365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
GT3Manthey said:
Well the football wasn’t ideal for staying off the grog last night !
That’s brilliant - made me realise booze never even entered into my head! Amazing how things change, two years ago it would have been a perfect excuse to get w
kered. On a Tuesday night. Drinking by myself.So glad I escaped!
chrisp84 said:
That’s brilliant - made me realise booze never even entered into my head! Amazing how things change, two years ago it would have been a perfect excuse to get wkered. On a Tuesday night. Drinking by myself.
So glad I escaped!
I think this is a key part of the alcohol trap that many of us are deceived by. Enjoyable events are enjoyable in themselves and the alcohol adds nothing. kered. On a Tuesday night. Drinking by myself.So glad I escaped!
Watching a sports event, meeting up with family and friends, popping into a pub after a long walk. Gigs, pub quizzes, comedy nights, barbecues etc. It is so easy to attribute part of the event’s success to the booze downed when in reality you’d have fun anyway.
That was a real “lightbulb” moment for me…
funinhounslow said:
I think this is a key part of the alcohol trap that many of us are deceived by. Enjoyable events are enjoyable in themselves and the alcohol adds nothing.
Watching a sports event, meeting up with family and friends, popping into a pub after a long walk. Gigs, pub quizzes, comedy nights, barbecues etc. It is so easy to attribute part of the event’s success to the booze downed when in reality you’d have fun anyway.
That was a real “lightbulb” moment for me…
Yes this is very true, at the beginning it seems impossible to enjoy anything without alcohol but it’s all about building your confidence. Watching a sports event, meeting up with family and friends, popping into a pub after a long walk. Gigs, pub quizzes, comedy nights, barbecues etc. It is so easy to attribute part of the event’s success to the booze downed when in reality you’d have fun anyway.
That was a real “lightbulb” moment for me…
One sunny day really sticks out in the early days where a few mates were having a beer and I left early almost in tears as I was so torn and uncomfortable it felt insurmountable. The piss taking enabling didn’t help..I went home in bits but I felt bloody brilliant the next day.
My first trip to the pub to meet a few mates was difficult but it went ok, woke up the next day SO pleased with myself and surprised it wasn’t THAT bad plus I was able to drive home when I wanted. No hangover!
First work meal (piss up) went better than expected, woke up feeling even better and again no hangover!
First trip away with drinking mates, 5 days in Italy lads trip (really,really, nervous about this one) went far better than expected. Couldn’t believe it and funnily not making a t
t out of myself gave me more confidence and seeing my mates suffer worse and worse each day really rammed home why I was so sick of it. I remembered everything and enjoyed it thoroughly, far more than any previous trips. The lads were drinking from lunchtime each day again no hangover!First holiday, couldn’t believe how much easier it was becoming. Really started to enjoy life as it’s supposed to be. Two weeks no hangovers!
It’s sound cliche but it’s a process and by no means easy at the start but it really, really does get easier.
what i will say is firstly i dont miss booze i was a stupidly heavy drinker for 11 years but had an eye awakening thing when i had the worst hangover i ever experienced and decided there and then nope this is going to kill you then also thought same time if your stopping that mad habit stop smoking same time go through the withdrawal together it worked . saw a daughter on the path i was on and rather than bk her give her a hard time we sat ad chatted and we support each other ... were now addicted to chupp a chup lollies together lol but we know we feel like relapsing we have a supporting bond , we both get it and its a thing brought us closer knowing we can stop each other i hate alcohol now and she can go out and have soft drinks and doesnt feel she has to explain ... just no dont like booze happy to have a coke etc . its what has kept me clean . doing for her and she for me brought us closer than we ever were
k her give her a hard time we sat ad chatted and we support each other ... were now addicted to chupp a chup lollies together lol but we know we feel like relapsing we have a supporting bond , we both get it and its a thing brought us closer knowing we can stop each other i hate alcohol now and she can go out and have soft drinks and doesnt feel she has to explain ... just no dont like booze happy to have a coke etc . its what has kept me clean . doing for her and she for me brought us closer than we ever were Hello all, I've not been around much due to work but the good news is that I successfully hit the 6 month mark mid-July. I don't miss booze at all now at least not since I've recognised that I was only using it to mask other problems. Once I realised that, it's been plain sailing staying away from alcohol even in extreme moments of stress when I would have automatically reached for the gin glass as soon as it hit 6pm (never before though - I had some standards!)
