LESS Alcohol ~ APRIL 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

MonkeyMel21 · April 2023

Today was a good day. I had a lot of energy at work, maybe too much, lol. Went on a walk with DH after work and ate pretty healthy. I had a NA beer while playing a game with the family.

4/1- 4 beers
4/2- AF
4/3- AF

GaryM_25 · April 2023

itladyee wrote: »

@GaryM_25 ~ That's awesome that you have gone one week without a drink! What's the 12 week challenge? I tried a 30 day challenge earlier and it was going well until the "support" was focused on quitting and "moderation" was not an option. I didn't agree.

It's a program I used successfully a number of years ago. It's both diet and exercise and pretty intense. First week, I lost seven pounds which surprised me.

Tonight, my wife and I went to a monthly dinner event that our volunteer service organization has. I saved enough calories for dinner and skipped anything to drink.

Today was leg day. Tomorrow is cardio intervals.

joans1976 · April 2023

Hello LA community! I am Amanda, I’m from Michigan and excited for Spring to get here! This thread is my favorite bunch of people! I have been practicing LA since June ‘22.

My April goals are to be 99-100% AF,
continue healing from my cancer diagnosis and all the baggage from that and to work on my weight.

4/1: A-1
I went out to dinner last night for my mom’s birthday and decided to order a drink. It was some sort of dragonfruit/lemonade/vodka thing. It tasted like Kool-Aid and wasn’t very good.
4/2: AF
I got a bunch of house stuff done yesterday but exhausted myself by 3. I want all my energy back NOW and it’s just not happening. I need to learn to be patient with myself, it’s just annoying.
4/3: AF
I worked for 11 hours yesterday. Not a big deal but I haven’t done that in about six months and I don’t want to fall back into the habit of overworking myself for this place. Besides, working long days for them cuts into my job search time!

joans1976 · April 2023

@RockinRobyn672 & @itladyee I became overwhelmed/burnt out/sick of weighing and logging this past February. I stopped keeping track in mid-February. I tried to eat the same. I did well for about 3 weeks and then slowly old, bad habits creeped in. I ended up gaining back 4 pounds by April 1st. (I had radiation therapy in there though and I was too tired to cook much though- YMMV.) It’s really frustrating because I’m thinking “do I need to weigh and log every bite of food I take for the rest of my life in order to lose weight?” That’s not a way to live and I was getting obsessive. There’s got to be a happy medium between obsessively logging everything and just completely going off the rails. Let me know when you find that spot and I will come join you!

globalhiker · April 2023

3 days AF so far. Husband is AF too. It's a huge help. We both had really good hot cocoa last night - the pure stuff with no chemicals. It's our new evening drink. Zero urges to drink BUT as usual, the insomnia worsens and I'm on a 4.5 hour sleep schedule.

Still diligently tracking WW points and down another lb.! I have my in-person weigh-in on Saturday. Very motivated to get another 1.5 lb. off by the weekend. I want this!

Practicing positivity. Getting on my exercise bike for an hour in front of youtube travel videos next.

Lilylady3k · April 2023

April accountability: 1 days AF
Alcohol: 2= days (4 drinks)
Days over 2 glasses: 0
Goal: Limit 2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days this month.

4/1 - 2 wine
4/2 - 2 wine

4/3 - AF

Lilylady3k · April 2023

@dawnbgethealthy - Looked back into the last thread to catch up and realized Foster Grant job is no more. I know that you'll miss running around, seeing the various folks and working on the displays. It was where you could display your creativity. Any chance of a garden/nursery job? Singing again in a small band? You would be great at either too! What pub are you considering working at? Will they let you lead a group in making the Fitness Marshall moves? CROSSING my fingers thet you get the Fenwick & Baker job!

@Michieb125 - Love the scenery pics ... so much spring green and rolling hills.

@lmlmrn - Excited for your new adventure. Which direction have ya'll decided to head? Do you have a path worked out in google maps or just going to start wandering east or south?

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

Hi All! Since joining this group Nov '22 I no longer drink on a daily basis. I'm drinking less for weight loss and overall health. Since I haven't lost weight, I'm changing my goal to 2 A-days weekly with a 2-drink-any-day limit. I usually post mornings.

Sat 4/1: Drinks (3)
Sun 4/2: AF
Mon 4/3: AF - I had two NA beers last night. My plan was one. I wanted to snack after dinner, so I drank the extra NA instead (20 calories). I'm considering this practice for the A days. I'm not tracking food right now. My weight is slightly up this morning. I'm going to see how it goes over the next couple of weeks.

