LESS Alcohol ~ OCTOBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay · October 3

NonnieDoiron wrote: »

Wow! 2 days down, and it took over an hour to catch up on the posts! I love it!😁

So, welcome to all the newcomers!

Happy October birthday to @MissMay, @forestdweller1, and @Michieb125, and any other October babies celebrating this month!

As for me, my stats were pretty good last month. Just going to keep the intake down to a dull roar again this month.

For me, it’s easy not to go to the store to get the bottle. I’m too lazy.😉 The hard part is when it “magically appears on the counter” (that loving hubby of mine🙄), I may be able to let it sit there for about a week or at least until the weekend. But, once I pop the cork, I just can’t resist. I’ve been doing good with drinking just 2 glasses, but the next night I’m compelled to drink the last 2 glasses in the bottle. I can’t seem to let those last two glasses wait until the following weekend. But, I am avoiding the hangovers which means I’m drinking enough water and not drinking too fast (avoiding drunk/tipsy).

Anyway, had my 90-day employee review meeting today. Glowing reviews though I completely hate this job and don’t want to be working. Now, if I could just get a raise!🤔

Calling tonight AF.

AF - 2
A - 0

Congrats on your wonderful 90 day work review, I hear ya on hating a job and don't want to be working even though they think highly of you. Oh and those corks once they are out of a big bottle, maybe you could purchase single serving tiny bottles

chicbuc · October 3

@MissMay I have been starting and restarting Starting Strength for a couple years now

I started again last night. I'm lucky enough to have a home gym. I lack the motivation way too often.

MissMay · October 3

Michieb125 wrote: »

Happy Birthday dear October sister @MissMay TODAY!! I will also be 65 years young on October 14th. I hope you feel cherished and celebrated today. ♥️

We will be doing the count down to the 14th for your 65th!!! Gosh I LOVE October! and yes I was spoiled on my bday.

MissMay · October 3

tmbg1 wrote: »

2 AF

Your starting out strong @tmbg1 with two AF in a row. Youve made incredible progress from earlier this year.

MissMay · October 3

SparkSpringtime69 wrote: »

Three reasons I'm not going to have a drink tonight:
1. My DH would be disappointed in me.
2. I want to remember the night when I wake up in the morning.
3. I have a lot to do tomorrow and being hungover isn't going be conducive to a productive day.
See you all tomorrow.

Again, let me say these are some admiral reasons to not drink.

I had forgot to add that waking up not knowing what I may have said or done in the past was always haunting to me. I have not had to ask anyone in YEARS what did I do last night.

MissMay · October 3

globalhiker wrote: »

@MissMay I like what you stated in this last statement about adjusting and proceeding with a new plan of action.

Speaking of plans, I like easy plans so I focus on the waking hours of today and what I will do with that precious, short time and how I will manage my behaviors. Today I will drink at least 8 large glasses of water and allow myself 1-2 diet drinks or flavored seltzers. I'm going out to buy a variety of fruit to have in fridge to eat if I get a craving. Going out for a walk now as the sun rises and meeting friends at the gym class mid-morning.

Day 1 AF done

OMGosh that is right YOU too are an October girl. Which day @globalhiker?
Have to agree on the daily necessity of 8 plus glasses of water, fresh fruits and exercise.

SurferGirl1982 · October 3

I've been tapering off again. I somehow got back up to 750 ml of whiskey for a couple of days in a row. Yesterday my husband bought me a pint and a half-pint (575 ml). And he's only going to get me a pint today (375 ml). I didn't sleep very well last night. I hope to not get anything tomorrow. I'm thinking I should just tough it out. Maybe, it won't even be that bad.

I wish I could have started on October 1st. But, better late than never.

Happy birthday to all of you that have B-days this month 🎉

October (counting today):
AF - 0
A - 3

Once I get this...I'm never going back! It's like taking one step forward and two steps back!

forestdweller1 · October 3

So odd. After the warning posts about a troll, all those posts and a whole page disappeared from my discussions page. Guess the mods really do watch out for us.
Thanks, I guess ??

Y'all had really nice birthdays I see. And @MissMay 's bartender gave her the 👀 for ordering champagne !! LOL.
Spent my 78th at a scheduled Dr appointment. In the car afterwards Middle Daughter surprised me with a phone call with Eldest as we shared pumpkin streusel cupcakes [mine had a lit candle].
Catpuccino's 8th was also on the 1st...he got extra tuna.

No wine this month yet. Goal is to wait til Nov 5 .

MissMay · October 3

@SurferGirl1982

You WILL get your AF mojo back. Oct 1st is just a number. When you got that AF streak going in September YOU WERE UNFIRE.
Remember that,

forestdweller1 · October 3

@SurferGirl1982 ...Do you mix your whiskey with anything ?? Soda, water ?? If so, would it help to change the ratio of alcohol vs mixer to result in less alcohol intake ?? Duh... Like you never thought of that !!
And when I still drank Scotch [ 🎶 those were the days, my friend...🎶] it would have been inconceivable for me to drink it any other way than "straight".

