Anonymous
Post 03/24/2019 09:30     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
OP here with an update: It’s been 30 days without a drink. In the end, I decided it didn’t matter if I was technically an alcoholic. I wanted to cut down and found it difficult to do so. I questioned my will, which I’ve never done in other areas of my life. The real clincher was when I told my tween daughter I was thinking about cutting back and she said, “Sure, mom, you’ve said that before.”

The first week was rough but it got easier. After two weeks I noticed I was sleeping through the night for the first time in years. Generally, I have more energy now and I’m feeling good about my resolve to take better care of myself. I haven’t lost any weight yet, which is a bummer, but I feel confident that will come in time. I don’t talk about it much with others, because I don’t want people to feel like I’m judging them (and maybe I’m afraid of jinxing myself). But so far so good.

Thanks everyone.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2019 16:02     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
I quit drinking 5 months ago. I also read the naked mind (I don't work for annie grace) and I listen to the bubble hour and edit podcasts. if you're wondering/worried about your drinking, then it's a probably an issue.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2019 15:50     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm similar to some of you - I noticed my wine intake gradually creeping up over the last few years. It wasn't causing me to do anything bad (like drive impaired or make risky sexual decisions or arrive late to work) but it was making me feel less than 100% the next morning and it made me worry a bit about the long term effects on my health.

So I mostly cut out drinking during the week, without too much difficulty. If I get a dinner invite on a Wednesday or whatever, I can still have a glass of wine. I'm just not sitting on the couch watching hallmark channel movies getting unintentionally buzzed.

Next, I'd like to cut it back a bit on the weekends too. My weekends are pretty jam-packed and it would be nice not to feel hungover while working out or doing errands.

One question for the group - when you cut back the booze, does anyone else find themselves filling the gap with food? I think it's related to the sugar in the booze - I think my body is addicted to that. It sucks because I end up eating more calories of crap than I would have had from the booze. So "weight loss" never seems to accompany my cutting back, like it supposedly does for other people.


For me, it's kind of the opposite. I tend to snack while I'm drinking the wine. Once I made the switch to tea, I wasn't snacking as much.


A few years ago I gave up wine for Lent. Thought it would help me lose weight. But unfortunately I replaced the wine with Oreos and weight gain quickly followed....

This time, I gave up wine combined with keto and intermittent fasting. Rapid weight loss ensued.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2019 06:54     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’ve tried cutting back during the week but it always creeps back into my nightly ritual, particularly when DH and I are home together on the couch. He is not inclined to quit, and because I love wine too, it feels like I’m missing out when I abstain. But I’m concerned about my lack of resolve, especially given my family history, so I ordered This Naked Mind. I feel an epiphany is in order more than AA. I need to find a new nightly ritual for dealing with stress. Maybe a pretty teapot. Anyway, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks!


OP - I started a thread on biking. Some people think I am mocking you. That was not my intent. Let me know if this bothers you and I will ask the mod to change the title, or even delete that thread. I wish you the best of luck.


OP here. I knew you weren’t mocking me. We all have our issues. I wish you luck as well.


Thank you.


Well this was a nice bit off humanity on DCUM.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2019 06:39     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:I'm similar to some of you - I noticed my wine intake gradually creeping up over the last few years. It wasn't causing me to do anything bad (like drive impaired or make risky sexual decisions or arrive late to work) but it was making me feel less than 100% the next morning and it made me worry a bit about the long term effects on my health.

So I mostly cut out drinking during the week, without too much difficulty. If I get a dinner invite on a Wednesday or whatever, I can still have a glass of wine. I'm just not sitting on the couch watching hallmark channel movies getting unintentionally buzzed.

Next, I'd like to cut it back a bit on the weekends too. My weekends are pretty jam-packed and it would be nice not to feel hungover while working out or doing errands.

One question for the group - when you cut back the booze, does anyone else find themselves filling the gap with food? I think it's related to the sugar in the booze - I think my body is addicted to that. It sucks because I end up eating more calories of crap than I would have had from the booze. So "weight loss" never seems to accompany my cutting back, like it supposedly does for other people.


For me, it's kind of the opposite. I tend to snack while I'm drinking the wine. Once I made the switch to tea, I wasn't snacking as much.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2019 13:42     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
12:24 - I already exercise first thing in the morning 7 days a week and 2 nights a week. Plus coaching several kids' sports. There's a ton of activity in my day, so I'm not sure I can or should add any more!

Whenever I have to fold a bunch of laundry, it keeps my hands busy enough to not eat or drink a ton. But that's only necessary once every week or two. Hmmmm....
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2019 09:50     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’ve tried cutting back during the week but it always creeps back into my nightly ritual, particularly when DH and I are home together on the couch. He is not inclined to quit, and because I love wine too, it feels like I’m missing out when I abstain. But I’m concerned about my lack of resolve, especially given my family history, so I ordered This Naked Mind. I feel an epiphany is in order more than AA. I need to find a new nightly ritual for dealing with stress. Maybe a pretty teapot. Anyway, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks!


