Less Alcohol - MARCH 2021

dawnbgethealthy · March 2021

Happy March!

I am continuing with my goals that I have mostly been following for a year:

16-20 AF days per month
Don't drink 2 days in a row
Try to keep 2 AF days in between drinks days

I choose the diary style so that I check in every day, keep myself accountable, and can see at a glance where I am at.

Monday March 01 - AF - Had to start the new month off with an AF day : - )
Tuesday March 02 - AF - Needed to wait 6 minutes many many times, I really felt like having a couple of drinks tonight. I know that I (and my waistline) will be happy tomorrow that I resisted.
Wednesday March 03 - AF - Early start for work tomorrow, so AF tonight. 4th AF day in a row.
Thursday March 04 - Drinks. Busy busy day. I had lost my hearing aid on a hiking trail yesterday, so was having a pretty hard time of it today not being able to read lips whilst everyone was wearing masks. Replacement will take one week to get here. Finishing work for the day and for the week was so lovely. Relaxed with a few drinks.
Friday March 05 - AF - Tomorrow will be a challenge since I am going to be with my bubble friend who drinks wine every day. Going to try really hard to get my 2AF days in a row though.
Saturday March 06 - Drinks, 2. Already broke one of my own rules this early in the month. Willpower just gave out I guess.
Sunday March 07 - AF - I will be again tomorrow.
Monday March 08 - AF - Our 90+ people were able to make appointments today to schedule a vaccine. It will be quite awhile until they work their way down 5 years at a time. Keeping myself fit and healthy. Possible drinks tomorrow night.
Tuesday March 09 - Drinks, 2. Very long workday, Tuesdays always are for me. if I am going to have drinks 2 or 3 times per week then Tuesdays are a really nice time for me to do so while I unwind.

Rolling total: 6AF days out of 9 days.

globalhiker · March 2021

Today is AF day 10 for March. I rewarded myself with a non-food reward, finally! Got an inexpensive upright exercise bike that actually fits, is zero-noise, comfy, adjustable, and I can lift it and position it in front of the TV so I can watch my travel youtube videos at the same time. Nothing hurts so it's a keeper. Thing is, I can't use the "weather is too bad to exercise " excuse anymore....!

Separately, I had an interesting read yesterday. I love reading about how the brain works, fascinating. It turns out that some people have an easier time changing their behaviors by first changing their thinking. But for some people this doesn't work.

Instead they do better at introducing a replacement behavior first and letting that new behavior take the place of a behavior they wish to eventually eliminate.

Well I succeeded at replacing my wine with chocolate. Now my head just wants chocolate. Let's see if I can replace that with the exercise...:)

Womona · March 2021

Overindulged last night- a glass of wine with dinner out followed by a big cognac to celebrate some good news. Working late tonight and need a break from alcohol! This weekend we are away visiting friends, so I’ll just have to moderate the way I did this past weekend.

lmlmrn · March 2021

AF last night so 8 out of 9 days for March.

@globalhiker congrats on the new stationary bide and finding a practical solution for your habits For me it is really a combination of the two, my head has to be in the game and I need something to replace the old with a new. Like you I use a food (usually pretzels + lily's chocolate chips) and non alcoholic drink (diet tonic water with bitters) This seems to keep my devil off my shoulder in the evening.

NotHumanAtAll · March 2021

I haven't drank at all so far this month. I love a drink but have only drank three times this year due to a combination of mental breakdowns (alcohol does not mix with those at all!) and starting new medication then increasing my dose. This month I'm sorting out my diet and exercise to try to lose a few pounds, so I don't plan to drink alcohol due to the calories. So far this month all I've drank is coffee and water, as well as one diet fizzy drink as a treat for my efforts. My main motivation is wanting to fit into certain clothes that are too tight and feel more confident about my body for when I can finally go on nights out after lockdown is relaxed, so I'm probably just going to save myself for when pubs start opening, though I definitely need to make sure I don't overdo it then.

chocolate_owl · March 2021

3/1-3/7: Very bad, lots of drinks
3/8: AF
3/9: AF
3/10: AF

Made a 9 hour trip to get my Covid vaccine today. Husband opened some wine with dinner. I turned it down. I am so happy he asked me instead of just pouring me some, and it was effortless to say no. 8 months ago I probably would have enthusiastically taken it. 6 months ago I would have waffled. But today it was very easy to prioritize my health (don’t want to mix alcohol with possible vaccine side effects!) and weight loss goals.

