Less Alcohol - May 2019 - One Day at a Time

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  • beebva4
    beebva4 Posts: 130 Member
    May 1 - one generous size glass of whiskey in celebration of going into contract with selling our house!

    Today so far, opened one Truly 100 calorie hard sparkling water and sipping it. Have been logging in my foods all day and hope to keep it to just the one. Will check in tomorrow though!

  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,685 Member
    For May, my goal is to check in daily, focus on adding in new fun activities in my life, advance planning, and distracting myself when the urge hits. I had made good progress before by cutting out the number of days I eat out a month (lost 15 lbs that way). Now I go out maybe 7-8x a month max (it used to be 12x + takeouts). I pick healthy foods but always drink wine. And my favorite place I go to every Saturday pours heavy - Italian Pinot Grigio and only charges $5. I would guess 8oz easy. It's super good value so I order 2. LOL not a good value for my waistline or my liver so who am I kidding????. My goal for May is to cut down the outings down to half this month and instead cook something fun and new at home so I don't feel deprived....scary thought especially since we are entering vacation season but hey I need to change up my patterns....
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    MissMay wrote: »
    vsjfelca4e1b.png

    This is so insightful.

    I think we start out drinking for a quick "fix".

    Drinking (and eating) sensibly actually requires more thought.

    For me, the word, "prudence" sums it up.

    prudence noun
    pru·​dence | \ ˈprü-dᵊn(t)s \
    Definition of prudence
    1 : the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
    2 : sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
    3 : skill and good judgment in the use of resources
    4 : caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

    It's not being a martyr or miserly.

    It's a beautiful feeling of zen, of aiming to have adequate or sufficient amounts, not excess.

    To feel that way takes planning. You can plan to have less now, if you want to have more later, so you have a prudent amount overall.

    Lovely quote, MissMay.
    MissMay wrote: »
    My husband and I are very social and tonight we frequented a hot spot of ours. Ordering dinner at the bar and discussing upcoming weekend events with the folks that work there. Husband ordered alcoholic beverage and I ordered iced tea in a stemmed glass with an orange twist(my go to beverage.)
    So I mention to the bartender that I have a great recipe for a sober mint julupe if she wants to use it Saturday. After I told her the ingredients she said what booze? I said NONE. Ohhhhhh she said, it does sound good even without the booze.

    Then she asked why I don't drink very often? So I asked why she "did" drink. She could not answer except to say because everyone else does. Then I replied...not me. Now she is completely at a loss for words. If you don't really like to drink then why do you come to a bar she asked? To be social and to talk with people was my answer. So the reason you get your drink in a stem glass with an orange twist the way you do is to avoid people asking you why you don't drink? Yup I said.
    Wow....that is a really smart idea the young bartender commented. I am going to start putting all the adults non alcohol drinks in stemmed glasses. I think they will like that.

    Small victory👏

    Yay, you! Sharing insight is how this thing works! :smiley:
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,775 Member
    MissMay wrote: »
    @Womona the hats are my favorite part too, I make mine every year. And I am in the Northeast as well. Maybe you and I should get to gether for our own hat party and virgin juleps. 🤣

    I like it!
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,775 Member
    Why do I order wine at crappy dive bars? Should have had a mixed drink for my planned night last night. I did stick to only one though, and I love that I have finally achieved real moderation.

    I would have enjoyed something like a G &T more and not have had to order mozzarella sticks to kill the taste of lousy wine. You don’t want to see how much my weight went up this morning from fried salty food consumed after 9:00 PM.

    But, it was fun to see a singer/songwriter friend of ours perform, and catch up with old friends.
  • sunscoutie
    sunscoutie Posts: 34 Member
    Thursdays are my nights to have a few drinks. I usually take 3 out to my barn with me and brush/ride my horses. It's relaxing and I enjoy it. Last night, between 5pm - 10pm I had 6. Two with my horses, and 4 with my husband. Not feeling too bad today, since I didn't buy vodka when I bought the white claws. Usually I'll have a few white claws and then graduate over to the vodka before bed. THAT really gets me...and I usually hate getting through the next day. But I deliberately did not buy the vodka for that reason. Not in the house, can't have it!

