LESS Alcohol ~ DECEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay wrote: »

I am feeling very IMPOWERED with my LESS alcohol journey since early Fall.

Recap for new contributors and or lurkers -

I was a daily, over the standard limit drinker since probably age 30. During that course of time, I vowed to stop the madness and pleading with the powers above to give me strength and many times offering trade if I could get through one night not having alcohol. Nothing ever stuck. I would have one AF night then back at it the following night.

Fast forward- I had become active on a few other fitness forums, then found MFP. I joined at that time strictly for fitness threads. Browsing around one evening I came across this thread that had begun November 2017 a very influential user was named Julie ( @RubyRed427 ) the topic of the thread drew me in. I said to myself, I want that in my life.

I began as a short time lurker (only an hour) until I went back and read every post from the beginning of the thread's creation. I listened to people's real stories just like mine. I was no longer alone in my life in search of what I thought was a private struggle that only I was going through.

I jumped onto the January 2018 thread in the third week with my first post. And 7 years later I am still here for support and daily doses of kindness. My journey is day to day. I am proud of my changes and know I have basically been at hard rock bottom many times.

I am saying all this for those who stop in quickly out of curiosity. My thought is the title lets you choose to enter and read or pass us by. If you stop in, more likely than not, you are looking to drink LESS as well.

You don't have to wait for dry January to make a difference in your drinking situation. December LESS ALCOHOL maybe the thread that changes your life too.

@MissMay I love what you said and you are a Less Alcohol Rockstar. You speak the truth. You have been an incredible inspiration to me and if it wasn't for you, I have no idea what situation I would be in. You taught me to get up when I fell down. Then you taught me to get up faster when I fell down. You never judged anyone. But when I need a nudge of confidence, you delivered. I was just afraid. Afraid it was impossible. Afraid it was too hard. Afraid I would no longer have fun. Afraid I was signing up for misery. Afraid I would lose my friends. Afraid vacations would suck. Afraid I would have cravings every night (I didn't after 2 weeks). I was so wrong. My life is eons better and I was so ignorant to not have done this sooner.

@RubyRed427 is another significant AF Rockstar inspiration. I read your posts years ago when I was a lurker and felt like I would never, ever fit into - or qualify - for such a successful Sober group - but your success and strength gave me a lot of motivation. I learned we all have way more in common than we think.


It's been 3 months and 2 days AF. Very happy.

@chicbuc Thanks! I wasn't sure why so many posts were being deleted. I thought it was MFP. But, I guess it's that girl reporting any post that isn't a pat on the back.

It is a bit odd. Why would anyone join MFP and complain that they have no friends. And, then when someone reaches out to them, she attacks them. That one person was only inviting her to join their challenge. Very strange! Oh, well...she's on her own.

BTW...you have an excellent start for December. I will be right behind you.

Thank you and all the other members of this group for being so kind and supportive ❤️

So..... December is not starting with the bang that I planned.

12/1 was the "bottle open" syndrome. @SparkSpringtime69 mentioned something similar. So I had a couple of glasses to finish the bottle.

12/2 Yesterday started perfectly. I went to the gym for a good workout, but it trailed downhill from there. I've got to practice the art of saying "no". Husband wanted to stop for lunch/fast food. I got a chicken sandwich vs the beef combo that I usually get and a small fry. This restaurant has this to die for caramel salted cake, and I don't even like cake, so he added one of those to our menu. I took a couple of bites (it is good) and pushed the rest his way. Calories maxed for the day.... not good. Now, it's late afternoon, and he wants to make pomegranate sours. Angel on one shoulder, devil on the other. Devil wins....

12/2 Today - I will exercise discipline and practice saying "NO".

A = 2
AF=0

@Missmay ~ thanks for sharing your story. I'm not sure that I read it before. I agree, it's the real people with real struggles that helps the journey. While I'm still drinking, with no desire to eliminate it completely, I am drinking much less than before joining this group. I am guilty of disappearing when I can't say I've succeeded, but I'm going to show up in December!

@NonnieDoiron ~ Don't take a pass on your birthday, especially a milestone one. Do something, even if it's simply and quiet.... Prayers for your MIL.

@womona ~ awesome to stop after one glass of wine!

@surfergirl1982 ~ sorry you're having an issue with another user on MFP. One thing I love about this group...everyone if very respectful of each other and there is no judgement what so ever.
Hang in there....

@xbowhunter ~ congrats on our success. You are crushing it!!

6 AF days in a row (started Thanksgiving) - trying to be AF until Christmas Eve. Gonna be tough!

Thinking of you, @NonnieDoiron It's frustrating not to be able to have the magic words to help you, but just know we're all rooting for you and we're here to listen anytime!

We went do dinner with my son's family last night before they headed back to Arizona this morning I had the wine devil in my ear for hours before we arrived, but I ordered water. I'm glad I was able to stick to my guns because I would have been so disappointed in myself if I had caved. Plus, the calories would have added up even more after all the chips and guacamole I ate!

I have been content not seeing them too often since they moved (5 times in 2 years) but this visit has really made me miss them. I think I'll plan a trip out to stay for a few days sometime in the next few months.

AF = 3
A = 0

Good morning my LA friends.

AF days - 80

Almost at 90 days AF. My original goal was 90 days that will occur on Friday Dec 13th but I will keep going through the holidays and beyond as a challenge for myself.

Stay strong my friends!

3 months and 3 days AF done. Today will be an AF day. Last night I watched a youtube show called Sober Again... and there are many in this series but I really connected with yesterday's episode about after being sober for awhile and "when should you start drinking again".

The response was: you've spent all this time and effort running towards the better version of yourself, why would you want to go to back to the bad version of yourself, the one that you've worked so hard to run away from?

