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Less Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
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@GiveHerGrace..I am 56 too! They are not yet trained to nap at 2pm like us?
Part of me really misses having little ones since mine are grown and now millenials with dogs and cats so who knows if I'll have grandkids...but you're so lucky to enjoy your time with them
Me...another crazy work day - 11+ hours of work (people sick, people quitting, etc) ....my coping mechanism is not ideal but it's rich Columbian coffee and cup #3 of the day and in the afternoon, otherwise I can't keep going - I did not check internet news all day or drink (win!)...but I had to watch 10 min. of ABC News on TV. I could not help myself!
Now I need to lay off the caffeine and go to bed 7 -
@ahoy_m8 wow that is so good going will power! Would have been very hard for me not to sample and enjoy. The benefits of lowering your alcohol must be strong in your mind.
@Xellercin does -34C even exist 😂 Now that really is incomprehensible for me. We reach -5C some years here but so far had a very mild winter and not dipped below freezing.
Off to work now …. Have fun all!6 -
Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »Day 12 AF. Sleep is better, not waking up in the middle of the night anymore.
I've been detaching from the news more, but been a little bored on evenings so I ordered some new water mixable oil paints and planning start painting again.
Keep up the good work all
Oh that’s awesome!!!!! Have fun painting! Great alternative to getting sucked into the news vortex!6 -
@jonsek what an adorable family! 3 great reasons to take care of yourself. After an AF day Monday had more than planned last night. It's getting old. New day today so moving on. Does anyone have a favorite app to track drinks? Has anyone tried cutback coach?
I agree, beautiful family!
I use a free app called Drink Control. It’s easy to use and pretty straightforward. I have not tried cutback coach. What is that? Sounds interesting just from the title.5 -
Covid finally got me. Ah well, it was only a matter of time I suppose. I am feeling better, but no energy right now to do my normal routine. Which stinks, because I was doing really well with pacing myself, being a good steward, etc so being sick, Covid or not, feels like a setback. Ah well. I’ll get back on track when I’m better. Now for a nap!
BTW I feel my muscles atrophying from lack of use! Weight loss from illness is not the way to go!
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Sorry I’ve been so absent! I’m super busy between work and the remodel of my home which I’m doing myself! I think being busy had really helped my have dry days.
I committed to have more AF days than not this month. Since joining here and signing up for The Alcohol Experiment and downloading “Dry Days” , I haven’t had a drink at all. That’s 7 AF days strait for me. 9 days for the month.
I’ve had. Some minor cravings but not anything too bad. Again I think its because I don’t t sit on the couch at night. Also, I’m eating good so I’m not tempted to go out and have a beer at lunch/dinner.
It’s very exciting going from not remembering the last “dry day” that wasn’t associated with swearing off alcohol in the aftermath of a binge night. Those swear-offs lasted usually a couple to few days than I would slowly start up again.
Well I’m breaking bad habits and feel very optimistic about keeping a limit on my consumption.
January
7 day AF streak
9/12 days AF
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Drank last night and will tonight. This is OK, it's planned, sort of my weekend due to crazy shifts. Then plan AF until Tuesday.
Accountability round up (including today)
8 normal drink days
1 very much reduced drink day
4 AF9 -
@jonsek what an adorable family! 3 great reasons to take care of yourself. After an AF day Monday had more than planned last night. It's getting old. New day today so moving on. Does anyone have a favorite app to track drinks? Has anyone tried cutback coach?
I agree, beautiful family!
I use a free app called Drink Control. It’s easy to use and pretty straightforward. I have not tried cutback coach. What is that? Sounds interesting just from the title.
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Sorry, messed that quoting thing up. @Womona I found out they renamed Cutback Coach to sunnyside.co. I did a free trial a while back. They have you establish goals then send you texts to encourage you to reach your goals. Free trial then 79 per year. Not sure it would work for me long term. I will check out the Drink Control app - thanks.7
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Turtlemummy wrote: »Drank last night and will tonight. This is OK, it's planned, sort of my weekend due to crazy shifts. Then plan AF until Tuesday.
Accountability round up (including today)
8 normal drink days
1 very much reduced drink day
4 AF
@Turtlemummy I think you and I are on similar paths or at least have similar goals.
I'm having a lot of trouble getting motivated this month. I tell myself "I'm not going to drink at all tonight!" and the reply comes "why not?"
So instead, I've reduced the quantity and I seem to have found a happy medium. I've switched to smaller glasses so I can't tell myself that I'm only having two while easily pouring 3-4. My energy levels are up and I've started losing weight again (some of you may recall my weight loss stopped when I quit drinking before).
2 "normal" drink days
2 AF
8 days "reduced"
I plan to reduce further tonight and will probably be AF the next two nights (boyfriend will be here and he doesn't drink).8 -
wow. so much to catch up on here.
