365 days without booze... join me?

[bristolracer]

Watched this the other day

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bhkc8b/dri...

May be of some interest to some on here.

[Hodgie]

25 days for me so far, this includes 2 pub visits and my birthday so I'm pretty happy and still feeling motivated.

I've noticed I am sleeping much better. There's also a marked improvement with my anxiety and ocd.

[Robmarriott]

jdw100 said:

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

That'll be the lack of sugar.

[jdw100]

Luke. said:

How much were you drinking before?

Not sure really.

When I go out properly I can just keep drinking....been, I guess, a binge drinker like a lot of my friends and age group (I'm 50). I've always enjoyed a proper big night out...different places, made new friends along the way...where was that strange bar we ended up in?...type of thing.

Maybe if I met a friend for sunset type beers...3 or 4?

One thing I've never really done is drink on my own - maybe 5/6 times a year I might have one beer or a whisky at home on my own.

Something a bit sad I've always felt about people drinking on their own at home - that's just my opinion. Rather have a cup of tea...but that's me.

(That's sad as in 'oh dear' not sad as in 'what a loser').

Same with drugs - always enjoyed them but would never, ever, do anything on my own at home (or anywhere else on my own).

Also, never really done the drinking wine in the evening thing - gets in the way of doing stuff and I just have never really understood the lifestyle that some people have of coming home from work to just spend the entire evening sat in front of the TV watching something that they might not even think is that good, whilst knocking out a bottle of wine. Life is too short..

The other thing I have found is I do now get tired on a night out - feeling it by midnight, whereas before I could easily have gone on until 03:00 or later. Probably down to the lack of sugar coursing through my veins!

I just kind of expected to feel like l would be leaping out of bed and bursting in to song of a morning - whereas I haven't felt any difference at all....disappointing!

What has helped I would say is that everyone has been super supportive, my wife (who has just finished a break in drinking from Jan 2017 - IVF through to finishing breast feeding), friends: both old and new.

It was lovely that whilst I did a road trip in Spain & France last year with three friends (we hired an Audi A8 5.0L for 10 days - quite a nice car!) they wouldn't let me pay for any drinks on our nights out - as mine were just soft drinks. They said I was suffering enough!. Very understanding and supportive.

I have another friend who has switched from meeting me for a beer on the beach of an afternoon to us finding different places near each of our houses to go for coffee in the morning instead. That's very nice of him and in fact its been really interesting to find different cafes etc.

Out for my Birthday this Friday - got a decent crew of about 20, some bars and two clubs lined up. A lot of them will be having a good drink, some less...I'll miss having a drink but since I've been told not to drink on this medicine that's just the way it goes...I'll see what happens in four years time when I can try to phase the medicine out.

[thenortherner]

Two weeks in and still dry. I was previously drinking a couple of cans of Stella a day plus more at the weekends.

I've still 1 can left in the fridge and was momentarily tempted after a crap day at work. It's still sat there.

I've changed my diet too and miss my daily tube of Pringles as a starter whilst tea's cooking.

So far I'm down 7lbs in weight and look and feel better for it.

I bought some alcohol free Bavaria, a couple of mouthfuls of one bottle and they're in the bin. Awful. Will see what else is out there that's alcohol free and low in calories/sugar too.

Edited by thenortherner on Wednesday 16th January 00:04

[funinhounslow]

thenortherner said:

Will see what else is out there that's alcohol free and low in calories/sugar too.

Edited by thenortherner on Wednesday 16th January 00:04

Fizzy water.

When I'm out I usually have a pint of lime and soda - fresh line, not cordial. It's crisp and refreshing and cheap!

Used to buy loads of fizzy water for the house, but was given a soda stream for Xmas (quite retro, didn't know they were still going) so now I can "make my own"

I have yet to find a soft drink that tastes ok and isn't full of sugar, but sparkling water, especially with lemon and/or lime chunks is fine.

[HTP99]

jdw100 said:

One thing I've never really done is drink on my own - maybe 5/6 times a year I might have one beer or a whisky at home on my own.

Something a bit sad I've always felt about people drinking on their own at home -

Funny thing is I'm an at home drinker; get home before the wife, put dinner on and crack open a cider, have another when eating and then when the wife is farting about in the kichen cleaning up and catching up with e-mails, WhatsApps and texts, I will have another whilst watching the TV or on my X-Box, all the while she is having a cup of tea!

I'm not a going to the pub or a club and drinking loads kind of person; TBH I rarely visit the pub and never go to bars or clubs, if we go out for a meal with friends, I will only have a couple, if I am at a gig or festival, I rarely drink, if I offer to drive, it doesn't bother me that I may be missing out on a drink

I think my drinking is a boredom/habit thing.

Anyway I am starting day 16, occasionally I will think "wouldn't mind a nice cold cider" but I am finding is surprisingly easy and generally feeling that I'm not missing it, there is booze in the house but I'm not tempted, instead of sitting infront of the TV when the wife is in the kitchen, I will take one of our dogs out for a walk, get back and have either a coffee or green tea.

