365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
funinhounslow said:
Tim16V said:
My annual contribution to this thread.
Six years alcohol free now and I still enjoy all the things listed below. Despite a tough year - including redundancy - (managed to sort a new job straight away fortunately) there was nothing to push me back in to it and 'I don't know why people drink'.
I really enjoy being thin and fit in my early 50's - it just wouldn't have happened if I hadn't given up.
(snip)
The slight downside is that there is a craving for sugar/chocolate - maybe this replaces what I lost? I've tried to come off it to no avail. Still, nothing's perfect.
Can I ask how it's going with the sugar cravings please? Five years in and this is still a bit of an issue for me, and I didn't have a sweet tooth at all when I drank. Odd but I find controlling the sugar is far far harder than giving up the booze...Six years alcohol free now and I still enjoy all the things listed below. Despite a tough year - including redundancy - (managed to sort a new job straight away fortunately) there was nothing to push me back in to it and 'I don't know why people drink'.
I really enjoy being thin and fit in my early 50's - it just wouldn't have happened if I hadn't given up.
Tim16V said:
(snip)
The slight downside is that there is a craving for sugar/chocolate - maybe this replaces what I lost? I've tried to come off it to no avail. Still, nothing's perfect.
Not helped by the fact that seemingly every day cakes etc are available in the office (50 people or so) for some occasion or other. Clearly this is someone else's fault and has nothing to do with the fact that I'm weak willed!
I'm going to have another go at it from today because the benefits appear to be potentially very significant. I cannot avoid what is in seemingly most things these days (even plain 2 minute microwave porridge now has quite a lot of sugar in it). All the rest will need a concerted effort.
TameRacingDriver said:
Tim did you really lose 2.5st in a few weeks?
Yes absolutely. The weight 'fell off' to the extent that a couple of people at work commented and one asked me if I was ill!I was probably having 300ish surplus and empty calories a day average before and that was the problem. 9000 a month - I look back in amazement at it.
As it started to disappear I took up cycling due to the surplus energy that appeared from nowhere so the speed of the weight loss was 'compounded' through starting to exercise - something I have continued with just about daily ever since.
Coming off it is the gift that keeps on giving right from day one!
Interesting point about drinking because you like the taste (or not). I'd agree. I have beers etc if I fancy getting a little merry but I almost never drink at home as I am not aiming for the same effect.
My friends are all highly social and so are always meeting up for drinks. Its like they don't know what else to do. I'm getting bored of it these days and would rather do something than just meet and drink. Even a few of the hardcore drinkers privately admit to getting bored with drinking. Some of the stuff I do they take the piss out of me for but I'm doing stuff whilst they just sit there and get drunk.
i wouldn't want to give up completely but I am getting more driven towards doing things rather than just meeting/drinking. It is a challenge with such a strong drinking culture amongst family and friends though...
My friends are all highly social and so are always meeting up for drinks. Its like they don't know what else to do. I'm getting bored of it these days and would rather do something than just meet and drink. Even a few of the hardcore drinkers privately admit to getting bored with drinking. Some of the stuff I do they take the piss out of me for but I'm doing stuff whilst they just sit there and get drunk.
i wouldn't want to give up completely but I am getting more driven towards doing things rather than just meeting/drinking. It is a challenge with such a strong drinking culture amongst family and friends though...
Tim16V said:
Coming off it is the gift that keeps on giving right from day one!
I would agree with this. AA Gill said it was like getting a Willy Wonka golden ticket, which I think is also a neat way of summing it up.
Encouraging to know I'm not the only one struggling with long term sugar cravings, and will try and sort this out once and for all in the new year. But I am not going to start a "365 days without sugar" thread!
This thread has genuinely been life changing for me, and reading others' experiences has been encouraging over the years - so thank you all!
Regarding the sugar cravings, there’s an interesting TED video on you tube somewhere that goes into some of the chemical and physiological reasons that we have the sugar craving.
In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
FreeLitres said:
Steve Evil said:
365 days for me today, very little desire to get back on it tomorrow, so will very likely continue and see how things go.
Nice work!Now that you have achieved the 365 days, are you going to stay off in 2018?