First @Womona , so sorry you're down with Covid. I hope your vaccines do their job and keep your case mild. Health officials did say on the news last night that everyone will get it eventually. I wasn't paying attention to who was speaking, but it was a different stance and that caught my attention. You are smart to rest up. It will put you back on track much faster than if you run yourself ragged. My adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") episode last year acclimated me to the fact that setbacks are a fact of life and the important thing is taking it in stride, healing adequately, and rebuilding gradually. Apologies if I'm sounding this note too loudly but I just gave this pep talk to DH who is dealing with a small setback in his training.
@dawnbgethealthy Hearing about your glorious skates does my heart so much good. Please don't stop! And relieved you escaped whatever your tenant has, at least for the moment. whew.
@jonsek you give me too much credit. I have participated offscreen in many of these and our magnum of Christmas wine was from this vineyard, so I am acquainted with the product. And I will have some tomorrow so it is gratification delayed not denied.7 -
I've been reading "everyone will eventually get it" for a couple of weeks now. I'm still hoping not to. I already tend to have multi-month upper respiratory problems in the winter but didn't last winter and so far haven't this winter. Probably because I've been masked up all winter.
@ahoy_m8 wasn't it one of your DDs that had it twice? That actually concerns me more because I wonder what the long term ramifications of that will be.
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As far as AF ... still there from Sunday through today. I think that makes only 3 days of a couple of drinks.8 -
I am on Day 13 AF and I just want to share something that happened. It is a little thing, but to me it is amazing.
I was on the phone with medical and they asked for my sponsor's social and I rattled it off immediately without really thinking.
I haven't been able to do that in several years, and I normally have to look it up, so I asked him to wait a min so I could check, and he said 'no it's fine you got it right, I have your account right here.'
I had thought it was just to be expected, that with age my mind was slowing (I am 56) but if it wasn't the alcohol how would I suddenly be able to do that like I did when I was young? I am blown away and happy 7 -
Well done Mouse potato! My thinking is every day AF or reduced is a win. In fact every glass not drank is a win. Tonight I had wine. Probably too much. And nibbles. But tomorrow and for the next 4 days I will have none.
Dry January is a great concept. I did it 3 yrs ago, but it didn't help my relationship with alcohol. I celebrated a "win" then carried on as before. As if AF for one month gave me licence to indulge for 11.
For me, a better solution is logging AF (or nearly) days and make that a longer term habit.
Today I bought an AF wine. It will probably be horrible but it deserves a try. I will try next Thurs when habit will want wine but sense will want AF8 -
Fit_Happens_2021 wrote: »I was on the phone with medical and they asked for my sponsor's social
Hey guys, I just want to make a quick clarification as someone asked what I meant above, I just meant my husband's social for my doctor appointment. Sorry, in the military was just always called it sponsor's.
Hope everyone is having a great week
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Hello out there to everyone.
I did have 2 beers today at a lunch out. Sheesh I had to come home and take a nap. (not that that needs encouragement) The alcohol was not planned ......and I could have sidestepped it.....but I made the decision to have the beer's. I own it. So Janiuary 10/13 days AF for me that is a win.
Maybe I will beat my 14 day AF streak this month, or maybe not. I have a note on my bathroom mirror now. Don't sweat the small stuff. This is my calming mantra. Having two beer's is in the small stuff category6 -
LazyBlondeChef wrote: »I've been reading "everyone will eventually get it" for a couple of weeks now. I'm still hoping not to. I already tend to have multi-month upper respiratory problems in the winter but didn't last winter and so far haven't this winter. Probably because I've been masked up all winter.
@ahoy_m8 wasn't it one of your DDs that had it twice? That actually concerns me more because I wonder what the long term ramifications of that will be.
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As far as AF ... still there from Sunday through today. I think that makes only 3 days of a couple of drinks.
I’ve been hearing virologists say it for at least a month, but yesterday was the first time I recall an administration official say it. She was an FDA official. A bit sobering for sure.
And you’re right, DD#3 had it twice. Fall 2020 was pre-vaccine. Xmas was breakthrough. She felt really sick both times, but worse and longer duration the first time. DD#1 felt sick 7-8 days with a breakthrough infection fall 2021.
I also have an older medically vulnerable friend, cancer survivor, who was scheduled for surgery to deal with a persistent bone infection related to radiation therapy. She tested positive on intake so sadly her surgery was postponed but happily she’s asymptotic. So you never know.5 -
Okay movies at home with DH this evening and 3 glasses of wine. Yep counting the glasses ... not letting the drink take me away where I forget. I'm good that I didn't drink more and started my water routine again.
January accountability: 6/13 days AF
Alcohol: 7 days (15 drinks)
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month. Aim to drink no more than 2 nights in a row.4 -
My usual goal, 16-20 AF days per month.
My schedule pretty much dictates my AF days.
I will be AF on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for the next few months.
