LESS Alcohol ~ NOVEMBER 2023 ~ One Day at A Time
MissMay
Posts: 3,749 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:
▪▪▪▪
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.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~
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:
▪▪▪▪
•General Information/Blog Sites:
https://thesoberschool.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~
2
Replies
-
Thanks again @MissMay for giving us a place to be accountable and share our successes and gain support during our failure!
Goal: Limit 2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days this month.6 -
First post(?)! Thanks, MissMay!
My goal is to drink only on Thanksgiving weekend and then to keep below two standard drinks per day. Perhaps on Thanksgiving I'll have a third one, since we'll be hanging out all day long. So that would be A: 4, AF: 26. I think this is pretty ambitious, but there, I said it!6 -
I’ll be here but traveling extensively for another 10 days. Keeping in mind vacation days and the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m setting these for
November goals:
AF Days: 14-16 days
2 glass limit
May we all find the best resolve for our LA journey!
6 -
Checking in but not seriously trying until vacation is over 11/13.
Interesting observation though, being on vacation, drinking is not routine (come home pour wine). It really doesnt present itself until it's meal time. Maybe different one ingetbon board (cruise).7 -
Hi all! It's good to see familiar names. I really appreciate this group! Thank you again, @MissMay, for keeping us going and starting the new month.
I have not been disciplined since June and my weight has been inching up. It's time to reset. I've had a couple of successful days. It encourages me to keep it up! I had two glasses of wine last night and successfully stopped after that. For Halloween, we went to the Virginia Beach haunted house, which is something we've been planning to do. We weren't disappointed!
btw: What's up with MFP changing the spacing on these posts?!?3 -
@Jthanmyfitnesspal My goals are lofty as well for November (and similar to @Michieb125 and @Lilylady3k), which is to limit drinks to two in a day, with no more than 2 A-days weekly, and to lose 5 pounds by the end of this month. My plan is to make sure I have a stash of NA beers at home and while traveling.
For anyone who likes beer I have a new discovery, which is a variety 12-pack of Brewdog NAs at Total wine. They're not bad and very low in calories.
@itladyee Wishing you a great cruise! Where are you going?
@michieb125 Wishing you safe and happy travels over the next 10 days. Vacation?3 -
Well hello everybody,
Thank you Miss May for starting the threads each month
It is great to see a lot of the gang from earlier this year(s)
I know I have pretty much gone underground these past 4-5 months but I promise you have been in my thoughts. I would even log in to see what was happening through out the months..
Yep weight is up, arthritis is flaring, and A consumption was up (and down). I decided why not throw a little fuel on the fire and start cutting back during the holidays?
I have to say though on the days I decided to have an A beverage I kept it at 2 drinks. i.e. two beers at lunch, nap then done for the day with A. Or in the evening, wine with dinner and one after dinner then done. So I feel good about this.
I now find myself being the snack-a-holic, Halloween candy is the worst!! Darn those mini snickers, almond joy's and twix bars. I have found myself in lieu of A I am eating junk. I can have all the healthy fruit and veggie snacks prepped and ready to nosh on only to gravitate towards the unhealthy.
So yesterday I busted out my diamond dot painting (I use that term very loosely) I started before the "big move" and I plan to finish it before Thanksgiving. It keeps my mind and hands busy in the evening while I listen to shows on either TV or stream through my computer.
Anyway I will try and log in daily even if it is just to read and catch up.
I think the 'sock' family may have to pop in If I can locate them
6 -
Good morning HAPPY NOVEMBER 1ST.
I won 1st place at our halloween party yesterday. AND $50.00 to boot!
Who says you have to drink on Halloween, at a bar to win FIRST PLACE?!
WOO HOO walking on air today and loving my day off from work without alcohol residue in my system.
