LESS Alcohol ~ May 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

2»

Replies

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,562 Member

    1 AF

    2 A

  • SparkSpringtime69
    SparkSpringtime69 Posts: 1,282 Member

    @tmbg1 I have to ask - what's up with the rubber ducky in your image? I only ask because I live near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and apparently the world's largest rubber duck is going to be there next weekend!

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 880 Member
    edited May 5

    I’m not sure if I will continue contributing to this discussion. I realize it is important to the group to be non-judgmental. But, at the same time, I believe it is also important to be honest.

    I believe that most everyone in this group has a problem with alcohol use (otherwise we wouldn’t be here). They are changing the term from alcoholism to alcohol use disorder (AUD).

    Anytime we obsess about alcohol…what days of the week that we can drink, or what time of day we can start drinking. We have a drinking problem. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I think of is, “Do I have whiskey in the cupboard?” I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know deep in my heart that I’m just kidding or trying to fool myself that I can control my drinking.

    AUD only gets worse with time. We all know that I’m the least successful person in this group. So don’t discount what I’m saying. I’m 67 years old and I’ve been trying to control my drinking for at least 25 of those years.

    There’s one person in this group that has chosen the right path…abstinence! And we all know who that person is.

    By cheering someone on because they had one AF day, I think is OK because that’s how you start. But cheering someone on because they only had one glass of wine instead of two, well, I feel that I may be enabling that person.

    These days they glamorize wine and whiskey in TV commercials, TV shows, and movies. Everyone is healthy, happy, fit, and having a great time.

    What they don’t show is what it really looks like. I once worked at a recycle center in CA. It was just a roll-off trailer in a parking lot of a grocery store. There was an old black man in his 80’s that would hang out there all day. He showed up every day and on time (he didn't actually work there). He would collect a few cans to buy his wine. He never had enough cans to buy his wine. But he helped out around the center…helping customers, sweeping, etc. So, I would give him a little extra out of my pocket so he could buy his wine (yes, I guess enabling). He was very sweet! His name was Noah. One time, he had passed out and I was getting ready to close up. So, I got him in my truck and got the seatbelt on him. I knew he lived close by because he walked there every day. I asked where he lived. I took him home to a very nice home in a nice neighborhood. It was after dark. His daughter came out and thanked me for bringing him home. She had been worried about him because he was out later than normal.

    Anyways, just my two cents. Drinking isn’t always as glamorous as it seems!

  • SparkSpringtime69
    SparkSpringtime69 Posts: 1,282 Member

    May

    AF: 0
    A: 4

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,144 Member

    We know how hard you work to include your MIL in everything @NonnieDoiron…..caretaking is definitely a challenge!

  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,885 Member

    @SurferGirl1982 I hope you stick around and I think you are a great contributor. You've experienced success before and you'll experience it again. And yes, I totally believe I have (or had) AUD. I took tests and self diagnosed myself as moderate AUD. I fall in that boat of people where psychologists say it's possible "for some" to moderate drinking AFTER a long period of abstinence.

    Some people may fall in the mild category, some may be in the severe range, some may not have a drinking problem but simply a goal to cut down.

    I don't obsess about alcohol. I forgot all about MFP this weekend to be honest and actually was obsessing about finding the best tasting protein bars (Quest Raspberry White Chocolate may be the winner).

    I do like to check in because it helps me to come to a place with others who want to self-improve. It's also a place for me to come into to check-in on myself, self-reflect, and plan what's next.

    I see this community as one of support. It should not be the only means of support however. Depending on the problem, there are dozens of additional solutions outside of MFP. Sometimes we need to hit our problems with several solutions at once to get progress.

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 880 Member

    I just wanted to let everyone know that I didn't mean to offend anyone. There are normal (occasional) drinkers out there. But it's very easy to start overdoing it without even realizing it. And, I'm one of those that needs abstinence rather than moderation. I wish it weren't that way. But it is!

  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,885 Member

    Here is some interesting reading, especially useful if you find this motivating:

    https://www.menshealth.com/uk/health/g26130469/sober-celebrities/
    https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/food/healthy-eating/g26108148/celebrities-who-dont-drink-alcohol/
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,885 Member

    AF=4 days

    Happy Cinco de Mayo if you celebrate!

    @NonnieDoiron I bought the cutest frosty pink bluetooth noise cancelling earphones and I am taking them with me to my upcoming family trip to hell with the MIL along with my Yogi calming tea, ashwagandha, and magnesium. Yep, I will have my tune-out strategy so I don't go bonkers and start drinking their bourbon.

    The cool think about the earphones is that I have long hair so nobody can notice if I am wearing them :).

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 880 Member
    edited May 5

    @globalhiker I guess you posted while I was typing my last post. I'm not sure what I need at this time. I've actually done well just on my own. But I just can't seem to get it together this time. It is nice to belong to some sort of group though. As I've mentioned before, I do not care for AA (been there, done that!). MFP is cool but it's definitely not in real time. Especially being on the West Coast. By the time I post, everyone else has already posted and on with their day.

