Less Alcohol ~ JANUARY 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
Replies
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Good Q's @Xellercin. About feeling disappointed, @GiveHerGrace , I had the same reaction, namely you have an amazing streak going. And now you have an opportunity to sit with the drinking situation kind of in isolation to observe and to understand what mechanisms, beliefs and attitudes were in play. And how well they served you.
Several years ago I had a several week AF streak going and at a dinner with DH I got angry with him. I don't remember exactly why, and that isn't the important part of the story, but I think it was in the zip code of his dismissive attitude towards a heavy load I was shouldering alone at that time. (Anger is a secondary emotion, always arising from a primary emotion relating to hurt we feel too vulnerable to express, and in this case for me it would have been feeling belittled or devalued on top of stress.) Honestly, I was probably hungry to start with because I do recall waiting forever to be seated. When the waiter finally came to get a drink order, I just gave in and ordered my favorite chardonnay. I drank it fast and had another. It wasn't a big fight or anything and I felt tons better after eating, but when I reflected on this, I was horrified at my reaction -- that I didn't have the presence or strength to express the primary emotion so instead resorted to anger and that I soothed the anger with wine. Right there I committed to myself I do not want to be an angry drunk. The "angry drunk" image is so powerful and repulsive to me that ever since I avoid alcohol when emotional discord is afoot.
tl;dr: it was a very valuable learning experience that stayed with me.
Diff topic - accountability- Had tons of fun with DH and DD last night. We had dinner outside and it was a little nippy but best under the pandemic circumstances. Then went to Hadestown which probably isn't best under pandemic circumstances but everyone was masked. The musical was great. We each had 2 drinks with dinner.5 -
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
Sunday Jan 23rd - AF - Skating in the morning before work : - )
Monday Jan 24th - AF - I have a very light day tomorrow, so considered having a drink, but my tummy will be much leaner in the morning if I don't. Counted my "lunges" while skating. 70 per minute and I skated for 60 minutes. 4200 lunges?
Tuesday Jan 25th - AF - Skating tomorrow, and I am having a very busy work week, so AF. I might have drinks tomorrow.
Wednesday Jan 26th - 2 drinks. I always had 3 drinks on drinks days, but now 2 is my sweet spot. Planned drinks for Friday and Saturday with a friend who is moving far away.
Thursday Jan 27 - AF - Happily hit my 16. No plans to be AF over the next couple of days. Planning AF for Sunday.
Friday Jan 28 - Drinks with my bestie who is about to be moving far away soon. I was crying before the Prosecco, and probably crying harder after. Getting together with her Saturday as well, and we will be having drinks again.
Rolling total: 16AF days out of 28 days.4 -
@Mouse_Potato your thinking is dead on. Any amount of drinking less is a success.
Your idea of smaller glass....BRILLIANT! Your brain still sees it as two, and that works.
I use that with our evening meals. I use lunch size plates for our last meal, only because I've noticed we both go for seconds because the plate appears empty. If I use the smaller plate with the same amount it looks over flowing.
The brain is an interesting thing.
Congrats on your LESS month.😁
Thanks! One of my takeaways from doing TAE experience was realizing that less than 10% of heavy drinkers are physically dependent on alcohol. For the rest of us it's mostly psychological. I am a big fan of tricking my lizard brain in to doing what I want it to do.
Examples:
"You don't have to finish your workout. Just start it and then you can quit if you like after the first set."
(I never quit once I've gotten started.)
"Of course we can go to <fast food place>. You just need to eat this salad first."
(The craving is gone by the time I finish eating.)
So, I decided to apply that to drinking. On the nights I drink, I use smaller glasses. In addition to tricking my brain into thinking I'm having my "normal" amount, it also gives me a pause if I think I want more. Like, "Really? You want to drink a THIRD glass? Isn't that excessive?"
On the nights I don't drink I have a special scented candle I burn. I *never* burn it on nights I drink, so I've got it pretty strongly associated with all things AF. As soon as I smell that candle, I start craving Sparkling Ice or AF wine and I don't want alcohol.6 -
In my ole drinking daze, with this hurricane blizzard weather happening as it is right now I would be a mess.
It is below zero, add on the viscous wind chill factor 😨. I suppose the good thing is it is a dry snow blizzard, I did as much prep as humanly possible yesterday to ready for this, generator fueled, back up camp stove ready, fresh batteries in flash lights...well you know the whole drill I am sure.
I am ok during the day with this, it is at night when it is dark and it's blowing a gale out there that freaks me out.
On the bright side still AF. even attended a comedy show early last evening at a taveren and remained AF. Laughed my darn ars off, which was much needed.
Will check in after the cyclone bomb is gone tomorrow.
Do you see my large two story garage through all that? Yeah, me neither, hope it is still standing.9 -
OMG I am so worried about all you on the East Coast!.....I get freaked out with dense fog warning along with stagnant air warning blah blah.
Dry snow is much better but still.....guess if we move that way we better plan on a generator?3 -
Posting for accountability. 34 of the last 36 days have been AF.
12/25 - 12/31 AF
1/1 - 1/26 AF
1/27 - 2 drinks
1/28 - 1/29 AF
Thank you to everyone for sharing your thoughts and suggestions regarding breaking my 33 day AF streak. I appreciate it and hope to learn from it.
Thinking of all of you on the East Coast dealing with the bomb cyclone. I just spent a week back in South Dakota and the bitter cold was bad enough. I can't imagine all of that snow on top of it. Back to my happy place just a few miles from @GlobalHiker now.
