LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time
Replies
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SunnyDays930 wrote: »My mantra this month: No more excuses.
Feb 1 A
Feb 2 A
I'm getting real with myself now. I was AF for a long stretch and like so many others I thought, "oh now I can control it." Wrong.
@SunnyDays930 That's exactly how I am. I'll be AF for a while and then I think that I will be able to control it. "NOT" Once I decide to have an A day, it quickly turns into daily drinking again. And like @chicbuc mentioned, I don't have an "off" switch. I actually like to drink in the afternoon while working in the yard or when I'm gambling (I usually play in the afternoon). But I can't have a few and then just quit. I will drink until I go to bed...sometimes drinking close to 750ml of whiskey. You're right you DO have control of your future. Keep trying! I always have a heck of a time getting to Day 1, but after a few days it gets easier. I'm rooting for you!
That's ironic that you mentioned sauerkraut. I recently started eating sauerkraut. I usually just have it as a snack or side. Years ago I bought a home fermenting kit. The brand is MasonTops (I bought it on Amazon). You use your own Mason jars, but it has all the other equipment to make your own sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, etc. I've been meaning to get it out and try it.
I also track my weight daily on MFP. And I mark on my calendar when I have an AF day. When I look at the graph under "Reports", the weight loss/gain is directly proportional to my drinking. When I'm drinking my weight goes up and when I'm not drinking my weight goes down...almost in a straight line. Which leads me to believe like @Womona said, "Coincidence? Methinks not".
@globalhiker That sounds fun cycling through forests and mountains!
@chicbuc Sorry that you messed up your streak and for the heartburn *Yuck* I'm afraid of wanting to drink too when I go gambling. But I think I will be OK. The place across the street just sells beer, but there are a couple of full-serve bars down the street that do sell whiskey and have the video lottery machines. I should probably stay away from those places. Or, I may not gamble this month.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show. I've never been to the theatre. There's a town by the CA border, Ashland, that has theatre and all sorts of art. It's a really cool town. I've haven't been there in sometime though.
@Michieb125 Your plan sounds good! If I could moderate, I would probably allow myself two A days a week.
Have a great day everyone! I have a million things to do!6 -
Hey everyone! I’m excited to join this group challenge! I’ve been looking for something to keep me accountable and improve my relationship with alcohol, I’ve explored different apps and personal challenges with little motivation. Nothing really grabbed my interest. I’m hopeful this challenge will give me the structure and motivation I need, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes. Let’s do this! #ChallengeAccepted #Accountability #ImprovingHabits
February
AF = 0
A = 25 -
Welcome @margim5! This group isn't really a challenge...but a support group. Some of the members here are trying to just moderate their drinking (maybe just drink a couple of days a week or just drink less than they did the previous month) and some are trying for the goal of being totally AF.
But you've come to the right place. Everyone is very supportive and you'll find a lot of useful advice.
If you feel like it...maybe tell us a little bit about your drinking habits and what your goals are? This group is called Less Alcohol because even if you only have one less drink a week or one more AF day a month, you are still consuming Less Alcohol (LA).5 -
There's been something I've been meaning to mention. Some of you may remember that I had a hemorrhage in my right eye shortly after Super Bowl last year. But, lately, I've been noticing some improvement in my vision. So, maybe, it's going to return to normal soon. It's been rough going almost a whole year with vision issues. I see my eye doctor tomorrow.6
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Here's hoping for vision improvement and getting back to normal @SurferGirl1982 !4
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Welcome @margim5! Stick around and get to know us!
@SurferGirl1982 Fingers crossed for good news tomorrow! Out of curiosity, are you seeing a retinal specialist? I used to work in the eyeball business for years. I miss it sometimes.5 -
@chicbuc Yes I am seeing a retinal specialist. Since you were in the eyeball business, do you remember the test where they inject a dye in your arm and then take pictures of your eyes? Well, they warned me that my pee would be neon yellow. Boy, were they ever right! Definitely neon!3
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Thanks for the warm welcome @SurferGirl1982 ! I’m excited to be here and to work on my goal of drinking less each month.
A little bit about me: After a promotion at work about two and a half years ago, my stress levels have definitely increased. Initially, I would have the occasional drink to unwind, but that gradually turned into a habit where I’d have one or two drinks almost every night after work to manage the stress. It’s become a bit of a crutch, and I’m ready to shift away from that.
My goal right now is to limit my weekday drinking down to zero. I want to break the cycle of grabbing a drink when I’m feeling frustrated or overwhelmed at work. I’m also aiming to keep my weekend drinking more in check, but for now, my focus is on the weekdays. On Fridays, I’ll still enjoy a drink during dinner, and I’ll have a drink or two during special Saturday family events.
I know it’s going to be challenging, but I’m committed to making this change. I’m looking forward to learning from all of you and finding support as I work towards my goals. Thank you again for having me here!6 -
Welcome. I am new too, but feel at ease and grateful to have an inside look to others struggles and successes. It helps for sure to have this space.
