365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
JQ said:
The biggest issue and it really was a big issue, was other people's reaction to me not drinking. Lots of people struggled to understand it and I was constantly grilled about it, plus my work involves a fair bit of corporate entertainment.
I worked in a group that believed manhood was based on the amount of alcohol you could throw down your throat. One christmas I started vomiting blood and was diagnosed with a defective stomach lining. Giving up was the only option.I told the truth and got the same aggro as you and the occasional spiked drink.
Now I just say I can't. I look sad and occasionally shake my head, slowly though, if I feel it needs reinforcement.
I was told that people thought I was a recovering alcoholic, which, it seems, is OK in the world of macho.
It is very irritating.
I've used the excuse of drugs which are incompatible with alcohol, that I've promised my wife, that I am a born again methodist. None of that lot worked. Just say no thanks.
Oddly, if I get an invite to a party with the implicit request to 'drive some back to their homes' sort of thing, no one mentions it.
If they really irritate you, video record their antics when they feel they are being really cool. Then show them at the most opportune time, or mention it to your boss when after promotion.
So three months in, pretty much. Still off the booze but now thinking about Tenerife, solo trip cycling up and down hills all day which means a cold Guinness always tastes great. I had planned for that week to be the end of abstinence but I'm really not sure now? I'm 1 kg away from my target and have shed a stone since January, which is huge. I love being this weight but it's always been an excuse to get back on the beer after all the hard work 
Keep going guys and girls.
Keep going guys and girls.
yonex said:
So three months in, pretty much. Still off the booze but now thinking about Tenerife, solo trip cycling up and down hills all day which means a cold Guinness always tastes great. I had planned for that week to be the end of abstinence but I'm really not sure now? I'm 1 kg away from my target and have shed a stone since January, which is huge. I love being this weight but it's always been an excuse to get back on the beer after all the hard work
Keep going guys and girls.
What's your plan? 365days? Most people think I am mad and it's pointless but it's a personal decision. 7 months in for me, it gets easier and easier.Keep going guys and girls.
johnwilliams77 said:
What's your plan? 365days? Most people think I am mad and it's pointless but it's a personal decision. 7 months in for me, it gets easier and easier.
I don't know really. For the last four years I've done three months, this time I feel less excited about the end of the time period, not overly bothered as against planning a piss up I'd never say 365 but who knows? King Herald said:
oldbanger said:
So, I lasted 102 weeks, but started again just before Christmas. I just can't tolerate alcohol and am still not very good at moderation once I have the first one.
Same with me, when I am sober I can stay sober easily, but one is too many, twenty is not enough. JQ said:
That's it, I had a drink on Saturday and I'm planning for that to be the last drink I ever have. I'll update this thread with my progress, as I found that really helpful last time. I'm also considering seeing an NLP specialist, as I saw one to stop smoking and it worked for 13 years. Has anyone had any experience with one?
Cheers
Good luck, hope things are going well so fat.Cheers
I used Allen Carr which is NLP based last time I gave up.
Clinical hypnotherapy can also be useful, so I've heard
oldbanger said:
There is a point roughly around the second drink where it is imperative that I consume all the alcohol available, yes.
Which is why I have to stick to zero drinks. Lots of people simply cannot understand the lack of ability to 'just have a few quiet beers'. I can do it sometimes, but on a regular and disturbing basis I have to go 'rogue' and empty all the bars. And in a town with a fair few 24 hour gogo bars, that can be quite a feat........Two weeks and two days, I feel fine, no urges to desperatly quaff a cold one, and I LOVE waking up with no hangover every morning and not having to worry about what may or may not have happened the night before.
And I still don't know how that red paint got on the front mudguard of my hot rod, as I was so drunk I don't remember an accident or fender bender, don't even remember driving home....
I hate it when that happens.King Herald said:
oldbanger said:
There is a point roughly around the second drink where it is imperative that I consume all the alcohol available, yes.
Which is why I have to stick to zero drinks. Lots of people simply cannot understand the lack of ability to 'just have a few quiet beers'. I can do it sometimes, but on a regular and disturbing basis I have to go 'rogue' and empty all the bars. And in a town with a fair few 24 hour gogo bars, that can be quite a feat........Two weeks and two days, I feel fine, no urges to desperatly quaff a cold one, and I LOVE waking up with no hangover every morning and not having to worry about what may or may not have happened the night before.
I'm lucky that the urge to keep drinking will usually pass, eventually.
I haven't drank for nearly 2 weeks, though I did buy a bottle of wine. I gave it away. I have had strong sugar cravings, which I have indulged instead. Will have to knock that on the head too. I usually avoid all sweetened food.
oldbanger said:
I take it you drove yourself home?