CryingBlue · March 2021

I lost my whole post!!!!
Argh!
Anyways, not AF tonight. Too much stress this week and bought 2 beers.
6 of 10 af this month.
I wanted to say wow I'm really impressed with you who are willing to drive so long for a shot. Kudos!!!
I personally won't be getting one. But I'm highly allergic to eggs, ibuprofen and many other things. So thank you!
Husband is a front line worker and has had both his shots with no side effects.

dawnbgethealthy · March 2021

Happy March!

I am continuing with my goals that I have mostly been following for a year:

16-20 AF days per month
Don't drink 2 days in a row
Try to keep 2 AF days in between drinks days

I choose the diary style so that I check in every day, keep myself accountable, and can see at a glance where I am at.

Monday March 01 - AF - Had to start the new month off with an AF day : - )
Tuesday March 02 - AF - Needed to wait 6 minutes many many times, I really felt like having a couple of drinks tonight. I know that I (and my waistline) will be happy tomorrow that I resisted.
Wednesday March 03 - AF - Early start for work tomorrow, so AF tonight. 4th AF day in a row.
Thursday March 04 - Drinks. Busy busy day. I had lost my hearing aid on a hiking trail yesterday, so was having a pretty hard time of it today not being able to read lips whilst everyone was wearing masks. Replacement will take one week to get here. Finishing work for the day and for the week was so lovely. Relaxed with a few drinks.
Friday March 05 - AF - Tomorrow will be a challenge since I am going to be with my bubble friend who drinks wine every day. Going to try really hard to get my 2AF days in a row though.
Saturday March 06 - Drinks, 2. Already broke one of my own rules this early in the month. Willpower just gave out I guess.
Sunday March 07 - AF - I will be again tomorrow.
Monday March 08 - AF - Our 90+ people were able to make appointments today to schedule a vaccine. It will be quite awhile until they work their way down 5 years at a time. Keeping myself fit and healthy. Possible drinks tomorrow night.
Tuesday March 09 - Drinks, 2. Very long workday, Tuesdays always are for me. if I am going to have drinks 2 or 3 times per week then Tuesdays are a really nice time for me to do so while I unwind.
Wednesday March 10 - AF - Easy to do because I have a busy workday tomorrow and want to be sharp.

Rolling total: 7AF days out of 10 days.

Lilylady3k · March 2021

I've completely slipped and lost focus on myself and my personal goals. I'm letting stress make my decisions. I'm reeling myself back in and setting the reset button today.

Mar accountability: 0/10 days AF
Alcohol: 10 days (18 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month

3/1 - 2 wine
3/2 - 1 wine
3/3 - 1.5 wine
3/4 - 2 wine
3/5 - 3 wine
3/6 - 1 wine
3/7 - 1.5 wine
3/8 - 1 wine
3/9 - 4 wine
3/10 - 1 wine
STOP: Refocus

globalhiker · March 2021

There must be something going on with the lunar cycle affecting us, I wonder....because I had an incredibly hard day yesterday. OMG. I had this low pressure headache nagging me all day long especially behind my eyeballs and zero energy and general bad mood to boot, which is very unlike me. I was literally DYING to run out to buy a cold fizzy rose to fix this all.

I'm at 38 straight days AF, I said to myself, so it's not time to start drinking. You (meaning me) need to re-train your brain to quit associating the wine remedy to kill bad feelings, otherwise this whole AF exercise is a waste. Yes, right. I convinced myself to stay home and go cook dinner.

I mentioned this all to my husband after he ended work, and he said to me he was feeling the same way!

Anyways, not sure if it was a vaccine effect but either way I am super glad I got the shot. If anything, it greatly reduces my risk of getting a long term Covid disability and at the same time I am helping to squash the transmission rate, so indirectly maybe saving someone else's life. I am allergic to many things but the Pfizer ingredients has no egg in it and no recognizable allergens for me. I know 4 people (3 elderly but one in his 50s with no medical issues or obesity) who died and a friend of mine knows an athletic lady in her 40s who got Covid and it affected her heart. It's been 6 months that she can't run anymore and is on heart medicines since the Covid attacked her heart. My husband's co-worker had to have a double-lung transplant due to Covid and he is in his 40s. It's these mysterious disabling long term effects that hit mostly healthy people that spook me.

