Less Alcohol - JANUARY 2021 - One Day At A Time

Hello! Yes, we are LESS alcohol--whatever that means to each of us. No requirement for Dry anything.

I'm focusing more this year on what I'm trying to accomplish because I'm drinking less, rather than the drinking less. (Because I'm not one of those functioning drinkers. If I am drinking, I'm doing nothing else productive). Yesterday, I did make falafel and tahini (not recommended without a food processor), and wrote a memoir section. Was feeling kinda depressed--did not work out which of course would have made endorphins, so will force that today.

Today will be memoir organizing, chess practice, getting outside, and trying to enjoy the moments and the day and not dread work tomorrow.

2/2 AF (my Normal last year would have been 0/2 w/ prob 6 drinks by now)

Happy New Year!

I went AF on Dec 13th, but mindfully decided to have a couple of glasses of wine on New Year's Eve. We decided to stay up for the first time in a decade and usher 2020 out the door!

Two aha's out of going AF in Dec. I'm finding that tv is a big cause of wine cravings for me...when I see it, I want it.

The other one was habit...I'd come home after work and pour a glass of wine to unwind. That carried over into the pandemic after I resigned from my job. 4:00 would hit and I'd still go for the wine. Once I became aware, I've been able to stop that habit. I've basically told myself the past few weeks that alcohol is not a choice today.

Now on to Dry January. (Unless I mindfully choose to have a drink, but for the most part I'm choosing not to drink. Dipping my toes into AF, but doing so in a way that I'm limiting intake greatly to stop the habit if that makes sense. It helps me to know that I can have it if I choose it. It's not off limits which would probably make me want it more.)

Saw a segment on Good Morning America about Chrissy Teigen going AF the last month and the book that helped her do it called "Quit Like a Woman." I bought the ebook and am halfway through reading it and it helpful to the mindset for sure.

Was going to investigate the books on the list of this board as well. Which book would you say was the most helpful and recommend first for those of us just starting the less alcohol journey?

•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter

Rough morning here. Husband came home in tears (healthcare) Covid sucks I'm so over it and my husband fighting it, but we have no choice, that's what our life is right now. I can't believe the ugly bloody things he sees every night. I feel so bad for him. He even poured himself a drink (he's not much of a drinker) I did my best to comfort him, but he still works 3 more nights before he hits his weekend.

I did not buy myself anything to drink while in town today. I honestly would love to lose myself in a bottle of wine right now but I made sure what wasn't an option.

So far 3 AF days, I really want to make 40 days in a row. Personal goal of mine.

So blessed my husband doesn't drink. It is a lot easier for me to abstain when no one else is drinking.

1/1 2 drinks
1/2 AF
1/3 AF

Running total since starting on 12/25/20:
Dec 6 of 7 days AF
Jan 2 of 3 days AF

New month, new year.

I will post with my usual diary style to keep track of my AF days.
Keeping to my usual goal of 16-20 AF days per month, which is manageable for me and doesn't put too much pressure on me.

January 01 - AF - Had champagne last night, a bit fuzzy this morning but then went for a skate and felt better. Couldn't start off the new month with a drinks day.
January 02 - AF - Kind of felt like continuing the holiday drinks for a couple more days, had to use willpower lol.
January 03 - AF - Planning on AF tomorrow too. I am trying to get rid of a couple of holiday pounds, and not having drinks makes a big difference for me in that regard.

Rolling total 3AF day out of 3 days

Jan accountability: 1/3 days AF
Jan goal: at least 12 days AF

Jan 1: 2 cognac
Jan 2: 3 beers along with load of popcorn. Bingefest. Disappointed in myself even though I still made it under my calorie goal. All took place in the kitchen.
Jan 3: AF. About time I treated myself with respect.

1 hour Bodypump and increased the barbell weight. Got in 80 gr protein finally. Had Branzino fish for the first time, sauteed 5 min in a bit of unfiltered olive oil and it was amazingly good with just a squeeze of lemon. No spices, no herbs. Incredible flavor for a frozen fish from Turkey purchased at Trader Joes. 110 calories for 1 decent size filet. Paired with steamed french green beans and half a sweet potato seasoned with smoked paprika and red pepper.

3 Days AF here too. This morning I felt noticibly well rested, like I'd slept better, so I took advantage of the melted snow and went for a walk through the nearby woods to blow the cobwebs out from between my ears. I've spent the day feeling very light and fresh, which is something I could definitely get used to! I may have a drink in a few days but I'm going to see if I can stretch it out to a week. A solid 7 days AF will be a good thing for me to acknowledge, mentally.

As we gather, new and old on this post, I could relate to a lot of the previous posts above. Some of those things that have proven to keep me AF (for now anyway) is that
1) hot tea helped change my habit from multiple after work vodka&waters to a flavored tea as I cooked dinner.
2) additional "Sleepytime" (detox or extra strength) hot tea before bedtime, helped me fall asleep as opposed to passing out /then waking up all through the nights. Last night was the first time in 3 weeks I didn't need the tea (or alcohol) to fall asleep--and I slept without waking.
3) Twice now, I provided a shot of Evan Wms Cherry in my hubs ginger beer (at his request) instead of using his single "taste treat" as a reason for me to have my usual drinks--because he wouldn't "know."
4) I am reading again. I used to read a novel every 1-2 weeks. Mid-2020, my visiting daughter asked me why I didn't read anymore. I lied by saying I didn't have time instead of saying by the time I drank through cooking & kitchen chores, my eyes were too tired. I will be finished reading the first book in, forever, yet this week.
5) I'm the opposite of not buying it so I don't drink it. I always used to stash a back-up handle. I purposefully left 1-1/2" in my last handle so I wouldn't run out. That's my back-up now.
6) "Hard to be a Rock Star when it comes to recovery times" - truth! Sadly, my tolerance protected me from knowing that I felt bad even without a headache or other traditional hangover symptoms. I found other things to blame being tired & stressed on--which meant I needed a drink! What I am focused on recovering at the moment is my ability to remember conversations, goals, etc from one day to the next--and finding joy in little things I would have previously overlooked or not attended. Once upon a thread, (likely this one) someone said they had very low tolerance, like they felt horrible if they had two or more drinks. Recently learned from a 30 y.o. that this was her situation too and her ability to recover from a few drinks kept getting worse. That is how she learned she was sensitive to gluten--so maybe others here also have celiac disease which has long term health impacts.
So we are all rock stars in our own ways... I love that we are getting in touch with ourselves in truth on this thread. Thanks @MissMay and all of you for sharing your strengths.

I am failing miserably!