    So far May is going reeeeaaaaal good for me ......

    May 01 - 3 drinks. My goal was 0. Only had the 3 though, so that was something.
    May 02 - 6 drinks.
  • AbandondedKSCharger
    AbandondedKSCharger Posts: 562 Member
    5/2

    May 1: Goal 3/Actual 5
    May 2: Goal 3/Acutal <2 (didn't finish it all) I focused on postponing that first drink. Kept myself busier. Tried to stay off the phone and couch. Success!

    Tonight traveling an hour north to visit two sets of aunts and uncles I haven't seen in a while. So if any, one, have to drive home. When I get home, probably 1 to 2 beers. No wine at home!! That use to be my norm....Friday night, it's time for one or more bottles of wine. Feeling better :)

    @beebva4 Congratulations on the sell of your house!! That's reason to celebrate!

    @MissMay That is excellent!! You need to frequent all the bars to encourage the stemmed glass for non-alcohol beverages!! :) Great conversation!

    Have a great Friday everyone!!
  • beebva4
    beebva4 Posts: 130 Member
    May 1 - one generous size glass of whiskey in celebration of going into contract with selling our house!
    May 2 - 1.5 truly hard waters (150 cals)
    Oh and I took a sip of my husbands
    whiskey

    Today's goal: none!
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,892 Member
    New month : - )
    I will do my usual, log on to this forum every day to keep myself accountable.
    April was good, 21AF days out of 30. My goal was 4AF days per week.
    I am really working hard on losing weight, so my plan for May will be 5AF days per week.
    Best of luck to everyone trying to drink less this month.

    May 01 - AF
    May 02 - AF - planned night out for dinner, drinks, a concert Friday night the 3rd. I am okay with that, I do it seldom.

    Running total: 2AF day out of 2 day so far : - )
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,892 Member
    New month : - )
    I will do my usual, log on to this forum every day to keep myself accountable.
    April was good, 21AF days out of 30. My goal was 4AF days per week.
    I am really working hard on losing weight, so my plan for May will be 5AF days per week.
    Best of luck to everyone trying to drink less this month.

    May 01 - AF
    May 02 - AF - planned night out for dinner, drinks, a concert Friday night the 3rd. I am okay with that, I do it seldom.
    May 03 - 1/2 litre of wine + 2 drinks! Off the rails with food too - this happens when we consume alcohol. I had a good time, but it is bad for the waistline.

    Running total: 2AF day out of 3 days so far
  • beebva4
    beebva4 Posts: 130 Member
    edited May 2019
    May 1 - one generous size glass of whiskey in celebration of going into contract with selling our house!
    May 2 - 1.5 truly hard waters (150 cals)
    Oh and I took a sip of my husbands
    whiskey
    May 3 - AF

    Today, not so sure how it'll go. Neighbor is having a get together for the derby, if we go I might have a little. But not my usual crazy shots of stuff.
  • SweatsOnSunday
    SweatsOnSunday Posts: 514 Member
    Thanks for a great topic -- I'm in!

    And I am finding that the 1-2 days after I drink are filled with anxiety. Anyone else have this side effect?
  • beebva4
    beebva4 Posts: 130 Member
    May 1 - one generous size glass of whiskey in celebration of going into contract with selling our house!
    May 2 - 1.5 truly hard waters (150 cals)
    Oh and I took a sip of my husbands
    whiskey
    May 3 - AF
    May 4 - 2 drinks. Not too bad for a party and better than I normally would have done. One mint jelup and one truly 100 calorie hard sparkling water.

