Less Alcohol - NOVEMBER 2020 - One Day at a Time
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@LilyFlowerMFP - Stick around ... love having you join us again. We each have our own goals and even though we slip up, don't hit the targets or don't set targets we are here to support one another. I definitely did not make my goals of 16 AF days in October (only 9) and limiting myself to 2 drinks when I do indulge. BUT checking in and making myself accountable helps me know that I'm trying. Good luck with your baby steps and remember perfection is never the goal.
@jaybo37 - Yep avoiding that first glass LOL. I like that comment. I'm definitely here for weight loss as well.
Another another note:
I do not want DH opening a bottle of wine and pouring me a glass Mon-Wed this month. Said it out loud. Okay I made that statement to DH because he is the one running to the store daily to buy a new bottle of wine because I don't want them stacked up in the wine rack (holds 20 bottles) in the house like we use to have prior to 2019 when I started joining this thread off and on for the past few years.
We have at least in the past year limited opening bottles of wine or more than one on most nights because we don't have any. One way to control my environment.
So we agreed we will buy some wine for this weekend ... heading to the camp to support my mom during this time and there will be lots of people in and out to care for as his family rolls in (my sister is covering right now and we are tag teaming it ... my shift starts Wed night). Doesn't look like mom's husband will be home any time soon as of today. We will see how the rest of the week plays out.5 -
Dear Lilylady3k's DH,
Please refrain from pouring our girl any vino Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday during the month of November.
~You have been warned~
🤣
Here ya go @Lilylady3k his ought to get his attention. A little friendly note from the thread.
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I’d like to join in if that’s ok. I’ve an exam in early December and I really need to a November where I remember! Losing too much of my weekends to hangovers, not every weekend but too many to be pleasant. Also finding it really detrimental to my weight loss, no weight loss in fact for a few weeks due to weekend wine & nibbles that go with wine. And weekends are starting on Thursday a lot. So I’d like to make the 30 days AF, I’m on day 2. I need to avoid that first glass, after that it’s easier - I know that’s probably obvious but it was a revelation to me when I managed a week or two completely off alcohol.
Anyway enough about me, looking forward to the company of others trying to cut down
Welcome @Jaybo37 you are not alone. That mindless first pour of the night....without even thinking about it. I remember it well. Now that your here, accountability is a huge help. If not to us, to yourself. Self awareness in why, when and how much we mindlessly drink can prove helpful. No one likes dropping a few pounds that took weeks or months to put it and more back on because of alcohol.
Let us know how we can help.8 -
I'm in for November! After a very good August & September decreasing my alcohol consumption, October just didn't go as planned. But recommitted to drinking less this month.
11/1 - AF
11/2 - No plans to drink today (but tomorrow is another story)
Great to see you back to make November more of the success you want. Reset is good.5 -
Thank you @MissMay, for keeping this going and your words of encouragement.
I quit posting in October because I lost count, but didn’t go overboard. It’s hard when you can’t count it as AF if you have just one beer, or a single light drink....I’m glad November rolled around and I can start fresh again.
Oh sorry you lost count and got discouraged. You dont have to count if you dont want to. This is not a contest 😉. How ever you are comfortable with your accountability is your choice. You can even guesstimate your less drinking. Say, for example...I drank only beer this month and cut out liquor totally. That would be a less in my book.6 -
I always like to post a standard drink chart every now and then. Recommended weekly drinks for women is 7 standard drinks. Kinda odd men have a count of 14 weekly. I think it should be the same for both genders. But hey I dont get the big bucks to write the rules.
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DH is drinking coffee with me after dinner. Bar was closed at home this evening
Nov accountability: 2/2 days AF
@MissMay - Thank you for the message of support!6 -
Just want to toss it out there...I never count. I really stick with just making one choice at a time.
That has led to adding more water into my evenings. It means I now have some ingredients for mocktails, low-cal and AF beer options. Having options for better choices has led to “less”.