Is "never gonna drink again" a scarey step too far ?? Maybe just "none today, some tomorrow". Try to make every Wednesday AF. Then Wednesday and Monday....
YOU are doing this for YOU, and YOU are worth all the effort.

SurferGirl1982 · October 3

@forestdweller1 I have a Soda Stream. So I usually mix my whiskey with Soda (carbonated water). I have thought about mixing my drinks lighter. And I do. But then I'll take a swig out of the bottle (with my mixed drink as a chaser)

I have tried to moderate. I have a front and back lawn and Tuesday was always my "yard" day. I enjoyed working in the yard enjoying a few drinks. But while I was working, I wasn't drinking a lot. Just a bit to wet the whistle.

I had the perfect plan. Only drink on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I even tried starting with no drinking on Sunday and Monday, and going from there. But, I never could really stick to it. But, not a bad plan anyhow!

Wish Catpuccino a belated Happy birthday! Tinker's 17th birthday is October 15th.

Alatariel75 · October 3

@SurferGirl1982 getting through that first seedy day is my biggest challenge, once I get over the “I’ll just have a couple so I don’t feel so crap, and tomorrow, I shouldn’t start off feeling so bad” and actually have a full 24 hours without it seems a bit easier. My hangovers are getting worse these days, which is a double edged sword - in one way it puts me off drinking, but when I do, it makes me so much more inclined to follow up with hair of the dog.

@MissMay thank you for this thread, the September one really helped me and I stumbled pretty hard at the end of Sept, first couple days of Oct, but coming back in here has truly helped. And Happy Birthday!!

@Womona thank you for your commiserations in the last thread.

Hi everyone else, and happy October!

I got off to a rough start. The trouble with having someone in the house who struggles with alcohol and mental health is that sometimes you get caught in their vortex and it's easy to go down the hole with them. The first 2 days of October I was really quite distressed and depressed, and reached for the wine. Not as much as I used to, and not as much as I did on my birthday, but enough to be feeling crappy.

But on the 2nd I still dragged myself out for a walk, and yesterday I dragged myself out for a walk and then stayed away from the wine. I think I'm actually going to plan the rest of October dry. My work trip moved, so now it's a week and a half after my friend's b'day, so not as celebratory I guess. Even if I do drink then, I've been doing very well at sticking to 2-3 drinks for the whole evening at these dinners.

The days are getting longer and warmer here, so I'm also incorporating new NA drinks, I'm big into my flavoured iced teas!

NonnieDoiron · October 3

MissMay wrote: »

Congrats on your wonderful 90 day work review, I hear ya on hating a job and don't want to be working even though they think highly of you. Oh and those corks once they are out of a big bottle, maybe you could purchase single serving tiny bottles

So, I am sort of a wine snob. I have my go-tos when my favorite isn’t available, but I’ve tried the single serves and they just don’t do it for me which should be a plus for avoiding wine. But, if I want wine, I’m going to go for my favorite every time. If I’m going to drink, I’m going to drink what I want. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m tired today. My husband decided that he needed to fix my kitchen sink sprayer, and now my sprayer and faucet are both broken. And, he just left it there broken. Oh well… my daughter and I had Bojangle’s for dinner, and now I’m watching tv. I guess I should shop for a new faucet and sprayer.

AF - 3
A - 0

SparkSpringtime69 · October 3

MissMay wrote: »

Good morning LESS alcohol groupies

Thanks to those of you for the birthday wishes yesterday.
It was a great milestone to reach, So many emotions of my Mom who never lived past 64 years 51 weeks, She died from a stroke a week before she would have been turning 65.

Also grateful for myself living 12 years longer than my first husband that died of.........cirrhosis of the liver from drinking.

So much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to.

Yes I ate chocolate cake last night, yes I had one standard glass of champagne, yes I soaked in the beauty of the sun setting down into the gulf of Mexico while the warm gentle breeze made ripples on the water,

And today- yes I ate my over night oats, yes I did my abs and underarm exercises, yes I am grateful for waking up and taking in a breath of air in order to start my positive and continuing process . There can be balance in my life I tell myself, I am a LIBRA.

A funny moment last night when we arrived at the outdoor dinner venue. The waitress saw us pull in and had our regular drinks sitting water rail side where we usually stand, then grab a place to sit. We said our hellos, and I walked back up to the bar with the unopened Heineken00 and said oh gee I want to exchange this for a glass of champagne. HUGE EYES UPON ME. Then I merely stated that yes I choose to switch it up for ONE tonight don't worry I wont be dancing on the tables. And life went on.

