Less Alcohol - AUGUST 2020 - One Day at a Time
Replies
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Feeling better in control of not wanting to have adult beverages because:
1) Because it is Summer
2) Because it is hot and humid
3) Because I nailed a very busy day at work
4)Because a gal pal texted and wants to unload her mother/daughter problems on me.
5) well you get the picture.......
My brain used to think alcohol - solved, made better, gave me cool ideas, made me invisible, etc.
It does not.
I make those choices, nothing else that is contained in a bottle makes those choices.
August
Alcohol days ~0~
Do something wonderful for yourselves today. 🍉6 -
I am Dawn. 59 (for one more month), I live in SE BC
My goal has remained the same, one that I feel comfortable with: 16-20AF days each month.
Saturday August 01 - Drinks, fancy fruity ones that I concocted.
Sunday August 02 - AF - Didn't really want to be AF, but did.
Monday August 03 - AF - Too windy to go to a lake today (I float on a mat) so I did some stuff around the garden. It is still going to be 100 degrees for a couple of more days, I am going to try to only work in the mornings so that I can get to the lake while it is super hot and not windy. Motivation to not drink is how my belly swells up so big the day after having drinks. Planning on AF again tomorrow.
Tuesday August 04 - AF - Long stressful workday when I should have been at the lake, second to last really hot day. So badly wanted a few cocktails, but fought through it with my newfound "don't drink when you are stressed" tactic. Those cocktails won't be going anywhere, I will have a few on a happy day. Lake time Wednesday no matter what.
Rolling total 3AF days out of 4 days6 -
0 drinks/4 days.....just bought blueberries (from Canada), 4 packs for $1...and they are amazing. I also have 2 lbs of really plump northwest cherries from Wenatchee, Washington. Packed the cherries in snack bags, 10 per bag and I freeze them. When I want a treat, pull out the bag and rinse them under lukewarm water to slightly defrost.
This is better than ice cream and wine - believe me
. Calories favorable too.
My August plan reminder:
1.AF 29-30 days
2.No purchases of wine bottles, period.
3.Max 1 can rose bubbles on planned drinking days (upcoming family b-days)
4.No excuses
5.Lose 2 lbs
6.Refocus on enjoying life!3 -
@MissMay
You must have a lot of blueberry bushes!
I have some, but never enough to bring in the house. I will take a picture later, I would love to see a photo of yours!
What are you going to do with those 3 big pails of blueberries?1 -
@forestdweller1 Where are you and Catpucino going? See you around soon!2
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Day 4 - Aug 4
AF 2.5 ? / 4
I need to learn how to better deal with other peoples bad moods... after a long work day, I really don't want to come home to bad attitudes, but this is what happens most days. I tend to try and de-stress on my drive home, so I don't bring it into the house... So I waited for 1 full hour after getting home, telling myself to just deal with it, but I caved again... made a wine cooler, took a few sips, not my usual guzzle, then it sat while I finished making dinner, by then the ice was melted, and I picked up my water bottle instead... and ended up dumping the wine cooler!
So can I just count yesterday as 1/2 AF?
Side-note... love blueberries, but here in So California, prices are about $3 per 12oz container. I love berries and Greek yogurt for breakfast! They are good frozen too.4 -
Hello everyone. I myself have gone to the U Pick blueberry farm twice in the last week. I like to pick blueberries and freeze them for the year. So far I have picked 30 lbs. I like picking blueberries, it's peaceful and the bushes are tall on the farm so its shady. I go in the evening after work with my kids. I live in Oregon and we have wonderful blueberries too!
I've been AF'ing it up over here. In the past 10 days I've only had one alcohol day. I'm starting to realize I don't need alcohol in the way I once thought I did. This is pretty cool.
Aug 1: 2 drinks
Aug 2: AF
Aug 3: AF
Aug 4: AF
So far in Aug: 3/4 days AF7 -
@dawnbgethealthy, this is only a 1/4 of one of my blueberry bushes. They are high bush and I have 8 of them. The close up is one cluster of berries. They are truely phenomenal. 15.5 pounds picked so far this season.
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@dawnbgethealthy, this is only a 1/4 of one of my blueberry bushes. They are high bush and I have 8 of them. The close up is one cluster of berries. They are truely phenomenal. 15.5 pounds picked so far this season.
Jealous! Those look so plump and juicy you're lucky🤗 6:36 am in Vegas another 24,hope everyone has a wonderful day 💗6 -
Man, I'm not a big blueberry fan, but I want some now!!! Bluetiful pics!!!!6
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I am completely jealous of your blueberries @MissMay They are like trees!!
Back in Ontario they are like ground cover, very short bushes. I hear that they are like trees also in Vancouver.
I have one square of them here. Almost embarrased to show after seeing yours lol.
