LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay · January 28

Do you want to drink LESS? Completely stop or just cut back?

Cutting back can mean ONE less drink a day, week or month. Or deciding to drink on only weekends or at special occasions.

On the flip side, maybe you could use this nudge to finally get to that completely sober point and be all in-alcohol free.

Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.

MissMay · January 28

■ LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST ■

USING THIS THREAD:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Join us at any time.
•Set your own goal - this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
•There are no scheduled check-ins - post as often or as little as you want or need.
•AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see - https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1
•To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star at the top right of this thread.
•Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!

TIPS & OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR USERS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Getting Started or Starting Over.
•Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
•If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
•There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
•For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
•You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
•Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
•You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
•If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
•Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
•Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
•It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
•Some days will be easier than others.
•You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
•You should never take a day that you have lived up to your goals for granted.
•Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
•Once you begin sticking to your goals for one day to many days you should believe you are capable of the same and more because you are.
•Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
•Annie Grace (This Naked Mind author) has a free program on her website (https://www.alcoholexperiment.com/) called the 30 day experiment which can be joined anonymously.

Life with Less Alcohol:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research (Some suggested books and links listed below).
•There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
•You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
•You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
•Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
•Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful. Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
•It is a good idea to have a plan for how you might deal with various tempting scenarios before engaging in a social situation.
•Self-Reflection is an important part of the journey. Once we figure out why we drink we can hopefully use that information to form new habits and make better and more mindful decisions.
•Sometimes doing something nice for yourself like a little reward for a success makes the journey easier.
•You will see many helpful suggestions and ideas that work for some people. However, finding what tactics work for you may involve some trial and error.
•It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
•Many that have spent time with no alcohol after drinking again realized that it doesn't enhance experiences like they once believed it did. Some have said they no longer like the taste.
•Don't forget how sticking to your goal has made your life better and remember it to motivate you again if you fall off your path.
•If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
•For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.

Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Improved sleep after 2,4,7,10,& 60 days
•Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
•Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
•Increased energy after as few as 2 days
•Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity, and their world was decreased in size.
•Increased productivity
•Reduction of high blood pressure
•Lower resting heart rate
•Less Acid Re-flux
•Significant financial savings
•More creativity
•More productivity
•Better relationships with family

When Alcohol Is Used for Avoidance:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•We drink to ease the stress of the working day, to avoid it.
•We drink to avoid anxiety in social situations.
•We drink to avoid making decisions about not drinking.
•The Takeaway on Avoidance, our problems don't go away if we avoid them. We need to learn to face them.
•Having a clear head makes our problems seem much smaller.
•Having a clear head makes problems easier to solve.

How to Be Kind to "Tomorrow You":
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Instead of lumbering with guilt, headaches, and poor nutrition hangovers in the morning, Think of think how nice it would be not to feel that way tomorrow.
•Worry about "me" and don't let "tomorrow Me" feel awful.
•Instead of thinking alcohol is something nice to have *now*, think of *NOT drinking* as something nice we can do for the person we are when we awaken in the morning.
•Do you bank calories for a festive occasion? (Handy tactic) We can bank a good mood for when we wake up.
•We need to have sympathy for "Tomorrow You" and be kind to her/him.
•Don't look at a day without alcohol as a punishment for being bad or having no willpower.
•Not drinking is a lovely, sympathetic gesture towards the person we are now, and whom we will wake up as.
•You’d be kind to a stranger. Be kind to "Tomorrow You".

Credit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
~Established 2017~

globalhiker · January 30

I'm in for Feb! Goal is AF for the month. And hopefully get some great new Superbowl party food and NA drink ideas from this team.

Wow has this group really been going strong 8 YEARS??? Amazing! @MissMay THANK YOU!

MissMay · January 31

globalhiker wrote: »

I'm in for Feb! Goal is AF for the month. And hopefully get some great new Superbowl party food and NA drink ideas from this team.

Wow has this group really been going strong 8 YEARS??? Amazing! @MissMay THANK YOU!

Seven years and about 2 months for our group. That is amazing.

MissMay · January 31

MissMay · January 31

ACCOUNTABILITY is your best friend. First to yourself, then to those you want to help you get closer to your goals.

Some quick notes:
*I can now say I am done with drinking as a habit. It was a long road with many bumps, but I have got to that stage.
*Recognizing my drinking triggers and facing them head on also has helped so much. - I was a binge drinker and a daily WAY over the limit drinker.
*Keeping up with my social life will not stand in the way of my less alcohol goals. I don't consider it a me problem if I have NA drinks, it is a THEM problem.

Michieb125 · January 31

Count me in for February!

