365 days without booze... join me?

[ThorB]

Sebo said:

Am re-quoting one of my old posts from 2014 (page 27 in this thread using the view settings I have).
I lasted 9 months without a drink (Sept 2013 to June 2014) and figured that I must have cracked this drinking lark so moved on from Erdinger Frei to 4% lager, to strong lager, to strong lager and vodka and to be frank, the wheels came off.

It took until July 2018 for me to realise the wheels were off and I then finally did something about it.

I've not had an alcoholic drink since (inc low alcohol beer) and don't intend to either. Life is immeasurably better since i stopped drinking. I had found it uncomfortable until recently to post back in this thread (I guess i felt embarrassed that I should have cracked this in 2014 but I suppose I wasn't ready to give up the old dog) but I guess I hope that in doing so, it might help someone that is struggling with drink or trying to stop.

I'm in the same boat and also feel embarrassed about quoting in here again - gave up between August and December 2014, had a few weeks drinking at Christmas to excess - first night back drinking was a 5am finish with clients. Got to 1st Jan 2015 and gave up again until June 2015 and started again on the first day of a 2 week all inclusive holiday. Since then consumption has been steadily increasing. I'm on day 9 now and the first goal is not drinking in Jan. Easier said that done as Jan includes a 2 day work conference which will be alcohol fuelled and a 4 day lads ski trip which normally involves lots and lots of alcohol. If I can get through those, I'll be very happy indeed.

I'm feeling really good about it. Having read Allen Carr's book a number of times, I'm now half way through This Naked Mind (Annie Grace), have signed up to her Alcohol Experiment and have ordered Alcohol Explained (William Porter). All recommendations from this thread - thank you. Onwards and upwards.

[Joscal]

Good luck folks. Don’t worry about the slip ups at all, we’re human and all make mistakes.

[Smitters]

Joscal said:

Good luck folks. Don’t worry about the slip ups at all, we’re human and all make mistakes.

Couldn't agree more. If you do 30 days straight and then drink on day 31, but then do another 30 days straight, it's easy to see it as failure in context of tee-totality. On the other hand, compared to where you (I, we) were, is 60 out of 61 days without a drink a success, or a failure?

I'm not saying don't strive for a difficult goal, just be mindful of the successes you are having along the way.

[Joscal]

I think the AA approach where if you touch a drop you’re back to square one is counterproductive and make us feel like failures which just isn’t true! I certainly didn’t go back to the start after my wobble at Christmas. I haven’t even considered touching a drop since, I really felt like st for days after which was enough to remind me why I don’t like it anymore!

I’ve been drinking for over 20 years to the point where it just wasn’t fun anymore and I was making a prick out of myself and not remembering a thing. My off switch was definitely faulty😉

With the help of the books mentioned I’ve only drunk twice since the start of June which is a major improvement in itself but the biggest improvement is in how I feel - it’s like a black cloud has been lifted..it’s by no means easy at the start as its just like any other bad habit, but once I started to realise it was drink that made me feel bloody awful most of the time it’s made me realise just how much better life is without it!

[Budflicker]

Still sticking with it, climbing the walls a bit though, also despite going to the gym and doing copious amounts of cardio I've put on 3lbs...?

Comfort eating to compensate.

[steveT350C]

Two weeks sober for me today and going strong. I've lost 3lbs and saved nearly £300

[FreeLitres]

I was just in Tesco to get some alcohol-free beers. They have some new ones in!

I almost bought some Pistonhead Flat Tire, but went for Free Damm 0.0%.

I googled the PH lager when I found this website for comparing alco-free beers. It might be of use;

https://drydrinker.com/product/pistonhead-flat-tir...

[ThorB]

FreeLitres said:

I was just in Tesco to get some alcohol-free beers. They have some new ones in!

I almost bought some Pistonhead Flat Tire, but went for Free Damm 0.0%.

I googled the PH lager when I found this website for comparing alco-free beers. It might be of use;

https://drydrinker.com/product/pistonhead-flat-tir...

The best I've found is Nanny State by Brewdog, although it is 0.5% alcohol. Sold in Tesco.

Got a call 90 minutes ago from the people who recently bought our house. Transpires we'd not changed our address with Laithwaites and they'd had a delivery for us. Just been to pick it up, 24 bottles of rather nice red wine - sooooooo tempting. However I'm now enjoying my ice cold lime and soda instead, which is far more refreshing.

