Less Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
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Late getting in here today.
Told myself at the beginning of 2022 I would NOT stress if I did not get my workouts done early early in the mornings like past years.
In the past if I did not get them in by 8:00 I looked at it as me being lazy and said screw it and would skip it altogether.
Not this year. I'm older(yup) and I have the time this Winter to do it anytime of day I want. To be honest my dog(s) would always have me up super early to eat and so my day started at daylight or before.
Now that my last pup is gone 😫 I find sleeping in longer has become a new standard.
Rest is important, burning the candle late is very rare in my life.
Another "thing" I have decided to rid from my previous daily ritual is sugar in my coffee. I could not believe I had gone through an entire pound of sugar in such a short time when I went to fill my sugar bowl. YIKES was all I could muster.
@liklylady3k congrats on the baby granddaughter. Pics coming soon I hope.
@dawnbgethealthy your stunning as usual in your selfie. Who else could pull of lush red lips and ice in their hair while shoveling?? No one!
I second @wonoma suggestion for our new thread mascot. Here here.
@lmlmrn are you feeding sock-man your homemade gummies?
To make things smoothly for all new posters -remember we are not in a challenge on this thread.
DRY JANUARY is a personal option and those who have not chosen it will help those who have and vise versa as always.
We strive for LESS whatever that means to us individually. And we support others decisions even if they differ from our own.
Now....go rock your goals!
4AF/4
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Do we have a name for creepy sock guy yet?
I put a sock on my wine, she has eyes too, I chose a sock with a face because yours made me laugh so much
I'm weathering the witching hour with a hot chocolate and snuggling down feeling cosy.
I can feel the withdrawals a little, nothing too bad just a little headache, difficult to sleep and not much appetite, but should be better by tomorrow.7 -
@jonsek
Wales! That is cool.
I love that this thread is bringing us together no matter our locations : - )
Welcome to our new friend from Scotland too @MeJulieMeJulie6 -
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My usual goal, 16-20 AF days per month.
My schedule pretty much dictates my AF days. It will be different until March, our local 3 arenas opened up!! There is senior/parent tot skating from 9-10am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the biggest arena, the ice surface is sunken down, so quite warm for skating. The other 2 are the temperature of the outside.
I will be AF on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for the next few months.
Diary style is how I keep track
Tuesday January 4th - AF - Skating at an arena in the morning before work, and in a different one after work, so no booze for me tonight. Many lunges that skating...I am going to count again how many of them are in each minute, just for fun. Glutes and Quads were definitely singing today after skating and all of that fun shoveling yesterday.
Rolling total: 3AF days out of 4 days.7 -
I have posted in the group in the past, but haven't for a while. I have continued to follow the thread though!
I am not sure what my goal is as far as alcohol goes, but
I definitely want to stop the daily just because I finished working drinking.
My last drink was on Christmas Eve so I will start there with tracking.
12/25 - 12/31 7 days AF
1/1 AF
1/2 AF
1/3 AF
1/4 AF
I started using a sober tracking app on 12/25 and thought I would also do the AE. I have come to realize that I don't really crave alcohol, the drinking was just a very ingrained end of day habit. The I Am Sober app has seemed to be enough of a program at least for now.
Thank you for sharing your stories!
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DH & I were AF this evening. Went to meet our new granddaughter!
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@Lilylady3k 💗 she is beautiful, you look radiantly proud. Is there a name yet?
My youngest boy just turned 5 before Christmas. My girls are 9 and 7. I miss babies!!
Jan 1-4 AF (wasn’t easy yesterday when family came to visit!)
I have also lost 5.8lbs!! I did weigh bloated after Christmas and definite hormonal variation in there but still feeling good seeing how much better I look with healthy living after only 4 days!!6 -
Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »2) 2 drinks limit- I suck at this. I make the same old excuses to give myself "permission" go drink more-- I have calories for it, I'm not driving, kids aren't around... come on! These are terrible reasons to overconsume. After one drink I want another, but honestly, after 2 drinks I want another. And after 3 drinks sometimes too. Like the feeling at the end of the glass isn't variable. I'm playing with the idea of just trying a 1 drink limit for a while to see if I have more success -- and overall enjoyment-- with that. It can be a big or fancy drink, but just one. And no argument with myself after that. I don't know. Undecided.
