Perseverance and little victories

[Jazzthecat]

Yes it can be done. Everyday starting with a determination has eventually paid off. One of me weight problems is drink both in its calaories and it’s effect on the munchies. But yesterday was the first alcohol free day since October 2015 and back then it was only because I was in hospital for four weeks. So little victories can give encouragement. Now to build on it save my calories and make my liver and bank balance happier.

[burntsun Maintainer Restart Feb 2024 6kg]

Well done Jazzthecat.

[cheritorrox]

I used to drink LOTS of beer every day - stopping and switching to iced water saved me about 1000 calories a day! I never said I'd stopped drinking - indeed my starting point was during the world cup and certain matches merited a derailment from the general principle!

You're changing lifestyle so allow yourself some slack occasionally - but you're right in saying habits need to change!

[Jazzthecat in reply to cheritorrox]

Thank you. I’m not one for giving alcohol up for ever I enjoy a drink especially with a late night jazz session and there are so many good recipes using alcohol (ignoring the debate about how much alcohol is burnt off during cooking). Thanks for the advice

[cheritorrox in reply to Jazzthecat]

Do you watch or play? If the latter what instrument? I don't really get "modern" but discovered "trad" via a friend who took me to a couple of lunchtime session at the 100 Club (eons ago!). She also had a saxophonist mate who played at the local pub - Wally something - apparently he used to be really well known when younger and he was seriously impressive!

[Jazzthecat in reply to cheritorrox]

I like to play any instrument I can get my hands on. Not all successfully. I’m mainly the piano. I played a few unknown bands and played at church where the old ladies use to enjoy me “jazzing it up a bit”. I play now for my own amusement and like to occasionally sit back listen to some jazz and have a whisky or two. That is tonight. I really enjoy the Manchester Jazz Festival. I learnt the saxophone but recently could not get a note out of it. My dream would be to play the saxophone and the double bass. Not at the same time!

[cheritorrox in reply to Jazzthecat]

The last bit conjured up some interesting images ... nah it really isn't possible at the same time!

Do you like Stanley Clarke?

There's an annual jazz festival in Almuñecar (just up the road) which is very popular - we went a few years ago to sit outside the park and listen as all the tickets were sold!

[Jazzthecat in reply to cheritorrox]

Not heard Stanley Clarke but will check it out. When I and my wife properly retire I want to take my motorhome to a few jazz festivals (not told my wife yet). I’ll put Almunecar on the list

[cheritorrox in reply to Jazzthecat]

When the time comes google jazz festivals in Spain as there's quite a lot! (Local stuff too - retired professionals quite often play in Nerja)

[Nativeswede]

My personality is the excessive kind so when I realised that my eating problem got worse with alcohol I declared myself as an lcoholic and went to AA... that was 13 years ago, I have not had alcohol since, and I am still not sure about how much of a "real" alcoholic I was, but the third tradition says that the only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking, whether you see yourself as an "overdrinker" or not does not matter. Before joining AA I made a lot of efforts to drink less - as I remember I had about two or three bottles of wine a week – and I could be "white" for a while but I could see it was going in the wrong direction and choose to stop before I had any other consequences than my own anxiety. It was hard at the beginning because my lifestyle had to change completely, but I am very grateful that I changed, it is a lot easier to have an absolute "no" instead of an ongoing inner debate whether I should or not.

[Jazzthecat in reply to Nativeswede]

Thank you

[cheritorrox in reply to Nativeswede]

Well done you

I need to get into same frame of mind about smoking, which I know from past experience is definitely a zero tolerance once given up. I lack the willpower on this one - need to wake up with an epiphany moment. Once I do stop I'm going to join the no smoking forum on HU for extra support plus I'll need to start recording food again to control the inevitable munchies!

[Jazzthecat in reply to cheritorrox]

When I figured out I was smoking £70 a week (Dunhill International ) that was an incentive. I found the nicotine gum which I had on prescription useful. I used that for about a month. The bugger is you are so tempted to munch instead of smoke. Good luck. Let me know how it goes

[cheritorrox in reply to Jazzthecat]

I bought a vape to try but flooded it so haven't pursued the idea since... probably need to go cold turkey (like last time when I managed 46 weeks then thought an odd one wouldn't hurt....)

[ftprntz]

Well done JazztheCat. Keep going one day at a time and you’ll get there

[Jazzthecat in reply to ftprntz]

Thank you.

[Tallulah321]

First night of not having a drink for a long time for me too, fingers crossed and an early night hopefully 🍀

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Tallulah321]

You're replying on an old post, Tallulah. You may be interested in this one that is running this month healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Tallulah321 in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you for your help, hoping I will get the hang of things soon

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Tallulah321]

You will, and it's great to see you exploring

Click on the blue link I've given above and it will take you to a relevant post.