I'm lucky that the urge to keep drinking will usually pass, eventually.
I haven't drank for nearly 2 weeks, though I did buy a bottle of wine. I gave it away. I have had strong sugar cravings, which I have indulged instead. Will have to knock that on the head too. I usually avoid all sweetened food.
That's the problem, I was pub crawling in my hot rod.... Started out as a couple of beers at a bar, with dinner, then 'just one more' down the road, and then another, and then another bar............ I'm lucky that the urge to keep drinking will usually pass, eventually.
I haven't drank for nearly 2 weeks, though I did buy a bottle of wine. I gave it away. I have had strong sugar cravings, which I have indulged instead. Will have to knock that on the head too. I usually avoid all sweetened food.
Not big and definitely not clever..... considering the utter cocktards I share the roads with around these parts.
The only time I really feel like drinking now is when I'm bored in the evenings, other than that I'm happy not to suffer two-day hangovers and guilt trips.
King Herald said:
That's the problem, I was pub crawling in my hot rod.... Started out as a couple of beers at a bar, with dinner, then 'just one more' down the road, and then another, and then another bar............
Not big and definitely not clever..... considering the utter cocktards I share the roads with around these parts.
The only time I really feel like drinking now is when I'm bored in the evenings, other than that I'm happy not to suffer two-day hangovers and guilt trips.
Ack, the problem comes when it's hair and teeth rather than paint on your bumper. Not big and definitely not clever..... considering the utter cocktards I share the roads with around these parts.
The only time I really feel like drinking now is when I'm bored in the evenings, other than that I'm happy not to suffer two-day hangovers and guilt trips.
Update - It was 3 weeks ago today that I had my last drink. I did go and see a hypnotherapist in the first week and I do think that has helped, as I gave up smoking instantly through hypnotherapy 13 years ago.
I've had no real desire to have a drink and have been out numerous times to the pub. As expected the biggest issue has been social pressure - mates struggle to understand it, plus I do a fair bit of corporate entertainment and it does impact other's behaviour. I went to a nice restaurant for lunch on Friday, out of 5 of us I was the only one not drinking. I get the feeling that if I had been drinking it would have turned into a full afternoon session, but having somebody at the table sober tempered everyone else's drinking. They all had a few drinks then it was back to the office.
It's amazing how ingrained drinking is into our culture. It's bizarre that the person not regularly taking a drug is the one seen as the oddball.
I've had no real desire to have a drink and have been out numerous times to the pub. As expected the biggest issue has been social pressure - mates struggle to understand it, plus I do a fair bit of corporate entertainment and it does impact other's behaviour. I went to a nice restaurant for lunch on Friday, out of 5 of us I was the only one not drinking. I get the feeling that if I had been drinking it would have turned into a full afternoon session, but having somebody at the table sober tempered everyone else's drinking. They all had a few drinks then it was back to the office.
It's amazing how ingrained drinking is into our culture. It's bizarre that the person not regularly taking a drug is the one seen as the oddball.
JQ said:
Update - It was 3 weeks ago today that I had my last drink. I did go and see a hypnotherapist in the first week and I do think that has helped, as I gave up smoking instantly through hypnotherapy 13 years ago.
I've had no real desire to have a drink and have been out numerous times to the pub. As expected the biggest issue has been social pressure - mates struggle to understand it, plus I do a fair bit of corporate entertainment and it does impact other's behaviour. I went to a nice restaurant for lunch on Friday, out of 5 of us I was the only one not drinking. I get the feeling that if I had been drinking it would have turned into a full afternoon session, but having somebody at the table sober tempered everyone else's drinking. They all had a few drinks then it was back to the office.
It's amazing how ingrained drinking is into our culture. It's bizarre that the person not regularly taking a drug is the one seen as the oddball.
Id say part of the problem is let's say you go out for a nice meal - certain wines really compliment the meal, I've yet to have a soft drink of any kind which compliments a meal instead it's purely for washing down the grub. I've had no real desire to have a drink and have been out numerous times to the pub. As expected the biggest issue has been social pressure - mates struggle to understand it, plus I do a fair bit of corporate entertainment and it does impact other's behaviour. I went to a nice restaurant for lunch on Friday, out of 5 of us I was the only one not drinking. I get the feeling that if I had been drinking it would have turned into a full afternoon session, but having somebody at the table sober tempered everyone else's drinking. They all had a few drinks then it was back to the office.
It's amazing how ingrained drinking is into our culture. It's bizarre that the person not regularly taking a drug is the one seen as the oddball.
