Less Alcohol - February 2019 - One Day at a Time
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mabelsdaddy wrote: »gladys0919 wrote: »I see alot of folks here talking about replacing the alcohol with bitters etc. It never dawned on me that its the flavor that is craved. HONESTLY for ME personally, i just want the BUZZ, i want that lull - now that i type this, it even sounds ridiculous to want to be in a lull - lol I dont much care for the taste of a lot of stuff. Aside from a good beer, a nice wine alcohol truly doesnt taste like vanilla ice cream lol.
What are your personal reasons for drinking aside from the dependency? Taste? the feeling? etc
Probably was the feeling for the most part, but that was because i believed a lot of lies that were in my brain....i've battled with intrusive and ruminating thoughts for about 18 years....and i thought the thoughts were true and the only way to escape was drinking to the point of being buzzed so i could bear myself enough to sleep.
However, i now know that i don't need alcohol to rest because i know these thoughts aren't at all me...but just a way to bring dread and torment. I can't explain the joy i have knowing that i don't need alcohol, but i can drink it because i want a drink now because i just want to , and not feel like it's a self-medicating thing.
Now, its more taste. I live beside two breweries (no joke)...and today i'm gonna treat myself to a couple of IPA's.
Thanks for posting the question!
I am glad you are in the place you are in today! Good for you.
OH MY A BREWERY! I would be a loyal customer LOL1 -
I haven't checked in for a few days because I've been busy working and car shopping! I haven't had anything to drink so far this week and i'm glad it hasn't been too difficult to not drink. Probably because I felt so crummy and beat up from drinking last Thursday and Friday (and I drank once earlier last week too).
It's very easy to fall back into that habit of drinking several days a week, especially when weeks are as stressful as last week was. I can tell myself to do yoga, or play my guitar or watch a movie with my kids but the thought of drinking nags at me so badly that I will cave and have several after I put the kids to bed. From now on if I have any extra beer leftover from Friday nights, I'll leave it at my sister's house and I won't buy any more beer throughout the week so I can't drink. I'm never tempted to drink any of my husband's beer anymore (if there ever is any leftover, which isn't often) which I think is a really positive step. Last year when he came home with a 12 or 18 pack a lot of times I'd drink half of it with him!
Last year around March or April I'd think, "drinking twice a week isn't really that much, it's not as much as I was drinking last year." Then summer started and I'd think, "drinking two or three times a week isn't as much as I drank last summer!" So I was drinking 2 or 3 days a week for the rest of the year after that. Really don't want to fall into that pattern again. I don't think it's ever going to not be a struggle though.
5 -
Going to bed
AF
Giving it another try tomorrow5 -
gladys0919 wrote: »I see alot of folks here talking about replacing the alcohol with bitters etc. It never dawned on me that its the flavor that is craved. HONESTLY for ME personally, i just want the BUZZ, i want that lull - now that i type this, it even sounds ridiculous to want to be in a lull - lol I dont much care for the taste of a lot of stuff. Aside from a good beer, a nice wine alcohol truly doesnt taste like vanilla ice cream lol.
What are your personal reasons for drinking aside from the dependency? Taste? the feeling? etc
Well, it is the taste for me. I pretty much like every kind of booze in every incarnation. Fancy cocktails, wine, brandy, spiked coffee, liquers...
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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 - AF
February 15 - AF - Mulled wine at my house tomorrow, in between the snowmobile events, bands and fireworks. (We will be out standing in the snow, the streets are closed for the event). The mulled wine will simmer all day. Really looking forward to some wintery fun and the smell that my house will take on from the cinnamon and cloves, oranges, port and wine. I like that I have known about it for weeks and am happy to have racked up AF days this month. If I don't feel well Sunday morning I will just stay in bed.
February 16 - Mulled wine over the course of 8 hours. Kept it topped up every time we came back to my house out of the snow in between events. I actually am not sure how much I had. It was delicious. I don't mind having mulled wine once a year. There is a bunch left over though...
