LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

tmbg1 · September 16

10 AF
6 A

SurferGirl1982 · September 16

chicbuc wrote: »

@SurferGirl1982 I'm with you for the next 5 days...M-F...let's do this!

AF = 4
A = 11

@chicbuc I'm in too! Monday - Friday AF! We can do it 😀

@SparkSpringtime69 You know that I'm one of those gals that doesn't do moderation well. I can't have alcohol in the house in the morning either because I will go out and get more to go with it! You should join @chicbuc and I and go this Monday - Friday AF. Mind over matter!

@Michieb125 Congrats...you had a 2 day AF streak! It does help to tell yourself, "I'm not going to drink.
Just for today". Keep up the good work! And you were doubting if you could even get a 2 day streak 🙂

I will post back later. Have a great day everyone!

MissMay · September 16

Hi fellow L.A. Group

Checking in and a huge welcome back to those who have been missed.

My 24 day dry spell streak took a diversion Friday night. After we got home from being out at a dance (where I was drinking H00's) I decided to make a liqueur dessert in a champagne glass once in my kitchen.

Here is how it started. The American Legion Post in our area was having a band. We decided to go since we are members. I always get a H00 in a wine glass. It went wrong because the fill in bartender said she could not give me a wine glass, only plastic.

After giving her the evil eye all evening. I could not stop thinking about my beautiful glassware at home.

Once home, I knew I would not be up long so having more than one was not an option. I opened some tangerine gelato hubby brought home from work put it into a lovely champagne glass, poured orange creamsicle moonshine over it and sipped away on my back porch.

I am continuing it as two standard drinks because it was hugh content alcohol( even if it were a small amount)

Accountability for September
1A
14 AF

got back to no drinks Sat and Sun
More AF on the way.

shorepine · September 16

Hello all and hope you are having a good Monday!

I decided to have some alcohol on Saturday evening while unwinding with my husband from a long day. We are both youth soccer coaches and it was the first game day of the fall season. We were all driving all over the place and wrangling 3rd through 6th graders. I had one cider which was leftover from a camping trip back in August. I was feeling proud because in the old days there was no such thing as me ever having anything leftover in a 6 pack for that long!

After the cider I wanted another, but there weren't any. So I poured a glass of wine. It was gross! I really don't like wine anymore which I find so interesting. I actually have started to believe it's a scam, that we are told it's so good and fancy and "fine" and people with expensive taste like it, and it tricks us into thinking its actually good. Go a year or so without drinking it, and it just tastes like sour fruit. And I liked good wine too. I was in several wine clubs and used to visit wineries all the time, swirling and sniffing and crap! Lol.

Anyway, I poured the wine out and made myself a margarita with Cointreau and some nice silver tequila that my mother in law had brought back from Mexico last year.

After that I wanted more still, which is always my problem and why I am here on this page. But I'm proud to say I recognized how terrible I'd feel if I indulged that, so I switched to sparkling water. I kind of wish I didn't use an alcohol day on a random Sat evening with nothing going on... but oh well.

So far this month I've had
12/16 days AF.

Take care everyone.

SurferGirl1982 · September 16

@shorepine Your post was very insightful and inspiring! I don't think you wasted an alcohol day on Saturday. Afterall, it was the first game of the fall season. And, if I had to be out there chasing all those kids around, I probably would have broke out the margaritas before I had even left the field 😁

Your comment on the wine industry touting wine as being healthy, fancy and for "fine" people with expensive taste being a scam was quite interesting also. Wine is still alcohol and can be just as addictive and can cause just as many health problems as hard liquor. And, we can get the supposed health benefits from eating a couple handfuls of red grapes or sweet cherries. I actually never realized there were so many wine drinkers out there until I found this group. I should of, though, I'm surrounded by wineries 🤔

I know the feeling of still wanting more. Kudos to you for refraining. I wouldn't have been able to if it were still in the house.

Anyways, 12/16 days AF is definitely a win! Keep it up!

NonnieDoiron · September 17

AF = 12
A = 4

Work computer died today. Spent all day running back and forth to Best Buy. Got no work done. 🙄 Double pile-up of work to do tomorrow. Praying I can get through it by 4pm, so I can go get my new tattoo!!!

My husband really doesn’t want me to get it, but I don’t care. I have saved us so much money since joining this group, I think I deserve it! I used to drink a bottle of wine a night. The wine I drink is $14.99 a bottle plus tax, so all I have to do is not drink for 40 days and I’ve paid for the tattoo! I’ve been a part of this group for quite a while now, and have had more than 40 days AF. So, he can take a flying leap! I’m getting my ink tomorrow. 😉😂

Alatariel75 · September 17

I just booked a week off in November - Tuesday was already a public holiday, the Wednesday I was going to take off anyway because I'll be glued to the TV and not wanting to work anyway, and the Friday I had to leave to lunch to get to an event 5 hours away - it made sense to just take the week and have a break.

My first thought was "I hope I'm still AF by then" because last time I took a staycation, I wasted it by drinking every day, being hungover all the time, and don't absolutely nothing on the list of things I wanted to do.

