LESS Alcohol ~ NOVEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time
Replies
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@Michieb125 I think forestdweller1 gets the piggy-bag credit
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2 months and 1 week AF done. And today was tough. I was 75% going to say the hell with it and go out to pick up wine. Very close. I got up too early and started working at 3 am (yes) and kept going until 4pm (yes, that is 13 hours), I had a serious work deadline and I had to format hundred of pages and I just hate it and nothing was co-operating and of course Word was crashing repeatedly and I kept loosing information. Talk about worn out. I wanted to hurl my laptop into the swimming pool and drown it. I didn't. I felt so fried and headache-y, instead I took "me and my feelings" for a time-out hot bath which helped a tiny bit. Now I am on my second Corona NA getting full and decompressing watching tv.
I really want to drink tonight but it's not a good idea to drink away my bad feelings. Plus I am way too exhausted to go wine shopping.10 -
@globalhiker Great choice on the bath versus the wine! You will appreciate that choice tomorrow morning. You have an amazing AF streak going.
No alcohol for me today.
AF - 7
A - 18 -
@globalhiker what a tough day at work!! You pulled through and kept your promise to yourself. You are doing amazing (understatement).6
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Truth be told, it’s been a week for me!
I’ve been so lax with my AF goals while I’ve got my mojo back with exercise and nutrition. That 5 o’clock wine devil is a drag. Need some distractions but it’s hard when it’s dark at 5:00 pm now, ugh!5 -
2 months, 8 days AF done. Trust me, your support is keeping me going. I didn't drink last night. I put myself to bed at 7:30pm just to end the day and put the wicked wine devil to sleep. Today got in 2 hours at the gym. Taking a B-complex and magnesium now to help.
5 o'clock wine devil strategy: have a relaxing herbal tea at 3pm, eat dinner early along with AF drinks to address the hunger and thirst, throw in a magnesium or whatever else to relax. Anything but alcohol. Then I use the distract technique of watching a movie or show at always put myself to bed super-early like 7:45pm to read. That shortens the pm drinking "window". Plus, no cravings while I sleep.
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No alcohol for me again today.
AF - 8
A - 1
I have also found myself going to bed earlier than when I drink. Unfortunately it then results in waking up super early, but at least I don't crave alcohol in the morning!5 -
Sunday morning gratitude
Thankful for my small, yet beautiful townhouse backyard. Still adjusting to what Florida Fall is. Actually, it is like Spring in New England . The outdoor plants all take a deep breath and regain control of their ability to flower properly with the right conditions.
Hmmmm....sounds familiar. Isn't this what we do as well with drinking LESS? When given the proper conditions., we bloom?
Fuel for thought
Take in the beauty of something you look at almost everyday.
November accountability-
A = zero
Alcohol free streak 35 days8 -
AF = 4
A = 6
Bestie was here this weekend, so we drank.5 -
@globalhiker You are a real inspiration (role model) for all of us. Keep it up! I don't know if you remember my post. But, I had 118 days AF. I stopped marking on my calendar after 90 days and then started marking months. Shortly after, I messed up ☹️ Keep doing what you are doing!
And, @MissMay you're doing incredible!
There's a few people that haven't been checking in recently. I miss them and hope all is well.
4 -
No alcohol for me again today.
AF - 9
A - 1
I went golfing today and many people do shots for birdies. I was the only one who had a birdie (2 of them). They appreciated getting to do shots for my birdies, but I abstained. I call that a victory!
Awesome job @globalhiker and @MissMay. You have great streaks going!7 -
@SurferGirl1982 wait, WHAT????? OMG I’m so sorry that happened to you! I can see why it made you gun shy about the social aspect of this app. But, I’m glad you’re here!
@Breathe57103 great job getting two birdies, and even better job on not having those birdie shots!
@forestdweller1 your Thanksgivings sound amazing!