    Today's goal: NADA!
  • annengineer
    annengineer Posts: 16 Member
    5/3- Friday night was definitely a drinking night for me- had 4 or 5 (didn’t wait for empty on a few refills so probably 4 volume wise) over the evening while watching TV and relaxing, but did not get drunk or wake up hungover Saturday.
    5/4- AF Yesterday even with going to dinner out which is a rarity (both dinner out with a toddler and not drinking at a restaurant). Glad I did too, I squeaked in under my calorie goal even ordering scallops and (grilled) calamari- hibachi sides add up quick! This morning was the first this week I weighed more than the day prior but with all that salt last night it makes sense.

  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,892 Member
    My plan for May will be 5AF days per week.

    May 01 - AF
    May 02 - AF - planned night out for dinner, drinks, a concert Friday night the 3rd. I am okay with that, I do it seldom.
    May 03 - 1/2 litre of wine + 2 drinks! Off the rails with food too - this happens when we consume alcohol. I had a good time, but it is bad for the waistline.
    May 04 - AF
    May 05 - AF

    Running total: 4AF day out of 5 days so far
  • 2kellymike
    2kellymike Posts: 75 Member
    OK well here I am again. We had visitors over the weekend and we had a derby party. Lots of booze, self included. But it was a fun weekend with our friends who we don't get to see often.

    The goal now is AF during the week, starting today. My husband is on board with it. We agree that we both drink too much. He also admitted to me that he knows that it is usually him that falls off the wagon first (true) but I also admitted that I happily leap off right behind him, and that is my fault.

    Is anybody here doing this with a partner/spouse, and if you are, how do you handle it if he/she slips? I frequently am the drink maker, if he asks for a drink do I remind him we're not drinking or just nod and pour? Curious how other couples handle this.
  • AbandondedKSCharger
    AbandondedKSCharger Posts: 562 Member
    @2kellymike ask him which he would prefer. Maybe just a wink reminder, something subtle.
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,685 Member
    My weekend started off great but I let myself down on Sunday. I accept full responsibility. I managed to stay in Friday, skip the habitual Saturday lunch out with 2 extra large glasses of wine, no longer have feelings of anxiety, but then came Sunday. And it was Cinco de Mayo in my neck of the woods (aka drinking day). So feeling deprived and having the feeling that I earned it for doing good the 2 prior days, I bought a bottle of wine and drank the whole thing during the afternoon. How did I let this happen? Well, I really did focus on having a goal for Fri and Sat, but had none for Sunday. Still working through those feelings of deprivation and reward..I suppose a daily goal/intention is in order. A day with no goal = putting myself at greater risk for poor outcome.
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,685 Member
    2kellymike wrote: »
    OK well here I am again. We had visitors over the weekend and we had a derby party. Lots of booze, self included. But it was a fun weekend with our friends who we don't get to see often.

    The goal now is AF during the week, starting today. My husband is on board with it. We agree that we both drink too much. He also admitted to me that he knows that it is usually him that falls off the wagon first (true) but I also admitted that I happily leap off right behind him, and that is my fault.

    Is anybody here doing this with a partner/spouse, and if you are, how do you handle it if he/she slips? I frequently am the drink maker, if he asks for a drink do I remind him we're not drinking or just nod and pour? Curious how other couples handle this.

    I don't have this situation as my husband has his own beer fridge and accesses it anytime he wants (a different problem) and he would get upset if I tried to limit his drinks. But an option could be that you could ask your spouse (at the right time) how he'd prefer you handle this and what he sees as the best solution. You could opt to say what you are willing to do and not do I suppose. Delicate situation!
  • beebva4
    beebva4 Posts: 130 Member
    May 1 - one generous size glass of whiskey in celebration of going into contract with selling our house!
    May 2 - 1.5 truly hard waters (150 cals)
    Oh and I took a sip of my husbands
    whiskey
    May 3 - AF
    May 4 - 2 drinks. Not too bad for a party and better than I normally would have done. One mint jelup and one truly 100 calorie hard sparkling water.
    May 5 - 2 lime-a-ritas :( disappointed myself on this one.

    Today havent had anything and am heading to bed soon, so when I check in tomorrow it'll be AF!

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