365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
Steve vRS said:
I'm having a month off. My nightly intake has crept up to 4 or 5 bottles of real ale and this is not something that is sustainable.
So, I'm having a month off to see if I can shift a couple of kgs and to see if there is a marked improvement in my time trial times (cycling).
Steve
When I 1st quit after about 6 weeks I took 40 seconds off my swim 400m TT with only minor training in between. Alcohol seems to sap endurance.So, I'm having a month off to see if I can shift a couple of kgs and to see if there is a marked improvement in my time trial times (cycling).
Steve
It's coming up to 9 months off for me!
I'm feeling really good for giving it up. I now run a few days a week (Plus Parkrun every Saturday morning!) and I have dropped a few KGs as well.
I only very occasionally get a craving for a beer now - usually following a particularly stressful day at work or seeing everyone drinking outside pub on nice sunny days.
I'm definitely holding out for 12 months as my target. Hopefully, I wont be going back.
I'm feeling really good for giving it up. I now run a few days a week (Plus Parkrun every Saturday morning!) and I have dropped a few KGs as well.
I only very occasionally get a craving for a beer now - usually following a particularly stressful day at work or seeing everyone drinking outside pub on nice sunny days.
I'm definitely holding out for 12 months as my target. Hopefully, I wont be going back.
944fan said:
The bit that really frightened me was when he was drinking all 21 units in one night he wore a sensor which measured his blood alcohol level. At one point he was so pissed he was knocking on the range of simply just dying because he was so pissed. .
I always remember a doctor telling me that alcohol was basically poisonous to us and when you think about it that way it can easily deter you. And when people who are ill say they recommend a 'Hot toddy' I remind them that their bodies are fighting a virus/infection and they are poisoning themselves/their immune system!Frimley111R said:
I always remember a doctor telling me that alcohol was basically poisonous to us and when you think about it that way it can easily deter you. And when people who are ill say they recommend a 'Hot toddy' I remind them that their bodies are fighting a virus/infection and they are poisoning themselves/their immune system!
This is also the key point of the Alan Carr book - he keeps ramming home the message that alcohol is a poison. Simple and effective
And it certainly does kill, even people who had been seemingly successful. Sad....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33025795
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33025795
Newcomer to the thread and currently on day 7 myself after been a daily drinker for last decade or so. Only used to be the odd beer after work but over the years it's crept up to a beer mid afternoon, couple of g&t's, half a bottle of wine with dinner and then maybe another couple of beers before bed pretty much every day. Ending up as functioning alcoholic just like my dad..
After a chat with the doc and count up of units, c120+ a week, and fed up feeling rough every day on Monday I started a course of Chlordiazepoxide, Camparal and Thiamine. I have to say they really have helped with the cravings and have even slept quite well with no waking up at 3-4am needing a wee and gasping for a glass of water.
First day I was on quite a strong dose of chlor and felt pretty drowsy but this has been tapered off during the week and been able to work and function ok since, even played tennis for the first time in 8 years on Friday night and wasn't too bad apart from my body still aches all over.
This weekend has been tough with the milder dose of drugs but gf but been great and lots of bottles of orangina and fever tree ginger beer with ice and fresh lime helps in the evening.
Not my finest hour asking for help but pleased to have stopped for a week and plan is to do 6 months initially and go from there. See my doc again tomorrow morning, support group Tuesday and then tennis Wednesday and Friday.
Hopefully I can emulate some of the good stories on this thread. Thanks.
After a chat with the doc and count up of units, c120+ a week, and fed up feeling rough every day on Monday I started a course of Chlordiazepoxide, Camparal and Thiamine. I have to say they really have helped with the cravings and have even slept quite well with no waking up at 3-4am needing a wee and gasping for a glass of water.
First day I was on quite a strong dose of chlor and felt pretty drowsy but this has been tapered off during the week and been able to work and function ok since, even played tennis for the first time in 8 years on Friday night and wasn't too bad apart from my body still aches all over.
