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Less Alcohol - APRIL 2020 - One Day at a Time
Replies
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5:45 am in Vegas another 24, trying to decide if I should pay some credit cards or just let them go, I was self employed so am not eligible for unemployment, the few bucks I do make from Postmates and instacart need to go into groceries and utilities, any advice? I couldn't pay 2 cards already so they'll go into collection so my near perfect credit will be crap anyways 😒 I just don't understand why they're not cutting some slack? They KNOW the world is basically shut down right now, kitten kittens! (I'll let you fill in the profane words🤣)
@whitpauly the CARES ACT stimulus checks are being distributed. I know because we have already had ours automatically deposited into our checking account(because anyone who gets their tax refund directly deposited for 2018 or 2019 get it first) so if it is you and hubby you will probably get $2,400.00, call your bank accounts to see if it is in there, they are not sending out letters to say it is on the way. Unless you are in a high income bracket, which I am not. I am not wealthy...not poor, just average. If you have dependents living with you, then you get $500.00 for each of them.
There is another bill they are trying to pass to give all those who qualify $2,000.00 MONTHLY for 6 months. For the first time us self employed folks are allowed to collect thru unemployment. The process is not easy, but if you have the time to, sign up. You are entitled. Hope this helps.💜6 -
Check-in Day 8: 1 glass 'o wine6
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Checking in. Dealing with some nighttime anxiety. Hoping I can shake it off and fall asleep soon.
8 AF days8 -
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.
Saturday April 11 - AF
Sunday April 12 - AF
Monday April 13 - AF
Tuesday April 14 - AF - Tuesdays no longer stress me out because I don't go out to work anymore. I have time to work out more, prepare healthy food, get out on the trails everyday. I do work on my little Amazon business at home and have a learning seminar tomorrow morning early, so AF tonight so that I hopefully absorb a bunch.
Wednesday April 15 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow. Hey, that was 5 AF days in a row!!
Thursday April 16 - 3 drinks
12AF days out of 16 days so far6 -
@whitpauly can you drop down to just make the minimum payment on the credit cards? I agree with the advice above- if they aren’t willing to be flexible, F them, transfer balance to a company that will be flexible.
Also, I don’t have experience with this, but what about one of those debt consolidation companies?
Years ago I’ve been in your shoes, and it is just awful. That horrible feeling of “how am I going to pay my rent/bills/ etc” is the most gnawing, terrible feeling. But I got through it, and you will too! You sound pretty resourceful. Take advantage of every bit of help out there, esp $$$ through SBA/ CARES program. Ask your landlord to work with you, or your mortgage lender to give you a forbearance (just know that the $$$ will be due in 3 months). Good luck, we are all rooting for you!5 -
10 days AF/15 days....April is just not my month....but it's Friday and I need to get my good attitude turned on and get my butt out the door for a run....7
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Good morning, another AF day in the books for me last night. Feels nice to have a little streak. I may have wine tonight with dinner, I haven't decided. I'm going to town to pick up a meal kit from my fave restaurant, that's kind of a big deal. I haven't left my home in 2 weeks! I haven't gone stir crazy or anything, we live on a farm, so there is always a lot to do.
I've got to get some exercise today too, to be able to handle the expected calories of the dinner.
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
Apr 10: 2 drinks
Apr 11: 1 drink
Apr 12: drank 1.5 bottles of sparkling wine over the course of the day
Apr 13: AF
Apr 14: AF
Apr 15: AF
Apr 16: AF
So far in April: 10/16 days AF8 -
Im working on my 4th AF day... 5 pm EST and relaxing in a bubble bath - I think today will be a winner.
Looking back on Monday, my one wet day in a month and a half, I feel disappointed in myself. I know setbacks will happen and I’m coming to terms with this. I never said to myself that I wanted to me AF forever, just less.
It is funny how we process things. Process when our bodies and our minds. I felt like poo on Tuesday. Not really HO, just sluggish. Now my mind is catching up with the processing.
I have known for a long time that I’m not a 1 and done gal. I will drink as long as something is being poured. For this reason, I feel like my future drinking should be away from home. Like a glass of wine at dinner out. I know I’m too cheap to have a whole bottle out.
I have said many times before that I should treat alcohol like an allergy. If I knew I would have an allergic reaction that made me feel like poo - I would avoid that item. What if that same item makes me lose memory, say things I don’t mean, get angry at nothing, be nauseated and have the poos the next day then I sure as heck would avoid the stimulus.
