LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

itladyee · February 2023

Whoo Hoo...yesterday was an AF day! Its kinda funny... I came home and instead of my brain telling me I wanted that glass of wine, I just immediately poured my 5 calorie juice and continued my routine. As long as I had something to drink, I was content!

@rockinrobyn672 ~ I'm not normally a cat person, but I have to agree, that kitten is absolutely adorable!!

@mflowler883

mfowler883 wrote: »

Threw away two beautiful dry aged prime ny strip steaks because they sat in the fridge too long. Stupid.

Oh no....but I understand. I got food poisoning a few years back (not sure from what) and since I'm am super careful of food spoilage and when it doubt, I throw it out.

@joans1976 ~ just continue to due your best (with the breathing) that's all anyone can ask. You're the one in the stressful situation, not the tech.

@womona ~ I applaud your patience as well!

2/1 AF
2/2 AF
2/3 A
2/4 A
2/5 A
2/6 A
2/7 A
2/8 AF
2/9 A
2/10 A
2/11 A
2/12 A
2/13 A
2/14 A
2/15 A
2/17 A
2/18 A
2/19 A
2/20 AF

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February
AF = 20%
A = 80%
30 day experiment - My 30 days ended on 2/17

AF = 16 days or 53%
A = 14 days or 47%

mfowler883 · February 2023

Yeah I bought the steaks and said "I'm gonna cook these;" I had portobello mushrooms, sweet onion and a red bell pepper, salad fixings, and even some small-ish baked potato boats ready to go. Every evening turned into "wanna just grab something?" until the steaks were visibly ruined.

Really gotta watch that, that's how I packed all the weight on in the first place.

My Garmin tracks sleep quality, according to the app I haven't had a proper restful night's sleep since around the end of January. We should be getting labs back any day, maybe that will give us a clearer picture of what we're dealing with. There's still a few things we need to do to get fully up to speed in the new office, but none of it is high pressure anymore - the important stuff is done and I could take my time and back burner all of the remaining tasks if I wanted to.

Last night's stout was actually pretty pleasant. The Commissar really helped the Gruvi, while the Gruvi meant drinking two glasses with the alcohol content of only one. Maybe not AF, but LESS and again, I'll take wins where I can get them for now. I haven't put any thought into whether today will be AF, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, but if not AF it will at least be less.

Kudzu is cute. I haven't had a cat in a long time...

I told Har it's a good thing he's got a fat butt.

-m

Jthanmyfitnesspal · February 2023

Congratulations to everyone on this thread. We're more than half way through the month!

After a wonderful Dry January, my wife and I went out for Valentine's day to our favorite restaurant, ate at the bar, and had our favorite alcoholic drinks. It was special and it was great!

I worried it might get me back in alcohol mode (which usually means only drinking 1-2 times a week, nothing really problematic), but it hasn't. I've been motivated by my progress in controlling my weight, and I know I can't do it without nearly eliminating alcohol. I've had some really great weeks of feeling really energetic (although, lately I've had a little cold). So, life is generally good!

This helps me to minimize the C2H5(OH) as I continue to get my weight back to my preferred level (10 more lbs!). Also, I'm doing a charity 5k in about 7 weeks, and I'd like to give it a good showing. All of this motivates me.

Is anyone else coming at this from the diet and performance angle?

Michieb125 · February 2023

@dawnbgethealthy yes, we are building a greenhouse using a plan I found online! I love gardening but the last few years my gardens suffered with the drought in Northern California and green things need lots of water. I have a fairly big property so plenty of room to place this on a 10 x 12 pad. Hope to expand my knowledge of starting seeds, growing winter vegetables and especially year round flowers! We will try our hand at installing a solar panel as well. Just started but think it will be up in 4 - 6 weeks. Will keep
You posted - thanks for your interest!

February stats:
AF - 13
A -7
Goals - no more than 2 glasses per A day

Michelle

mfowler883 · February 2023

A greenhouse sounds cool. If I had property to build on, I would consider it. I would also love to keep bees. It's doable for city dwellers but our apartment complex wouldn't be ideal.

