How much do you drink, honestly?
Discussion
Robertj21a said:
On the face of it, you certainly seem to appreciate the various issues affecting you but I'm not sufficiently skilled to suggest the best way forward from here.
Thanks for your comment and thoughts. To answer your question, I suspect the only answer is taking responsibility for my own situation, and digging deep and finding the willpower and determination to beat it. It's difficult when not everyone in the house is on-board, but I actually think I may be making some inroads there, whatever the case there though, while I would like the Mrs to cut down too I realise she has to want to do it as well, and for now, I have to concentrate on myself, although I will try and help her while I look after myself.
The fact is this though, I am beginning to feel the same way about my drinking habits as I did about my smoking habits just before I packed in that. I knew it was making me ill, and I just stopped - OK I did quite a few years of social smoking but I now no longer do that (or even the e-cigs).
With the drinking now, I'm not even sure I enjoy it that much any more if I'm honest. I like going out, and I like to relax as we all do, but when the downsides heavily outweigh the good like they are now, its time to step back and think about where to go from here.
Not much point in a few pleasant hours each evening if I feel rubbish for the other 20 hours, and that's the angle I'm coming at it from. I would also like to shift some weight and am conscious that I am making it 100x harder by drinking most nights.
Other than that, I'm suffering from a multitude of ills, from poor skin, aches and pains, regular bouts of rhinitis, sore throats, headaches, mild depression, anxiety, fatigue, lack of motivation, lack of interest in things, wanting to be alone etc. and when you write it all down like that, it's madness to continue on the face of it. The problem is, your brain is an evil little t
t sometimes and still makes you want it even when you know its unwise to continue.I think a part of it is IF you don’t have any booze on the house and you don’t replace the absent booze it simply removes the opportunity....
I had a pretty bad head this morning... an innocent enough Sunday somehow (with a tax return for myself and a couple of friends) involved some drinks then someone suggested Scotch with Sunday roast really enhances the flavour..... so we have chasers with the meal which then turned to a bottle of wine and then plenty of large bottles of Cidar (some Henry Weston’s vintage...).
Now I don’t do that very often at all or indeed plan to drink Sunday as I don’t like the prospect of being jaded st Work on Monday.
Needless to say I’ve not felt this bad in a really long time.
So my plan for Feb (and yes I’m a big Rugby fan) is to
1. No drinking on Sunday regardless of if rugby is on or not.
2. For Sat don’t drink from midday instead IF I want a drink go from 5pm (that will give me one full game with a drink with the two previous without).
3. Not going to buy anymore booze - that said we have a decent stock but I’d usually be churning it often.
4. I don’t want the weekly trips to the bottle bank so target once for the whole month.
5. Try to set a max total for the month of 24 500ml beers or equivalent so a max of 6 a week + if I don’t use the full 6 no carry over.
6. Read 3 books so weekends would mean in bed for 9pm latest. (Will prevent the urge for a quick one /drink and no I don’t take booze to bed unless it’s a special occasion and then that’s very different ...
I had a pretty bad head this morning... an innocent enough Sunday somehow (with a tax return for myself and a couple of friends) involved some drinks then someone suggested Scotch with Sunday roast really enhances the flavour..... so we have chasers with the meal which then turned to a bottle of wine and then plenty of large bottles of Cidar (some Henry Weston’s vintage...).
Now I don’t do that very often at all or indeed plan to drink Sunday as I don’t like the prospect of being jaded st Work on Monday.
Needless to say I’ve not felt this bad in a really long time.
So my plan for Feb (and yes I’m a big Rugby fan) is to
1. No drinking on Sunday regardless of if rugby is on or not.
2. For Sat don’t drink from midday instead IF I want a drink go from 5pm (that will give me one full game with a drink with the two previous without).