Happy new year!
I am just the same as you describe - after one I want another. Recently I had a conversation with my doctor about alcohol and I was pretty unhappy to hear that the recommended amount for women is no more than ONE drink per day
and one drink is defined as 5 oz of wine, 12 oz of beer, or 1.5 oz of spirits 
When she told me I didn't completely believe her, so I looked it up on the CDC website and it was as she said. So I am at the point of feeling like what's the point? I don't enjoy just one glass of wine. I would rather have none if I can really only have that little, I know I wouldn't stop at one most times.
The whole reason I am cutting back is to stay healthy, I have no other reasons to stop. I have seen the horrors of what can suddenly happen if the liver can't handle the alcohol and it really scared me. Although I know it doesn't happen to everyone, it could be me, and then it would be too late. I did look at the amounts last year, but I didn't remember it being that restrictive.
Maybe the guidance has changed, or maybe I conveniently 'forgot'.
So anyway, I am loving this thread, the enthusiasm, the socks, the photos, the snow!
Today is day 4 AF for me, let's see if I can make it through witching hour tonight! Even if I don't, I am proud on the progress I have made so far, and I am still working through TAE and listening to audio of the book This Naked Mind.
Technically, one drink a day (a very small glass of wine) is the MAX consumption guideline for women not the safe consumption level. The official current scientific stance is that there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink, especially for women. Just 3 drinks a week increases your breast cancer risk by 15%, while "moderate" alcohol consumption (1-2 very small glasses of wine/day) raises your risk by 30-50%.
Very recent science has also basically totally debunked the original research indicating any health benefit to drinking moderately, which will take time to disseminate through the medical world.5 -
AF last night, but it still beckons at witching hour. I find that I grudgingly pass it up. I wish I could be AF happily! I guess I’m not at that point yet. But, I know that one glass turns into 1.5-2, and then my weight creeps up, then I knuckle down and cut it out again. Wash rinse repeat. I’m so tired of that feast or famine way of life.
My goal this year is to be a good steward- of my time, my energy, my money, my body, and my stuff. Some days it’s easy, some days definitely more of a challenge. At any rate, being a good steward of my body means I need to be consistent with exercise and good food, and ratchet way back on the late nights, muffins and alcohol if I want to maintain an even keel.8 -
Lilylady3k wrote: »DH & I were AF this evening. Went to meet our new granddaughter!
What a beautiful Angel! Truly a bundle of joy. You look so happy!6 -
3 days AF done...and it feels good to wake up and feel happy that I was good to myself yesterday.
@Womona, you said something really powerful just now..."my goal this year is to be a good steward, of my time, my energy, my money, my body, and my stuff". YES, I feel the same! This is self-care all-around and this is my goal as well.
I feel so good and warm and balanced when I know I am good to myself and have fed my soul - by doing things I love that serve me - instead of repetitive bad behaviors.
@Lilylady3k - super precious baby and lucky you
...!! 7 -
[
Happy new year, all. My goal, broadly, has been to drink less and enjoy more. The way I have framed it, specifically, is still pretty challenging to me. 2 parts:
1) drinks on weekends- I think abstaining during the week has helped me enjoy more on weekends, like it is more of an occasion. It has become habit enough that it's not too challenging because I mostly don't even think about it. E.g. a vacuvin-ed bottle of wine on the kitchen counter left over from the weekend isn't bothersome. But come the weekend...
2) 2 drinks limit- I suck at this. I make the same old excuses to give myself "permission" go drink more-- I have calories for it, I'm not driving, kids aren't around... come on! These are terrible reasons to overconsume. After one drink I want another, but honestly, after 2 drinks I want another. And after 3 drinks sometimes too. Like the feeling at the end of the glass isn't variable. I'm playing with the idea of just trying a 1 drink limit for a while to see if I have more success -- and overall enjoyment-- with that. It can be a big or fancy drink, but just one. And no argument with myself after that. I don't know. Undecided. [/quote]
@ahoy_m8 - description #2 is sooooo me! After one I always want the second. Last night I was craving and went on a sugar binge instead! So mad at myself. So today I am craving carbs like crazy. I don't know kept thinking eating cookies is better than drinking wine but not so sure. My grandkids are back to vitual learning this week so helping with that. I am out of my normal routine. I really want to make it a whole month. I am hoping I can do that and love the support all you give.
