saturday, out with a group of friends, and rather than sitting at the table where the wine was, I actually grabbed my water glass, and went and stood at the bar talking to a friend from the opposite end of the table, so that I forced myself to slow down a little bit, change of scenery, change of conversation - it was all really good. Was clear eyed and clear headed and left well before most of the die hards. Went home and decided to pour myself another glass at home, but after about half of it I decided it didn't really taste that good and poured the rest down the sink (something I never would have done 18 months ago).
Anyway - just wanted to check in and wish everyone well on their goals!
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WinoGelato wrote: »
Since finding this group in January 2018 I am proud to say that I've gone from being a pretty much every day drinker (unless sick or something else really wrong) to having a drink maybe half the days out of the month? And far less of them on the days I do drink
I still enjoy many aspects of it, don't get me wrong - love it with food, love it in social events - but whereas at first I had to really think about if I wanted to drink on a certain day and have a plan for how many I wanted to consume so that I didn't go overboard, that's really not something I have to focus on that much. I think the hardest occasions for me are still social events where there is an open bottle of wine on the table. I always feel like I'm the one eyeing the bottle and eyeing other people's glasses to see if I'm drinking faster than they are, if I'm the first one refilling my glass, if I'm the only one considering if we should order/open another bottle, etc. (Hey at least now I'm aware of it, before I wouldn't have given any of those things a single iota of my attention) I had one of those nights last Saturday, out with a group of friends, and rather than sitting at the table where the wine was, I actually grabbed my water glass, and went and stood at the bar talking to a friend from the opposite end of the table, so that I forced myself to slow down a little bit, change of scenery, change of conversation - it was all really good. Was clear eyed and clear headed and left well before most of the die hards. Went home and decided to pour myself another glass at home, but after about half of it I decided it didn't really taste that good and poured the rest down the sink (something I never would have done 18 months ago).
Anyway - just wanted to check in and wish everyone well on their goals!
@WinoGelato - Thank you so much for sharing! This is really what I'm trying to get to, as well. Last year I drank pretty much every day, usually more than 3 in a sitting (definitely more than 3 if it was a weeknight), and was hung over wayyy too many mornings. So far this year I've only drank 3 times (thanks to the Dry January jump start), and my goal going forward is more AF days than not, and no more than 3 drinks in a sitting.
Previously I was always so focused on alcohol - am I drinking faster than everyone? More than everyone? When is the waiter coming by so I can order another? It took up SO much brain space. Then I would try moderate, and realized that took up even MORE brain space (I've already had 2.... is one more ok? If I drank yesterday, can I drink today? How many is too many? etc).
So far the dry month (and reading This Naked Mind) has really changed how I view alcohol and my relationship with it. My overall goal is moderation - and so far it's been easy - but if it starts taking up too much will power, brain space, etc., I'll have to re-evaluate. Reading your story was super helpful - thanks again for sharing!6 -
@mabelsdaddy - Going to bed earlier helped me out a ton! During Dry January I started consistently going to bed at 9, and then getting up between 5-6 to run. Not only did it make my morning runs so much better (and more consistent), but it cut out a significant amount of hours that would normally be spent with a drink in my hand.4
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@mabelsdaddy - Going to bed earlier helped me out a ton! During Dry January I started consistently going to bed at 9, and then getting up between 5-6 to run. Not only did it make my morning runs so much better (and more consistent), but it cut out a significant amount of hours that would normally be spent with a drink in my hand.
Awesome!!!! This is the purpose of going to bed early! But surprisingly it's been pretty easy to say no. I would drink a 6 pack 3-5 times a week for 3 years, and for me to drink very little is nice. I never know how awful it made me feel even if i didn't have a hangover, i had that terrible taste in my mouth and a light headache. Pretty thankful i stopped when i did.3 -
Goal: 4AF days per week. It is a short month.
February 1 - 3 drinks
February 2 - AF
February 3 - 3 drinks - Superbowl was boring this year. I have to rack up some AF days!
February 4 - AF
February 5 - AF
February 6 - AF
February 7 - 3 drinks
February 8 - AF, but was planning on some champagne in the bubble bath. I had such a nice dinner that I didn't have any calories left for champagne - heavy whipping cream chicken pesto with linguine. Lots of calories, but all within my range for the day.