Welcome back all! And a waving hello to Nancy, missed ya girl. BRING ON THE SOCK FAMILY! 🧦🧦🧦7 -
I have been waiting for November to pop up! I also am trying out some lofty goals for this month. I feel like I consistently start off "well this month didn't go so well...blah blah blah"
so I'm really focused on this month staying on track and being grateful that I have the mindset to commit to my health.
I loved the comprehensive and HONEST overview that @Lilylady3k posted and will be following that approach this month- will check in occasionally but post the totals at the end.
12 A days
18 LA/AF days
1 full consecutive week or more NA (including weekends)
Down 5 lbs by end of month
I do have a few identified "planned" days - Friendsgiving this weekend, Wed-Sat of Thanksgiving week as we will be on vacation. I am participating in a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving which will help Wed night and Thanksgiving day!
4 -
Thu 11/2: Made it through day two sticking to my drink and food goals (10/31 and 11/1)! Last night I had a single Brewdog NA IPA with dinner. I'm working on what I'm hoping to be a new habit of only one drink (no more than two) in a day, whether it's alcoholic or NA.
Rolling Total for November: 1 AF day out of 1
5 -
@lmlmrn - Your story and mine are so similar - I've been gone a lot in last few months but have been checking in on occasion, my weight is up, my A consumption has been up (love those high-cal IPAs), and I'm planning check in daily and be more disciplined with food and drink over the holidays.
@2timesacharmmfp I also have lofty goals this month!
We can do it!6 -
@MissMay - Congrats on winning the Halloween contest! Yay! Do you have a photo to share?2
-
The Inspector Clouseau from The Pink Panther movies
11 -
@MissMay ....WHAT ?? There's no ROFLMAO button ?? Consider it pushed.2
-
@MissMay No wonder you won 1st place..you rocked that costume.
So had to check in and doing well, I did have a few sips of white wine with dinner so I feel good about that.
So while I have been gone, .....the 4 month drama with our brand new dishwasher ..installed on July 5th. has finally been authorized by Samsung that I got a lemon after 4 trips to my house for the same problem to replace it. Tonight it was installed. Tomorrow we will run a load of dishes. Fingers crossed.
This move and setting up our new house has had more drama than I want.....
Now let me tell you about culture shock....we are now in the country. And apparently they don't believe in any type of spice in their food....And our choices within a 30 mile radius that are not a fast food chain are mexican, and don't ask for a cup of coffee they don't even have a pot or mom & pop diner that looks about as bad as it tastes. Don't really have to worry about bars or even a pizza place that serves beer....they are rare rare. Any way The Sock Family...When I first started to cut back on A I made these out of my emptys...it kept me from going for more
6 -
Love all the new posts for November and am excited to be here.
Vacation to Greece is official….
Current:
0-AF
2-A
Kept to my personal limit! This is LA for me on this type of vacation.
First day, 2 glasses of Proseco and 2nd day, 2 glasses of dry white wine.
Tonight is an anniversary celebration so expect wine with a nice dinner. Am anticipating early mornings up and out to explore which will help me with my LA goals! My aim
Is also to burn the calories we are indulging in while away and little (very) weight gain.
Caio!
4 -
So I had this past Wednesday off from work. The day started with dropping hubs off at his work. Then I came home to make myself a nice breakfast. Collard greens, sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar cheese omelet.
OMG it was to die for.
Next I had lots of errands, a list if past to dos to accomplish, visited a friend going thru chemo, jumped down to the laundry mat to wah 2 baskets if clothing, undecorated house of halloween and replaced with upcoming holiday decorations, watered the garden, did a bit of shopping, had my computer wiz at Office Depo unlock my frozen lap top screen, reorganized the pantry...hummmm did I forget anything? Oh yea had to go back and pick up Hubs at his work.
My Hubs gets in the door and is AMAZED that I accomplished all that within 8 hours. I was kinda confused he said it. Then I realized it has been a very long time for him without being AF.
The amount of energy from AF is fantastic. I am glad I am reconnecting with more consecutive days without alcohol. That is now my goal for November. So here is my accountability so far( backing up into October)
5 day streak AF!
