How much do you drink, honestly?

[Welshbeef]

FocusRS3 said:

I'm also 50 and 6ft 1 weighing 13st 4lbs.....How does that compare ?

How much do you drink??

[FocusRS3]

Welshbeef said:

How much do you drink??

i'd say 2 bottles of wine a week

[Flibble]

Shuvi McTupya said:

Don't take this the wrong way but it is not surprising that you don't look your best at your current weight.

I am 50, 6ft and currently bang on what the NHS considers to be the 'right weight'. You are 2 stone shy of weighing twice what I do!

Most people would probably describe me as a bit skinny these days though

Most people consider a healthy weight to be skinny these days because they are so used to seeing overweight people it has become the new normal.

I'm 6ft and 13 stone which is the top of the healthy BMI chart. I fit in medium clothes.

[FocusRS3]

Flibble said:

Most people consider a healthy weight to be skinny these days because they are so used to seeing overweight people it has become the new normal.

I'm 6ft and 13 stone which is the top of the healthy BMI chart. I fit in medium clothes.

Not dissimilar to me at 6ft 1 and 13.4 but i'm trying to get to 13.

I've always had skinny legs and arms so i don't carry weight well.

More than anything i'm trying to educate myself on the foods i eat as its generally carb heavy.

[Dr Interceptor]

Shuvi McTupya said:

Don't take this the wrong way but it is not surprising that you don't look your best at your current weight.

I am 50, 6ft and currently bang on what the NHS considers to be the 'right weight'. You are 2 stone shy of weighing twice what I do!

Most people would probably describe me as a bit skinny these days though

I'm a totally different build to you. I'm tall, broad shouldered, and generally a big build - I won't ever be skinny. College rugby second row build.

If I get down close to around 100kgs, that would be a healthy weight for me, in my eyes, even if the NHS BMI chart doesn't entirely agree.

[Brother D]

Welshbeef said:

Brother D said:

I was travelling the first half, so probably a little more than usual - this was slightly over what I normally drink

Sunday 2 Large glasses of wine, 1 Pint
Saturday 4 Cocktails, 5 Pints, 3 Small Cans
Friday 1 Pint, 4 Small Cans
Thursday - 0
Wednesday - 4 Glasses of Wine
Tuesday - 2 Glasses of Wine
Monday - 2 Glasses of Wine
Sunday - 0
Saturday - 7 small cans, 2 G&T, 1 Bottle beer
Friday - 4 G&T, 1 Wine
Thursday - 3 Cocktails
Wednesday - 2 Glasses of Wine
Tuesday - 3 Pints
Monday - 4 G&T, 2 Glasses of wine.

Currently over 100Kgs, but work out 1-2 hours 7 days a week so look (outwardly) fit.

Seeing it in black and white I think I'd best cut out 4 days a week...

Given you know the %abvs of those drinks what does it make in old fashioned units averaged out a week?

47 and 57 Units so well over recommended 14 units per week - which according to government website is 6 beers or glasses of wine a week. Not sure that's something achievable realistically, but I think avoiding binging on the weekends and not drinking Sun/Mon-Thurs should put me relatively close to the guidelines.

[Flibble]

Dr Interceptor said:

I'm a totally different build to you. I'm tall, broad shouldered, and generally a big build - I won't ever be skinny. College rugby second row build.

If I get down close to around 100kgs, that would be a healthy weight for me, in my eyes, even if the NHS BMI chart doesn't entirely agree.

TBH I'd go on belt size or waist to hip ratio as a better indicator than BMI if you're not an average build.

[Dr Interceptor]

Flibble said:

TBH I'd go on belt size or waist to hip ratio as a better indicator than BMI if you're not an average build.

Yep fair point... That should see me back in a 36" waist comfortably, maybe even 34 at a real push.

[Flibble]

Dr Interceptor said:

Flibble said:

TBH I'd go on belt size or waist to hip ratio as a better indicator than BMI if you're not an average build.

Yep fair point... That should see me back in a 36" waist comfortably, maybe even 34 at a real push.

I'm a 34" waist at about 20kg less than your target.

[Dr Interceptor]

Flibble said:

I'm a 34" waist at about 20kg less than your target.

We're all different shapes and sizes...

[Flibble]

Snake swallowing a bowling ball...

[stongle]

Brother D said:

47 and 57 Units so well over recommended 14 units per week - which according to government website is 6 beers or glasses of wine a week. Not sure that's something achievable realistically, but I think avoiding binging on the weekends and not drinking Sun/Mon-Thurs should put me relatively close to the guidelines.

I had an interesting discussion with my doc this week. I've been undergoing treatment for sometime for a groin issue that despite MRI, ultrasound etc couldnt find anything overtly wrong. As such they put it down as nerve issue. I'm on a course of drugs to ease the pain, but i had been using a tad too much of the booze to help previously (I was in the 40-45 units pw range).

The doctor told me to come down to 28 units per week as this was a healthy and sustainable weekly allowance. In his (albeit private) opinion, 14 is very low intake, and to shoot for what is realistic.

