365 days without booze... join me?

365 days without booze... join me?

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Discussion

Joscal

2,094 posts

202 months

Thursday 2nd April 2020
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othername said:
Thanks for the advice all, just downloaded kindle version onto PC (via kindle app), looking forward to getting through it...
Excellent hope you find it helpful.

HairyMaclary

3,677 posts

197 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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Anyone else on 100 day?

I'm buzzin! party

In a sober way of course!

Ritchie335is

1,867 posts

204 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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I'm interested in getting some peoples opinions on my situation.
I work away from home on a 28 day rotation, I can't drink where I work so that's basically every second month, for the full month.
However, when I am at home I drink like alot (I think) and really enjoy it.
I hardly drink any spirits at all, maybe the odd G&T or Rum but I sink around 4/5 pints of lager plus another 4-5 cans, maybe more, every single one of those 28 days I'm at home.
I feel fine, and don't ever really fell rough, but obviously it's excessive and I find it irritating If I don't get an hour or 2 in the pub or get a drink.
As is the usual way, I justify it to myself due to the month on, month off situation and I'm not swigging out of the bottle at 7am but how bad is this?
Is every second month off it essentially allowing my body to sort itself out, ready for me to hit it again?

JFReturns

3,697 posts

173 months

Thursday 9th April 2020
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That’s quite excessive, just my opinion. But also well over the recommended amount.

500 Miles

1,798 posts

228 months

Sunday 12th April 2020
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6 weeks since I had a drink now..

Sadly perhaps but one of the things that I look forward to the most is having a few drinks (ok, maybe more than a few) whilst sitting outside in the sun reading the Sunday papers... it always acted as a bit of an escape for me away from the chaos of work. It’s something I always looked forward to during the week, a bit of solitude amongst the madness.

Obviously there hasn’t been much sun recently until now and sitting outside this weekend with a Diet Coke didn’t quite have the same effect, although I’m sure tomorrow I’ll be thankful not to have had a drink.

I’ve lost a bit of weight and think I would have probably lost more if we weren’t all isolating.

Not sure what my point is but thought I’d share smile


XCP

16,962 posts

230 months

Sunday 12th April 2020
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8 years sober for me this month.
Don't really miss it to be honest.
I do worry about how much some friends drink though.

SpeedMattersNot

4,506 posts

198 months

Sunday 12th April 2020
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500 days sober reached here. I wanted to celebrate with my first alcohol free beer (I've avoided them until now as I didn't want it to trigger anything and also because they still contain alcohol) but not really an essential purchase!

Well done to everyone else hitting targets, especially 8 years. That's impressive.

XCP

16,962 posts

230 months

Sunday 12th April 2020
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SpeedMattersNot said:
500 days sober reached here. I wanted to celebrate with my first alcohol free beer (I've avoided them until now as I didn't want it to trigger anything and also because they still contain alcohol) but not really an essential purchase!

Well done to everyone else hitting targets, especially 8 years. That's impressive.
I don't avoid alcohol. I occasionally have a shandy. I use alcohol in cooking. I don't like alcohol free beer. Alcohol free wine and cider taste better in my opinion. I just don't drink more than 1 shandy, whereas I used to be a piss artist.

Good luck to everyone. If I can do it, you can!

andymc

7,370 posts

209 months

Friday 17th April 2020
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Early days here, I’ve been a heavy drinker all my life, every scrape I’ve been in has involved alcohol to some extent, I’ve been drinking more and more these last few weeks and not enjoying it, this is the first time I’ve had to drink at home, that could be it, anyway, I had one can of beer the last two nights to wean me off it, I didn’t have a drink last night at all, must be the first time is 6 years, I’ll update my experience as it goes

B210bandit

513 posts

99 months

Friday 17th April 2020
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Good luck, Andy. Taken an important first step.

Greshamst

2,089 posts

122 months

Friday 17th April 2020
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Ritchie335is said:
I'm interested in getting some peoples opinions on my situation.
I work away from home on a 28 day rotation, I can't drink where I work so that's basically every second month, for the full month.
However, when I am at home I drink like alot (I think) and really enjoy it.
I hardly drink any spirits at all, maybe the odd G&T or Rum but I sink around 4/5 pints of lager plus another 4-5 cans, maybe more, every single one of those 28 days I'm at home.
I feel fine, and don't ever really fell rough, but obviously it's excessive and I find it irritating If I don't get an hour or 2 in the pub or get a drink.
As is the usual way, I justify it to myself due to the month on, month off situation and I'm not swigging out of the bottle at 7am but how bad is this?
Is every second month off it essentially allowing my body to sort itself out, ready for me to hit it again?
I don’t know if this will help from a health perspective or not, but 5 pints, and 5 cans is over 2,200 calories. Which is around a recommended daily allowance of food.

Or the same as eating 4 Big Macs (or 21 Krispy Kreme donuts), every day...

You’re likely putting on weight with that plus normal food? I know you don’t drink for your month on work, but try cutting it out and see what it does.

Davey S2

13,098 posts

256 months

Friday 17th April 2020
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7 weeks for me this weekend.

I never intended to quit drinking completely, just cut down a lot, especially when at home. I was drinking quite a lot at home each night and quite a lot when on my own which I know is a bad sign.

I've found it quite easy to be honest and not missed it at all. I'm up with the kids early every day and while I rarely got hangovers waking up without some fuzziness and dehydrated is really nice.