My sleep is fantastic, I have lost over half a stone, I did have headaches in the evening but they have now stopped, I wake up with a clear head.

I am not looking at a long term goal of coming off permanently, I just want to see how it pans out.

[Luke.]

HTP99 said:

Funny thing is I'm an at home drinker; get home before the wife, put dinner on and crack open a cider, have another when eating and then when the wife is farting about in the kichen cleaning up and catching up with e-mails, WhatsApps and texts, I will have another whilst watching the TV or on my X-Box, all the while she is having a cup of tea!

I'm not a going to the pub or a club and drinking loads kind of person; TBH I rarely visit the pub and never go to bars or clubs, if we go out for a meal with friends, I will only have a couple, if I am at a gig or festival, I rarely drink, if I offer to drive, it doesn't bother me that I may be missing out on a drink

I think my drinking is a boredom/habit thing.

Anyway I am starting day 16, occasionally I will think "wouldn't mind a nice cold cider" but I am finding is surprisingly easy and generally feeling that I'm not missing it, there is booze in the house but I'm not tempted, instead of sitting infront of the TV when the wife is in the kitchen, I will take one of our dogs out for a walk, get back and have either a coffee or green tea.

My sleep is fantastic, I have lost over half a stone, I did have headaches in the evening but they have now stopped, I wake up with a clear head.

I am not looking at a long term goal of coming off permanently, I just want to see how it pans out.

You've lost half a stone in just over 2 weeks just from not drinking? That's amazing. I'm on day 15 and lost one pound or thereabouts...

[Sebo]

Hodgie said:

There's also a marked improvement with my anxiety and ocd.

This was massive for me, it took me about 3 or 4 months to notice that it had improved though i suspect it had within a couple of months

[ThorB]

Day 16 for me and feeling rather good. However, I've not been properly tested yet. I'm at a works conference tomorrow involving an overnight stay, which will be very boozy for all involved and would normally be for me. Quite looking forward to having a clear head on Friday morning.

[otolith]

Luke. said:

HTP99 said:

Funny thing is I'm an at home drinker; get home before the wife, put dinner on and crack open a cider, have another when eating and then when the wife is farting about in the kichen cleaning up and catching up with e-mails, WhatsApps and texts, I will have another whilst watching the TV or on my X-Box, all the while she is having a cup of tea!

I'm not a going to the pub or a club and drinking loads kind of person; TBH I rarely visit the pub and never go to bars or clubs, if we go out for a meal with friends, I will only have a couple, if I am at a gig or festival, I rarely drink, if I offer to drive, it doesn't bother me that I may be missing out on a drink

I think my drinking is a boredom/habit thing.

Anyway I am starting day 16, occasionally I will think "wouldn't mind a nice cold cider" but I am finding is surprisingly easy and generally feeling that I'm not missing it, there is booze in the house but I'm not tempted, instead of sitting infront of the TV when the wife is in the kitchen, I will take one of our dogs out for a walk, get back and have either a coffee or green tea.

My sleep is fantastic, I have lost over half a stone, I did have headaches in the evening but they have now stopped, I wake up with a clear head.

I am not looking at a long term goal of coming off permanently, I just want to see how it pans out.

You've lost half a stone in just over 2 weeks just from not drinking? That's amazing. I'm on day 15 and lost one pound or thereabouts...

3 cans of cider a day. Can of cider is maybe 200 calories. 600 calories a day * 16 = 9600 calories. 9600 / 3500 calories per pound of fat loss = 2.7lb. 7lb is quite good going on that basis.

[HTP99]

otolith said:

Luke. said:

HTP99 said:

Funny thing is I'm an at home drinker; get home before the wife, put dinner on and crack open a cider, have another when eating and then when the wife is farting about in the kichen cleaning up and catching up with e-mails, WhatsApps and texts, I will have another whilst watching the TV or on my X-Box, all the while she is having a cup of tea!

I'm not a going to the pub or a club and drinking loads kind of person; TBH I rarely visit the pub and never go to bars or clubs, if we go out for a meal with friends, I will only have a couple, if I am at a gig or festival, I rarely drink, if I offer to drive, it doesn't bother me that I may be missing out on a drink

I think my drinking is a boredom/habit thing.

Anyway I am starting day 16, occasionally I will think "wouldn't mind a nice cold cider" but I am finding is surprisingly easy and generally feeling that I'm not missing it, there is booze in the house but I'm not tempted, instead of sitting infront of the TV when the wife is in the kitchen, I will take one of our dogs out for a walk, get back and have either a coffee or green tea.

My sleep is fantastic, I have lost over half a stone, I did have headaches in the evening but they have now stopped, I wake up with a clear head.

I am not looking at a long term goal of coming off permanently, I just want to see how it pans out.

You've lost half a stone in just over 2 weeks just from not drinking? That's amazing. I'm on day 15 and lost one pound or thereabouts...

3 cans of cider a day. Can of cider is maybe 200 calories. 600 calories a day * 16 = 9600 calories. 9600 / 3500 calories per pound of fat loss = 2.7lb. 7lb is quite good going on that basis.