This group is casual and always open. Welcome to the new and returning folks.
{from a 6-month newbie}.6 -
Aloha all and aloha to "November to Remember". . .I LOVE it!!6
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Just want to toss it out there...I never count. I really stick with just making one choice at a time.
That has led to adding more water into my evenings. It means I now have some ingredients for mocktails, low-cal and AF beer options. Having options for better choices has led to “less”.
This group is casual and always open. Welcome to the new and returning folks.
{from a 6-month newbie}.
👍👍👍4 -
Lilylady3k wrote: »DH is drinking coffee with me after dinner. Bar was closed at home this evening
Nov accountability: 2/2 days AF
@MissMay - Thank you for the message of support!
☕😊3 -
I am Dawn and live in South East British Columbia. I am 60.
My goal remains the same as it has been for quite some time, 16-20 AF days per month.
I check in diary style.
Sunday November 01 - AF - I have been working like crazy in the yard and really wanted to have a couple drinks this evening, but just didn't want to start the month out that way. I have moved my Monday jobs to later in the week so that I can get as much as possible done in putting my gardens to bed before the rain and colder weather comes on Wednesday.
Monday November 02 - AF - Finally finished digging up the rest of the potato garden, pulling every weed and it is now covered until Spring. Hard physical labour, but the good kind. I definitely felt like having a drink, but I have to work very early tomorrow so didn't.
Rolling total. 2AF day our of 2 days5 -
I always like to post a standard drink chart every now and then. Recommended weekly drinks for women is 7 standard drinks. Kinda odd men have a count of 14 weekly. I think it should be the same for both genders. But hey I dont get the big bucks to write the rules.
I know this is partially snarky, and yessss for gender equality, but I’m like 60% confident that the difference between alcohol recommendations for the genders is a relatively recent change, like in the past decade. Studies were done linking higher alcohol consumption to reduced folate production in women, and the folate levels were low enough to increase the risk of breast cancer. Men did not have the same results. (Alcohol’s effect on folate and folate’s effect on breast cancer is still not that well correlated, but better safe than sorry?) Save the tatas, drink less booze.
Take all of this with a grain of salt, it’s been a while since I was reading scientific papers with vigor and I might not have my facts straight. Ok, back to lurking status again...8 -
Thanks for the warm welcome. I haven’t felt able to say it out loud to my other half, scared I’ll fail and feel dejected. Planning strategies to avoid the booze quietly until I get at least 1 weekend dry done.
I think a night where I drink is a write off from a diet perspective. I rarely if ever manage to stick to my calorie deficit - usually overshoot by 500-1000. So on the basis I’m doing that 2-3 times a week it’s no wonder I’m not losing. I’m only maintaining because of strict control the other days. That’s a sure fire way to make dieting feel miserable, and my hangovers do enough of that!6 -
chocolate_owl wrote: »I always like to post a standard drink chart every now and then. Recommended weekly drinks for women is 7 standard drinks. Kinda odd men have a count of 14 weekly. I think it should be the same for both genders. But hey I dont get the big bucks to write the rules.
I know this is partially snarky, and yessss for gender equality, but I’m like 60% confident that the difference between alcohol recommendations for the genders is a relatively recent change, like in the past decade. Studies were done linking higher alcohol consumption to reduced folate production in women, and the folate levels were low enough to increase the risk of breast cancer. Men did not have the same results. (Alcohol’s effect on folate and folate’s effect on breast cancer is still not that well correlated, but better safe than sorry?) Save the tatas, drink less booze.
Take all of this with a grain of salt, it’s been a while since I was reading scientific papers with vigor and I might not have my facts straight. Ok, back to lurking status again...
Good point on the breast cancer correlation. Yet, In general, men are 2-fold more likely to die from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis than are women, according to an analysis by the National Center for Health Statistics that was reported in 2005.
I believe that it should be the lower of the two standards which is 7 drinks per week for both men and women to follow.