It does emphasise to me that as "easy" as I'm finding AF right now (and it's only easy because I have a repulsion to alcohol at the moment because of the effect someone else's intake is having on my life), I'm not confident in this as my normal and it still seems tenuous.

AF 13
A 3

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

I've decided not to post my AF intentions on this thread anymore (I will wait until I have a successful day). I had planned on an AF day today. But I caved. At around 6:30 pm I went to the liquor store. Mainly because the liquor store closes in this back*kitten*wards state at 7 pm (5 pm on Sundays). Some people aren't even home from work by then.

I've lived in this state (Oregon) for quite some time. But I've never agreed with their alcohol policies. I guess the state thinks they are helping people to drink less. But in actuality, they make the people with drinking problems drink more. If you know the store is closing soon, you run, you don't walk. They are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. So, guess what? Everyone stocks up (including me) and we end up drinking much more than if they were open. I'm sure by now, most of you know that I don't like to have alcohol in the house in the morning. So, on Thanksgiving and Christmas, I end up drunk for days. And then it takes me weeks to recover. Ugh!

Sorry for the rant!

AF - 1
A - 15

I can't figure out why I can't do like I did last month. I guess it was beginner's luck 😕

PS...Every morning, I wake up and say, "I'm never drinking again". And, then 8 hours or so later, I'm driving to the liquor store. Hmmm?

RubyRed427 · September 17

Surfergirl... what if you plan something for evening like a yoga class, make a nail appointment, etc. I find I can magically abstain if I know I have to do something later and drive.

I know you don't like near a lot of places, if I am remembering correctly. But find something in town that you commit to and perhaps that could be a deterrent.

I am just like you, my best intentions out the window. Last evening, I met friends at a happy hour for someone's birthday, and I practiced in the car saying "I'll have a club soda with lime." The minute I sat down and ordered, I blurted out "I'll have a wine."

It takes me lots of tries to finally get momentum!! My longest was 9 month AF nearly four years ago and I am still trying for just one month AF.
It will happen for us! I have hope.

RubyRed427 · September 17

Current monthly total:
10 A
6 AF

RubyRed427 · September 17

@MissMay You made me giggle! "I had been giving her the evil eye.". LOL

You're doing very well with your Sept. totals!

xbowhunter · September 17

Hello my LA friends

One more AF day under my belt.

AF - 5
A - 11

A quick story for you all. Went to a festival with my wife and 2 friends on Saturday. I had too much wine and beer. Had a bad experience with a young lad hitting on my drunk wife on the dance floor. It could have escalated badly but I used my head this time instead of my fists.

Woke up Sunday severely hung over with a massive headach and the shakes and super pissed off at the whole situation and myself for drinking too much.

So, my takeaway from this is alcohol leads to no good in my life.

At this point I am completely turned off from Alcohol and never want to feel that way again!

cheers

Womona · September 17

forestdweller1 wrote: »

One Day At A Time....
There's Monday. One small step. All by itself. No pressure.
There's Tuesday. No need to worry about tomorrow's goal. Just do today. Only 24 hours & 1/3 of them are asleep.
There's Wednesday. You can do anything for just one day. Got this.
There's Thursday. You are strong. You are in charge.
Friday...Saturday....Sunday.....
Sigh.
There's Monday....
My life story 🍷

This!!!!! Are you me???

Womona · September 17

I caught up reading all the posts, and I am just blown away by the insights. I know some of can moderate, some cannot. As a “moderator” I can stop at two, but have been struggling to moderate my way down to one or zero. The comments from the “non-moderators” really resonated with me.

I notice that if I have a drink at lunchtime, I take a nap and then have 1-2 that night.

I’m noticing timing and place:

If I’m out to dinner, and it’s a 6:30 reservation, I’ll generally have one glass because I have to drive home. By the time I get home, I’m ready for bed and don’t drink anymore. That seems to be my sweet spot.

If I have an early dinner or happy hour,, say at 5:00PM, I’ll have one glass at dinner, and then a glass when I get home.

If I’m having dinner at home, it’s 1.5-2 glasses because I don’t have to drive.

If I have a Cosmo, I can only have one because it’s basically two types of alcohol. I count it as two drinks.

Sigh. All I know is that I had more than I planned this weekend. Oh, the pizza and pasta didn’t t help, I just cannot eat it. I just can’t. Kills my system. My weight was up by a lot this morning, and I know I haven’t been diligent with exercise and logging food. Does anyone else find logging food to be a giant PIA??

chicbuc · September 17

@SurferGirl1982 Don't feel like you can't post your intentions just because you don't stick to it. I'm right there with you, too. I had every intention of not drinking last night until I ran into a lot of stress in the afternoon from my SO (who is also my boss) and I hit the store on the way home "to be able to get through the night" in the same house as my stressor...or at least that was my excuse. :hugs: to you. It's hard to beat something that's been a part of you for so long. Don't give up!

