LESS Alcohol ~ June 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

Hi all!

I've finished my cut (-22lbs in 6 months) and I’m strategizing about how to keep it off. I’ve cut way back on drinking for the period and I think it’s essential to keep it up. No, I don’t need to drink on weekdays. Actually, I don’t need to drink on weekends, either.

The challenge is to go very lightly when I do drink. It seems hard to achieve.

Best of luck to everyone!

AF again today! Wow, two in a row. I told myself that I can have a glass of wine after I have a NA drink first. Well, I poured another NA drink and never touched the wine.

I’m feeling a little under the weather, hoping it doesn’t become the full blown bad cold that’s going through my house. I have too much to do, and too many tennis matches and golf outings to be sick this next week! I feel fine but just have a sore throat and a slight fuzzy headed feeling. Or, you know, that could be how I am normally! Haha!

@michieb125 you have a boat on wheels, I have an RV that floats! Haha! Seriously it’s pretty much the same thing. I grew up camping in a cabin with no running water or electricity. I can definitely see why you upgraded to a loaded RV. It sounds amazing!

Yes, I can. 3 very powerful little words. YES, I CAN. What if we told ourselves this often throughout the day?

The reason why goals are so hard is that we don't challenge erroneous cognitive thinking. The reason why we fail is we listen to the voice that says you can't today, you won't, too hard, tomorrow is better,excuses, excuses, excuses.

If each time your brain tells you something contradictory to your goal, stop and challenge it. Stop and listen to the message and ask is this logical? Is this in line with my goal? Or am I following an erroneous and corrupted thought that logically is nonsensical. Why would I damage myself? Why would I do the opposite behavior of what I wanted to do a few hours ago?

What works is talking back to your thought so often that it starts to change and doing without alcohol helps the thinking mind to heal and work correctly. It takes practice but it works.

Thanks a million @globalhiker for sharing this inspiring and wise information! It’s so true, we must challenge our habits, thinking and next steps. Or else nothing changes.

I had a super strange and somewhat stressful day around family and it would be easy to have some wine. But, I have an early morning commitment; and I just know I’ll thank my tomorrow self for the decision to keep my AF day.

Current:

AF - 2
A - 2
Limits: 2 glasses of wine

This is absolutely inspired, and I saved a copy of it in my photos! I think a lot of us needed to hear this today.

Still fighting this cold, but I think I turned a corner. I did have a glass of wine with dinner, after my NA drink. I thought it would just be maybe half a glass to kill off the bottle, but it was closer to a standard drink. Oh well. Off to bed for hopefully a good night’s sleep!

June:

AF=2
A=2

@Womona has a great suggestion of having an AF drink first. This really helps me, even if it is a full glass of water. When I get my hands on a beer at the end of the day, I suck that thing down like a cowboy who’s been lost in the desert and reach for another!

last night I celebrated a professional milestone by having my favorite cocktail. I am proud that I only had one!

Jthanmyfitnesspal well done with only one cocktail!

mgdavis63 Welcome!! We're all bout support with whatever your goals may be.

@chicbuc That's great that you got 2 AF days. I hope today makes 3.

I still can't seem to get it together. Times are not happy for me right now. The only thing I enjoy is gambling. Just because I need social interaction. I don't have any friends where I live (just acquaintances). So, that's the only place I can go to interact with others. The only other thing to do is sit and watch TV. In my younger years, I had tons of friends and was constantly together with them doing all sorts of things. But, that's what happens when you move away. At the time, I was younger and it was an adventure to move to a new place. But, it doesn't seem so fun right now.

We used to live in an apartment (townhome) in town. I was happy there. There was a picnic table in the middle of our group of apartments and everyone would sit out in the evening and chit-chat. There were kids around. But, my husband (he has PTSD) started getting angry that they weren't mowing the lawns properly (they had changed landscape companies). So, we went out looking for something to buy and we ended up in this boring little town.

Yesterday I had a pint saved (planned). Then, I decided to go play the slots. I started out not doing good. Then, things turned around and I walked out $400 ahead. I had a really nice time. The person that was working is a lot of fun to be around. I drank 3 or 4 beers (they only sell beer there). When I got home the pint still had quite a bit in it, so I saved it for today.

