LESS Alcohol ~ September 2025 ~ One Day at a Time
🌟 Do You Want to Drink LESS? 🌟
"Less" can mean a lot of different things—and that's the beauty of it. Maybe you want to:
- Cut out that one glass of wine that always turns into two (or three—hey, no judgment here).
- Save the cocktails for weekends, celebrations… or your in-laws’ next visit.
- Turn “Dry January” (or July, or any month you choose) into a personal tradition.
- Or maybe—just maybe—you’re ready to go all in and explore a fully alcohol-free lifestyle.
Imagine waking up clear-headed every single morning.
(No more “wait… who did I text last night?” moments.)
💡 The beauty is: YOU define what LESS looks like.
Whether it's:
- One less drink a day, week, or month
- Taking mindful breaks from drinking
- Or choosing full-on sobriety
There’s no one-size-fits-all here. It’s your journey—and you don’t have to walk it alone.
We’re here:
- Cheering each other on
- Sharing wins and stumbles
- Growing stronger—together 💛
🎉 Join us in drinking LESS—however that looks in your life.
Because every step counts, and a little progress today can lead to big changes tomorrow.
Progress isn’t perfect—but it is powerful.
✨ Ready to start? Let’s do this—one mindful sip (or skip) at a time. 🍋✨
Replies
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LESS ALCOHOL RESOURCE & GENERAL INFORMATION LIST
USING THIS THREAD:
- Join us at any time.
- Set your own goal – this thread is about drinking less and you decide what that means to you.
- There are no scheduled check-ins…post as often or as little as you want or need.
- AF is an acronym for Alcohol Free. For others commonly used on this site see -
To follow this thread easily, bookmark it by clicking on the star or ribbon at the top right of this thread. Remember that we are here for you and care about you. Check in with us when you have time and let us know what you need!
Reported Benefits of Less or No Drinking: (Results may be incremental, and/or they may vary)
- Improved sleep after 2, 4, 7, 10, & 60 days
- Improved skin/complexion after 10 days
- Improved ease in weight loss. Not only from the savings of alcohol calories but some report making poor food choices after drinking.
- Increased energy after as few as 2 days
- Increase in other fun activities. Some have found that daily drinking became their main recreational activity, and their world was decreased in size.
- Reduction of high blood pressure
- Lower resting heart rate
- Retention of vital vitamins and minerals
- Less Acid Re-flux and improved gut health
- Significant financial savings
- Better relationships with family and friends
Life with Less Alcohol:- It can be helpful to educate yourself with books and web research.
- There is no benefit to comparing yourself to others because this is a personal journey.
- You may often feel conflicted. You will know that there are numerous real benefits to sticking to your goal while at the same time think that alcohol is an important part of stress relief, relaxation, celebration, etc.
- You may feel punished by not drinking or drinking less but that feeling usually fades with time.
- Sometimes drinking less or quitting will strain friendships that centered around alcohol.
- Having a list of reasons to stick to your goals handy for yourself can be helpful.
- Some lists have included remembering how bad it feels to have a hangover, excess/unwanted calories, having a racing heart during the night, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
- It is not uncommon for certain activities that were once combined with alcohol to trigger temptation. Many have said that outdoor activities in warmer weather made alcohol very tempting.
- If you begin drinking daily again whether planned like a vacation or unplanned you may once again face a struggle to get it under control.
- For some people it is easier to not drink than it is to moderate drinking. Others have found moderating impossible.
Getting Started or Starting Over:- Some people find it easier to set small attainable goals at the beginning to help boost confidence.
- If you have been drinking daily the first days will be some of the hardest and drinking again will feel like a cure but it delays the relief that only time can provide.
- There will always be a reason to delay the start/restart of your journey.
- For those ready to commit to being alcohol-free permanently, the videos on YouTube by Craig Beck will help. He also has a program you can join.
- You may experience mood swings and anxiety during your first two weeks. It is suggested you try and focus on the benefits of your goal.
- Cravings are said to last only 6 minutes, so find something to distract you like arming yourself with alternatives: tea, mock-tails, activities, etc.
- You may find that filling the time you drink with other activities like exercise or hobbies can be a helpful distraction.
- If you find them tempting try and avoid events/outings that will have drinking for a time.
- Don't let pride or shame keep you from asking for the help you need.
- Sometimes talking it out or posting your thoughts/feelings/struggles may help you work things out for yourself.
- It is okay that you don't always have all the answers.
- Some days will be easier than others.
- You may have initial/increased sugar cravings.
- Celebrate the smaller victories too. Less alcohol is still less alcohol even if your goal was zero at that moment.
