Less Alcohol - SEPTEMBER 2020 - One Day at a Time
Replies
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I am Dawn. 59 (for 5 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. Soooo 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
Wednesday September 09 - AF - Very early morning and long work day tomorrow, so no booze tonight.
Thursday September 10 - AF - Too tired tonight to even mix up a drink. Another early busy day tomorrow.
Friday September 11 - Drinks. Strawberry Daquiris to start, used only a half of a shot in each. Yup, still using up those strawberries that I got on a great deal, I eat them every morning for breakfast. I flirted with the idea of not drinking again until my birthday, 9 days, but then was like...nope. I do intend to drink every day on my holiday (like I did last year in Dallas, never to excess of course, don't want to puke), so part of the flirtation was to kind of "save up" my drinking days. No regrets on drinks tonight. I stopped by a friend's place when arriving back into town from a job in another town. I knew by the clock in my car that she would just be getting off of work. She drinks white wine and offered me some, amongst other options. I declined. Once I got home and realized that work was done for the week and that it was so beautiful out after working indoors all day, I was just like...yeah. Having cocktails. Still cognizant of wanting to squeak out 8 more AF days before the end of the month.
Saturday September 12 - AF - A friend came by who I would normally have made a cocktail for and joined her, it was very tempting, but I had drinks yesterday, so abstained. Kind of saving up some days for my trip.
Sunday September 13 - AF - I have a busy couple of work days ahead prior to my trip. Going to stay AF until ... at least a couple/few days more.
Monday September 14 - AF - 2 more days left of the 100 day weight loss challenge, so going to tough it out AF.
Tuesday September 15 - AF - Really really wanted drinks now that all of my jobs are done for 2 weeks. Abstained for the last day of the 100 day weight loss challenge weigh-in tomorrow morning. Good to rack up a few AF days anyway, since I plan on having drinks on my vacay.
Rolling total 12AF days out of 15 days so far.7 -
Nice bottle of wine with steak & steamed artichokes. Lovely dinner at home.
Sept accountability ~ 15
No Alcohol: 6 days
Alcohol: 9 days (17 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per month; limit 1-2 glasses per day
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How do you get to sleep on AF days? My kombucha has very little sugar, no sugar or caffeine after noon. I take nighttime sleep aids at 1 1/2 times the dose and take melatonin out the yang.
Thanks,
Karen2 -
@AR10at50 I know it's not legal everywhere yet, but I take an edible every night and it works much better than anything else I've tried--including def alcohol.5
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September Week 1 = 7 Days AF
September Week 2 = 5 Days AF
9/14: Alcohol Free, Really wanted a glass of wine but did not have any. We are social distancing with friends on Tuesday, so will not be AF then. Maybe will try to be AF 6 days this week, although 5 is probably more realistic.
9/15: Had 2.5 drinks last night as planned. The upside of having a few drinks: got a great night sleep. The downside of having a few drinks: woke up wanting to eat all the foods but I will resist that urge!
9/16
9/17
9/18
9/19
9/206 -
How do you get to sleep on AF days? My kombucha has very little sugar, no sugar or caffeine after noon. I take nighttime sleep aids at 1 1/2 times the dose and take melatonin out the yang.
Thanks,
Karen
I have a really hard time getting to sleep when I am AF. Currently using "sleep sounds" on our Alexa playing a mix of Ocean Waves with Rainforest sounds to help. I also like an essential oil called Deep Restful Sleep that comes in a roller bottle and I rub on wrists and neck at bedtime.5 -
A regular MFP poster trapped in a vacation cabin near raging forest fires with husband, small children, Dad, and Dad's antagonistic GF. Offline for 8 days...I watch too damn much ID TV...
@shorepine ....CHECK IN !!!
p l e a s e ???
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Don't have "vacation envy", since I've spent 7 decades flitting about like a Gypsy. Just pull out the memory of a favorite place to go to sleep to. Y'all sure seem like you're having fun [and turkey sandwiches, too !]
Weird white haze over Da'Burgh, weather man says it's smoke from all the western fires. Believable, since in Miami we would get Sahara Dust storms. Orange grit over everything, inside and out.
Thanks for the good wishes, guys. Feelin' great, still losing weight, down 10 now.
