LESS Alcohol ~ August 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

Walela617 · August 16

Walela617 · August 16

Hi everyone,

I had alcohol on Thursday and Friday; {oops} so I'm starting over, hopefully for the last time! I will completely "dry out" today and tomorrow and will make a fresh reset with my Sober Time app at midnight on Monday, August 18th, which is not only my 67th birthday, it is also "NEVER GIVE UP" day. That fits perfectly!

Have a great weekend!

💞Carole

tmbg1 · August 16

4 AF

5 LA

7 A

nbruns83 · August 16

@Walela617, that sounds like a plan you can live with - a fresh, healthful start with your birthday. Happy Birthday, and happy sober year!

@NonnieDoiron, I'm assuming that your son competes in powerlifting? I didn't even know that was an option in Special Olympics. It's great that he can move up to being a coach, and that it's an activity he shares with his dad.

Fursian · August 16

@SparkSpringtime69 @briscogun thank you both for the links! It really is interesting to read about the collective shift over the years, and how guidelines have evolved.

@Michieb125 Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, it means a lot! And thank you for starting the re/introductions off, sharing your LA journey in the July thread. Your goals were to cut down, and from your posts it looks like you’ve been meeting and exceeding those goals, so seriously good job!

@nbruns83 The rituals and the habits, like your wine glass on the end table can become really ingrained, and fast, so well done to you for being able to move past that one! Wine didn’t seem to ever grab me but I did have a wish to do a wine tasting on one of those really old fashioned trains, never got to but I could see the allure. If you’ve been doing the wine tasting trips for a while, I can see how the thought of not going on the trips anymore just seems unfathomable.

I hear you about the pretty glassware, my favourite drink used to be a Long Island iced tea, and while not traditional I sometimes used to put mine in a massive gin glass. I loved that glass and still have it. I’ve seen some people here who still use their fancy glasses for their mocktails which gives me ideas when I can pull myself away from the coffee.

As for the baking and the cooking, that’s another really difficult one! Baking evokes such cozy, happy feelings. I read a book once written by a neuroscientist (I believe the book was called Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction by Judith Grisel, PhD) who said they’d previously gotten hooked on hard drugs and noted the similarities and challenges they found in limiting sugar. To circle back round to the baking, I think a big part of this challenge comes from things like sugar being everywhere and it has long-standing ties to social bonds and comfort.

NonnieDoiron · August 17

@nbruns83 Powerlifting is one of the little known Special Olympics sports, but it is so much fun to watch them compete! They truly are amazing athletes!

No drinking last night at trivia night. My bestie wanted to drink. Unfortunately, we hadn’t replenished the premixed margarita stock. So, we didn’t have the one she wanted. So, none of us drank. However, I indulged in the buffet line (church trivia night), so taking it easy today on food. Probably have a mid-afternoon meal and call it a day.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

SparkSpringtime69 · August 17

Aug:

AF=7

A=9

Kind of upset with myself for drinking last night. I didn't even try to talk myself out of it - just had the thought pop into my head that I'd like wine and off to the store I went and bought it.

nbruns83 · August 17

@SparkSpringtime69, well, we must have had the same little imp on our shoulders last evening, After a week of disinterest in any alcohol, DH and I both decided that the last bottle of red in our basement sounded like a good idea. We both had two glasses (in our best glassware) and left a "cooking portion" in the bottle. So, I don't know if I feel regret or not.

Stats:

AF 13
LA 1
A 2

itladyee · August 17

I finally faced the scale and saw an additional 3lbs. Not ONLY if these 3 would disappear in the same amount of time it took to find them!! Yes, it was worth it!

The paint and sip was fun last night as was dinner afterwards. My painting came out a LOT better than I had anticipated. It was really a good time. So now it's time for a good AF run before book club :)

@NonnieDoiron ~ I'm glad you found a good new primary care doctor. I felt the same (she listened and repeated back to me) about the one I found about 3 years ago. That is so cool that your son will get to coach. I bet he's excited!!! Has he stopped talking about it?

@nbruns83 ~ I am so happy to hear that they are doing "something" re your brother. If only someone would take responsibility for getting to the cause!! Interesting re the platelets. 20 years ago I ran slightly high in my platelet count 450 to 480. No rhyme or reason that they could find. I went through about 5 years of testing and eventually it settled between 400 & 450 and they concluded that my body just tends to produce on the high side. I hope they figure it out for your brother.

