kittybenn Member

Thanks, all, for the cruise drinks suggestions. Yes, the sugar, OMG, and excellent point. That's a killer. I still struggle with craving sweets since having an AF January and moderating after that. I'm seriously considering one of those Mark Hyman 10-day detoxes, in which you get to eat nothing fun, and absolutely no sugar…

I'm with @WinoGelato all the way. I didn't even have to bother writing out my goals. She did it for me. I drank one day last weekend and the two glasses of wine left me with a headache and feeling pretty subpar the next day. I am pretty content with my shift to "occasion" drinking, though, instead of drinking Fri-Sun…

I'm so sorry for both of you. My mom died in her early 50s, before her parents, and it was brutal for them. I cannot imagine being a parent and going through this. Thoughts and love with you both . . .

I'm 68. Two years ago, I decided to get serious and start logging here. I've lost 87 lbs and still have 30+ to go. I think it helps to decide you're going to never stick your head in the sand again. I've logged every day, even when I've been kind of goofing off and not losing weight, sometimes for months at a time.

Medium tops today! I was shocked. Had been XL, assumed I could maybe fit into an L now, but they were too big.

@donimfp - wow a mini Italian vacay with that gelato! Sounds yummy, and congrats on your new streak! @lporter229 - those mocktails look amazing - thank you. I love your idea about one with dinner. I'm working on using my gigantic wine glass for grapefruit juice and seltzer but I definitely need more ideas. @JulieAL1969 -…

The only thing I can add to the excellent advice you've received already is that if you can just get through the first 10-20 pounds you will find it super motivating, and I think it will give you the confidence you need to go all the way. Keep in mind that you don't need to reach your ultimate goal to start feeling great…

Oh, boy, so, so sorry reading all this news of family members passing away and lots of folks struggling. I think all of us are here because we've felt that sadness, anger and frustration. We're all here to support each other. Sending healing thoughts everyone's way.

@donimfp - OMG, that is hilarious about your mom thinking Bill W. is the biggest partier on the cruise. Just hilarious. But, yes, drinks are pushed big time on cruises, so gotta be tough for those who are trying to be AF.

@rachelcalsbeek - boy that is tough, and I totally get it. That bottle of merlot would be all I would think about, I'm afraid. We're going on vacation in three weeks and, like you, we need to watch expenses now, so that's kind of incentive for me to do two things: be AF til then and save money! Best of luck to you!

Wow, @JulieAL1969 - that tea sounds amazing. Always excited to get tea recommendations. I have a big jar filled with tea bags that I'm working through now. I need to stop buying more but I keep wanting to try new ones! Happy about my weekend, which was completely AF. Didn't miss it a bit or agonize over my decision not to…

@AnnPT77 - not a downer to me at all. I’m 68 and really appreciate and agree with what you said. You are one of my inspirations here!

@JulieAL1969 - Who doesn't love happy hours, right? I don't think I'm strong enough yet to resist the booze myself. I guess if I could go to one with a really set plan and then stick to it I'd be good, but not sure I can. Boy, does the idea of a cosmo sound fabulous. Have made it through Fri and Sat without any wine. Not…

@erikNJ - Wow, this business about capturing the "female drinker, the millenial drinker, the hispanic drinker etc etc etc.” is really pretty appalling. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. In so many ways, we let ourselves be led by marketing and a culture that's fixated on consumerism. They're not just selling us booze,…

@SanDiegofitmom - we continue to lead parallel lives. I was on the waiting list at the library for the Mark Hyman book and just picked it up yesterday. I've done his 10-day detox, and it was rough. It really helped with the sugar demons though, so I may give it another shot. He's no great fan of alcohol, but says the key…

@Polo265 - I SO agree with this planning idea. I try to visualize myself in the situation and plan exactly what I'll do and specifically which AF drink I'd ask for after I have my allotted one or two glasses of wine.

@WinoGelato - I love your posts. The drinking brain/abstinence brain thing is so real for me as well. I'm not white knuckling but really trying to observe where the urges to drink are coming from and what that's all about. I thought I would try not drinking Fri-Sun (my "scheduled to drink" days) and, guess what?, totally…

@sarahbrown1015 - love podcasts and really appreciate the recommendations. You might like Half Size Me.

@JulieAL1969 - thanks for sharing that reflection. So deep on so many levels. Really made me think. The situation with your husband has got to be tough. My husband is a beer drinker, and drinks every day - maybe two. He usually drinks in the early afternoon, esp when he's working outside in the yard, on our boat -…

A friend brought this to my attention today. Really good read. 'Binge drinking has become completely normalized': Has boozy mom culture gone too far? “Mommy’s wine has become a pop culture trend, a marketer’s dream and a hashtag,” said Dr. Crystal Tennille Clark, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at Northwestern’s…

@NovusDies - thanks so much for the great thoughts.

OMG, sorry but I am so glad I'm not alone, @JenT304 and @NormInv! A couple of friends wanted me to go out to happy hour with them last night, and I hesitated bc I knew I would be super tempted to drink, and prob too much. But then I thought that that was ridiculous and I can't avoid going out with friends, plus I don't…

My plan to moderate has been to have 1-2 glasses of wine (not the 22 oz. glasses, lol) Fri-Sun and none Mon-Thurs. This past weekend I had one Friday, two last night and -- ta da -- tonight I'm going to have grapefruit juice and sparkling water, inspired by the excellent suggestion from @lporter229. I finished a wine…

@lannakin - wow, what an amazing accomplishment! You have friends and supporters here for sure. WTG!

Oh, and @JenT304, when I said "you" really need to stop giving a *kitten* about what other people think, I for sure did not mean you, in particular. Sorry for any misunderstanding. What I mean was "one," as in "everybody," as in me, LOL!

@lporter229 - Wow, that grapefruit and seltzer sounds so delicious. And congrats to you on a perfect Friday night. I'm headed out shortly to buy some grapefruits! I love eating them anyway, so perfect. Great idea.

Such a great report, @JulieAL1969, and so glad you made it through the night with moderation. Old habits truly die hard. We all think alcohol's going to do SOMETHING for us, but, at least for me, it's pretty unclear what that something is anymore. I had my one, 6-oz glass of wine last night, and . . . nothing. Just…

@JenT304 - Yay, you! I love this: "I am choosing the awkwardness of saying no thanks to booze tonight over not having a hangover in the morning." You really do have to stop giving a *kitten* about what other people think of you and your choices. You are doing great and you inspire me! We're going out tonight so need to get…

More reading material: Did Drinking Give Me Breast Cancer? The science on the link is clear, but the alcohol industry has worked hard to downplay it.

@JulieAL1969 - Amazing strength. Such an inspiration. WTG!