Accountability for October -
1 - A
1 - AF

@MissMay this is an incredibly inspiring post - from your tribute to your Mom and first husband to your indulgence in the chocolate cake and one champagne and sun set and warm breeze, to the fun story about the "dancing on the tables" (memory?), and then...morning oats, exercises, and especially the morning gratitude - thank you so much for reminding us that we are all human and, as such, capable of experiencing a whole bunch of experiences and emotions in a very short amount of time.
And, yes, there is balance; and, yes, life does go on.....

MissMay · October 4

MissMay · October 4

I had not posted the above for a while and thought well this seems like a good time. It may help someone before they actually need it.

Watched a wonderful vid today on what all the chemical components are in alcohol and how they change as they travel through the body, HOLY $%#&. I remember when my first husband started to show signs of the toxins from his dying liver going up to his brain, it was terrifying. He said and did things like a crazy man and remembered NOTHING of it.

I think now that I am officially retired, I need to stop Googling stuff. YEESH!

MissMay · October 4

forestdweller1 wrote: »

@SurferGirl1982 ...Do you mix your whiskey with anything ?? Soda, water ?? If so, would it help to change the ratio of alcohol vs mixer to result in less alcohol intake ?? Duh... Like you never thought of that !!
And when I still drank Scotch [ 🎶 those were the days, my friend...🎶] it would have been inconceivable for me to drink it any other way than "straight".

Is "never gonna drink again" a scarey step too far ?? Maybe just "none today, some tomorrow". Try to make every Wednesday AF. Then Wednesday and Monday....
YOU are doing this for YOU, and YOU are worth all the effort.

Excellent suggestions @forestdweller1 as to do a slow controlled decline from drinking.

SurferGirl1982 · October 4

@Alatariel75 Thank you. I guess you're saying that after a day or so it gets better. I know what you say about having a little hair of the dog. But, in reality, I think it just makes it worse.

You must live in the Southern Hemisphere. Because I live in the Northern Hemisphere and our days are getting shorter and cooler. I still wear shorts most of the time. I grew up in Southern California, where we did wear shorts most of the time. But I currently live in Oregon. There was a comedian (Jeff Foxworthy) who once said, "You know you live in Oregon, if you're wearing shorts and a ski parka!' How true!

Thanks for your input. And take care!

tmbg1 · October 4

2 AF
2 A

chicbuc · October 4

I watched football last night and then I needed a drink. Just kidding...kind of. I'm a Buccaneers fan. Anyone who watched the game knows what I mean...lol.

AF = 3
A = 0

RubyRed427 · October 4

@MissMay Sorry I missed your birthday!! Happy Belated Birthday!

RubyRed427 · October 4

MissMay wrote: »

One of my favorite sayings. So true!

SparkSpringtime69 · October 4

Happy Birthday to all you October babies!!

October:
AF: 2
A: 1

2timesacharmmfp · October 4

In for October - my goal is moderation with minimum 12 dry days

AF - 1, A 2 (but low drink counts both days!)

globalhiker · October 4

@MissMay my B-day is the 28th, 100% Scorpio.

3 Oct days AF done

@NonnieDoiron I agree with you regarding the single-serve wines - they are garbage to mediocre at best and I always secretly wished stores would sell the better wines in the small bottles. They do that in Europe and one can get a delicious french rose for $1.99 and have just 5 oz.

Side note - for anyone thinking of tapering, what really helped me was setting a "start time" and "end time". I typically did phenomenal with adhering to the new start time, the end time, it was 50% compliance, but still better than before with no plan whatsoever. So for example, if I were to start drinking on Saturday at 3pm typically, I would shift that start to 4pm or 5pm instead and plan what to do during that time. I kept delaying the start time to trick the wine devil.

NationalCapital · October 4

So first social gathering of October and stuck with my AF beer. Wasn't half bad

xbowhunter · October 4

NationalCapital wrote: »

So first social gathering of October and stuck with my AF beer. Wasn't half bad

Thats my go to!

SparkSpringtime69 · October 4

I blew my 'sober October' last night, so new plan is 'sober most of October'.

lnort0618 · October 4

@SurferGirl1982 - I used to have a soda stream that I loved, but had a similar issue in that I used it to make mixed drinks- when I made lighter drinks I ended up just adding more vodka on top! I would love to say getting rid of it helped, but then I just bought seltzer in cans instead so...not really.

Was AF last night because I think I'm coming down with a cold, but today found out a coworker passed away- considering wine tonight but haven't really made up my mind. I'm not sure if it's worth it, I'd rather save my drinks for happy occasions. We'll see.

October
AF 3
A 0

SurferGirl1982 · October 4

@lnort0618 Thanks for the suggestion. But before I had the Soda Stream, we had to lug in 2 liter bottles of club soda (heavy) and return them empty for the deposit. Much easier now. And I have a PUR water filter on the kitchen sink faucet, so it's very tasty. My husband isn't much of a drinker (an occasional beer here and there). But he sometimes mixes lime juice with the Soda Stream water. We've never bought the flavorings.

Sorry to hear about your coworker ❤️

LESS Alcohol ~ OCTOBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

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