On the downside my coffee consumption has gone up massively.

andymc

7,370 posts

209 months

Friday 17th April 2020
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Alcohol can be a huge part of your life, would I still go into pubs and drink pop? Probably not, people are hard work when they are tipsy

chrisp84

408 posts

215 months

Saturday 18th April 2020
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500 Miles said:
6 weeks since I had a drink now..

Sadly perhaps but one of the things that I look forward to the most is having a few drinks (ok, maybe more than a few) whilst sitting outside in the sun reading the Sunday papers... it always acted as a bit of an escape for me away from the chaos of work. It’s something I always looked forward to during the week, a bit of solitude amongst the madness.

Obviously there hasn’t been much sun recently until now and sitting outside this weekend with a Diet Coke didn’t quite have the same effect, although I’m sure tomorrow I’ll be thankful not to have had a drink.

I’ve lost a bit of weight and think I would have probably lost more if we weren’t all isolating.

Not sure what my point is but thought I’d share smile
Well done for not giving in!

I'm struggling a bit with this as well. Sitting in the garden on a sunny day few some beers used to be my idea of heaven. Now I find myself getting jealous of the wife. Luckily she's very understanding and supportive so doesn't take it personally but it's hit home how I'm not out of the woods yet. I think just keeping pushing on through is the only way now.

Going to buy the book mentioned a few posts earlier to remind myself how aweful the stuff is!


Joscal

2,094 posts

202 months

Saturday 18th April 2020
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chrisp84 said:
Well done for not giving in!

I'm struggling a bit with this as well. Sitting in the garden on a sunny day few some beers used to be my idea of heaven. Now I find myself getting jealous of the wife. Luckily she's very understanding and supportive so doesn't take it personally but it's hit home how I'm not out of the woods yet. I think just keeping pushing on through is the only way now.

Going to buy the book mentioned a few posts earlier to remind myself how aweful the stuff is!
The jealousy passes but it is very difficult at the start without a doubt. I left a party in tears thinking there’s no way I can do this a few years ago. Now I don’t give a fek, my son was having a drink last night and it never crossed my mind to have one which I would never have believed early on.


Davie_GLA

6,549 posts

201 months

Saturday 18th April 2020
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283 days today and i think it's only been the last few days that I have really thought about it. Combination of good weather, lockdown boredom and all of my friends posting their new found home drinking hobbies.

Towards the end of my worst drinking I was exclusively doing it at home, and in secret with bottles hidden everywhere. Also and like a lot of people just now i cannot sleep. I'm a horrible sleeper anyway and it was this that was at the core of things getting out of hand as i found it knocked me out and let me 'sleep'. That is to say that i wasn't awake but we all know your body is doing anything but resting and repairing itself when you have a bellyfull of Jim Beam.

I've found great help between here, including one gent who reached out of nowhere and we keep in regular touch. I also use Reddit and the British Liver Trust website has a forum that is very active for those who have done some serious damage. It can be in there where you see the real cost of not listening to your body and just carrying on.

Hope all is well with everyone. Also if anyone would like a chat or to bounce some questions off then PM me. I wouldn't have said this not so long ago as i was still dealing with what i'd done but I've made my peace with it now and have come out the other side of the self hatred tunnel.


GaryG182

294 posts

225 months

Sunday 19th April 2020
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Hi all, stumbled across this thread a couple of times over the years but never seriously thought about stopping, I guess there's never a good time to stop!

I've decided to give it up for a year in support of my dad who's a heavy drinker and recently been diagnosed with cancer, my brothers joining us also and I know it'll be hard for all of us. Id say my brother and I have similar drinking habits but my dad is more of a sit down at 5pm drink 5 beers then onto whiskey, gin or whatever until he falls asleep on the couch- I'd say he's dependant on alcohol to sleep. Fortunately he works from home so no concerns regarding driving to work early next morning.

This threads massive and a great source of info and support, I just wondered if anyones put something together- FAQ/list of resource/tips etc?

500 Miles

1,798 posts

228 months

Sunday 26th April 2020
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Davie_GLA said:
283 days today and i think it's only been the last few days that I have really thought about it. Combination of good weather, lockdown boredom and all of my friends posting their new found home drinking hobbies.

Towards the end of my worst drinking I was exclusively doing it at home, and in secret with bottles hidden everywhere. Also and like a lot of people just now i cannot sleep. I'm a horrible sleeper anyway and it was this that was at the core of things getting out of hand as i found it knocked me out and let me 'sleep'. That is to say that i wasn't awake but we all know your body is doing anything but resting and repairing itself when you have a bellyfull of Jim Beam.

I've found great help between here, including one gent who reached out of nowhere and we keep in regular touch. I also use Reddit and the British Liver Trust website has a forum that is very active for those who have done some serious damage. It can be in there where you see the real cost of not listening to your body and just carrying on.

Hope all is well with everyone. Also if anyone would like a chat or to bounce some questions off then PM me. I wouldn't have said this not so long ago as i was still dealing with what i'd done but I've made my peace with it now and have come out the other side of the self hatred tunnel.
Congratulations Davie, that’s a great achievement. I’m only just over 2 months in, not been the easiest time to stop but then there never is. At least we now dont need to actively avoid events.. Covid has helped there.

Keep it up buddy, you’re inspiring others

Captain Smerc

3,033 posts

118 months

Monday 27th April 2020
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+1 thumbup

Joscal

2,094 posts

202 months

Monday 27th April 2020
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Plus 2!