This weekend has been tough with the milder dose of drugs but gf but been great and lots of bottles of orangina and fever tree ginger beer with ice and fresh lime helps in the evening.
Not my finest hour asking for help but pleased to have stopped for a week and plan is to do 6 months initially and go from there. See my doc again tomorrow morning, support group Tuesday and then tennis Wednesday and Friday.
Hopefully I can emulate some of the good stories on this thread. Thanks.
Nice work Jogon.
You might find that your body is craving the sugars that you usually get from booze, so you could try some jelly babies to keep that in check.
Nearly 10 months off the booze for me now.
On a recent business trip abroad we had to entertain in the evenings and everyone was on the beer of course. I opted for the alcohol-free beer - my first taste of "beer" since I gave up. I quite enjoyed it to be honest. So much so that I bought some bottles of alcohol free Becks when i got home and I had a couple last night before a curry. I fancy a bottle now just writing about it.
It got me thinking though - is it a bad move getting into the alcohol free beer? Is this the start of a slippery slope that will lead me to the real stuff by giving me the taste of it?
To the ex-drinkers, whats your thoughts?
You might find that your body is craving the sugars that you usually get from booze, so you could try some jelly babies to keep that in check.
Nearly 10 months off the booze for me now.
On a recent business trip abroad we had to entertain in the evenings and everyone was on the beer of course. I opted for the alcohol-free beer - my first taste of "beer" since I gave up. I quite enjoyed it to be honest. So much so that I bought some bottles of alcohol free Becks when i got home and I had a couple last night before a curry. I fancy a bottle now just writing about it.
It got me thinking though - is it a bad move getting into the alcohol free beer? Is this the start of a slippery slope that will lead me to the real stuff by giving me the taste of it?
To the ex-drinkers, whats your thoughts?
FreeLitres said:
Nice work Jogon.
You might find that your body is craving the sugars that you usually get from booze, so you could try some jelly babies to keep that in check.
Nearly 10 months off the booze for me now.
On a recent business trip abroad we had to entertain in the evenings and everyone was on the beer of course. I opted for the alcohol-free beer - my first taste of "beer" since I gave up. I quite enjoyed it to be honest. So much so that I bought some bottles of alcohol free Becks when i got home and I had a couple last night before a curry. I fancy a bottle now just writing about it.
It got me thinking though - is it a bad move getting into the alcohol free beer? Is this the start of a slippery slope that will lead me to the real stuff by giving me the taste of it?
To the ex-drinkers, whats your thoughts?
Yes, it's bad. You won't think it is and you will manage it for years but you're keeping the 'beer mentality'.You might find that your body is craving the sugars that you usually get from booze, so you could try some jelly babies to keep that in check.
Nearly 10 months off the booze for me now.
On a recent business trip abroad we had to entertain in the evenings and everyone was on the beer of course. I opted for the alcohol-free beer - my first taste of "beer" since I gave up. I quite enjoyed it to be honest. So much so that I bought some bottles of alcohol free Becks when i got home and I had a couple last night before a curry. I fancy a bottle now just writing about it.
It got me thinking though - is it a bad move getting into the alcohol free beer? Is this the start of a slippery slope that will lead me to the real stuff by giving me the taste of it?
To the ex-drinkers, whats your thoughts?
As you've said you had some with work mates then you enjoyed it so much you had 2 last night then you 'fancy a bottle just thinking about it.'
Just avoid altogether.
Steve vRS said:
I'm having a month off. My nightly intake has crept up to 4 or 5 bottles of real ale and this is not something that is sustainable.
So, I'm having a month off to see if I can shift a couple of kgs and to see if there is a marked improvement in my time trial times (cycling).
Steve
My update.So, I'm having a month off to see if I can shift a couple of kgs and to see if there is a marked improvement in my time trial times (cycling).