I can’t believe this month marks my two-year anniversary of participating on this Less Alcohol thread. When people say time flies, believe them!

A little history…My parents were not the best role models so I did experiment with alcohol before the legal drinking age. In fact all my other siblings drank early too. It was the ‘70’s! But that’s another story.

However when I started my own family in the early 80’s I stopped to focus on my beloved family. So, all through when my kids were younger and in grade, middle school and most of high school. But a divorce at age 40 started a long trend of “over indulgence” in wine that lasted on and off for many years. Guess that guilt and sadness took hold of me and I found an imaginary friend in wine.

Fast forward….a few years ago had been thinking a lot about quitting but that wasn’t really my ultimate desire. I do like good wine once in a while. But I knew I did want to improve my relationship with alcohol and cut way back. I found the MFP group and have been showing up here ever since!

Looking forward to continuing my journey with you.
💕

MissMay · January 31

Michieb125 wrote: »

Count me in for February!

I can’t believe this month marks my two-year anniversary of participating on this Less Alcohol thread. When people say time flies, believe them!

A little history…My parents were not the best role models so I did experiment with alcohol before the legal drinking age. In fact all my other siblings drank early too. It was the ‘70’s! But that’s another story.

However when I started my own family in the early 80’s I stopped to focus on my beloved family. So, all through when my kids were younger and in grade, middle school and most of high school. But a divorce at age 40 started a long trend of “over indulgence” in wine that lasted on and off for many years. Guess that guilt and sadness took hold of me and I found an imaginary friend in wine.

Fast forward….a few years ago had been thinking a lot about quitting but that wasn’t really my ultimate desire. I do like good wine once in a while. But I knew I did want to improve my relationship with alcohol and cut way back. I found the MFP group and have been showing up here ever since!

Looking forward to continuing my journey with you.
💕

Happy TWO YEAR anniversary on here! Thanks for the background and we LOVE you keep showing up.

MissMay · January 31

A very worth while sentence from @SurferGirl1982

itladyee · January 31

Goals for February ~ AF=23 A=5

85% Dry (AF = 23 A=5)
Planned February Events that might include Alcohol
2/7 ~ Anniversary
2/9 ~ Superbowl
2/14 ~ Valentine's Day

Monthly Stats - On Target
AF = 0
A = 0
Current Streak - AF = 1
Longest Streak - AF = 7

Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tracker ✅️🍷🍸

2/1 - 2/7
2/8 - 2/14
2/15 - 2/21
2/16 - 2/28

January

Tracker ✅️🍷🍸

1/1 - 1/7 ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
1/8 - 1/14 ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅
1/15 - 1/21 ❌❌❌✅❌❌❌
1/22 - 1/28 ✅❌🔴✅✅🔴❌
1/29 - 1/31❌❌✅
Summary - Started off like gang busters, then the parties started, then all or none mentality kicked in.

2023 - 2025 Stats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2025
January AF =52% A=48%
2024
January AF =87% A=13%
February AF =58% A=42%
March AF = 0% A = 100%
April AF = 0% A = 100%
May
June AF =58% A=42%
July
August
September
October
November
December AF = 13% =87%
Best AF Month = January

2023 Total Year AF =12% A=88%
Best AF Month = January
January AF =53% A=47%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tmbg1 · February 1

Here are my January stats:
20 AF
7 LA (LA means 1-2 drinks)
4 A (A means 3+ drinks)
Had a great month. I hope I can do it again for February!

NonnieDoiron · February 1

MissMay wrote: »

ACCOUNTABILITY is your best friend. First to yourself, then to those you want to help you get closer to your goals.

Some quick notes:
*I can now say I am done with drinking as a habit. It was a long road with many bumps, but I have got to that stage.
*Recognizing my drinking triggers and facing them head on also has helped so much. - I was a binge drinker and a daily WAY over the limit drinker.
*Keeping up with my social life will not stand in the way of my less alcohol goals. I don't consider it a me problem if I have NA drinks, it is a THEM problem.

Congrats on breaking the habit! I'm glad you're not letting people's opinions of you stop you from having your NAs. My DIL drinks NAs and she doesn't give a damn what others think about it.

She quit drinking for a couple years, and just over the past few months started drinking occasionally. She only drinks when my son drinks, and he has never been a big drinker. So, it's a good arrangement for her for now. I hope she keeps it reserved.

