365 days without booze... join me?

[JFReturns]

Still no beer so far this year for me! Doing do much more.... Just got in from a nice sea angling session, normally a Friday night would see more snoring by ten o clock after a few tinnies and st food. Lost a fair bit of fat too which is a nice bonus. Keep it up everyone!

[grumbledoak]

I just got back from the Coastal Challenge North Shore Bay Scrambler 11km. Forget the hangover, lie-in, repeat crap - I simply couldn't have done it at all when I was regularly drinking!

[anonymous-user]

Stil no beer

First real challenge last week, training course away from the office. Took the bike and headed out for back to back 2hr rides. Really fancied a beer afterwards but the thought soon went. Really into tea again, builders tea. One day the group ended up at the pub for lunch, lovely place which had black sheep on tap, I'm now used to saying 'I don't drink' which is a significant thing, much like smoking. Saying 'im giving up' 'cutting back' is asking to fail. The next big challenge will be Ireland, I love(d) Guinness and the local pub, no answer to that one right now. Also off to Florida, again with work which will be odd without beer.

I looked at all my training data from last year and the amount of days quoting 'hungover' or 'feeling rough' surprised me, that motivated me even more to be honest. I'm seeing more power and a greater recovery from training without alcohol now. Takeaways are quite rare and I actually enjoy an Erdinger. The other benefit is weight, being into cycling I'm always looking to hold weight back and without the empty calories it's a doddle. I'm going to take my empty keg (from last December) back to Rebellion later and put the £25 return towards a pub lunch with the family in Sunday

Keep going people.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 7th March 08:15

[FreeLitres]

Sounds like everyone is doing really well!

I'm still off too. In about 2 weeks, I'll have been off for 6 months!

I've lost loads of weight and I spend alot of my drinking time out running.

[Sebo]

Passed 6 months dry yesterday. Had a really ste day at work yesterday and on the way to the train, purposely took a different route to go past a pub I knew a load of mates would be in, with the full intention of going in and getting utterly obliterated.

Got about 50 yards away and sense kicked in, I turned around and carried on to the train (whilst trying to get hold of the other half to get some support - unfortunately she was busy with child care).

I thought I had cracked it but if I am honest, it's still very hard going. Not the social aspect of it, the lack of a release - to which I relied on alcohol so heavily for, for so long.

I know people will probably say "I use going for a run or going for a blat in the car as a release" but I am talking about walking past 10 different pubs to get to the train, to get home.

Anyway.. wobble over for now.. cool story bro etc.

[LordGrover]

You turned round. That's the important thing.
Do the same thing next time. And the next.
Keep on keeping on.

[Sebo]

LordGrover said:

You turned round. That's the important thing.
Do the same thing next time. And the next.
Keep on keeping on.

Cheers.

[JFReturns]

Nice one Sebo. Imagine how you would have felt the next day after getting wkered!

[Smitters]

Top effort Sebo. There will come a time when you can go in that door, bh about work, blow off steam, smash the pool balls around and drink lime and soda. I reckon you've taken a massive step towards that.

[Brother D]

Sebo said:

Passed 6 months dry yesterday. Had a really ste day at work yesterday and on the way to the train, purposely took a different route to go past a pub I knew a load of mates would be in, with the full intention of going in and getting utterly obliterated.

Got about 50 yards away and sense kicked in, I turned around and carried on to the train (whilst trying to get hold of the other half to get some support - unfortunately she was busy with child care).

I thought I had cracked it but if I am honest, it's still very hard going. Not the social aspect of it, the lack of a release - to which I relied on alcohol so heavily for, for so long.

I know people will probably say "I use going for a run or going for a blat in the car as a release" but I am talking about walking past 10 different pubs to get to the train, to get home.

Anyway.. wobble over for now.. cool story bro etc.

Humm I originally started out trying a month dry but cracked after a fortnight. However, since then (8 weeks) I've only had a couple of beers (well 3 one day and 4 the other in that time) - but it has got a whole lot easier avoiding it as time has gone on. Now it's reached a point where I can 'choose not to drink' and not drink... Rather than thinking 'I can choose not to drink' but would drink copious amounts anyway : )

I feel your pain about temptation (well I failed but), I live in the restaurant/bar district and it is/was a nightmare walking past all the bars with everyone having a great time inside...

[andymc]

Im on day 2 but that's because its become a problem, got took to the hospital with pancreatitis so its more of a must than a lifestyle, still going to a culture shock

[6th Gear]

This thread is an inspiration. I hope to contribute soon.

Well done to ALL for staying focused.

[Sebo]

Smitters said:

Top effort Sebo. There will come a time when you can go in that door, bh about work, blow off steam, smash the pool balls around and drink lime and soda. I reckon you've taken a massive step towards that.

Cheers Smitters. I thought I was there to be honest as I have been on quite a few nights out with the boys and haven't felt the need drink at all. This just happened to be a particularly bad / stressful week and i didn't have crutch. Looking back to last week, I realised I hadn't done any exercise, had been eating rubbish, hadn't slept particularly well and so it started to build up again. Feel loads better now and I know I would have been pretty disappointed in myself had I have gone in there and gotten ruined.

Best wishes to anyone else struggling along. (or not! )

[Sebo]

JFReturns said:

Nice one Sebo. Imagine how you would have felt the next day after getting wkered!

JFR - Nail-->Head
Ashamed would have been the main emotion I reckon

[Sebo]

andymc said:

Im on day 2 but that's because its become a problem, got took to the hospital with pancreatitis so its more of a must than a lifestyle, still going to a culture shock

Good luck Andy. Sounds tough going so hopefully you're getting some support from the docs and family also.

[Davie_GLA]

I failed to do dry feb, or March for that matter but the biggest thing i notice is that i can't sleep if i don't have a beer or two. Very annoying.

[LordGrover]

That only lasts a few days, for me anyway. Then sleep much better.

[anonymous-user]

andymc said:

Im on day 2 but that's because its become a problem, got took to the hospital with pancreatitis so its more of a must than a lifestyle, still going to a culture shock

Not great.

Still, it's not as bleak as you think without alcohol, good luck with getting the pancreas sorted.

So...off to the US to a trade show, usually monster amounts of alcohol and meetings etc. This time the same volume of work and social commitments but the bike is coming out with me. Planning to leave the exhibition early to miss the post show boozing, then re-join my colleagues at 20:00 onwards. I'm actually looking forward to seeing their reactions

[Feirny]

Just seen this thread for the first time, and realised that I've not had a drop of alcohol since two weeks before this thread was made. It'll be 4 years in October.

[FreeLitres]

Feirny said:

Just seen this thread for the first time, and realised that I've not had a drop of alcohol since two weeks before this thread was made. It'll be 4 years in October.

Very good.

Was there a reason that you decided to give up?