Less Alcohol - APRIL 2020 - One Day at a Time
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I am back to binge drinking on the weekends. With all the stress that's going on and being quarantined I've taken the "F" it attitude there is nothing else to do. This weekend I plan to reboot and not drink. Seems like everyone else is staying strong and doing well!9
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Husband went to the basement den this am to watch a movie. Stepped onto wet carpet.... Beer fridge was leaking. As I was unloading it - ALMOST drank one of my favorites. I did not.
I'm still in the tub!!!6 -
@dbanks80 I have also significantly upped my intake, you are not alone. I think the positive out of this is we recognize it and set goals to adjust.
I am much more sedentary here at home, even though I work at a desk when at work. I don't even want to think about stepping on the scale. I can feel my clothes getting tighter, and this is with logging everyday, maybe not perfectly (like if I have some wine after I have logged dinner and snacks) AND taking a 1-2 mile walk with the kiddos and dogs about 5 days a week. It just isn't enough to counteract this new version of normal. I have upped my water intake, in hopes some of it is truly just water retention. Hopefully, by the time we come out of this, I have managed to maintain or am maintaining at that point (hopefully you all can tell the difference in that).
I have noticed ALLLLLLLLL of my friends, whether working from home, laid off and worried at home and/or working kiddos with school at home, have upped their alcohol consumption. Some do it seemingly proudly. I am very lucky to be able to work from home, but with the kids' lesson plans and the fact that my husband was laid off, it is a totally new routine. I don't want to be the one posting my delivered margaritas on social media.
2/7 days AF, with yesterday being one of them and I plan on being AF this evening. I am taking it day by day. Hope you all are well and are staying safe.5 -
lilann1961 wrote: »@dbanks80 I have also significantly upped my intake, you are not alone. I think the positive out of this is we recognize it and set goals to adjust.
I am much more sedentary here at home, even though I work at a desk when at work. I don't even want to think about stepping on the scale. I can feel my clothes getting tighter, and this is with logging everyday, maybe not perfectly (like if I have some wine after I have logged dinner and snacks) AND taking a 1-2 mile walk with the kiddos and dogs about 5 days a week. It just isn't enough to counteract this new version of normal. I have upped my water intake, in hopes some of it is truly just water retention. Hopefully, by the time we come out of this, I have managed to maintain or am maintaining at that point (hopefully you all can tell the difference in that).
I have noticed ALLLLLLLLL of my friends, whether working from home, laid off and worried at home and/or working kiddos with school at home, have upped their alcohol consumption. Some do it seemingly proudly. I am very lucky to be able to work from home, but with the kids' lesson plans and the fact that my husband was laid off, it is a totally new routine. I don't want to be the one posting my delivered margaritas on social media.
2/7 days AF, with yesterday being one of them and I plan on being AF this evening. I am taking it day by day. Hope you all are well and are staying safe.
We got this! We have to get refocused and reboot.
They did say alcohol sales have increased significantly. Maybe it's because the bars and clubs are closed maybe it's the stress of dealing with all of this or both.
I've been staying active with exercise that helps a lot with dealing with the stress.
So sorry that your hubby got laid off.
Everyone keeps saying adjusting to the new normal. I really hope this doesn't become the new normal.4 -
6/8 AF days. Doing much better so far this month than last.
I had a book club Zoom call, and a friends Cabi party on Zoom this week. Everyone was drinking but me. I only looked like I was. Pelligrino and a little cranberry looks an awful lot like a nice glass of rose!7 -
Doxmum signing in - again. I've been lurking since DEC. I finally got the courage to join the challenge in early MAR only to have an EPIC FAIL. No s**t, a flat-on-my-face-fail, with a glass of Chardonnay in hand (I failed for lots of reasons I will not bore you with). This month (I know, late start) my goal is to just check in daily, period. Everyone on this challenge is so honest and vulnerable, thank you. It is incredibly reassuring that I am not alone in my struggle to manage my ETOH consumption.
Issue: I pride myself on being the "functional" half of "functional ETOH abuser." Currently I am managing my "stress" with a bottle of Prosecco or Chardonnay daily. I justify the quantity with, "Hey, it's over 5-6 hours, and I don't ever get really high, just relaxed."
Goal: For now I'm simply going to fess-up to how much I'm 'really' drinking and we'll go from there.
@dbanks80: Seriously? You can get margaritas delivered?