Rolling Total: 2AF Days out of 3

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

@itladyee Regarding tracking, I'm just taking a break. My weight tends to trend upward when I'm not tracking. We'll see how it goes.

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

joans1976 wrote: »

@RockinRobyn672 & @itladyee I became overwhelmed/burnt out/sick of weighing and logging this past February. I stopped keeping track in mid-February. I tried to eat the same. I did well for about 3 weeks and then slowly old, bad habits creeped in. I ended up gaining back 4 pounds by April 1st. (I had radiation therapy in there though and I was too tired to cook much though- YMMV.) It’s really frustrating because I’m thinking “do I need to weigh and log every bite of food I take for the rest of my life in order to lose weight?” That’s not a way to live and I was getting obsessive. There’s got to be a happy medium between obsessively logging everything and just completely going off the rails. Let me know when you find that spot and I will come join you!

@joans1976 You speak (write) my truth!

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

@globalhiker In-person weekly WW meetings really worked for me years ago. I lost my goal of 14 pounds and then kept it off for years. Maybe that's what I'll try next. I'm just not crazy about their mobile app. I like MFP the best. Wouldn't it be nice if MFP joined up with WW and allowed us to switch between counting calories and counting points?

brittgreenlikethecolor88 · April 2023

I'm in! I want to drink less for both my physical & mental health.

Goal: AF - Sunday-Thursday.
=/< 3 drinks per day on Friday & Saturday.

Apr 3 - TUES: AF ✅
Apr 4 - WED:

lmlmrn · April 2023

I think everyone is starting this month with a bang! WOW so focused, I wonder if the 'spring' has anything to do with it?????

One more day.......We hit the road tomorrow morning after the trash man comes (I know I know) Today's focus is cleaning the bathrooms, mop the kitchen and clean out the fireplace. Oh and as much laundry as I can possibly do.
We are going to leave the remaining items in our house unpacked. So when we return we can still function in the house as we start doing last minute deep cleaning, and the final pack.
Yesterday the electrician came and replaced our service panel...ugg...power company shut off the power at 8am, electrician worked until 5 pm....power company came back at 6:30 pm to turn power back on.....7pm it snowed. It was so cold in the house until about 8pm. I can't remember the last time it snowed in April!

So far all we have sorta mapped out is as far as my town in western WA to Salt Lake City. I would like to go see the great salt lake and listen to the Mormon Tabernacle choir on Easter. After that we have to decide is we are going south to AZ or cross the mountains and head west through Denver.
The trip is young yet. We do tend to let the attractions dictate our direction. Since we are not in a hurry who knows.

I will check in when I can and hopefully post pictures of our KooKoo travels.

GaryM_25 · April 2023

I'm convinced alcohol was a major contributor to weight. Starting from my highest weight ever, the scale told me I lost seven pounds my first week as a result of healthy eating, intense workouts, and no alcohol.

dawnbgethealthy · April 2023

@Michieb125

Wow, such great photos! Thanks for posting.
Where is this geographically?

dawnbgethealthy · April 2023

RockinRobyn672 wrote: »

@itladyee Regarding tracking, I'm just taking a break. My weight tends to trend upward when I'm not tracking. We'll see how it goes.

Yes, me too.
I find that my tracking is very quick and easy, everything that I eat (and drink) is already in there.
I do plan to track for life - after stopping once (figuring that I knew the portions) and gaining a great deal of weight. I am okay with that, I find it so simple.

dawnbgethealthy · April 2023

@globalhiker

Good job on the WW success so far!
Cocoa has lots of caffeine...just saying.

dawnbgethealthy · April 2023

I am Dawn, I live in South Eastern British Columbia.
I joined this thread in November of 2018, a daily drinker at the time
My primary goal with drinking less is weight loss.

My usual goal is 16-20 AF days for the month,
I had 17AF days in March.

I do this diary style, I normally post the next morning.

Saturday April 1st - Drinks. Planned AF for Sunday. I will try to limit drinks to one weekday and weekends.
Sunday April 2nd - AF - Since I had resolved that it would be an AF day it was fairly easy. Just going to take it day by day this week on the A or AF front. If I could wait until the weekend for A that would be great.
Monday April 3rd - AF - I think that it might have been an A day with a light Tuesday, but I got a phone call and have a job interview today (Fenwick and Baker pub) after my Spice Hut job - so AF Monday night.

