Less Alcohol ~ ☘MARCH 2022 ~ One Day At A Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,791 Member
Do you want to drink LESS? Then join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.
■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR USERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over.
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You":
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol
by Holly Whitaker
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
~Established 2017~
■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■
USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR USERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over.
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.
Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family
When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.
How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You":
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".
LINKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Mydrinkaware:
https://www.mydrinkaware.co.uk
•A Sharing Site for Women:
http://www.drinkingdiaries.com/about/
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.com/
http://www.hipsobriety.com/
https://joinclubsoda.co.uk/
https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/
https://alcoholmastery.com/blog/
•Sobriety Blog:
http://mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
https://unpickledblog.com/2017/01/04/replacement-behaviours-ten-things-that-helped-me-kick-booze/?wref=tp
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201505/the-neuroscience-making-decision
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
https://www.self.com/story/alcoholic-or-just-really-like-to-drink
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
http://www.scarymommy.com/questioning-drinking-habits/
•Guided Meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/you-can-cold-brew-iced-tea-while-you-sleep
•Mocktail Recipes:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1822/drinks/mocktails/
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/mocktails
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/how-to/g785/best-mocktail-recipes/
APPS:
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak iOS link. A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange iOS is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•nomo - Sobriety Clocks iOS - In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted, and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) Android- Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
BOOKS:
▪▪▪▪
•Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol
by Holly Whitaker
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
~Established 2017~
0
Replies
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Thank you @MissMay for starting our March thread.
Finished Feb with 19 AF days. I will take that. March may or may not look the same.
Now this is odd, I knew we would be going out to lunch and a few beers yesterday. It was planned. But once we got there and before we left I was not super thrilled about going to drink the beer. I did it anyway. But I am noticing a mental shift. It is starting to be less and less in my forefront than ever before. Then it makes me think am I replacing alcohol with my 'gummys'? But I don't always have one in the evening. I do enjoy a teaspoon of a tincture which gives me that semi relaxed feeling.
Well anyway I am looking forward to March and hopefully see some of the extra fluff wants to fall off for spring.
Ok I am off to the gym for sweat fest6 -
March 1 - AF1
-
Good morning and happy 1st day of March!
I already know that this month will look different than last because of all of the plans we have made, biggest is going to the Rodeo a few times and family visiting, but it will be better than it would have been before since there is more awareness with my habits and accountability with tracking here!
Have a great day everyone and Happy Mardi Gras!💜💚💛
Feb: 3 A days, 25 AF Days
Goal for March is to have AT LEAST 16 days AF 😁3 -
How wonderful to see our first page of March LESS Alcohol filling up with posts.
If you made it through January on into February and your still checking in with us, YAY!!!
Drinking LESS is not a challenge , it is a life style change for body, mind, spirit.
NO ONE wakes up thinking today I am going to drink more than yesterday and have an even worse hangover. So that I can be sluggish and miserable and regret opening my eyes.
Let today be the day you become super focused on what you put into your body. Measure your pours, be honest with the size of your drink, Keep COUNT of how many you consume. Lighten up on the spirit to add more non alcoholic mix. Trick your drinking brain by down sizing your favorite glass or mug.
HAPPY MARDI GRAS
6 -
LOL @MissMay 's morning comment. I don't know about that I am sure there is someone, somewhere, out there. That just does not care ...oooh how awful
Well I finished purging my office/art studio/gym. It feels so much more organized. I still have too much but one purge at a time.
AF last night and plan to be the rest of the week. I will see what this weekend brings.3 -
The latest, I just got it this evening. Scarlett & Elsie
Diet stayed so-so today, but AF
7 -
Awwwww. Beautiful.4
-
@lmlmrn the photo of your Granddaughters is precious! Proud Sister indeed.
NOTE to self:
Leave some of the cajun gumbo to take home for another meal.
I definitely over did it with eating yesterday. UGH. The flavor was so delicious, I just kept shoveling it into mouth.
Well lots of water today and keep moving about should reduce this yucky bloated feeling. On my way to continue that exercise program. Week 9/ day 3💪
Remember~
LESS is more6 -
I am jumping on this band wagon. I have been having an issue with sciatica. Going through physical therapy and feeling so discouraged...this has gone on for almost 3 months. I am going to try AF and clean eating for the month of March and hope this will help some. It sure can't hurt!8
-
Thanks for keeping us going @MissMay
I am Dawn. My ongoing goal is 16-20 AF days per month. I was a daily drinker when I began on this thread in November of 2018.
Diary style is how I keep track.
Tuesday March 01 - AF - Day 2 of a 7 day cleanse heavy on brown rice, almonds, and allums, so no alcohol or anything fermented amongst other things like fungus, sugar, wheat, grapes etc.