3. Not going to buy anymore booze - that said we have a decent stock but I’d usually be churning it often.
4. I don’t want the weekly trips to the bottle bank so target once for the whole month.
5. Try to set a max total for the month of 24 500ml beers or equivalent so a max of 6 a week + if I don’t use the full 6 no carry over.
6. Read 3 books so weekends would mean in bed for 9pm latest. (Will prevent the urge for a quick one /drink and no I don’t take booze to bed unless it’s a special occasion and then that’s very different ...
TooMany2cvs said:
Welshbeef said:
...and then plenty of large bottles of Cidar (some Henry Weston’s vintage...).
That's very lovely stuff, and dangerously innocuous... Tastes innocent, goes down very easily, but you do need to remember that it's 8.2%...Welshbeef said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Welshbeef said:
...and then plenty of large bottles of Cidar (some Henry Weston’s vintage...).
That's very lovely stuff, and dangerously innocuous... Tastes innocent, goes down very easily, but you do need to remember that it's 8.2%...Welshbeef said:
Needless to say I’ve not felt this bad in a really long time.
8 x 500ml x 8.2% = 33 units = 3 x bottles 14.5% wine = a bit under a litre of 37.5% spiritsAt lunch. On top of wine and whiskey.
TooMany2cvs said:
Welshbeef said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Welshbeef said:
...and then plenty of large bottles of Cidar (some Henry Weston’s vintage...).
That's very lovely stuff, and dangerously innocuous... Tastes innocent, goes down very easily, but you do need to remember that it's 8.2%...Welshbeef said:
Needless to say I’ve not felt this bad in a really long time.
8 x 500ml x 8.2% = 33 units = 3 x bottles 14.5% wine = a bit under a litre of 37.5% spiritsAt lunch. On top of wine and whiskey.
I’ve probably drank 5 ltrs of water today and went for a large pork pie at lunch to try to settle things down.
After a bit of googling, I am semi certain I am actually now displaying symptoms of alcohol insensitivity / intolerance, which I have always wondered deep down. Certainly I get immediate flushing from drinking, and I am certainly getting sinus issues / sneezing on a regular basis and some of the gastrointestinal symptoms too.
Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
TameRacingDriver said:
After a bit of googling, I am semi certain I am actually now displaying symptoms of alcohol insensitivity / intolerance, which I have always wondered deep down. Certainly I get immediate flushing from drinking, and I am certainly getting sinus issues / sneezing on a regular basis and some of the gastrointestinal symptoms too.
Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
It seems that your body is trying (quite hard !) to tell you - before it's too late.Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
Might be a good idea to get checked out a bit by the Doc. Some simple tests might at least help to pinpoint any specific areas of concern.
TameRacingDriver said:
After a bit of googling, I am semi certain I am actually now displaying symptoms of alcohol insensitivity / intolerance, which I have always wondered deep down. Certainly I get immediate flushing from drinking, and I am certainly getting sinus issues / sneezing on a regular basis and some of the gastrointestinal symptoms too.
Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
Why not do a hard stop for 12 weeks really give the body a full rest and recoveryThing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
Welshbeef said:
TameRacingDriver said:
After a bit of googling, I am semi certain I am actually now displaying symptoms of alcohol insensitivity / intolerance, which I have always wondered deep down. Certainly I get immediate flushing from drinking, and I am certainly getting sinus issues / sneezing on a regular basis and some of the gastrointestinal symptoms too.
Thing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
Why not do a hard stop for 12 weeks really give the body a full rest and recoveryThing is I didn’t always have this, so I guess its developed over time.
Another reason if I needed one to cut down.
OO Beckton said:
TRD, I hadn't considered that my permanent-blocked sinuses might be related to the lager I have been drinking all my life. Cheers for the idea. But I can relate to your stomach ailments; I gave up cask ale, pale ale and craft beers a couple of years ago, and suddenly my morning-after nausea disappeared.
For me, the absolute worst aspect of alcohol is the paranoia and self-hatred that I develop after drinking 5+ consecutive days.
