Less Alcohol - SEPTEMBER 2020 - One Day at a Time

Welcome @jessgetsatit !

jessgetsatit wrote: »

So far in Sept (it's really bad, I used the holiday as an excuse to give up on myself):

But you haven't given up on yourself! You're here! Treating yourself with a little compassion for being a human who struggles sometimes can go a long way

I am Dawn. 59 (for 12 more days), I live in SE BC
My goal has remained the same, one that I feel comfortable with: 16-20AF days each month.

September might prove challenging, since I will be going away and having some sort of self-indulgent holiday for part of the 2 weeks that I have booked off from all of my jobs. So looking forward to a break from work, got kind of spoiled during the lockdown. I was living my best life - lack of stress allowed me to lose weight, I drank less, worked out more, got the garden tilled and planted etc.

Tuesday September 01 - AF - I felt like having drinks, but can't be starting a new month out that way!
Wednesday September 02 - AF
Thursday September 03 - AF - I might have drinks after work tomorrow, we'll see.
Friday September 04 - Drinks. I ended up buying 4 packs of strawberries since they were on sale, 2 pounds for 97c each. I made Strawberry Daquiris with fresh lemons and Stevia. I really enjoyed them.
Saturday September 05 - AF - I satisfied myself yesterday with my fruity cocktails.
Sunday September 06 - AF - Felt like having drinks, didn't.
Monday September 07 - AF - Getting tested/fitted for hearing aids in the morning, so thought that I had better not have drinks tonight.
Tuesday September 08 - Drinks. Kind of a mash-up between happy to end my ridiculous work day (stress) and relaxing. I had kind of vowed not to drink to relieve stress, I partially failed on that account, but it worked (as it does). Oh, I got hearing aids this morning! Argh, I can now hear my thighs rubbing together!! Ack

Rolling total 6AF days out of 8 days so far.

And on this note: by @dawnbgethealthy
"Oh, I got hearing aids this morning! Argh, I can now hear my thighs rubbing together!! Ack"

THANKS I totally spit my glug of morning coffee across the room when I read this.

Almost did the same thing!! Love these morning chuckles.

@chocolate_owl we promise to keep socially distant with a place that big!

For me, DH and I are heading to Cape Cod on Saturday for a week. Last year, this was our “empty nest kick-off”. Of course that lasted 6 months and son is now studying from home! I don’t think we were quite ready to be left on our own yet, so that’s my pandemic silver lining.

Anyhow, my DH is a heavy drinker and sometimes there’s tension that I’m not drinking like I used to (2-3 wine or beer a night). Vacation may be a struggle for me to keep on the LESS side of things. I’m planning to take with me my AF beer, low-cal IPA, and diet ginger beer. These will give me easy options to be social/drinking. I’m sure I’ll pick up a bottle of wine for the week too, just don’t want 3-4 bottles of wine like last year! Wish me luck and share any advice!!
~ Samand

@mainelylisa & @MissMay I am dying over here! I NEVER realized there were a couple ways my handle could be pronounced! Oh my gosh....I am a little embarassed and also find this waay too hilarious to change.

It is supposed to be jess gets at it. I am on a mission! What a perv I would be if I went with jess gets a tit! bahahaha!

Anyhoo....haha


My DH and I are taking our 3 year old camping this weekend. We are going with two couples that we normally get together to drink with. I haven't decided if I am drinking or not. I really feel like I need to cut the booze for a long while. I am just shot from drinking too much. I am also having trouble with my teenage daughter right now (she is 15, soon to be 16), and I cannot be the best I can be when I'm on the bottle.

According to her, I don't care about her and she thinks it's easier for everyone if she just lives with her dad (we have been divorced 10 years and I am remarried)! I am heartbroken and have no idea how to handle this. Her dad plays a huge role here and he just hasn't been respectful of my wishes for our daughter, ever really, but in the last two years it's gotten disrespectful. There is so much to this, but the bottom line is I don't have a clue how to fix it.

So I don't know where I go from here. I don't even feel like working today I just want to lay in bed and cry. I am not looking forward to camping this weekend, or being around anyone.

9/01: Drank
9/02: Drank
9/03: Drank
9/04: Drank
9/05: Drank
9/06: Drank
9/07: AF
9/08: AF
9/09:

Week 1 of September was AF for 7 out of 7 days

Week 2 September Goals: At least 4 days/nights AF. When drinking, drink in moderation, measure drinks & make sure they fit in calories with a deficit. Try not to drink 2 days/nights in a row.

9/7: Alcohol Free. What!?!? I didn't have my planned wine last night. I'm super surprised! There will be Margaritas tonight though. I really can't see me making these and not having one. I've got 2 pre-logged into today's calories in MFP already.

9/8: 2 Drinks. I made Margaritas last night, a new recipe, and so delicious! Today, I woke up with the worst puffy eyes from them. We are making cocktails again tonight, will keep that to 2 drinks again and then be AF for the rest of the week.

9/9:
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:

Sounds like almost everyone had a good holiday weekend. Nice !!
I spent a couple days away from home myself, in the local hospital ICM unit recovering from a "stress related NSTEMI & acute bronchospasm" . Me, stress ?? Another issue to blame on the Toddler In Chief.
Now on a no-news diet [trying to not cheat]. Gained a shelf full of meds that the Dr. says are just temporary, and lost 7 pounds since Friday night. Good news on both counts, no ??
Despite loving kittysitting by Middle Daughter, Catpuccino has attached himself to my ankle, and sleeps on top of me every night. Abandonment issues ??
Still plan to be AF until November, even though Dr. says some alcohol is OK.

I came sooooo close to saying..."kitten it!" and opening a bottle tonight. OK I don't have any bottles, but a partial and maybe full can. Followed by a swig of hard whatever.

I've always struggled with meeting friends--maybe a combo of small to no family, introvertish, moving around a lot, and attaching myself to guys who don't have or want much of a social life. But I've worked hard to start a Meetup, reach out to neighbors, and connect where I can online and in person. I'm about to lose it. Even though y'all are great and it really does help me feel less lonely, it's not the same as being there. (Except @MissMay cuz she *was* there ) Work pretty much consists of my interacting with systems. I haven't seen my kids since Dec. Finally had coffee with my neighbor friend after trying for 3 weeks (she has lots of friends/family). Other than DH, I rarely see anyone or get together these days because people are busy or holing up (but mostly busy with family/friends). Of 3 friends I've made here, one moved to Utah, one moved in w/ bf an hour away, and the other is spending lots of time at camp with her DH and all their camp friends. I tried to talk to DH tonight (no wine), and he doesn't get it--says I'm having a day (meaning he's my expert hormonologist). I said when we're at Moosehead, I've got to try to find a way to meet and connect with people and hopefully meet some people to do activities with. Even if it means while he's fishing, walking down to the lodge and reading/writing, or playing poker with myself while people watching and possibly even a striking up a little people chit chat. Is that so crazy? Otherwise, I'm isolated in a cabin working, cooking, reading, or outside on a x-country trail alone. All winter.

3/9 AF days. I should get triple credit for AF today, which would put me at my goal. Jeez, didn't mean to write a book. Well, I do mean to write a book, but didn't mean for this to be it!

MissMay wrote: »

Ok, feeling like chopped liver over here. @mainelylisa ........darlin, I am getting together with YOU on TUESDAY. Hold on Hun.

I know and I'm <3<3--that's why I mentioned you @MissMay ! I wish I could clone you so we can get together more than once a year!