LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2023 ~ One Day at A Time
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@Womona @globalhiker @joans1976 @mfowler883 @dawnbgethealthy Your words about logging/not logging and what you're doing now really "ring home" to me and are very helpful. After obsessing over everything that goes into my mouth for months and months now (years really), I know what I should and should not be doing. I've tracked on and off in MFP since 2015. When I've stopped, I've gained weight. For now I'm going to change it up to more of a hybrid version of tracking. I will track when I have control over my meals and stay mindful when I don't. We'll see how it goes!
@dawnbgethealthy Thanks also for sharing your experience regarding logging/not logging. It helped me decide to try a hybrid version for now. I just want to make sure I'm not making those around me miserable, namely DH and including myself, by obsessing over it all the time.
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@dawnbgethealthy Regarding Dance Marshall, thanks to that video my dance moves ARE actually looking a little better (to me) while on the dance floor ... in the bedroom ... in front of my mirror, LOL!
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AF on my 6th day now. I am isolated at my resort vacation site with 3 to 4 inches of snow and icy roads predicted. I only brought healthy foods so that has been helpful. Last night was a more difficult evening. About the time I watch the evening news I would usually make an adult drink. I am sleeping better, making healthier food choices and feeling all around better. Appreciating this discussion and reading the posts you all have shared.5
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2/1- 2/2- 2/3 -2/4 - A
2/5 - AF
2/6 - AF
2/7 - AF
2/8 - AF
2/9 - A - 2/10 - 2/11 -A
2/12 - AF
2/13 - A
2/14 - AF5 -
I am really craving a drink right now, to ‘“celebrate” finally getting the house dusted and vacuumed. So, I’m having a mocktail hoping the craving passes. I’m also hungry. If my husband happens to pour me some wine with dinner, I won’t say no. Hope this craving passes!
@MissMay what a great idea to watch the game. I, too, am a huge fan of climate controlled game watching!6 -
February accountability: 5 days AF
Alcohol: 9 days (14 drinks)
Goal: Limit 2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days this month.
2/14 - AF; DH too. I relied on my Betty Buzz with a squeeze of lime.
So proud that I'm sticking to my 2 glass limit this month which I've not in about 6 months. So this is progress.
I am going to face a BIG challenge this weekend. My sister and I are taking a little roadtrip to see our mom for her 86th birthday. My mom has all this wine someone gave her ... which is probably terrible just listening to her read off the labels and years. I mean you don't keep a white wine from 2001 (22 years) unopened ... especially the cheap stuff. Shaking my head at the people that donate wine to my mom cause they can't sell it at an estate sale (it is illegal) ... so they drop off the unopened stuff to her to share with her poker ladies and friends. I'm thinking not drinking that will not be a challenge. But then on top of that my sister wants to take wine in case mom's is bad. LOL Oh boy. I'm thinking I'll pack a few of my nonalcoholic mixers and just chuckle at them trying these wines. But time will tell if I'm strong & hold out.
@dawnbgethealthy - I agree ... when I plan and log I do so much better! When I quit that is when my pounds piled back on quickly. And it is so hard to get back into the routine of writing it all down. I do much better prelogging my day and adjusting when I'm in the groove. Made me smile by the way ... Dance Marshall. I really need to try it some time.
@globalhiker - QUOTE "It's really, really hard to not count and report....but I want to train myself to stop that and focus on behavior change. Success for me now means getting to a point where I don't need to be counting anything."
So envious of you getting to this stage!!! I'm rooting for you. 👏
@MissMay - It sounds like you are enjoying Vegas! Great way to watch the Super Bowl too. Remember to drink water out there with the cocktails and mocktails. It is so easy to get dehydrated in Vegas.
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MOCKTAILS....So I was craving a drink....on my 6th day AF
After seeing Diet Cranberry juice advertised I purchased it on my last food shop. 5 calories for 8 oz. Tonight I made a 1/2 diet cranberry juice and 1/2 diet squirt...a Mock Foo Foo drink. Realized that my evening drink was probably more habit and ritual. This mocktail got me past the craving.
Anyone have any Mocktails they care to share?7 -
@Sherbog, I too welcome mocktail recipes anyone has - particularly ones that are lo-cal w/ no chemicals. Someone once posted recipes about aguas frescas and mojitos that was very interesting.
This aside, I do 100% agree with @dawnbgethealthy and many of you that "tracking" is hugely valuable (yes it helped me a ton in the beginning to recognize behaviors) and I would say this is true for most people. I am of the mindset that if it delivers results and makes you happy, wonderful.