Rolling total:4 -
Had the bottle on my hand today, but managed to talk myself out of it. Friday is soon enough.8
-
March 1-2 - AF5
-
AF tonight so yeah.
I just did errands today after my workout. DH finally went to his dr. for a check up. they are doing some blood work and put him on bp med's. We will see how that works out.
short post...sorry5 -
I'm in for March! Goal is to not drink this month. Typically, March-April-May is the ideal timeframe for a long no-drinking stretch because it's just easier without summer vacation and winter holiday celebrations.
@lmlmlm I think that is the cutest picture I've seen! Bless your family.
@dawnbgethealthy after your cleanse week is over, I am curious to hear about the benefits.
One of these days I want to get tested for food allergies and plan an elimination diet around that. I think I'm getting allergic to a lot of stuff. I do miss the good old days when I could eat everything.
Here's to a lucky month for us all!3 -
@lmlmrn - Beautiful picture of your granddaughters!3
-
globalhiker wrote: »
@dawnbgethealthy after your cleanse week is over, I am curious to hear about the benefits.
One of these days I want to get tested for food allergies and plan an elimination diet around that. I think I'm getting allergic to a lot of stuff. I do miss the good old days when I could eat everything.
Here's to a lucky month for us all!
Yes, I hear you on that. I think that we become intolerant to certain foods over time.
It is kind of like when we drink alcohol every day, we feel "normal", but until we cut back we don't see that malaise.
I am only on day 4 of the cleanse, but I did it twice a year for many years before the whole change of life things started to happen and the cleanse only exacerbated them. Well past that now, and it was time.
Technically it is a 12 day cleanse, the Wild Rose version, but I only have enough of the herbs that go along with it for 7. I will likely stick with the eating plan even when the herbs run out. Surprising how much vinegar, wheat, peanuts, and sugar is in every day stuff.
I booked off of work for your visit in June. Can't wait!!!5 -
Thanks for keeping us going @MissMay
I am Dawn. My ongoing goal is 16-20 AF days per month. I was a daily drinker when I began on this thread in November of 2018.
Diary style is how I keep track.
Tuesday March 01 - AF - Day 2 of a 7 day cleanse heavy on brown rice, almonds, and allums, so no alcohol or anything fermented amongst other things like fungus, sugar, wheat, grapes etc.
Wednesday March 02 - AF - Easier to be off of alcohol than the cream in my coffee in the mornings
Rolling total: 2 AF days out of 2 days6 -
@dawnbgethealthy The coffee comment made me laugh. I gave up alcohol and coffee for Lent one year. I was a daily drinker at the time and expected wine to be harder than coffee, hands down. I was so wrong about that. Coffee was muuuuuch harder for me.5
-
I too am addicted to black coffee in the mornings. Not the best routine since I believe at one time I heard productive people don't drink coffee in the mornings ... instead they exercise. Could be one of my weight issues but right now just tackling a few bad habits at a time ... and leaving my coffee addition alone.
March 2022
February accountability: 2 days AF
Alcohol: 1 days (3 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.
DH gave up alcohol for Lent and asked I support him. 6 weeks! He is skeptical that he can do it but I'm all in with him ... and said I would make the same commitment.
3/1 - 3 wine
3/2 - AF
3/3 - AF
2 -
March 1-2 AF
March 3- wine 3 glasses (almost went for a 4th but switched to water and very glad I did because I feel good this morning)6 -
Hi, everyone. It's been some time since I joined this thread but I am happy to be back.
Like so many of us, I've had an awful two+ years. On top of the pandemic, I have dealt with grief, depression and anxiety, all of which have been made harder/worse by alcohol. And, no surprises here, but I've gained about 15 lbs.
My last drink was on March 1. I am going to start therapy, go back to my Recovery Elevator podcast, maybe reread This Naked Mind and check out some other books. I haven't committed to forever, but I know it was out of control so abstinence is the route I am sticking with for now.
Thanks for keeping this going, @MissMay - I'm happy to see this thread still exists as it has helped me in the past.4 -
HAPPY FRIDAY!
So awesome to see and read everyones commitment to March so far.
GREAT to have you checking in again @Will_Run_for_Food.
It has been a rough two years, no doubt. Sorry for your loss and emotional strains.3 -
@lmlmrn oh what a precious picture of your granddaughters!
@MissMay thanks for keeping us going another month. Your efforts are truly appreciated!
I am not starting out March so well. PMSing badly (sorry gents!) means scarfing down a lot of food, being super fatigued, being inconsistent with exercise and having more drinks than normal. I know it’s temporary but I undid all the work and results I achieved the previous week.
