365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
Hmm - the "not feeling better" bit.
Well I never really noticed when I started ...
But overall, since I gave up I've generally felt worse!
Had Sepsis (not fun)
Discovered I had one Aortic Dissection
Discovered High Blood Pressure
Discovered I had another Aortic Dissection
Total 18 days in hospital
Regular visits and blood tests
Six pills a day
I regularly find myself saying I wouldn't have all these problems if I hadn't given up!
Only needs the next issue for me to throw the towel in and go back to drinking heavily!!!!
Well I never really noticed when I started ...
But overall, since I gave up I've generally felt worse!
Had Sepsis (not fun)
Discovered I had one Aortic Dissection
Discovered High Blood Pressure
Discovered I had another Aortic Dissection
Total 18 days in hospital
Regular visits and blood tests
Six pills a day
I regularly find myself saying I wouldn't have all these problems if I hadn't given up!
Only needs the next issue for me to throw the towel in and go back to drinking heavily!!!!
Congrats to all who’ve managed to stop or substantially cut down.
I’m on take 2 - last time only managed a couple of weeks and then Xmas and hols got in the way.
I used to get this buzzing feeling after about 3 or 4 drinks, would feel more confident, problems would disappear and the world would look a much better place.
However, I no longer get that buzz and it feels like that switch doesn’t work anymore. Possibly because on the whole, life has improved and things are generally good. This hasn’t stopped me looking for that magic change after a few drinks. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone..
Anyway, I find it far easier to not drink than it is to only have a couple.. if I start, I, always looking for ‘just one more’.
I plan to kick the habit, throw myself into the gym, cycling and whatever else keeps me active. I want to get my body fat back into the teens and hopefully losing the alcohol calories along with losing the junk food calories will help!
I’m on take 2 - last time only managed a couple of weeks and then Xmas and hols got in the way.
I used to get this buzzing feeling after about 3 or 4 drinks, would feel more confident, problems would disappear and the world would look a much better place.
However, I no longer get that buzz and it feels like that switch doesn’t work anymore. Possibly because on the whole, life has improved and things are generally good. This hasn’t stopped me looking for that magic change after a few drinks. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone..
Anyway, I find it far easier to not drink than it is to only have a couple.. if I start, I, always looking for ‘just one more’.
I plan to kick the habit, throw myself into the gym, cycling and whatever else keeps me active. I want to get my body fat back into the teens and hopefully losing the alcohol calories along with losing the junk food calories will help!
500 Miles said:
Congrats to all who’ve managed to stop or substantially cut down.
I’m on take 2 - last time only managed a couple of weeks and then Xmas and hols got in the way.
I used to get this buzzing feeling after about 3 or 4 drinks, would feel more confident, problems would disappear and the world would look a much better place.
However, I no longer get that buzz and it feels like that switch doesn’t work anymore. Possibly because on the whole, life has improved and things are generally good. This hasn’t stopped me looking for that magic change after a few drinks. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone..
Anyway, I find it far easier to not drink than it is to only have a couple.. if I start, I, always looking for ‘just one more’.
I plan to kick the habit, throw myself into the gym, cycling and whatever else keeps me active. I want to get my body fat back into the teens and hopefully losing the alcohol calories along with losing the junk food calories will help!
Meant to add - I’m going to have a full on all body medical examination and scans, it could be sobering to see the damage I’ve caused!I’m on take 2 - last time only managed a couple of weeks and then Xmas and hols got in the way.
I used to get this buzzing feeling after about 3 or 4 drinks, would feel more confident, problems would disappear and the world would look a much better place.
However, I no longer get that buzz and it feels like that switch doesn’t work anymore. Possibly because on the whole, life has improved and things are generally good. This hasn’t stopped me looking for that magic change after a few drinks. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone..
Anyway, I find it far easier to not drink than it is to only have a couple.. if I start, I, always looking for ‘just one more’.
I plan to kick the habit, throw myself into the gym, cycling and whatever else keeps me active. I want to get my body fat back into the teens and hopefully losing the alcohol calories along with losing the junk food calories will help!
I recently listen to this on a recommendation and it's essentially a summary of all my own thoughts and conclusions on drinking.
https://drchatterjee.com/is-it-time-for-a-tactical...
What I thought was very interesting and certainly applied to my own experience was that it takes four or five attempts to get it right. That's true of both cigarettes (Jan 2001) and alcohol (Feb 2012) for me. I had a series of successful and failed dry Januarys, Stoptobers etc. which were socially acceptable tools to take a month off the booze before pulling my finger out and just doing it of my own accord.
Also, for those that are not sure they're reaping the benefits - K12beano excepted - it might be worth talking to a loved one or close friend and see if they've noticed any changes. They can be imperceptible to us, but an outside may notice your skin looks better, or you're chirpier in the mornings, more helpful around the house etc. It can be small and subtle changes in lots of things that add up, not necessarily big ticket items like weight loss or immediate wellbeing.
https://drchatterjee.com/is-it-time-for-a-tactical...