Rolling total: 2AF days out of 3 days.

itladyee · April 2023

GaryM_25 wrote: »

Tonight, my wife and I went to a monthly dinner event that our volunteer service organization has. I saved enough calories for dinner and skipped anything to drink.

Today was leg day. Tomorrow is cardio intervals.

@GaryM_25 ~ Great job and determination. Excellent planning on your part!

itladyee · April 2023

joans1976 wrote: »

@RockinRobyn672 & @itladyee I became overwhelmed/burnt out/sick of weighing and logging this past February. I stopped keeping track in mid-February. I tried to eat the same. I did well for about 3 weeks and then slowly old, bad habits creeped in. I ended up gaining back 4 pounds by April 1st. (I had radiation therapy in there though and I was too tired to cook much though- YMMV.) It’s really frustrating because I’m thinking “do I need to weigh and log every bite of food I take for the rest of my life in order to lose weight?” That’s not a way to live and I was getting obsessive. There’s got to be a happy medium between obsessively logging everything and just completely going off the rails. Let me know when you find that spot and I will come join you!

@joans1976 & @RockinRobyn672 ~ I agree...there has to be a better way. Unfortunately, I think we have to bite the bullet (pun intended) and continue to weigh and track until we get to our "goal" what ever that might be. Then build some wiggle room around that goal weight and THEN I think we can relax on the daily tracking and daily weighing and resort to a once a week weigh....any only resume tracking if we are getting out of control. Now with that said.... My brain hasn't gotten here yet and not sure what it will take....but I continue!

itladyee · April 2023

Ready for April
4/3/2023
I skipped breakfast, considering IF again. if only to kick start some action. Good for lunch (leftover Chicken and Salad) and dinner was an airfried pork chop and broccoli. Husband turned on the NCAA championship game and make Pomegranate Sours. I had one and a half (about 6 ounces).

4/4/2023
I'm already claiming today as AF. Gotta get started and ignore the triggers.

The Month recap to stay accountable

4/1
My plan starts/restarts tomorrow.... Mayo Clinic "diet" . Today wasn't so bad. Had 6 ounce filet and asparagus and two glasses of wine for dinner. I have only one bottle of wine left in my house and I don't plan to buy any more this month.....
4/2/2023
Well.... the day was actually going well. I had a couple of breakfast sausage for breakfast (not the best choice but I haven't been shopping yet). For lunch, cobb salad and for dinner Chicken with a southwest salad. All meals accompanied by water! I made it until 8:30pm when my husband came home from work. He cracked open a beer and started recapping his negative day... so two glasses appeared .... bottle is almost empty🙂
4/3/2023
4/4/2023

My 2023 Stats...

AF = 0
A = 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January
AF = 53%
A = 47%
February
AF = 29%
A = 71%
March
AF = 0%
A = 100%
April
AF = 0%
A = 100%

MonkeyMel21 · April 2023

Today was good. Our supervisor is off for bereavement leave starting at 10 am today so I had a little more stress at work than usual picking up the slack. But when I got home DH and I played some DnD with our 13 year old then had dinner. We both had some drinks and enjoyed the evening. Supervisor is off tomorrow and I have a dentist appointment but I will also get to pick up my car after it's 100k tune up and am pretty excited about it. I also booked our kid free vacation for June tonight!

I'm trying to hydrate now so I don't feel terrible in the morning.

4/1 - 4 beers
4/2 - AF
4/3 - AF
4/4 - 1 beer, 3 rum drinks

tmbg1 · April 2023

4/1 - A
4/2- AF
4/3 - AF
4/4 - AF

Michieb125 · April 2023

4/4
Love reading all the posts regarding tracking vs. not tracking food. For me, I have to know the calories I am aiming to cut and/or consume or the lbs. will creep up one at a time….sort of unnoticed at first (or sort of acceptable) and then all of a sudden I realize there are way more lbs. staring back at me from the scale.

That’s just me so I am dedicated to use MFP indefinitely. I have to say I did WW for many years on and off and it is also decent but I seem to have more success with MFP right now.

@dawnbgethealthy those hills are located right in the East Bay Area of Northern California! One hour outside of San Francisco called Mt. Diablo State Park. We literally live next to it so my walks and hikes outdoors can be very inspiring in the spring. Once the heat of summer takes over, they do go brown and dry!

April accountability: total of 20-22 days AF this month
AF - 2
A - 1 (4/2)

Goal: Limit 2 glasses per day
Personal best - 1-2 glasses
AF tonight but will log tomorrow morning.

MissMay · April 2023

So last night my hubby bought me the devil MANGO-RITA's again. Even though I said I was taking a break from them. I was all fine with them being in the frig. I had no intention of cracking one open.