-m

Lilylady3k · February 2023

February accountability: 10 days AF
Alcohol: 11 days (19 drinks)
Goal: Limit 2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days this month.

2/21 - AF; DH too

tmbg1 · February 2023

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 - 2/16- 2/17- 2/18- A -- more A days this month so far but logging anyway to keep accountability going. Love this judgement-free space!
2/19 - AF
2/20 - AF
2/21 - AF

zensome · February 2023

@Jthanmyfitnesspal I am also coming at this from a weight loss and "performance" angle. I put that in quotes because I am really nothing more than a casual jogger but find that it is more challenging (and less enjoyable) since I put on some pounds. Right now I am trying to drop a few while it's still too cold here for outdoor running. I'm in the PNW and we are expecting snow in the early morning so it will be a few more weeks. I don't do gyms and I don't have a treadmill so my "running" is weather dependent.

So far for Feb I am 13 AF/21, on track and the month is nearly over!

globalhiker · February 2023

Glad to see so many of you pushing yourselves forward. I had 2 light beers today, which in retrospect was just wasted calories. Not the perfect human today, but I keep trying.

@Sherbog congrats on your accomplishments!! On a roll and you inspire me as well!

@siberiantarragon I get what you are saying. At the end of the day, we are our own best doctors and need to keep pushing for our own best solutions. All so very frustrating because so much of medicine is trial and error, especially with hormones, but I hope you find your better solution and feel better soon.

People tell me yoga helps immensely but I am too tired after working late to go.

Note to self here:At the end of the day, we are the ones in charge of ourselves and we are the only ones we can blame. Accountability (and success) lies within us. What do I when I don't feel in charge of me 2/3rd of my days.....because work, family, circumstances are throwing me curveballs...that is the big question in my head......

forestdweller1 · February 2023

forestdweller1 · February 2023

Oh Jaysuzz !! If I could only remember how to post a photo !!! I end up just poking buttons and sometimes {rarely} it works !!
Anywho...the most recent pic of Bibbs, Middle Daughter's latest feral cat rescue. He is still terrified of the police scanner-TV with sound on-TV with sound off- podcasts-vacumn- dishwasher-toilet flushes -visitors with boots...well, you get the idea. Lots of things send him back under the sofa. At least, after the first 14 hours stuffed into the space between refrigerator and kitchen wall he will roam the first floor. Oddly, he has not yet figured out that in the wee hours of the morning the people and cat-mate Scrappy climb 2 sets of stairs to spend the night.
Still not litter box trained, he won't "go" anywhere but in a shallow ALDI's box with real dirt in it. And only single use. Yeah, he's a pain in the *kitten*, but he's been living in her yard for many years, sooooo....he's family.
Now that he's indoors he isn't incurring injuries protecting his territory, so no need to hit up the local drug dealers for bootleg antibiotics. Weird benefits of living near "the hood".
Middle Daughter used to play solitaire with recently deceased "Kitty-Kitty", and Bibbs seems to enjoy the game also.
Kitchen floor card games....

Not for my Catpuccino...turning cardboard into confetti is his hobby.

Sherbog · February 2023

13 days in a row alcohol free...:) Reading posts I take what I like and leave the rest. What I do like is how some posts state that they plan when they are going to drink. Last Wednesday I planned to drink on Friday. Friday came and it did not seem so important. My main issue in not driving is getting my weight down.

Stockholm_Andy · February 2023

forestdweller1 wrote: »

Oh Jaysuzz !! If I could only remember how to post a photo !!! I end up just poking buttons and sometimes {rarely} it works !!.

Hi forest you first need to push the little picture icon (1) see below:-

Then you can either choose a file from your computer (circled) or paste in the url to the box.

You can also copy and past the picture into this box. Hope this helps.

