365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
GrumpyTwig said:
Adz The Rat said:
I was 2 years dry on the 28th December, yet I still get asked by family members if Im going to have a drink at a party or a meal out. Some of them just can't grasp that I dont want to drink.
10 years on and family still ask.Smitters said:
GrumpyTwig said:
Adz The Rat said:
I was 2 years dry on the 28th December, yet I still get asked by family members if Im going to have a drink at a party or a meal out. Some of them just can't grasp that I dont want to drink.
10 years on and family still ask.I don't know if any one remembers my posts on here circa 8 months. So here's a quick recap and up date.
I was drinking over two bottles of wine a night or the equivalent of.
Had to give up as it was ruining my marriage.
Turns out she ran off with another guy any way.
Carried on drinking the same amount until the 12th of December I flew to Goa for 4 weeks to save my self from a break down , with the crazy idea of using the break to cut the dependency on alcohol.
Ended up getting hammered at the airport and hammered on the plane (no fuss us alcoholics know how to keep it cool, am I right?)
Any way proceeded to drink a bottle of vodka a day for the 28 days I was out their. Two weeks into the trip I noticed a pain in my calf but thought nothing of it, then my leg swelled but nothing more.
When I got home my leg was in agony so friends family convinced me to go to hospital
You guessed it DVT now I have to take meds twice a day for the next 6 months. And stand the chance of dying at any moment.
So to sum up I'm now 6 days sober. And ironically I picked the medication you can drink on.
I was drinking over two bottles of wine a night or the equivalent of.
Had to give up as it was ruining my marriage.
Turns out she ran off with another guy any way.
Carried on drinking the same amount until the 12th of December I flew to Goa for 4 weeks to save my self from a break down , with the crazy idea of using the break to cut the dependency on alcohol.
Ended up getting hammered at the airport and hammered on the plane (no fuss us alcoholics know how to keep it cool, am I right?)
Any way proceeded to drink a bottle of vodka a day for the 28 days I was out their. Two weeks into the trip I noticed a pain in my calf but thought nothing of it, then my leg swelled but nothing more.
When I got home my leg was in agony so friends family convinced me to go to hospital
You guessed it DVT now I have to take meds twice a day for the next 6 months. And stand the chance of dying at any moment.
So to sum up I'm now 6 days sober. And ironically I picked the medication you can drink on.
Edited by Mashedpotatoes on Sunday 18th January 10:09
I was just trying to figure out whether I have been off booze for 4 month or 5 months. It made me realise I haven't had to think much about giving up drinking recently so it's not at the forefront of my mind. (It was for the first few weeks though!)
To be frank, the only time I'm reminded of booze is when I see this thread title on my PH contributions page!
To be frank, the only time I'm reminded of booze is when I see this thread title on my PH contributions page!
jonah35 said:
I don't know what you're saying? Have you started trying to not drink?
Get some will power and be the person you want to be!
Thought it was quite clearGet some will power and be the person you want to be!
Mashedpotatoes said:
So to sum up I'm now 6 days sober. And ironically I picked the medication you can drink on.
Edited by Mashedpotatoes on Sunday 18th January 10:09
I contributed to the first page of this post so it pops up in My Stuff. My Mrs decided to do a dry January so I said I’d join her for moral support. She lasted a fortnight but I’ve managed and will stay the course.
I can generally take or leave drink, it’s just when I do it’s a lot so hangovers last 2 or more days now which is what annoys me the most. I never drink through the week (unless away with work) but at weekend enjoying a couple of bottles of wine then if there’s a social gathering (birthday, catch up etc) it usually culminates in ending back at ours and drinking the cupboards dry!
Overcame another hurdle last week on the first business trip of the year, generally going out for meals entertaining people, feeling more inclined to drink when someone else is paying for it. Managed it fine.
I hope this month serves the purpose of revaluating my attitude towards alcohol.
Well done to all those who’ve stayed dry and good luck to those starting out.
I can generally take or leave drink, it’s just when I do it’s a lot so hangovers last 2 or more days now which is what annoys me the most. I never drink through the week (unless away with work) but at weekend enjoying a couple of bottles of wine then if there’s a social gathering (birthday, catch up etc) it usually culminates in ending back at ours and drinking the cupboards dry!
Overcame another hurdle last week on the first business trip of the year, generally going out for meals entertaining people, feeling more inclined to drink when someone else is paying for it. Managed it fine.
I hope this month serves the purpose of revaluating my attitude towards alcohol.
Well done to all those who’ve stayed dry and good luck to those starting out.
Thanks for all the positive reply's.
Managed to go to the pub on Sunday to catch up with friends i had not seen since going away. Had a huge pang of "just one pint wont hurt " but soon talked myself out of it. Now the problem of what to drink, I found fully leaded coffee worked perfect, no urges to drink in the pub what so ever and had a great laugh with out the booze.
really feeling confident this time.