I just eat them standing there when they become ripe, about to do that.7 -
I am Dawn. 59 (for one more month), I live in SE BC
My goal has remained the same, one that I feel comfortable with: 16-20AF days each month.
Saturday August 01 - Drinks, fancy fruity ones that I concocted.
Sunday August 02 - AF - Didn't really want to be AF, but did.
Monday August 03 - AF - Too windy to go to a lake today (I float on a mat) so I did some stuff around the garden. It is still going to be 100 degrees for a couple of more days, I am going to try to only work in the mornings so that I can get to the lake while it is super hot and not windy. Motivation to not drink is how my belly swells up so big the day after having drinks. Planning on AF again tomorrow.
Tuesday August 04 - AF - Long stressful workday when I should have been at the lake, second to last really hot day. So badly wanted a few cocktails, but fought through it with my newfound "don't drink when you are stressed" tactic. Those cocktails won't be going anywhere, I will have a few on a happy day. Lake time Wednesday no matter what.
Wednesday August 05 - Drinks. Last hot day here, so went to the lake and had some yummy cocktails when I got home.
Rolling total 3AF days out of 5 days
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Claiming a concrete table at the lake with my float and beach bag. So nice to step away from town on our last hot day.
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Wow @MissMay, gorgeous blueberries! The ones on the farm I pick at are like trees, too. I have a few blueberry bushes but they look like @dawnbgethealthy 's. Not getting my 30 lbs that way, that's for sure. My bushes COULD look like trees, because they do that here, but the deer keep devouring them. We keep meaning to build a fence, and just haven't. We also have a herd of elk here. It's a lost cause without a fence.
Actually two nights ago the deer came through and ate all my flowers. Yesterday I discovered this in the morning, and I actually cried. They also ate a whole row of sunflowers that were just about ready to bloom that the kids and I started from seed. I have been using deer repellent, and applying it weekly, but I guess it had been about a week since I applied it and it was not effective.
Yesterday I swore I was going to give up flower gardening. I can't exactly put fences around my flower beds, since they are around our yard in a perimeter and what you see as you look out at our view. But then, as I laid in bed last night, I had an idea. I have two big dogs who enjoy chasing deer. I am going to get one of those dog doors built in to a panel you put in your sliding glass door and leave it accessible all night. My sliding glass door is in proximity to my flowers. The dogs will leap out of the door when they see deer coming! Or at least, that's my hope. I looked, and those kind of door panels aren't that expensive, only like $130 or so. I'm doing it! Let's hope it works.
Anyway, another AF day yesterday. I kind of wanted wine last night after the kids went to bed because my son was having a hard time and experiencing some anger issues. I ended up spending a long time talking to him, trying to help him through some breathing exercises, etc. He had gotten in trouble and had something taken away, and was very mad about it even though he understood why. I could have used the wine after expending so much patient parenting energy, but I just brewed myself a cup of Kava tea instead. Proud of myself!
Aug 1: 2 drinks
Aug 2: AF
Aug 3: AF
Aug 4: AF
Aug 5: AF
So far in Aug: 4/5 days AF9 -
With all the blueberries and mint...just sounds like a mocktail is begging for some muddling!5
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Staying on-track, AF yesterday!
3.5 AF / 5
Had a nice evening walk with hubby, we got to share with each other the struggles with his daughter. She is 25, but acts like a petulant 15 y/o teen... this Covid isolation stuff is not helping with her at with her anxiety and trouble making friends... so she tends to lash out more at us, mostly her father. I keep telling myself that she will grow out of this phase, but it has been 10 years already! I am mostly a calm person, takes alot to get me to raise my voice... takes nothing for her. I keep my distance, I do not enjoy any of the drama.
I was raised with 3 brothers, and was a bit of a tom-boy, had lots of male friends, raised 2 sons. Maybe I just don't have what it takes to deal with a girls roller-coaster of emotions and anger.
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@shorepine Let us know how that works! My only caution comes from experience with a doggie door. Critters have been brought into my house (the dogs and Mr. Kitty all tried to take credit for all of them, so who knows who it was). 2 possums and a chipmunk. Nothing like coming home alone after a night out (yes, drinks were involved and in this case, it probably helped me not completely freak out) to a dead? possum on my dining room floor. There was also the chipmunk chase, resulting in me running into my front yard with little on trying to deposit him outside, and then the other possum being brought to me and, seemingly in slow motion, gently set down next to me on my COUCH!6
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Great story @mainelylisa !
I have never seen a Possum, I just had to Google it. Looks exotic!
I had heard the term "playing Possum" but didn't really understand. So they play dead, slow their heartbeat right down and excrete a terrible smell from their anal glands (ewww) to appear dead.
So, the one on your floor...was dead or just playing dead?
I wonder what sort of creatures might come in the doggy door in Oregon @shorepine or if your huge dogs would dissuade that. Do you have racoons, possums, chipmunks, squirrels?