@Fursian ~ Thank you for the reintroduction. You've come a long way and made tremendous progress. I used to fear that I could not have fun without a drink or two….I'm more introverted than not and socializing with people, especially those that I don't know doesn't come easy. I've gone days without and it's interesting. While not God-awful, it's still not the confort level I'd like to feel. I believe @nbruns83 mentioned, not comfortable with the thought of giving up wine (other drinks) completely….yeah, just not there yet, if ever will be…but significant reduction has occurred and is my continued plan. Thank you for sharing!

@SparkSpringtime69 ~ I'm finally starting to feel rested. I think the driving took it's toll and I don't recall being this wiped out after a trip by plane~

@briscogun ~ Welcome and feel free to lurk as much as you want. That's how most of us got started here!

@Michieb125 ~ sometimes it's just "something else" in a nice glass….

@Walela617 ~ Happy belated birthday!!!

Well I'm supposed to jump on a family Zoom call about planning a family get together next year…. and I'm dreading it……

AF = 3
LA = 5
A = 8

Alatariel75 · August 18

Hi all, confession here - today will be - WILL BE - my first AF day this month. Which is terrible. I had cut back to literally once or twice a month until the last few weeks and I just went through a mental health black spot and just… yeah. It's ironic because I had all but given up because of what I went through with my husband, and seeing what it did to him, and here I am, after losing him, drinking not unlike him (though significantly less). I've not been writing myself off, but that's not the point, I don't need or want daily wines and it plays hell with my mental health, my energy levels, my sleep, my motivation etc etc.

So yeah. Here's to an AF day, and a very minimal A rest of the month. I need to get back to drinking only for positive reasons, not as an escape.

tmbg1 · August 18

5 AF

5 LA

7 A

itladyee · August 18

@Alatariel75 ~ you are here! That counts!!!!

Walela617 · August 18

Thanks so much for your birthday wishes, @itladyee!💖

Walela617 · August 18

Thanksalso to @nbnbruns83!

Walela617 · August 18

Walela617 · August 18

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes, @nbruns83 and @itladyee!

💞Carole

NonnieDoiron · August 18

A-2
AF-15

Feeling a little miffed at myself this morning. I wasn’t very disciplined this past weekend, and I had a gain. I’m not real mad at myself because I know most of my initial loss was water, but I was hoping I could keep that full loss “banked”. Oh well, 1.4 lbs more to lose to meet this month’s goal of a pound a week. I can still do it. I need to incorporate walking/working out, but I need to find the time. I asked hubby to help me, but he’s not.

@itladyee my son is very excited to start coaching. They start training at the high school with old and new team members this week. He is excited to get back with his buddies, and my husband is excited about some new kids joining.

Happy belated birthday, @Walela617.

@nbruns83 and @SparkSpringtime69 I know that imp! I’m sure I’ll be talking to it today since I’m a little irritated about my weight this morning. I envision an evening of convincing myself that wine will not help my efforts.

@Alatariel75 I’m glad you came to check in.

SparkSpringtime69 · August 18

@Walela617 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2timesacharmmfp · August 18

Been quite a while since I hopped in…won't share my drinks counts this month thanks to vacation with friends but suffice to say it's a wake up call. Looking forward to 10 AF days before Labor Day (enlisted a friend to stick with it!)

itladyee · August 18

Checking in AF today….early before I have time to think about it!

@NonnieDoiron ~ remember, it's not linear….so a little bump, is ok, just get back on track. You got this! I'm so happy for your son!

Welcome back @2timesacharmmfp, It was vacation month for me too, so trying to reign it back in!

Wishing all a successful day today!

AF=4
LA=5
A=9

Michieb125 · August 18

Great to see you back here @2timesacharmmfp - vacation is over for me too! Time for reality. Happy you have a friend to partner with!

Spent the weekend making travel plans for early 2026 - then did some walking, gardening, canned tomatoes, and planted succulents in pretty pots that I already had.
But I also ended up helping a family member talk through a tough relationship situation……For HOURS over Saturday night and some of Sunday.

At 5:00 I went to the store for what I wanted to get for the week ahead (vegetables and lean protein) but popped a bottle of a Pinot Grigio right in the basket - fully aware of my choice, and didn’t even try to talk myself out of it.

Here’s to beginning a new week, and a new day - things are looking bright!

August stats:

AF - 5
LA - 6
A-7

Fursian · August 18

@SparkSpringtime69 Your self awareness , noticing what happened, is actually a huge positive in my mind, and something to be celebrated. I don’t think we can avoid going on autopilot 100% of the time, but we can decide how we’re going to respond today, one day at a time. Each moment of insight brings us closer to the person we want to be, and I believe your moment of reflection was your body sending you that signal of ‘something’s not right’, and that blip can be looked upon as data, a beacon that can guide us. So I think you’re doing great!