Have a happy Sunday.4 -
Jan 1-6 AF
Jan 7-9 Had wine
Jan 10- 12 AF
Jan 13-16 had wine
Jan 17 - 19 AF
Jan 20-22 had wine
Jan 23-26 AF
Jan 27 - 29 wine nights
Jan 30 - AF - 17 AF out of 30- Goal is AF tomorrow to make 18 out of 30 AF2 -
Checking in real quick
When life gives you a bomb cyclone make the best of it.
AF 29/29
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One more day left for this month. Check in and let us know how you were at keeping or tweaking your less drinking goals to make it through January.
Here is the link to follow us to February 2022:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10855225/less-alcohol-february-2022-one-day-at-a-time/p1?new=1 😍2 -
Wow @MissMay what a difference 24 hours makes.
We too got out today and walked at the wildlife refuse. It is about a 30 minute drive but today we got to be pretty up close and personal with this guy
He or she did not seem at all bothered by us there. As a matter of fact I watched him/her walk right behind someone who was looking at a flock of birds in the field. They had no idea until I showed them the picture with them in the background.
Anyway it was a great hike, also spotted a bald eagle and the nest. They are so big.
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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
Sunday Jan 23rd - AF - Skating in the morning before work : - )
Monday Jan 24th - AF - I have a very light day tomorrow, so considered having a drink, but my tummy will be much leaner in the morning if I don't. Counted my "lunges" while skating. 70 per minute and I skated for 60 minutes. 4200 lunges?
Tuesday Jan 25th - AF - Skating tomorrow, and I am having a very busy work week, so AF. I might have drinks tomorrow.
Wednesday Jan 26th - 2 drinks. I always had 3 drinks on drinks days, but now 2 is my sweet spot. Planned drinks for Friday and Saturday with a friend who is moving far away.
Thursday Jan 27 - AF - Happily hit my 16. No plans to be AF over the next couple of days. Planning AF for Sunday.
Friday Jan 28 - Drinks with my bestie who is about to be moving far away soon. I was crying before the Prosecco, and probably crying harder after. Getting together with her Saturday as well, and we will be having drinks again.
Saturday Jan 29 - 2 drinks
Sunday Jan 30 - AF - Because of skating in the morning : - )
Rolling total: 1AF days out of 30 days.2 -
@dawnbgethealthy I am sorry your friend is moving because I know what it's like when best friends move. I have a couple of best friends in different countries and thank goodness for technology like Zoom and Skype and all that.
The weather in AZ has been absolutely divine and the winds calmed down and we enjoyed the sun and 69 degrees with cerulean blue skies (yes a good air day finally) and it was a very nice weekend. If you all can get out of the cold, come on down.
I did not hit my January goal, missed the mark by a couple of days. But thank goodness we have February to look forward to and it will be a short and easy month - a good one to hit all the goal marks.4 -
Posting for accountability. 34 of the last 37 days have been AF.
12/25 - 12/31 AF
1/1 - 1/26 AF
1/27 - 2 drinks
1/28 - 1/29 AF
1/30 2 drinks
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@MissMay - That is a lot of SNOW! Thank you for sharing. Stay safe and warm!
@dawnbgethealthy - Sorry that your friend is moving away. Hope that ya'll will find a way to keep in touch.
My best friend from college moved to Colorado then Detroit ... while we moved to St. Louis MO and then Houston. She finally caught up with us here in Houston though on the opposite side ... and we've been able to raise our kids within an hour of each other which has been wonderful. One of her other best friends from HS just moved & retired from Houston to France. They Zoom/Skype at least once per month.
@lmlmrn - Great close up.2 -
Jan 1-6 AF
Jan 7-9 Had wine
Jan 10- 12 AF
Jan 13-16 had wine
Jan 17 - 19 AF
Jan 20-22 had wine
Jan 23-26 AF
Jan 27 - 29 wine nights
Jan 30 - 31 AF
This month has been good for drinking less and enjoying it more.
17 AF days this month! On days where I had wine, I had less...just 1-3 glasses.3 -
@dawnbgethealthy how sad your bff is moving. With today's technology at least you can be close from a far. Hugs
@globalhiker so is this time of year the nicest weather in AZ? Your right there is always a new month to achieve goals.
@lmlmrn great photo. That guy really blends into those background colors. Our wild life has become increasingly docile to. Our Steller Sea Eagle has been MIA lately. To many tourists trying to get a pic I think he got annoyed.
@GiveHerGrace and @tmbg1what wonderful accountability you both have had for January!
@lilylady you must be busy with your new Grandbaby. It was good to see you pop in.
LAST DAY OF JANUARY 2022
post the good or bad of your experience, it is all part of the process. 🤓
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It was a great experience....although I did not make the 31 days. I had 3 slip ups!! Cheers to all of you who made it! I may try again this month! Best to all of you!4
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As usual here is the link to our new monthly thread:
FEBRUARY 2022
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10855225/less-alcohol-february-2022-one-day-at-a-time/p1?new=11 -
globalhiker wrote: »21 days AF/27 days. This month I worked too many hours which means I sat too many hours and I did not take any real breaks. That means I ate at my desk and likely didn't drink enough water. Many days I skipped my morning exercise because I had work deliverables early in the morning for demanding clients.
I ever skipped the news 2 days in a row! That's never happened.
I wake up surprised to see it's Friday and almost month-end. What happened?!! The speed of my life is going just way too fast for me. I need to slow down and say "no" - a lot. I really do. But this means some things will just fail and this is really incredibly hard for me to do.
Stuff like this is what makes me "not care" and drink wine at night and just eat whatever regardless of calories. It's important for me to get better structure into my day so my stress is manageable and the work pace is in line with how I want to work - because my daytime will dictate how well I can manage myself in the evenings.
I definitely need to find my life balance and get my mental house in order!
Enjoy the weekend (football!!)
This is me too! Agreed, I need to work on getting my life into balance too!2
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