😊0 -
This month I plan to post my "stats" only once a week on Mondays. So far Day 1 and Day 2 were AF. Focus for me is to remind myself not to worry about things outside my control. Instead, redirect my thoughts and refocus on bringing in more positive things into my world.
Tip from my former dietitian that worked for me : you know those 7+ daily colorful veggies and fruit and fiber + protein from beans we're supposed to eat daily, if you try to eat this EARLIER on in your day along with the liter or two of water (I call this front-loading) and save the "planned treats" and starchy carbs for end of day, you will naturally see your desire for more food/sugar/alcohol lower at night because you're just way too "full".
Gotta feed those hormones well so they don't complain......
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Saw eggnog in the grocery cooler case yesterday. Started towards the door handle and then took a step back.
LOVE EGGNOG and also used to love to slip in a bit of rum into it. Backed off the door handle knowing that 1/2 gallon jug would add loads of calories to my daily eating.
I have committed to a 90 day weight lifting program, three days a week. I dont need to sabotage it this early in the game.
I know my self well enough to not have even non alcoholic eggnog in the house.
ENJOY THE DAY.
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Love Eggnog with rum and a dusting of nutmeg. I've only indulged 3-4 times over the past 10 years. When I buy it I'm usually serving it for a party and then when the evening is over I use the eggnog to make french toast the next morning
Leaving for the camp in the morning instead of Wednesday evening or Thursday. So DH picked up the wine we wanted for the weekend (TH-S). He bought an extra for this evening. He is stressed ... my mom's husband in ICU and going forward might become our problem, DH decided to stay with the company he is with and turned down a job offer with a start up, our dog left on a stud service, and then of course the election.
He opened a bottle of wine but did not pour me a glass. I'm sticking with water this evening.
AF!
Nov accountability: 3/3 days AF4 -
I am Dawn and live in South East British Columbia. I am 60.
My goal remains the same as it has been for quite some time, 16-20 AF days per month.
I check in diary style.
Sunday November 01 - AF - I have been working like crazy in the yard and really wanted to have a couple drinks this evening, but just didn't want to start the month out that way. I have moved my Monday jobs to later in the week so that I can get as much as possible done in putting my gardens to bed before the rain and colder weather comes on Wednesday.
Monday November 02 - AF - Finally finished digging up the rest of the potato garden, pulling every weed and it is now covered until Spring. Hard physical labour, but the good kind. I definitely felt like having a drink, but I have to work very early tomorrow so didn't.
Tuesday November 03 - Drinks. Broke my rule and drank from long day work stress instead of saving my drinks days for happy days. I have been pretty good about this, just kind of failed on it today. I did feel better immediately though, left the stupid workday behind!
Rolling total. 2AF day our of 3 days5 -
globalhiker wrote: »This month I plan to post my "stats" only once a week on Mondays. So far Day 1 and Day 2 were AF. Focus for me is to remind myself not to worry about things outside my control. Instead, redirect my thoughts and refocus on bringing in more positive things into my world.
Tip from my former dietitian that worked for me : you know those 7+ daily colorful veggies and fruit and fiber + protein from beans we're supposed to eat daily, if you try to eat this EARLIER on in your day along with the liter or two of water (I call this front-loading) and save the "planned treats" and starchy carbs for end of day, you will naturally see your desire for more food/sugar/alcohol lower at night because you're just way too "full".
Gotta feed those hormones well so they don't complain......
Really thinking about this. I barely eat during the day, I may start out with 1/2 of a rice cake with a tsp of almond butter. On a non work day I don't even bother forcing myself to eat anything. I truly am not interested in food throughout the day, but have trained myself to eat at least a couple of bites of something in the morning with my coffee before work. I have never been a daytime eater, never really been interested. After reading this I feel like I should find a day to actually give it a try.
Like...you eat beans in the morning?
I do try to get my water in early, or I never get it in.
As for the things that you can control or not control, I think that it is surprising that things that are done on a micro level are more effective than waiting for the big powers to enact.