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6 AF days/8 days done.....so my last four years or so I worked as a project manager from home. It had to be so because I had meetings with people in different time zones and that was too impossible to do during a day shift in an office. Being home, socially isolated and sitting down all day, resulted in a weight gain of about 25 pounds and regular daily night time drinking...then came hypertension and prediabetes from the weight gain and alcohol. Then came the arthritis in the hips from the weight gain. Then a pre-cancerous condition cropped up and I had to have surgery.
The whole problem crept up very quietly, it was insidious and I didn't notice it happening while it was happening.
So I chose the path of changing to find the better me. I learned I needed to really "move" a lot more throughout the day. I scheduled time to exercise at least twice a day. Invested in a nice garmin watch to track progress and made "me" a priority. Last year when I cut back to half my drinking amount, 7 lbs came off. And this year so far another 7.5 lbs disappeared without diet.
No medicines for me. All problems reversed themselves once I got rid of regular drinking. The less I drank, the better I became, physically and mentally. Natural happiness came back. Anxiety gone. Life is so much better now.
For anyone out there not yet feeling "ready" to improve, just start in an easy way.....even if it's one ounce less, one glass less, and then keep going....before you know it, life will get so much better too!12 -
Marathon scheduled for June 6th was rescheduled to September 26th. In a way I'm happy, though, because I'll have more time to train. I'm looking at the bright side of things...8
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AF IRONY...
On 03/13 - my world was super crazy. Corona was just gearing up, my dad was in ICU with flu and pneumonia, brand new grandson that I cannot see... just crazy.
Hubby bought me a bottle of Fireball for just in case. I was 13 days into my AF journey and I did not want it. I asked my daughter to take to the basement and put in the freezer of the beer fridge - a dorm type fridge. The bottle was keeping this freezer compartment from closing completely causing a huge ice shelf. This is what was melting and did the damage to my basement.
Water mitigation company came out today. Drying and cleaning up the mess is about $1000.. minor mold started forming. This does not include the reconstruction.
DARN FIREBALL!!!
Still AF today. Fireball is sealed!10 -
AF IRONY...
On 03/13 - my world was super crazy. Corona was just gearing up, my dad was in ICU with flu and pneumonia, brand new grandson that I cannot see... just crazy.
Hubby bought me a bottle of Fireball for just in case. I was 13 days into my AF journey and I did not want it. I asked my daughter to take to the basement and put in the freezer of the beer fridge - a dorm type fridge. The bottle was keeping this freezer compartment from closing completely causing a huge ice shelf. This is what was melting and did the damage to my basement.
Water mitigation company came out today. Drying and cleaning up the mess is about $1000.. minor mold started forming. This does not include the reconstruction.
DARN FIREBALL!!!
Still AF today. Fireball is sealed!
Wow all that from a bottle of FB that you didn't even want in the first place!! Darn husbands!!
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As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I had 18AF days for January
I had a surprising (and record setting for me) 21AF days for the short month of February!
18AF days for March
Onward to April : - )
Wednesday April 01 - AF
Thursday April 02 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but really determined to get back to at least 2AF days in between.
Friday April 03 - AF because I have a webinar in the morning that I want to be sharp for. Planned wine with a friend for her birthday - yes, we will stay 2 metres apart and likely outside.
Saturday April 04 - Drinks
Sunday April 05 - AF
Monday April 06 - AF
Tuesday April 07 - AF - My Tuesdays have changed, no longer working my tail off and stressed out for the first Tuesday "off". Normally my drinks day. I am really battling to get off the March weight gain, and I know that being more AF helps.
Wednesday April 08 - 3 drinks
6AF days out of 8 days so far6 -
Husband was on a conference call where sales were being discussed. He's not a salesman but he works for a distribution company that supplies to major fast food chains, one store, and one gas station. Anyway, all sales are down except...yep, you know it...alcohol, which has increased (presumably they must have been talking about the store and gas station in that regards since the restaurant chains don't sell the booze). Anyway...we already knew this but...
Anyway, we just had a little thunderstorm. I love the calming after effects of a thunderstorm plus add a glass of wine to that and it's so soothing... I need to get my head out of the gutter and my running shoes on after this passes.
I hope everyone is staying strong through all of this 🙏.
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I just want to share this beauty with you...
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Oh that’s terrible!!!! So sorry. And of course just the amount of your insurance deductible, I’m sure.AF IRONY...
On 03/13 - my world was super crazy. Corona was just gearing up, my dad was in ICU with flu and pneumonia, brand new grandson that I cannot see... just crazy.