When I came down stairs he had already poured one in my favorite glass. My VERY favorite glass all beautiful with the mango colored liquid in it and the little cold beads of condensation running down the sides.

"SIGH" you should have seen his face when I turned it down . I told him he was going to have to drink this one tonight. And he did gladly. A save for me 💪

AF tonight to, bought some NA beer for the frig, not my go to but it will do.

forestdweller1 · April 2023

@MissMay ...HUGE HUGE air hugs from Da"Burgh. "When will they ever learn" playing in the background. Are men totally clueless, or are they just looking for love/acceptance/approval/validation/companionship/ [WHATEVER] .
And are wives, girlfriends, sisters guilty of the same ??
SO proud of you standing firm against the devil 👿
There should be many quiet conversations over glasses of sweet tea about this....
Among all of us.

April ...2 AF- 2A... No large quantities, but I feel I need a good reason to have wine...a nice steak, a new pasta recipie....and, voila !! there it is !!.
Need to try out some more of my "Indian" recipes with the caution that Muslims do not drink alcohol, therefore it's not gonna be part of the meal. If I lived near BC I'd just order carry out from Spice Hut...LOL!!!

Tomorrow, falafel in a whole wheat pita with tzatziki sauce. All homemade of course. Yeah, retired is a great life.

mfowler883 · April 2023

Not AF, but still less. Not getting blitzed, or really even buzzed. That's fine, I don't usually drink with the aim of getting messed up until I am, then the aim is to get as messed up as possible. I'm doing pretty good the last few days about maintaining the balance on the right side of that equation. Tonight, for example, I had an IPA and an NA IPA, mixed. Two glasses of half-A IPA. Wow that sounds....yeah. Half-A. LOL.

ChatGPT has really helped me refine my plans for acoustic treatment, and things are coming along one step at a time in the studio.

Logging food....sigh. Yeah, right there with y'all on that one. I know certain things that I can do to keep my intake where I want it to be, and some of it is automatic now. Breakfast is easy, I've made my changes there and I'm happy with them. The rest of the day, I know what I should be doing but I struggle - if it's in front of me, I will eat it. I haven't been logging consistently, although I know if I did, I'd probably be better off.

-m

globalhiker · April 2023

AF again! I suppose I am substituting chocolate in some form in exchange for alcohol. Yesterday cost me dearly: 6 small squares of Cadbury Fruit and Nut=20 points. That's practically the points I get in a full day!

So yeah, I hear you @dawnbgethealthy -could well be the caffeine in the chocolate keeping me up

Exciting to hear about people's planned trips! Please share where you are going.

@lmlmrn so far my favorite place in the whole U.S. has been southern Utah. It's so spectacular. If you're going before the hot summer, ideal. We hit all the parks including the state parks except for Zion. Even the lesser-frequented parks like Capitol Reef were spectacular. Fisher Towers outside of Moab is still the most incredible place I have ever seen. I need to go back.

I am planning a trip to Germany and Austria for the Fall. I hate having to get on a long flight but getting old over here and need to take advantage of working legs while I have them

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

Hi All! Since joining this group Nov '22 I no longer drink on a daily basis. I'm drinking less for weight loss and overall health. Since I haven't lost weight, I'm changing my goal to 2 A-days weekly with a 2-drink-any-day limit. I usually post mornings.

Tue 4/4: AF (0) - DH and I rode bikes to the end of the boardwalk and back, about 10 miles. It was fun, but cold. I'm glad I did it. We stopped for a drink on the way back. I had a Stella 0.0. IMO it tastes the same as the alcoholic version. Not bad at all. DH's drink was $17

and mine was $6.

btw, DH is telling me that he's going to go two weeks AF after our long weekend (yay!), I will join him. We have Thursday through Monday off. My plan is to stick to my 2-A-day/2-drink-any-day goals. The New York trip and Phantom of the Opera didn't work out so we switched to Plan B. We're going to spend a couple nights not too far away and see Hamilton. We saw it in Pittsburgh a few years ago and it was great!

Rolling Total: 3AF Days out of 4

RockinRobyn672 · April 2023

@lmlmrn I'm with @globalhiker about Zion! That is my absolute favorite. Just driving through is exciting, exhilarating and other-worldly! I can't even begin to describe it. I recommend the Angel's Landing hike. That's the only thing we were able to do there. I will be going back and spending more time.

LESS Alcohol ~ APRIL 2023 ~ One Day at A Time

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