Why can I not avoid alcohol? Is it genetic? My parents are tee totalers. Is it a learned behavior? Maybe. I’ve had 2 alcoholic husbands. Am I an alcoholic? Probably.
So, now I am thinking clearly about my wet past. I can see the decisions I’ve made and their consequences. I can see the toll it has taken on relationships. Is this something I can limit? Is this something I need to walk away from all together?
These are questions I will ponder over the next few weeks/months. Till I know the answers I will strive to remain AF12 -
Im working on my 4th AF day... 5 pm EST and relaxing in a bubble bath - I think today will be a winner.
Looking back on Monday, my one wet day in a month and a half, I feel disappointed in myself. I know setbacks will happen and I’m coming to terms with this. I never said to myself that I wanted to me AF forever, just less.
It is funny how we process things. Process when our bodies and our minds. I felt like poo on Tuesday. Not really HO, just sluggish. Now my mind is catching up with the processing.
I have known for a long time that I’m not a 1 and done gal. I will drink as long as something is being poured. For this reason, I feel like my future drinking should be away from home. Like a glass of wine at dinner out. I know I’m too cheap to have a whole bottle out.
I have said many times before that I should treat alcohol like an allergy. If I knew I would have an allergic reaction that made me feel like poo - I would avoid that item. What if that same item makes me lose memory, say things I don’t mean, get angry at nothing, be nauseated and have the poos the next day then I sure as heck would avoid the stimulus.
Why can I not avoid alcohol? Is it genetic? My parents are tee totalers. Is it a learned behavior? Maybe. I’ve had 2 alcoholic husbands. Am I an alcoholic? Probably.
So, now I am thinking clearly about my wet past. I can see the decisions I’ve made and their consequences. I can see the toll it has taken on relationships. Is this something I can limit? Is this something I need to walk away from all together?
These are questions I will ponder over the next few weeks/months. Till I know the answers I will strive to remain AF
Great point likening alcohol to something you are allergic to! Why go back to something that makes you feel lousy, or that are like potato chips and you can’t stop at one? Well, that’s the question for the ages. Whether you need to just walk away, or can stop at just one- either is totally fine. It’s a HUGE victory that you are pondering these things! Before the scales were removed from our eyes, we just drank out of habit, to numb a bad feeling, the list goes on. Just having awareness or it’s role in your life is such a giant, wonderful step! So proud of you!
If you haven’t already, check out some of the fantastic resources at the beginning of this month’s thread.8 -
10/17 AF days. Had an Old Fashioned after dinner, and it was really good. Not something I normally reach for. No way in hell could I have tolerated two of them. I would have been on the floor! Thus ends my 4 day AF streak. Back at it tomorrow.7
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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.
Saturday April 11 - AF
Sunday April 12 - AF
Monday April 13 - AF
Tuesday April 14 - AF - Tuesdays no longer stress me out because I don't go out to work anymore. I have time to work out more, prepare healthy food, get out on the trails everyday. I do work on my little Amazon business at home and have a learning seminar tomorrow morning early, so AF tonight so that I hopefully absorb a bunch.
Wednesday April 15 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow. Hey, that was 5 AF days in a row!!
Thursday April 16 - 3 drinks
Friday April 17 - AF - Woke up 2 pounds heavier from having drinks. All the more reason to have lots of AF days. Having said that, I am invited for wine and cheese tomorrow afternoon on my friend's patio where we can stay 6 feet away easily. We'll see. I work very very hard at losing weight and really know that the less alcohol days the better for that.
13AF days out of 17 days so far7 -
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
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - 1/2 bottle of wine. Worth noting that that was 3 small glasses over the course of 4 hours and 2 different virtual pubs. I remember when I used to put half a bottle in my glass at a time... I actually have a bottle sized wine glass which my nephews got me, engraved "aunty Helen only needs one glass"!
11/17 AF9 -
The one thing I have enjoyed about this past 5 weeks is NOT having the outside pressure to drink because I met up with friends, have a shot with a friend because they are having one or share a picture of margaritas with a group.
I have more of a tendency to become angry with someone if I refuse a drink and they say "oh you can have just one".
I was only attending happy hours in the past few years because hubby wants to drink cheap. I would go for the socialization factor over the alcohol. So for me it is a good/not so good situation because I miss the tavern atmoshere but I don't miss the pushing of booze.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
Positive thoughts for a good day.