AF 3
A 07 -
@margim5 Thanks for sharing. Keep reading other people's post and you'll most likely pick up some tips and inspiration along the way.
@Born2Run1958 I've only been in this group since last July. It really does help to hear others stories.
Good luck to both of you in reaching your goals!7 -
SunnyDays930 wrote: »@womona I agree the weight creeps back up with the drinks. I can see it on the chart (I track my weight daily on this app) and when I started drinking again, it went back up. However I read that sauerkraut helps your body in so many ways after drinking, that I have started having a big bowl of it in the morning. Here is the link:
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/food/healthy-eating/a707545/fermented-foods-for-hangovers/
Who knew about sauerkraut for after drinking? I knew that fermented foods were good for you, but I would never have thought to have some after drinking!
I love your comment about getting real with yourself…. And forgiving yourself. We should all give ourselves grace for stumbling.
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Posted this in January's thread. Nice to be hangin with you all.
Happy February! Looking to "reframe" this month a bit. It's always been a party month with plenty of "much". Much has a price and I've always paid it. Looking forward to doing stuff a little different. I despise the word moderation, so therein lies the challenge!
Hmmm, instead of calling it moderation, maybe just say you’re planning your drinking events!
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Consistency is the key and @MissMay is consistent in setting up these threads. THANK YOU!
I completed a Dry January and it was very good to me! (I also lost 6 pounds. I had a weight spike in the fall due to a back issue.)
I plan to be mostly dry in February, except that my wife and I will have champagne at our Valentine's dinner out. (We're holding each other to it in solidarity.)
Best resolve to everyone else!
Great to see you back here! Congrats on the weight loss, and keeping at it all so well!
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@chicbuc I love the picture! Glad you enjoyed the show! Hopefully the heartburn went away!
@itladyee I’m sure hubby is going to get a good talking-to after scaring little Julien! Sometimes people don’t know how to read the kidlets, and then wonder why they get upset. I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose, but poor little guy!4 -
Hey everyone! I’m excited to join this group challenge! I’ve been looking for something to keep me accountable and improve my relationship with alcohol, I’ve explored different apps and personal challenges with little motivation. Nothing really grabbed my interest. I’m hopeful this challenge will give me the structure and motivation I need, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes. Let’s do this! #ChallengeAccepted #Accountability #ImprovingHabits
February
AF = 0
A = 2
Welcome! Your story and goals really resonate with me- I had the exact same slide into being a daily drinker. Stress relief drinks became a mindless habit. So, I’m trying to do the same as you, AF during the week. So glad you’re here.
So glad you’re here again this month @Born2Run1958 ! Looking forward to your posts.6 -
Big Win tonight! My husband made a delicious dinner, and I took a sip of his wine, which was sooooo good. I almost poured myself a glass, but instead poured myself a club soda with cranberry in a wine glass. I figured, if I still wanted a glass of wine after that, I’d pour myself one.
The NA drink was just what I needed to get over the hump. Didn’t pour the wine after all! Yay!7 -
One more day AF for me! It's funny how hard it is for me to get Day 1 and then it's smooth sailing after that!
February:
AF - 3 (4 day streak)
A - 0
I'm going to set my alarm for the morning since I have a morning eye appointment. The last two mornings, I slept until almost 9am. I guess my body is readjusting 🤔7 -
1 A
3 AF
(A means 3+; LA means 1-2; and AF means none)4 -
Happy Tuesday to all
2025 streak
AF 34
A 09 -
@surfergirl1982 Good luck today! I was never around for that kind of testing. I was mostly involved in the pretesting and injections. Congrats on your day 3(4)!
@Womona Way to fight off that craving!! Heartburn is resolved.
AF last night and a good night's sleep and a workout this morning. Have a blessed day, all!
AF = 2
A = 17 -
AF 3 days in Feb done. I love sauerkraut conversation. It's such a low calorie food but I manage to change that. I only eat sauerkraut cooked with onions and caraway seeds. Throw in some grilled hot italian sausages (the good ones with no chemicals) cut in half so the sausage juices mix in. Super yum.
Welcome newcomers! Hang around for awhile, give it some time. Being here was an learning experience. I learned to stop blocking my own progress in everything I do.5 -
Thanks @chicbuc! I'm glad you got a good night's sleep. I'm sleeping good, but I've been having a lot of weird dreams. I got up before my alarm since I have my appointment this morning. After my appointment we might go cruising around a bit (there's a couple of things that we want to check out). Then, possibly go out to lunch and do some grocery shopping.
@globalhiker Do you cut your sausage in half lengthwise or in half around the middle?
Have a great day everyone!3 -
@globalhiker - I am absolutely certain I have never had mushrooms (onions and peppers absolutely!) with my fajitas - had to read that a couple of times because it just didn't compute...
I get vegetable fajitas and they primarily have zucchini and button mushrooms (the little ones) sliced in half, the rest is onions with red and green peppers. It's cooked at very high heat and brought to the table sizzling on a cast iron plate where it keeps on charring for a few minutes more. Sometimes they add small diced white potato in this mix. I never eat or buy mushrooms typically, they look nasty to me, but this is incredibly delicious and can be made lower-cal. I eat this with the black or refried beans (for the protein).3 -
February...
