365 days without booze... join me?

[AB]

Hope it works out for them.

[J4CKO]

First week has been dead easy, not even tempted when the wife has had a drink as not bothered and I know if I cracked I would never hear the end of it

I dont drink that much, not every day but I can put it away with enthusiasm.

Miss going in the local for a gab, can always have a soft drink but the folk in there scare me with what they drink, six pints in the pub a night, go home, bottle of wine and then a few whiskies, every night.

[HairyMaclary]

First week down. Joined the gym and have been every other night.

I feel great.

Been sleeping much better and have more energy. My mood seems to be more even.

In the dry January app I estimated I was drinking 50 odd units a week. So have saved £55 quid and nearly 3500 calories this week alone.

I've had anxiety issues for years and for the first time in years this has minimised. Being honest I was using booze to make the anxious feeling go away. I know drinking isn't good for depression etc but I didn't realise how much its minimised this. I could just be having a good week but...

Thanks to whoever posted the alcohol explained book. Have tried Allen Carr in the past but AE has answered so many questions.

Long may this continue.

[othername]

No surprise this thread ramps up just after new year: folks feeling that new start motivation, others who've overindulged and see this as motivation. I'll add another one: joining the thread with a different username because your drinking has become a really big problem, and wanting a sounding board to help. I'm all of the above.

I've got into a habit of binging, with progressively worse after effects depending how many days it lasts - last one was 5 days from NYE till Sunday. That's having a strong tin of lager or three during the day, ramping up to wine in the evening with lager on the side. That I've started hiding the lagers from my g/f and drinking them in the shower, or if she pops out to work or the shops is a really bad sign - like a bottle of wine and 3/4 tinnies through the day isn't enough. I kid myself on that I'll be ok, I'll just stop, eat well, go run/cycle. Well no, it's very far from ok. Monday resulted in terrible acid reflux (I have a condition that I know about, stupid tt), so much stomach and chest pain. Add that to the really bad anxiety attacks which see me popping beta blockers to try and keep it under control. Shakes, sweating, palpitations, fear of imminent death, unable to sleep because every time I drop off I stop breathing, then when I do eventually get to sleep I wake up 20mins later with terrifying dreams. Add in the being constantly sick and unable to eat because of the stomach problem - which obviously is the last thing my body needs. I lie in bed listening to my heart doing weird st, then get dizzy and think "is this it"? All because I get into a hedonistic mode of thinking this boozing lark is really good fun. I still feel awful today - dizzy, light headed, tight chested. But at least I'm alive, which on Monday night I really wasn't sure would be the case. Next time may be the one that kills me - it's not unheard of for people to have seizures after stopping a binge. So it has to change. It HAS to. FWIW I've done this stupidity maybe 5 times last year, with the NYE one being the worst.

So, it's time to change before I either damage myself irreversibly (maybe I already have, the doctors have me in for a liver scan on Friday because they weren't happy with the last blood test) or throw away my career and relationship. I'm not sure I can start with something as overbearing as 'never again' or 'a calendar year' but I totally get using what other have said - start with a day, that becomes a week, and so on. I did 2months before having only intended on a couple of weeks detox health kick. Might explore local alcohol groups, just sharing here helps (it's my dirty secret, so I don't share with anyone else) so perhaps it'll be really powerful to sit in a room with folks who share the same issue. Anyway, if you've got this far, thanks for reading - and here's to 2020 being different (so I can actually see NYE 2021 )

[thatsprettyshady]

Hi I'm a week in now, reflect what others have said - My mood is better, anxiety is minimal and I'm sleeping tonnes better! Have also done a few things this week that I've been putting off for ages.

[CrossMember]

othername said:

...some all too familiar stuff...

Just want to wish you the best, and that it absolutely is possible to break the cycle. No need to do it alone. I couldn't, and had to ask for help, and that worked, and I wish I had sooner. I've even dropped one of very helpful pills after only 3 months.

Keep coming back here and checking in, and be open with those around you (family and friends and your GP) so they can help.

[chrisp84]

HairyMaclary said:

First week down. Joined the gym and have been every other night.

I feel great.

Been sleeping much better and have more energy. My mood seems to be more even.

In the dry January app I estimated I was drinking 50 odd units a week. So have saved £55 quid and nearly 3500 calories this week alone.

I've had anxiety issues for years and for the first time in years this has minimised. Being honest I was using booze to make the anxious feeling go away. I know drinking isn't good for depression etc but I didn't realise how much its minimised this. I could just be having a good week but...

Thanks to whoever posted the alcohol explained book. Have tried Allen Carr in the past but AE has answered so many questions.

Long may this continue.

10 days in here and I'm exactly the same. Suffered with depression and stress/anxiety for years and can't believe how good I feel...can't believe I'm feeling good at all to be honest. Same niggling doubt too that maybe it's just a good couple of weeks and it'll get bad again.

I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.

[Blib]

Be aware of the "pink cloud" phenomenon.

The mental, physical and emotional lift that comes from stopping drinking. This buzz can continue for days, weeks or in some cases, months.

Eventually, it will wane as the novelty of not drinking wears off and you may experience a dip in emotional state, irritability and even a depressive episode.

This is normal and will pass too.

[Stuart70]

Fell off the wagon hard last night. First drink since NYE.
Feel shocking today.

Still, climb back on, I was feeling so much better - sleeping well, heart rate better, weight starting to come down.
Bloody habits! Onwards and upwards again....

[365Clean]

Stuart70 said:

Fell off the wagon hard last night. First drink since NYE.
Feel shocking today.

Still, climb back on, I was feeling so much better - sleeping well, heart rate better, weight starting to come down.
Bloody habits! Onwards and upwards again....