Happy 2 year anniversary of choosing this life, @Michieb125 . Quite a commitment. I wish I could say I started drinking because it was "the thing to do". I'm not really sure why I started drinking the way I do. All I know is I did. It kind of interesting, I think back when hubby and I used to sit down in the evenings with a glass of wine and some kind of snack and watch TV together. Those were good times. But, things changed, and that didn't happen anymore. I think it went south when he went back to college and got worse after my son fought cancer. Maybe I'm self-medicating depression/anxiety... I guess that should not be "maybe".

@itladyee I like your goal setting each month.

Good Jan status @tmbg1 I have total confidence you can rock Feb.

@SurferGirl1982 You need to write that statement on your bathroom mirror and read it to yourself everyday. Make it a mantra and maybe you'll stop saying your going to do it tomorrow. Kinda like I'm going to clean the bathrooms tomorrow... NOT!

February is starting off tricky. Hubby is out of town and MIL is in the ER right now. It's going to be a long night unless the decide to admit her. But, they haven't done it yet, and she's been there for about 7 hours already. I have a feeling I'm going to get the 2AM call to go pick her up from the hospital when they discharge her.

itladyee · February 1

@Michieb125 ~ You had me curious, so I had to go look....and you are not the only one celebrating 2 years with this Fabulous LA group. My first official post was 2/1/2023! I have had some highs and some very low points, but I'm still kicking the can, or maybe I should say bottle!!

SunnyDays930 · February 1

I am in for February! Thank you for continuing this group, @MissMay .

chicbuc · February 1

I'm in for LESS than last month! Even half and half would be a better percentage than January and it would be 1 more AF day. My biggest problem comes if I allow myself a drink night at home. It turns into more every time. So no drinking at home!
Final January stats:
AF = 13
A = 18

I ordered club soda in a wine glass with an orange and it was good! My SO was the only one at the table that had a couple drinks, so it was not difficult, plus I was sitting next to my 4 year old and 2 year old granddaughters. Who needs a drink when you've got that kind of euphoria

@NonnieDoiron How did things go with MIL? Hope you got some rest...or got the bathrooms cleaned while you were waiting

@tmbg1 You are on a roll! You've got February in your control!

@itladyee and @Michieb125 Happy 2 year anniversary! So happy I found this group and you guys!

@SurferGirl1982 Congrats on your day 1 and "surfing" into February with a win

If we're sharing how we started drinking like we do, here's my story. When I was much younger (30 ish?), I wanted to be able to drink a glass of wine like the sophisticated ladies, so I started experimenting. I bought a bottle of red, took one sip, and dumped it down the drain. Next someone suggested a white zin. I tolerated it, so I had a glass or two a week for a little while, and the next time I tried a red, I enjoyed it. I was so excited! I changed my palate to like wine ON PURPOSE. What a dummy!! I was a moderate wine drinker that slowly went from 2-3 glasses a week to 2-3 glasses per night every night and more on weekends when it was "5 o'clock somewhere" at noon on a Saturday. It was a slow progression. I worked nights and everyone was in bed when I got home, so I'd grab a bottle and drink it while I wound down for bed after work. It never really affected my life per se. It never caused me to miss work or not take care of responsibilities at home or be mean or oversleep. I was the "fun drunk." By this time my kids were getting a bit older and I'd drink and cut up with them for hours some nights. It was fun and didn't seem like a problem. Heck. It still is fun, but some nights I don't remember going to bed now, and that bothers me. I don't have an "off" switch once I start. It's weird because I don't crave being drunk and I really enjoy wine, but once I have a glass of wine, I want to be drunk.

So there. Now I need to find the fun things without alcohol. I'm working on it. This weekend will be tons of fun with my granddaughter because we both love musicals and no alcohol will be involved. Her excitement is all I need to see!

Let's kick February's butt and meet our goals!!

globalhiker · February 1

Day 1 AF for Feb is here. Beginning of month 6 AF. Here we go! February is one of the easiest months to drink less or drink AF. But is it one of the easiest to make it a no chocolate month? I will try. For those of you who know me, I am now a certified choco-holic. I want to do the whole month without any chocolate candies and no chocolate gelato or frozen yogurt. I'll have fruit instead.

Just have to manage Valentines and Superbowl. I focus on the good food and good company.

TIP: ten minutes of youtube videos before bed (Sober Again...series) did help my motivation a lot in months 1-3 FYI. Now I am intrigued to see what month 6 AF improvements will bring.

Womona · February 1

I’m in for February, and so happy to see you all! I am cheering you all on. Love and support to all those who have ill relatives, and going through the daily struggle.

I’ve been on this thread since November 2011! So what’s that, a little over four years?