Managed to go to the pub on Sunday to catch up with friends i had not seen since going away. Had a huge pang of "just one pint wont hurt " but soon talked myself out of it. Now the problem of what to drink, I found fully leaded coffee worked perfect, no urges to drink in the pub what so ever and had a great laugh with out the booze.
really feeling confident this time.
Mashedpotatoes said:
Thanks for all the positive reply's.
It sounds like you stopped drinking pretty suddenly. Actually, it sounds like you've been well and truly through the mangle in more ways than one. Oh well, "What doesn't kill us...", and all that. 
Trying to find the silver lining, you have every reason to stop and stay stopped this time. Best of luck.As I am sure I have said on this thread, any craving you do get is just as likely to be for the sugar your body is used to, so have some boiled sweets handy. Don't worry about the calories - you're down the alcohol calories so you can eat the sweets. Coffee is my only 'hit' these days, the stronger the better, though I stick to two good ones in the morning and then none in the afternoon. Otherwise I lie awake at night wondering why I haven't dropped off near-instantly as is my norm. I find the best use for all the new-found free time is exercise; you may want GP's advice before leaping on the treadmill.
Mashedpotatoes said:
Thanks for all the positive reply's.
Managed to go to the pub on Sunday to catch up with friends i had not seen since going away. Had a huge pang of "just one pint wont hurt " but soon talked myself out of it. Now the problem of what to drink, I found fully leaded coffee worked perfect, no urges to drink in the pub what so ever and had a great laugh with out the booze.
really feeling confident this time.
Sounds like you've had a pretty honest appraisal and are taking some positive steps. Pub drink-wise, I found lime and soda a good option - cheaper and much less calorie-filled than coke etc. which you can get pangs for as your body starts to miss the sugar from the booze.Managed to go to the pub on Sunday to catch up with friends i had not seen since going away. Had a huge pang of "just one pint wont hurt " but soon talked myself out of it. Now the problem of what to drink, I found fully leaded coffee worked perfect, no urges to drink in the pub what so ever and had a great laugh with out the booze.
really feeling confident this time.
Anyway, keep up the positive thoughts and crack on!
OK, i'm in! I did Sober October and although it was difficult from a social perspective i managed it.
Friends are no help at all lol.
I'm going to try and do the whole of Feb, wifes birthday on the 4th though so might have a pass for a glass of wine.
By no means a massive drinker, couple of cans a night or couple of glasses of wine.
Friends are no help at all lol.
I'm going to try and do the whole of Feb, wifes birthday on the 4th though so might have a pass for a glass of wine.
By no means a massive drinker, couple of cans a night or couple of glasses of wine.
Davie_GLA said:
Friends are no help at all lol.
I've got to say that is by far the biggest issue for me. I've had 2 stints of 5 months and 4 months off the booze, and am currently dry for January, and I've found the biggest pressure comes from friends - some are ok, but I suspect for others it highlights their own drinking levels which makes them uncomfortable. They really struggle to comprehend that I can go to the pub and have a really good night out without booze.Good luck with February, you'll feel much better for it.
LordGrover said:
Best of luck MashedPotatoes. 
20 days for me with no hint of any desire to drink.
Summer holiday was where I fell down last time, thinking a few drinks while away would be fine and I could quit again when I got home. Not so easy, as it turned out. Lesson learnt.
Thank you Lord20 days for me with no hint of any desire to drink.
Summer holiday was where I fell down last time, thinking a few drinks while away would be fine and I could quit again when I got home. Not so easy, as it turned out. Lesson learnt.
10 days now
I'm fortunate enough to work offshore for 2 weeks at a time, sometimes 3, so that keeps me off it. This next time home, on my 3 weeks off, I plan on not drinking. That will total to 7 weeks, which is unusual for me. I don't drink that much, but can binge on a Saturday night with friends. Always social, never sat around myself drinking, or on a school night.
I've realised recently that it gets me nowhere with the opposite sex (well the ones worth asking for a number! Lol), I've started to regret the way I feel the morning after, and it's costing a bl00dy fortune for a night out these days! £200 doesn't go that far with the price of drinks, buying the odd female a couple, taxi to/from town, kebab...........you all know the script. The older I get (39) the hangovers seem to take an age to go away!
I'd love to go 365 days (or longer!), but don't think I could last. I'm sure some great social event would come up, and I'd end up having a few with some friends. Based on that, I plan on trying my hardest to limit a few beers purely to "important", if you like, social occasions such as weddings, milestone birthdays, wetting of a baby's head, or such like.
I've realised recently that it gets me nowhere with the opposite sex (well the ones worth asking for a number! Lol), I've started to regret the way I feel the morning after, and it's costing a bl00dy fortune for a night out these days! £200 doesn't go that far with the price of drinks, buying the odd female a couple, taxi to/from town, kebab...........you all know the script. The older I get (39) the hangovers seem to take an age to go away!
I'd love to go 365 days (or longer!), but don't think I could last. I'm sure some great social event would come up, and I'd end up having a few with some friends. Based on that, I plan on trying my hardest to limit a few beers purely to "important", if you like, social occasions such as weddings, milestone birthdays, wetting of a baby's head, or such like.
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