OP - I started a thread on biking. Some people think I am mocking you. That was not my intent. Let me know if this bothers you and I will ask the mod to change the title, or even delete that thread. I wish you the best of luck.


OP here. I knew you weren’t mocking me. We all have our issues. I wish you luck as well.


Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 17:23     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’ve tried cutting back during the week but it always creeps back into my nightly ritual, particularly when DH and I are home together on the couch. He is not inclined to quit, and because I love wine too, it feels like I’m missing out when I abstain. But I’m concerned about my lack of resolve, especially given my family history, so I ordered This Naked Mind. I feel an epiphany is in order more than AA. I need to find a new nightly ritual for dealing with stress. Maybe a pretty teapot. Anyway, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks!


OP - I started a thread on biking. Some people think I am mocking you. That was not my intent. Let me know if this bothers you and I will ask the mod to change the title, or even delete that thread. I wish you the best of luck.


OP here. I knew you weren’t mocking me. We all have our issues. I wish you luck as well.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 17:12     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’ve tried cutting back during the week but it always creeps back into my nightly ritual, particularly when DH and I are home together on the couch. He is not inclined to quit, and because I love wine too, it feels like I’m missing out when I abstain. But I’m concerned about my lack of resolve, especially given my family history, so I ordered This Naked Mind. I feel an epiphany is in order more than AA. I need to find a new nightly ritual for dealing with stress. Maybe a pretty teapot. Anyway, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks!


OP - I started a thread on biking. Some people think I am mocking you. That was not my intent. Let me know if this bothers you and I will ask the mod to change the title, or even delete that thread. I wish you the best of luck.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 15:00     Subject: Re:Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Red wine drinkers - try a ginger or cayenne based kombucha or a spicy hot tea -- has the same "bite" as red wine.

All- drinking tea doesn't really help with the not getting up at 1am - it's a diuretic, so you will have the same issue (if not worse).
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 14:59     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:For all those wine drinkers out there, don't you wake up at 1 or 2:00 in the morning when you drink wine?

That's the main reason I just can't get on the wine bandwagon. It seems like all the moms are on it... are you all up all night?


craft beer drinker (mostly) here. When I drink on a weeknight, I try to avoid having anything after 8PM or so. That makes sleeping alot easier. Occasionally I will wake early in the AM, but not usually, esp if it was only one beer.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 14:51     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For all those wine drinkers out there, don't you wake up at 1 or 2:00 in the morning when you drink wine?

That's the main reason I just can't get on the wine bandwagon. It seems like all the moms are on it... are you all up all night?


Yes ... I hadn’t made the link until reading about it. Just thought my bladder was getting old and insomnia runs in my family soooo.... and then I stopped drinking for a week and realized how much better I slept I am on the 1/1.5 glass of white wine mommy bandwagon, 38 yo and I guess I can’t handleit andneed to quit. Pretty addicted though


NP here. I'm also a nightly drinker who really enjoys my downtime with a beverage. I am able to abstain when I need to, but I don't normally choose to. I've started to enjoy my drink (or two...) while making dinner. That way, I finish up well before bedtime. I then try and make sure I drink a full glass of water prior to going to bed. It helps with the above problem.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 14:46     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’ve tried cutting back during the week but it always creeps back into my nightly ritual, particularly when DH and I are home together on the couch. He is not inclined to quit, and because I love wine too, it feels like I’m missing out when I abstain. But I’m concerned about my lack of resolve, especially given my family history, so I ordered This Naked Mind. I feel an epiphany is in order more than AA. I need to find a new nightly ritual for dealing with stress. Maybe a pretty teapot. Anyway, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks!


I'm planning to replace the couch/wine/tv habit with a little music, nice candle, and adult coloring book.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 14:41     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
Anonymous wrote:For all those wine drinkers out there, don't you wake up at 1 or 2:00 in the morning when you drink wine?

That's the main reason I just can't get on the wine bandwagon. It seems like all the moms are on it... are you all up all night?


Yes ... I hadn’t made the link until reading about it. Just thought my bladder was getting old and insomnia runs in my family soooo.... and then I stopped drinking for a week and realized how much better I slept I am on the 1/1.5 glass of white wine mommy bandwagon, 38 yo and I guess I can’t handleit andneed to quit. Pretty addicted though
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2019 13:12     Subject: Am I an alcoholic or do I just love to drink?
For all those wine drinkers out there, don't you wake up at 1 or 2:00 in the morning when you drink wine?

That's the main reason I just can't get on the wine bandwagon. It seems like all the moms are on it... are you all up all night?