[Steve Evil]

FreeLitres said:

I was just in Tesco to get some alcohol-free beers. They have some new ones in!

I almost bought some Pistonhead Flat Tire, but went for Free Damm 0.0%.

I googled the PH lager when I found this website for comparing alco-free beers. It might be of use;

https://drydrinker.com/product/pistonhead-flat-tir...

Flat tire is the best I've tried and I went through all the recent new ones at Tesco over Christmas. Not a huge fan of nanny state but it's better than most.

[FreeLitres]

I'm also not a fan of Nanny State. I liked it for a while, as I was getting into real ales and speciality beers before I quit but the Nanny State just tasted TOO bitter/hoppy for me. It catches the back of my throat like a nasty aftertaste.

I prefer the lighter ones and the Weiss beers.

[JamesD74]

Day 13 here and still going strong which is pretty remarkable after the best part of 30 years habitual drinking.

Benefits so far include: 5lb weight loss, blood pressure back at normal (117/75) this morning, resting heart rate dropped, stomach 'settled', fantastic sleep, much reduced general anxiety? and much calmer and more productive overall.

Clearly my body is enjoying this even if my subconscious mind is still the devil on my shoulder. But I'm working on that....

Soda and lime, Becks blue and Brewdog Nannystate are working really well for me during my 'drinking' hours. Still reading every book I can find as well as working through the 30 day Alcohol Experiment to keep my focus.

[steveT350C]

Good work James!
27 years habitual drinking here. The last 5 years 5-10 pints premium lager a day.
I’m on day 16 and feeling the exact same benefits.
Popped out to buy some shorts then joining local gym.
For me the key is keeping busy; boredom for me has always been the killer.

[boxst]

I don't really understand what it is about alcohol that makes someone want it. I gave up beer because of diabetes last April (after drinking probably 5-6 bottles every day), swapped to Vodka.

After three months after drinking every day, I didn't notice how much I actually downed one evening and having never been drunk before was completely gone at home. It was embarrassing and distressing to my wife and children. Just to be clear I don't like Vodka I just needed or wanted the alcohol and looked for the best one for diabetics.

It's been four months since stopping that, I sleep okay but I still actually crave it for some reason. It's really odd and I hate this background want. Any suggestions?

[steveT350C]

As recommended a lot here, reading Allen Carr’s Easyway did it for for me.

[grumbledoak]

boxst said:

I don't really understand what it is about alcohol that makes someone want it.

A surprising amount of it is sugar cravings - there is a lot of sugar in 6 bottles of beer, and it is properly addictive. Next time you get a craving, try a boiled sweet. Or six.

[boxst]

grumbledoak said:

A surprising amount of it is sugar cravings - there is a lot of sugar in 6 bottles of beer, and it is properly addictive. Next time you get a craving, try a boiled sweet. Or six.

You missed the bit about diabetes :-)

So possibly, but I need to find a different substitute.

[grumbledoak]

boxst said:

You missed the bit about diabetes :-)

So possibly, but I need to find a different substitute.

Oops, sorry! Well, remember next time that it quite possibly isn't the alcohol you are craving. And there's no sugar in vodka anyway.

[Kenny Powers]

368 days. Christmas and New Year were easy.

Oh and alcohol stinks. I can smell pubs from across the street. Also, drunk people are rowdy, irritating and not very smart

[jdw100]

Had to start taking some medication - which apparently reacts badly to alcohol.

Therefore gave up drinking about eight months ago.

Not touched a drop.

Not a problem, except I miss a nice whisky!

Still been going out with friends...they have sunset beers (popular thing here) I have a coffee.

Will be going out for my Birthday this weekend - meal then bars then a club or two. I'll be on soda, the odd Coke Zero, tea, coffee.

The only thing I find is that on a big night out I get very hungry - dancing without the fuel from cocktails etc?

I genuinely can't see what all the fuss is about.

This is for the next four years and then we can try to phase the medication out - so I may be able to go back to drinking then, we'll see....

I don't feel any different at all, which is disappointing. Nice to not have hangovers though...

[Luke.]

jdw100 said:

I don't feel any different at all, which is disappointing. Nice to not have hangovers though...

How much were you drinking before?