- Failure is not giving in and drinking. Failure is to stop trying to accomplish your goals.
0 - Join us at any time.
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LINKS
▪▪▪▪
•General Information/Blog Sites:
The Sober School
•Sobriety Blog:
•The Thirty Day Experiment:
•Ten Things That Helped Me Quit Booze:
•The Neuroscience Behind How We Make Decisions:
•Summary of Book on Addiction:
•Article on the Difference Between Being an Alcoholic and Really Liking to Drink:
•To the Mom questioning her drinking habits:
•Guided Meditations:
ALTERNATIVE DRINKS:
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
•Overnight Cold Brew Iced Tea:
•Mocktail Recipes:
APPS
▪▪▪▪
•Daybreak - A Deakin University study of hundreds of health apps found that Daybreak is one of only four that have proven effective and provide quality assistance.
•Dry Days by AlcoChange - is for those who want to cut down or cut out the booze throughout the year, while seeing the impact it has on your health and wallet.
•Nomo - Sobriety Clocks: In addition to an alcohol clock and monetary savings this app lets you check in and do a sobriety exercise if you're tempted and connect with accountability partners.
•Sobriety Counter - Stop Drinking (Sobriety Counter - EasyQuit pro version) - Provides health stats, money saved, games to distract you, motivational tips, and several other features
•Sober Time - Track your progress in the sobriety counter. Stop drinking with built-in motivation. Look at the sobriety clock when you need it most.BOOKS
▪▪▪▪
•Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol
by Holly Whitaker
•The Naked Mind by Annie Grace
•Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
•Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey
•The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
•The Liars Club, Cherry, and Lit by Mary Karr (3 different publications)
•Kick the Drink...Easily by Jason Vale
•Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
•Being Sober: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting To, Getting Through, and Living in Recovery by Harry Haroutunian
•The Easy, Illustrated Way to Quit Drinking by Alan Carr
•Alcohol Explained by William Porter
•Tired of Thinking About Drinking: Take My 100-Day Sober Challenge by Belle RobertsonCredit and thanks to the MFP Less Alcohol One Day at a Time participants
For their willingness to share their insights and resourcefulness in finding this information
~Established 2017~0 -
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Link for LA Spreadsheet
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Protein Recommendations ~ Not Alcohol related but related to Healthy Choices
Information taken from posts during August 2025
Recommended Protein Powders
Earth Fed Muscle. 20g of protein. (globalhiker)
Whey + is a natural grass-fed whey isolate protein powder from dairy farms in Ireland - by Legion. Buy on Amazon- Very clean and the Dutch chocolate is delicious. Also combine with 1/2 banana in my ninja to make thick, chocolaty banana shakes for 150 cals.
Or, I just tried the Costco Kirkland creamy chocolate whey protein isolate (huge bag - 5 lbs.). Very tasty and provides protein synthesis with most of amino acid chains. We will be using this during my husband’s knee surgery recovery period.Sprouts brand is also a very good for Whey- Choco or Vanilla. I just don’t get over there too often.
Lastly, I do use a pea protein ‘super food’ powder occasionally by the popular Orgain brand for plant protein - Vanilla or Strawberry. It offers probiotics as well. I mix in blueberries or strawberries for added fiber and flavor. ‘Pea’ seems to have a bit stronger flavor for me, but with all the added fruit and sometimes a Stevia it packs a punch resulting in a thick, sweet and healthy shake for under 200 calories. It’s really the only brand of pea that I do like.
I also love Vital Proteins Collagen in my coffee every morning (since age 60) in addition to the shakes. Goodness gracious the battle to maintain muscle is real. I found Creatine recently by Legion for muscle endurance, recovery and brain health, lol.All the PP’s provide between 22-25 grams of protein.(michieb125)
Jocko Molk protein shakes. They're low carb, but sweetened with allulose and monk fruit and pretty clean ingredients and the best damn protein shakes I've ever had. (chicbuc)
1st Phorm Level 1 protein powder 24g protein (itladyee)
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In early for September!
As I consider September goals, I know that my primary issue with cutting back is the weekends and overindulging. I get through the week just fine - usually without anything at all. But by the time the weekend rolls around and the kids are in bed, I end up pouring more than I want. Never to the point of not being functional the next day, but still more than I'm comfortable with on a long term basis as well as the fact that it is showing around my midsection. So for September while I will track AF days, my mindfulness focus is going to center on moderating when I do indulge. It's kind of a nice test that the first weekend is a holiday weekend - feeling motivated!
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Here's how August went.
14 AF
7 LA
10 A
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Really excellent stats @tmbg1!