Apparently no matter where we are geographically Deer are a garden problem to us all.4 -
I am Dawn. 59 (for one more month), I live in SE BC
My goal has remained the same, one that I feel comfortable with: 16-20AF days each month.
Saturday August 01 - Drinks, fancy fruity ones that I concocted.
Sunday August 02 - AF - Didn't really want to be AF, but did.
Monday August 03 - AF - Too windy to go to a lake today (I float on a mat) so I did some stuff around the garden. It is still going to be 100 degrees for a couple of more days, I am going to try to only work in the mornings so that I can get to the lake while it is super hot and not windy. Motivation to not drink is how my belly swells up so big the day after having drinks. Planning on AF again tomorrow.
Tuesday August 04 - AF - Long stressful workday when I should have been at the lake, second to last really hot day. So badly wanted a few cocktails, but fought through it with my newfound "don't drink when you are stressed" tactic. Those cocktails won't be going anywhere, I will have a few on a happy day. Lake time Wednesday no matter what.
Wednesday August 05 - Drinks. Last hot day here, so went to the lake and had some yummy cocktails when I got home.
Thursday August 06 - AF - I will try to be AF tomorrow also to get 2 in a row.
Rolling total 4AF days out of 6 days2 -
Thanks everyone for the blueberry comments, lowfat vanilla yogurt, almond milk and blueberries are my go to smoothie.
@mainelylisa those are hysterical stories. Would have loved to have been there. Those were lovely thoughtful gifts your fur babies were bringing you.
I saw my first possum in Florida 2017. We were in an outdoor Jacuzzi late one evening at our resort. And a possum came onto the deck area wandering about like it owned the place. He/She was pretty cute looking I must say as critters go.
AUGUST 6th ~ 6 days AF
Best beginning to a month I have had since March 2020.
3 weeks and 3 days to go.
Step aside Dry January. My dry August is making strides.10 -
0 drinks/6 days...hanging in there.
Very cool gardening pix from you all ....waiting for early fall to plant something here. I have mostly quail families, small lizards, and occasional bunnies in my yard and they are welcome, but chipmunks no.... and they make a lot of holes in the ground ! My husband sticks the water hose in their burroughs and that seems to help.
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TGIF! To continue the berry talk, on my cabin jogging road, most of the beautiful wildflowers are now gone. But now there are RASPBERRIES!!! Nature is amazing.
As for possums, I didn't realize they are a southern critter! I saw a courting ritual one night on my fence--quite cute as he was nuzzling her. Until it got X-rated. The answer to whether it (and the couch possum) was dead is...I'll never know. I'm glad I wasn't overanalyzing that night--it didn't even occur to me that it might be playing dead. The next day a coworker said, "How do you know it was dead?" Another said, "How do you know it didn't have babies on its back that might have scattered into your closet??"
I continue Aug with no AF days which I'm not proud of, but at least I'm keeping it to one or occasionally 2 wines and just letting that be ok for August, and then the goal is more AF than A days, plus 2 max. I'm not stress drinking, and it's not interfering with workouts, driving, sleeping, or work and those are the true litmus tests for me. Well, weight is also, but I don't have a scale at the cabin.
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4.5 AF / 6 !!!
I will most likely have a drink with my husband tonight, but not more than 2.
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Doxmum checking in. Been brutally hot in NW Montana, not to mention an influx of (admittedly) paying tourists. This was accompanied by a rocketing increase in positive Covid cases. Not that the virus hitched a ride with everyone. It was probably circulating to some degree anyway, but when the crowds came, and the bars opened, well, Katy bar the door. The state Dept of Health closes restaurants & bars for 2 weeks if an employee tests positive. We have 2-3 places closed at any given time. At least the heat broke the last couple of days - whew!
I've been drinking a lot of NA beer. Athletic Brewing's Run Wild IPA is my fave. Have to have it shipped in though. I'm indulging in brut bubbles in the evening as well. No AF days in AUG. That said, I'm out and about on the trails daily. I've begun strength training for ski season, and I've lost another 5lbs!
Echoing all the kudos on @missmay's blueberry trees! As well as everyone else's blueberry bushes. We call them wild huckleberries in Montana & Alaska, and we mostly pick them. Well, other people pick them. I buy them at the Farmer's Market!
@mainelylisa You crack me up. Your dogs were soooo proud of themselves. "See mumma! Look what we brought you. Look! Look!"
Stay well, stay safe, and mask up!
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mainelylisa wrote: »TGIF! To continue the berry talk, on my cabin jogging road, most of the beautiful wildflowers are now gone. But now there are RASPBERRIES!!! Nature is amazing.
