Less Alcohol - DECEMBER 2019 - One Day at a Time

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  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,554 Member
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    My goal is 16-20 AF days for the month.
    I didn't get there in October, ended up with 10 or 11AF days
    November tally 19AF days out of 30 days.
    New month : - )

    December 01 - 3 drinks
    December 02 - AF
    December 03 - 3 drinks, Tuesday.
    December 04 - AF - Time to rack up a few AF days before all of the holiday festivities. Or at least try to get back to 2AF days in between drinks days.
    December 05 - AF
    December 06 - 3 drinks - I felt them more than usual, just 2 AF days, but they really hit me. Mind you, I barely eat during the day when I am running around working. I am thinking of you @Womona when you say that they are hitting you more strongly since you have cut down. Many glasses of water since the drinks, and off to bed soon.
    December 07 - AF - had the urge several times, just waited it out.
    December 8 - A bunch of drinks starting with a tree decorating at a friend's place. Tried to keep it at a half shot per drink to stay less alcohol. Kind of lost track, but they were all very small. All good. Planning on AF tomorrow. Tuesday is yet to be seen.
    December 09 - AF
    December 10 - AF - Yes, it is a Tuesday, my designated drinks day, but I am having a very busy week and have a party to go to on Friday where I might have drinks, so skipping the drinks tonight.
    December 11 - AF - Really fought that urge many times after work, but stayed AF. Trying to rack a few up before all of the holiday parties.
    December 12 - AF. Made up a pot of Mulled Wine to take to the party tomorrow night. Tasted it a few times with a fraction of a teaspoon and adjusted the sugar, but am not counting that. I really wanted to have a few glasses of it because it tasted so good, but I will have some at the party tomorrow. AF 4 days in a row for the first time @MissMay!
    December 13 - Mulled wine. So glad that I didn't give in to it Thursday night while cooking it, because it tasted amazing having sat 24 hours. Feeling a bit foggy today (the 14th).
    December 14 - AF
    December 15 - 3 drinks. Started with the leftover mulled wine that wouldn't fit in the vessel to take to the party (2 or 3 ounces), then kind of went "well, not going to be an AF day. That is how it goes for me. AF tomorrow for sure.
    December 16 - AF
    December 17 - Tuesday, 3 drinks. I definitely eat more, and different things when I have alcohol, which is one of the very big reasons to decide to cut back. At my own pace. Your post about other ways to de-stress @MissMay is so lovely and important. I am still using booze to numb myself and relax after stressful days. For sure I understand that deprivation leads to bingeing, so I am not depriving myself by giving myself "drinks days" but I still think that I can do better. I still eat sandwiches, but I only eat 1/2 of one now, for instance. By cutting back on drinking I am limiting the days that I do it. Work in progress.
    December 18 - AF - Planning on Champagne at midnight at a party in Northern Idaho with some close friends on NYE. I have decided that I am going to make and bring hot spiced cider to have around the bonfire and leading up to midnight. Not a heavy drinking crowd. I won't be AF for the last night of the year, but I will be less alcohol. Yes, planning in advance.

    Running Tally: 11 AF day out of 18 days so far.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,548 Member
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    marcvb35 wrote: »
    12/18 - well i did not catch a buzz from the night cap, i woke up many times last night, that means that i must have fell asleep just as many times, over 600 calories under goal without my normal whisky calories. going to try and not pick up a bottle till friday.

    Great plan @marcvb35 to pre-plan for the upcoming days. Being aware, concious and accountable are all very healthy towards what you want to achieve. Sorry your still not sleeping soundly.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,548 Member
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    whitpauly wrote: »
    6:43 am in Vegas another 24 💖