@Lilylady3k congrats on the beautiful granddaughter.
Pray I get through today without another food binge! Ugh.
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@Lilylady3k she is so precious, what a little darling! Has mum and dad chosen a name yet?
@Womona I remember you mentioned TAE, did it have any long term benefits for you? I wish I could be AF happily too. When I try to cut back or stop I basically 'white knuckle' grudgingly resisting, but I can see a little twinkle of a chance that could change as I am working through TAE. I am blown away by what I have learned that I didn't know before, but I do see a lot of people say they feel excited and hopeful at first, and then later they feel the long term results they hoped for didn't really stick. I'm still just taking the one day at a time approach, one hour at time during the witching hour.
@Xellercin Thank you for the info, really eye opening, and quite scary How is your journey now? Did TAE produce results for you long term?
@Jonsek Wales is beautiful, lucky you! We used to holiday there when I was a kid, Barry Island Butlins one year, so much fun and Pwllheli a few times, grew up in North Yorkshire near Harrogate, but I am currently living in Texas, US. I miss my kids being babies too, cherish the time while they are little, it flies by, and then they pull on your heart strings!
@MeJulieMeJulie Welcome. Scotland is lovely. We were there a few years ago, went to visit Eilean Donan Castle, and then to Edinburgh, did some 'Eco Camping' in a yurt, and went horse riding by Lock Ness. Fun times, the highlands are stunning and mystical
@GiveHerGrace Wow! so inspiring!
@globalhiker 'Self-care all-around' yes, I want to do that too, take care of the whole package and bring more balance into my life.
Jan 1 AF
Jan 2 AF
Jan 3 AF
Jan 4 AF
and lost 3lbs
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@Lilylady3k What a beautiful granddaughter! Congratulations!
Well, I caved again last night, but I had less, so that's progress. I was also "mindful" asking myself "does that actually taste good? Oh, look, half a glass in and already you are having trouble focusing on your book! Is this really how you want to spend your evening?"
I think I will have better luck tonight. I have a plan, which involves a lot of playing on my own psychology, so maybe that will help. It's also going to involve some snacking as the last few nights I've been waking up around 3:00-4:00 AM absolutely ravenous. I'm not sure what that's about. I think maybe I've been eating dinner too early.8 -
@ mouse_potato Today is a new day. We can do it!
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I made it through the witching hour last night but the sugar cravings did me in! Last two nights in a row I have over indulged in almond roca. And I do mean OVER indulged. My weight AF has jumped 2.4lbs. This is not water weight, but I am happy to say I am optimistic about cutting back on alcohol. I am enjoying the TAE but only on day three but I will enjoy the ride as long as I can.
@Lilylady3k your granddaughter is a beauty! And they always smell so good, nothing can replace baby smell.
Today's focus, painting and less sugar9 -
dawnbgethealthy wrote: »
yes I guess you could call the gummies medicinal. I have been experimenting trying to find a good combination that does not have that 'buzz' but still gives that mild relaxed feeling yet helps with the arthritis in my hands. I made some oil infused with medicinal herbs and have some more herbs coming from amazon (they are late, first order they lost) to add to the oil I already made with low THC and a higher CBD. The inflammation in my fingers is getting less swollen and I am able to move them better. But wearing my wedding set, nope that won't ever happen again.5 -
Reading all these comments is inspirational. I definitely struggle with the "just one" drink as well, so I'm just going AF. So far, I feel really good. I'm sleeping SO much better. I wake up early (before my alarm), but sleep through the night. Which is new for me! I'm used to waking up several times a night.
The witching hour is tough. I need to find a hobby that uses my hands to distract me (both from snacking and drinking)7
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