AF 11 A10 I'm ahead! I've got 7 days to stay there and more importantly to increase my lead!

forestdweller1 · February 2023

Some discussions up-thread about "off-topic" posts. Not really, folks. Issues about health, family drama, job stress, pet problems, finances...well, they are some reasons we turn to alcohol because our lives are not exactly picture
perfect. Of course, after the soothing & numbing effects have worn off, the underlying issue is still there ...only maybe with a hangover...
Venting and "complaining" are stress relievers. Others have had similar issues, resolved them, and may have a solution...or just a much needed "hug". Such sympathetic and helpful messages here. Thanks !!

@MissMay ...Your current company is not "family". I went to work for a company where one of my main duties was entering my work product into a computer after telephone contact. I did not even know how to turn on a computer at that time. I was taught, trained, never mocked, always encouraged, and eventually became one of their top producers. The company mantra was "take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.".
We were always encouraged to ask fellow employees for advice & ideas...the cubicle gerbils were always popping up to consult and comment. I ended up working for 3 competing divisions of the company at the same time...insanity, total insanity, but FUN.
We had an employee with ...um...mental issues, but still a good worker. She disappeared one day, after complaining about troubles with her spouse. The company president allowed a dozen employees to take the day off to search for her, contact the police, go to her home, confront her husband...That's "family".
Thursday was , I dunno what else to call it, "potluck day". There would be a Monday discussion about a novel we would be producing, "OMG, did you read the part about the dinner in the vineyard ?" And on Thursday there would be a table full of reproductions of that dinner. Or a Katrina refugee would sigh about missing N'Orleans...and the community coffee maker would perk chicory , and heaps of gumbo & red beans and rice would appear.
The company president was always on site for Thursday sampling . LOL
We shared vacation info and homes, and several of the guys brought back speciality beers for each other from work
trips. If we had not formed a community, we would not have been as successful as a company.

Oh !! Waving to Andy's spouse !! Enjoy our 70 degree Thursday in Pittsburgh !!

joans1976 · February 2023

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
2/15-2/22: 7 out of 7 AF

2/21: AF
This week is flying by. I’m still employed. My boss sends me a text everyday asking how I am which is 🤮. I’m actually really tired (expected from the radiation) and sore and stiff. I *might* be carrying a little stress.
19 days AF ✨

joans1976 · February 2023

@forestdweller1 Thank you for posting. I could read posts about cats and antibiotic drug dealers all day.

SunnyDays930 · February 2023

I have done 2 hypnosis for sobriety exercises on youtube. I don't know that I become "hypnotized" per se, but the soothing words and positive reinforcement certainly can't hurt.

I have hung up a dress in plain view in my bedroom that I want to wear to a wedding in May. Right now it does not fit. Looking at it reminds me that I want to achieve my weight loss/sobriety goals. I have realized these two go hand in hand. If I don't stay sober, I will not lose weight. I eat everything in sight when drinking. Every Sunday I will put it on and check my progress. BTW, the last 2 weddings I attended were AF for me and I thoroughly enjoyed and remembered every second of them. Some guests were embarrassing themselves and I was happy not to be one of them.

Womona · February 2023

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

Is anyone else coming at this from the diet and performance angle?

I absolutely am. I find my workouts and tennis are so much better if I haven’t had alcohol the night before. The weight falls off me when I cut out alcohol for a few days.

Womona · February 2023

@forestdweller1 wow, your old job sounds like an amazing place to work!!!! Lucky you. That’s lightning in a bottle, right there.

Womona · February 2023

AF last night! I had a great day out with one of my friends, and my mocktail was just perfect.

Then, I heard my husband opening a new bottle of wine with the battery operated wine opener. I bolted into the kitchen squealing like a little girl getting the Barbie Dreamhouse like Pavlov’s freaking dog. My family had a good laugh at how conditioned I am to come running at the sound of the wine being opened. Kind of embarrassing, actually, especially because my 24 year old son was in the room.

The good news is I just had one sip of my husband’s wine, and that was enough for me. I’m taking the win. Well, except for that whole Pavlovian response thing….

LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

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