@NonnieDoiron welp, thanks to you, I am rethinking my decision to do potluck! I can think of instances of past bad food, or houses that I know are really dirty. Catering to the rescue, yet again!!!5 -
Ugh I am never drinking again. Ok, we all know that’s a big lie, but oh man, was I hung over yesterday. I was at a conference with my colleagues, and Friday night for dinner I had an Old Fashioned and one glass of wine with dinner. No big deal.
We got back to the hotel room and we all had another glass of wine, which of course I didn’t need. One of my colleagues is a bartender, and said my Old Fashioned was a really, really big pour. So, I had basically 4 drinks without realizing it! Three is too much, but four is WAY too much!
So the next day I felt like hell (keep in mind Saturday was the second day of the conference), my digestive system was a mess and I felt like death on a stick. Then I had to get on a plane to come home. Oh, and I look haggard, dehydrated and wrinkly. Alcohol steals your beauty, folks!!!
Today we went to brunch with my family after church, and again, I get this old fashioned in a gigantic glass! What gives? I just want one normal sized drink please, thank you very much! I slept all afternoon today.
Ok , back to reality tomorrow, back to my workout routine, back to hydration and back to less alcohol!8 -
@Womona Thanks! That experience did make me a little gun shy. If you could have read the posts that I deleted...they were very supportive and kind. But I can't let one person affect me. I'll still keep posting. This group has been wonderful.
I will talk to you all soon!5 -
At 71 consecutive days AF. @SurferGirl1982, Wow you did over a 100 days AF, so amazing. I read that there are milestones in this journey whereby the risk of falling off plan gets high, the 90 day mark, the 6 month mark, and the one year mark and I suspect it's because people feel like they achieved something and they got to the finish line and can now experiment with re-introducing drinking. I suppose one goes thru short rough patches and then it's back to AF bliss (I hope!).
Anyway, my AF weekend sort of sucked. Monday morning and I don't feel relaxed. I didn't drink but my husband did, too much, and watching the drinking show all weekend here was very, very hard. I also realized that last week I skipped 3 of my exercise classes that do help keep me "level" so this week, I am saying no to work meetings if they interfere with my classes and putting myself first.
@Breathe57103 WAY to GO, you and everyone else putting in the effort, are all on a ROLL!
Sending courage and strength to all of you.6 -
Good morning LA friends just checking in and everyone is doing excellent.
AF - 56
A- Never again
A funny story from the weekend. I ordered a 0.0 Heineken and the waitress brough me a regular Heineken.
There I was looking at the open bottle of alcohol and didnt want anything to do with it.
I called her over and pointed it out to her. She apologized and brough me my 0.0.
Dodged that bullet nicely...
Cheers!11 -
@xbowhunter thank you for checking in with us! Great to hear of your continued success, and wonderful to still have your incredible support. Nice work on sending back that Heineken!6
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@Womona oh man I felt for you on that plane! Those conferences can be hazardous to our health….been there. You are now onto a better LA week!
@xbowhunter thanks form your continued support and congrats on sustaining your new AF lifestyle.
@globalhiker your perseverance and dedication to your AF goal is truly worthy of praise. Good for you to decide to put yourself first despite what’s going on around you (work, others behavior, etc.).
@SurferGirl1982 good to see you check in! To me, social media isn’t always a safe space, and I am very sorry you had a bad experience. There is no excuse to treat people poorly.
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I have struggled with my planned AF days since the beginning of November. Feeling like I didn’t want to post at all but back here to face the music.
Last week was difficult in general (albeit my 5 days of exercise was the highlight). Then over the weekend my family had some confrontations about the election outcome which I would never discuss here, but that played in. This stress, and also that I felt like I was obsessing too much over daily decisions whether to be perfectly AF or LA was getting to me. I decided to loosen the restrictions a bit lol. Wow, not such a great choice. Had 3-4 glasses of wine Friday-Sunday. Last night was over a 2 1/2 hour call with a girlfriend- like virtual happy hour.
I made a decision on no wine tonight! Now I don’t have to vacillate any more.
You guys are the best - thanks for being here!
