365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
Day 33 for me.
Used to drink 3,4 or 5 cans of 5% lager almost every night.
Decided to do dry January and didn't really miss the booze, was working yesterday and on the way home I drove straight past Tesco, didn't even occur to me to stop for some cans as it was now February.
Will I do 365 days? I don't know.
Used to drink 3,4 or 5 cans of 5% lager almost every night.
Decided to do dry January and didn't really miss the booze, was working yesterday and on the way home I drove straight past Tesco, didn't even occur to me to stop for some cans as it was now February.
Will I do 365 days? I don't know.
fredt said:
Decided to cut down drinking from the beginning of the year, it hasn't been working too well. So I am gonna join you fellas in here and just stop for a year.
Day 1
Cutting down never worked for me, once I had the taste that was it.Day 1
I understand the aim of this thread began for people to give up for a year. But I think it has become more than that now.
It is a place to come for support and encouragementt. Especially for people like me who hate the thought of seeking professional help.
Looking back at my life at the grand old age of 38 I realisedI had not really gone more than one day in a week sober in the last 20 years.
I have know idea how bad a problem you have but here come the clichés. Some may apply some may not. Some may apply that at this moment you think don't but really, they do.
You have to really want to stop.
Get away from relationships that are not helping matters, this includes wives and girlfriends.
Take every day as it comes. I take the view that if I want to drink, I will, but I have no interest in drinking for the hell of it.
I hope this post helps some one to persevere with quitting.
It will be 4 weeks for me next Tuesday so by know means am I as old a hand as many others in this room. But that 4 weeks, or a few days later the 1 month mark will mean as much to me as a year.
zetec said:
Day 33 for me.
Used to drink 3,4 or 5 cans of 5% lager almost every night.
Decided to do dry January and didn't really miss the booze, was working yesterday and on the way home I drove straight past Tesco, didn't even occur to me to stop for some cans as it was now February.
Will I do 365 days? I don't know.
I know what you mean. It's a nice feeling walking past the booze in Tesco without stopping. It took me by surprise the first time I walked by without even a thought to stop. Now it raises a warm proud smile every time.Used to drink 3,4 or 5 cans of 5% lager almost every night.
Decided to do dry January and didn't really miss the booze, was working yesterday and on the way home I drove straight past Tesco, didn't even occur to me to stop for some cans as it was now February.
Will I do 365 days? I don't know.
I did a dry Jan/Feb/Mar last year and also October. Planning the whole year, who knows what will happen. Couple of Erdingers here and there, ok right now.
Biggest thing is the bills from restaurants. Takeaway was always £35 with beer, now £13! Pub Sunday lunch under £45-50 for the family, when we never used to see change from £70.
Keep it up.
Biggest thing is the bills from restaurants. Takeaway was always £35 with beer, now £13! Pub Sunday lunch under £45-50 for the family, when we never used to see change from £70.
Keep it up.
Day 404 for me. Somehow I have less money, still struggle with weight and suffer from random aches and pains. But, I still remember the hangovers, palpitations etc and that's enough to keep me off it. I am so pleased at some of the experiences related here, it's inspiring to hear some of the dramatic turnarounds people have had when they've put in the effort.
Went out Saturday night. First drink I've had since New Year's, Halloween before that.
Still feel crap today, almost 48 hours later. No appetite, groggy, dizzy, tired, dehydrated even after drinking literally gallons of water.
I think I'm just going to knock it on the head altogether. I used to not mind the hangovers as the night out was that enjoyable, but I don't even take any pleasure from it now. Been completely miserable since yesterday morning.
I haven't smoked in 48 hours either. I've quit before and ended up back on them when drinking. I might take the opportunity to give that another go too.
Still feel crap today, almost 48 hours later. No appetite, groggy, dizzy, tired, dehydrated even after drinking literally gallons of water.
I think I'm just going to knock it on the head altogether. I used to not mind the hangovers as the night out was that enjoyable, but I don't even take any pleasure from it now. Been completely miserable since yesterday morning.
I haven't smoked in 48 hours either. I've quit before and ended up back on them when drinking. I might take the opportunity to give that another go too.
Mashedpotatoes said:
Cutting down never worked for me, once I had the taste that was it.
I understand the aim of this thread began for people to give up for a year. But I think it has become more than that now.
It is a place to come for support and encouragementt. Especially for people like me who hate the thought of seeking professional help.
Looking back at my life at the grand old age of 38 I realisedI had not really gone more than one day in a week sober in the last 20 years.
I have know idea how bad a problem you have but here come the clichés. Some may apply some may not. Some may apply that at this moment you think don't but really, they do.
You have to really want to stop.
Get away from relationships that are not helping matters, this includes wives and girlfriends.
Take every day as it comes. I take the view that if I want to drink, I will, but I have no interest in drinking for the hell of it.
I hope this post helps some one to persevere with quitting.
It will be 4 weeks for me next Tuesday so by know means am I as old a hand as many others in this room. But that 4 weeks, or a few days later the 1 month mark will mean as much to me as a year.
