365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
Don't be afraid to do things, but go with a plan. Don't just turn up and see what happens, or what happens might well be relapse.
Go fully stocked with your favourite soft drinks for the fridge. Don't wait to see what's offered, in case the choice is beer or tap water.
Go with a list in your phone of interesting soft drinks you will order at the bar. Don't stand at the bar and try to decide what you fancy, because what you fancy will be a pint. Just read the list, order that, and go sit down again. Repeat all night. Job done.
Go with a plan to be in bed by 11pm, just about the time everyone else's slurred rambling and fermented breath becomes intolerable.
Go with a plan to be designated driver at every available chance.
Lock down your options as much as you can until you've locked it down so much that you're comfortable you'll get through it. Arriving with a clear vision of how you're going to get out the other side.
Don't leave it to chance, will power or anything else fallible.
Share your plan with anyone who has concerns about whether you can do this. Maybe they'll have some good ideas too.
Go fully stocked with your favourite soft drinks for the fridge. Don't wait to see what's offered, in case the choice is beer or tap water.
Go with a list in your phone of interesting soft drinks you will order at the bar. Don't stand at the bar and try to decide what you fancy, because what you fancy will be a pint. Just read the list, order that, and go sit down again. Repeat all night. Job done.
Go with a plan to be in bed by 11pm, just about the time everyone else's slurred rambling and fermented breath becomes intolerable.
Go with a plan to be designated driver at every available chance.
Lock down your options as much as you can until you've locked it down so much that you're comfortable you'll get through it. Arriving with a clear vision of how you're going to get out the other side.
Don't leave it to chance, will power or anything else fallible.
Share your plan with anyone who has concerns about whether you can do this. Maybe they'll have some good ideas too.
365Clean said:
Brilliant, I'm flying out this weekend on a 4 day lads ski trip. This normally involves starting drinking around 4pm each day and pushing through til around midnight, 4 nights on the bounce. Mornings are generally painful, but the clean air and exercise have normally meant I'm ok by lunchtime.
How did you find it?
It will be interesting to see my what my tolerance levels are like after a few hours of my mates drinking Jagerbombs, pints and flaming Sambukas. Fortunately, there will be 2 of us not drinking, so we may slope off early doors to the Spa each night if it gets painful.
I'm also very excited to see what hangover free skiing is like - for the last 20 years skiing and heavy drinking seem to have gone hand in hand.
Great trip. The not drinking thing has raised a few eyebrows like you the friends I'm with I'd normally get very merry and wake up feeling a little dull but not this time. Just trying to get through to them that I just dont want to drink that's all. Means I'm a boring cu** apparently.How did you find it?
It will be interesting to see my what my tolerance levels are like after a few hours of my mates drinking Jagerbombs, pints and flaming Sambukas. Fortunately, there will be 2 of us not drinking, so we may slope off early doors to the Spa each night if it gets painful.
I'm also very excited to see what hangover free skiing is like - for the last 20 years skiing and heavy drinking seem to have gone hand in hand.
Only issue is really I'm sober when said friends are talking total crap when drunk which isnt amusing in the slightest. Also means when I want to go to bed at 11ish they will be awake chatting until 1am. Good you've got someone else not drinking, suspect you'll bond better with that person than the rest.
Norfolk B-roads said:
No, I don't think you have sinned or failed, unless you specifically set yourself a target not to sip 0.4% beer?
I had a few pints of Punk AF (0.5%) on a night out, and felt nothing. I think I can metabolise that sort of ABV quite easily without any effect building up.
Each to their own, of course, but I'd happily treat 0.5% as "alcohol free" for all practical purposes, as the rate I'd have to consume the stuff to feel anything would be almost impossible, and certainly not normal pint-supping speed. Remember, lots of foods contain trace amounts of alcohol, so really this question is more of a psychological one than a physical one. How does having a sip of low alcohol beer make you feel about your drinking? Does it feel like failure, or does it feel like drinking beer-flavoured soft drinks?
Feels like drinking beer flavoured soft drinks. Some of the alcohol free stuff I've had in finland has been great to the point I actually questioned if it was alcohol free.I had a few pints of Punk AF (0.5%) on a night out, and felt nothing. I think I can metabolise that sort of ABV quite easily without any effect building up.