7 -
Michieb125 wrote: »Love all the new posts for November and am excited to be here.
Vacation to Greece is official….
Current:
0-AF
2-A
Kept to my personal limit! This is LA for me on this type of vacation.
First day, 2 glasses of Proseco and 2nd day, 2 glasses of dry white wine.
Tonight is an anniversary celebration so expect wine with a nice dinner. Am anticipating early mornings up and out to explore which will help me with my LA goals! My aim
Is also to burn the calories we are indulging in while away and little (very) weight gain.
Caio!
Oh my gosh have FUN!
Show us pics of Greece and some pics of that wonderful food!!!2 -
@lmlmrn what town did you end up again in Ohio? LOL?
That sucks about the dishwasher. Why could they not take you word that it was a lemon?
Thanks everyone for the comments on my Inspector costume. Especially your @forestdweller1, LOL2 -
@MissMay What a great idea for a costume! Love the pink panther at the back!
@lmlmrn What!?! No coffee or at least a mom & pop nearby? You ARE out in the country. We'd have to move! LOL. And the expressions on the faces of your sock family! I could use a few of those! I would put them on the bottles we have at home after my one glass. Their stares would keep me from going for that extra drink! Ha!
@Michieb125 Greece! I would love to go. Post some photos. Wishing you happy travels and a very happy anniversary!3 -
Thu 11/2: AF - Made it through another day AF and stuck close to my food plan. @MissMay, I agree with your comments on consecutive days and feeling better.
Fri 11/3: Tonight we're going to a local brewery for music and dinner. This brewery makes its own NA beer, which I plan to try. If they don't have it I'll go for a single IPA. My plan is 2 A days this week.
Rolling total since Monday (includes October): 3 AF Days out of 43 -
Good eve to all or day whenever you can jump on to catch up!
As I sit here with my 1/2 glass of wine for the evening. I am so sad, in our move (cough cough before) most of my stemware slowly went to the glass bottle in the sky So I am now reduced to whiskey tumblers, 2 IPA beer glasses and 1 red wine goblet. Sheesh we are rough on stemware.
So went to a gem/bead fair today up in Columbus, not as big as I would have seen in my old home town but respectable.
Still have not tried out a full cycle on the dishwasher yet
My bluetooth on my phone is messed up. Won't connect to my car. Won't recognize my Bose headset. I just got it to pair with my hearing aids and it is working. last two days it would connect to my hearing aids and I could listen to music from my phone BUT not talk on the phone. Incoming/outgoing called I had to disconnect the hearing aids just to use the phones mic and speaker phone......
Went to the Verizon store told the guy there what was going on...no joke he practically grabbed my phone out of my hand and immediately wanted my pin to get in....whoa baby not so fast..........I gently took it back and put my pin in. Explained again about the hearing aids and the problem with not connecting to the car....so he scrolls a bit and said lets go to your car..I am getting pissed I hate it when I am not believed as to what was going on. So we walk out...larger sales guy attempts to sit in my prius passenger side. I start my car, he again tries to get in my phone and I take it back to do my own pin....and poof just like I said it will not connect.....then he goes on to tell me I will have to contact tech he is only a sales rep...A**wipe. And complains about having a magnesium deficiency so makes it difficult for him to get out of my car and he has a balance problem??? hell he is just over weight.
What did I do to deserve this today??? Anyway I managed to get the hearing aids to pair after doing a factory reset at home but car is still an issue.
Can I say you all are wonderful to listen to this saga.......
4 -
@MissMay We currently live just outside of St. Paris (haha) in Champaign County....talk about karma. Of course we would find our perfect retirement house in a drinking county.
BUT there is not really established eateries within 25-30 miles.
!5 miles west you will find .....for your shopping pleasure. Walmart, Kroger, Aldi ...one brewery (very very bad) and one mexican place that had a special for a margarita one nice Monday afternoon but could not make me a skinny one ...they did not have the mix....lucky me another AF day that day.
