Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

[ToMyHealth]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Good plan, Eve, and it's where I'm at also. As much as I felt I didn't want to designate certain AF days, I find I do. I want and need the structure. I came up with 4 day allowance also. I walk/run and bike for cardio, even count golf as cardio because I cannot believe how worn out it makes me (fairly new to the game and play 3X/week). I have been doing some weight lifting, floor exercises also but yesterday I decided to start a Slim Series workout routine. I'm starting out slowly by doing 1/2 a DVD per day and not as many reps so I'm not so sore for my other activities. To help in fitness improvement, plan is to be AF Sun, Mon & Wed. At least for now.

TMH (To My Health)

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Wanted to bump this thread so we remember to keep posting our goals and post here weekly on how the week went. I had a very successful week-end but wasn't as succcesful as I would liked to have been the last previous weeks. Had a "girl" party with a little wine on a work night and did not stick to my "two and I'm through" motto. I always pay the piper when I don't do that so I really need to make some changes so I stick to my goals. I've been lax with Drinktracker but I think it helps, just like journaling food helps people not eat as much. I also have to keep fun non-al drinks more accessible because then it's easier to switch to non-al then to have another one. How are you doing?
:l
Eve11

[mightymite]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hi all,
I didn't do so well this Sat. evening. I posted about it under Dec. mod group. I think my goals for this month from here on out will be no al until after the holidays. I think I need to get more AF days under my belt for now. If I choose to have a drink, I must, must, must remember the rules and goals I have set for myself. No drinking with anyone other than my hubby. I only have 2 with him. He is not a big drinker anymore and does not even think about it. I must remember the "ugly". I had an ugly Saturday night. I think I became complacent with my goals because I had been doing so well. I must not ever let that happen again. The key, I believe, is to never forget what it is like to overindulge and the feelings of regret that are left in its place.

[ToMyHealth]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Thanks, Eve, for resurrecting this! Stay with us please. I think it's great that you normally do not drink during the week. Eventually I hope to get there but I am still struggling with getting 3 AF days/week.
Babysteps: Going to go for 2 AF days/week for rest of Dec. and will record on DrinkTracker.

MM - Rest of this month you will be AF? Good for you!

TMH

[mightymite]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hey TMH,
I am going to try my best to be AF this month. I am just sick of myself at this moment after my disaster Saturday night. I have to be accountable to myself and family and I blew it.:no:

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

My 2012 goals:
No drinking at home alone - no more opening a bottle to have one glass as that has been too easy to have more than intended.

No more than 2 drinks for a casual evening out and no more than 3 for a long event (e.g. wedding, anniversary).

Will keep to 7-9 drinks a week, no more than 3-4 nights a week of drinking with exception of vacations where often times drinking is daily but in moderation. Just have to be honest and don't want to set myself up for failure. Usually only drink 2x weekly (Friday and Saturday) but want to allow myself extra nights for vacations and unforseen events (like company visiting, etc.). (Am on vacation this week so know I will have daily drinking until Wednesday).

Will try to keep current on drinktracker as journaling helps one be more accountable.

What are your goals?
:l
Eve11

[Gidget]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hi to all,
I've been away awhile but have always kept MWO on my toolbar so that I often glance up and think ' Oh, I should pop back on there sometime', which is what I have done today!

Its great to see Eve's name still kicking about, congratulations on sticking with MWO and with your goal to mod.

My drinking has improved over the last few years. Not to the point where I am entirely happy but I no longer have a sense of dread when I think about going out for a drink, That ' What is going to happen tonight?' feeling in the pit of my stomach.

My social circle has changed. The people I socialise with are for the most part much more responsible with a drink in their hand then I have ever been. This often holds me back from going too crazy.

I no longer have that desperate sadness when the night is winding up and people are leaving and heaven forbid, not drinking anymore! I now for the most part can feel a touch dissapointed ( it is still there ) but can walk away, go home, and not have another drink and party like a wild thing on my own with loud music booming!

In certain company, I can still go off the rails a bit, I am though easier to forgive myself now days. As opposed to the mental beating up I would give myself...such a cycle of hate it was! I value myself too much now days to sit about berating myself for a slip up.

I am on here today because I did drink more than I would have liked last night. When I look at it now my binge amount has lowered incredibly where as it used to be anywhere from 3-4 bottles of wine or almost a slab of beer during an evening out. Now last night I probably had 6 glasses of wine and a light beer...not brilliant but such an improvement. I dont feel horrid today and I honestly can say that I have not had a , I want to die, anxiety ridden, couch potato hangover for quite some time. I also know that one of those is easily around the corner so need to keep myself in check.
Slow and steady but hey, it's happening!!

My goals for the next while are:
To be much more conscious of my reasons for drinking at any given time.
Sip my drink slower, just because it is in front of me it doesn't need to be sculled down.
Have a plan before I go out and as much as my head tells me to ignore it after a few drinks , really try and push through that barrier and go get a cup of tea or go for some fresh air and a little pep talk outside.

