Less Alcohol - MARCH 2021

globalhiker · March 2021

For me, I'd have to say the toughest part of this AF journey so far is not that first week or two where it was mostly insomnia and tummy troubles. You know, mostly physical symptoms. At least weeks 3 and 4 were euphoric and the cravings gone so the world was a wonderful place.

But month 2 AF kinda sucks for me. I know it would've been perfect if I lived alone and had 100% control over everything, but I don't. Seems like every other day there is a "challenge": pain, muscle soreness, aching, irritability, fatigue, or just one of those moments where you feel like you're blood pressure is going through the roof because someone else is really pushing your buttons. I guess it was all these occasions where I would "remedy" quick with a couple of glasses of wine, thus masking that feeling. Or did I bottle it up?

The pros say to "exercise" facing one's feelings and over time the intensity is supposed to minimize and the brain adapts. I believe them, so I will keep following the plan and keep at it.

On a positive note, Happy Spring! Time for new beginnings and better weather and trip planning......oh crap and Spring cleaning!

lmlmrn · March 2021

globalhiker wrote: »

For me, I'd have to say the toughest part of this AF journey so far is not that first week or two where it was mostly insomnia and tummy troubles. You know, mostly physical symptoms. At least weeks 3 and 4 were euphoric and the cravings gone so the world was a wonderful place.

But month 2 AF kinda sucks for me. I know it would've been perfect if I lived alone and had 100% control over everything, but I don't. Seems like every other day there is a "challenge": pain, muscle soreness, aching, irritability, fatigue, or just one of those moments where you feel like you're blood pressure is going through the roof because someone else is really pushing your buttons. I guess it was all these occasions where I would "remedy" quick with a couple of glasses of wine, thus masking that feeling. Or did I bottle it up?

The pros say to "exercise" facing one's feelings and over time the intensity is supposed to minimize and the brain adapts. I believe them, so I will keep following the plan and keep at it.

On a positive note, Happy Spring! Time for new beginnings and better weather and trip planning......oh crap and Spring cleaning!

You are doing so well, Kudo's! Everyone's journey has it's ups, downs and roundabouts. Give yourself a huge pat on the back for me. I am in your corner.

Womona · March 2021

mainelylisa wrote: »

Happy Sunday! It's great to see so much discussion and support and accountability! I have not been good. I've been so bad that I lost track of AF days, but I def am going to try to be AF free the rest of the month and beyond if I can get a grip. I've realized some triggers related to basically growing up in a very dysfunctional situation (mentally ill mother, drinking father) and also learned from my therapist that one cannot completely heal from some traumas...only learn to deal with them. For decades I've been telling myself that if I try hard enough I can fix myself. Well, alcohol is my choice for dealing and of course it only makes depression worse.

A GREAT thing about racking up AF days or even months is that if you fall back into a bad pattern, you KNOW you can do it again. I went almost 5 months AF last year so I know I can do it and not even miss it very much after a few weeks.

Thank you for sharing that. Trauma is a hell of a thing to have to work through. Amazing how deep seated trauma is, and how easily those memories and ingrained responses come up. Hugs to you!

Great attitude about knowing you can reverse course and go back to AF for as long as you need to.

Womona · March 2021

AF tonight, after getting my butt kicked in a tennis match. I made some Pomegranate juice mixed with a wee bit of simple syrup, topped with club soda and a garnish of orange. Yum! I used my Zero Proof book for inspiration. I haven’t yet made any of the specialty simple syrups or shrubs yet, so I’m just winging it.

Lilylady3k · March 2021

1 glass of white wine before dinner and 1 glass of red wine with steak dinner last night.
No more want down here at the camp for the rest of the week ... not planning to check my mom's stash.

globalhiker · March 2021

Day 50 AF is upon me. Yesterday I managed a social event with family over pretty well. I did "prep" by cleaning the house (I always feel good after), taking an epsom salt bath (my first and it did eliminate my body aches), and making myself a tart lemonade. I also "prepped" my visiting kids and their partners by letting them know in advance I wasn't drinking but if they needed to, they could bring over their own drink of choice. They were fine with it.