I have to say, reining my drinking in January is really making me inspired to do the same for February. I feel better, and my weight is slowly coming down. I lost about 1.5 lbs. of fat since the beginning of January!!! I know that tightening up my food logging and cutting way back on alcohol is what got me there.

I’ve learned that it’s not as difficult as I thought to be AF during the week. I am inspired to keep going.

Also my January stats on my drinking app are sooooo much better than the’ve been in months. So I’m keeping it going.

In December, it was something like 47 drinks in a 30 day period! Now look!

That said, I did have two drinks at dinner last night, when I should have had one. Back on the horse today! I have to clean the house and seriously need to steam clean the couch. Bleh, I’d rather not do all of this, but I know I’ll be happier when it’s all clean and shiny.

globalhiker · February 1

One huge benefit of going AF and you may hate me for this but this is a very big reason I am doing it: my stress is mostly gone. Yep. It took some months. Life is no way as stressful as it used to be. So, if you want the stress level turned way low, going AF is the way to go. It may not feel like it in the beginning but over time, it happens. Living life in mostly relax mode without taking any medication or anything is a huge benefit.

tobinross · February 1

And so begins February

@SurferGirl1982 - let's go!!

Minor success story - Neighbor down the street invited me over for a cigar and conversation last night which would also normally involve sipping whiskey or bourbon until a bottle is empty...I showed up last night with 2 NA beers. He had already prepared a glass of ice and the bottle was open. Told him I had been AF for entire month and trend would continue for now. We enjoyed our cigars and sipped our respective drinks...and I went home with one NA beer for later today.

MissMay · February 1

Good morning everyone. Here we are DAY 1!

So thankful last night for being AF while being drunkenly provoked by an individual.

Old me (that might have had even one alcohol drink in me) would have been in their face and trying to be louder than the provoking party.

New me, took deep breaths and talked myself down quietly inside my head. It's not worth saying anything I repeated, they wont remember any of this. Last night is now behind me.

So moving forward. Making plans for three events this month.
*Superbowl at a local fun sports bar.
*Valentines ball at the local VFW
*Concert/dinner/overnight stay end of Feb.

Oh gee almost forgot the watching of the Westminister dog show is an event I USED to prepare with by having many alcoholic drinks flowing. Now I enjoy with my fancy stemmed glass and fever tree as my AF drink🐾

~TODAY is your tomorrow or someday~

NonnieDoiron · February 1

@chicbuc MIL pick up was at 4:30 this morning. No bathrooms will stay dirty until maybe tomorrow, idk and honestly I’m too tired to care. I was basically up all night waiting for the phone call.

Anyway, she’s was sent home with a still elevated blood pressure and headache which doesn’t make sense to me. So, I guess we’ll see if she stays out of the hospital for the rest of the weekend.

Michieb125 · February 1

Here we go Day 1! Thank you @MissMay for caring about us so much and opening up another month to support our Less Alcohol goals! You guys are my second family ☺️. Way to hold yourself to the line during said potential negative interactions with individual.

Happy 2nd anniversary to you too, @itladyee! I started mid-February 2023 right after you. I had been lurking for a couple of months and happy I jumped in with you through the ups and downs. We’re better together.

@globalhiker no hate! A great share. It is so true how stress and anxiety go hand in hand with a regular drinkers lifestyle.
I tripled my ‘days off’ in January from December and my anxiety has been dialed way down….a feeling worth holding onto.

@tobinross way to show up prepared for a NA night at your friends place. Good to see you here today.

@Womona you had such a great January - way to go!

@chicbuc loved hearing about your background which led you here. In my 40’s and early 50’s we had many parties with my young adult kids before they were married off…..I get how fun it is to drink and hang with them! Now they are doing LA on their own. So interesting! Enjoy those grandkids.

Michieb125 · February 1

I met my LA goals for January and plan on increasing my NA days this month. Setting weekly targets has been working for me, over me saying I’m going to have (insert number) of AF days this month.

I’m starting off this weekend AF and will try to get some cleaning and organizing done!

Next week is filled with more social events than last but I’ve already decided to choose a mocktail when we go out, there are so many good low/no sugar choices.

Happy weekend!

itladyee · February 1

@michieb125 ~ I got caught up in my own world and forgot to wish you a Happy 2nd Anniversary as well. Look how far you've come!!!

NonnieDoiron · February 2

AF-1
A-0

MIL’s blood pressure is still elevated, but coming down gradually. I fussed at her this evening about allowing the doctors to release her when the problem isn’t resolved. We live a half an hour from the hospital. She can’t afford to leave if the problem is unresolved. She even admitted she just wanted to get out of there, and I told her that attitude was going to be her death if she’s not more careful. It’s not my life and she’s not my mom, so I can’t force her to do anything. I just hate what it does to my husband.