Gosh, I have gone on, that's what an MWO hiatus does to you!

Thanks so much for reading,
I look forward to catching up on lots of inspiring posts and I hope you are all having a wonderful day.

Gidg xx

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Gidget,
Great to *see* you again. Since I started modding my social circle changed as well. Couldn't do the "girl's night out" stuff or happy hour after work as it was just too tempting to drink more than 2. I have a faulty shut off valve and I know it. So the only way I can maintain drinking is to associate with people who do not have drinking problems. And when in the company of some when it can't be helped (relatives, weddings, parties, etc.) I try to start off with non-al or drink it in between AL so I can get through the evening with no more than 3. We do all have different amounts of what we can tolerate. I think the main thing is to just focus on harm reduction. So, yes, 7 drinks in an evening is much better than 15-20! I think as one drinks less and less, that tolerance will change and you will find you are more satisfied with just a few. Good luck Gidg and keep joining us!
:l
Eve11

[Stewarts]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Getting it Down

Eve11;1286912 wrote: Gidget,
Great to *see* you again. Since I started modding my social circle changed as well. Couldn't do the "girl's night out" stuff or happy hour after work as it was just too tempting to drink more than 2. I have a faulty shut off valve and I know it. So the only way I can maintain drinking is to associate with people who do not have drinking problems. And when in the company of some when it can't be helped (relatives, weddings, parties, etc.) I try to start off with non-al or drink it in between AL so I can get through the evening with no more than 3. We do all have different amounts of what we can tolerate. I think the main thing is to just focus on harm reduction. So, yes, 7 drinks in an evening is much better than 15-20! I think as one drinks less and less, that tolerance will change and you will find you are more satisfied with just a few. Good luck Gidg and keep joining us!
:l
Eve11

When you get it down pact, it's a good feeling, isn't. I actually passed on my past company xmas party, because our office likes to become a shit show, and as I heard from everyone it was.

I noticed I can have 3-4 beers and I will be fine, and try to cut off anything after 10pm (this is during the week). I definitely do not drink everyday, unless I got some social thing going on every day, which does happen from time to time in a place like New York.

I was bad last night, but we all know about those nights.

The water or non AL drink in between is a good trick, I use that one as well. I am a member of a running club and they all love to drink. After our run, I always have one or two club sodas before ordering anything else.

I also have this theory, that we're used so used to having something in our hand as we socialize, that its just a force of habit, to well, always have something full in your hand. You ever go out and just drink water or soda? See how many you put down, you might surprise yourself.

Anyway, enought of my babbling...I'm actually going to Vegas later uh oh

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Successful party modding!

This board made me stronger last night as I was attending a company party and I did not want to get too tispy. Just coming here and reading other's stories about success and failures at these type of events helped me go in and be strong and I do appreciate all of the support here. So, trick was we got there late (had a good reason to be late) but if we had been on time my plan would have been to start with non al. Then sipped 2 glasses of wine slowly throughout the party. As Stewarts said, we do get used to have something in our hand. We have to remember that habit!! So, as the 2nd wine was finished and I was still there, I chose a bottled water for my "drink in hand" and am so pleased with how I feel today and how I acted last night. Thanks all as I contribute a lot of my success to the support here.

:l
Eve11

[drinkingal]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hi eve it sounds like the night was a great success. I'm so in awe that you could stop at two, at this stage of my modding that seems such a hard thing to do. Did you ever post where you started out at and how you started modding? I'd love to read your story if it's been posted somewhere.

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

DG,
I've been coming around here for so long that my initial stuff is gone, think they only keep to 500 posts? Anyway, hit on blog to the right of my name and see if you can pull up my blogs. Let me know if the blog thing works, if not I'll look at old threads and see if I can find a good one before re-inventing the wheel! Have a good day!!!
:l
Eve11

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

I wanted to bump this post so that newbies and lurkers can get a little help for creating a plan for moderating appropriately or if abstaining, maybe get some ideas of other things to occupy your mind other than drinking. Setting goals, journaling, keeping tracks of drinking or nondrinking days (drinktracker or journal), exercise and keeping busy with diversional activities are all things that help us with our mod/ab plans.

My goals this week are no more than 5 drinks for the week, well within the guidelines set up by the National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism.
I will work out at least 3 times this week
I will begin journaling progress in a book or utilize the drinktracker.

How about you?
:l
Eve11

[drinkingal]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hi eve and modders,

my goals for the rest of this week and next week is to have a cut off time when I stop drinking, no matter if I am at home or out.
I also want to get back to staying sober 5 days a week

[Eve11]

Ruby Tuesday weekly meeting

Hey gang,
Goals met for the week-end. 2 on Friday night and 2 tonight, so total of 4 for the week. Very good moderating. Proud of myself! Switched to a flavored water after the second drink tonight. Being AL has sugar, I wonder about the cravings one can get being sugar cravings?? Oh no...will have to start researching that one now!! :H

:lEve11