My goal tomorrow is 5 things: focus on the positive, lift others around me, get my exercise, drink NA, and just have a good day. Sounds easy, right?
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Managed to pick up a couple of additional more AF days.
6AF 8A so I'm better than 50% just
Crazy busy with work but that never seems to change LOL7 -
5 days AF
9 days A
Need a few AF days in a row to get some momentum. I think I can do this.
I need 14 AF days this month to reach my goals.7 -
Hey everyone, I’m Amanda. I live in Michigan and it is freezing and gray here but at least it’s staying light out past 5 pm now. ☀️
I joined this lovely thread in the summer of 2022 and it has made a huge difference in my life! I’ve gone from being 25% AF to 98% AF.
The people here are kind and real and smart and fun! Welcome to all newcomers!
2/1-2/7: 6 out of 7 AF
2/8-2/14: 7 out of 7 AF
2/14: AF
My weight is up 2 pounds from lack of logging but I’m really enjoying the mental break of not logging. Like many of you said, I know what I need to eat, I was eating the same few foods just in a rotation while losing. I’m still eating those foods and getting my 5 a day in but…chocolate.
Hugs all around, everyone is doing great things!6 -
I beat the cravings last night! Yay! Weight is down today- and that with eating some pasta for dinner. Double yay!
@Sherbog i have two mocktails that I make. One is club soda with a splash of cranberry juice, the other is club soda with a little bit of the Stonewall Kitchen Sangria Mixer, and add a Luxardo cherry for a mock sangria. I’m partial to the Fever Tree Club soda (not as fizzy) , but seltzer or even sparkling mineral water works too.
The absolute most important thing is to serve it in a proper glass. You like wine? Drink from a wine glass. You like whiskey? Enjoy in an Old Fashioned glass. Martinis? Martini glass. The glass matters to get the feel of the drink you are substituting.
Here is a good book of mocktails that has way more interesting recipes than what I just posted:
Zero Proof Drinks and More: 100 Recipes for Mocktails and Low-Alcohol Cocktails https://a.co/d/0ZP1Ci66 -
@Womona Yas gurl get it!!!!! Way to go! Way to beat the craving! And with added pasta! Mmmm....pasta...
@Sherbog Im not sure you want or have time to do this but in the January 2023 Less Alcohol thread I think there was a lot of mocktail sharing. You could look there but its a long thread. @lmlmrn has a mocktail book and she shares recipes. Here is the link to the January 2023 thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10880222/less-alcohol-january-2023-one-day-at-a-time/p1
I am a strict water or coffee drinker, Im not big into mocktails so I cant help you. I would assume you could Google too.6 -
@Sherbog My easy go-to mock-tail is a virgin Cape Cod = splash of cranberry juice (sugar version) and club soda, in the right kind of glass, of course!6
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Good morning all!
I did break my rule last night for weeknight drinks, but DH is out of town for work so I figured once the kids were in bed, one glass is acceptable for my solo Valentine's day- and I stuck with it! Many times 1 turns into 2, maybe more so I was actually proud of myself for savoring the one glass and then heading to bed- gotta celebrate the little wins
Now to resist the urge tonight!
As for mocktails, I'm a big fan of La Croix + bitters- currently my go to is Lime + Cherry or Cranberry bitters (cherry tastes like a diet cherry limeade from Sonic (if you're a fan!)
8 A/ 6 AF this month8 -
@Sherbog - A few more inspirational non alcoholic fun drinks using Betty Buzz. As a mixer I find that they are not too sweet and low calorie which is wonderful.
https://bettybuzz.com/blogs/drinks/tagged/zero-proof-non-alc4 -
LOL all the mocktail recipes......my go to lately? Served in a tulip glass. Fresh squeezed lemon juice, cranberry juice, orange bitters (sorry guys I am a HUGE bitter over sweet fan), SF syrup and diet tonic water or club soda. In the glass I toss a few frozen berries. Put all in a jar with ice, shake gently (darn that carbonation) strain into tulip glass. Hmmm maybe it is the ritual of creating the drink.
But last night it was ginger beer and lemon juice.
So yep I was AF last night. The zero proof book has soooo many great combinations. I tried at least 1/2 of them so far. There are some combinations that just don't appeal to me but I may try them later and surprise myself.