Each to their own, of course, but I'd happily treat 0.5% as "alcohol free" for all practical purposes, as the rate I'd have to consume the stuff to feel anything would be almost impossible, and certainly not normal pint-supping speed. Remember, lots of foods contain trace amounts of alcohol, so really this question is more of a psychological one than a physical one. How does having a sip of low alcohol beer make you feel about your drinking? Does it feel like failure, or does it feel like drinking beer-flavoured soft drinks?
Not sure what my target is if I'm honest. Mainly want to kick a bad habit and see if I can just drink on occasion rather than drinking at home.
I feel a different person off booze though so will try keep it up
Day 37 here. As I mentioned much, much earlier in this thread I could polish off - and did - a bottle of Vodka each day, plus whatever 'normal' drinks were about. Am now on Disulfiram tablets (you'll know it as Antabuse probably). Feeling better in every way, I wish I could have been prescribed these 3 years ago, but truth be told I didn't want to stop.
Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
mattnovak said:
Day 37 here. As I mentioned much, much earlier in this thread I could polish off - and did - a bottle of Vodka each day, plus whatever 'normal' drinks were about. Am now on Disulfiram tablets (you'll know it as Antabuse probably). Feeling better in every way, I wish I could have been prescribed these 3 years ago, but truth be told I didn't want to stop.
Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
As i was thinking at one point there was no way i could quite before it killed me i was thinking about these pills. Are they designed to make you so ill if you drink that you wish you never so much as considered a drink in the first place? Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
I seen in the news that Gazza has zome pellet things sewn into is gut to help him along the way.
I think i'm at the annoyed stage. Why do people who drank more than me, helped it along with so much drugs, prescription or otherwise get a clean bill of health (within reason). Why aren't they being monitored for severe liver issues? Luck? Money? Both?
mattnovak said:
Day 37 here. As I mentioned much, much earlier in this thread I could polish off - and did - a bottle of Vodka each day, plus whatever 'normal' drinks were about. Am now on Disulfiram tablets (you'll know it as Antabuse probably). Feeling better in every way, I wish I could have been prescribed these 3 years ago, but truth be told I didn't want to stop.
Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
Zero judgement, just plain curiosity - how long does it take to build 1ltr of vodka per day levels of tolerance?Anyway, congrats to those still on the wagon and I send my support and encouragement to those trying. You'll get there!
How drunk did a litre get you?
Again, sheer curiosity, no judgement whatsoever.
JFReturns said:
After three attempts I made a year thanks to this thread! 28/12/18 to 28/12/19. Felt really good, slept well, more productive, not tired. Plus it gets easier and easier so stick with it chaps!
Well done! I'm finding it more difficult tbh. Day 45 and I could murder a pint. Felt like this for a couple of days now after January was easy.
Will not give in! Need 100 days at least... Plus I've lost weight, sleep well, no anxiety and my bank balance is unfamiliarly good.
Bathroom_Security said:
Great trip. The not drinking thing has raised a few eyebrows like you the friends I'm with I'd normally get very merry and wake up feeling a little dull but not this time. Just trying to get through to them that I just dont want to drink that's all. Means I'm a boring cu** apparently.
Only issue is really I'm sober when said friends are talking total crap when drunk which isnt amusing in the slightest. Also means when I want to go to bed at 11ish they will be awake chatting until 1am. Good you've got someone else not drinking, suspect you'll bond better with that person than the rest.
Might I suggest you get better friends?Only issue is really I'm sober when said friends are talking total crap when drunk which isnt amusing in the slightest. Also means when I want to go to bed at 11ish they will be awake chatting until 1am. Good you've got someone else not drinking, suspect you'll bond better with that person than the rest.
I stopped drinking two years ago after developing epilepsy . So not through choice but because of medication and its generally not a good idea with my condition.
I don't have a single friend or family member that has been any less than very supportive. This includes friends (male and female) that I've been out with on hundreds of nights out: some of them very very big nights out! Weeks in Ibiza, many many club excursions on drink and plenty of other stuff.
Friends where I live now: used to meet some of them for sunset beers or a night out. Tend instead to go out more for coffee of a morning. If we do go out then they very well understand my situation and there is absolutely no pressure to drink.
Friends in UK, I'd fly in every now and again and have some mental nights out. I now see them for long lunches instead or if we go out they are fine with me heading back early to wherever I'm staying. Very rarely have to buy a round as I'm only on soda (or coffee) so they think it unfair that I should be buying a big round of cocktails etc. I insist on trying to buy a round, of course
I have a mate who works in Singapore on occasion - I fly in for a Friday or Saturday night out. We now are working our way through restaurants instead of bars. Always starting with roof top bar - soda for me, beer for him.
