365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
Mashedpotatoes said:
3rd night off the sauce tonight, trust me that is more of a milestone for me than you may give me credit for.
day 3 was where I repeatedly crashed & burned. Occasionally made it day 4 and crashed. When you get the urge go and do something else immediately to take your mind off it. It's very hard. I'm 5 months in and still feel like a drink! That's the craving...the addiction, I suppose. It's not easy.Alcohol free beer isnt bad but once you've gone a year its easy, first two weeks toughest.
Driving, no taxi hassle
Reduced restaurant bills
Productive on Sunday mornings and Saturdays
More energetic
More productive at work/career progression
Less arguing
More money
Fitter
Healthier
Less likely to get serious illness when older
Less up and down mood wise
Less likely to get in trouble with the law
More free time to learn a language, do something new.
Different outlook on life.
You can always sip an ice cold alcohol free beer or something.
Driving, no taxi hassle
Reduced restaurant bills
Productive on Sunday mornings and Saturdays
More energetic
More productive at work/career progression
Less arguing
More money
Fitter
Healthier
Less likely to get serious illness when older
Less up and down mood wise
Less likely to get in trouble with the law
More free time to learn a language, do something new.
Different outlook on life.
You can always sip an ice cold alcohol free beer or something.
soad said:
Pipe down, you lot. I like drinking. I like getting drunk. I like the confidence alcohol gives me.
That the confidence that got you funny looks the day after..... 
If they could make an non alcoholic drink taste like a good red or a good port I would buy the company. Well, lots of their product anyhow. That is the worst of it now, missing that taste.
I think you lose the taste after a while, it is an acquired one after all.
I've tried a beer and a whisky fairly recently. Neither held my interest enough for me to manage to finish either.
I suspect part of the reason we like the 'taste' is simply due to the addictive effects of the alcohol. The taste coincides with the buzz, so we like it. That's my theory anyway.
I've tried a beer and a whisky fairly recently. Neither held my interest enough for me to manage to finish either.
I suspect part of the reason we like the 'taste' is simply due to the addictive effects of the alcohol. The taste coincides with the buzz, so we like it. That's my theory anyway.
soad said:
Pipe down, you lot. I like drinking. I like getting drunk. I like the confidence alcohol gives me.
That's as maybe, but why would you feel the need to join a thread discussing the merits of not drinking to decry it? After all, there are plenty of threads that aren't about not drinking.... 
That said, each to their own. People can drink as much or as little as they choose as far as I'm concerned. Having spent my twenties drinking socially pretty heavily, I have now viewed it as pretty much the same as any other recreational drug use (in other words there are probably more down sides than up sides).
I do think that a large part of it is the mental adjustment one makes in their life to drinking. I probably drink once a week at the moment and am seriously considering quitting: The big problem is that I travel overseas for work, and am often in work based networking situations with customers and so on where drinking is expected. Anyone have any tips on suitable ways to bypass this area (bearing in mind I can't avoid these situations).
I'm into my 6th month booze free now. I have been wavering recently though. That feeling when you get home after a long day and realise you're still on the clock for another few hours (dinner, kids and housework) would have been the cue to pour a glass of wine. Haven't found a substitute yet.
Tallow said:
That's as maybe, but why would you feel the need to join a thread discussing the merits of not drinking to decry it? After all, there are plenty of threads that aren't about not drinking....
That said, each to their own. People can drink as much or as little as they choose as far as I'm concerned. Having spent my twenties drinking socially pretty heavily, I have now viewed it as pretty much the same as any other recreational drug use (in other words there are probably more down sides than up sides).
I do think that a large part of it is the mental adjustment one makes in their life to drinking. I probably drink once a week at the moment and am seriously considering quitting: The big problem is that I travel overseas for work, and am often in work based networking situations with customers and so on where drinking is expected. Anyone have any tips on suitable ways to bypass this area (bearing in mind I can't avoid these situations).
Just say you don't drink. I do it often.That said, each to their own. People can drink as much or as little as they choose as far as I'm concerned. Having spent my twenties drinking socially pretty heavily, I have now viewed it as pretty much the same as any other recreational drug use (in other words there are probably more down sides than up sides).
I do think that a large part of it is the mental adjustment one makes in their life to drinking. I probably drink once a week at the moment and am seriously considering quitting: The big problem is that I travel overseas for work, and am often in work based networking situations with customers and so on where drinking is expected. Anyone have any tips on suitable ways to bypass this area (bearing in mind I can't avoid these situations).
Mashedpotatoes said:
3rd night off the sauce tonight, trust me that is more of a milestone for me than you may give me credit for.
How are you doing, MP? Have you have reached the "I feel okay, but why am I bothering" stage? Two weeks of that to go before you start to wake up feeling better, IME...Just been for a quick check up at the doctors, my BP is normal, my weight is slowly going down & my blood test results show nothing to worry about. History is that i battle with my weight but dont really eat rubbish, mostly fruit, veg & chicken. I've always had high blood pressure from my early 20's (now 35)
I would say the fact i've really cut back on the booze has helped all of the above. As said previously i have been since 20 yo a 5/6 out of 7 drinker, be it just a beer or a glass of wine but usually at least 3 or 4 per night.
I know it'll take a bit of time for me to stabilise & really notice a difference but my moderate approach to drinking seems to be working.
I would say the fact i've really cut back on the booze has helped all of the above. As said previously i have been since 20 yo a 5/6 out of 7 drinker, be it just a beer or a glass of wine but usually at least 3 or 4 per night.
I know it'll take a bit of time for me to stabilise & really notice a difference but my moderate approach to drinking seems to be working.
grumbledoak said:
Mashedpotatoes said:
3rd night off the sauce tonight, trust me that is more of a milestone for me than you may give me credit for.
How are you doing, MP? Have you have reached the "I feel okay, but why am I bothering" stage? Two weeks of that to go before you start to wake up feeling better, IME...Mashedpotatoes said:
Any tips?
After a few days it's only habit, but you'll have a lot of triggers. At least for a while you need to avoid the things you do with a drink in your hand, or the people you go out drinking with; whatever your triggers are. And you cannot just sit around and do nothing either - you'll drink out of boredom!Have to odd boiled sweet - you will be sugar addicted too, and it is easy to mistake the cravings.
Good luck. Once you start to sleep and feel better it gets much easier, but you've got to crest that ridge first.
Personally I think you need a reason to quit, or a strong desire to.
I do, without going into detail, and the abstinence is easier when the rewards are great. On the rare (very rare) occasions I am tempted I think of why I am doing it and that 'want' soon subsides.
It's like giving up cigarettes, you have to really want to do it to avoid being tempted back. Until you're ready you will always be tempted (IMO)
I do, without going into detail, and the abstinence is easier when the rewards are great. On the rare (very rare) occasions I am tempted I think of why I am doing it and that 'want' soon subsides.
It's like giving up cigarettes, you have to really want to do it to avoid being tempted back. Until you're ready you will always be tempted (IMO)
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