February 17 - 1/2 of a Caesar out at dinner, then 3 drinks later. Plus I ate a bunch of the strained oranges out of the leftover mulled wine lol. 2 glasses of that left, planning to drink them on Wednesday, put it in the fridge. It has been a really fun BC family day weekend. I do feel good to be moderating. I still feel like having drinks every day, but just don't anymore.
February 18 - AF
February 19 - AF
February 20 - AF
February 21
February 22 - planned night out
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 13 AF days out of 20 days - need at least 3 more AF days to hit my goal for the month.2 -
Valentines day week was a little tricky for me and I ended up drinking 3 times throughout the week. I only had a couple each time and I was proud of myself for that. One of the days I woke up and was slowly opening my eyes, dreading the hangover and wondering how bad the headache and anxiety would be. I was so thankful when I remembered that I only had a couple drinks and I didn't have to expect a hangover.
It's been a few days into this week and I have been AF.5 -
February accountability ~20 days so far
No Alcohol: 12 days
Alcohol: 8 days (16 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per month
You’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. MaxwellIncluding 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
Not a good week. Only 2 AF days when the target it 4 for the week. But I’m still good for achieving the monthly goal. And the previous 2 weeks I was 5-6 AF days each week. The camp is definitely a challenge!
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.
Note: Challenging weekend ahead (next 4 nights). Usually I have 3-5 drinks per night at the fishing camp. Plus my sister will be there and she brought bottles of wine. Plan 1 drink per evening.
Feb 14 - 2 beers sunset at the fishing camp this weekend
Feb 15 - 1 glass of wine with Mom's 82nd birthday dinner
Feb 16 - 1 beer
Feb 17 - 2 beer
Feb 18 - 3 glasses of wine. Bookclub: Turned out the hostess had a company come in and do a surprise wine tasting session.
Feb 19 - AF
Feb 20 - AF - Bookclub & annual physical
Feb 21 - Alumnae Meeting called For the Love of Wine & Girl Scout Cookies … this pairing tasting could be a real challenge!
Feb 22 -
Feb 23 -
Feb 24 -3 -
AbandondedKSCharger wrote: »Your post are really connecting with me. If you have answered this in the past I apologize, but.....how long have you been able to monitor your drinking? Were you an every night drinker?
I feel funny asking these questions, but I am struggling. Love my drinking. Know it MUST change....or completely stop.
Dear dear @AbandondedKSCharger do not ever hesitate to ask a question or share a feeling with us. True confessions of how much, how often we drink are never easy in the beginning. Because when caught up in the drinking game, having "fun" I would always say...."well at least I don't drink as much as so and so. OR at least I did not pass out with my head on the table like so and so." Another false escape sentence was " I don't drink any more than anyone else we hang around."
Back 8 years ago I had committed to seriously getting my weight and shape back. Decided alcohol kept me from those goals and stopped. During the same time frame my first husband became ill. Not good news, he was diagnosed with chirosis of the liver from drinking. In such a short fast time of 4 months he died. Not long after that I met a new man, so much fun, brought new air into my life. He liked to have his beers, but I did not "see" a problem with that then. Probably 6 weeks into the dating I would have a beer now and then when we went out. Total peer pressure because everyone was drinking. It was not to long after that, maybe a month, I was back to drinking everyday. It was like a hurricane that swept in so quickly and once again took over my life. The amount of drinks daily increased to on an average 5, tipping as far up to 8-9 at least once a week. The hang overs & the blackouts, not recalling what, where, when haunted me always the next day. I knew I had a problem again, even though I thought I was having fun drinking with my now new husband. This went on for solid 3 years. I wanted control back. So I very slowly started to cut down so people would not notice.
THEN finding this thread on Jan 23 2018 that is when I got the chance I was needing to break this habit and get to a better place for myself. That too started out rough with many AF days followed by a "I have been so good with not drinking I deserve to have a night of fun". Those were always binge drinking events, did not start out like that, but did always end up to be. Somewhere that light in my head came on and when I confronted myself with being a binge drinker it was easier to really put ground rules & limits into action. That went into effect on July 28th of 2018. I have proven to myself I can have fun with out binge drinking or for that matter having to have alcohol daily.