5 -
@Womona Sorry about that! I’m just VERY picky. I have seen too much in kitchens… personal and professional! I have a strict rule about restaurant sanitation grades: if it ain’t an A, we don’t stay! If I don’t like the way the bathroom looks, I’m out because the kitchen is probably just as bad! If I go into someone’s home and they have animals allowed on the counters or to be picked up in the kitchen, I’m not eating there. Has it caused issues? YES! But, I have seen WAY TOO MUCH and will not be convinced otherwise.
@Michieb125 I feel you. November has been a lot less AF than I intended. But, it’s ok. I’ll dry out this week. This weekend we’re traveling for my son’s powerlifting competition, so can’t drink then either because I act as a chaperone for the Special Olympics team. So, I’m thinking I will end up dry until Thanksgiving and possibly beyond. We can do this, Friend!5 -
@globalhiker You're doing amazing at 71 days. When I quit for 118 days, it was after a five-day stay in the hospital (3 or 4 of those in the ICU) for a very serious alcohol related problem. Fortunately, I was able to be medically detoxed in the hospital.
The thing about milestones is very much true. I marked the days on my calendar with a red pen. Each day, starting with 1, was marked on the calendar with a red circle around it. I still do it that way. If I slip up, I start back at one.
I believe where I messed up was when I got to 90 days, I figured there was no sense counting days anymore and that I would start counting months. I was hospitalized in the wee hours of Nov 28, 2021. So my quit date was Nov 28th. I started drinking one day before my four month AF anniversary. But since February was included, I only had 118 days. Once I started drinking again, it really never stopped. I have had good months here and there. But I'm still drinking.
I do need to get back on track. But I will be careful of the milestones. Please be careful when 90 days approaches...I really think it's too soon! Take care!
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Ugh I am never drinking again. Ok, we all know that’s a big lie, but oh man, was I hung over yesterday. I was at a conference with my colleagues, and Friday night for dinner I had an Old Fashioned and one glass of wine with dinner. No big deal.
We got back to the hotel room and we all had another glass of wine, which of course I didn’t need. One of my colleagues is a bartender, and said my Old Fashioned was a really, really big pour. So, I had basically 4 drinks without realizing it! Three is too much, but four is WAY too much!
So the next day I felt like hell (keep in mind Saturday was the second day of the conference), my digestive system was a mess and I felt like death on a stick. Then I had to get on a plane to come home. Oh, and I look haggard, dehydrated and wrinkly. Alcohol steals your beauty, folks!!!
Today we went to brunch with my family after church, and again, I get this old fashioned in a gigantic glass! What gives? I just want one normal sized drink please, thank you very much! I slept all afternoon today.
Ok , back to reality tomorrow, back to my workout routine, back to hydration and back to less alcohol!
Oh girl...... I have been there to, it truly is punishment from a higher power that allows us to feel like crap when needing to travel.
Good for your comment I just want one normal sized drink please, thank you very much!
You know what normal is- that is so much more than people not wanting LESS know.
Hugs5 -
xbowhunter wrote: »Good morning LA friends just checking in and everyone is doing excellent.
AF - 56
A- Never again
A funny story from the weekend. I ordered a 0.0 Heineken and the waitress brough me a regular Heineken.
There I was looking at the open bottle of alcohol and didnt want anything to do with it.
I called her over and pointed it out to her. She apologized and brough me my 0.0.
Dodged that bullet nicely...
Cheers!
Great to hear from you and hope your AF vacation was fab. I have had the H00 switch happen to me twice since drinking LESS. Once the waitress was absolutely embarrassed and shouted out loud in the venue " OMG are you in recovery?" I sank so far into my seat; it must have looked like I was under it. That was in the beginning of my LESS drinking. Now I could care what they say or throw at me.
56 days is such gold!6 -
Michieb125 wrote: »I have struggled with my planned AF days since the beginning of November. Feeling like I didn’t want to post at all but back here to face the music.
