Less Alcohol - OCTOBER 2019 - One Day at a Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,783 Member
in Challenges
Do you want to drink LESS?
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet thinking a day off is a sort of punishment hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING OUR THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You" (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information.
Do it because it's a lovely thing to do for yourself!
I bet thinking a day off is a sort of punishment hasn't been working.
Be kind to the person you will wake up as.
Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) one day at a time, as we continue to support and learn from each other.
▪MFP LESS ALCOHOL ONE DAY AT A TIME RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST▪
USING OUR THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time - this is a day to day challenge.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over - The Early Days
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You" (by @Orphia):
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information.
3
Replies
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If you are reading this, then you have taken the first big step to making a healthly change in your life.
Where I live in the world ( Northern United States) we have just gotten into Fall here.
Maybe you had a bit too much indulgence during those beautiful-fun Summer months ( who doesn't enjoy a good BBQ and cold one?) and you want to tone it down before the next big surge of holiday drinking pressure starts in Novemeber and runs through Dec 31. October maybe the little break you need to get back on track.
There are other people just like you...male and female, younger and older and in between that need a place for support to curb their own alcohol consumption.
We are that place.
~WELCOME~
8 -
Thanks for doing this @MissMay
You are a treasure!6 -
Welcome to October (a day early)! I used to drink daily, and of course it went from one to two per night. I started cutting back this past January, and although those first few days of cravings were shockingly strong, the did subside to where I don’t crave it at all. When I drink now, it’s a choice, and when I do, it’s much less.
The point is, drinking habits CAN change! For those dipping your toe into the “less alcohol pool”, we are here to support each other. This thread has been incredibly helpful, as are the resources listed above. Thank you @MissMay for keeping the thread going!6 -
Thank you again @MissMay, I am in again this month!
Going for an almost sober October, and again, the meds I am on for a bit longer help that considerably. I scheduled a wine tasting (five types) awhile ago for 8 Oct, and plan on sipping one or two and abstaining from at least two (it is at my house of course, and I will be providing food so it will be fun even if I just get a taste. We control the pours, so it should be easier. Fingers crossed for me when I check in with all of you on 9 Oct. Is it sad I have saved at LEAST $50 by not drinking from the time I joined the September group to today?
AF since 19 September.7 -
I'm in
January-0 drink days
February-2 drink days
March-0- drink days
April-0 drink days
May-0 drink days
June-2 drink days
July-7 drink days😵
August-0 drink days
September-0 drink days15 -
Hi everyone
I lurk here and post once in awhile. I was just in Boston for a long weekend and it caused me to reflect and I wanted to relate my thoughts here. I have been AF for over 11 years and 4 months now. When I first spent a lot of time in Boston I drank every day and was over 300 pounds. My daughter was a student and we brought here to school and walked around the city, enjoying the history, the freedom trail and the restaurants. It wasn't always easy for me to get around.
This weekend over 19 years later we were here for my wifes 50th year homecoming at her nursing school and I was free to be out enjoying the city. Saturday I ran from North station near the TD Garden to the Charles river Esplanade and along the river and back almost 7 miles surrounded by runners of all types and ages ( I might have been the oldest) Sunday I went from the North End to Cambridge and then across to Charlestown and across the Charles town bridge back to the North End.
The feeling of being alive and the realization of what being AF had become was overwhelming I had gone from 367 pounds where walking a few miles was a chore sometime to running miles at a time having lost over 170 pounds was as life changing an event as could be imagined
I never have cravings anymore and the only regret I have is not starting till I was over 60.
I used to tell myself its only a few drinks a day but each drink was 4 or more ounces of gin so about a pint a day of gin at my worse. I disregarded the amount I was really drinking by counting the number of drinks I had.
I know when I started to be AF it was scary daunting aand the thought of never having a drink again almost overwhelmed the fear of my declining health. Fortunately I stuck to it and I have the benefits every day.
I know that this isn't an easy decision for us to make but the long term results were well worth it for me.
Excuse me if I am coming off preachy here but it felt so good I just had to relate how it benefited me over the long haul21 -
I'm in for October! October is a very celebratory month for us...We are a big Halloween family and we have a party every year plus my 43rd birthday is on the 25th and my daughter turns 13 two days later. So it really is party, party, party for us in October! I plan to remain AF until the birthday week. But since I do enjoy drinking, and will have abstained for a month at that point, it will (hopefully) taste that much better to me.