Anyway, looking forward to making today a better day.......!

globalhiker · March 2021

@lmlmrn your post about the snack remedies reminded me of something I read from a psych article....the article said to be mindful of "HALT"... acronyms for the primary drinking triggers most people experience:

H- Hungry
A- Angry
L- Lonely
T- Tired

These are 4 primary "feelings" that drive people to drink. Interestingly, I am seeing this pattern in a lot of our posts! For me, Hungry is the one I run into the most and is my biggest challenge.

I do think this should be expanded to include "P" for Pain. Whenever I have a physical discomfort or pain, my very first thought is to address it with wine. I need to retrain my head to to direct me to tylenol instead.

Anyways, I found it helpful to be cognizant of these and how often they hit me as it helps me to take steps to work towards alternative solutions/replacement behaviors in response to these.

lmlmrn · March 2021

@globalhiker "HALT" I like that and I think all of those would fit me at any one time. I am not sure where boredom falls in that category? or just plan routine.

AF last night so rolling 9 out of 10 day

I have not seen @mainelylisa everything ok?
@dawnbgethealthy I am a long way off for my 1st shot, they have just lowered the age to 65 so DH is having his first today but I am a few years younger.
@Womona I celebrated with you in spirit (no alcohol though hehe), don't know what the good news was but any good news is reason to celebrate!
@Lilylady3k we are here for you, is there something we can do for you to help you refocus right now?...you are in my thoughts
@chocolate_owl wow that was a long trip to get your vaccine! and then to skip some wine....I am more than impressed, really I am

saw my GP today about my b/p....think we have finally got our meds figured out so no more crazy on that front....now to just figure out about this dry nasal stuff and sore throat going on. Dr. said he did not think it was side effects to medication since I have been taking it for 3 months and this is the first sign...so I will chalk it up to seasonal cold/allergies.

Lilylady3k · March 2021

Thank all of you for always being here. My accountability is so very important and knowing I'm reporting in helps me to curb the "wants" to continue drinking more. Stopped at 1.5 glasses of wine last night. So looking back what have I done right this month? I've not chased the wine with bourbon & 7up along with DH. I slipped 2 nights and went over my 2 drink limit ... regretted it the next day. Amazing what a light weight I've become! What I've done poorly ... not put AF into my tracking for evening one evening. Got to work on this.

Hope all of you are accomplishing your personal goals!

@chocolate_owl - Congrats on getting the vaccine! 9 hrs is a commitment but worth it. Which vaccine did you get? And do you have to return to the same place for the 2nd shot?

@lmlmrn - 9 out of 10 AF CONGRATS! Meds can make sure a big difference when they are balanced correctly. My mom was on one med for b/p for years but she was spiking recently over 200. The doc added a second b/p med to her routine and now she feels much better! Take care and hope that you continue to find improvements to feel better.

@globalhiker - WOW you are on a role! Thank you for sharing all the information that you dig up to help reset our mindfulness.

@dawnbgethealthy - You are always my inspiration! One of these days I'm going to live and learn from you and get into better habits ... love your one about "keeping 2 AF days between drinks" and "not drink 2 days in a row".

@mainelylisa & @MissMay - How are you both doing?

@Womona - How is your journal tracking on food going? I slipped this week not tracking completely for 3 days and it showed up on my scale. Enjoy your weekend with friends!

@CryingBlue - I think if you stick to Pfizer or Moderna with the messenger RNA then there is no risk of egg allergies with the vaccine. But stick with your doctor's advice on that topic!

globalhiker · March 2021

Today marks day 40 AF for me. I don't want to screw this up!

You guys won't believe how much easier it is to be AF for weeks straight for me. Days of the week or time of day or walking down the wine aisle in the supermarket are no longer triggers.

I'd like to keep going until I at least get to the 60-90 day mark, which supposedly gets me to the "range" where bad habits are broken and new habits become automatic. This magic timeframe is variable for everyone but I am guesstimating this to be my target.

