LESS Alcohol ~ DECEMBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

It's a melancholy night, but this too shall pass.

I hope all those who celebrate have a wonderful Christmas and those who don't have a very special day.

AF = 4
A = 20

SurferGirl1982 wrote: »

@NonnieDoiron I know what you're talking about night sweats. You have more AF days than A days. But I haven't had an AF day in a least a month. A few days ago, I decided to try and quit cold turkey. But, it didn't go well. I was up half of the night. Normally, I would get up and have a drink...but there was none in the house. And the T-shirt that I wore to bed was wet from sweating. Very miserable night.

I had my husband buy me enough whiskey to get me through Christmas. But, then I'm going to wean myself off and I hope to be AF by January 1st. If I ever get past this, I'm never going back!

Merry Christmas to you all!

AF - 14
A - 10

Had eggnog after church with hubby last night, but it wasn’t a full glass because I wasn’t feeling great.

@SurferGirl1982 i think I’m actually having hot flashes again. At first, they were happening only at night. So, I naturally thought it was the wine. But, yesterday, I was having them on and off all day long. I wore a maxi dress to church last night that had shoulder straps using a light scarf as a shoulder wrap. At one point, I dropped the wrap and fanned myself with a prayer card because I was so flipping hot!
It was only about 44° outside, and it felt better when I was outside without a coat.

I have been reading your posts, and I believe you can meet your Jan 1 goal. You have a week. It won’t be easy, and you’ll probably feel like crap at first. Just do it!

@NonnieDoiron I'm past the hot flashes age...if you know what I mean? It sounds naive, but nobody ever told me what to expect during that time. I had a wonderful mom but we just didn't talk about those types of things. So, I'm not sure if I had hot flashes or not.

We live in the PNW and my hubby and I wear shorts almost everyday of the year. Once I went for a mammogram in February and was wearing shorts. The technician said, "What are you doing wearing shorts?' I replied that I was in that age group and she said, "Say no more!". But, honestly, I was just wearing shorts because that's what I do. You might remember my post about the Jeff Foxworthy skit about...you know you live in Oregon when you're wearing shorts and a ski parka! So true!

And, thank you, I will make my January goal!

Merry Christmas and have a wonderful day!

Merry Christmas LA friends! 🎄❄️⛄️🎄❄️⛄️

Hope everyone is enjoying their menus and activities! My heart is full from going to church and spending all yesterday and last night with my adult children, grandchildren and mom. Dinner was also delicious and plentiful so today will be lighter.

Started today with a winter walk outside (@globalhiker) in my Christmas sweater and said hello to other neighbors walking with kids on new bikes - finding comfort and joy in the small things today. Called and texted friends and relatives who live afar to spread and receive some cheer!

Had more to drink yesterday than in a very long time and had a bugger of a headache when I awoke. Luckily it passed quickly. I was also up until midnight because I was so overly stimulated from the festivities lol.

I do plan to get in at least a few more AF days before 12/31. So I started with some Prosecco, then decided to accept a delicious lemon drop from youngest daughter with dinner and then I had at least 2 glasses of wine afterwards while opening presents and cleaning the whole kitchen before bed.

Taking mom home tonight, then will watch The Holiday with the hubs and will start thinking about 2025 goals this week, including January LA goals!

Had a few drinks tonight after 27 AF days in a row. Enjoying a little wine tonight but not getting crazy.

Christmas Day was AF for me. Today I went for a run and got in 2 miles even though I felt like a fat sausage in my spandex yoga capris. Just happy it didn't tear at the rear end seam.

@NonnieDoiron hot flashes last year drove me to comfort over-eat and drink, I'm not kidding. I'd walk around with a cold pack on my head, one shoved in my bra and another placed another on my back. I'd literally freeze myself twice a day like this. Red wine was the worst trigger followed by sugar and any hot liquid including soup. I'd get hot flashes after eating, while cooking, during meetings, in the middle of the night and have to sleep on a folded comforter to absorb the sweat. I had 2 settings: either roasting hot on fire or soaking wet. And if somebody decided to up the thermostat by 1 degree, my body told me right away, it was that sensitive. I was wrong to have self-medicated with ice cold white wine, because it helped lots but it wasn't the right remedy. Thank goodness for very low dose prescription hormone creams because that restored my sanity and made the hot flashes disappear.

Merry belated Christmas everyone!!!!! I haven’t checked in I about two weeks but did catch up on everyone’s posts. You guys are inspiring.

Drinking has increased a lot with the parties, etc. I’ve been having 2-4 drinks depending on the day. Yesterday I had more than that, and collapsed into a heap today-but that’s also what I do after hosting anything, and having my sister and BIL as houseguests.

Good news is that I don’t even want wine tonight, although the back of my head tells me I should have one glass. I don’t even want to try my NA wine. Just don’t want it. I took two naps today, still too full from yesterday, can’t really look at Christmas cookies anymore either.

I did drag myself to the gym to get back into my routine that got thrown off the last two weeks with being busy with holiday prep! Onwards.

5 more AF days left until I hit 4 months AF done mark. I still like to read about what everyone else is drinking, it doesn't tempt me.
I am though so full from the holidays that it's hard to plan New Years. But alas, the pork ribs are on sale and my husband got excited and is off hunting for New Years ribs. He does make incredible, perfect smoked ribs. Guess I am dieting this weekend to prepare for the next feast!

@Womona I feel you! And happy to see you pop in. A busy household and flowing wine amidst a celebration is not so unusual. I looked at the N.A. wine I bought and didn’t want it either.

@tmbg1 I admire your conviction to quit A for the Advent season - well done!

@SurferGirl1982 you sound ready for a change and it sounds like a good idea (I think) to give it your best starting tomorrow before any potential New Years’ Eve temptations.

@globalhiker I laughed when I read your post about jogging in your yoga pants. Mine feel filled out from enjoying all the holiday fare . Your NY Eve dinner sounds wonderful. My husband does the same - yesterday….lets have this or that on new years and I’m like…..ok but I’m not hungry!

I go to bed at 8pm. YEP. New Years is my only exception. I stay up till 11 or 12 watching TV. It will be me and my diet Dr. Pepper. I'd totally go out dancing or to a concert but too many drunk drivers out there and it would be risky. That and potential gun violence. There are nice casino hotels with events and restaurants but they are too pricey plus the packages include the booze. I'll be one of the folks out on the trails on New Years morning wishing the few I meet a Happy New Year.

Do you know what is nastier than Sutter Home? Taste Chinese Shaoxing Rice cooking wine. Once a few years ago, while on one of my wine diets I decided to take a swag of that. Ugh. Talk about creating a negative association with alcohol, that will do it. Strangely enough, when I very rarely make my own chinese food, I throw a splash of that towards the end and it does frankly, give it the "chinese food" taste.

Off to the gym again, today I have 2 back to back group fitness classes and my joints are screaming don't do it. I'll eat my egg and veg breakfast, pre-soak in a hot bath and just do it.

Feeling like I’m almost over the LA holiday hump. Truthfully, I haven’t tried too hard to skip the days I thought I would and have shared about all the wine that came and went. So I will be ending December with 9 AF days compared to 16 AF days last December. Can’t believe New Years is almost here! I will have my planned champagne as 2024 fades and want to raise the bar in 2025 to give my health and wellness a higher priority. Which means LA and I’ll be back here on January 1st!

@itladyee I'm with you. But @MissMay hasn't been feeling well. So, I'm not sure if we will have a January thread. I hope MissMay is feeling better. She's wonderful. And, @MissMay we are all thinking of you. Please take care!

And @ itladyee, we can do this!