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Happy September! Here we are. Appreciate the congratulations from everyone, you warmed my heart.
Today's the day 30 days AF starts for me. I drank yesterday to celebrate and since I can't tolerate wine anymore I had several shots of cointreau and do I ever feel stuffy-headed and puffy faced. I am not going back to this.
It's good to look ahead and envision the better version of me I'll be come Sept. 30. Be AF with an occasional chocolate fix every now and then. Get to a 7 mile long run. Get the BMI down to 26. Read up on how to improve my sleep quality. Drink an extra 2 glasses of water every afternoon. Try out a new trail. Plan a trip. Practice gratitude.
I wish you all strength and energy during your self-improvement journey.
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I'm here for September. My goal for this month is to be completely AF. If I do that it'll be the first AF month I've had in a few years. The last time (2 or 3 years ago) I went all of Sept-Dec 24th - I had 2 drinks on that Christmas day and then nothing until that New Years eve, again only 2. After that I went another couple of months until beginning of March, and then slowly started increasing drinks and drinking days until I'm where I'm at now. These last few months I've been cutting back days but, on the days I do drink, it's too much. So my goal is to just stop. Still trying to figure out the best plan for that; I'm going to work on that today.
I hope everyone has a fantastic September, and reaches their goals, whatever they may be.
8 -
Happy first day of September!
I spent some time thinking about my life plan for the next 37 years, yes 37! Decided to read the book Unbreakable - a Woman’s Guide to Aging with Power (thanks @SparkSpringtime69) and another book on Building Healthier Habits (actionable habit stacking).It is said if you want to change your life, change your habits. 💜 And, nothing changes if nothing changes 💗 So simply put, yet powerful and true.
Summer is over in my books, so it’s time to care for myself and fall into better habits. This also means tracking more AF days each week.
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Happy September. It’s serious september for me… I’ve got to get serious with everything! I’m still holding on to this vacation weight and I was already at the top of my range…so it’s just put me over the top!
Glad to see everyone strolling in and getting ready to put their best effort forward for the month of Sept.
@2timesacharmmfp ~ Early is good. So you were already looking ahead, totally a plus! Good luck to you.
@tmbg1 ~ those stats look pretty good for August. Did you meet your personal goals?
@globalhiker ~ it’s interesting your take on alcohol after going so long without it. Sounds like you’re even more encouraged to be AF and that’s awesome! Congrats once again.
@SparkSpringtime69 - wishing you well this month and that you are successful with your AF goal. You can do it!!
@Michieb125 ~ I absolutely LOVE that you are looking out 37 years! Unbreakable sounds interesting, perhaps something I should read!
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Went ahead and marked today AF. Like I said in last month’s thread, I will do most of September sober except a potential weekend of moderation if my bestie wants to drink on her birthday weekend. If not, then it’ll be a sober September. I might even choose hard liquor if we do drink because I tend to not drink as much of that as I do wine. We’ll see what happens.
I’m also down 7.2 lbs for August. I’m sure being AF helped. Changing up my weight loss goal a little bit though. I have to go to Houston for our semi-annual review the first week of December. Last time I saw my colleagues, I was 200ish lbs. I’d like to see the reactions if I arrive after having lost about 30 lbs. So, I have about 23 lbs to lose in 3 months. If I can do that, then I only have about 22 lbs left to lose before the end of July to fit into the never been worn dress. It’ll kind of take the stress off. I will have to contend with Halloween candy and Thanksgiving dinner, but I’ve done it before. Just have to white knuckle through it and remind myself of the end goal! The dress is still hanging on my closet door reminding me what I’m trying to do.
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Hi all…
I bowed out of August — and honestly, I needed to. I didn’t stick to my goals. I ended up drinking about half the month, which felt like a step back for me. It wasn’t just about the number of days; it really messed with my sleep patterns and overall energy. August just didn’t align with where I’ve been trying to go this year, so I’ve scratched it out and I’m starting fresh.
September is a reset.
I’m getting back on track with my bigger goal for the year: to drink less each month. The target for September is to keep my A days under 11. That puts me back in line with the trajectory I set at the start of the year — not just about the number, but about consistency, mindfulness, and long-term progress.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about not giving up just because I slipped. August happened, and now it’s behind me. Time to move forward.
Let’s see where September takes me.
AF = 0
A = 1
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You've got a plan and a goal!! 💯 @NonnieDoiron , Nice!!!
I might even choose hard liquor if we do drink because I tend to not drink as much of that as I do wine. We’ll see what happens.