    So I am guessing you must be the only AF person in Vegas @whitpauly , LOL. Your a great inspiration being that Vegas is known to be party city.
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,548 Member
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    Another AF for me to.
    This Saturday night some of hubbies relatives are popping over to see our tree, etc. They are big drinkers, and always give hard liquor as gifts. They get offended if you don't toast with them.....blah, blah, blah.
    The male of the group always acts as if it is the first time he has ever heard anyone say "no thank you" to taking a shot with him.
    Misery loves company. And clearly he is insecure if he can not handle someone not getting hammered with them.
    Tis the season
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
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    6:22 am in Vegas another 24,@MissMay that reminds me of that clip when Connor McGregor poured a shot for the old man in the bar and he refused it so Connor punched him! Not funny but the visual of your family members getting all irritated if you pass up the drink reminds me of that 😆 hope everyone has a fabulous day 💗
  • LoveyChar
    LoveyChar Posts: 4,335 Member
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    marcvb35 wrote: »
    drank half my normal last night. had bad dreams and woke up shaking, sweating, and in pain but i do not think it was from the dreaming.
    tonight i do not plan on buying a bottle. probably should have tapered down longer but i realize i finish the bottle or pass out. hopefully i see you all tomorrow.
    12/13 - well i made it till 7pm. then the wife found out only one day tapering before drinking again on the weekend. we went out and got a bottle to ration out. i set a less aggressive goal that shouldn't shock the body to much. slept great!
    12/14 - had my rations last night. slept good. same rations today. less tomorrow. never has a bottle lasted so long
    12/15 - epic fail.
    12/16 - new week. i know i have the willpower to food diet so today i start my alcohol diet. again.
    12/17 - slightly less. slept way to good. if i can resist buying a bottle on the way home, tonight will be just one night cap.
    12/18 - well i did not catch a buzz from the night cap, i woke up many times last night, that means that i must have fell asleep just as many times, over 600 calories under goal without my normal whisky calories. going to try and not pick up a bottle till friday.

    12/19 - did not have a good night. less then 2oz in the vodka bottle, drank it at 6pm. layed in bed at 11:30pm - followed my rules and didn't get out of bed till morning regardless of any sleep.

    I wish I could hug you in real life.
  • LoveyChar
    LoveyChar Posts: 4,335 Member
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    I was running last night, 61.5 miles for the month, and thinking about chocolate wine. I obsessed over it for about 40 minutes, walked in the door and shoved off the thoughts as hard as I could. I did not drink even though I wanted to.
  • marcvb35
    marcvb35 Posts: 291 Member
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    novusDies - i did not disagree with you. just venting about my being dependent on things i can and will change. rage for me is stated as an excellent motivator.
  • LoveyChar
    LoveyChar Posts: 4,335 Member
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    marcvb35 wrote: »
    novusDies - i did not disagree with you. just venting about my being dependent on things i can and will change. rage for me is stated as an excellent motivator.

    I earned a college degree on part rage, part of that at myself and part of it at others. Exercise, education, volunteer service, meditation, journaling...there are outlets to either get outside of yourself, your emotions or to vent rage. I throw my frustration to the wind most days when I'm running. I understand rage and frustration and even self loathing, although I love myself these days... I hope you get to that happy place soon. This is a good place to dump off thoughts, feelings, insecurities because at least you're venting in a healthy way.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
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    marcvb35 wrote: »
    novusDies - i did not disagree with you. just venting about my being dependent on things i can and will change. rage for me is stated as an excellent motivator.

    I didn't think you did disagree. I was just continuing the conversation.

    I found venting here and journaling what I was thinking to be really helpful in helping me find my way out of the mire. Some really nice people gave me their thoughts along the way. Many of the faces have changed but the participants in this thread are very similar to those that helped me over a year ago. I am just trying to pay it forward.

    All input (at least input from me) is given as non-authoritative. I consider it throwing pasta against the wall. You decide if any of it sticks and is worth considering or if none of it applies to you.

    My response is really because your posts have a knee-jerk vibe to them which may not be the case but it concerned me. I am not saying that all knee-jerk decisions are bad though. Sometimes the first idea is the best. Sometimes it is not.
  • LoveyChar
    LoveyChar Posts: 4,335 Member
    edited December 2019
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    SanDiegofitmom wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    @marcvb35 It is not a good idea to stay in bed when struggling to sleep unless you believe getting up could lead to worse things. Not associating bed with sleeplessness is one of the more important rules for people like myself that suffer from insomnia.

    I would concur on the sleeping. I had terrible insomnia for a year (anxiety driven) - I went to a sleep clinic at the hospital and met with a sleep PhD specialist. It was very helpful! Top things he said- don’t drink any alcohol after 6:30 pm and stick to no more that two drinks, and keep your bedroom just for sleeping. Shut all electronics off at least an hour before bed and don’t look at the clock if you can help it. If you find yourself awake for a long period of time, it can help to get up and quietly read and when sleepy try again. Also dont nap or sleep in- try and stick to a schedule. Slowly you train your body. Sounds like a lot but I sleep really well now and I used to go through days without any sleep at all! I will say, wine makes me wake up in the middle of the night almost every time. ;)

    Good advice, thank you! I'd like to add that it's probably not a good idea to eat or binge either after waking in the middle of the night. I've done this too many times. It's comfort but you list much better ways to get better sleep.

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