Last week was difficult in general (albeit my 5 days of exercise was the highlight). Then over the weekend my family had some confrontations about the election outcome which I would never discuss here, but that played in. This stress, and also that I felt like I was obsessing too much over daily decisions whether to be perfectly AF or LA was getting to me. I decided to loosen the restrictions a bit lol. Wow, not such a great choice. Had 3-4 glasses of wine Friday-Sunday. Last night was over a 2 1/2 hour call with a girlfriend- like virtual happy hour.
I made a decision on no wine tonight! Now I don’t have to vacillate any more.
You guys are the best - thanks for being here!
You better not ghost us (LOL) just because your goals went a bit wonky. Actually this is when you need to get in here and let us know how we can help. I like how exercise was a part of your highlight. We all have the good day/ bad day thang going at times. YOU GOT THIS!!6 -
@Womona Sorry about your drink filled weekend.
Ugh I am never drinking again! Hmm? 🤔 I can't remember where I've heard that before *LOL*
You are so correct when you said, "Alcohol steals your beauty, folks!!!" I've been drinking daily for too long now and I definitely look haggard, dehydrated and wrinkly ☹️
But, tomorrow is a new day!3 -
globalhiker wrote: »At 71 consecutive days AF. @SurferGirl1982, Wow you did over a 100 days AF, so amazing. I read that there are milestones in this journey whereby the risk of falling off plan gets high, the 90 day mark, the 6 month mark, and the one year mark and I suspect it's because people feel like they achieved something and they got to the finish line and can now experiment with re-introducing drinking. I suppose one goes thru short rough patches and then it's back to AF bliss (I hope!).
Anyway, my AF weekend sort of sucked. Monday morning and I don't feel relaxed. I didn't drink but my husband did, too much, and watching the drinking show all weekend here was very, very hard. I also realized that last week I skipped 3 of my exercise classes that do help keep me "level" so this week, I am saying no to work meetings if they interfere with my classes and putting myself first.
@Breathe57103 WAY to GO, you and everyone else putting in the effort, are all on a ROLL!
Sending courage and strength to all of you.
Huge hug, as I have mentioned before, sometimes I think we married twin drinking brothers. The drinking show is NEVER one we want to attend. Deep deep breaths. You have many milestones you have hit!!!!4 -
Breathe57103 wrote: »No alcohol for me again today.
AF - 9
A - 1
I went golfing today and many people do shots for birdies. I was the only one who had a birdie (2 of them). They appreciated getting to do shots for my birdies, but I abstained. I call that a victory!
Awesome job @globalhiker and @MissMay. You have great streaks going!
You are doing so well and dodging the birdie shots is amazing! Nice game BTW
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NonnieDoiron wrote: »AF = 4
A = 6
Bestie was here this weekend, so we drank.
How exciting your son is on the special Olympic team. Power lifting is impressive. Enjoy the chaperon time.3 -
My cutting back of sugar has been going WAY better than expected (I have surprised myself) Sure I have had some sugar. Since before November 1 I have completely eliminated putting it into my coffees, which to me is a GIANT hooray.
After hubs gets home in the past was a trigger to follow his steps and keep opening the cookie jar lid. That only happened once so far in November and was a one and done. Have not fallen into routine of having a sweet gelato snack every night while watching our fav TV show.
Getting out more doing some power walking at our local rec center track. Being away from the car traffic while walking is wonderful to avoid the exhaust fumes. Don't need the extra strain for my liver to detox me from poison gas fumes while trying to be all healthy like.
Have also limited my time with my friend, to she and I alone. As stated last month she and my husband became drinking companions once the three of us were doing stuff together. Another YAY for me making a good decision.
Grab Monday and give it a shake! 5 -
I made it through another day alcohol free.
AF - 10
A - 1
6 -
AF tonight! Yay! I didn’t even really want it, so instead I had one of those Fever Tree Grapefruit things. In a wine glass it was rosé-ish. Huge win for me. I need to get out of the “red zone” in my app.6
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