By then hopefully my dopamine chemistry normalizes. But I have to see how I feel and make sure I've managed to deal with different emotions and situations without depending on anything, even stuffing my face with chocolates.

Then I would love to move towards my next "phase" where re-train myself to drink sporadically and moderately only on social occasions. But I have to be ready and go about it really cautiously because the moment I start even if I drink just once in response to an a emotion, a time of day, a day of the week or whatever wrong excuse, I am actually reinforcing that behavior and my memory will remember it and want to automate this for next time.

In simple terms, it means I wake my wine devil and he takes charge again. That pleasure center in the brain has a strong memory of all the wonderful dopamine feelings wine gave me, so when it's reactivated it remembers and demands more. I'll have to be careful and go slow.

globalhiker · March 2021

Good point @lmlmrn agree let's add boredom to the HALT list. I used to drink when bored too especially Saturday afternoons.

Switching topics, does anyone have any summer plans or ideas on where they plan to vacation?

I am lost on this one. I was checking vacation rental sites in states that are "open" and allow visitors but availability for anything remotely affordable with a kitchen is like ZERO (especially Colorado)....times like these I wish we had a pickup truck that could pull a simple camper attachment.

dawnbgethealthy · March 2021

globalhiker wrote: »

Good point @lmlmrn agree let's add boredom to the HALT list. I used to drink when bored too especially Saturday afternoons.

Switching topics, does anyone have any summer plans or ideas on where they plan to vacation?

I am lost on this one. I was checking vacation rental sites in states that are "open" and allow visitors but availability for anything remotely affordable with a kitchen is like ZERO (especially Colorado)....times like these I wish we had a pickup truck that could pull a simple camper attachment.

Rent an RV?

Our vaccine appointments opened up today to those in the 85-89 age range.
We will be awhile here in Canada yet.
I am hoping that by the time that it comes around to me that I can get the newly Canada approved Johnson and Johnson 1 and done. Refrigeration only, no freezers. Hopefully then pharmacies will be able to start doling it out.

dawnbgethealthy · March 2021

Happy March!

I am continuing with my goals that I have mostly been following for a year:

16-20 AF days per month
Don't drink 2 days in a row
Try to keep 2 AF days in between drinks days

I choose the diary style so that I check in every day, keep myself accountable, and can see at a glance where I am at.

Monday March 01 - AF - Had to start the new month off with an AF day : - )
Tuesday March 02 - AF - Needed to wait 6 minutes many many times, I really felt like having a couple of drinks tonight. I know that I (and my waistline) will be happy tomorrow that I resisted.
Wednesday March 03 - AF - Early start for work tomorrow, so AF tonight. 4th AF day in a row.
Thursday March 04 - Drinks. Busy busy day. I had lost my hearing aid on a hiking trail yesterday, so was having a pretty hard time of it today not being able to read lips whilst everyone was wearing masks. Replacement will take one week to get here. Finishing work for the day and for the week was so lovely. Relaxed with a few drinks.
Friday March 05 - AF - Tomorrow will be a challenge since I am going to be with my bubble friend who drinks wine every day. Going to try really hard to get my 2AF days in a row though.
Saturday March 06 - Drinks, 2. Already broke one of my own rules this early in the month. Willpower just gave out I guess.
Sunday March 07 - AF - I will be again tomorrow.
Monday March 08 - AF - Our 90+ people were able to make appointments today to schedule a vaccine. It will be quite awhile until they work their way down 5 years at a time. Keeping myself fit and healthy. Possible drinks tomorrow night.
Tuesday March 09 - Drinks, 2. Very long workday, Tuesdays always are for me. if I am going to have drinks 2 or 3 times per week then Tuesdays are a really nice time for me to do so while I unwind.
Wednesday March 10 - AF - Easy to do because I have a busy workday tomorrow and want to be sharp.
Thursday March 11 - Drinks. Still haven't had drinks 2 days in a row, but I have missed my 2 AF days in between drink days twice already this month.

Rolling total: 7AF days out of 11 days.

lmlmrn · March 2021

AF free last night although the pull was strong 10 out of 11 days. I have a full bottle of whisky that is unopened and I plan to keep it that way for now. I have told DH if he wanted some he could open it but then had to replace with and up-opened one for just me. For me once opened is like an invitation to drink, but if DH opens the bottle and states this is mine I won't touch it. Weird I know, but it works for me.

