365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
FreeLitres said:
I wasn't a massive drinker. Perhaps, 4 cans of lager on a Friday, same again on a Saturday, Couple of pints Sunday lunch. The occasional binge in town with mates and an occasional cheeky whisky midweek.
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.
I have shifted a lot of weight the last 8 months and still have a stone or two to go to have a sensible level of bf. I feel like giving up could really help as my hangover today is full of anxiety / depression / guilt (4-5pints yesterday). I really don't enjoy the feeling afterwards, especially the poor sleep, I'm shattered.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.
Well done to you.
I've been off for a year and 8 months. I recently had a general blood test mainly for cholesterol, but they check other norms too and they've found an unusual result for my liver. He didn't say what - but was concerned. He laid me down to feel about (I guess to see if it was swollen). I've got to have another blood test specifically for liver, and to test for Hepatitis. I've since read there is something called Alcoholic hepatitis (this is different from hepatitis C) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver_disease_(alcoho...
This is the second stage of liver disease from alcohol damage
third stage is Cirrhosis. I feel fine so this is unexpected, as well as the length of time since I've stopped drinking, so I've basically got to hope I haven't got it, and my liver problem is either temporary or something else. So - those of you considering cutting down, I suggest keep trying!
This is the second stage of liver disease from alcohol damage
third stage is Cirrhosis. I feel fine so this is unexpected, as well as the length of time since I've stopped drinking, so I've basically got to hope I haven't got it, and my liver problem is either temporary or something else. So - those of you considering cutting down, I suggest keep trying!I'm taking a break again.
When I quit for almost a year last time I felt so much better. Don't really know why I started again.
I don't drink as much as I used to, but it was creeping back up again and pretty much daily. Putting on weight and not sleeping so well.
Not stopping for a pint or two on the way home from work means I also eat better as I have more time.
The last ten days or so without a drink has seen me more relaxed and sleeping way better.
I'm not saying never but it's good to be dry again.
When I quit for almost a year last time I felt so much better. Don't really know why I started again.
I don't drink as much as I used to, but it was creeping back up again and pretty much daily. Putting on weight and not sleeping so well.
Not stopping for a pint or two on the way home from work means I also eat better as I have more time.
The last ten days or so without a drink has seen me more relaxed and sleeping way better.
I'm not saying never but it's good to be dry again.
LordGrover said:
I'm taking a break again.
When I quit for almost a year last time I felt so much better. Don't really know why I started again.
I don't drink as much as I used to, but it was creeping back up again and pretty much daily. Putting on weight and not sleeping so well.
Not stopping for a pint or two on the way home from work means I also eat better as I have more time.
The last ten days or so without a drink has seen me more relaxed and sleeping way better.
I'm not saying never but it's good to be dry again.
LG, my memories not great, was it you who attended the Allen Carr workshop in person? Did it work?When I quit for almost a year last time I felt so much better. Don't really know why I started again.
I don't drink as much as I used to, but it was creeping back up again and pretty much daily. Putting on weight and not sleeping so well.
Not stopping for a pint or two on the way home from work means I also eat better as I have more time.
The last ten days or so without a drink has seen me more relaxed and sleeping way better.
I'm not saying never but it's good to be dry again.
Yes, that was me. It helped to reinforce my conviction after reading the book.
Clearly, it didn't 'work' as I'd hoped as I started drinking again, but that was more down to me being complacent.
I kept in contact with one of the other attendees for a while. She was still dry and happy after a year when we lost contact. She'd been speaking to a couple of others who didn't find it so helpful so from that small sample a 50% success rate.
Clearly, it didn't 'work' as I'd hoped as I started drinking again, but that was more down to me being complacent.
I kept in contact with one of the other attendees for a while. She was still dry and happy after a year when we lost contact. She'd been speaking to a couple of others who didn't find it so helpful so from that small sample a 50% success rate.
yonex said:
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.
Well, that makes for interesting reading.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.
Basically it all fell apart in Florida, that's on me, I had a bit of grief but could've told my colleagues to sod off, I didn't. I ended up in hospital that week passing blood, tracked down to a kidney stone, not helped by de-hydration from the beer and heat! When I came back to the UK three weeks later I just picked up where I left off. For a while the weight just stayed off and I felt good, great in fact. I knew I had let myself down and was a bit disappointed for giving in but, you know, it's just a beer right?