Earlier today, I wanted to get some more whiskey because I was getting low. I asked my husband if he would drive me to the store. He snapped at me. And said, "Just give me the money and I'll go for you". It hurt my feelings. Later, I told him that I didn't want to go out for my birthday. At first, I didn't say why. But, birthdays are supposed to be "Happy". I think he's snappy because he hasn't had any wacky tobaky in a couple of days. But, for the most part, we get along great and he's really very kind and considerate.

Anyways, I'm going to stop trying for now. Sometimes, if you try too hard, the stress increases and just makes it worse. I'll let you know if I ever get a Day 1.

Sorry for the rant!

PS…Welcome @mgdavis63

@LittleSurferGirl7 Big hugs to you. Just know that we're all thinking about you. Would your husband consider moving back to place where you could socialize a bit? I know here in Florida there are a LOT of 55 and up communities that keep people actively involved with one another if they want to be. They all have clubhouses for social gatherings. Most have pools. Just a thought. It sucks to feel way.

I'm just trying to stay busy. I've noticed that when I'm not busy the "have a drink" devil taps on my shoulder. My grandma used to say "idleness is the devil's playground" or something like that.

Make today great, y'all!!!

AF = 3

AF = 2

June:

AF=2
A=3

@LittleSurferGirl7 when is your birthday?

I dream of living in a "large town" where I am not car dependent and can walk to get most of things I need. But I am totally car-dependent where I live. I can't imagine my life not driving, I do drive at least 30 miles a day, out and back to get to stuff - gym, orthodontist and all my other medical specialists, Trader Joes, discounted veg. market, the mall. I wish life could be like living in a large European town where people socialize in that town, hang out in the town park which usually has a cafe, and we walk a lot and ride our bikes and have lots of friends. Where does this exist in the USA?

On the anxiety topic, is that a major underlying reason for drinking and what is blocking progress? I think it was for me. One almost has to address the anxiety first even if it's alcohol caused (was in my case-that plus permenopause hormone discombobulation) to gain better success overcoming the drinking habit.

@globalhiker Today is my birthday 🎂

I love to drive. I just have a mental block right now. I still get out, but my husband drives when we go to town (driving Miss Daisy 😀).

For most of my working career, I drove for a living. They read the meters electronically these days. But, I was a meter reader for electric companies in So Cal and So Oregon (three counties in each state) for many years. Reading meters was an adventure. Sometimes, I would read in suburban areas, other times I was reading in dairy lands, farms and ranches, vineyards, citrus and avocado groves, the woods. There were pumps in fields…I walked a lot. One time, in the San Gabriel mountains, I had to walk across a suspension bridge to read the meter at a cabin. That was the only way in. Or, I would have to walk 1/4 mile down to a creek where there was a pump. Every day was different. I have so many interesting stories.

As far as the anxiety, I believe it is 100% alcohol-related. I live a pretty mellow, stressless life. I moved to So Oregon in the mid-1990's. And, of course, I was looking for a job. Back then, you looked in the newspaper (computers weren't common yet). I saw an ad for a job with the city (largest city in the valley). It was about 15 miles away. I was dressed nice and feeling fine. All of a sudden I started feeling not right. I pulled into one of the only two businesses (a tavern) along the way. The bartender gave me some water. I was pacing back and forth. She called an ambulance and I was diagnosed with a panic attack. I wasn't drinking super heavy at the time, but I think it was withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can start just hours after your last drink. After that, at times, I was afraid to drive. I was afraid it would happen again. One time after my original experience, I was getting off of a road to get on another. It was like a freeway offramp. I was the second car back. I was stuck. I was so panicky, I almost jumped out of my truck to get away. When the light changed, I pulled over and paced back and forth in front of a Denny's. Finally, I was able to continue on. But, once that happens, it's hard to forget.

I really don't think that anxiety is the underlying reason for my drinking. I think my anxiety is caused by drinking. BTW…the only time I experience anxiety is when I'm driving or anticipating it. So, it could also be caused from the panic situations I experienced while driving in the 90's.