One of my last autopilot moments was back in my first year of no alcohol. My town had a Christmas market on and they were serving mulled wine in one of the stalls. I love this time of year for all the bright colours and the warm fuzzy feelings I get, and mulled wine used to be one of those warm fuzzy go-tos. My OH had to step in and remind me that it contained alcohol, because it looked like I’d forgotten and I very nearly bought some!

I’ve since tried NA mulled wine and it still gives me the cozy vibes so that’s what we get in around Christmas these days.

@itladyee Thank you also for the kind words of encouragement , I appreciated it very much! I get you with the introversion and socializing not coming easy and do remember alcohol serving several functions throughout the years when I socialized. A Christmas family gathering in my first year of no alcohol was peculiar to say the least! My hands actually trembled with anxiety so I held on to a can of NA Old Jamaica Ginger Beer for dear life, and this was just being with my family, lol.

I can relate to not being comfortable with the thought of not having anymore alcohol, and just not being there yet, if ever. I think you’re doing brilliantly with your goals that you’ve set with LA, and I really admire the unwavering mindfulness that you practice and show in each of your posts, even when life has been trying, and goodness knows it has been relentlessly trying you of late!

I feel you on those 3 extra lbs, but I’m glad to read that you enjoyed your vacation. I still remember the water retention from a Turkish kebab that clung to me for over a week before letting go, lol.

I hope the family zoom call goes ok!

@Alatariel75 I see a determination in your post , here’s to an AF day for you!

@Walela617 A very happy birthday to you today ! I hope you’re having a good day, and I wish you well with your goals of getting to where you want to be.

@2timesacharmmfp Welcome back, it is good to hear from you again. All the best with your goals!

RubyRed427 · August 18

Hi everyone, I am concerned we haven't heard from Surfergirl in 10 days. I hope everything is ok in her world. I remember she said her husband had a major health problem. Just thinking about her. ♥️

NonnieDoiron · August 18

@RubyRed427 based on her last post that looks like it was deleted/removed, I don’t think surfergirl is coming back. I’ve been waiting to see if she would post, and I’m still hoping she’s lurking and will eventually. But, I guess she was just really upset/frustrated with the wine-o population in the group (I’m including myself in the population). Still praying for her and her husband and hope she’s ok.

I have counted today as AF, I have set my MFP fasting timer on for the night, and I’m done with work for the day and wanting to go to bed. I told my bestie that I was irritated that I gained, and she said, “I wanted to tell you something I was thinking about. I think we did pretty damn good this weekend. I know I was only there for one night, but we went to a trivia night and didn’t have any alcohol and had a damn good time. I think you should count that as a win.” I do, and I’m so glad she’s my bestie and reminds me of things like this.

A-2
AF-16

RubyRed427 · August 18

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48730194#Comment_48730194

Ahh ok. Thanks for the update. I see. Yes, we hope all good things for her.

You do have a great bestie! Very encouraging and positive.

RubyRed427 · August 18

@Walela617 Happy, happy birthday!

SparkSpringtime69 · August 18

Aug:

AF=7

A=10

tmbg1 · August 18

5 AF

6 LA

7 A

SparkSpringtime69 · August 18

@2timesacharmmfp Welcome back, I don't think we've met.

@nbruns83 imp was with me last night too 😒. But tonight, I'm good with my herbal tea. I have an 8am yoga class with an instructor I absolutely love; and if I drink on Monday nights, I end up canceling out of the class Tuesday mornings (wish J taught every 8am class). @NonnieDoiron glad to hear you're keeping the imp at bay tonight. I'm sure the blip on the scale will disappear in no time.

@Fursian Thank you for the pep talk. I have those holiday nostalgia drinks too, for me it was Amaretto, but I haven't had anything harder than wine in at least 3 years.

@Alatariel75 sorry to hear about what you're going through - I'm glad you showed up here.

@RubyRed427 I think @NonnieDoiron is right, it looks like @LittleSurferGirl7 may have actually deleted her account (the name still show up with the @ sign, but there's no picture with it). I hope for the best for her and her husband also. Hopefully she's lurking and knows we're thinking of her.

Womona · August 19

Happy belated birthday @Walela617 ! Hope it was great.

@Alatariel75 sorry you went through a rough time. Sometimes these things hit us like a train. Hugs!

I came home from vacation yesterday, and of course my weight is up. A lot. Time to reset, yet again.

AF tonight and was very mindful with my food intake. I only had a small sip or two of my husband’s drink. Still counts as AF in my book. Tomorrow I exercise, and get a much needed pedicure, among many other chores!

LESS Alcohol ~ August 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

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