Have a great day running towards the better version of you!

Already 4 days into December and we know Christmas will be here in a flash. Congrats to those who are starting off great with their personal LA goals.

I’m hosting a holiday dinner tomorrow night for some longtime friends and will have some planned wine with these light drinkers. They will drive home so anticipate they will have very little. But I had unplanned wine last night while I finished decorating the house!

It was like a deep seated neurological message and response to putting up holiday decorations. It was the strangest thing. I was fully aware of what “I said I would NOT do” but went with the pleasure feeling instead and did anyway. Finished the open bottle of wine. Today I will be more aware of how to live out my intentions.

Today is a new day - some exercise and to bed early!

@SurferGirl1982 ...don't you DARE ditch us because of a Grinch on another site. Yeah, I snooped on one site that was just full of folks complaining about no friends, and disappearing "newsfeeds" [??} No sympathy, no support. And I concluded that I wouldn't want to be their friend either ...LOL.

Whether you are ready to quit the alcohol entirely or just cut way back, you will do it when your mind and body are ready.
I'm really good at quitting for a few months or years, but the wine devil keeps bringing me back to try for moderation. And I fail at that. Every. Single. Time.

No drinking during my Pig Pickin' Weekend except for my annual mason jar full of homebrewed moonshine. Too busy having fun...and keeping close to the bonfire. It's not usually so cold at the end of November...some years are shorts weather. Sunday morning breakfast was mincemeat pie washed down with a pot of black coffee at dawn while wearing my ancient fur coat by the fire. Her name is Myrtle. BTW. We are both 78.

Thanks @globalhiker for the bolded part of your last post. Should tattoo that on my corkscrew....😂💙💛♥️

@SurferGirl1982 geez, what are we in, 7th grade????? I remember you mentioning a run in with that other person a few weeks ago. Any way to block her or not see her posts? How frustrating. Welp, she did self identify as “selfish and self-centered.” When people tell you who they are, believe them.


At any rate, so glad you’re sticking with us! I feel the same way- none of you are “internet strangers” , but friends all on the same journey.

AF = 4
A = 0

Tonight I pulled all the old broken lights off my Christmas wreath and mantle garland and restrung them with new lights. I was very proud of myself for not putting it off any longer. Maybe I will make that bread on Saturday if I can keep this kind of momentum. 😉

Today, I got a call from a coworker who has been doing what I do for 2 years (I just started in June) asking me for help with some of the most basic stuff. I don’t know how he has been in this position for 2 years and still doesn’t know how to use the company’s administrative portal. Anyway, it looks like I’ll be on his speed dial now because I was able to show him a few tricks to help him out.

MIL spoke to her pulmonologist today because her oxygen saturation keeps dropping below 90 unless she’s on her oxygen that the doctor didn’t want her using. The doctor told her to stay on the oxygen. But every time she came out of her room, she didn’t have it on (her line is long enough to go to the kitchen… pretty long). She doesn’t follow doctors’ orders well, but it’s not my life. So, I can’t do anything about it.

Haven’t gone for a walk since Saturday. Really need to get out there. Not just for my health and exercise, but to pick up all the dang trash! I don’t understand why people litter. Do they get a high from it? Is there something wrong with throwing their fast food bags, takeout containers, soda cans, water bottles, beer cans, liquor bottles, used and unused condoms, douche bottles, dirty diapers, over-the-counter HIV test kits, etc in their own trash cans when they get home? (Yes, I’ve picked up all those things… with my trash grabbers, not my hands! 🤢) Why do they have to throw it in our yards? So irritating, but it makes me feel better to pick it up knowing that I’m helping my neighbors (especially the elderly) get the trash out of their yards and trying to be a good steward of what God gave us… too bad I can’t stop judging those who drive by me and wondering if I’m picking up their trash!😡

About to head to bed shortly. Good night all.

@forestdweller1 I LOVE this, and we should all remember this when we feel like we're failing. "Whether you are ready to quit the alcohol entirely or just cut way back, you will do it when your mind and body are ready."
@globalhiker Words of wisdom to remember!! "you've spent all this time and effort running towards the better version of yourself, why would you want to go to back to the bad version of yourself, the one that you've worked so hard to run away from?"
@NonnieDoiron Those walks must make you feel so accomplished. I wish people were more considerate.
@Womona Good job moderating!! That's a win!
@SurferGirl1982 Hahaha @ the image of shorts and a parka! Hang in there and just keep on pondering. It will come.
@itladyee Good to see you here, too!
@ MissMay Great streak! I'll bet that feels awesome!
@xbowhunter Love your streak as well!

We (my son and I work in the same office for my SO which is his dad) had a bit of a late night at work, so I got lazy after I got dinner ready and didn't work out last night. I went to bed around 9:30 and up early, and I finally got my work out in this morning. Now to try to get a habit started again. I feel so much better, physically and emotionally, when I get a work out in 4-5 times a week...even if it's just a walk. No wine or thoughts of wine last night

AF = 4
A = 0

We’ve had birthday parties, family visits and Thanksgiving and now my holiday party is tonight. It’s been pretty busy around here. Glad this weekend and next week is going to be calmer, fingers crossed. I want to focus on the peace of the Advent season too!

@Womona - when I am trying to juggle numerous things it’s always harder for me to track consistently too. Luckily we can find our way back to homeostasis!! You will!

@globalhiker - love this……Our time and efforts should be honored, and you are such a great example of what that means.

@chicbuc - wow, so true when I/we look back at how and why I/we started this LA journey. We can tell when we’ve been ready and also not quite ready.

Hello @forestdweller1!! Glad to see you here!

Off to the gym for some me time then I’ll get cooking.

May you find your best resolve just for today.