LESS Alcohol ~ May 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

Sending positive thoughts to those who need it today. I hear you! A few of us are helping our elderly parents who are around age 90, me included. You are so good to help them out with their needs even when it’s super hard. I know that sounds like an understatement. I am the primary caregiver of my elderly mother, managing from a short distance. So we’re available to do all kinds of projects for her…..but my DH and I are getting a bit worn down. Going to see her on Friday to rearrange her bedroom for safety reasons.

AF last night and feel super good this morning after waking up with no refined or residual sugar in my system.

May stats:

AF - 5
A - 5
LA - 2

Since my last check-in, I’ve had (2) A days. I was really hoping to stay AF until the weekend, but on the upside, it was just one drink each time. Progress isn’t always linear, but I’m still moving forward. Sending positive vibes and support to anyone who needs it today — we’ve got this.

AF = 8

A = 5

Had two glasses (limit) of planned white wine last night (finished the leftovers from Mother’s Day). NA until Friday when we return home from our road trip.

May stats:

AF - 5
A - 5
LA - 3

@globalhiker not sure what your usual 'alcohol' of choice was, but if it was wine I'm pretty sure the nitrates in that would NOT help a migraine. Also pretty sure no alcohol is good for lowering blood sugar (my SO is diabetic and gave up drinking years ago because it would significantly increase his blood sugar even if he just had one or two).

Curious about this 'possibly slimming' tea - I could definitely use a bit of help in the slimming area 😁

Day 1 for me people. Id like to say Ill have a drink socially here and there but that is not my vibe. Im an all or nothing kind of Gal. Love reading your posts. Its great to see some positivity and real talk around alcohol.

Sending prayers for success to all of you! Still going AF strong here. 9.5 months done. Anyone who wants to go AF can totally do this, even if it's for a short term reset. My method was to basically replace wine with chocolate or hot chocolate or frozen yogurt - it just had to be a treat so my brain could get a dopamine hit of some sort. Replacement just felt better and easier compared to total deprivation. And tricking my brain with AF drinks. It helped me manage the discomfort. I think I tried them all (ritual tequila and a splash of OJ was decent).It worked and I lost many lbs. the first few months even with eating everything and anything. This probably wasn't the healthiest way to manage AF, or the cheapest, but it worked and I am way healthier than before.

You are such an inspirational LA friend @globalhiker! Thank you for this post on how “AF can be done.”

I woke up thinking about the replacement idea you shared. In the past, I looked forward to Yasso Greek Yogurt bars instead of evening wine. I do great with the sparkling waters and N.A. beverages but you have me thinking about finding that ‘treat’ to look forward to so my brain feels happy. So, I’ll be heading to the store to pick up some of those froyo bars for tonight!

Rough few days… had a couple of drinks (poma sours) and then a couple glasses of wine. A couple glasses of wine tonight….but need to get a hold of myself… While it easy the feelings at the moment…the issues are still there tomorrow….. I know this.

DH's mother is 95. And basically in good health, full mobility, mental clarity etc. Thursday night was bad weather so they retreated to the basement (two of her adult children live with her/another story). When the storm had passed, they headed back up stairs and she passed out. Word has it that she stopped breathing and they had to call 911 and the operator talked the son (late sixties for context) on CPR and how to revive her. He did and she did and they took her to the hospital. They believe it was a medical issue, the doctors had prescribed beta blockers and she had been taking 1 capsule, but then she read the direction and started taking 3….. At any rate, she's still in the hospital and they think she will be able to come home tomorrow. So this introduces TONS of family drama and my husband keeps saying she died…emotionally those words are devastating.

So he drove down Friday (they are about 90 minutes away) and I stayed back as I had an "all company meeting". Those last minute "all company meetings" are never good news…but rumor had it that one of the principals of the company was stepping down. Nope, nada, that wasn't it… Business is bad, yep…so it was a flash back to covid when we all were reduced to 10% of our salary. No, not a 10% reduction but 10% of our total salary…but that was covid…. Now everyone is temporarily being reduced to 50% of their current salary until the end of June and things will be reevaluated at that time. Well, I just voluntarily took a 50% cut to go to part-time in August and had just worked out the business plan for it to work……so now my 50% cut is now being further reduced by another 50%….

I've been stressing with the markets fluctuations and now this. I've decided,(for now) no more stress, I can't control it so I just need to make the best of it…. not sure what that means but that's where I'm at.

And then…. I offered to drive down to take my DH to see his Mom tomorrow as it is a long drive, I simply asked for him to confirm that he wants to go ASAP. Later on he asks Alexia, what time is it in Spain….just making conversation, he responds with a smart *kitten* remark… I didn't need that. I get he's stress and I am trying to be supportive but don't take your stuff out on me!

AND it was my BIL's birthday. I not sure I shared the drama there… my sister passed 1.5 years ago and he feels like he's the only one experiencing the lost. Called to wish him a happy birthday but it was not without stress.

So yes….AF was not on the agenda. So let me distract my mind and catch up on everyone else.

@Michieb125 ~ I hope your visit with your Mom went as best as possible.

@globalhiker ~ you are right about the replacement thing. I've got to start doing that…. The AF stuff doesn't do it for me…but finding something else considered a "treat"… I'm not a beer drinkers so the NA beers did nothing for me….although, on a hot day… maybe! I did do well with using low calorie fruit juice…. just got to get it back in the plan. I have been using those Poppi sodas as an alternative. I saw another brand at Sam's this weekend but need to find some single cans to confirm before I buy a pack of 24!

@tmbg1 @SparkSpringtime69 ~ I see ya'll… keep it up! Focus!

@LittleSurferGirl7 ~ your post sounds hopeful….staying tuned until after 5pm tomorrow. Good Luck to you!! Ok, Monday it is!

@Walktostaysane ~ How are you doing? May 15 was Day 1…let us know…. we are here for you!

@margim5 ~ How's it going? It's the weekend and I totally get that but I do see you are doing "less" and that counts too!

@NonnieDoiron ~ Hope you got some much needed down time… How did everything go with the visit to your Dh's family.

@chicbuc ~ Did you recommit to AF? and food choices?

Hope everyone else is doing well, Well or not..chime and let us know how you're doing!!!

Reading and responding has walked me off the ledge tonight…..thank you all. In bed by 11:00pm :)

Stats through 5/17

AF: 5
LA: 1
A: 11