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Thanks for all the ideas peeps💗 I have just been paying the bare minimum for now but one I did have to let go, oh well I don't plan on applying for a house or car anytime so I guess great credit isn't my priority right now, 6:36 am in Vegas another 24,hope everyone has a nice day!8
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Thanks for all the ideas peeps💗 I have just been paying the bare minimum for now but one I did have to let go, oh well I don't plan on applying for a house or car anytime so I guess great credit isn't my priority right now, 6:36 am in Vegas another 24,hope everyone has a nice day!
I have a feeling that in future years when lenders are looking at your credit - if they see a missed payment in April 2020 they will probably not be too harsh on you. That is if a person is reviewing the report and not a computer.
Hang in there!!!!!
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13 AF days/17 days. Starting to miscount over here. Is it just me - or is this month moving way too slowly?
Focus this weekend is so simple: try out 2 new recipes: mongolian beef and tandoori chicken thighs and finish the Netflix series "Money Heist"....maybe I'll lose myself in Youtube and explore 2021 hiking vacation possibilities....
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Check-in #9 (as opposed to Day 9): I'm moving my check-ins to the A.M. since if I have been drinking I tend to blow-off the evening accountability check.
- Yesterday I was really angry with my husband for making a snarky remark about the one glass of wine I had the evening before last. He doesn't drink anymore, but not because he drank too much. He much prefers food, specifically sugar & carbohydrates, to ETOH. I refrain from bringing up his obesity, and all the co-morbitities associated with being 50-60lbs overweight and really out of shape, because I believe we all have our demons and we're all doing our best to manage them.
- So what happened yesterday? I was still angry so I drank a bottle of wine over the course of the afternoon to evening. Really smart, eh? "I'm mad at you, so I'm going to punish myself." Not hangover drinking. Just "I'll show you" drinking. I also had a late-night potato chip snacking binge.
- Today is new day. I've cooled off and he has backed off.
- BTW, I'm very grateful for this forum to be able to vent without feeling judged.
Namaste
(Just because I practice yoga doesn't mean I don't drink)15 -
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
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - 1/2 bottle of wine
18 - AF
12/18 AF6 -
Tried my hand at grilling lamb chops, and the freaking grill caught fire (inside where it cooks, no damage done). Temp jumped from 500-800 degrees liketey -split. I was annoyed at hubby for getting mad at my panicking over the fire, so poured myself an extra half glass of wine. Luckily my son saved dinner from being a charred lump of coal. I was so pissed though. In retrospect I shouldn’t have grilled lamb on my very first attempt at grilling. But I was the only one available to cook, so I sallied forth.
Anyway, planned one glass of wine with a nice dinner , turned into 1.5 out of anger and fear. But mercifully dinner turned out great.
Also need to lay off ice cream. Scale was going down until I started with nightly ice cream. None for me tonight.8 -
globalhiker wrote: »13 AF days/17 days. Starting to miscount over here. Is it just me - or is this month moving way too slowly?
Focus this weekend is so simple: try out 2 new recipes: mongolian beef and tandoori chicken thighs and finish the Netflix series "Money Heist"....maybe I'll lose myself in Youtube and explore 2021 hiking vacation possibilities....
Okay, now I want Mongolian Beef and Tandoori Chicken thighs.4 -
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.
Saturday April 11 - AF
Sunday April 12 - AF
Monday April 13 - AF
Tuesday April 14 - AF - Tuesdays no longer stress me out because I don't go out to work anymore. I have time to work out more, prepare healthy food, get out on the trails everyday. I do work on my little Amazon business at home and have a learning seminar tomorrow morning early, so AF tonight so that I hopefully absorb a bunch.
Wednesday April 15 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow. Hey, that was 5 AF days in a row!!
Thursday April 16 - 3 drinks
Friday April 17 - AF - Woke up 2 pounds heavier from having drinks. All the more reason to have lots of AF days. Having said that, I am invited for wine and cheese tomorrow afternoon on my friend's patio where we can stay 6 feet away easily. We'll see. I work very very hard at losing weight and really know that the less alcohol days the better for that.