Mid April my Aunt passed away from cancer, it was a long illness but the end was thankfully quick for her. I lost focus on training and increased the drinking at this point, I knew it was stupid but I fell into the trap of 'life's too short' and decided to pack racing in for a month....that was a bad move. Drinking led to takeaways, I mean lots of takeaways. It was not uncommon for 4 a week...yes I know. Then it was birthday season and another trade show, things unraveled. A spell in Ireland to 'kick myself up the ass' was great. I did ride (cycle) quite a bit, but the pub was the daily finishing point, I mean every day, I was on holiday for goodness sake?
Fast forward to last week. My throat was odd, odd like I had never felt it. My voice turned hoarse and it required a definite action to swallow. This carried on for a week, week and a half and completely freaked me out. Being in the US wondering how broken I had made myself made me pretty fed up, how could I have been so stupid? Weight wise I knew I'd been shipping some timber, but oh dear, a quick jump onto the scales a stone, b
ks. A visit to the docs today and my body has made a liar out of me. It seems whatever it was (virus/infection/whatever) is breaking, cue some light relief hacking up various globules! I took the chance to explain everything to him, I probably shouldn't have but I came away with a bit of a weight lifted. I had made the decision to quit again for 'Ocsober' and get back on the bike, which I did yesterday.
So;
3 1/2 months alcohol free, 73kgs, fit, fast on the bike, happy
6 months not, s
t diet, 82 kgs, wheezy, grumpyThis last few weeks have really put the wind up me, i think it's time to be a bit sensible from now on. Looking forward to a dry October then...I don't know, if it can't be controlled then it has to stop permanently.
CoolHands said:
I've been off for a year and 8 months. I recently had a general blood test mainly for cholesterol, but they check other norms too and they've found an unusual result for my liver. He didn't say what - but was concerned. He laid me down to feel about (I guess to see if it was swollen). I've got to have another blood test specifically for liver, and to test for Hepatitis. I've since read there is something called Alcoholic hepatitis (this is different from hepatitis C) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver_disease_(alcoho...
This is the second stage of liver disease from alcohol damage third stage is Cirrhosis. I feel fine so this is unexpected, as well as the length of time since I've stopped drinking, so I've basically got to hope I haven't got it, and my liver problem is either temporary or something else. So - those of you considering cutting down, I suggest keep trying!
saw GP today to discuss second blood test results which was checking my liver enzymes, and they are back in normal range now, so nothing wrong. Also I have not got hepatitis as that was tested too, so I've been given the all-clear. Quite glad I've given up drinking, be 2 years at christmas.This is the second stage of liver disease from alcohol damage
third stage is Cirrhosis. I feel fine so this is unexpected, as well as the length of time since I've stopped drinking, so I've basically got to hope I haven't got it, and my liver problem is either temporary or something else. So - those of you considering cutting down, I suggest keep trying!To give newbies reading this hope - I had failed multiple times earlier in the thread before I finally managed it.
I have been drinking far too much for a while, a bottle of wine or more a night, with very few nights off. I know this is doing me harm, and long term I need to stop. I told the wife, who also drinks too much, we should have a day off at least once a week to start to cut down, but every time I tried she always undermines it and has a GnT or says something like “It seems wrong to have such a nice dinner without a glass of wine”.
Anyway, after a few days of drinking far too much, she seems to have decided we should cut down, however she is going about discussing it in the wrong way imho. I said I wanted to buy some Alcohol free beer in Sainsbury’s the other day, and she said “I am thinking of giving up drinking entirely until xmas” I just shrugged, not wanting to get into a deep and meaningful by the freezer aisle.
So, we need to talk, not something that we usually have a problem with but I think our joint dependency and our different ways of addressing problems get in the way.
Anyway, despite not talking about it, we have gone booze free for 3 days so far this week, and it’s miserable. With our busy lives and the kids, it is ten o’clock before we get a chance to even talk. At this point I am fed up of the day and it’s lack of friendly adult interaction and just want to go to bed. I am down, fed up and miss my wine.