This Saturday we are celebrating my mothers 87th young birthday. I will be making homemade pasta/lasagna and I am on the fence as to buy a few bottles of wine to accompany the dinner. My mother enjoys a glass of white wine so does my brother. But if the bottle is there and open I am 20x more likely to have a glass. Do I break my streak for this? Or in the big scheme does it really matter one day? Oh the devil on my shoulder is really speaking loud

chocolate_owl · March 2021

3/1-3/7: Very bad, lots of drinks
3/8: AF
3/9: AF
3/10: AF
3/11: AF

Woooooo Mon-Thurs AF done. We're making lamb tonight so there's most like a glass of pinot noir in my future, but I don't have the calories for more than one glass. I have a very concrete weight goal to hit by April 1, and I won't get there if I don't stick with the plan!

@globalhiker You've got such an amazing streak going! I kind of like the HALT acronym, but leaving out pain seems like a big oversight! But I guess PHALT isn't a word. Being tired, pain, and FOMO are my three biggest triggers, in that order. FOMO is going to be the big one to wrestle with when we start going to restaurants again - no, I do not need to order bubbles to start, white to go with the appetizers, red to go with the mains, and port for dessert. I will live without trying the whole darn wine menu.

What's your budget for a vacation, and for how many days? Are you sticking to places you can drive to, or would you consider getting on a plane? I will totally play your personal travel agent, I haven't planned anything in a while

Our summer will probably be attending my cousin's wedding in Georgia, driving to my mom's lake house for 4th of July, and a couple of long weekends with friends, but I think we're banking most of our days off for our anniversary in September, an end-of-year trip to Bonaire, and whatever my friend wants to do for his bachelor party.

@Lilylady3k You've got this, just keep checking in here. I got Moderna. I drove to Jasper to get my shot because they're open to everyone, and I'd have to wait until May or June here in Dallas. I'll have to go back to Jasper for the second one, but my mom lives about an hour away from there, so I think I'll stay with her for the weekend after the second shot. Hope I don't get too sick from it

@dawnbgethealthy Be careful what you wish for! I know a couple of people who got J&J, and they were SICK. Fever for days, really lethargic and weak. A lot more like actually having Covid than the other vaccines. You still take what you can get, but that one sounds rough.

@lmlmrn My two cents on bringing wine: if it's just a nicety for your mom rather than something she's REALLY excited about, don't tempt yourself. You seem to be in a good place and streak going that's motivating you, and I'm not sure breaking that is worth it for something that's not a big deal to the birthday girl. Now, if you know if would knock your mom's socks off to bring a nice pinot grigio, and it's important to you to celebrate with her by having a glass, then go for it and get back to your goals the next day.

@CMB44512 How's it going? You still with us?

Lilylady3k · March 2021

My sister stopped by for dinner shrimp creole & wine. I had not planned to drink this evening but DH had put 2 bottles into the fridge. Yep 2 glasses of wine again after a very very stressful day.

I accomplished 3 things out of about 21 on my list yesterday: walking the dog, picking up a new library book and addressing/mailing all the invitations for the anniversary party. I spent probably 3+ hrs trying to fix my printer then finally gave up and hand addressed them instead. All the other planning did not go as planned ... so much to do! The wedding planning during the height of the pandemic last year threw me out of focus on weight loss last year as well as a tail spin into drinking. This time around for the 1 year anniversary party planning ... at least I'm still being accountable and trying to reverse the weight gains each week stepping on the scale daily and not turning a blind eye.

Do you have one of those families where all the sudden your message group (DH, myself, our kids & their spouses) blows up with tons of texts (>50)? That occurred last night as I climbed into bed. To say the least it was hilarious reading this morning. In the middle of the thread they are still throwing me under the bus for a diet coke BBQ recipe I tried about 20 years ago LOL

Oh and yeah! My oldest son and his wife are signed up for the covid vaccine on Tuesday. He obesity 1B even though he has lost 90 pounds last year. She is a teacher which they opened up Texas and Louisiana for all teachers.

Less Alcohol - MARCH 2021

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