Hubby bought me a bottle of Fireball for just in case. I was 13 days into my AF journey and I did not want it. I asked my daughter to take to the basement and put in the freezer of the beer fridge - a dorm type fridge. The bottle was keeping this freezer compartment from closing completely causing a huge ice shelf. This is what was melting and did the damage to my basement.
Water mitigation company came out today. Drying and cleaning up the mess is about $1000.. minor mold started forming. This does not include the reconstruction.
DARN FIREBALL!!!
Still AF today. Fireball is sealed!
And yet, that song immediately popped into my head. “FIREBALL! Do do do do doot doot do... doot doot do doot do...”
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Doxmum check-in: 2 faux-margaritas this evening. I'm more worried about the sugar in the Cayman Jack than the 5% ETOH. I skipped the tequila I usually mix with it and I'm missing it
@Beka3695 - that really sucks. Just when you think you've hit bottom, you find out there's further down to go. How's your dad doing?
@LoveyChar - Wow! A double rainbow! We lived in Hawaii for 4 years when I was in the Army. Dbl rainbows were a semi-regular occurence. I had forgotten how beautiful and auspicious they are. It's a double good luck sign for your marathon.
@Womona - thank you for the moral support. I appreciate it.6 -
As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I had 18AF days for January
I had a surprising (and record setting for me) 21AF days for the short month of February!
18AF days for March
Onward to April : - )
Wednesday April 01 - AF
Thursday April 02 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but really determined to get back to at least 2AF days in between.
Friday April 03 - AF because I have a webinar in the morning that I want to be sharp for. Planned wine with a friend for her birthday - yes, we will stay 2 metres apart and likely outside.
Saturday April 04 - Drinks
Sunday April 05 - AF
Monday April 06 - AF
Tuesday April 07 - AF - My Tuesdays have changed, no longer working my tail off and stressed out for the first Tuesday "off". Normally my drinks day. I am really battling to get off the March weight gain, and I know that being more AF helps.
Wednesday April 08 - 3 drinks
Thursday April 09 - AF - I need to be AF again tomorrow so as to have at least 2AF days in between. It has been warm and beautiful here, but it supposed to drop drastically for a week starting Saturday with more snow. I have done work in the garden hoping to get planting soon, but apparently I need to wait.
7AF days out of 9 days so far4 -
Thanks for the double rainbow @LoveyChar : - )4
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Good evening! Hanging in here. Had an unplanned couple glasses of wine yesterday. I really was in a bad mental health state, stressful day telecommuting and trying to watch my kids. Found out yesterday schools are closed for the rest of the school year. I was expecting it but it still hit me hard. I poured a glass of wine and sat outside by my garden in the evening golden light with my kids, talked to them about the virus and everything that is going on. I explained about schools being closed. They are young so it's hard to frame things in an understandable way, but it was a good conversation and the wine helped me feel positive and peaceful. In that moment. Later that evening after they went to bed I ended up having another glass while I chatted with my husband. I enjoyed and savored it.
I'm writing all this because it helps me realize my mood when I choose to have alcohol, and I want to be mindful of the experience.
Today was a better day. I feel more content about everything. Maybe it was good to get over the hurdle of wondering whether schools would open again.
Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF
Apr 7: AF
Apr 8: 2 drinks
Apr 9: AF
So far in April: 5/7 days AF9 -
1 - AF
2 - AF
3 - 3 glasses of wine on 2 different 'virtual pub' video calls
4 - AF
5 - 1 glass wine
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF - almost had a beer (I'd put some in to chill for the weekend) but decided I didn't have the calories and I'd leave it for the next few days. We've got more virtual pubs over the weekend, and a lockdown festival in our street on Monday so there will be a few drinks.
7/9 AF6 -
7 AF days/9 days done.....yesterday I connected with my good friend in Spain who let me know every Sunday around 1pm, before their lunch time, the town council makes an announcement over the loudspeaker, informing everyone it's martini time. People go out on their balconies with a drink in hand (vermouth with the olive and all) and wave at their neighbors. It's like a group celebration to acknowledge they made it through another quarantine week.Population is roughly 3000 people so many know each other. Sounds like fun.
Also hearing people there are generally drinking more than normal and beer is in short supply.....7 -
7:11 am in Vegas another 24 💖8
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@globalhiker I love that! I want to live in Spain, or at least somewhere where someone announces that it is martini time in a dignified way over a loudspeaker!