Yeah pretty similar for me, 4-5 days of drink per week in the last 20 years, and I'm also 38. Now I wouldn't get drunk every night, but in the last couple of years (specially last year) I seemed to drink more and more.I understand the aim of this thread began for people to give up for a year. But I think it has become more than that now.
It is a place to come for support and encouragementt. Especially for people like me who hate the thought of seeking professional help.
Looking back at my life at the grand old age of 38 I realisedI had not really gone more than one day in a week sober in the last 20 years.
I have know idea how bad a problem you have but here come the clichés. Some may apply some may not. Some may apply that at this moment you think don't but really, they do.
You have to really want to stop.
Get away from relationships that are not helping matters, this includes wives and girlfriends.
Take every day as it comes. I take the view that if I want to drink, I will, but I have no interest in drinking for the hell of it.
I hope this post helps some one to persevere with quitting.
It will be 4 weeks for me next Tuesday so by know means am I as old a hand as many others in this room. But that 4 weeks, or a few days later the 1 month mark will mean as much to me as a year.
Cutting down went fairly well in that I stopped drinking day to day completely, but the couple of occasions in January when I did drink I just went too far.
I'm tired of waking up hungover several days per week, or being tired at the weekend because I was out until 4am on a Thursday night. I have a young family to look after, and I am a bit ashamed it has taken me this long to realize I have been wasting a lot of time being drunk, tired or hungover.
Mashedpotatoes said:
1 month today woo hoo.
IME it just gets better and better from there on. I wish I had kept a diary of changes as I became aware of them. Some simple stuff like falling asleep more easily were early ones, but also odd things like realising I could remember my dreams when I wake up was the last one I remember.yesterday was probably the hardest day since stopping. I was fed up with work, the ex playing silly buggers, the weather life in general.
If it wasn't for the fact that today was a big milestone I think I would have caved last night.
Friends came round for dinner and a board game (half of them drinking).
Ended up paying my application fee for the Amsterdam half marathon in October (Training starts Friday night and i haven't done any serious running in 9 years).
Woke up today with a more positive attitude. But it is a reminder that this is not plain sailing good days and bad and all that.
Positives so far Grumble are a more normal nights sleep ie 11-5 or 12-6, sense of smell is better (that or everyone i know has been eating more garlic than usual)
More focused at work, more decisive. I am much more feisty I don't stand for s
t like I started to do. I feel like I am getting my spirit back.
So plenty of reasons to keep going. But fk me people easy? sometimes, but definitely not all the time. I know just how easy it would be for me to slip straight back into my old habits at the push of a button.
If it wasn't for the fact that today was a big milestone I think I would have caved last night.
Friends came round for dinner and a board game (half of them drinking).
Ended up paying my application fee for the Amsterdam half marathon in October (Training starts Friday night and i haven't done any serious running in 9 years).
Woke up today with a more positive attitude. But it is a reminder that this is not plain sailing good days and bad and all that.
Positives so far Grumble are a more normal nights sleep ie 11-5 or 12-6, sense of smell is better (that or everyone i know has been eating more garlic than usual)
More focused at work, more decisive. I am much more feisty I don't stand for s
t like I started to do. I feel like I am getting my spirit back.So plenty of reasons to keep going. But f
k me people easy? sometimes, but definitely not all the time. I know just how easy it would be for me to slip straight back into my old habits at the push of a button. 
Good luck with the half marathon!
I ran 20km last Sunday. Just because I can these days. I wish I'd thought to run the extra 1.09km, I would have slaughtered my current Garmin record (a rather pedestrian 2:30). Oh well, next week.
Sense of smell better? Yes. Hearing is better too, I think due to decades worth of claggy earwax slowly loosening and being released. As I said, you notice some odd changes.
I ran 20km last Sunday. Just because I can these days. I wish I'd thought to run the extra 1.09km, I would have slaughtered my current Garmin record (a rather pedestrian 2:30). Oh well, next week.
Sense of smell better? Yes. Hearing is better too, I think due to decades worth of claggy earwax slowly loosening and being released. As I said, you notice some odd changes.
grumbledoak said:
Good luck with the half marathon!
I ran 20km last Sunday. Just because I can these days. I wish I'd thought to run the extra 1.09km, I would have slaughtered my current Garmin record (a rather pedestrian 2:30). Oh well, next week.
Sense of smell better? Yes. Hearing is better too, I think due to decades worth of claggy earwax slowly loosening and being released. As I said, you notice some odd changes.
thanks grumbleI ran 20km last Sunday. Just because I can these days. I wish I'd thought to run the extra 1.09km, I would have slaughtered my current Garmin record (a rather pedestrian 2:30). Oh well, next week.
Sense of smell better? Yes. Hearing is better too, I think due to decades worth of claggy earwax slowly loosening and being released. As I said, you notice some odd changes.
well done on your 2:30 (shame about the extra 1k)
I am hoping for under 3 hour mark maybe better if I give up the cigs
It'll probably be 6 months plus before it becomes easy. I found quiet evenings at home difficult, and had cravings for alcohol. I substituted soft drinks instead, but now other than a few snacks I'm ok. The not drinking has become normal although I don't socialise much which I would have found immensely difficult in the early days.
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