That simple. We had a lovely lunch of BBQ Chicken Shwarma, grilled veggies and roasted potatoes, sweet and regular, cooked on a sheet pan with olive oil and hot paprika. Dessert was marinated organic strawberries. Yum. Everyone drank seltzer or water and then we had coffee. My first relaxed alcohol-free social event with no thoughts or discussion of drinking.

I could not have gotten this far without ALL of your encouraging words and support, you guys are the best, and especially @mainelylisa for being my inspiration and showing me it could be done.

mainelylisa · March 2021

Wow @globalhiker Congrats to a 50-day break--whooop! I was reflecting this morning how I did so well starting about a year ago with my long break, and then went downhill throughout Covid winter. So I feel honored that I've somehow been an inspiration. And the beautiful cycle of support (should I trademark that? ;-)) is that when I'm low on morale and inspiration, you and our gang here lift me up.

I bought fresh flowers for the first time in many months. Before, my attitude was...what's the point? They're just gonna die anyway--like so many people are doing. I'm feeling so hopeful again.

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.

Thursday March 18 - AF - Of course. Job interview tomorrow, plus was not feeling great all day today at work after throwing up and then not sleeping well last night.
Friday March 19 - Drinks.
Saturday March 20 - AF - because I had drinks last night.
Sunday March 21 - AF - Planned AF for Monday also.

Rolling total: 14AF days out of 21 days.

mainelylisa · March 2021

@dawnbgethealthy When are you supposed to hear about your job interview?

chocolate_owl · March 2021

3/1-3/7: Very bad, lots of drinks
3/8-3/14: 4 AF days, 8 drinks
3/15: AF
3/16: AF
3/17: 1 drink
3/18: AF
3/19: AF
3/20: AF
3/21: 3...4? Ok, 4 drinks

I started coming down with a cold on Thursday ( @lmlmrn Are you better? Any time I'm sick that long I end up needing a steroid pack), so I laid in bed for a couple of days and stayed away from the alcohol until my throat stopped bothering me. We made an amazing Chilean sea bass last night and opened a rosé to go with it. Should have stopped after the bottle, but then husband poured some port for us. Looking back now, the pour sizes were a little...generous. I am MISERABLY hung over today, like the swearing-off-alcohol-forever kind of hung over that I'm sure we've all felt at some point or another and then we forget how bad it really was. I so rarely get hangovers, and the amount was something I can usually tolerate. More water, always more water. Happy I didn't throw up, I guess? To add to the misery, my cat was sick and yowling in the early hours of the morning while my head was pounding. Poor husband, getting to deal with both of us. Definitely AF Mon-Th this week, and will assess this weekend how I feel about drinking.

mainelylisa · March 2021

Hope you're feeling on the upswing, @chocolate_owl . Been there so many times because I ALWAYS get hangovers. Maybe this could be a sign to your hubby to get a little less generous with the pours.

lmlmrn · March 2021

hello all, late to the party today
AF last night after a good run with beer and whiskey on Saturday. Will be AF I hope for the rest of the month
@chocolate_owl I am about the same, cough (not as much) runny stuffy nose that just does not seem to get any better. I was taking some 'allergy medicine' to dry me up and suppose to help with breathing. All it is doing is drying the inside of my nose so bad that it is painful, dry and just plain awful. I was using some saline spray to keep it moist and I have gone through a whole bottle. Today I bought some nasocort? at Costco ....geeze it is expensive. I thought I would give that a day or two if not I am returning it.

So I finally get an email saying I am eligible for my covid shot(s). Only to try and make an appointment and you have to fill out another questionnaire....which says I am not eligible. I think I don't qualify until the end of the month. The tricky part is I have to take the shot two weeks after my cosentyx injection. So I will have to be super picky when I can go. The cosentyx is once every 4 weeks.