Super Slo Mo said:
Regarding the sugar cravings, there’s an interesting TED video on you tube somewhere that goes into some of the chemical and physiological reasons that we have the sugar craving.
In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
Might explain the cake. Never was one for sweets.In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
jmorgan said:
Super Slo Mo said:
Regarding the sugar cravings, there’s an interesting TED video on you tube somewhere that goes into some of the chemical and physiological reasons that we have the sugar craving.
In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
Might explain the cake. Never was one for sweets.In a nutshell though, your body converts alcohol and sugar into the same chemical so that they both hit your neuro receptors in the same way (I may well have the scientific bit wrong, I’m an engineer not a biologist).
This is mostly what makes sugar cravings so difficult to break, and why drinkers tend to develop a need for sugar after giving up booze; your brain absolutely loves it.
Tim16V said:
The sugar cravings remain and interestingly I didn't have the sweet tooth either when I drank!
It is proving much harder give up than alcohol
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted. If food has alcohol in it that is avoided - liquer chocolates, brandy cake etc.
I wanted to try and get to a point where I do not even consider it and so far so good!
Steve Evil said:
365 days for me today, very little desire to get back on it tomorrow, so will very likely continue and see how things go.
Hi Steve.A little unorthodox, I know but I can't post in The Lounge for 14 days and having set up this account thought I'd use it to reply on one of your other threads. Just to let you know that despite paying for next day signed for delivery through royal mail on 21st December, I've checked the tracking today and got the following message for your SS present. Sorry for the crapness of RM, I hope you get it soon!
Tracking no. GQ115041980GB
Item GQ115041980GB was posted at (my local post office) on 21/12/17 and is being progressed through our network for delivery.
SteveEvilsPHSS said:
Hi Steve.
A little unorthodox, I know but I can't post in The Lounge for 14 days and having set up this account thought I'd use it to reply on one of your other threads. Just to let you know that despite paying for next day signed for delivery through royal mail on 21st December, I've checked the tracking today and got the following message for your SS present. Sorry for the crapness of RM, I hope you get it soon!
Tracking no. GQ115041980GB
Item GQ115041980GB was posted at (my local post office) on 21/12/17 and is being progressed through our network for delivery.
Cheers Santa A little unorthodox, I know but I can't post in The Lounge for 14 days and having set up this account thought I'd use it to reply on one of your other threads. Just to let you know that despite paying for next day signed for delivery through royal mail on 21st December, I've checked the tracking today and got the following message for your SS present. Sorry for the crapness of RM, I hope you get it soon!
Tracking no. GQ115041980GB
Item GQ115041980GB was posted at (my local post office) on 21/12/17 and is being progressed through our network for delivery.
(Sorry everyone else, back on track!)
Well done all those embarking on a dry Jan/ dry 2018/ dry whatever is your thing.
I can echo the above thoughts on benefits of stopping. It was like life in HD for a while, but I then had a child, so sleep deprivation has somewhat taken the shine off the HD-ness. I cannot imagine being a father and a drinker though. Feeling rough and getting jumped on at 6am is very low on my to-do list.
Three things that worked for me were:
Replacement/displacement - I went running, walking and cycling in the time I freed up and this hastened the weight loss, which was a massive psychological boost as I not only felt good, but was looking good too.
Reward - the money saved went on things for me - new clothes, car bits etc.
Testing myself - I went out and sat in a pub on Super Saturday of the Six Nations, watched all three games with mates and drank lime and soda. I enjoyed the games, had fun with my mates and remembered all three results the next morning, instead of writing off the next day, as was my habit prior to quitting. I knew if I could do Super Saturday, I could do anything dry, so got a lot of confidence from it. This helped when I started the process of getting divorced, four months later.
I'm 10kg lighter on a bad day, 15kg on a good day, don't look much older today than I did in 2012, whereas looks-wise, the age difference between 2007 and 2012 is stark. 2144 days in and not regretted quitting once. Not easy, but adding 10+ years to your expected lifespan isn't likely to be, right?