This (confirmation bias ahead), appeals to me but i struggle to find any compeling reason to go to 14 aside from cutting calorie intake (which is'nt a problem for me). Sticking to a sustainable level AND retaining some of the social positives far outweighs any incremental health risks (which by government research is <1%).

Whilst 14 units maybe achievable for some, or even none BUT everyone is different and exists in differing social or work circumstance. Simply cutting down at all should be applauded. I was at HQ on Sunday for the England win, but couldnt in a lifetime of sundays imagine that without a beer; and adds to my enjoyment. People should set achievable targets, zero may work for some - but not others.

[deckster]

stongle said:

Whilst 14 units maybe achievable for some, or even none BUT everyone is different and exists in differing social or work circumstance. Simply cutting down at all should be applauded. I was at HQ on Sunday for the England win, but couldnt in a lifetime of sundays imagine that without a beer; and adds to my enjoyment. People should set achievable targets, zero may work for some - but not others.

It's interesting that you can't even conceive of stopping drinking. That in itself shows that you have a very unhealthy relationship with booze. You may well not want to stop - you probably don't need to, you can quite happily carry on and likely never see any ill effects - but you should, at least, admit the possibility that you could stop if you wanted to. And if you genuinely can't even imagine that, that would to me indicate a dependency that I personally would really rather get under control.

[Dr Interceptor]

Interesting couple of posts above - I agree with stongle in that there are some events which I'd always have a beer at - the rugby is a good example. I go to Wembley a fair bit to watch England football (you need a beer to get through that sometimes), NHL, and concerts - a few beers at those is also pretty norm.

But I see decksters comments also, and agree.

I did the second night off the booze last night. Went to the gym after work again, and actually drove to the pub after dinner, had a couple of soda waters with fresh lime.

I know two days is nothing, but for me, it really is something.

[Robertj21a]

Dr Interceptor said:

Interesting couple of posts above - I agree with stongle in that there are some events which I'd always have a beer at - the rugby is a good example. I go to Wembley a fair bit to watch England football (you need a beer to get through that sometimes), NHL, and concerts - a few beers at those is also pretty norm.

But I see decksters comments also, and agree.

I did the second night off the booze last night. Went to the gym after work again, and actually drove to the pub after dinner, had a couple of soda waters with fresh lime.

I know two days is nothing, but for me, it really is something.

However long the journey, they all start with just a few steps......

.

[Luke.]

Robertj21a said:

Dr Interceptor said:

Interesting couple of posts above - I agree with stongle in that there are some events which I'd always have a beer at - the rugby is a good example. I go to Wembley a fair bit to watch England football (you need a beer to get through that sometimes), NHL, and concerts - a few beers at those is also pretty norm.

But I see decksters comments also, and agree.

I did the second night off the booze last night. Went to the gym after work again, and actually drove to the pub after dinner, had a couple of soda waters with fresh lime.

I know two days is nothing, but for me, it really is something.

However long the journey, they all start with just a few steps......

.

Indeed, def stick with it as it's just a case of breaking the habit. I was a terrible habitual drinker, drinking far too much wine every night, and knocked it on the head beginning of Jan. First week bit tricky then the biggest problem is simply the boredom in the evenings.

[Dr Interceptor]

Thanks folks...

Getting through the weekend will be the big one. Friday night a BBQ round at a friends, is traditionally a beery affair. Saturday, well is just Saturday night. The Sunday I'm off to the Excel for the classic motor show, and having mates round for a BBQ in the evening.

Determination though...

[johnxjsc1985]

I can go weeks without any drink at all then I will enjoy a bottle of whisky over 3 nights. I don't enjoy drinking as I used to and I could and probably should stop all together.

[Bill]

stongle said:

People should set achievable targets, zero may work for some - but not others.

For some, zero is the only achievable target.

[stongle]

deckster said:

It's interesting that you can't even conceive of stopping drinking. That in itself shows that you have a very unhealthy relationship with booze. You may well not want to stop - you probably don't need to, you can quite happily carry on and likely never see any ill effects - but you should, at least, admit the possibility that you could stop if you wanted to. And if you genuinely can't even imagine that, that would to me indicate a dependency that I personally would really rather get under control.

I can conceive not drinking- but I don’t want too. It’s possible to have a healthy relationship with alcohol for some – and enjoy it. I like cycling too, that’s more likely to kill me than booze – should a I stop that? There are also those, as Bill says whom will never achieve this balance and have to go to zero. It simply isn’t a digital argument. Those working to find a balance should be applauded as much as those hitting zero. Personally I don’t buy zero or abstinence as the wholly grail of reducing drinking – but that ability to achieve a balance where you can say No or go through the day without needing a drink. I understand that for some, that’s not possible. If that’s dependency, then I’m an addict – but I’m not likely to mug an old lady or nick your beamer.

I found that having a pint of water with every pint and poring half’s into a pint glass slowed me down a lot. Adding an early morning weekend activity and a gym trainer in the week has replaced the boredom. And given a new focus point. It is a bit forced at first; but its changing my behaviour.