I’m also down 7.2 lbs for August. I’m sure being AF helped. Changing up my weight loss goal a little bit though. I have to go to Houston for our semi-annual review the first week of December. Last time I saw my colleagues, I was 200ish lbs. I’d like to see the reactions if I arrive after having lost about 30 lbs. So, I have about 23 lbs to lose in 3 months.
Excellent @tmbg1
@BurnMode05 ~ Welcome back!!! …..you mentioned sleep and I was just thinking about sleep.
When I drink, I fall asleep instantly ….like within 10 minutes of head hitting the pillow…assuming I didn't already fall asleep on the couch, but I still crash hard either way. I usually wake up about 2am ( for a bathroom break), but then I'm wide awake for 30 to 90 minutes. When I don't drink, it's the opposite: it takes me 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes longer to quiet the voices in my head so that I can go to sleep. Once I'm asleep, it's good, deep sleep. I still wake for the bathroom, but usually can fall asleep pretty quickly. So I'm stuck between two versions of restless nights: the quick knock-out but middle-of-the-night wakeups, or the long battle to fall asleep but better rest once I’m there.
Does anyone have any strategies to quiet the noise in my head at bedtime without alcohol? I've tried a "routine", including reading but it still takes time to doze off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~thru 9/2
AF = 26 -
When I drink, I fall asleep instantly ….like within 10 minutes of head hitting the pillow…assuming I didn't already fall asleep on the couch, but I still crash hard either way. I usually wake up about 2am ( for a bathroom break), but then I'm wide awake for 30 to 90 minutes. When I don't drink, it's the opposite: it takes me 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes longer to quiet the voices in my head so that I can go to sleep. Once I'm asleep, it's good, deep sleep. I still wake for the bathroom, but usually can fall asleep pretty quickly. So I'm stuck between two versions of restless nights: the quick knock-out but middle-of-the-night wakeups, or the long battle to fall asleep but better rest once I’m there.
Does anyone have any strategies to quiet the noise in my head at bedtime without alcohol? I've tried a "routine", including reading but it still takes time to doze off.
I do this too! I have yet to figure out how to quiet the voices. If anyone clues you in, share it! Between the racing thoughts and the hot flashes, I’m going crazy trying to get to sleep at night.
5 -
Sept:
AF-1
A-0
6 -
I would like to join y'all for September… Sober September. My drinking mostly everyday, has caused lost sleep, weight gain, and acky joints. I'm ready to turn this around!
Day 1: AF 😁
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@itladyee @NonnieDoiron @BurnMode05 and any others thinking about sleep:
I have the following A vs AF sleep patterns: A nights I'm out quick and sleep through the night, but don't feel rested in the morning; AF nights, I wake up a few times yet still feel like I got a good night's sleep the next morning.
As for shutting off the brain, I read about a phrase that very often helps me empty my mind. Just say to yourself "I don't have to think about this right now". It's really quite effective, it interrupts the thought itself and, logically, you don't have to think about it right now unless you're going to actually get up and do something about it.
Another even shorter version is "This thought can wait", also effective for the same reasons. This hasn't always helped me, but probably at least 75% of the time I use it.
9 -
Ah, the sleep issues - Like many of you, I have more trouble falling asleep when I don't drink. One thing I've tried that helped is a podcast, where someone reads you a bedtime story for adults. There's quite a few, (Who knew?) I lucked upon one called Just Sleep, and the female reader's low pitched, but clear voice is truly relaxing for me. I just haven't established it as a regular routine yet. I listened to several others - there's a big difference in voices, so I'd guess you'd have to try out several to find the right match.
While I'm committed to less alcohol, I don't think I'm ready for an AF month. A dear friend texted me yesterday, that her BIL died after a long struggle with colon cancer, and I asked DH to open our one bottle of red wine, because I wanted to toast to Greg's life, ending too soon. And this morning, I don't feel guilty which is a good sign for me. It was a deliberate and meaningful choice.
September
A 1
11 -
2 AF
5 -
@nbruns83 ~ Sorry to hear about the passing of your friend's BIL. 🙏 My condolences to the family and friends.
I keep saying I am going to get one of those headbands with speakers that you can sleep with. I don't want to go to bed with ear buds in and if I just play from my phone, I'll have to explain in minute detail why I need this tool to help me sleep! 😫
Welcome @looneycatblue ~ I think you've been with us before, if so, welcome back. If not, you are welcome just the same!!!
@SparkSpringtime69 ~ I will try the phrase ….This thought can wait…which means I'll be saying it over and over again, who knows, it might work. What I have done is a counting exercise. You count from 6 to 0, taking a deep breath in between…IF your mind starts to wander or those voices interrupt, you have to start over at 6. The "theory" is you won't get to zero without falling asleep.