I can echo the above thoughts on benefits of stopping. It was like life in HD for a while, but I then had a child, so sleep deprivation has somewhat taken the shine off the HD-ness. I cannot imagine being a father and a drinker though. Feeling rough and getting jumped on at 6am is very low on my to-do list.
Three things that worked for me were:
Replacement/displacement - I went running, walking and cycling in the time I freed up and this hastened the weight loss, which was a massive psychological boost as I not only felt good, but was looking good too.
Reward - the money saved went on things for me - new clothes, car bits etc.
Testing myself - I went out and sat in a pub on Super Saturday of the Six Nations, watched all three games with mates and drank lime and soda. I enjoyed the games, had fun with my mates and remembered all three results the next morning, instead of writing off the next day, as was my habit prior to quitting. I knew if I could do Super Saturday, I could do anything dry, so got a lot of confidence from it. This helped when I started the process of getting divorced, four months later.
I'm 10kg lighter on a bad day, 15kg on a good day, don't look much older today than I did in 2012, whereas looks-wise, the age difference between 2007 and 2012 is stark. 2144 days in and not regretted quitting once. Not easy, but adding 10+ years to your expected lifespan isn't likely to be, right?
As I posted in the other thread (I don't post much on this one since it really is more focused on being Teetotal) I wont be doing dry Jan but I am hoping to do a lifestyle change in the form of Monday - Thursday off the drink. I need to do this, as I really do feel like crap, and am utterly sick of being hungover nearly every day. If I carry on the way I am, my life expectancy will surely start with a '4' which isn't really acceptable; heck I may have already gone too far, but you gotta try right?
Smitters said:
Well done all those embarking on a dry Jan/ dry 2018/ dry whatever is your thing.
I can echo the above thoughts on benefits of stopping. It was like life in HD for a while, but I then had a child, so sleep deprivation has somewhat taken the shine off the HD-ness. I cannot imagine being a father and a drinker though. Feeling rough and getting jumped on at 6am is very low on my to-do list.
Three things that worked for me were:
Replacement/displacement - I went running, walking and cycling in the time I freed up and this hastened the weight loss, which was a massive psychological boost as I not only felt good, but was looking good too.
Reward - the money saved went on things for me - new clothes, car bits etc.
Testing myself - I went out and sat in a pub on Super Saturday of the Six Nations, watched all three games with mates and drank lime and soda. I enjoyed the games, had fun with my mates and remembered all three results the next morning, instead of writing off the next day, as was my habit prior to quitting. I knew if I could do Super Saturday, I could do anything dry, so got a lot of confidence from it. This helped when I started the process of getting divorced, four months later.
I'm 10kg lighter on a bad day, 15kg on a good day, don't look much older today than I did in 2012, whereas looks-wise, the age difference between 2007 and 2012 is stark. 2144 days in and not regretted quitting once. Not easy, but adding 10+ years to your expected lifespan isn't likely to be, right?
Great post.I can echo the above thoughts on benefits of stopping. It was like life in HD for a while, but I then had a child, so sleep deprivation has somewhat taken the shine off the HD-ness. I cannot imagine being a father and a drinker though. Feeling rough and getting jumped on at 6am is very low on my to-do list.
Three things that worked for me were:
Replacement/displacement - I went running, walking and cycling in the time I freed up and this hastened the weight loss, which was a massive psychological boost as I not only felt good, but was looking good too.
Reward - the money saved went on things for me - new clothes, car bits etc.
Testing myself - I went out and sat in a pub on Super Saturday of the Six Nations, watched all three games with mates and drank lime and soda. I enjoyed the games, had fun with my mates and remembered all three results the next morning, instead of writing off the next day, as was my habit prior to quitting. I knew if I could do Super Saturday, I could do anything dry, so got a lot of confidence from it. This helped when I started the process of getting divorced, four months later.
I'm 10kg lighter on a bad day, 15kg on a good day, don't look much older today than I did in 2012, whereas looks-wise, the age difference between 2007 and 2012 is stark. 2144 days in and not regretted quitting once. Not easy, but adding 10+ years to your expected lifespan isn't likely to be, right?
My story is very similar.
I found that running really helped me to quit the drink. I think you need something to fill the hole that booze will leave behind in the early stages of giving up..
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