LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

@globalhiker I already did my tapering when I was drinking a fifth (750 ml) or more of Black Velvet a day. My biggest problem was saving some for the morning so I wouldn't be sick. This went on for months. I couldn't even drive to the store (too panicky). My husband would go for me. He would leave a couple of minutes before the store opened at 9 am (11 am on Sundays). Not only could I not drive, I could barely walk. My balance and coordination were extremely bad. I'm much better now!

Except for a few days ago, I don't keep alcohol in the house after bedtime...down the drain it goes! I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms since before my August streak.

The only way for me to drink less each day is to wait longer each day to start drinking. But with the liquor store closing at 7 pm (5 pm on Sundays) that's difficult. I don't like wine or beer. I'll drink beer when I go gambling across the street because that's all they sell. And, I haven't drank wine for quite some time . But I do remember some pretty serious hangovers! Also, even when I start drinking later, I still seem to drink the same amount 😕

Recently, I made a list of all of the reasons that I wanted to quit drinking (per a suggestion from one of our group members). All the reasons were basically related to health & fitness. After I made the list, I realized that the reason I drink is because I enjoy it. But the negative aspects of drinking are just too many and serious!

xbowhunter · September 17

SurferGirl1982 wrote: »

@globalhiker I already did my tapering when I was drinking a fifth (750 ml) or more of Black Velvet a day. My biggest problem was saving some for the morning so I wouldn't be sick. This went on for months. I couldn't even drive to the store (too panicky). My husband would go for me. He would leave a couple of minutes before the store opened at 9 am (11 am on Sundays). Not only could I not drive, I could barely walk. My balance and coordination were extremely bad. I'm much better now!

Except for a few days ago, I don't keep alcohol in the house after bedtime...down the drain it goes! I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms since before my August streak.

The only way for me to drink less each day is to wait longer each day to start drinking. But with the liquor store closing at 7 pm (5 pm on Sundays) that's difficult. I don't like wine or beer. I'll drink beer when I go gambling across the street because that's all they sell. And, I haven't drank wine for quite some time . But I do remember some pretty serious hangovers! Also, even when I start drinking later, I still seem to drink the same amount 😕

Recently, I made a list of all of the reasons that I wanted to quit drinking (per a suggestion from one of our group members). All the reasons were basically related to health & fitness. After I made the list, I realized that the reason I drink is because I enjoy it. But the negative aspects of drinking are just too many and serious!

Very insightful.

One of my reasons to want to quit all together is the $.
Here in Canada a case of 24 beers is almost $60.00 now and a good bottle of wine is over $20.00. Now hard liquor like a 750 of whisky is around $40.00. Thats good money being peed to the wind for no good reason!!

I am determined to do it this time. But this time I am not telling anyone. They will say the same old you will drink again because you we will keep the pressure on you until you cave...

SparkSpringtime69 · September 17

@shorepine very true about the wine industry; and I actually think it's true of the liquor industry also. The beer gang is a little different as they appeal to your sense of fun and excitement more than trying to appear sophisticated, but same underlying tactic - make people think they need that product in order to fit in with whatever group.
@SurferGirl1982 I get why you might not want to post intentions - I sometimes shy away from doing that also. I don't like to set specific intentions and goals only to not do them and then be disappointed with myself. And not just for drinking, for exercise, snacking, etc. I've been setting an intention to start a meditation practice for months now and have yet to start

I try to do more general goals, especially with drinking, I want to keep my monthly AF days at roughly 50% of the month (I used to drink daily, so that's cutting it in half). That way I don't put too much pressure on myself for any particular day. I know for some people specific goals are wonderful, so I guess it depends on the person.
@KarinSanden welcome to this very friendly and supportive group, and congrats on you AF days!
@globalhiker thank you for the insights into tapering and cycling. I've done the cycling thing, and it's true - after a few months AF you do think you're "fixed".
@womona I have a love-hate relationship with food tracking. I hate the time it takes to do it, but love how I can see my calorie count for each day and make changes the next day to better my results.

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

xbowhunter wrote: »

One of my reasons to want to quit all together is the $.
Here in Canada a case of 24 beers is almost $60.00 now and a good bottle of wine is over $20.00. Now hard liquor like a 750 of whisky is around $40.00. That's good money being peed to the wind for no good reason!!

Wow! I couldn't quote you prices of beer and wine right now. But I think the 750 ml bottle of Black Velvet is $11.95 (no sales tax in Oregon). I haven't bought a 750 ml bottle since the end of July or the beginning of August. So, I guess I have cut down some 🙂

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

@SparkSpringtime69 I think it's best for me to just read the posts and post my days from time to time. But not announce my intentions ahead of time. It just causes a big let down. When I decided to cave last night, I actually felt bad because I had told @chicbuc that I was going to be AF that night. She was going to try to do the same. I felt like I was letting her down.