Here's some more that I got from ChatGPT…
💤 1. The Alphabet Drift
- Start at Z and think of a word for each letter going backwards (zebra, yak, xylophone… you get it).
- If you mess up or stall out? That’s the point—your brain starts to drift away from worry mode and into snooze mode.
💤 2. Military Sleep Method (2 minutes)
- Relax your face completely (jaw, tongue, eyes).
- Drop your shoulders, arms loose at your sides.
- Exhale slowly, relaxing your chest, then your legs one by one.
- Imagine a peaceful scene or silently repeat, “Don’t think, don’t think.”
- Supposedly works even in noisy barracks!
💤 3. 4-7-8 Breathing
- Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold for 7 seconds.
- Exhale slowly for 8 seconds.
- Repeat 3–4 cycles.
This slows your heart rate and can create a little “sedation effect.”
💤 4. The “White Screen Saver”
- Picture something totally boring and repetitive—like folding towels, stacking cans, or typing the same word over and over.
- The more mundane, the faster your brain says: ugh, goodnight.
💤 5. Toe Wiggle Trick
- Lie flat and slowly tense and release your toes.
- Work your way up—feet, calves, thighs, all the way to your face.
- This progressive relaxation sneaks up on your nervous system and signals bedtime.
💤 6. Cognitive Shuffle
- Think of random, unrelated words: apple, train, sweater, bubble.
- The randomness interrupts overthinking but keeps you just awake enough until—poof—you drift off.
I've done the "don't think" one….
I have no idea why those first two lines are goofy…. oh MFP….if only
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@itladyee Beyond the “No screens an hour before bed” usual suggestions, I have heard that jotting down/typing, off-loading the ruminations onto paper can help. I think there is some truth to this as I recall one night in particular coming up with an idea (as you do when you’re settling down for sleep… lol) and my brain going on a rampage with it. Hours later, realising I was still on a rampage fleshing out a project, and not actually asleep, I decided to get out of bed and write the key notes down, which did seem to help.
I’ve seen some people mention magnesium glycinate helping them. I don’t have any personal experience with this, but I did learn that it can interact with other things such as medications so may be something to be carefully considered and discussed with a doctor.
Exercise is said to help. I'm not sure that I've noticed a difference, personally.
Either way, this pretty much sums me up.
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@itladyee I’m going to try 1 & 3. They sound like things I could accomplish without getting annoyed with myself.
A-0
AF-24 -
AF days 1 and 2 of September are done. No chocolate candy eaten today but I am fighting the urge for it.
@SparkSpringtime69 I hear you on the gradual increasing of drinks.
@NonnieDoiron good plan to drink something you don't normally drink.
Sleep topic: I never eat 2-3 hours before bed. I take 20 percent of my day's calcium/magnesium an hour before bed. I am on my phone reading mostly reddit or health and beauty stuff online (brightness setting on lowest), and I pass out in 5 minutes or less. I would love to read in bed for an hour but the screen knocks me out. I hear bringing technology to bed is very bad but it puts me to sleep.
I don't read anything stressful before bed for sure.
I also sleep amazing if I've had tons of physical activity that day and am worn out.
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Working on putting healthy habits before all else which means good nutrition and exercise everyday. Skipped the wine 3 days in a row now…..maybe will enjoy a nice red on Saturday night.
Sleep is something I love! I get an average of 9 hrs a night….I guess it’s due to staying physically active throughout the day and a strict bedtime regimen that starts 45 mins before lights out (no TV, or screens, good skin care routine, and read for pleasure for 20 minutes, etc. I do take magnesium glycinate religiously as a natural muscle relaxer. Also 1.5 to 2 mg of melatonin. Of course there are times of stress where I listen to sleep walk downs on YouTube or mindful sleep meditations - they also work well for me.6 -
August was a shitshow but yesterday was AF, today will be AF and the big happy news - the skittering neurotic dog-demon is going home today! Wooo!! Regaining inner peace for the win!!
I'm going to give my parents a few days to de-holiday then tell them they need to find boarding for him in November. Not doing this again!
September goal is to AF for any non-event day (no drinking at home or just for the sake of it) until the 19th, which is my birthday dinner, and then the day after I fly out to Singapore for 7 nights. There will be drinking then, but lots of sightseeing, and I will be avoiding hangovers, so not overindulging!
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Today was a workday. I like the idea of not eating 2 - 3 hours before bed, but on a work day, it's difficult. I do aim for at least 2, though. Husband sat down with a drink and there was temptation to do the same…but I already claimed AF and it's only day 2 of September. Don't cave!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~thru 9/2
AF = 2
A = 09
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