What I thought was very interesting and certainly applied to my own experience was that it takes four or five attempts to get it right. That's true of both cigarettes (Jan 2001) and alcohol (Feb 2012) for me. I had a series of successful and failed dry Januarys, Stoptobers etc. which were socially acceptable tools to take a month off the booze before pulling my finger out and just doing it of my own accord.
Also, for those that are not sure they're reaping the benefits - K12beano excepted - it might be worth talking to a loved one or close friend and see if they've noticed any changes. They can be imperceptible to us, but an outside may notice your skin looks better, or you're chirpier in the mornings, more helpful around the house etc. It can be small and subtle changes in lots of things that add up, not necessarily big ticket items like weight loss or immediate wellbeing.
Into week 12 for me, no idea what my goal is really.
Much happier drinking the occasional 0.4% or alcohol free beer. No desire to touch anything alcoholic.
So far survived a work trip stuck in a premier lodge where normally out of boredom I'd drink loads, a ski trip, few social situations. Summer BBQ will be the next thing.
Weight is dropping slowly, 6lbs down which is poor given the time frame for me but Ive a serious sugar addiction so have the occasional blow out. Diet is improving steadily though.
Much happier drinking the occasional 0.4% or alcohol free beer. No desire to touch anything alcoholic.
So far survived a work trip stuck in a premier lodge where normally out of boredom I'd drink loads, a ski trip, few social situations. Summer BBQ will be the next thing.
Weight is dropping slowly, 6lbs down which is poor given the time frame for me but Ive a serious sugar addiction so have the occasional blow out. Diet is improving steadily though.
jdw100 said:
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?
Calm down darlingheads?Edited by jdw100 on Sunday 16th February 10:20
Maybe because I am also a d
head?Just said it raised a few eyebrows and the occasional jab about not drinking. Same for a recent work Christmas party. Oh why arent you drinking? with raised eyebrows sort of thing. Then thats it, no more mention of it.
Not too far off three months for me as I stopped before Christmas. Definitely feel better overall and have lost some weight- tried on some super skinny trousers I haven’t worn for 5 years when I was at my slimmest and was surprised to find I could get into them.
Downside is that there was a leaving do at work yesterday with free drinks and I couldn’t get the enthusiasm to go (had been a long week) but had I been drinking I’m sure I would have done.
Downside is that there was a leaving do at work yesterday with free drinks and I couldn’t get the enthusiasm to go (had been a long week) but had I been drinking I’m sure I would have done.
Fishlegs said:
Davie_GLA said:
I need to get back to the gym and training. I don't know why I can't just get up and go to the fking gym...
Because it's been so long you've forgotten how good women look when they're bouncing up and down in lycra?king gym...
I'm going to assume Davie isn't in his twenties due to buying a piano, #assumptions... IMO as we get on a bit it gets easier to drop habits but harder to pick new ones up.
Davie_GLA said:
NoVetec said:
Except in January.
I'm going to assume Davie isn't in his twenties due to buying a piano, #assumptions... IMO as we get on a bit it gets easier to drop habits but harder to pick new ones up.
fI'm going to assume Davie isn't in his twenties due to buying a piano, #assumptions... IMO as we get on a bit it gets easier to drop habits but harder to pick new ones up.
k. Now I'm even more self conscious. I'm 40!.Been dealing with more boredom than usual recently, almost bought a beer today in Sainsbury's to go with some Indian snacks. Walked around store few times and managed to settle with dessert instead.
Teetotal all year so far, I have done that for the start of the last 3 years mainly due to having a big cycling endurance event in July. Nothing booked this year. I would normally have a beer afterwards, that isn't on the cards now unless I book something, there was talk of Lands End to JOG.
Just having the odd 0% beer. San Mig and few others are pretty good / or similar to the normal variants. I think I miss a nice glass of red with steak the most.
I follow someone on twitter who is 1600 days sober after a failed suicide attempt, good to see him taking it 1 day at a time. Too be honest it's really not that difficult is it.
Just having the odd 0% beer. San Mig and few others are pretty good / or similar to the normal variants. I think I miss a nice glass of red with steak the most.
I follow someone on twitter who is 1600 days sober after a failed suicide attempt, good to see him taking it 1 day at a time. Too be honest it's really not that difficult is it.
500 Miles said:
Two weeks sober tomorrow - I’m going to assume the world has actually got a lot more depressing than usual and this isn’t just how tea total people feel all the time?
What a time to give up alcohol!
Two weeks is nothing! You haven't even started to feel better yet, at least I hadn't. Give it the full 30 day trial and see. You can always start drinking again! lolWhat a time to give up alcohol!
500 Miles said:
Two weeks sober tomorrow - I’m going to assume the world has actually got a lot more depressing than usual and this isn’t just how tea total people feel all the time?
What a time to give up alcohol!
What a time to be sober... What a time to give up alcohol!
The best advice I've read is that rather than thinking about what your giving up (poison) think about the things you've gained.
I went into my local last night for a AF beer. I lasted 45 minutes before leaving. Was nice to see people but walking into a room full of half cut people stone cold really shows drunken conversation up for what it is. Terrible.
74 days.
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