365 days without booze... join me?

[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.

[Joscal]

Well done all, be warned it gets addictive! In the best possible way..

[1ians]

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....

Don’t feel bad, I fell off last weekend as it went downhill after a meal out. Not managed to get back on since.

[RammyMP]

Had a night away with work last week where I get a £35 allowance to spend on food and drink, I normally have a burger or something and a few pints, this week I had a pint of lemonade. To be fair, I didn’t miss the beer and I felt better for it the next day.

I’m not missing drinking on a Friday night as I got up at 6:30 this morning feeling great where as normally I’ve got a thick head. Tonight may be a struggle, the normal routine for a Saturday is a few beers watching the football then move on to the wine.

...11 days so far though, get today out of the way and it’s an easy route to over half way through the month!

[HairyMaclary]

Day 12. Woke up after a really good sleep and feel like I'd been drinking heavily. What's going on there?

Anxiety has pretty much reduced to nothing. A couple of negative auto thoughts entered my head earlier this week over an issue at work but that didn't last long after having a word with myself.

I gave up caffeine last year so not drinking has massively improved my sleep. I charged the fitbit up to see what's going on. The difference in awake minutes at night is scary when comparing peak pisshead. When I'm asleep now I'm asleep with very few instances of awake. Those that use the app will know what I mean.

This is all pointing to a longer dry January than I had planned.

[bristolracer]

Anyone else feel rough after drinking zero alcohol beers?
Still get a fuzzy head the next morning.

[HTP99]

Work Xmas meal last night; free bar but I didn't tough a drop and tbh I wasn't that bothered and I've woken up this morning with a completely clear head.

Interesting watching my colleagues getting slowly pissed though, it was quite fun seeing the changes in personality and for some the traces of their personality that are there but which tend to be in the background, however with a few drinks in them, these traits becoming a bit more obvious.

I left before it potentially got messy.

Edited by HTP99 on Sunday 12th January 11:35

[Fatlad1973]

bristolracer said:

Anyone else feel rough after drinking zero alcohol beers?
Still get a fuzzy head the next morning.

Definitely: if I have four or more Nanny States or similarly nice alcohol free ales I have a rough head the next day. I'm guessing there's a fair few nasties involved in getting the alcohol out.

I've done dry January for over a decade now, so it's been absolutely fine so far: not even bothered with AF beers yet, although a family gathering at mine today may well involve some.

I'm undecided as to extending the dryness beyond January: in many ways I don't want to give up and I enjoy booze a lot, but the down sides of the occasional out of control binging are significant too.

[ambuletz]

Not wanting to sift thruough 34 pages, my Question...

To those who are sort of used to just having something to sip on during the evenings as something to chill/relax...how did you change it up? did you replace it with something?

I'm thinking that perhaps the answer might be for me to have perhaps some sparkling water with a little cordial.

[Glade]

I noticed today Brewdog AF Punk, has 0.5%... so I guess it is just "low alcohol"... I put the box back as I am doing well so far and it seemed a bit of a cheat!

[Zirconia]

ambuletz said:

Not wanting to sift thruough 34 pages, my Question...

To those who are sort of used to just having something to sip on during the evenings as something to chill/relax...how did you change it up? did you replace it with something?

I'm thinking that perhaps the answer might be for me to have perhaps some sparkling water with a little cordial.

I saw it as a change of attitude, remove the usual and the associated to get out the habit.

But.
A chill for me is a bottle of Fentemans or similar, various niche cordial makers now as well, less preservative used in them compared to the usual suspects. Sparkling water and juice one combination, for the bubbles, but most of the time I slug back tap water (helps with gout) and chop up lemons or oranges and other fruit and drop it in a bottle with the water. Make your own flavours. Though clean the skin on some of them very well.

I steered clear of alcohol free stuff, all back to the complete break.

[Joscal]

I'm fond of soda and lime if I'm out. I did try the AF beers at the start but never liked beer before so really didn't see the point and I had the funny feeling the next day too (not sure if it's placebo?)

There's a whole range of alcohol free spirits being launched too I've only tried Seedlip but again I didn't see the point.

I've ordered three bottles of this to see what it's like, certainly reads well! https://threespiritdrinks.com/

They should be arriving today so I'll keep you posted.

[funinhounslow]

ambuletz said:

Not wanting to sift thruough 34 pages, my Question...

To those who are sort of used to just having something to sip on during the evenings as something to chill/relax...how did you change it up? did you replace it with something?

I'm thinking that perhaps the answer might be for me to have perhaps some sparkling water with a little cordial.

I was given a Soda Stream last year (has no idea they still made them!) so I have a fizzy water - adds a bit of “interest”. Prior to that I was buying loads of sparking water so the Soda Stream makes sense.

When I’m out I just stick to soda water with lemon and lime chunks (no cordial). Soft drinks and fruit juices are too sugary for me

[Norfolk B-roads]

Joscal said:

...

I've ordered three bottles of this to see what it's like, certainly reads well! https://threespiritdrinks.com/

They should be arriving today so I'll keep you posted.

Please do, I'm curious.

Although, I'm worried about the habitual aspect of pouring a sipping drink of an evening. I really don't know if it's a step forwards by offering an alternative to alcoholic drinks, or a step backwards by reinforcing old habits. I'm not interested in the various gin substitutes, but these seems different enough to maybe not have a direct mental link to an equivalent spirit which I'd no doubt prefer. I might give these a cautious go if your reports are positive.

EDIT: Never mind, just saw the prices. Hilarious.

Edited by Norfolk B-roads on Monday 13th January 12:27

[bristolracer]

funinhounslow said:

I was given a Soda Stream last year (has no idea they still made them!) so I have a fizzy water - adds a bit of “interest”. Prior to that I was buying loads of sparking water so the Soda Stream makes sense.

Do these use the little gas bottles?
What I'm asking is, does the gas keep ok in them?
If you don't use it for a few weeks would you need to charge it up with a new canister?

[Joscal]

Norfolk B-roads said:

Please do, I'm curious.

Although, I'm worried about the habitual aspect of pouring a sipping drink of an evening. I really don't know if it's a step forwards by offering an alternative to alcoholic drinks, or a step backwards by reinforcing old habits. I'm not interested in the various gin substitutes, but these seems different enough to maybe not have a direct mental link to an equivalent spirit which I'd no doubt prefer. I might give these a cautious go if your reports are positive.

EDIT: Never mind, just saw the prices. Hilarious.

Edited by Norfolk B-roads on Monday 13th January 12:27

I know exactly what you mean, it's strange isn't it I don't actually "need" a drink anymore as I'm nearly three years (with the odd wobble) off the strong stuff.

I think I'll keep it for special occasions or if I'm going out as I'm past the what do I do with my hands phase!

It is expensive, but I used to spend way more on a night out so I'm using man maths as always..

[thatsprettyshady]

Day 12 for me, had my last drink on New Years day, longest I've gone without a drink in ages! I've definitely had more energy and got up early each day without the effort required after an evening on the sauce.

Had a nice surprise today too, I've put on a bunch of weight recently and have not changed my diet since quitting the drink but I've managed to lose 6lbs with no effort at all. Mood is also better and I think the anti-depressant I've been taking for years has started working again.

[Smitters]

My go-to drink is now lime and soda in the pub, occasionally diet coke or ginger beer.

At home, it's water, coffee (caffeine free ater midday), various fruity teas, squash or one of those fizzy tabs for vitamins.