365 days without booze... join me?

[jmorgan]

Just have to nail it and say stop. Part of what I looked at was the recycling day. Now I look around the street in the morning when the recycling wagon is around and I have one box out, the one for bottles is keeping a selection of comics I do not want to chuck.

[944fan]

TwistingMyMelon said:

JQ said:

How's everyone getting on?

Four and a half months for me now, which beats my attempt last year. Have just turned 40, without the need or desire for a drink and completed my first triathlon last weekend. I feel so much better for not drinking, but I do still get the odd pang of desire - I'll be really pleased if I can make it to the end of the year.

Same here, been four months now, 32 though.

Still get the odd pang, but loads more energy, exercise, specifically cycling ability has really increased.

Sleeping, digestion and energy levels are so much better

4.5 months here too. One thing I have noticed is how much more quickly I can recover from exercise. Did a sprint tri last Sunday, felt fine Monday and Tuesday morning was back in the pool training. Did one last year when I was drinking and it took me a week to recover.

I have hardly run at all this year. Yesterday did 4.5 miles this morning felt fresh with no aches and went for 36 mile bike ride.

I sometimes think I wish I could have a drink but it is more associations with drinking in certain circumstances rather than actually wanting one. I had to fix a whole row of fencing the other week and after I thought I really want a couple of beers but that's just what I would have usually done. Didn't actually want or need one.

[RRLover]

Would say that for the past 5 or 6 years i've been on it probably 5 out of 7 days a week. Decided last Sunday (11th) i was off it.
I'd done really well, was tempted to go grab a Peroni after a family day out on Saturday. Was home & then fell out with the missus, went a run in the car, dumped the car & ended up in the pub
Had a hangover yesterday which i dont normally get. So i'm off it again
Will keep updating this thread to see how i get on.

[Mashedpotatoes]

A row with the misses always one of my favourite excuses to have a beer.

[Magog]

What are the opinions on Alcohol free beer,is it cheating?


Any recommendations? Had Bavaria and Becks blue, neither's awful but neither's brilliant.

[JFReturns]

Magog said:

What are the opinions on Alcohol free beer,is it cheating?


Any recommendations? Had Bavaria and Becks blue, neither's awful but neither's brilliant.

Becks Blue tastes alright, nothing wrong with drinking it with dinner IMO. But if you're drinking loads as a 'substitute' then maybe you need to break that habit. I find I can only drink two bottles in a row... After that it tastes a bit bland.

[Meeja]

JFReturns said:

Magog said:

What are the opinions on Alcohol free beer,is it cheating?


Any recommendations? Had Bavaria and Becks blue, neither's awful but neither's brilliant.

But if you're drinking loads as a 'substitute' then maybe you need to break that habit.

Agreed

There must be far better non-alcoholic drinks options than something that is pretending to be lager....

[XCP]

I gave up alcohol 4 years ago ( I was starting to like it too much). I would prefer a nice ginger beer and lime to any of the non alcoholic lager rubbish. ( I have probably tried them all!)

[LordGrover]

Magog said:

What are the opinions on Alcohol free beer,is it cheating?


Any recommendations? Had Bavaria and Becks blue, neither's awful but neither's brilliant.

This site popped up elsewhere: alcoholfree, but as others have said it may be better to break the 'taste' for alcohol stylee drinks and go for alternatives rather than substitutes?

[grumbledoak]

It's not so much the taste for beer but the habit - if substitutes allow you to continue to do all the things you used to do with a beer, you will carry on doing them with the substitute, and eventually do them with another beer.

[willisit]

Interesting thread!

I stopped for a week last October (the week before the BUPA Great South Run)... didn't restart. I wasn't a "drinker" to be honest. The odd glass of wine, or a beer here and there. I couldn't drink more than two pints in one go without feeling sick (and then paying for it) so I've never had a problem, or a perceived one.

However, my job is very stressful and I travel a lot. The more I do it, the more I feel like a "glass of wine with dinner" as the done thing. I don't know why - I wouldn't do it at home! So, it'll be 7 months tomorrow and I really do not feel a need or want to drink. Strange isn't it? I don't miss it but I am on holiday soon and the odd Pina Colada sounds tempting.

Well done to all those that have managed so far, and continue to do so - especially those that have to try!

[Magog]

grumbledoak said:

It's not so much the taste for beer but the habit - if substitutes allow you to continue to do all the things you used to do with a beer, you will carry on doing them with the substitute, and eventually do them with another beer.

I can see where you're coming from with this, but just to put it in context I'm three weeks into a two month stint of avoiding alcohol, and haven't had any real issues so far. Found the non alcoholic lager strangely agreeable for addressing the 'Ice Cold in Alex' type feeling on Saturday when it was pretty warm and the football was on. Simply wondered if there were better versions of the same product out there.

I appreciate that other people might be coming at this from a totally different position to me though.

[Garlick]

I'm almost 2.5 months in and can't see me stopping now.

I've been out to lots of socials without a problem and just had a weekend at a friends where nine other were on the drink a lot, good thing was everyone said that I was acting the most lairy...I don't need drink to have a giggle and get involved.

So, let's see how long we can do this for. To those worrying, an ice cold Cobra Zero is nice if you want to have a cold one on a hot day (that's what I'm taking to Le Mans this year)

Good luck everyone

[Meeja]

Garlick said:

I'm almost 2.5 months in and can't see me stopping now.

I've been out to lots of socials without a problem and just had a weekend at a friends where nine other were on the drink a lot, good thing was everyone said that I was acting the most lairy...I don't need drink to have a giggle and get involved.

So, let's see how long we can do this for. To those worrying, an ice cold Cobra Zero is nice if you want to have a cold one on a hot day (that's what I'm taking to Le Mans this year)

Good luck everyone

I have had quite a few occasions recently when I "really fancied a beer".

In all honesty, the only thing that stopped me was the length of time it has been since I have had a drink, and the thought of "It would be a shame to reset that counter to zero".

I haven't tried any non-alcoholic lagers etc since Billy Connolly was advertising Kaliber on the telly. (Urgh if I recall correctly!) I suspect these products have moved on somewhat since then!

[RRLover]

I fell away at the weekend. Good weather & the fact i was working in the garden all day made me feel as if i deserved a beer.
Got a case of Stella from tesco & demolished it over two days. To be fair i've been known in the past to have demolished two cases in one sitting.
I've went from drinking 5/6 out of 7 to basically nothing. I'll try my best to abstain again but if it doesnt work then i'll just make a point of in moderation.

[Garlick]

I'm almost at the three months, but I'm going to stay with it. Can't see me going back now

[Super Slo Mo]

I've tried to have the odd beer, as I'd got a few bottle of ale left over from Christmas. Most I've managed is half a pint, and that was a struggle. I've pretty much lost all interest or desire for alcohol.

All I drink these days is tea, black coffee or water. On very rare occasions I drink a bit of fruit juice.

[soad]

Longest I've managed to go without was just a few months really. Which was a number of years ago.
Haven't tried to give it up lately...

[RRLover]

It is hard. Its like splitting up with your best friend. Lager has been with me through the good & bad times & helped me through them all.
If i needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to sit & watch the footie, watch a film, help in the garden, consol me over something lost, helped me through a divorce ... the list is endless. Now i'm deserting it.
Am i the bad one ?

[skibum]

I think I am going to give this a crack again. I abstained for about 3 months last year whilst in the midst of a huge health kick (lost 50 lbs), but succumbed to peer pressure and picked it up again. Firstly in moderation but in the last 3-4 months I've been hitting it hard. "It's a sunny day" - reason to drink. "It's been a crap day" - reason to drink. "It's been a great day" - reason to drink, and so on. I've just got back from a trip to the US and Canada that consisted of catching up with a whole heap of friends, all on seperate days and rounded off with a wedding. 8 consecutive days on the pop and I am left feeling a wreck and the thought of another beer is not appealing. So here goes. Started on June 1st and let's see how this goes. First challenge will be getting through BBQ season and the World Cup, but I am sure I can do it.