@Womona I admire your moderation skills so much! I have a love/hate relationship with food logging. I love it when I'm faithful because it helps me control my intake. I hate it when I'm off track because it shows how far off track I am. Carbs are absolutely my enemy and I have to cut out the bad ones all together and replace them with good ones. Pizza and pasta bring me joy but cause me uncontrollable heartburn not to mention the weight gain

I do indulge in some Carbe Diem pasta a couple of times per month, though. It is so good and way less carbs and calories.

AF = 4
A = 12

globalhiker · September 17

@Womona I am with you, dislike logging food. I am gluten intolerant like so many, can't have the pizza and pasta, gives me autoimmune chaos not to mention bloating.

@RubyRed427 did you say 9 months AF? That's outstanding. Did you feel like once you got past the first month it got easier or was the "wine devil" always challenging?

For anyone challenged with getting in AF days, I found it helpful to taper for a couple of weeks. Every 2-3 days, slowly reduce the quantity. Only keep the amount you plan to drink that day in the house. Don't go shopping hungry after 5pm. Drink a large glass of water with whatever (mint, lime, etc) and lots of it. After tapering as much as you can, do an AF 24 hour period, like 7pm to 7pm next day, then have planned drinks from 7- 9 and stop. I played this drinking window game and it helps. All of this will you a sense of control although it's a small step, then you'll want to progress to full AF day. Plan it out. Pick a low stress day. Put yourself to bed super early before the wine devil starts to cry and scream

.

Well, Day 17 AF is here for me. My only withdrawal symptom is occasional fatigue, aside from the chocolate cravings. I did some internet surfing on the topic of different strategies to stop drinking and learned so much. I was surprised to find that there's supposedly effective medication doctors can prescribe via telemedicine to dampen the cravings. If I were to do it all over again, in addition to staying active in this group, I would've tried that approach as well as join additional online free support groups with folks who are ahead of me in their journey and can provide information about their success and keep me motivated. My first time AF for a stretch was do-able but uncomfortable, even after tapering for a few weeks before I jumped into AF 100%. I had upset stomach, nightmares, insomnia, irritability, you name it. I did try herbal teas and melatonin and alka seltzer etc. and got past that first challenging ten days or so. Thereafter I remember being fine and happy with my AF drinks and chocolates. I felt wonderful and accomplished, lost weight, looked good. It's when I got somewhere between the 45 and 90 day mark that I declared myself fixed, healthy, and ready to drink moderately (according to US health guidelines which is now qty1!). It worked for a few occasions then back to square 1 I went. This repeated maybe 2-3 times a year FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS guys. I am caught in a cycle. Then I read about this online last night and understood this "cycling" was normal and typical. So I try again.

KarinSanden · September 17

Hi there! I'm new to this group but I have really cut out alcohol since August. I have noticed that I drink alcohol like water meaning that I have finished my first glass before others have even sipped theirs. So now I'm aiming for an alcohol free autumn except for weddings, birthday partys etc, but then I volunteer to drive.

I have dome very well - only had 2 nights with alcohol since august. The backside is that I get really, really drunk when I drink. I have a fast pace and my body has forgotten what to do with the alcohol. My husband had to carry me home.

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

@KarinSanden Welcome to the group!

When we drink regularly our bodies build up a tolerance. So we can drink more and feel like we didn't have anything to drink at all. When you drastically cut down your consumption of alcohol, you're tolerance went down. That's why you get drunk so easily now ☹️ We all experience it!

Michieb125 · September 17

There are such great stories this month from both moderators and non-moderators alike. I often try the tips shared by our community and incorporate them. I am the kind of person who does best when I have a plan for food and drink each day and not wing it. As for logging food I do track all my food in MFP but it is a chore and commitment. I like seeing macro targets and the app has built in progress updates.

Over the weekend I found it was so nice not to negotiate, plan A, or justify a drink. Did my two AF days in a row on Sat/Sun.

I had the best day yesterday starting with a Pilates class, then went a nail appointment and then picked up my grandson from school and dropped him home after a short visit here. I decided to open a sparkling wine after dinner to unwind a bit - not planned and not for any stress relief. Had a little and a little more, then stopped and did not analyze why I did that, etc.
As a ‘now’ moderate drinker, I am expecting to get to a point to live in this space of not over thinking my actions. I would love to be accused of being an occasional mindful drinker!

Planning two more alcohol free days in a row - today and tomorrow, but well put @globalhiker no need to worry about tomorrows goal, just do today.

Current:
AF days - 6
A days - 6
LA - 4 (under 8 oz. wine or 8% alcohol)

Michieb125 · September 17

@globalhiker thank you for sharing your excellent tapering suggestions today! And a big congrats on 17 AF days!

@KarinSanden welcome!
This is a great group of likeminded people who are seeking to be alcohol free or at least want less A in our lives.
You will find great support along your journey!

@Womona I can totally relate to your experience with timing and place for drinks and how it really plays into quantity.

@chicbuc you are always so encouraging to everyone, thank you!

@SurferGirl1982 thanks for your support on my consecutive AF days!

LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

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