For me, alcohol was always a way to get my brain to slow down and stop nagging me about just never being quite good enough despite holding two degrees and having a decent job. It was also a way to get me to relax in company and open up to people. The problem, as we all know, is that my tolerance kept getting higher and higher until I was putting away ridiculous amounts just to help me wind down or mute that inner nagging voice. Not quite at a litre of spirits a day but I was definitely heading in that direction. In my head, any failings then became the fault of being hungover and not because I couldn't quite cut it.
What changed? Not quite sure but I started this year determined that I would turn things around. Each day I was waking up wishing I'd never started drinking and decided to try just that. The first month was hard as documented in this thread but slowly it got easier. It helped that I also decided to get fit again and this gave me something else to focus on. I've realised that I can't shut my brain up but I can give it something else to stress about and if it's something that's also good for me... win win! In this case, I've focused on my diet and undergone an exercise regime of 8-10 miles walking per day or 4-5 miles plus gym session.
I'd like to say that I've saved a lot of money doing all of this and in a way I have as my food and drink bills have halved (crisps and nice cheese to go with the booze are not cheap). However, I've bought sports equipment, gadgets and keep having to buy new clothes thanks to having lost 26 kilos since the start of the year so it's probably evened out
I'm now on leave after 6 months of hard work which culminated in submitting a major project on Friday. The anxiety hasn't gone away and I'm still thinking about work and whether or not what has gone in could have been better. I know my brain is not going to let up so I aim to teach myself some meditation techniques during this holiday. Hopefully that will also help me from ever going back to the bad old ways. I really don't want to start drinking again as I'm much healthier and happier now. Close friends and family support me and are delighted in the change. Not sure how I'll handle acquaintances when it comes to social occasions though - I might just tell them that I stopped when I decided to lose weight (empty calories after all) and realised I didn't miss it. I'll decide when I have to
Sorry, that was a bit longer than intended.
tl:dr over 6 months dry
For me, alcohol was always a way to get my brain to slow down and stop nagging me about just never being quite good enough despite holding two degrees and having a decent job. It was also a way to get me to relax in company and open up to people. The problem, as we all know, is that my tolerance kept getting higher and higher until I was putting away ridiculous amounts just to help me wind down or mute that inner nagging voice. Not quite at a litre of spirits a day but I was definitely heading in that direction. In my head, any failings then became the fault of being hungover and not because I couldn't quite cut it.
What changed? Not quite sure but I started this year determined that I would turn things around. Each day I was waking up wishing I'd never started drinking and decided to try just that. The first month was hard as documented in this thread but slowly it got easier. It helped that I also decided to get fit again and this gave me something else to focus on. I've realised that I can't shut my brain up but I can give it something else to stress about and if it's something that's also good for me... win win! In this case, I've focused on my diet and undergone an exercise regime of 8-10 miles walking per day or 4-5 miles plus gym session.
I'd like to say that I've saved a lot of money doing all of this and in a way I have as my food and drink bills have halved (crisps and nice cheese to go with the booze are not cheap). However, I've bought sports equipment, gadgets and keep having to buy new clothes thanks to having lost 26 kilos since the start of the year so it's probably evened out
I'm now on leave after 6 months of hard work which culminated in submitting a major project on Friday. The anxiety hasn't gone away and I'm still thinking about work and whether or not what has gone in could have been better. I know my brain is not going to let up so I aim to teach myself some meditation techniques during this holiday. Hopefully that will also help me from ever going back to the bad old ways. I really don't want to start drinking again as I'm much healthier and happier now. Close friends and family support me and are delighted in the change. Not sure how I'll handle acquaintances when it comes to social occasions though - I might just tell them that I stopped when I decided to lose weight (empty calories after all) and realised I didn't miss it. I'll decide when I have to
Sorry, that was a bit longer than intended.
tl:dr over 6 months dry
ASA569 said:
I'd like to say that I've saved a lot of money doing all of this and in a way I have as my food and drink bills have halved (crisps and nice cheese to go with the booze are not cheap). However, I've bought sports equipment, gadgets and keep having to buy new clothes thanks to having lost 26 kilos since the start of the year so it's probably evened out
What an amazing effort, not only to give up the booze and stick with it, but to lose that much weight and get healthier.. kudosNearly 2 weeks into a 3 month cut for me. Probably won’t do 365 days because I enjoy a social beer and one with a curry too lol.
