Less Alcohol - OCTOBER 2019 - One Day at a Time

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  • Four days in, AF so far. I've found that cravings come and go, and it's a matter of keep your head down and your self discipline up.

    But tonight... Saturday... going out with friends for a birthday... to check out a brand new bar... this is the acid test. If I can stick to my tonic and lime, I think I'll have cracked it.
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,770 Member
    ellie117 wrote: »
    Successfully beat this month's first temptation - Wednesday night bowling league. Actually had our whole team refrain from beers this week!

    Today is Friday - temptation #2. If we can make it through this weekend without caving, I think we can do it the rest of the month. Husband is not exactly thrilled to be trying this, but hopefully he'll see the benefits over time.

    For casual drinkers that used to indulge every Friday/Saturday, what are some of your alternative activities you do with friends, significant others, etc that doesn't center around alcohol?

    Not drinking after your weekly sports event is huge! Congratulations! And that your teammates didn’t either is triply huge!

    As for non-drink centric activities, there’s always a high school football game, tickets to the theatre, one of those trampoline places, a concert. But they sell alcohol at theatres. I guess you just have to go in with an AF plan and stick to it, or plan on one and done.
  • lilann1961
    lilann1961 Posts: 131 Member
    Can anyone tell me their experiences with tolerance as they went more AF? I am wondering if my tolerance will be affected by this challenge or if it is more based off of my weight (you know, the main reason I am on MFP ;). I do not plan on being AF forever (17 days AF - yay!) but I never want my tolerance to be that high again. I truly believe it affects your pshyce when it takes that much to have any sort of relaxing affect. It is habit AND mental.
  • lilann1961
    lilann1961 Posts: 131 Member
    And yes, this is apparently what I do while AF on a Saturday night. I think. Who knew?
  • brandorogers
    brandorogers Posts: 7 Member
    Knowing I have to post here has really kicked the guilt into overdrive. AF since September 20. Way too many consolation diet sodas.37 miles run this week.

    10/1 - AF
    10/2 - AF
    10/3 - AF
    10/4 - AF
    10/5 - AF
  • I find just one glass of wine destroys my food discipline. So it's not just the alcohol Cal's.

    Oh, I hear you there. One glass of red wine and it feels like I start to medically (and I mean *medically*) need chocolate, stat.
  • d_ganggreen
    d_ganggreen Posts: 9 Member
    5 AF / 1 multi-drink. Goal this week is all week AF.
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,886 Member
    Back home with reliable wifi and my scale.
    I actually lost weight while away on vacation in Dallas despite Margaritas and stuff! Lots and lots of ice skating : - )

    October 07 - Planned AF

    Running monthly total: 2AF days out of 6 days so far.
  • ellie117
    ellie117 Posts: 293 Member
    Successfully made it through the weekend without drinking!

    Well, we did have a squire of sake at our hibachi dinner last night, so technically not 100% AF. But I'm still counting it as an AF day.

    Keep it up, gang!
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    Aiming for completely Sober October as part of the Last 90 Days challenge.

    10/1 - AF
    10/2 - AF
    10/3 - AF
    10/4 - AF
    10/5 - AF
    10/6 - AF

    👍
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    lilann1961 wrote: »
    And yes, this is apparently what I do while AF on a Saturday night. I think. Who knew?

    🤣 not a bad way to spend a Saturday night.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    Womona wrote: »
    Had one drink yesterday after tennis. Knocked me out for the rest of the night! I kinda like that I’m a lightweight now!

    Won’t drink again until dinner out with friends tomorrow night. Only having one glass of wine, and will only have water on the golf course.

    I have become a light weight too..which I am gratefully accepting.😊
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    Knowing I have to post here has really kicked the guilt into overdrive. AF since September 20. Way too many consolation diet sodas.37 miles run this week.

    10/1 - AF
    10/2 - AF
    10/3 - AF
    10/4 - AF
    10/5 - AF

    Don't think of it as guilt. Think about it as accountability. Good work.😊
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    Last night was the toughest yet (out for a birthday bash in a brand new bar) but I stuck to my tonic water like a limpet.

    Although I was aiming for a full month AF, I kinda thought, in my heart of hearts, that I'd slip up at some point, probably early on, and last night seemed like the time. But once I'd got through the first hour, it just seemed natural to carry on. After all, I reasoned to myself, I'd already come this far. We had such a good time, and it was funny watching others get progressively more raucous!

    Seeing others post here, all for similar reasons and for the same length of time, helps a lot. This thread's always in the back of my mind whenever I start getting cravings. Succeeding last night, while a small thing in itself, feels something like a milestone of sorts. Suddenly, a month AF doesn't have *quite* the force it did, although I'm not intending to let my guard down now.

    Also, my bank balance hasn't looked this untroubled on a Sunday morning in years!

    Every step closer to seeing your goal is a huge milestone. Great job!😊
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    I committed to this Sept 1 but have pre-planned breaks (had a weekend trip to Nashville planned in Sep and took that weekend off, next break is Thanksgiving, then Christmas).

    My primary goal is weight loss. I find just one glass of wine destroys my food discipline. So it's not just the alcohol Cal's.

    Need to lose 20 lbs. Have lost 5 so 15 to go. Making progress. But for me if I am sincere about weight loss I have to completely cut alcohol. I can do it no problem but still looking forward to having wine.

    (Is it bad that I have days where I hit my goal because the sooner I shed the weight the sooner I can fall off the wagon? He he...😆).

    One thing that works for me...I stock a boatload of flavored sparkling water (Spindrift, La Croix) and over ice with lime ...it could almost be a cocktail?

    I am very hydrated now. 🤪

    I believe a "cocktail" is whatever you want it to be. Weather it consists of alcohol or not.
    Mine of choice these days is sweet iced tea with ginger ale and some fresh mint. But it has to be served in a stemmed glass for eye appeal.🙄
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    5 AF / 1 multi-drink. Goal this week is all week AF.

    Great job on your AF days! Only 24 more to go however you plan to spend them.

  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    Back home with reliable wifi and my scale.
    I actually lost weight while away on vacation in Dallas despite Margaritas and stuff! Lots and lots of ice skating : - )

    October 07 - Planned AF

    Running monthly total: 2AF days out of 6 days so far.

    Welcome back and congrats on your weight loss. Hope it was a super get a way.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,747 Member
    LoveyChar wrote: »
    813 alcohol calories and 32.5 ounces of wine consumed this month and 3 AF days/ 3 non.
    I beat myself up for what I do. I beat myself up for what I don't do. I have to stop punishing myself, for what I am not sure. Anyway, I'm giving myself a 300 calorie budget for the week. Two 6 ounce glasses is at least a plan.

    Ohboyah.... I recall adding up the alcohol calories. It is so mind blowing seeing the number in front of us. Go easy on yourself with this new way of drink thinking. It will get easier.