As for possums, I didn't realize they are a southern critter! I saw a courting ritual one night on my fence--quite cute as he was nuzzling her. Until it got X-rated. The answer to whether it (and the couch possum) was dead is...I'll never know. I'm glad I wasn't overanalyzing that night--it didn't even occur to me that it might be playing dead. The next day a coworker said, "How do you know it was dead?" Another said, "How do you know it didn't have babies on its back that might have scattered into your closet??"
I continue Aug with no AF days which I'm not proud of, but at least I'm keeping it to one or occasionally 2 wines and just letting that be ok for August, and then the goal is more AF than A days, plus 2 max. I'm not stress drinking, and it's not interfering with workouts, driving, sleeping, or work and those are the true litmus tests for me. Well, weight is also, but I don't have a scale at the cabin.
BE CAREFUL of those black bears up there. They LOVE raspberries. Seen 'em on the dump road and on the Birches road in Rockwood. Good not to take a scale 'ta camp. Enjoy your one or two drinks, you deserve to feel normal up there. JEALOUS!💛3 -
I am Dawn. 59 (for one more month), I live in SE BC
My goal has remained the same, one that I feel comfortable with: 16-20AF days each month.
Saturday August 01 - Drinks, fancy fruity ones that I concocted.
Sunday August 02 - AF - Didn't really want to be AF, but did.
Monday August 03 - AF - Too windy to go to a lake today (I float on a mat) so I did some stuff around the garden. It is still going to be 100 degrees for a couple of more days, I am going to try to only work in the mornings so that I can get to the lake while it is super hot and not windy. Motivation to not drink is how my belly swells up so big the day after having drinks. Planning on AF again tomorrow.
Tuesday August 04 - AF - Long stressful workday when I should have been at the lake, second to last really hot day. So badly wanted a few cocktails, but fought through it with my newfound "don't drink when you are stressed" tactic. Those cocktails won't be going anywhere, I will have a few on a happy day. Lake time Wednesday no matter what.
Wednesday August 05 - Drinks. Last hot day here, so went to the lake and had some yummy cocktails when I got home.
Thursday August 06 - AF - I will try to be AF tomorrow also to get 2 in a row.
Friday August 07 - AF - Might have drinks with a friend this weekend.
Rolling total 5AF days out of 7 days4 -
@dawnbgethealthy I hope you are now getting a break from those high temps. I lose my mind when it goes past 75°.
@docmum thanks for mentioning that AF beer. I like trying new ones. How is your new adopted pup doing?
@looneycatblue wishing you stress free, no drama days. How nice you and your husband were on a little walk together. Wish mine would partake in those with me.
@shorepine I have to agree with Lisa, those come and go doors can create more problems than worth. But I feel your pain with the deer eating up your lovey garden. My deer must be on vacation for a bit because I have had no damage for a week. Oh and they are NOT afraid of my dog or me. 😣
@globalhiker I like to take out about a cup of frozen blueberries right before I go to bed, I put them in the frig overnight and they only slightly defrost. Then in the morning I pop them into my magic bullet with yogurt and a splash of almond milk. Great power breakfast. And FULL of antioxidants.
@goldlady how is your less alcohol journey going?
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So here it is August 8th and I have successfully lived through 7 days AF.
Not that I have not had my biggest obstacle of all, my husband, constantly telling me "we" should have a bloody mary party because I was given fresh garden grown celery by a friend. Or that "we" should go buy a couple growlers of beer from the brewery in town or that "we" ought to try out the margarita maker "he" got for a gift years ago.
Can you see the problem? The "we" is all him needing to have a drinking companion. Nothing he does is done alcohol free. I hope he never cuts off his foot while mowing the lawn because that also requires many shots of tequila, and frankly I do not understand the odd patterens in the grass, he is mowing like crop circles out in the open yard.
I Know I have the want, need and desire to have a Dry August. The peer pressure from in my own home is the hurdle.
Lots of wishes for everyone to have the best day they can.9 -
Love when a “little tropical storm” decides to knock out a state. We lost power for 2 days, but the expectation was 5-7 days. We bought ice, dumped food, and planned specifically how to use up what would go first. I was fine with it, my kid read a few books, and my DH was an anxious mess.
I had a planned Wine & Whine evening with a friend. We changed it from FaceTime to just audio so I wouldn’t run out of power. Drinking and chatting by candlelight got a bit out of hand. Hungover and no power for coffee is just cruel. 🤦🏼♀️
But that hasn’t stopped me from nightly drinks. My Less Alcohol choice tonight: after my final glass of Summer in a Bottle (yes I stretched it for the week), I poured a cranberry juice and ginger beer with lime.
Just read and caught up...love the blueberries. And I didn’t know that blueberries were called huckleberries out West.
BTW Wine & Whine is scheduled drinks with long distance friend. I’ve been doing them for a decade to keep up with friends as I’ve moved across the country. Now with the pandemic, I’ve even used them for friends just an hour away.5 -
4.5 AF / 8 just barely 50% need to get more AF days in!4
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