Just realised I need to calm down a bit though as was drinking out of boredom and to switch the brain off as someone mentioned above.
Lost half a stone in the first week but i tend to be all or nothing when I do things like this so the plan is to go 3 months without, eat clean and train daily. I’m up at half 5 to go to the CrossFit gym at half 6 now instead of being hungover tired or having that general grogginess.
The aim is 2 stone loss total in 3 months. That puts me back at my lowest weight and should mean a 6 pack of some sorts should return. The 3 months finishes in my gfs birthday so getting in my best shape will hopefully be a nice present to her too haha
Just realised I need to calm down a bit though as was drinking out of boredom and to switch the brain off as someone mentioned above.
Lost half a stone in the first week but i tend to be all or nothing when I do things like this so the plan is to go 3 months without, eat clean and train daily. I’m up at half 5 to go to the CrossFit gym at half 6 now instead of being hungover tired or having that general grogginess.
The aim is 2 stone loss total in 3 months. That puts me back at my lowest weight and should mean a 6 pack of some sorts should return. The 3 months finishes in my gfs birthday so getting in my best shape will hopefully be a nice present to her too haha
I've officially passed 2 years now but as always keeping complacency thoughts nice and close.
Lads, I need serious motivation to get some timber shifted. I keep reading of all the folks that have stopped drinking and got mega fit, lost weight but not me. NO. I am in the fridge so much that I'm getting a tan from the door light!
For the first time in my life, I've touched 16stone and just can't get my head in the game. Even being Scottish where we all seem hard-wired to chuck ourselves up mountains at a certain age, that hasn't happened despite all of my friends doing it. I just can't be arsed. I need to be though.
COnsultant appointment in September and he is going to rip me a new one...
Lads, I need serious motivation to get some timber shifted. I keep reading of all the folks that have stopped drinking and got mega fit, lost weight but not me. NO. I am in the fridge so much that I'm getting a tan from the door light!
For the first time in my life, I've touched 16stone and just can't get my head in the game. Even being Scottish where we all seem hard-wired to chuck ourselves up mountains at a certain age, that hasn't happened despite all of my friends doing it. I just can't be arsed. I need to be though.
COnsultant appointment in September and he is going to rip me a new one...
Davie_GLA said:
I've officially passed 2 years now but as always keeping complacency thoughts nice and close.
Lads, I need serious motivation to get some timber shifted. I keep reading of all the folks that have stopped drinking and got mega fit, lost weight but not me. NO. I am in the fridge so much that I'm getting a tan from the door light!
For the first time in my life, I've touched 16stone and just can't get my head in the game. Even being Scottish where we all seem hard-wired to chuck ourselves up mountains at a certain age, that hasn't happened despite all of my friends doing it. I just can't be arsed. I need to be though.
COnsultant appointment in September and he is going to rip me a new one...
You'll never work it off. You need to stop eating it.Lads, I need serious motivation to get some timber shifted. I keep reading of all the folks that have stopped drinking and got mega fit, lost weight but not me. NO. I am in the fridge so much that I'm getting a tan from the door light!
For the first time in my life, I've touched 16stone and just can't get my head in the game. Even being Scottish where we all seem hard-wired to chuck ourselves up mountains at a certain age, that hasn't happened despite all of my friends doing it. I just can't be arsed. I need to be though.
COnsultant appointment in September and he is going to rip me a new one...
After giving up alcohol I discovering a very sweet tooth. So I gave up sugar and started reading about nutrition. What you eat largely determines how much you will eat. It can also change how energetic/lethargic you feel, which can help you to work some of it off.
The thread on keto might help - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Seventy said:
Inspirational, I only wish I had half your motivation!
If the pictures are to be believed the individuals look Far slimmer and healthier.
I also watched a programme last week on the difference in someone’s liver that downs a bottle of wine each night competed to a occasional drinker.
Was actually quite hard to watch.
ASA569 said:
Hello all, I've not been around much due to work but the good news is that I successfully hit the 6 month mark mid-July. I don't miss booze at all now at least not since I've recognised that I was only using it to mask other problems. Once I realised that, it's been plain sailing staying away from alcohol even in extreme moments of stress when I would have automatically reached for the gin glass as soon as it hit 6pm (never before though - I had some standards!)
