*sigh* this is still taking a while, but moving forward (slowly!)

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks SH
I find weight loss boring, I don't enjoy exercising particularly although I do like walking.
I think my alcohol intake is linked to my calorie intake... I'm logging on MFP and find the nights I've drunk alcohol I definitely eat more (sometimes give up logging even), whereas alcohol free nights I easily stick to calories and don't snack 

EssexHebridean

Great stuff on Dry January - and yes, I'd agree if you find that just limiting drinking to weekends/social occasions proves difficult then probably time to take a different view of the whole thing. Allowing that you did the full month though, that has hopefully broken the habit part of the "winding down" thing.  

Not such god news on the backtracking over the car, although as you say, not wildly surprising. At least you have the suggestion of him being willing to think again in the future if needed I guess.  Annoying though when it would be a relatively "easy win"! 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks EH
So, I've found weekend only drinking fine in February. I don't usually track my sleep, but decided to last week to compare alcohol/alcohol free nights... it was interesting.  I'm a pretty good sleeper, one of those annoying people who go to bed and fall asleep immediately and don't wake up until an alarm goes.  Anyway, across the 7 nights I got 7-8 hours (cos I stay up too late), but the pattern on the alcohol nights was definitely more disruptive.  I googled ideal sleep patterns and my alchohol free nights matched perfectly.  I don't personally feel any different in the mornings.
Yes, he's definitely aware that the 2nd car will be the first thing to be axed if things get tight

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Weight wise, down 7lbs since the start of the year.... now 159 BMI 23.7.  Getting there, very slowly!  

savingholmes

Well done on the weight 

EssexHebridean

ohdearhowdidthathappen said:

Thanks EH
So, I've found weekend only drinking fine in February. I don't usually track my sleep, but decided to last week to compare alcohol/alcohol free nights... it was interesting.  I'm a pretty good sleeper, one of those annoying people who go to bed and fall asleep immediately and don't wake up until an alarm goes.  Anyway, across the 7 nights I got 7-8 hours (cos I stay up too late), but the pattern on the alcohol nights was definitely more disruptive.  I googled ideal sleep patterns and my alchohol free nights matched perfectly.  I don't personally feel any different in the mornings.
Yes, he's definitely aware that the 2nd car will be the first thing to be axed if things get tight

The whole sleep thing absolutely ASTONISHED me when I first spotted it. It's such an "instant" thing too - for others, we're not talking about being "drunk" here whatsoever - for me at least this is the effect of just a single, small drink - it doesn't really get any different if I then subsequently add in several more not-so-small ones!   It also doesn't seem that in my case at least what I'm drinking makes a difference either - any alcohol at all disrupts my sleep. (And yet often after a couple of drinks I feel like I've slept really well - just the stats in the morning tell me otherwise!) 

Drawingaline

Well done on the weight loss. I have also lost 7Ib, but have 3 stone to go, so a but more than you. However my approach is, more walking, trying to make more sensible choices and to always be a little lighter at the end of the month than the beginning. 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks SH, EH and DAL
I've been a bit off my game with calorie counting, it's half term and I find it trickier.  DH and I got one of those V Day meal deals today (money saving compared to eating out!)  and I'm out with friends tomorrow night too.
The friends I'm out with are from my old NHS job (the one before last), they've all subsequently left too (a couple handed their notice in around the same time as me).  Apparently our old dept is now 80% agency staff!  Dread to think about the staffing costs

lucielle

You still need to enjoy yourself, so have a great time. 

L

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks L

Have been pretty good with money this week:

- I went out Friday and Saturday night, but I drove both times....
1) I couldn't drink which saves lots of money 2) I didn't have to pay for taxis 3) I could recognise I wasn't hungry after my mains saving myself the £s and calories of having pud....  I reckon I saved £80-100 over the 2 nights.  It didn't affect my enjoyment of the evenings at all I still spent £45 across the two evenings, but that comes out of my personal spends

- our 2 cats were under a pet plan at the vet, but I worked out it was cheaper to pay for jabs, flea/worm seperately.  The plan was £40pm for the 2 of them and I worked out I could do it for £20, so have cancelled.  They're still insured though.

- I've bitten the bullet and cancelled the gym membership, saving £35 a month.  I can still 'pay as you go' if I want to take the kids swimming or go to a class, if I find I start using it enought to warrant the membership I can renew, but I don't think that'll be the case.
I have fitness apps on my phone.

- I've had a clearout and have gathered together some stuff to sell, I think it could fetch £300 going by recent sold prices.  There are about 8 items, so I need to get on and list them.