Going to the pub (which I don't do but years ago all the time) the sole reason of being there is to have a drink relax and chew the fat. You simply don't "nurse" a lemonade or the like
Take Fizz what comes close to it alcohol free? Nothing. Ditto beer and other spirits - maybe cocaine or weed are potential substitutes. The human species have been drinking and taking drugs from cavemen onwards why did it start? Through chance and it tasted good I guess. Why carry on - does it take you away from the mundane rigmarole of life do sports do the same ditto video games? Have we evolved in the hundreds of thousands of years to be accustomed to "needing"
Sleep wake rave repeat jumps to mind.
Apart from the current why does anyone drink? What are the reasons? Is it because in our country it's illegal below a certain age and that drives a want as your not permitted it? Would removing the age limit entirely have any change? Why are the Celts so different from the Anglo Saxons - Celts drink vastly more but always have done. Is that due to the Roman repression of simply our country is far north long cold nights need something to keep you warm and entertained?
Welshbeef said:
Id say part of the problem is let's say you go out for a nice meal - certain wines really compliment the meal, I've yet to have a soft drink of any kind which compliments a meal instead it's purely for washing down the grub.
Going to the pub (which I don't do but years ago all the time) the sole reason of being there is to have a drink relax and chew the fat. You simply don't "nurse" a lemonade or the like
Take Fizz what comes close to it alcohol free? Nothing. Ditto beer and other spirits - maybe cocaine or weed are potential substitutes. The human species have been drinking and taking drugs from cavemen onwards why did it start? Through chance and it tasted good I guess. Why carry on - does it take you away from the mundane rigmarole of life do sports do the same ditto video games? Have we evolved in the hundreds of thousands of years to be accustomed to "needing"
Sleep wake rave repeat jumps to mind.
Apart from the current why does anyone drink? What are the reasons? Is it because in our country it's illegal below a certain age and that drives a want as your not permitted it? Would removing the age limit entirely have any change? Why are the Celts so different from the Anglo Saxons - Celts drink vastly more but always have done. Is that due to the Roman repression of simply our country is far north long cold nights need something to keep you warm and entertained?
Fascinating. Truly fascinating. Going to the pub (which I don't do but years ago all the time) the sole reason of being there is to have a drink relax and chew the fat. You simply don't "nurse" a lemonade or the like
Take Fizz what comes close to it alcohol free? Nothing. Ditto beer and other spirits - maybe cocaine or weed are potential substitutes. The human species have been drinking and taking drugs from cavemen onwards why did it start? Through chance and it tasted good I guess. Why carry on - does it take you away from the mundane rigmarole of life do sports do the same ditto video games? Have we evolved in the hundreds of thousands of years to be accustomed to "needing"
Sleep wake rave repeat jumps to mind.
Apart from the current why does anyone drink? What are the reasons? Is it because in our country it's illegal below a certain age and that drives a want as your not permitted it? Would removing the age limit entirely have any change? Why are the Celts so different from the Anglo Saxons - Celts drink vastly more but always have done. Is that due to the Roman repression of simply our country is far north long cold nights need something to keep you warm and entertained?
One week until Tenerife, still on the wagon. I'm not sure if I'll bother drinking out there either. Went out to a curry house the other week, the food was s
t, it's always been awesome half pissed! I'm feeling a strange sense of impending guilt, even had a dream about having a beer and woke up mortified. All very odd.
t, it's always been awesome half pissed! I'm feeling a strange sense of impending guilt, even had a dream about having a beer and woke up mortified. All very odd. yonex said:
One week until Tenerife, still on the wagon. I'm not sure if I'll bother drinking out there either. Went out to a curry house the other week, the food was st, it's always been awesome half pissed! I'm feeling a strange sense of impending guilt, even had a dream about having a beer and woke up mortified. All very odd.
I find that good food is more appreciated now if the better eateries are selected, and I remember them as well...... and bad food, well, stands out a mile.t, it's always been awesome half pissed! I'm feeling a strange sense of impending guilt, even had a dream about having a beer and woke up mortified. All very odd. Lgfst said:
I wanted to take a month off drinking so I could go to car and motorbike shows. That was when I was 23. My mates thought I was mad and how could I enjoy going out etc etc...
I'm now 32 and haven't touched alcohol. And I don't miss it at all.
Why didn't you recommence after the shows had ended? Seems unusual to utterly stop entirely for near on a decade. I'm now 32 and haven't touched alcohol. And I don't miss it at all.
A beer with you'd old man on a nice sunny afternoon chewing the fat having a family BBQ.
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