Less Alcohol ~ DECEMBER 2021 ~ One Day At A Time

Christmas Day indeed was "drinks throughout the day of all sorts". Great time. Today I was AF and right under my calorie goal for a change. I did not feel deprived one bit since Christmas filled my tank full of joy, laughter, and family love.

Today I ran an hour and a half which is a lot (for me). No wine today because I have zero energy to get in the car and drive to the market. I have no desire to drink since I was off work today and was able to simply relax at home, took a nap and a warm bath, read up on places to travel. Zero housework . I'd say today was a pretty good day.

LazyBlondeChef wrote: »

Lilylady3k wrote: »

Here is an important reminder: doing your “best” looks different day to day. Not every day looks the same. What’s reasonable to expect yourself to do on some days is not necessarily reasonable on other days.

This is such an excellent point.

My partner who still works is on vacation this week and even though I'm retired I tend to go into vacation mode with him which means I probably won't be AF for the rest of the month in spite of intending to earlier in the month. I'll still be reasonable with quantity.

I wonder about "triggers" ... I genuinely like the flavor of alcohol or more specifically a well balanced cocktail or an excellent wine with a nice meal. I don't drink to get buzzed though I do enjoy the relaxed state to a certain point.

I have a question to you all ... Do you drink for the buzz, the flavor, your general lifestyle or some other reason?

I thought I drank for the flavour until I quit for a few months and then hated the taste of all alcohol. It smells and tastes like gasoline to me now, and I used to think red wine was the most gorgeous smell in the world.

It turns out the brain has the capacity to change the way you smell things to make you want them, so at 5pm every day, my brain made wine smell and taste absolutely exquisite.

Now the smell makes me gag, and a single sip will put a scowl on my face, the same way it did when I was a teen trying to choke back vodka to fit in.

I like high quality dealcoholized wines though, and there are some good ones on the market now. So it turns out I do actually like the smell and flavour of the non alcohol part of the wine. I just can't stomach the foul ethanol anymore.

I agree, @Xellercin , that the dopamine rush When deciding to have a drink (before it’s even poured!) is more powerful than the slight depressive effect of the drink. I also sometimes share the feeling of enjoying a mocktail taste better than an alcoholic drink taste. But not always. I was stunned by the delicious smoothness and body of our Christmas wine. It tasted so good. We poured a magnum for our reduced size crowd, so more for everyone. Then we had a champagne we bought on family Napa trip so happy memories.

December has been like a toboggan ride down an icy hill and I’m in a snow drift at the bottom. I’ve lost ground on some good habits that will take some effort to resume. But we’re still celebrating here! DH received a dozen Tiff’s cookies delivered hot, a dozen sprinkles cupcakes and an enormous 12” 5 layer Blum’s coffee crunch cake on his birthday, all from people who don’t know he’s trying to lose 10 pounds 🤣. That on top of buche de Noel, Christmas present sweets and birthday cake left over from my birthday. We still have our anniversary and NYE to go. I’m having a treat every day, keeping it to one of what I like best and not worrying about what gets “wasted.” My weight is flatlined in the middle of my maintenance range and that’s fine given how much splurging is still happening.

I had less than 2 glasses wine on DH bday only because the bottle went quickly and I didn’t drink fast enough. I would have liked more in that very moment but was glad we didn’t open more. I, too, am lingering over what is happening in my prefrontal cortex impaired brain that makes me want more when simultaneously I know more is a bad idea. Maybe it’s taste, but it’s also gaining momentum on an icy incline that is sweeping me down the hill. I may be enjoying the ride but I’m not entirely in control and that probably isn’t good.

We are in a deep freeze here, no cross-country skiing or outdoor skating.
Before the freeze came we got so much beautiful snow. (It doesn't snow when it gets too cold)





And this was after shoveling a few times!