I wish everyone luck and success in all of your October less alcohol and other goals!6 -
Inspirational place! Count me in. Not looking forward to the next few days, but it's time to renew the pursuit of healthy living in all forms.8
-
Hi everyone
I lurk here and post once in awhile. I was just in Boston for a long weekend and it caused me to reflect and I wanted to relate my thoughts here. I have been AF for over 11 years and 4 months now. When I first spent a lot of time in Boston I drank every day and was over 300 pounds. My daughter was a student and we brought here to school and walked around the city, enjoying the history, the freedom trail and the restaurants. It wasn't always easy for me to get around.
This weekend over 19 years later we were here for my wifes 50th year homecoming at her nursing school and I was free to be out enjoying the city. Saturday I ran from North station near the TD Garden to the Charles river Esplanade and along the river and back almost 7 miles surrounded by runners of all types and ages ( I might have been the oldest) Sunday I went from the North End to Cambridge and then across to Charlestown and across the Charles town bridge back to the North End.
The feeling of being alive and the realization of what being AF had become was overwhelming I had gone from 367 pounds where walking a few miles was a chore sometime to running miles at a time having lost over 170 pounds was as life changing an event as could be imagined
I never have cravings anymore and the only regret I have is not starting till I was over 60.
I used to tell myself its only a few drinks a day but each drink was 4 or more ounces of gin so about a pint a day of gin at my worse. I disregarded the amount I was really drinking by counting the number of drinks I had.
I know when I started to be AF it was scary daunting aand the thought of never having a drink again almost overwhelmed the fear of my declining health. Fortunately I stuck to it and I have the benefits every day.
I know that this isn't an easy decision for us to make but the long term results were well worth it for me.
Excuse me if I am coming off preachy here but it felt so good I just had to relate how it benefited me over the long haul
This is truly inspiring. Congratulations on turning it all around!!!!3 -
I am in for Sober October. After the success I had being deliberate about my drinking in September I am feeling optimistic that I can do this. I will be turning 54 on October 19th and am looking forward to continuing to be a better version of me.6
-
Did you know...........
That pumpkin is listed as a SUPER FOOD (Superfood is a marketing term for food assumed to confer health benefits resulting from an exceptional nutrient density.)
As well as the health experts claim any food in the orange color family provides exceptional nutrients.
Why not give pumpkin or squash a try in your October quest to drink less?
Pumpkin mocktails or pumpkin based low alcohol drinks are abundant on the Interner.
Try one with ingredients to please your taste buds.
7 -
I'm in for this too. After making major changes to my diet and health over the last three years, alcohol is the final hangover (ha) from my unhealthy, miserable past that's survived.
I've cut down quite a bit, but I'm aiming for a full October AF. Posting here occasionally and checking in with other people who are talking about what they're doing will really help. It feels good, and inspiring, to join a group with a similar aim!9 -
Happy October! I got through Sep with very few hangovers, 1 pound lost, and no blackouts or fuzzy nights, which for me, is pretty dang good (cuz it doesn't take much sometimes).
Last night I went to a girlfriend's to watch Mama Mia and had ONE glass of Prosecco--it's all I wanted. Who am I???
I also want to say Woot to mfp realizing that Woot was a terrible word choice for disagreeing!9 -
I'm in for Sober October. I'm getting married in one year and MUST lose the drinking weight I've gained.
So far today will be day 3.
Quick question-did anyone notice their cardio was poor when drinking? Or that it improved when they stopped drinking? My workouts feel so difficult to me right now and I used to bound with energy. My heart rate has been higher too, and I don't know if it's because of the alcohol or my extra weight.5 -
@htimpaired When I'm drinking I'm not sure how my cardio is cuz I feel too yucky to hit the gym. I will tell you I finished a 10k recently and was shocked at how easy it seemed compared to my last 5k 5 years prior when I was drinking much more heavily. Congrats on Day 3!5
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Keep on track more
Day 1 again6 -
Hi all -- happy October! I'm doing this week by week. So far, so good this week. And speaking of pumpkin, I have a honeybush pumpkin chai tea that is delicious! It's been great in the evenings to squash alcohol and sweet cravings.7
-
Punny, @annshandle !annshandle wrote: »Hi all -- happy October! ...And speaking of pumpkin, I have a honeybush pumpkin chai tea that is delicious! It's been great in the evenings to squash alcohol and sweet cravings.