Steve
Failure - miserable failure
I managed a week but a weekend away with the family lead to a 2 pints of bitter in the B&B in the evening. This then lead to a a few drinks on the sunday and then a steady intake for most of the remaining days in June. However, none last night and I intend on staying dry for the rest of the week, especially as I think I may do a bike race tomorrow night and am definitely doing a 150 mile ride on Saturday, including attempting to climb Hardknott Pass.
Steve
Thanks for the kind words. 
Survived the rest of weekend and meeting with doc this morning went well, really nice chap who actually seems to listen to you and then gives good advice without sounding too condescending, seems happy with how I'm progressing. I am now been weaned off the Chlordiazepoxide only on 3x5mg today, 2 tomo and only 1 on Wednesday but upping the Camparal so hopefully it all goes ok.
Feeling a lot clearer headed already and hardly sweating at all on the packed tube in the morning, used to pour down my face after a heavy session the night before and even had a few comments saying I'm looking healthier. Though not told anyone non family yet and got work drinks on Thursday which could prove tricky so thinking about pulling a sicky..
Survived the rest of weekend and meeting with doc this morning went well, really nice chap who actually seems to listen to you and then gives good advice without sounding too condescending, seems happy with how I'm progressing. I am now been weaned off the Chlordiazepoxide only on 3x5mg today, 2 tomo and only 1 on Wednesday but upping the Camparal so hopefully it all goes ok.
Feeling a lot clearer headed already and hardly sweating at all on the packed tube in the morning, used to pour down my face after a heavy session the night before and even had a few comments saying I'm looking healthier. Though not told anyone non family yet and got work drinks on Thursday which could prove tricky so thinking about pulling a sicky..
jogon said:
Not my finest hour asking for help...
Couldn't disagree more. Makes you far braver than most people, in any situation, never mind one that has a social stigma attached to it.I'm willing to bet your family are absolutely delighted.
As it's BBQ and Sunshine (ish) season, how are people getting on? Has anyone discovered a new and awesome drink. The ginger beer with lime sounds nice, though I remain a dedicated lime and soda man.
Gf is happy but the mother and sister like a drink too and think it wasn't that necessary..
Hey ho 8 weeks approaching and had them both down to stay this weekend gone and wasn't tempted at all despite there been booze around.
Feels good both mentally and physically not been a slave to it anymore.
As for drinks been trying all sorts of late - Scilian lemonade, dandelion and burdock and 7up have been in the fridge this week and I'm thinking of a new business venture importing this stuff in from Germany.
By far the best orange fizzy drink I've tried better than Orangina and San Pellegrino Orange.
Hey ho 8 weeks approaching and had them both down to stay this weekend gone and wasn't tempted at all despite there been booze around.
Feels good both mentally and physically not been a slave to it anymore.
As for drinks been trying all sorts of late - Scilian lemonade, dandelion and burdock and 7up have been in the fridge this week and I'm thinking of a new business venture importing this stuff in from Germany.
By far the best orange fizzy drink I've tried better than Orangina and San Pellegrino Orange.
Edited by jogon on Tuesday 4th August 13:06
FreeLitres said:
Just gone 11 months off booze for me now. I'm counting down to the big 365 days off!
I'ts been a while since the last updates, so how are we all getting on?
How much did you drink beforehand?I'ts been a while since the last updates, so how are we all getting on?
I watch the thread with interest....I haven't stopped, but dramatically reduced intake
You glad you did it?
Mike29 said:
FreeLitres said:
Just gone 11 months off booze for me now. I'm counting down to the big 365 days off!
I'ts been a while since the last updates, so how are we all getting on?
How much did you drink beforehand?I'ts been a while since the last updates, so how are we all getting on?
I watch the thread with interest....I haven't stopped, but dramatically reduced intake
You glad you did it?
I feel much better for giving up though. I feel cleaner and more alert and I sleep much better now. I've saved a fair amount of money from beer and takeaways, which has since been spent on stuff!
I feel quite proud of my achievement to be honest. Most people I talk to about it say they just couldn't give it up for that long.
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