Eldest Daughter & her DH stopped by for a few hours during their Laura-induced early yearly migration from Maine to Louisiana and dropped off some mussels and crab. The lobster in their freezer is reserved as lagniappe for the FD & neighbors & strangers who show up out of nowhere when help is needed.
Crabcakes for supper last night, with a 3 ounce glass from the dregs of a 2 week old bottle of Chilean Pinot Grigio. Just because I could. Not weighing in on the previous discussion on how long an opened wine "keeps".
One wee glass this month, maybe one more to finish the bottle someday soon. Before I need to turn it into "Chilean vinegar marinated cremini".
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Still AF here. Got up, did not check news, went out for 1 hr powerwalk then straight to Body Pump class on Youtube.
@AR10at50 have you tried setting you clock to wake up super-early (I do 4:30am) then getting in exercise? Then no caffeine after 9am? I do this and have zero problem falling asleep right away.
@MissMay and @mainelylisa you both look like you had an awesome time! Great to see you look happy!4 -
Sept 1-7: 4 days AF, 3 drinks total
Sept 8-14: 5 days AF, 4 drinks total
Sept 15: AF
The altitude thing: I've traveled a lot, and I've never had a problem with altitude. Husband has never complained about it either. Most recently I went to Denver a couple of years ago and drove up in the mountains north of Boulder to do some hiking. Had no problems. But age is doing interesting things, and while I'm only in my early 30s, I do find more and more things are changing for the more difficult as every year goes by. Our first full day there will be recovering from the drive and getting groceries, and we can see how we feel after that.
I'm also here for all the sleep tips. I stopped sleeping well after I turned 10 and nothing I've tried has ever made it better. It takes me at least an hour to fall asleep, and every sleep aid I've tried is either ineffective or leaves me feeling terrible the next morning, melatonin included. Docs have never thought I have insomnia, but who knows. Bad sleep is rough.5 -
@chocolate_owl - glad to hear you've never had issues with altitude sickness. No one ever does, until they do - even experienced climbers. You have age on your side & if you're in good shape, all the better. As far as sleep issues, you're in luck! You are going to Colorado, where cannabis is totally legal. Get a recommendation for a therapeutically oriented pot shop. Tell them that you need to sleep, not get high (unless you want to), and you want to wake up refreshed, not hungover. Can't hurt, might help. See @mainelylisa above.
I'm sure you've looked into this but I highly recommend a bike tour down Pike's Peak. It is a blast! The cog railway is fun too but I heard it's undergoing renovations and won't be open until next spring (my SIL & her DH live in the Springs).
@forestdweller1 - glad to hear you are doing so well!
BTW, GREAT pic MainelyLisa and MissMay! Are you sure you weren't into the "edibles?" You Two, are having Too much fun!
@globalhiker - yep, altitude shows no mercy, especially if one is dehydrated. There's a reason climbers stop to acclimate at camps on their way up the Big Ones.
@shorepine - you are in our prayers.
Doxmum out2 -
Such a great crop of peppers this year.
This is one that I pulled yesterday to eat with hummus. I thought that I would share. It is very big, and is on a side plate (to know the perspective)
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@Doxmum I do have plans to check out the legal offerings in Colorado! I need guidance from an expert. I *might* know a guy who knows a guy, and I *might* have obtained some medical-grade stuff to cope with my back pain, but while it knocked me out, the high that I had to endure for about 30 minutes was really unpleasant. Husband wasn't a fan either - it made me feel like I was going to fall off the edge of the bed, so every time I partook he'd come to bed to find me sprawled spread-eagle across the whole mattress and he'd be stuck sleeping on the couch. Oops.
@dawnbgethealthy That pepper is amazing! I have serious envy of people who have their own gardens. Nothing compares to fresh-picked veggies.5 -
Hi guys. Wicked windy day here on the coast. Had to tie down everything that was not heavy. Guess it is that time of year. Finally picked the very last of the blueberries. Longest season I ever experienced for harvest. Happy to have many antioxidants in the freezer to make smoothies.
That is a gigantic green pepper @dawnbgethealthy. Looks as if you can stuff it. Enjoy!!! Your vaca is getting close.
A little sad news....the woman who was the moderator for this thread when I first stumbled upon it back in 2018 has come down with covid. Rubyred427 I keep an eye on her other thread and found out about it last night. Nothing but good strong wishes Ruby to get back feeling 100%.