4 -
I’m back on here! I spent the summer in Spain enjoying all the wine and Sangria, which segued into many work trips with wine- and it’s become a daily thing and I have this stubborn five pounds that I know is wine. Anyway, no wine in three of the last four days including today. My goal is to have four days a week without any wine. I enjoy the accountability on here.12
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Aiming for 23 AF days this month.
Too tired to write more now but looking forward to reading and checking in.
10/1 - AF6 -
Aiming for completely Sober October as part of the Last 90 Days challenge.
10/1 - AF6 -
October 1st off to a good start, AF first day and ran 4.5 miles and I feel good!5
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Day one of October was AF! It’s funny- I had a drink 4 days in a row, and yesterday would have been the 5th day had I drank. I wanted to, but didn’t. I notice that if I drink more often, I want a drink more often. If I’m AF for a day or two, the craving isn’t there, and I can sustain AF. Hmmm...
Suggested to hubby (who is doing Sober October) that we go out to dinner at this place that has a burger & beer special on Tuesday nights. He declined because he knew he would be tempted to drink!7 -
Look at all these smiling faces here, so wonderful to see everyone planning goals, exchanging techniques for drinking LESS and being ever so supportive.
Day one in October AF
More than likely will have a few this month. It felt good to detoxify in September. A surprisingly great thing about that is when and if I do have an alcoholic beverage my tolerance from not drinking alcohol is so low that even at one now I start to feel weird. It is a super mechanism to curb my past binge drinking.
Everyone have an awesome day!
😎6 -
I'm going to aim for 23 AF days in October - hope for more, but it's so hard to avoid on the weekends. I successfully lost 65lbs in just over a year in prep for my Dec '18 wedding, but since then I've gained back 20. Hoping to lose that by our anniversary-moon on 12/30/19.
Day one AF.8 -
Day 1 down AF, aiming for whole month but may change my mind at end of October. I'm doind a Spartan Obstacle race and I usually have the free beer at the end. Haven't decided yet.5
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Really happy to have stumbled upon this group. The summer was great, but so was the quantity of alcohol I consumed over the course of it. There was always an excuse, mainly it being so nice outside, how can one sit on the deck without a beer in hand (daily). Am I right!? Ugh. Anyhow, b/c of it, I'm sluggish, gained 20lbs, and I quickly added up the $$$ I spent over the summer on it, and I am embarrassed. I am not prepared to say I can go AF for the moth. But my goal is to have more AF days than not. AF days 1, A days 0 (so far).9
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Barely getting wifi unless I leave my motel for a cafe. Might not be checking in much. Back to having drinks every day and not getting enough wifi to even track calories the last day or 2. I will have to get back on track next week when I get back from Dallas
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dawnbgethealthy wrote: »Barely getting wifi unless I leave my motel for a cafe. Might not be checking in much. Back to having drinks every day and not getting enough wifi to even track calories the last day or 2. I will have to get back on track next week when I get back from Dallas
Don't beat yourself up over this. I know traveling is stressful and sometimes it can get boring and, possibly, lonely. I rarely travel but this summer I flew four times and I have horrible anxiety especially when it comes to planes and airports. If I hadn't been traveling with children, I would have had a few glasses of wine. I am not one to judge... Be kind to yourself.
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HarveysBud wrote: »Really happy to have stumbled upon this group. The summer was great, but so was the quantity of alcohol I consumed over the course of it. There was always an excuse, mainly it being so nice outside, how can one sit on the deck without a beer in hand (daily). Am I right!? Ugh. Anyhow, b/c of it, I'm sluggish, gained 20lbs, and I quickly added up the $$$ I spent over the summer on it, and I am embarrassed. I am not prepared to say I can go AF for the moth. But my goal is to have more AF days than not. AF days 1, A days 0 (so far).
Same here. I did this challenge last year (saw it here on mfp) and while it wasn't totally AF, it was significantly reduced. I suggested it to my husband and my sister (who suggested it to her husband) this year. We're going to give it our best shot. Sunny days out back become cool evenings with an Old Fashioned. Time to reset the brain and give the body a break (and the wallet).7
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