AF - 3
A - 0
Current streak AF - 34
Exercise:
Classes - 2 of 16 goal
Meters rowed - 12,560 of 100,000 goal
Going out of town tomorrow through Saturday so will have to get back on track with exercise goals Sunday. Will do what I can just to keep moving but it is a mini-vacation so probably need the downtime there anyway.
Thanks @globalhiker - was thinking it had to be vegetarian fajitas and appreciate the clarification.4 -
globalhiker wrote: »AF 3 days in Feb done. I love sauerkraut conversation. It's such a low calorie food but I manage to change that. I only eat sauerkraut cooked with onions and caraway seeds. Throw in some grilled hot italian sausages (the good ones with no chemicals) cut in half so the sausage juices mix in. Super yum.
Welcome newcomers! Hang around for awhile, give it some time. Being here was an learning experience. I learned to stop blocking my own progress in everything I do.
OMgosh I will only eat sauerkraut with caraway seeds to!!!! I thought I was alone in this delicacy.
To be completely honest the recipe calls for:
Sauerkraut, med size whole potatoes, kielbasa, caraway seeds and 1 can of beer in the crockpot for our News Years Eve dinners growing up in the mid-West.6 -
Yesterday marked a 1/3 of a year or 110 days alcohol free (which I never planned on being for this long)
Beyond surprised at myself and what can happen unexpectedly without setting my sights on such a long projection.
So what now? I asked myself yesterday. And I thought, oh heck I am a numbers girl let's check this out. Seems that in a little less than 9 weeks from yesterday would mark 183 days which is 6 months. Soooooo all cards on the table. I will attempt that date of April 6th, but I am not writing it in stone as of yet.
WELCOME WELCOME to our first time posters6 -
Drinking alcohol like regular people makes me sick. I have to take antihistamine for a day or two afterwards, and I feel groggy and miserable all throughout. I find instead that a splash of whiskey in my glass of water--that is, just the essence of it--is more than satisfying for me without disrupting my weight loss goals. And I don't need to make myself tipsy with alcohol or feel funny to unwind, relax or enjoy my day. Simply removing added sugars from my diet keeps me feeling very relaxed and calm.7
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Feb 2025
A = 2
AF = 1
HOORAH!!!8 -
Goals for February ~ AF=23 A=585% Dry (AF = 23 A=5)Monthly Stats - On Target
Planned February Events that might include Alcohol
2/7 ~ Anniversary
2/9 ~ Superbowl
2/14 ~ Valentine's Day
AF = 2
A = 2
Current Streak - AF = 1
Longest Streak - AF = 7
Yesterday was a good day in that I:
Got my 2.83 mile walk in, actually 3.06 miles ✔️
Worked and completed organizing my clothes closet ✔️
But when all was said and done, sat down with a a glass or 3 of wine. I slept like crap last night, which motivates me not to drink tonight and stay AF until Friday when we go out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. I'm already claiming today as AF.
Welcome newcomers to the group. I wish you great success in your goals and as it's been stated, it's different for everyone!
@longrun22 ~ I'm not sure if I like the word moderation either....planning does sound better and more descriptive to what we are actually doing!! Glad you joined us again.
@Jthanmyfitnesspal - Welcome back and congrats on the dry January and successful loss!
@margim5 ~ glad you're here and we're here to support you in any way that we can!
@womona ~ what a perfect evening you had....and even with acknowledging how good it was, you still stuck with your NA drink! Nice!
@surfergirl1982 ~ you are crushing it!!! Nice work. You probably needed that extra shut eye! Good Luck with your eye appointment.
@tmbg1 ~ Looking good. I like your classification for LA.
@Born2run1958 ~ you are doing an amazing job and have quite the streak going for 2025. Keep it going.
@chicbuc ~ excellent progress in February, and I'm envying that good night's sleep
@tobinross ~ Looking really good!!
@globalhiker @sunnydays930 ~ unfortunately, I have never been a fan of sauerkraut, but I wonder if it's one of those things that you develop a taste for later in life? Mushrooms on the other hand, I love!
@MissMay ~ You are determined and I Love it!! (My word of the year, btw)
@Ihatemyjobmotivation ~ I'm glad you were able to find a solution that works for you! Great news.
@looneycatblue ~ you're well on your way!!
Catch up with everyone else later. I am at work, so I guess I should do some...work that is!!
Month Recap by Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tracker ✅️🍷🍸
2/1AF
2/2 A 🍸🍷🍷
2/3 A 🍷🍷🍷
2/4 AF
2/1 - 2/7 ✅️❌❌✅️
2/8 - 2/14
2/15 - 2/21
2/16 - 2/28
JanuaryTracker ✅️🍷🍸
🔴 = 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%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8 -
AF-4
A-0
Claiming AF today. Don’t have it to drink it anyway.
I’ll have to catch up on posts tomorrow, but I will. I saw sauerkraut discussion, and I’m curious!🤣6
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