For me, alcohol was always a way to get my brain to slow down and stop nagging me about just never being quite good enough despite holding two degrees and having a decent job. It was also a way to get me to relax in company and open up to people. The problem, as we all know, is that my tolerance kept getting higher and higher until I was putting away ridiculous amounts just to help me wind down or mute that inner nagging voice. Not quite at a litre of spirits a day but I was definitely heading in that direction. In my head, any failings then became the fault of being hungover and not because I couldn't quite cut it.
What changed? Not quite sure but I started this year determined that I would turn things around. Each day I was waking up wishing I'd never started drinking and decided to try just that. The first month was hard as documented in this thread but slowly it got easier. It helped that I also decided to get fit again and this gave me something else to focus on. I've realised that I can't shut my brain up but I can give it something else to stress about and if it's something that's also good for me... win win! In this case, I've focused on my diet and undergone an exercise regime of 8-10 miles walking per day or 4-5 miles plus gym session.
I'd like to say that I've saved a lot of money doing all of this and in a way I have as my food and drink bills have halved (crisps and nice cheese to go with the booze are not cheap). However, I've bought sports equipment, gadgets and keep having to buy new clothes thanks to having lost 26 kilos since the start of the year so it's probably evened out
I'm now on leave after 6 months of hard work which culminated in submitting a major project on Friday. The anxiety hasn't gone away and I'm still thinking about work and whether or not what has gone in could have been better. I know my brain is not going to let up so I aim to teach myself some meditation techniques during this holiday. Hopefully that will also help me from ever going back to the bad old ways. I really don't want to start drinking again as I'm much healthier and happier now. Close friends and family support me and are delighted in the change. Not sure how I'll handle acquaintances when it comes to social occasions though - I might just tell them that I stopped when I decided to lose weight (empty calories after all) and realised I didn't miss it. I'll decide when I have to
Sorry, that was a bit longer than intended.
tl:dr over 6 months dry
Chapeau - that takes some doing and you are well to feel proud. For me, alcohol was always a way to get my brain to slow down and stop nagging me about just never being quite good enough despite holding two degrees and having a decent job. It was also a way to get me to relax in company and open up to people. The problem, as we all know, is that my tolerance kept getting higher and higher until I was putting away ridiculous amounts just to help me wind down or mute that inner nagging voice. Not quite at a litre of spirits a day but I was definitely heading in that direction. In my head, any failings then became the fault of being hungover and not because I couldn't quite cut it.
What changed? Not quite sure but I started this year determined that I would turn things around. Each day I was waking up wishing I'd never started drinking and decided to try just that. The first month was hard as documented in this thread but slowly it got easier. It helped that I also decided to get fit again and this gave me something else to focus on. I've realised that I can't shut my brain up but I can give it something else to stress about and if it's something that's also good for me... win win! In this case, I've focused on my diet and undergone an exercise regime of 8-10 miles walking per day or 4-5 miles plus gym session.
I'd like to say that I've saved a lot of money doing all of this and in a way I have as my food and drink bills have halved (crisps and nice cheese to go with the booze are not cheap). However, I've bought sports equipment, gadgets and keep having to buy new clothes thanks to having lost 26 kilos since the start of the year so it's probably evened out
I'm now on leave after 6 months of hard work which culminated in submitting a major project on Friday. The anxiety hasn't gone away and I'm still thinking about work and whether or not what has gone in could have been better. I know my brain is not going to let up so I aim to teach myself some meditation techniques during this holiday. Hopefully that will also help me from ever going back to the bad old ways. I really don't want to start drinking again as I'm much healthier and happier now. Close friends and family support me and are delighted in the change. Not sure how I'll handle acquaintances when it comes to social occasions though - I might just tell them that I stopped when I decided to lose weight (empty calories after all) and realised I didn't miss it. I'll decide when I have to
Sorry, that was a bit longer than intended.
tl:dr over 6 months dry
I made a joke of me not drinking - when I go into the pub now, my "usual" is two bottles of alcohol free, but n a a pint glass so I look like a grown up.
I was at a 60th last night, and a few people commented, positively, about weight loss and how did I manage in social situations, but as the night wore on, I could see the booze take a hold and waking up this morning, with a clear head and pile of reports to plough through, reminded me I had made the right choice.
@Davey - I too developed a sweet tooth. I am now "No Biscuits August", which is tough as the wife made a fantastic looking coffee cake* and it is sitting there looking at me, but, if I can go 14 months dry, I can swerve death by fondant icing
- technically a large biscuit and "No, coffee might be a plant but it is not one of your 5 a day".
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