February 9 - AF
February 10 - 3 drinks
February 11 - AF
February 12 - AF
February 13 - 3 drinks
February 14 - AF
February 15
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 9 AF days out of 14 days - need at least 7 more AF days to hit my goal for the month.
Mulled wine day at my house coming up on Saturday the 16th - central hub for a local winter event - people from out of town will be hanging at my place around the hot wine in between events. Over the space of a day I am going to do my darndest to keep it to 3, but we will see how cold it is and how it plays out.2 -
Non-drinking days are out weighing the days I drink! 14 days left in the month and I only need 6 more days to hit my monthly goal. Hopefully last week's really good AF week will help compensate for this week and next.
February accountability ~14 days so far
No Alcohol: 10 days
Alcohol: 4 days (9 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per monthYou’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. - John C. Maxwell
Including the last few days of January to monitor my weekly goal which I surpassed!
Jan 28 - AF
Jan 29 - AF ! Yeah me! Dining Out group.
Jan 30 - AF Office celebration mexican restaurant without margaritas
Jan 31 - Planned 2 but kept to 1 glass wine! Celebrating retirement from company after 30 years
Feb 1 - AF
Feb 2 - AF Brunch without mimosas
Feb 3 - AF
Hit my target of 4 AF days per week again! This is getting easier. It is all about balancing my life choices.
Feb 4 - AF
Feb 5 - AF - I wanted a bottle of wine but we didn’t buy it.
Feb 6 - AF - DH wanted a bottle of wine but we passed.
Feb 7 - Bunco: 2 glasses wine (planned for 1 but poured myself a 2nd out of habit)
Feb 8 - 2 glasses wine
Feb 9 - AF
Feb 10 - AF
Feb 11 - AF
Feb 12 - AF
Feb 13 - 3 glasses wine. DD moving day. DD’s thank you for us caring for their dog for 3 days while they packed and then helping with the move all day … was wine, pizza & Randazzo’s king cake. DH & my first date Feb 13 seems like a zillion years ago.
Feb 14 - 2 beers sunset at the fishing camp grilling steaks
Feb 15 - At our fishing camp for next 3 days overlooking the water. One of my favorite times is sitting outside in the evenings for drinks with family & neighbors. Need to determine how to hold my consumption to 1 or 2. Great time to practice before summer.
Feb 16 -
Feb 17 -2 -
Morning!
After dry January and my mishap on Super Bowl Sunday, I was hesitant on drinking wine yesterday with my husband on Valentine’s Day. He could have cared a less if I drank or not, thus, no pressure. I have had a pretty much dry February as well. I changed my attitude knowing that my limit was two glasses and that’s that! I enjoyed my two glasses and didn’t want more, which is a huge win. I was mindful of my drinking and didn’t want to go down a bad path. It feels great to feel responsible and not let alcohol control the night. I am going back to AF reiterate my healthy habits!
I am going to workout this morning and golf with husband this afternoon. Awesome, feel great!3 -
2/1: 3 drinks
2/2: AF
2/3: 1 drink
2/4: AF
2/5: AF
2/6: 1 Beer.
2/7: 6 beers, 2 shots and frustration
2/8: AF
2/9: Um, went to a rock concert...so too much to count
2/10: AF
2/11: 2 beers
2/12: AF
2/13: AF
2/14: a 6 pack basically. Felt amazing after a workout, could fit into my favorite shirt again and walked into a bar where my ex would be...hoping she would see me. Was pretty stupid. I drank 3 there, went home and had a couple more...got tired and didn't want to drink anymore. Went to bed about 10 and woke up at 5:50, felt amazing...so i'll take it.1 -
I had 2 glasses of wine last night, slept through my alarm this morning, and woke up with a bit of a headache. I had the best night last night and was so proud of sticking to two glasses, but waking up this morning was frustrating. I joked with my husband that the wine gods are punishing me from taking time away, lol. No harm done, I'll get my workout in over lunch today, but it was a reminder that I sleep better and get up easier when I stay dry.5
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I had 2 glasses of wine last night, slept through my alarm this morning, and woke up with a bit of a headache. I had the best night last night and was so proud of sticking to two glasses, but waking up this morning was frustrating. I joked with my husband that the wine gods are punishing me from taking time away, lol. No harm done, I'll get my workout in over lunch today, but it was a reminder that I sleep better and get up easier when I stay dry.
I'm with you on this. Glad you enjoyed last night, and nice on not letting it get away from you!3
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