I have heard people are drinking more, too. I know many of my friends are- even those who didn't really drink a lot previously are drinking every day. Here where I live marijuana is legal and I read an article that cannabis sales are up 40%. People are just looking for an escape. I am glad I am here and part of this forum because it is helping me keep track of my decisions around alcohol. Prior to this past January, I was drinking everyday and I just know that if this had happened during that time, I would be in a more detrimental place to my health.
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7/10 here. It's sunny and it's a bank holiday, and I needed a way to mark the difference from a normal day at home... Sitting in the garden with a drink has hit the spot nicely. I'm not being too strict at the moment, and I've never been about giving up completely, just about understanding why I drink and making sensible choices about it.6
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As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I had 18AF days for January
I had a surprising (and record setting for me) 21AF days for the short month of February!
18AF days for March
Onward to April : - )
Wednesday April 01 - AF
Thursday April 02 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but really determined to get back to at least 2AF days in between.
Friday April 03 - AF because I have a webinar in the morning that I want to be sharp for. Planned wine with a friend for her birthday - yes, we will stay 2 metres apart and likely outside.
Saturday April 04 - Drinks
Sunday April 05 - AF
Monday April 06 - AF
Tuesday April 07 - AF - My Tuesdays have changed, no longer working my tail off and stressed out for the first Tuesday "off". Normally my drinks day. I am really battling to get off the March weight gain, and I know that being more AF helps.
Wednesday April 08 - 3 drinks
Thursday April 09 - AF - I need to be AF again tomorrow so as to have at least 2AF days in between. It has been warm and beautiful here, but it is supposed to drop drastically for a week starting Saturday with more snow. I have done work in the garden hoping to get planting soon, but apparently I need to wait.
Friday April 10 - 3 drinks, broke my own rule of always 2AF days in a row. Just didn't have the willpower today I guess.
7AF days out of 10 days so far4 -
@globalhiker I love that! I want to live in Spain, or at least somewhere where someone announces that it is martini time in a dignified way over a loudspeaker!
I have heard people are drinking more, too. I know many of my friends are- even those who didn't really drink a lot previously are drinking every day. Here where I live marijuana is legal and I read an article that cannabis sales are up 40%. People are just looking for an escape. I am glad I am here and part of this forum because it is helping me keep track of my decisions around alcohol. Prior to this past January, I was drinking everyday and I just know that if this had happened during that time, I would be in a more detrimental place to my health.
I was just talking about that to a friend of mine today! Had Covid-19 hit and I lost my jobs during the time where I was drinking every day it would have been Bailey's in my coffee in the morning, fruity alcohol drinks in the afternoon, wine with dinner and Brandy after dinner every day.
I truly haven't been as on track with my alcohol consumption or food choices since this all began, but I am still trying to moderate.5 -
Check-in day 3: 1wine, 2 cocktails, 1 beer. Not great but right now my goal is to just check-in & record what I am consuming.
Re: Covid-life in a tourist town. I retired in a super-awesome little ski and lake town in NW Montana, a half-hour drive from Glacier National park. We are heavily, heavily, dependent on tourist dollars. This includes restaurants, bars, hotels, vacation rentals, masseuses & spas, clothing shops, bakeries and art galleries, all of which have had to close. Even the ski hill closed four weeks early (I'm a skiier) As much as we complain about traffic in the summer, and apres-ski behavior in the winter, our workforce is overwhelmingly employed in the service industry, most of whom rely on their tips to survive. Last summer restaurants could not find enough help - and now this.
A BIG Shout-out of SUPPORT to everyone who has been laid off, lost their health insurance, had their hours cut, and independents (1099 colleagues) who have lost their contracts. DH and I do as much take-out as we can afford, tipping generously. Also considering buying gift cards from our fave places to eat.
That said, we still need to stay home, stay safe, wash our hands, and prevent the spread so life can return to normal ASAP.8 -
Good morning.....I'm still here, having my AF days/nights. But when the weather took another slide back into Winter Thursday I lost it and turned to food. Last few days have been brutally hard. Looking forward to some sunshine and NO RAIN OR SNOW.
7AF out of 10 for April
Thanks for that rainbow @LoveyChar!8 -
Living in Las Vegas you can imagine what it's like here, a city that's usually hustling and bustling with people is a ghost town, I don't know how these huge casinos are gonna recover after all this, all that lost revenue and we don't even know for sure how long this is gonna go on, I don't know if the older man who owns the salon I worked at can even afford to open up again, he was struggling for money before this happened so who knows what will be, I'm sad over this and I have a bad attitude that I can't shake yet there's nothing I can do about it, 5:34 am in Vegas another 24 😢7
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