As for logging, I do weigh daily and I would like to get away from that and have a healthier relationship with the scale AND foods. Having said that I really should log food for a few weeks and get a baseline of my calorie intake, I have been dancing around the same 5lbs for months. The holidays were brutal for me. Alcohol, food, less movement added up over the months with a gain overall of 8lbs.
ok am off for now7 -
Morning all: I’ve been reading these posts on and off since I started MFP in October 2022, and didn’t ever think of adding (or knew I could) AF days to my week until I saw this motivational thread. I think I am really ready as a long time daily wine drinker I desire to let go of the daily habit to gain greater health benefits, more energy, successful weight loss, and have more clarity and less anxiety.
I would like to join this conversation for accountability and support our challenges and successes.
I live in CA, am recently retired and my husband quit drinking 8 years ago. I like to plan ahead and track food and drinks on MFP app.
Feb stats so far:
AF: 8
A: 6
No more than 2 glasses total
…. My question to you is how do you determine how many days a month you might allow yourself A? Is it based on treat days or celebrations? Or what you choose in the moment or is it a combination because life happens!?
Thanks!
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@Michieb125 Welcome! When I first started, I was a daily drinker, but one turned to two, turned to two and a half. So, initially I just wanted to get down to just one during the week. This thread helped me so much, not only the support but the amazing resources at the top of the page. It made me mindful of my drinking instrad of just being a habit. It’s only been in the last few months that my new goal is to be AF during the week and only have 2 on each weekend night.
Others are pretty much AF except for the occasional drink. We really run the gamut here! So, do what works for you!9 -
"Hmmm maybe it is the ritual of creating the drink."
I truly enjoyed the post about mocktails and the recipe. I agree I believe it is more the ritual and habit of having my evening drink. Currently I find Wylers peach tea and the new diet cranberry juice combined with diet squirt to be my go to. Oh and the fancy swanky glass is a must!
Day 7 AF! Shirley pats herself on the back.
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"@Sherbog Im not sure you want or have time to do this but in the January 2023 Less Alcohol thread I think there was a lot of mocktail sharing. You could look there but its a long thread. @lmlmrn has a mocktail book and she shares recipes. Here is the link to the January 2023 thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10880222/less-alcohol-january-2023-one-day-at-a-time/p1"
Thank you so much...off to find that January thread.
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@Womona - thanks so much for sharing your experience here! Yes I understand all too well the one turned to two etc. I like the approach you took and will check out those great references you mention. I agree it would be helpful for me to lean on them for greater mindfulness. I hope check in daily here as well!4
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@Michieb125 Welcome! The great things about this thread IMHO is that it just so inclusive and none judgemental.
There are people who are super strict with their plans and planning and others who are much more laissez-faire.
There are posters aiming for 1 night a week AF and people who are 99% T-total.
Everyone is welcomed, everyone is supported. Even people like me who constantly do AWOL
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Seeing as we are sharing pet pictures. Here is my fearless companion out protecting me in the forest.
AF 7 A 8 We're getting back on track at least. We'll be at 50:50 by the end of today.
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Hey everyone, I’m Amanda. I live in Michigan and it is freezing and gray here but at least it’s staying light out past 5 pm now. ☀️
I joined this lovely thread in the summer of 2022 and it has made a huge difference in my life! I’ve gone from being 25% AF to 98% AF.
The people here are kind and real and smart and fun! Welcome to all newcomers!
2/1-2/7: 6 out of 7 AF
2/8-2/14: 7 out of 7 AF
2/14: AF
My weight is up 2 pounds from lack of logging but I’m really enjoying the mental break of not logging. Like many of you said, I know what I need to eat, I was eating the same few foods just in a rotation while losing. I’m still eating those foods and getting my 5 a day in but…chocolate.
Hugs all around, everyone is doing great things!
2/15: AF
Geez oh man, work is a real albatross this week! I’m trying to just plow through and get it done. And to remain AF while I do it. Yes. Must remain AF. While working and otherwise.7 -
@Stockholm_Andy Ohmigoodness! What breed of spaniel is that? So. Cute. I love that his ears look like the lead singer of ABBA.7
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2/1- 2/2- 2/3 -2/4 - A
2/5 - AF
2/6 - AF
2/7 - AF
2/8 - AF
2/9 - A - 2/10 - 2/11 -A
2/12 - AF
2/13 - A
2/14 - AF
2/15 - A6 -
@Michieb125 Welcome! I did kind of a gradual cutting back. But it took years. For me. Joining this forum helped the most. I’ve done my best cutting back since I joined here in June and now I’m 98% AF. The mental and physical effects were getting to be too much for me!
@Lilylady3k You are KILLING it this month! Good luck with this weekend. Do not drink the 22 year old cheap white wine. No. Yuck.5 -
2/15
5 days AF
10 Days A
Positive: I went for a walk. I kept it to two glasses of wine. I logged my food.7
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