Saturday April 18 - AF - It was rainy and grey today, so no sitting out on my friend's deck. Tomorrow will be AF also because I have joined a weight challenge that weighs Mondays, so that is my short term motivation to not drink on Sunday. (I seem to gain like 2 pounds the morning after drinking for some reason)
14AF days out of 18 days so far8 -
Still AF April and none since 3/22. I've been running even day this month. I usually have a sob story, usually. But for a change, a good change, I have none. I'm doing well...
@Beka3695 I'm never finished with one either. I'm stepping back, too, and thinking about everything whether it (complete sobriety) should be a life choice for me or not.
Hugs to everyone here...and have a great day...9 -
8 -
Check-in #9 (as opposed to Day 9): I'm moving my check-ins to the A.M. since if I have been drinking I tend to blow-off the evening accountability check.
- Yesterday I was really angry with my husband for making a snarky remark about the one glass of wine I had the evening before last. He doesn't drink anymore, but not because he drank too much. He much prefers food, specifically sugar & carbohydrates, to ETOH. I refrain from bringing up his obesity, and all the co-morbitities associated with being 50-60lbs overweight and really out of shape, because I believe we all have our demons and we're all doing our best to manage them.
- So what happened yesterday? I was still angry so I drank a bottle of wine over the course of the afternoon to evening. Really smart, eh? "I'm mad at you, so I'm going to punish myself." Not hangover drinking. Just "I'll show you" drinking. I also had a late-night potato chip snacking binge.
- Today is new day. I've cooled off and he has backed off.
- BTW, I'm very grateful for this forum to be able to vent without feeling judged.
Namaste
(Just because I practice yoga doesn't mean I don't drink)
I used to LOVE afternoon drinking 😆 it was nice to get off work and just mellow or get stuff done I had been avoiding but the way I am I'd keep drinking til all the fun,escapy parts were gone and end up a mess,glad you two are getting along now💗 6:44 am in Vegas another 24 of not drinking,I sleep soooooo much better without a booze cruise,have a fabulous day all!9 -
14 AF days/18...I've been on the irritable side over here...time to recalibrate
I need to be kind to myself next few weeks. For now, need to let go of the diet for awhile and get outside for long walks and deep breaths. And get a small stash of dark chocolate. Usually dark chocolate with a good coffee fixes me.....8 -
Happy Sunday Morning!!! It is a rainy day in North Georgia - but still beautiful. Everything is bright green and fresh feeling!
I feel more in control today than I have in a couple weeks. Today is MINE!!!
Stay strong everyone!!11 -
Check-in #10: Beer X2 yesterday (my beloved IPA). Went for an hour walk. Trying to make that a daily habit along with yoga. Getting out the bike is next on the activity agenda.
@whitpauly: Thank you for your support. I started afternoon drinking in Alaska when I had to be in bed by 9:00pm-ish to get up at 5:00am for work. At least I've moved my start time back to evenings, have dramatically reduced my intake and lost 20lbs! Congrats on being so consistently AF!
9 -
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
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF
15 - AF
16 - AF
17 - 1/2 bottle of wine
18 - AF
19 - AF. I surprised myself. I had half a bottle of wine left from Friday which I intended to drink tonight, and enough calories not to feel guilty about it, but I just didn't fancy it so I didn't drink it.
13/19 AF10 -
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.
Saturday April 11 - AF
Sunday April 12 - AF
Monday April 13 - AF
Tuesday April 14 - AF - Tuesdays no longer stress me out because I don't go out to work anymore. I have time to work out more, prepare healthy food, get out on the trails everyday. I do work on my little Amazon business at home and have a learning seminar tomorrow morning early, so AF tonight so that I hopefully absorb a bunch.
Wednesday April 15 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow. Hey, that was 5 AF days in a row!!
Thursday April 16 - 3 drinks
Friday April 17 - AF - Woke up 2 pounds heavier from having drinks. All the more reason to have lots of AF days. Having said that, I am invited for wine and cheese tomorrow afternoon on my friend's patio where we can stay 6 feet away easily. We'll see. I work very very hard at losing weight and really know that the less alcohol days the better for that.
Saturday April 18 - AF - It was rainy and grey today, so no sitting out on my friend's deck. Tomorrow will be AF also because I have joined a weight challenge that weighs Mondays, so that is my short term motivation to not drink on Sunday. (I seem to gain like 2 pounds the morning after drinking for some reason)
Sunday April 19 - Drinks on my friend's patio in the hot sun
14AF days out of 19 days so far8
This discussion has been closed.
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