I still struggle with the fact my second husband is a heavy drinker that feels the need to have a drinking friend, of course he wants it to be me, like before. But I hold my ground because first and foremost I need and have to drink less for myself.
Hope this helps you in some small way to know we have been where you are in your struggle. Many hugs.10 -
2/18 first day of less could be today.
25 years of binge drinking, almost every day, short term goal is to drink only one-half gallon a week. long term goal is less than a 1/5th and only drink on the weekend.
today’s plan. Don't buy a bottle. only have a couple at the local tavern along with dinner.
2/18 -- walked into the bar with a plan of having 5 whiskey and water with my wife. food service was fast, and wife decided to stay home. 4 drinks and 2 giant burgers and I headed home without a bottle in my hand. thought I was tired 4 hours later and went to bed, nope not going to sleep well. stomach cramps and mind racing did get a little sleep.
2/19 - tummy still aching, eyes still puffy. made it to work on time, not sure what todays plan is. maybe too soon for AF as I have read about some pretty bad health problems from cold turkey, including death. see you tomorrow to finish this story. good luck all and thanks for the support!
2/20 – good morning, I made a decision before the end of the work day to drink more then 2/18 – I asked my wife to help me help us by helping me which could help me help everyone , I wrote up a plan, printed it , and picked up a half gallon (normally 2 days provisions) and showed her the plan. She filled the flask and hid the bottle from me, I have a detailed taper off plan for the next 2 weeks and I do not want to fail like last week.
2/21 – I stuck to the plan but I think the 10oz flask is a little to big. Might have to switch to smaller portion. I cooked a nice dinner to celebrate 26th anniversary.
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.
2/15: AF
2/16: AF
2/17: 2 beers.
2/18: AF
2/19: AF
2/20: 5 beers and 3 shots. I'm okay with this. But woke up buzzed, LOL. This is the exception, not the norm now so i'm okay with this!3 -
nvasquez41 wrote: »Valentines day week was a little tricky for me and I ended up drinking 3 times throughout the week. I only had a couple each time and I was proud of myself for that. One of the days I woke up and was slowly opening my eyes, dreading the hangover and wondering how bad the headache and anxiety would be. I was so thankful when I remembered that I only had a couple drinks and I didn't have to expect a hangover.
It's been a few days into this week and I have been AF.
Good for you for keeping it to a minimum!!
0 -
dawnbgethealthy wrote: »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 - AF - Mulled wine at my house tomorrow, in between the snowmobile events, bands and fireworks. (We will be out standing in the snow, the streets are closed for the event). The mulled wine will simmer all day. Really looking forward to some wintery fun and the smell that my house will take on from the cinnamon and cloves, oranges, port and wine. I like that I have known about it for weeks and am happy to have racked up AF days this month. If I don't feel well Sunday morning I will just stay in bed.
February 16 - Mulled wine over the course of 8 hours. Kept it topped up every time we came back to my house out of the snow in between events. I actually am not sure how much I had. It was delicious. I don't mind having mulled wine once a year. There is a bunch left over though...
February 17 - 1/2 of a Caesar out at dinner, then 3 drinks later. Plus I ate a bunch of the strained oranges out of the leftover mulled wine lol. 2 glasses of that left, planning to drink them on Wednesday, put it in the fridge. It has been a really fun BC family day weekend. I do feel good to be moderating. I still feel like having drinks every day, but just don't anymore.
February 18 - AF
February 19 - AF
February 20 - AF
February 21
February 22 - planned night out
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 13 AF days out of 20 days - need at least 3 more AF days to hit my goal for the month.
3 days in a row! Great job!!1 -
AF ONE DAY
Trying it again today. That's my goal.
Enjoyed it actually, even went over an hour without realizing I didn't have a drink in my hand.
I need one more day...…...really truly need it.
@MissMay oh my goodness yes, your story helps so much. All of you here are so amazing. I feel like I can have success because of you all here. Thank you!6 -
I have a question???
if your daily calorie goal was established with an allowance for alcohol should you eat back the calories on days you drink less or are AF? this is not a joke, I am serious
0 -
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 - AF - Mulled wine at my house tomorrow, in between the snowmobile events, bands and fireworks. (We will be out standing in the snow, the streets are closed for the event). The mulled wine will simmer all day. Really looking forward to some wintery fun and the smell that my house will take on from the cinnamon and cloves, oranges, port and wine. I like that I have known about it for weeks and am happy to have racked up AF days this month. If I don't feel well Sunday morning I will just stay in bed.