Henry Westons 8.2% 500ml bottle, has 280 calories, 3 of those of an evening, sometimes 4, the odd glass of wine too and occasional rum.

I have lost 3.9kg since the beginning of January.

[otolith]

HTP99 said:

Henry Westons 8.2% 500ml bottle, has 280 calories, 3 of those of an evening, sometimes 4, the odd glass of wine too and occasional rum.

I have lost 3.9kg since the beginning of January.

Yeah, that works!

[ThorB]

otolith said:

HTP99 said:

Henry Westons 8.2% 500ml bottle, has 280 calories, 3 of those of an evening, sometimes 4, the odd glass of wine too and occasional rum.

I have lost 3.9kg since the beginning of January.

Yeah, that works!

I must admit I did think 3 small bottles cider per night would not appear to be much of an issue to me, however those Henry Weston's look to pack quite a punch.

[Budflicker]

ThorB said:

I must admit I did think 3 small bottles cider per night would not appear to be much of an issue to me, however those Henry Weston's look to pack quite a punch.

Yep, Henry Westons are the middle class version of White lightning, only stronger....

[anonymous-user]

thenortherner said:

I bought some alcohol free Bavaria, a couple of mouthfuls of one bottle and they're in the bin. Awful. Will see what else is out there that's alcohol free and low in calories/sugar too.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 16th January 00:04

I'm not doing dry anything but the Mrs is (and has done lots of times in the past). We have tried lots of none alchol free beer. So far the best is Heinkein, Bud, then becks.

[zygalski]

HTP99 said:

Henry Westons 8.2% 500ml bottle, has 280 calories, 3 of those of an evening, sometimes 4, the odd glass of wine too and occasional rum.

I have lost 3.9kg since the beginning of January.

2 litres of HW vintage?
fk me, back when I was drinking 2 bottles of that stuff gave me the wobbles.
I do seem to recall it being 8.7% abv though.

[jdw100]

HTP99 said:

jdw100 said:

One thing I've never really done is drink on my own - maybe 5/6 times a year I might have one beer or a whisky at home on my own.

Something a bit sad I've always felt about people drinking on their own at home -

Funny thing is I'm an at home drinker; get home before the wife, put dinner on and crack open a cider, have another when eating and then when the wife is farting about in the kichen cleaning up and catching up with e-mails, WhatsApps and texts, I will have another whilst watching the TV or on my X-Box, all the while she is having a cup of tea!

I'm not a going to the pub or a club and drinking loads kind of person; TBH I rarely visit the pub and never go to bars or clubs, if we go out for a meal with friends, I will only have a couple, if I am at a gig or festival, I rarely drink, if I offer to drive, it doesn't bother me that I may be missing out on a drink

I think my drinking is a boredom/habit thing.

Anyway I am starting day 16, occasionally I will think "wouldn't mind a nice cold cider" but I am finding is surprisingly easy and generally feeling that I'm not missing it, there is booze in the house but I'm not tempted, instead of sitting infront of the TV when the wife is in the kitchen, I will take one of our dogs out for a walk, get back and have either a coffee or green tea.

My sleep is fantastic, I have lost over half a stone, I did have headaches in the evening but they have now stopped, I wake up with a clear head.

I am not looking at a long term goal of coming off permanently, I just want to see how it pans out.

As i said in my post, to be clear - just not my thing...rather have a cup of tea at home.

Good work on the weight loss! That's amazing..

Headaches, you may just be taking in more liquids?

When I was getting checked over (I've given up alcohol because of medication - not choice) I did mention headaches as I was getting quite a few.

My doctor asked how much water I was drinking each day. I estimated about 1.5 litres, unless I'm out running or on a longer walk, plus teas, coffees.

She immediately said I want you to be drinking 3 litres a day.

Now bear in mind the temperature where I live is always between 27-31C in the daytime.

Well, okay....seemed like a lot...but no more headaches! Not had one in 8 months. Took my body a while to adjust - I was certainly pissing a lot more to start with that's for sure but I seem to have adapted now and not a single headache.

My advice for everyone - drink more water.

[blue_haddock]

I love Westons Vintage but 4 at a time would be hard going!

I've not had a drink since 23rd December, a combination of being ill and just not feeling the need to have a drink.

No real reason why and no specific goal so will just see how i go.

[Scabutz]

bristolracer said:

Watched this the other day

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bhkc8b/dri...

May be of some interest to some on here.

I had recorded this when it was on in the summer. Watched it last night. Wow, it was like watching myself, all the things he said about using it to deal with anxiety and depression, not understanding why we drink or have to drink, the excuses we use to justify and excuse our drinking. I've never been so impacted by a TV programme in my life. Really made my think about my relationship with alcohol.

Whilst I am here at the min aiming for the year off I wonder now if I need to never drink again. I know I can't moderate. The look on the professors face when Adrian told him how much he had been drinking was shocking. For a while, especially in December, I have been drinking more than he has. I was clocking 140+ units a week.

I actually feel like writing Adrian a letter thanking him for that show.