I have to be honest today as I am writing this I really want a drink of something cool down my throat that will dull me up some so I can sleep. Last night I had a little makeup pad with Vaseline + eucalyptus oil on it. Can;t put that directly on your skin/under nose, the burn is incredible (yes I did that, getting desperate)

mainelylisa · March 2021

@lmlmrn Hope you feel better, too. I'm sure you've tried everything--but I remember how Vick's on my chest used to clear me up. Maybe if you're desperate, you could have a hot toddy--very light on ingesting, but heavy on the inhaling? I've read that science confirms it can help if not overdone (I had not realized the importance of the other ingredients or the hot aspect--ya so I just chugged whiskey--what a surprise. it can also disrupt sleep, so tough call. Here's a short article (not medical) I found interesting. https://www.mic.com/p/the-truth-about-drinking-whiskey-to-fight-a-cold-according-to-science-16613183

Lilylady3k · March 2021

Out of wine at the camp and didn't pick any up when I ran into town earlier today.

AF this evening!

mainelylisa · March 2021

I feel like crap today. But it's a good crap. Which I couldn't have done when I originally tried to get an appt--Sat morning. Because I felt like bad crap then. And pretty sure they couldn't have squeezed a pint of of me. Ya, I'm saying that from experience.

Womona · March 2021

AF again tonight, but I was tempted after a long day at work chock full of computer/internet problems. Glad I didn’t. Holding out until at least Thursday.

dawnbgethealthy · March 2021

@mainelylisa
Thanks for asking about the job prospect! I don't know how many more interviews that they had to do, but they expect to have made a decision by this coming Friday, and the headhunter that found my resume on Indeed will be the one to tell me yes or no on that day. Good thing that I have a busy week so that I don't get to anxious waiting to hear.

@Lilylady3k
Good job getting your sister to delay opening that wine until 5pm : - )

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.

Friday March 19 - Drinks.
Saturday March 20 - AF - because I had drinks last night.
Sunday March 21 - AF - Planned AF for Monday also.
Monday March 22 - AF - because early morning and a long day tomorrow. I might have a few drinks Tuesday night.

Rolling total: 15AF days out of 22 days.

lmlmrn · March 2021

mainelylisa wrote: »

@lmlmrn Hope you feel better, too. I'm sure you've tried everything--but I remember how Vick's on my chest used to clear me up. Maybe if you're desperate, you could have a hot toddy--very light on ingesting, but heavy on the inhaling? I've read that science confirms it can help if not overdone (I had not realized the importance of the other ingredients or the hot aspect--ya so I just chugged whiskey--what a surprise. it can also disrupt sleep, so tough call. Here's a short article (not medical) I found interesting. https://www.mic.com/p/the-truth-about-drinking-whiskey-to-fight-a-cold-according-to-science-16613183

Thank you for the link, I have always known that but never put it into practice. I am up for anything at this point so I may heat up some water and seep it with a few cloves then add lemon, honey and a tablespoon of whiskey.

globalhiker · March 2021

@lmlmrn - If you can drink on your meds, Hennessey cognac may help. Works for my DH all the time. Me, I'd go for a humidifier (or long steamy shower), stay indoors for a day or two (away from possible allergens)...and short term fasting but only for maybe a 3-4 hour period (like skip breakfast and have a later brunch instead). During the fasting period, drink a cup of hot water with 1 lemon squeezed into it. Repeat on the hour for the next 3 hours. The idea is to flush the germs out and let the body work on the clean up job. If anything, this is supposed to be good for beauty and anti-aging

Still AF here. I really love the feeling of being in control of me and being in control of my reactions, this keeps me going.

My Easter holiday drinking strategy: I will take my own advice and skip buying the planned bottle of fizzy German rose, because it is the most addictive drink for me and I will drink it all. Then I will feel yukky and down the following day and (like last time) turn myself into Off-AF mode and buy another bottle of rose to nurse a hangover. YUP. Maybe a glass of Hennessey after dinner instead will do just fine instead. Or Baileys. Easier to control myself if I have a single-serving liqueur compared to a bottle of wine for sure.

Less Alcohol - MARCH 2021

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