February 16 - Mulled wine over the course of 8 hours. Kept it topped up every time we came back to my house out of the snow in between events. I actually am not sure how much I had. It was delicious. I don't mind having mulled wine once a year. There is a bunch left over though...
February 17 - 1/2 of a Caesar out at dinner, then 3 drinks later. Plus I ate a bunch of the strained oranges out of the leftover mulled wine lol. 2 glasses of that left, planning to drink them on Wednesday, put it in the fridge. It has been a really fun BC family day weekend. I do feel good to be moderating. I still feel like having drinks every day, but just don't anymore.
February 18 - AF
February 19 - AF
February 20 - AF
February 21 - AF
February 22 - planned night out
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
Running tab: 14 AF days out of 21 days - need at least 2 more AF days to hit my goal for the month. Having a goal helps so much.1 -
I have a question???
if your daily calorie goal was established with an allowance for alcohol should you eat back the calories on days you drink less or are AF? this is not a joke, I am serious
@marcvb35 Yes, that's one of the great things about being AF. You get to eat food in place of the alcohol calories!4 -
@FeelinFooFoo your stories are so inspiring!! And encouraging1
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February accountability ~21 days so far
No Alcohol: 12 days
Alcohol: 9 days (18 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per month
You’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. MaxwellIncluding 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
Not a good week. Only 2 AF days when the target it 4 for the week. But I’m still good for achieving the monthly goal. And the previous 2 weeks I was 5-6 AF days each week. The camp is definitely a challenge!
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.
Note: Challenging weekend ahead (next 4 nights). Usually I have 3-5 drinks per night at the fishing camp. Plus my sister will be there and she brought bottles of wine. Plan 1 drink per evening.
Feb 14 - 2 beers sunset at the fishing camp this weekend
Feb 15 - 1 glass of wine with Mom's 82nd birthday dinner
Feb 16 - 1 beer
Feb 17 - 2 beer
Feb 18 - 3 glasses of wine. Bookclub: Turned out the hostess had a company come in and do a surprise wine tasting session.
Feb 19 - AF
Feb 20 - AF Bookclub & annual physical
Feb 21 - 2 glasses of wine - Alumnae Meeting called For the Love of Wine & Girl Scout Cookies … this pairing tasting could be a real challenge!
Feb 22 -
Feb 23 -
Feb 24 -1 -
2/18 first day of less could be today.
25 years of binge drinking, almost every day, short term goal is to drink only one-half gallon a week. long term goal is less than a 1/5th and only drink on the weekend.
today’s plan. Don't buy a bottle. only have a couple at the local tavern along with dinner.
2/18 -- walked into the bar with a plan of having 5 whiskey and water with my wife. food service was fast, and wife decided to stay home. 4 drinks and 2 giant burgers and I headed home without a bottle in my hand. thought I was tired 4 hours later and went to bed, nope not going to sleep well. stomach cramps and mind racing did get a little sleep.
2/19 - tummy still aching, eyes still puffy. made it to work on time, not sure what todays plan is. maybe too soon for AF as I have read about some pretty bad health problems from cold turkey, including death. see you tomorrow to finish this story. good luck all and thanks for the support!
2/20 – good morning, I made a decision before the end of the work day to drink more then 2/18 – I asked my wife to help me help us by helping me which could help me help everyone , I wrote up a plan, printed it , and picked up a half gallon (normally 2 days provisions) and showed her the plan. She filled the flask and hid the bottle from me, I have a detailed taper off plan for the next 2 weeks and I do not want to fail like last week.
2/21 – I stuck to the plan but I think the 10oz flask is a little to big. Might have to switch to smaller portion. I cooked a nice dinner to celebrate 26th anniversary.
2/22 – banquet with unexpected open bar and all my fishing buddies. Lets not talk about it.
2 -
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