Etc...etc...
If you have friends that actually have an issue with you not drinking or try to put pressure on you to drink...why are you hanging around with such d
heads?Two years with no drink (well, three very small whiskys) - no issue. Will power.
Edited by jdw100 on Sunday 16th February 10:20
Going to New York on Weds for our anniversary so will have a few drinks, will have been 50 days without, not actually that bothered but will probably have a few.
When I get back its back to no drinking, trying to make it the exception rather than the rule, trying to lose weight and its just not compatible for me, will set a target of say drop a stone, then have a night out with a few drinks, when I am at my target maintain weight from there but with much less alcohol.
When I get back its back to no drinking, trying to make it the exception rather than the rule, trying to lose weight and its just not compatible for me, will set a target of say drop a stone, then have a night out with a few drinks, when I am at my target maintain weight from there but with much less alcohol.
HairyMaclary said:
50 days sober today. If you asked me in November I would have said I'd never manage that. Pleased with myself 
Good going, 50 days for me too.A few cravings but usually mild and I sort of enjoyed saying no to myself.
Haven't had any big situational tests yet though...
Well done all!
Yup I had some major cravings yesterday and put it down to wanting to celebrate a situation with booze. Stuck with it.
I have a major test every 2 weeks as I run the charity pub quiz in our local and I get paid in beer. Just stuck to the AF beer and Pepsi now but that's been hard. I have done this for 4 years now but thinking of packing it in soon. Doesn't seem as 'fun' and drunk people arguing about answers in a charity quiz gets boring pretty quickly. Didn't notice this when I was drinking!
Yup I had some major cravings yesterday and put it down to wanting to celebrate a situation with booze. Stuck with it.
I have a major test every 2 weeks as I run the charity pub quiz in our local and I get paid in beer. Just stuck to the AF beer and Pepsi now but that's been hard. I have done this for 4 years now but thinking of packing it in soon. Doesn't seem as 'fun' and drunk people arguing about answers in a charity quiz gets boring pretty quickly. Didn't notice this when I was drinking!
Quality of sleep I’ve found to be the biggest benefit so far but it takes a few days to get into a sleep routine after boozing.
I also find I can gym the day after a booze as I’m Just too lethargic so I end up cancelling gym classes that I’ve booked.
Also weight seems to fall off with no alcohol.
All in all booze has zero be benefits once you get passed that enjoyable couple of hours when you are drinking
I also find I can gym the day after a booze as I’m Just too lethargic so I end up cancelling gym classes that I’ve booked.
Also weight seems to fall off with no alcohol.
All in all booze has zero be benefits once you get passed that enjoyable couple of hours when you are drinking
toastyhamster said:
Another 50 up here.
Over achieved what I set out to do (dry Jan), not too fussed now whether I drink or not, happily have a beer or whatever if I feel like it when out, biggest thing for me is not drinking at home.
Don't actually feel any better, unlike many :-(
In terms of not feeling better - I’ve tried the year with no booze a few times (made it to August, April and June previously) and felt amazing within two weeks.Over achieved what I set out to do (dry Jan), not too fussed now whether I drink or not, happily have a beer or whatever if I feel like it when out, biggest thing for me is not drinking at home.
Don't actually feel any better, unlike many :-(
However, last year (the successful one!) I did not feel good at all, even going into March. Maybe it could be put down to minor bugs going round, not sure, but I’m confident you WILL feel better so keep going. I reckon by summer you’ll be buzzing
JFReturns said:
toastyhamster said:
Another 50 up here.
Over achieved what I set out to do (dry Jan), not too fussed now whether I drink or not, happily have a beer or whatever if I feel like it when out, biggest thing for me is not drinking at home.
Don't actually feel any better, unlike many :-(
In terms of not feeling better - I’ve tried the year with no booze a few times (made it to August, April and June previously) and felt amazing within two weeks.Over achieved what I set out to do (dry Jan), not too fussed now whether I drink or not, happily have a beer or whatever if I feel like it when out, biggest thing for me is not drinking at home.
Don't actually feel any better, unlike many :-(
However, last year (the successful one!) I did not feel good at all, even going into March. Maybe it could be put down to minor bugs going round, not sure, but I’m confident you WILL feel better so keep going. I reckon by summer you’ll be buzzing
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff