LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

Womona · February 4

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.

Womona · February 4

longrun22 wrote: »

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!

Womona · February 4

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!

Womona · February 4

@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!

Womona · February 4

margim5 wrote: »

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.

Womona · February 4

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!

tmbg1 · February 4

1 A
3 AF
(A means 3+; LA means 1-2; and AF means none)

Born2Run1958 · February 4

Happy Tuesday to all
2025 streak
AF 34
A 0

chicbuc · February 4

@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 = 1

globalhiker · February 4

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.

globalhiker · February 4

tobinross wrote: »

@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).

tobinross · February 4

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.

MissMay · February 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.

MissMay · February 4

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 posters

Ihatemyjobmotivation · February 4

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.

looneycatblue · February 4

Feb 2025
A = 2

AF = 1

HOORAH!!!

itladyee · February 4

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 = 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

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%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NonnieDoiron · February 4

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!🤣

garnet20910 · February 4

I quit drinking in November. Just decided it was time. I drink lavender chamomile tea in the evenings to help me destress.

CamaroChick3717 · February 5

I'm in. Can't say AF for February, since it is the 4th, but im ready to move forward.
I am a medically retired disabled veteran and I have let alcohol take over. I was self medicating for far too long, and now I think I'm just hooked. I leave the liquor alone, mostly, but I will wipe out an entire bottle of wine like nothing and still be looking.
I worry about my health and am forever trying to lose 26lbs, so why am I still drinking? It has to stop.
Any support would be welcome, thank you.

Womona · February 5

@garnet20910 welcome! The lavender tea sounds delicious.

@CamaroChick3717 welcome to you too, and thanks for your service.

I love how you both just said “yep, it’s time.” Everyone here is very supportive. Believe me, there are days when it comes easy, and days where… it just does not.

Womona · February 5

I white knuckled through wanting a glass of wine tonight, but I did it! I really wanted to stick to my plan to not have wine until Thursday. I started with club soda and cranberry, and I still wanted wine afterwards, but I resisted. I don’t know why I wanted it so badly, today was my day off and not stressful at all. I did some nice retail therapy and got a pedicure. I decided that sticking to my plan outweighed my desire for a glass of wine. But oh man, just barely!

Womona · February 5

The ladies will probably appreciate this…

Look at this cute little handmade, completely impractical evening bag I picked up at this fantastic consignment boutique! It literally holds a lipstick and my car keys. That’s it. I could not resist it. Luckily I have an event later in the year I can wear this to. I can justify anything, clearly!🤣

Is this related at all to a less alcohol thread? Probably not, but with the money we are saving by drinking less, or trying to, there is room in the budget for something completely frivolous.

globalhiker · February 5

4 days AF done for Feb. If you notice I go off on a tangent chatting about food it's because I am on a diet and freaking starving.

@MissMay I consulted my midwestern chef-husband who said his sauerkraut recipe has green apple slices and yes a can of "cheap" beer but the alcohol burns off, no potatoes in his, and the sauerkraut has to be "the good kind" (either amish style or one that says "crispy" on the label). He added the real recipe like yours has kielbasa.

Welcome newcomers! This forum has made my life eons better, just give it some time and focus.

Off to work then lunch hour at the gym.

Michieb125 · February 5

Did some yoga last night in my studio (AKA spare bedroom shared with grandkids toys) and then baked cookies for tonight. I am going to a luncheon today and then an evening gals group tonight - both are non alcoholic events

Despite my MUCH less wine and increased exercise since Jan. 1st I’ve been really just maintaining my weight. I will keep up the good habits but am more than ready to get back to losing! I’m only 5’2” and have little to lose (5-10#). Hoping the long term switch off the wine will start to show!

Current:
AF days - 3
A days - 2

tmbg1 · February 5

1 A
4 AF
(A means 3+; LA means 1-2; and AF means none)

BurnMode05 · February 6

Just wrapping up an intense day of back-to-back meetings. As soon as I logged into my last meeting, my mind went straight to my usual habit... Just get through the day and you can enjoy a glass of wine at home. But, I’m sticking to my goal—AF during the workday! FINGERS CROSSED
💪

NonnieDoiron · February 6

AF-5
A-0

Ok… finally getting caught up…

@Born2Run1958 I love oysters, and it’s a funny thing I never want to drink when I’m eating them. Glad you enjoyed your NAs!

@globalhiker your workouts sound great!

@SunnyDays930 the sauerkraut topic is a hit! I have always known there are benefits to pickled foods, and I’ve always enjoyed sauerkraut any way I can eat it. Thanks for the article.

@chicbuc I’m glad the heartburn went away, and it’s great you enjoyed Mamma Mia! I used to love to go to local theater. My younger brother was into acting in high school, and I went to all his plays. I have always been a fan of theater and opera. I just never get to go anymore.

@itladyee why is the walk challenge you’re doing 2.83+ miles? I walk that or more all the time, but was wondering about the significance of 2.83. Also, cleaning the closets is great! I want to do that too. I need to start decluttering and minimizing (more to share on that later).

@tobinross celebrate a month of not drinking with a drink sounds perfectly logical. 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️ I have friends who recommend stuff like that too. It’s like spending all week dieting and exercising to celebrate the weightloss by visiting and all you can eat dessert bar. Counterproductive to say the least.

@SurferGirl1982 I’m glad your eyes are getting better even if you don’t know how to explain it. Also, you’ve had your couple of A days now back to clicking those AF days, my friend.

@MissMay if you haven’t had one today you are now at 111 days AF!! That’s awesome!

@CamaroChick3717 I’m with you! I can down a bottle+ of wine in a night (usually within 4 hrs or less). Too easy… unfortunately. This group has been very helpful and supportive.

@Womona I’m glad you muscled through that craving, and that bag is so cute! I know it’s fancy, but I would use it for everything! 😂

@margim5 Intense workdays definitely get my mind thinking about a drink before 5:00. I’ve started just either working later or going and cooking a huge dinner, so I won’t drink.

Well, to all the newcomers, welcome!

Friday is just a couple days away, so we’ll see if hubby remembers my request or if I get the magically appearing bottle. As of today, I’m not sure if I’ll be relieved or sad if he doesn’t bring one home. I’m finally getting my nails done on Saturday, so I might get a glass of wine while enjoying my pedicure. We’ll see how I feel.

Womona · February 6

margim5 wrote: »

Just wrapping up an intense day of back-to-back meetings. As soon as I logged into my last meeting, my mind went straight to my usual habit... Just get through the day and you can enjoy a glass of wine at home. But, I’m sticking to my goal—AF during the workday! FINGERS CROSSED
💪

Oh man, I understand this all too well! It really is a habit !

Womona · February 6

I killed off the bottle of my LA wine from last week, which amounted to a half glass of regular wine, because there wasn’t much left. Stilla because I could have chosen a full glass of regular!

LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

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