The newest phase with beer around here is that there are many small local brewers. I don't know much about beer. But I haven't tried one that I've liked yet. I think a lot of them are IPAs. I guess they're popular...but not for me!

When I go across the street to gamble, I buy Amber Bock. I'm not a beer drinker. But they're not bad!

chicbuc · September 17

@SurferGirl1982 Girl...you are never letting me down!! We're all on the same path and none of us are perfect!

SurferGirl1982 · September 17

Thanks @chicbuc 🙂

xbowhunter · September 18

Hello my LA friends

One more AF day under my belt.

AF - 6
A - 11

xbowhunter · September 18

This is an excellent podcast about taking a break from Alcohol.

I am on day 4 of my 90 day alcohol break. I already feel amazing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiKQTXtdeUE

Michelle9912 · September 18

@Michieb125 - Congrats on your success this month so far! I like how you also track the less alcohol days - I’m gonna try that, right now i need every bit of success i can muster.

@SparkSpringtime69 - lol, I celebrate in the same way, and feel like I am just celebrating getting through the day. I need to set the bar higher for myself.

@SurferGirl1982 and @chicbuc - I’m in for a M-Th streak for next week if we want to a “challenge”

I was successful with AF day on Monday, will plan for AF today.

September:
A - 16
AF - 1

chicbuc · September 18

@Michelle9912 if I can get in the right frame of mind for next week, I'm in. Right now, things are tough, and wine is the only thing keeping the anxiety from taking over. I'm sure it will be alright in a few days, so I can get right and get back at it.

SurferGirl1982 · September 18

@Michelle9912 I originally thought, "Yeah, I'm in!" But I'm currently rethinking my Less Alcohol strategy since I've been struggling this month. I was thinking more of a LA approach (to get me started) rather than total abstinence. Although, as most people in this group know, I have a problem with moderation. I'm thinking about having planned A days on Tuesday and Saturday next week. If I'm able to do that I would be AF Sunday-Monday and Wednesday-Friday. So I really don't want to commit at this time. At least until I can figure things out. If you're interested in being AF Sunday-Monday or Wednesday-Friday, I'm up for the challenge!

I originally (last month) wanted to go 90 days AF. And I would still love to do that. It would be a complete reset. And from past experience I would lose around 30 lbs. I had a really good streak last month. I wish I could get back into the same mindset. Hey, it's not too late. We still have October, November and December left in 2024 🙂

SurferGirl1982 · September 18

@xbowhunter I wasn't able to watch the whole podcast. But I saved it to YouTube. I don't know if I can watch parts of it and resume where I left off? I've have the attention span of a rock 😁

So, you're going for the full 90 days? Sounds good! I hope to be able to join you soon 🙂

xbowhunter · September 18

SurferGirl1982 wrote: »

@xbowhunter I wasn't able to watch the whole podcast. But I saved it to YouTube. I don't know if I can watch parts of it and resume where I left off? I've have the attention span of a rock 😁

So, you're going for the full 90 days? Sounds good! I hope to be able to join you soon 🙂

Yep I'm going full 90days. This brings me to Dec 13th...

I did something similar last year 45 days sober and I never felt better and dropped a lot of weight.

I am sick of feeling like crap when alcohol enters my body. It won't be easy, and I have some party's coming up that I will be pressured to drink but most people around me know I like to be challenged, and I can't be stopped once the train leaves the station...lol

xbowhunter · September 18

chicbuc wrote: »

@Michelle9912 if I can get in the right frame of mind for next week, I'm in. Right now, things are tough, and wine is the only thing keeping the anxiety from taking over. I'm sure it will be alright in a few days, so I can get right and get back at it.

Funny you should mention anxiety and drinking. For me alcohol would absolutely reduce my anxiety short term. But then would make my anxiety worse once I started to sober up. It's a vicious cycle!

SurferGirl1982 · September 18

@xbowhunter I admire your strength and determination. Give me a week or two and maybe I'll be able to hop on that train also (as long as it's not moving too fast!) 😀

KarinSanden · September 18

SurferGirl1982 wrote: »

@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!

Ah, it feels great to have found likeminded. I think more and more people realize that alcohol is actually a poison and that our body is prioritizing it over other functions like building muscle or calories. That sleep suffers and skin quality are affected. It is more normal now to not drink than 10 years ago,

SparkSpringtime69 · September 18

@xbowhunter thanks for that youtube link, a very interesting and insightful conversation.

SparkSpringtime69 · September 18

September:
AF=6
A=11

SurferGirl1982 · September 18

KarinSanden wrote: »

I think more and more people realize that alcohol is actually a poison and that our body is prioritizing it over other functions like building muscle or calories. That sleep suffers and skin quality are affected. It is more normal now to not drink than 10 years ago,

There does seem to be a trend towards "Not Drinking". That's a good thing! For most of us that are older, everything revolved around alcohol. Alcohol does affect so many things in our bodies.

LESS Alcohol ~ SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

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