    MFP can be interesting. I like when people post educational type information. You've may have figured out by now that I'm kind of a science nerd. I do a lot of research, particularly about alcohol and it's effects, nutrition, and exercise. But, I read so much, that I sometimes I forget what I've read. So when someone posts something informational, many times I'm already aware of it, but it brings it back fresh in my mind (like the neuroscience info about the brain that you posted).

    I'll read the articles you posted later and I will keep trying! I'll tell you more later.

    Thanks (as always) and have a nice rest of your day!

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,562 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48595313#Comment_48595313

    The giant rubber duck came to our city several years ago…it was really cool!

  • tmbg1
    tmbg1 Posts: 1,562 Member

    2 AF

    3 A

  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,144 Member

    Happy Cinco de Mayo Less Alcohol folks:
    Mine will be AF with tacos and a Stella Artois N.A. beer on the menu!

    Current:

    AF - 2

    A - 3

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 6,587 Member

    Happy Cinco De Mayo if you observe.

    Enjoyed a Mexican-style meal of carnitas, rice, beans, guac, and margaritas. It was very good. The next possible day as planned is Mother's Day. Right now looking at entaining family at my house which includes the little ones, so may be AF that day as well.

    Tomorrow's a work day, Urgh…..

    Just one of those days: 1 day so far
    Baseball game this weekend - Yes
    Cinco de Mayo - Yes , 2 margaritas
    Mother's Day
    Book Club
    Memorial Day Holiday

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Stats thru May 5

    AF: 2
    A: 3

  • NonnieDoiron
    NonnieDoiron Posts: 447 Member

    AF-3
    A-2

    @Michieb125 and @globalhiker thanks for listening. I’m really struggling with everything around here lately. The stressors are real, and I feel like I’m floundering.

    I would love to drink a whole bottle of wine right now and forget it all, but it’ll still be here tomorrow. And then, I’ll be in too big of an alcohol fog to want to deal with it.

    @SurferGirl1982 I know you’re struggling, and I’m sorry. I think I can relate to your more difficult struggle with alcohol, but instead with diet and exercise for me. I did really well for a few years. Lost a bunch of weight. Felt great, was stronger than I’ve ever been. Then, family trauma hit, and that shipped sailed off into the night. And, though I try and try and try and try, I can’t seem to get back into that same motivated space. I can’t seem to keep it going. Sure, I’ll do really well for about a week even a few months, but then I’ll go right back to eating like *kitten*, not exercising, and drinking more. Gain back all the weight, hate myself, get depressed, get mad, try again. It’s a vicious cycle, and it SUCKS!!! And though I get great advice on how to exercise, cut cravings, meal prep, and all that wonderful stuff; I can’t make it stick. I try and try to reset, and it doesn’t work. I don’t know what it is.

    I say all that to say, we may not be able to relate to you when it comes to alcohol. But, some of us are here because we do have an addiction lurking somewhere. Maybe we’re just trying to keep the alcohol at bay while fully battling the other addiction. Maybe we’re grasping at straws in here. But, I think the one thing we all have in this group is HOPE! We keep coming back because we hope today will be a better day than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, and we need each other (including those who have succeed) to help keep that hope alive and well. I have no doubt you can quit drinking. I have no doubt that moderation is not in your future. I will keep hoping for you even when you feel like you have none. 💕🙏🏻

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 880 Member
    edited 3:16AM

    @NonnieDoiron Thanks! I know how you feel about the diet and exercise. My weight tends to be directly proportional to my drinking. It's not just the empty calories in the alcohol. I do like you…I eat horribly. I normally eat a very clean and healthy diet. But when I'm drinking, I really don't feel like eating. But, I eventually get hungry and eat garbage. For breakfast this morning, I had two frozen burritos heated in the microwave.

    A couple of years ago, a couple of my old high school friends came up to visit. One of them I see quite a bit. But the other, I hadn't seen in about 20 years. When they pulled up, we walked outside. Sue, who I hadn't seen in years, said, "How did you get to be so old?" Then she said she had been practicing saying that all the way here. And, then she said, "You look so young". And, kept repeating that the whole time they were visiting.

    Shortly after they left, somehow I gained about 35 lbs. The past two winters I haven't done a lot. I have some very nice, warm jackets and vests, but they are too small. Where I live, the weather doesn't get really extreme (usually). I live about 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean and at an elevation of 550 ft. But, we do occasionally get some snow and for the first time since I've lived here a flood?

    Anyways, my wardrobe consists of one pair of linen beach-type pants, three pairs of shorts, and two T-shirts (I do laundry a lot). We have an old Cowboys jacket (parka type) that we bought at a thrift store many years ago and I have a hoodie that fits. You may think, why don't you buy larger clothes. I could. But I don't want to. I have tons of nice clothes that would fit if I just lost 10 lbs or so. I guess I refused to buy bigger clothes…it's like giving in!

    I will quit drinking one way or another. And, you keep working on your diet and exercise. You've done it before and when you start seeing results, hopefully, you'll stay motivated.

    I need to lose weight. I don't want to go through another winter wearing shorts and a ski parka ☹️

  • SparkSpringtime69
    SparkSpringtime69 Posts: 1,282 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48597159#Comment_48597159

    @NonnieDoiron this is so beautifully said, thank you. We do all have HOPE, and we give it back to each other as well - that's what the support is all about.

Categories