Anyway, I’m tired. Just waiting until 9, so I know my daughter is showered and in bed. Why do some children go through the “hate showers” phase in the tween/teen years? Two of my 4 have done it, but my youngest is carrying it out the longest.

I’ve been thinking about my goals for 2025, and I’m really not doing well with them. It is only February. So, I can turn it around. I just need to do it.

itladyee · February 2

Goals for February ~ AF=23 A=5

85% Dry (AF = 23 A=5)
Planned February Events that might include Alcohol
2/7 ~ Anniversary
2/9 ~ Superbowl
2/14 ~ Valentine's Day

Monthly Stats - On Target
AF = 1
A = 0
Current Streak - AF = 2
Longest Streak - AF = 7

Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tracker ✅️🍷🍸

2/1 - 2/7 ✅️
2/8 - 2/14
2/15 - 2/21
2/16 - 2/28

January

Tracker ✅️🍷🍸
🔴 = 1 glass
1/1 - 1/7 ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
1/8 - 1/14 ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅
1/15 - 1/21 ❌❌❌✅❌❌❌
1/22 - 1/28 ✅❌🔴✅✅🔴❌
1/29 - 1/31❌❌✅
Summary - Started off like gang busters, then the parties started, then all or none mentality kicked in.

2023 - 2025 Stats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2025
January AF =52% A=48%
2024
January AF =87% A=13%
February AF =58% A=42%
March AF = 0% A = 100%
April AF = 0% A = 100%
May
June AF =58% A=42%
July
August
September
October
November
December AF = 13% =87%
Best AF Month = January

2023 Total Year AF =12% A=88%
Best AF Month = January
January AF =53% A=47%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michieb125 · February 2

Hold onto that feeling @SurferGirl1982 - way to follow through for yourself.

Michieb125 · February 2

Current:

AF = 1
A = 0

globalhiker · February 2

Day 1 AF done for Feb. On to day 2. We're capable of way more than we think.

Today is hiking day with 2 of my best friends, planning 4 hours minimum. Afterwards, I throw my jeans and heels on and it's out for a date with my husband at our local favorite Mexican restaurant.

For dinner, we get the lunch special at 3:30pm and the happy hour special at the same time. I've learned to enjoy their free chips, count out 12 max, and when the 2 monster size plates of fajitas arrive, loaded with mushrooms and peppers, I package up whatever I can identify as a "carb" (except for the black beans) for husband's lunch the next day.

We sit at the bar so I get "the experience" and hear the hum of the happy intoxicated chatter around us. I really like their fountain soda diet coke with lemons there, it's eons better than the stuff in plastic bottles. I've gone from wine snob to soda snob

.

NonnieDoiron · February 2

SurferGirl1982 wrote: »

Day 2 AF done!

February:
AF - 1
A - 0
January Weight Loss: 6 lbs

I think this is the first time that I've had a "0" in the "A" line. I joined this group last July. But I've never started out the month AF.

It actually feels good not drinking. I hope I can remember that!

This is great! I love starting the month a 0 too! It’s like the goal becomes keeping it a 0. If I start with a 1, it feels like I’ve already ruined the month.

Keep that 0! 😁

NonnieDoiron · February 2

globalhiker wrote: »

Day 1 AF done for Feb. On to day 2. We're capable of way more than we think.

Today is hiking day with 2 of my best friends, planning 4 hours minimum. Afterwards, I throw my jeans and heels on and it's out for a date with my husband at our local favorite Mexican restaurant.

For dinner, we get the lunch special at 3:30pm and the happy hour special at the same time. I've learned to enjoy their free chips, count out 12 max, and when the 2 monster size plates of fajitas arrive, loaded with mushrooms and peppers, I package up whatever I can identify as a "carb" (except for the black beans) for husband's lunch the next day.

We sit at the bar so I get "the experience" and hear the hum of the happy intoxicated chatter around us. I really like their fountain soda diet coke with lemons there, it's eons better than the stuff in plastic bottles. I've gone from wine snob to soda snob .

Your plans for today sound wonderful and relaxing! I like you’re a “soda snob” LOL

It’s great that you embrace sitting at the bar as an experience without the follow through. There is an energy at the bar that is enjoyable. I love sitting at a bar especially a busy one. There is a bourbon bar in the city that is amazing. There is high energy and the bartenders are always moving and mixing drinks. I love watching them. I’ve sat there more than once eating my dinner, drinking my water, and watching them. It’s mesmerizing.

LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

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