Case in point: A town (in South Carolina?) decided to become Carbon neutral. They didn't wait for legislation. They did it! A town 3 over saw the model and decided that they would do it too.
Just saying. Change starts at grass roots. We have more positive control than we know.5 -
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
I have learnt so much from all of you just by being here.
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@dawnbgethealthy "If you're not going to help, at least don't hurt..." It could be as easy as common sense. Don't throw trash out your car window or pick up the trash that slobs throw out. I do it. I used to tie a plastic bag around my stroller and wear a glove and pick up bags of trash with each walk out with my baby. I drive a hybrid (9 years now), I only use reusable bags, I rarely ever use my dryer but instead hang dry or use my drying rack for clothes, I repurpose, reuse, reduce, recycle everything I can. But I don't force it down other people's throats or insult them for not doing what I do. Action, not hypocrisy, gets it done. Not lip service or insults, but action speaks loudest. Other people in other towns...well fantastic but what are YOU doing to clean up your trashy doorstep before you help out that neighbor with advice? Of course this is a generalization to anyone, of course...not necessarily you.
@chocolate_owl I appreciate your research, scary but it is a positive to remember before pouring a drink because it's nice to know we can possibly deter some of these things...
@MissMay My husband is 130 pounds bigger than me. He could easily drink twice what I could.3 -
Alright I see we all survived election day, the plant did not explode and life goes on.
I was aborbing Dawns comment on drinking triggers. She said she would rather have a drink for a happy moment than a stressful drink release. (Sorry to hear you had a wicked bad day)
What are some of your "drink triggers"?
I have an odd one:
Knowing I don't need to get in my car & drive home if I am out. If we have a hotel room and can walk to places while having a fun time, or have plans with a taxi ride, I have to keep reminding myself NOT to over do it. My drinking brain thinks of it as a free pass to keep sucking down drinks, since my husband does not drive and I am always behind the steering wheel taking us both places.
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@Lilylady3k emotional time for you and your family. My thoughts are with you.4
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My "current" most common trigger is late-day supermarket shopping when hungry and tired. Blood sugar dips=bad decision-making for me.
AF last night. Today's focus for me is yoga and deep breathing. And yes, I will go for a walk and pick up debris on the bike lane as I normally do because I care about my neighbors and don't want them tripping over stuff or getting a flat tire from sharp objects. And yes I will eat my half-cup of Trader Joes's cuban style black beans with my early lunch so I can get some protein and iron. And yes, I will be cautious about the content and positive tone of what I write because words can have a powerful effect on others. Positivity always appreciated.
Namaste4 -
A glass of wine with my mom & DH as we talked, distracted and fed her (redfish topped with crawfish etouffee and roasted broccoli). Special meal and time. This evening is their 18th wedding anniversary and tomorrow is her husband's 85th birthday. He is still unresponsive in the ICU with the cranial bleeding after the fall when he hit his head Sunday.
Nov accountability: 3/4 days AF
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@Lilylady3k
I am so sorry about your Mom's husband.
I am really glad that you and your DH are there for her.3 -
globalhiker wrote: »My "current" most common trigger is late-day supermarket shopping when hungry and tired. Blood sugar dips=bad decision-making for me.
AF last night. Today's focus for me is yoga and deep breathing. And yes, I will go for a walk and pick up debris on the bike lane as I normally do because I care about my neighbors and don't want them tripping over stuff or getting a flat tire from sharp objects. And yes I will eat my half-cup of Trader Joes's cuban style black beans with my early lunch so I can get some protein and iron. And yes, I will be cautious about the content and positive tone of what I write because words can have a powerful effect on others. Positivity always appreciated.
Namaste
I love that you are picking up trash on your walks!
One of my sisters eats beans for part of her huge breakfasts.
Beans are so darned good for us. I will try to eat more of them, probably not for breakfast or lunch though : - )
I always like everything that you write, it is thought provoking.5
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