15 miles east you will find...for your shopping pleasure. Walmart, Kroger Aldi....one pizza/bar/brewery..Not good....one mex (no coffee), one whiskey bar that is set up like a deli counter with no coffee to make DH an irish coffee, but did make an ok sandwich.
15 miles south you will find....for your dinning pleasure. One mom and pop place, one mix bar/rest. (they don't care if kids sit on the other side of a bar barrier) had rotating taps and I thought whoop whoop....until they served me raw pastry wrapped around a buffalo meatball and a take on a wellington. When I could not eat it they replaced with the dinner salad and charged me for the full meal....now they are out. Oh and one place called "what a dog" drive up hot dog place with port a potty in the parking lot . Can you say nope?
Eating place on "the hill" the only bump in the county I think....first week here ordered plain hamburger..you know, just no cheese. Came with cheese.
So I have been using all this great Lodge cookware we bought in TN at the outlet places. Now the problem is I can't get the foods I want to use to make spicy dishes....why.....no one sells it. Seems there seems to be an aversion to spices. Mexican place? had chilli peppers next to menu items...ordered med spicy...they looked at us like we grew horns. Even salt and pepper was missing.
had to order something simple like barley through Amazon.
ranting over...boy when you don't get on here for 5 months ...I have lots of words to say...promise to keep them shorter going forward7 -
Hi everyone Happy November! I am 9 days AF which I haven't done since last January. I feel fantastic for the most part. I just read Matthew Perry's book in 2 days. I could not put it down. What a sweet, tortured soul he was. Yet he found a semblance of peace in the end which makes his sudden death all the more sad.
I'm going to continue to live AF as alcohol really does not serve me at all anymore. Controlled drinking is impossible for someone that can't control their drinking (raises hand). Best of luck to everyone here in meeting their personal goals this month!8 -
Sat 11/4: Last night, I stuck to my plan and only had 1 drink, a delicious IPA with dinner at the brewery. They no longer offer an NA option. It's going to be warm enough today to get out on our bikes so we're driving to Jamestown and hitting the capital trail.
November Rolling Total: 2 AF Days out of 35 -
@missmay: I love hearing that you get so much energy from not drinking. Send some my way!
(I’m hypothyroid and I don’t think I’m getting enough medication. I keep asking for more!)
Anyway, tonight will test my lofty November plans (AF except for TG weekend) as I’m seeing an old friend for dinner, and we usually get beer together. Can I pass on the beer? It’s certainly possible!3 -
SunnyDays930 wrote: »Hi everyone Happy November! I am 9 days AF which I haven't done since last January. I feel fantastic for the most part. I just read Matthew Perry's book in 2 days. I could not put it down. What a sweet, tortured soul he was. Yet he found a semblance of peace in the end which makes his sudden death all the more sad.
I'm going to continue to live AF as alcohol really does not serve me at all anymore. Controlled drinking is impossible for someone that can't control their drinking (raises hand). Best of luck to everyone here in meeting their personal goals this month!
That sounds like a book well worth reading, thanks for the info.
Understand completely about needing to live AF.
LESS is LESS here, don't forget that. You are still one of our biggest supporters and contributors after all these years together.
👍👍👍 go for it!!!❤5 -
Last night I joined my husband in bogo margaritas at our local wonderful Mexican cantina.
Oh the food is SO GOOD. And the homemade salsa with lots of cilantro!!!! I get the bowl chicken taco salad. A chicken taco salad inside a fried tortilla bowl to eat.
I am counting that one drink as two. The glass was big, with lots of ice. But I am sure it was more than a standard drink.
AF tonight
Accountability for Nov '23
3AF
1A ( 2 drinks)
*Going for another set of consecutive AF days. 6 is my goal(since I just did 5 consecutive before Friday night)
3
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