Diary style is how I keep track
Thursday Jan 13th - AF - Hopefully skating in the morning if I can muster it. Pretty sure the tenant had/has Covid, and I have been powering through but haven't been well all week, so likely have it too. We are both double vaccinated. The play that I was set to see on Sunday has been cancelled (due to Covid?). Probably will have a few drinks Friday and Saturday night.
Rolling total: 8AF days out of 13 days.4 -
Posting for accountability. Day 20 AF. I have been keeping track on the I Am Sober app. It has a very active community and I like that it asks me to pledge each morning and then review at the end of the day
12/25 - 12/31 AF
1/1 - 1/13 AF
Last day with my grandbabies in New Mexico tomorrow and then headed back to Arizona. My husband went back to South Dakota for a few weeks so I will be alone for a bit. Hopefully boredom won't push me to have a drink and break my streak!
Happy upcoming weekend to you all!6 -
My goal has been to not drink on weeknights (Sun-Thur).
After having a couple drinks every few months quickly turned into having a few every single day became a thing, and lasted two years, my husband and I decided that we were going down a road that was very much not healthy.
We've been doing it, not one drink on a weeknight, and nothing too excessive on weekends. I notice HOW MUCH BETTER I AM SLEEPING at night. No middle of the night wake-ups where I lay there for hours. Feels amazing!
And then when the weekend comes and I have two beers before bed... AWFUL night's sleep. That alone makes even weekend drinks seem a lot less appealing.
ETA: Hubby notices no difference in sleep, but has lost 10 pounds since Jan. 1. No dieting, just a LOT fewer alcohol calories. (Of course, us experts will note that this is mostly water weight and what-not, but still wild!)8 -
ETA: Hubby notices no difference in sleep, but has lost 10 pounds since Jan. 1. No dieting, just a LOT fewer alcohol calories. (Of course, us experts will note that this is mostly water weight and what-not, but still wild!)
@crb426 - Sounds like you and your hubby are doing great on reducing alcohol! Wonderful that you are doing it together.
WILD! Yep sometimes guys have it so easy. My DH snacked on cookies all the time. Then he went into a kick of don't buy cookies for the house ... just animal crackers. And you know what ... he lost 15 lbs!
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10 AF / 13 days. I hope I have this right since I am losing track.
Every other meeting I've had this week with either clients, vendors or colleagues....at least HALF of them have active Covid, but they are OK enough to still work from home.
I feel like hell - joint and muscle aches and fatigue and no energy to exercise. My pharmacy doesn't have Covid test appointments for a week so if I did have Covid, by then it would be outside the optimal testing window. The places by me are out of stock of test kits too.
The positive is that if we're all going to get it, we are lucky to get the "less serious" strain. And maybe we'll get that herd immunity once and for all and be done with this saga. I'm so done with this.
Feel better @Womona !7 -
Day 15 here....and was very wobbly last night. I kept thinking...oh what the heck...why not. I didn't and glad for that. Woke up feeling rested.7
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10/13 AF days in January and dry since I started here on January 6th.
I had a sort of minor victory yesterday. My boss and I went out to lunch at a brewery and I was only minorly tempted to have a beer and burger. Instead, I told myself to order the Cobb salad and ice tea and If I still wanted a burger and beer when I was done, I would get. It. Well guess what!? I was perfectly content and Full with the salad and ice tea. Just had to tell my tantrum throwing inner child a story to get it to cooperate. I’m the end, my conscious brain knew that I wouldn’t need It.
This is a huge testament to the fear “ If I don’t drink, they won’t like me”. My boss always makes comments about how much he likes having lunch/beer with me. I secretly wondered how he would respond when I told him I wasn’t drinking a week ago. He said “oh man! now I’m gonna have to cut back!” Yesterday he told me he was down to 2 beers a day. He was drinking a 4 pack of high ABV daily pretty consistently. Victory is ours!
Also I’m down 12 lbs since the 1st so that’s cool.7 -
Woo hoo Friday, as if at my age Friday is any different than Monday LOL.
@Womona hoping you have a quick recovery and can get back to normal ASAP ❤
@lmlmrn how is the sock family doing? Thinking we could incorporate our painting into bottle covers?? Two beers is a small detail, and naps? Well I take naps without having ANY alcohol. The body knows better than the mind. So go with it.❤
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So I went back to making a workout/drinking calendar (hold up two fingers if I have already mentioned this)
I was diligent in all of 2018 & 2019, Jan & Feb 2020 with these, then of course covid hit and I stopped filling them out March 2020 - Dec 2021. Poor idea. I need the accountability of seeing my progress( good or bad).
Already I have more enthusiasm to fill in each day since Jan 1st 2022. I looked back at previous calendars and noticed not working out coincided with the A letter either that day or the next.
Husbands cleanse is over and he has noticed no improvements that were promised with THE MIRICAL PILLS he took. I have tried to tell him there are no mirical pills, stop wasting your money and stop reading those pamphlets trying to sell you head to toe mirical creams, lotions, powders,capsules, tablets....etc.
AF last night.
Yup going for the whole month DRY. 😉
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