@AR10at50 sorry your having sleep issues. I try to relax all my limbs in a consecutive order once I am in bed, also I wear a sleep mask to keep any light from my eyes. Keep the room at a cool temp and no obnoxious sounds.
Hello to you @forestdweller1 up and about feeling better YAY. I think we would have that haze to if it were not blowing so badly. Keep your window down,
No @docmum no edibles for me. WAIT...not unless......Hey Lisa did you slip me a micky in that fruit salad?????? LOL.
QUESTION:
How many of you have photos taken when with friends or at special events? (I suppose it does not even need to be a a special event) Anyhow how many photos have people holding drink glasses up. I pondered this question and fact with @mainelylisa yesterday during our lunch. Why do people need to grab a glass with an adult beverage in it and have it be in the photo(s).
On that note over and out....
AF in the wind tonight5 -
Racking up another AF evening! Dinner with DH and then book club over zoom. Usually book club I would have wine ... but tonight I stuck to water.
Sept accountability ~ 16
No Alcohol: 7 days
Alcohol: 9 days (17 drinks)
Goal: AF days 4 per week / 16 per month; limit 1-2 glasses per day
Wishing only the best of health and fast recovery from covid19 for Ruby (Rubyred427)!
@dawnbgethealthy Great pepper! I love gardening but over the past 20 years in this house the oak tree next door has shaded my veggie garden to the point I'm not sticking to herbs and serrano peppers.
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My challenge this evening which is of my own choosing. I'm going to a meeting in person instead of over Zoom to see friends. The theme is Mixology ... yes the theme says it all! We'll be learning to create two signature cocktails from the spunky mixologist, Nikki Hemphill-Munoz of Mobile Intoxicologists of Houston"
Signature Cocktails Ingredients:
1. Skyy Wild Strawberry Vodka, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, mint. Garnish: strawberry slices and lime wheel. Glassware: Highball Glass
2. Cruzan Mango Rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, soda. Garnish: Pineapple leaf, pineapple slice, and cherry. Glassware: Hurricane Glass
Game Plan: Enjoy the evening but only sample/taste (one sip each) the drinks and carry around a glass of water! I do not want to record the calories or carbs or chalking up another alcohol day. I'm there for the entertainment and friendships! Down 18 total pounds this morning ... I will not let social interactions destroy all my good efforts to lose weight.
BTW: DH will be joining friends for a going away party at 8th Wonder Brewery downtown. He is planning to limit to 2 beers. The competition is on ... who can handle the peer pressure better?
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Holy smokes a special welcome to @AquaMeow. That is a wonderful alcohol free streak since July 4th weekend. You must feel amazing. Give us your feed back.
It feels good and what I drink instead are Kombucha drinks which have pure alcohol but is healthy for you and has the sizzle feeling that soda and alcohol share. Its been my go-to and I've lost weight quicker drinking Kombucha drinks. You can find them in your local grocery stores. Alcohol is no longer needed in my system and that took some time to get used too.8 -
September Week 1 = 7 Days AF
September Week 2 = 5 Days AF
9/14: Alcohol Free, Really wanted a glass of wine but did not have any. We are social distancing with friends on Tuesday, so will not be AF then. Maybe will try to be AF 6 days this week, although 5 is probably more realistic.
9/15: Had 2.5 drinks last night as planned. The upside of having a few drinks: got a great night sleep. The downside of having a few drinks: woke up wanting to eat all the foods but I will resist that urge!
9/16: Alcohol Free but feel like I'm hungover, stayed awake most of the night partly due to discomfort from an allergic reaction I'm having and party because my brain would not shut down going a mile a minute.
9/17
9/18
9/19
9/205 -
Crap. Broke my AF streak and had 1 beer last night before dinner. It was a strong beer of husband's called G'Knight. Something like 8% alcohol but it was red in color and smelled really fragrant. I guess it was supposed to send me to lala land, but instead made my blood sugar nosedive. As usual, I overate at dinner to try to stabilize things. 1 beer event for me = 1000 calorie overload. This beer alone was 240 calories (OMG).
Recently, I've been waking up and having trouble getting my energy going (even after 2 coffees). Seems like I am dragging in the mornings and too speedy and overheated in the late afternoons. Just not on an even energy keel. I Is it just normal worsening perimenopause or maybe I just need fresh clean oxygenated cool air, the one thing we haven't had here in AZ for a long time?4
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