So, there we go, 3 days booze free and I hate it. Allen Carr’s book is rubbish imho and didn’t work for us. I’m considering getting some Prozac to get over this down phase, which I know is swapping one thing for another…
Has anyone got any useful hints/advice without patronising me?
Anyway, after a few days of drinking far too much, she seems to have decided we should cut down, however she is going about discussing it in the wrong way imho. I said I wanted to buy some Alcohol free beer in Sainsbury’s the other day, and she said “I am thinking of giving up drinking entirely until xmas” I just shrugged, not wanting to get into a deep and meaningful by the freezer aisle.
So, we need to talk, not something that we usually have a problem with but I think our joint dependency and our different ways of addressing problems get in the way.
Anyway, despite not talking about it, we have gone booze free for 3 days so far this week, and it’s miserable. With our busy lives and the kids, it is ten o’clock before we get a chance to even talk. At this point I am fed up of the day and it’s lack of friendly adult interaction and just want to go to bed. I am down, fed up and miss my wine.
So, there we go, 3 days booze free and I hate it. Allen Carr’s book is rubbish imho and didn’t work for us. I’m considering getting some Prozac to get over this down phase, which I know is swapping one thing for another…
Has anyone got any useful hints/advice without patronising me?
Feirny said:
Just keep at it, it'll be 4 years for me at the end of the month! Feel great for it and it's so easy to go out and not drink, and not be bothered by it all.
On the back of this, I did my 4 years! I'll still be staying off the booze as it's a health issue more than personal choice.BenjiA said:
Things...
The first week(s) are always ste. Try and support each other positively.Track the money saved and use it for a treat at the end of each week/month. You'll be surprised, even shocked how it adds up.
Don't sub one thing for another. Sugar is the classic. Pills probably isn't a smashing idea either.
Work out why you personally want to cut down/quit. It probably isn't the same reason(s) as your O/H, so talk to each other about the whys, so you understand each other better, and can do point one better.
If you crumble on day five, still be positive - you did four days off to one on. In comparison to a normal week, that's got to be a success, right?
Don't take on too many changes at once. If you quit booze, start going to the gym, try and overhaul your diet, learn basket-weaving, you will slip on something, feel rubbish, then something else will slip, then the whole thing comes crashing down. Baby steps.
Finally, I'd really take the time to read the whole thread, and maybe get your missus to do so too. Loads of us have had a go at cutting down, quitting, doing month or year challenges, and done it for a variety of reasons. There's some startling honesty, feeling, advice and support in these pages, far removed from the flippancy and quick judgement that you normally associate with PH.
For what it's worth, I decided to quit in February 2012, and in June my marriage went A over T (unrelated - quitting booze probably doesn't ruin relationships...). I could have used it as an excuse to hit the pub, but instead stuck my head down, focussed, and went from 85kg of unfit husband to 69kg of ultra-endurance athlete, completing my first 50 mile running race in October 2012, and my second in May 2013, where I came 7th, knocking three hours off my finish time. I came a long way in the fifteen months from quitting to that finish line, and I haven't looked back. I'm not sure my knees have been right since either, but that's another story!
After reading this thread and the Allen Carr book I quit three years ago and am so glad I did.
I found the book a great help - if it hasn't worked for you can I suggest Kick the Drink Easily by Jason Vale - the same message as Carr just with fewer anecdotes about the golf club Xmas party and more about going out on the lash with your mates.
I found the book a great help - if it hasn't worked for you can I suggest Kick the Drink Easily by Jason Vale - the same message as Carr just with fewer anecdotes about the golf club Xmas party and more about going out on the lash with your mates.
Thanks Guys. Feeling much better this morning after 4 days off. Yesterday felt tough. Had a good chat with the wife this morning about how much I had been suffering from withdrawal, I think we are on a good path together now.
Co-incidentally, having done the sums, my monthly savings from booze will be slightly less than the payments for the M2 I have ordered for Q2 next year, so we do have a PH based motivation.
Long way to go yet I know.
Co-incidentally, having done the sums, my monthly savings from booze will be slightly less than the payments for the M2 I have ordered for Q2 next year, so we do have a PH based motivation.
Long way to go yet I know.
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