I know what to do to get back on track of course, but it’s a little disheartening to have my body hijacked by hormones. Everyone my age that I know has been long done with this, and I have the menstrual cycle of a 30 year old! My mom didn’t stop until she was 57 so I have another four years of this ride!
I’ve managed to stick to one drink per day for the past few weeks, with the exception of last night. Two glasses of wine and some tequila drink that’s a specialty of my son’s restaurant among the staff. It was delicious! Good news is I feel fine today. Now to drink a ton of water to counter the effects of yesterday’s Pastrami Reuben and all that alcohol!!!!!4 -
March for me is one of those months I need to keep super busy to make it fly by
The weather here teases us so. 60's one day, snowing and teens the next day. It can cause me to want to have a melt down.
Like last March 2021. I began my giant purge of material items in anticipation of selling my house and property to move. It kept me very busy and cleansed my mind.( still working on down sizing)
Beginning of 2022 I started up another 90 day workout ( going good), read daily in here and try to post.
Four days ago I added another 31 day routine to help quicken through March. A daily mini art painting challenge with a group of like minded folks.
Totally not my go to type of painting, but I wanted to switch it up a bit in my life and try something new. You know, get out of that square box I am always in and jump into triangle.
Long story short. Crammed 1,2,3rd days art all into a 2 hour session yesterday to catch up. Not bad...not great. Time will tell how I will improve by end if day 31.
AF last night.
Tonight is a planned cocktail evening AFTER all my other duties are done. Planning on one glass of prosseco.
Here's to trying new things.
4 -
@MissMay so interested in and impressed with your strategies. So smart. I've repeated a Lenten undertaking for the past 3 years (because I haven't completed it) and it is kind of similar-- documenting household contents (for insurance) and lightening the load. It's all in the spirit of tying up loose ends in preparation for your own death. My estate docs & letters to survivors are all in good shape but this one is so hard for me. Some of us have mentioned on the thread before that it's not so much our own stuff but the stuff dumped on entrusted to us for posterity that poses hard questions. What to do with something was important to someone else and totally unimportant to me. I guess I need to rethink boundaries about how other peoples feelings are influencing my decisions under my own roof. Maybe I should revisit Marie Kondo.
I feel for you, @womona. I definitely follow that pattern -- good weeks then bad weeks. It was worse before menopause, and I promise it does get better. My motto to myself during both is "It all averages out." It keeps my head down on good weeks and stops me from kicking myself on bad weeks. And the scale says it is true. It's the average that matters.
Hoping for smoother sailing ahead, @Will_Run_for_Food. Love that username!
3 -
Last night not my best. The nuclear plant fire ignited my anxiety. Reached out to my step father to talk me down and he totally amplified my fear instead. It's a little situational, as one daughter is flying to Europe today and another plans to spend the summer in eastern Europe. Thought of all my friends with kids overseas and wondered if they were freaking out, too. I have a little guilt for the luxury of being able to "take a news break." Well, it's a new day. Fire is out. Nuclear catastrophe averted. For now.
I'll be frank, I wanted to reach for a drink every night this week. If I lived in a state where gummies were legal I definitely would have had one (some). I've never had gummies, but many people I know in places where it is legal have them on the reg. I've had an edible once, and it was not at all what I expected. It was NOT an energetic high. Rather, it was a deep mellow calm. I felt more clear eyed and accepting of reality. I would have appreciated that last night. Tonight is a "drinks night" but I know it won't give me that calm I seek.4 -
Hello everyone
@ahoy_m8 I do live in a state where gummies are legal and yes I have had some, even make my own along with a tincture. Yes the feeling you get is more of a relaxing acceptance, that was a great description. You wake up the next day refreshed and no side effects that I have noticed. The downside, it's expensive. Usually $10-$15 per dose (1-2 gummies). I don't smoke, inhale the product, only eat or drink.
Yesterday we did go out for dinner and I had 1 beer. Now the interesting thing was, I could have left it and been fine. However they had two on tap I had never tried so I tasted one. I actually picked the lighter of the two. Then I stopped at 1 beer. Instead of us ordering a pitcher we order A beer. Nothing more and lived to tell about it. For me that was a revelation. What only ONE beer and you walked away...yes I did and did not look back. High five me.
March 2 out of 3 AF then3 -
Yeah, high 5 you @lmrnrn! I have intellectual assent to the idea that one drink is peak enjoyment. In practice, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Re: the expensive stuff, a glass of wine at a bar or restaurant is typically $15-20. I'm not sure that is a suitable benchmark. My brand new AF spirits were $30-40 per 750ml bottle. Is that expensive? Compared to a soft drink, yes! Compared to hooch, not really. Not sure how to think about it all.2
So true!
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