It's only 1 day. Just get through tonight and you're back on it. And try to remember how you feel this morning against how you felt yesterday morning.

[Davie_GLA]

i passsd the 6 months mark the other day. I think it's only JUST now that i've got some sort of normality back with my sleeping.

Next thing is to get my arse to the gym i've been donating to for these 6 months. Why can't i just get up and go to the bloody place...

[Stuart70]

365Clean said:

It's only 1 day. Just get through tonight and you're back on it. And try to remember how you feel this morning against how you felt yesterday morning.

Thanks mate, agree completely and am comfortable with it.
Running around delivering teenage son here and there tonight, so all good with not drinking.
You are definitely right about how I am feeling today!

[Boney2728]

Last year, I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic with also high fat in my bloods and a fatty liver. I was drinking a crate of beer a week plus other drinks such as JD, Single Malts, Cider etc. I took it on myself to cut this out and see where it would lead me.

After numerous blood tests throughout the year, the last one just before Christmas. I have now received some good news. I am no longer Pre-Diabetic and all my other bloods are now normal.

So pleased with myself and all as a result of cutting out the alcohol.

[Stuart70]

Boney2728 said:

Last year, I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic with also high fat in my bloods and a fatty liver. I was drinking a crate of beer a week plus other drinks such as JD, Single Malts, Cider etc. I took it on myself to cut this out and see where it would lead me.

After numerous blood tests throughout the year, the last one just before Christmas. I have now received some good news. I am no longer Pre-Diabetic and all my other bloods are now normal.

So pleased with myself and all as a result of cutting out the alcohol.

Well done that man. I would do one of those high 5 emoji things, if I was not incompetent!!

[Captain Smerc]

quote=Stuart70]

Boney2728 said:

Last year, I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic with also high fat in my bloods and a fatty liver. I was drinking a crate of beer a week plus other drinks such as JD, Single Malts, Cider etc. I took it on myself to cut this out and see where it would lead me.

After numerous blood tests throughout the year, the last one just before Christmas. I have now received some good news. I am no longer Pre-Diabetic and all my other bloods are now normal.

So pleased with myself and all as a result of cutting out the alcohol.

Well done that man. I would do one of those high 5 emoji things, if I was not incompetent!!

[HairyMaclary]

Boney2728 said:

Last year, I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic with also high fat in my bloods and a fatty liver. I was drinking a crate of beer a week plus other drinks such as JD, Single Malts, Cider etc. I took it on myself to cut this out and see where it would lead me.

After numerous blood tests throughout the year, the last one just before Christmas. I have now received some good news. I am no longer Pre-Diabetic and all my other bloods are now normal.

So pleased with myself and all as a result of cutting out the alcohol.

We'll done!

That's almost a really good reason to celebrate with a drink

I had my first real craving for a pint today. Rolling up to 5pm and thought only another half an hour to go till I reward the end of the week with a pint.

Then I remembered

Still opened a becks blue and patted myself on the back. Had a couple of texts about going for a pint later. Im going to avoid it. Not because I will drink.... I just want an early night. For the first time in years my yin and yang are aligned as in I'm both mentally and physically tired at the end of the week. The gym has seen to the latter.

[Stu-nph26]

It's 16 weeks now since I have a tipple. Finding it very easy now although I have drifted away from some friends as their lives seem to revolve around drinking every weekend.

I've also managed to shift 25 pounds (could do with another 25), ran 5k with the help of the couch to 5k app, and trained hard in the gym hitting PB's in my squat, deadlift, and 500m row.

Here's to another 16 weeks.

[jjaack]

Well done everyone 👍
Its been 5 months and 10 days here according to the app
(Drink free days, it's the same people who did couch to 5k and smoke free days.)
I did visit a.a. a few times it did help but it wasnt for me everyone I met there were really nice, welcoming and helped me feel at ease, which was really nice it wasnt for me though I've no idea why I felt like that but I just did.
If you go back to about the 1st of Aug or just after my "story" is there, its grim but may help someone? Feel free to p.m. or ask here if you like.
I do go out for social events a few times a month, mostly with my Dad and his mates, he's 70+ and doesn't know half of it.
The local serviceman club has a kettle on the bar so they make me a tea when they go up for a round and I give them a lift home, so that's one day a week sorted, theres a whole shelf of alchol free in the supermarket so bud blue warsteiner and peroni 0.0% are good in that order I also had a bottle of 0.0% red on xmas day which was ok with my dinner.

[Jamie VTS]

Day 10 for me.

I’ve been a habitual drinker and have steadily ramped up the consumption, to the point that 3 or 4 beers was a norm on a week day.

Some observations so far;

- alcohol free beer is okay, it quenches a craving for me.
- I have so much more time and am beginning to wonder how I actually did anything whilst drinking daily
- it is possible to come home without going to the pub
- alcohol really smells, at the football I could smell it on the breath of the man sat next to me.
- I’m sleeping much better and feel far more energised
- I’ve been motivated to go to the gym and have been 4 times since Monday
- I’ve eaten healthily (as soon as I’m a beer deep all of my self control disappears in regards to food!)
- weirdly my weight has increased by half a pound which I’m a bit gutted about, but hoping it’ll kick in soon and I’ll start losing weight

[Davie_GLA]

Well done everyone.

I decided this week was going to be my tester week.

I attended four events that would have had me either drinking while I was there or as soon as I got home. Last one was tonight and there was a raffle that had bottles and bottles of booze, including a FIVE litre bottle of jack Daniels. I didn't even know they came that big.

But, never felt like I wanted to booze, did my piece and left, no harm no foul.