Oh yeah I definitely hear you with the consecutive days thing. That's generally how it creeps up again. Stop drinking a few days, feel a lot better, then back to drinking. Get away with it for a few days then it all goes downhill again, as per usual.For me, the absolute worst aspect of alcohol is the paranoia and self-hatred that I develop after drinking 5+ consecutive days.
I will be interested to see whether my sinuses etc improve after (hopefully) cutting down in the coming weeks and months
TameRacingDriver said:
With the drinking now, I'm not even sure I enjoy it that much any more if I'm honest. I like going out, and I like to relax as we all do, but when the downsides heavily outweigh the good like they are now, its time to step back and think about where to go from here.
That is a real step change from how you were talking before Christmas. You sound resolved about it rather than resigned to failing.Welshbeef said:
Well I slept lol a baby last night and feel so fresh today it’s great.
I didn’t drink yesterday either = correlation
I didn't, I've not slept properly for 2 days. Probably because I'm used to going to bed drunk. I'm sure it'll get better.I didn’t drink yesterday either = correlation
gregs656 said:
That is a real step change from how you were talking before Christmas. You sound resolved about it rather than resigned to failing.
Thanks, I feel a lot more determined.Shame I've just come down with cold so I feel like crap even though I've stopped drinking - combined with the aforementioned lack of sleep and I feel worse than normal. I know it will pass though...
I WILL do this.
just reading these posts on alcohol sensitivity
I was plagued by horrendous eczema couple of years back, always got a bit , but this was bad, spread all down my legs, all on back and on arms and was so itchy
Went to drs several times, all they did was to prescribe steroid cream that inflamed it
Paid for various private tests and didnt really get anywhere, changed washing powder , cut out different food types, still bad
Gave up booze and it went , took 3 weeks , all went and legs healed up quickly, couldn't believe it
I think its down to the yeast, id been drinking all my life, no idea why it suddenly started.
I don't really drink anymore, when I do for a few days in a row it flares up again
Not knocking booze, each to their own,
I was plagued by horrendous eczema couple of years back, always got a bit , but this was bad, spread all down my legs, all on back and on arms and was so itchy
Went to drs several times, all they did was to prescribe steroid cream that inflamed it
Paid for various private tests and didnt really get anywhere, changed washing powder , cut out different food types, still bad
Gave up booze and it went , took 3 weeks , all went and legs healed up quickly, couldn't believe it
I think its down to the yeast, id been drinking all my life, no idea why it suddenly started.
I don't really drink anymore, when I do for a few days in a row it flares up again
Not knocking booze, each to their own,
e30m3Mark said:
Haven't had a drink for over 10 years now. I drive plenty of drunks around at weekends though and that's enough to deter me from ever starting again.
Taxi driver? I've often thought it would be a job I wouldn't mind doing, but I can't abide drunks when I'm not drunk myself, kind of ironic really.
TameRacingDriver said:
Thanks, I feel a lot more determined.
Shame I've just come down with cold so I feel like crap even though I've stopped drinking - combined with the aforementioned lack of sleep and I feel worse than normal. I know it will pass though...
I WILL do this.
Have you read Allen Carr's book? If not, it's a book that's helped a lot of people and I'd definitely recommend it.Shame I've just come down with cold so I feel like crap even though I've stopped drinking - combined with the aforementioned lack of sleep and I feel worse than normal. I know it will pass though...
I WILL do this.
I'd also recommend giving up for a month, I've done dry January this year, something I never thought I'd be able to do. It's been a real eye opener. I've been trying to cut down for years, with no real success, but I've found stopping completely to be much easier than cutting back.
Tobias Funke said:
Have you read Allen Carr's book? If not, it's a book that's helped a lot of people and I'd definitely recommend it.
I'd also recommend giving up for a month, I've done dry January this year, something I never thought I'd be able to do. It's been a real eye opener. I've been trying to cut down for years, with no real success, but I've found stopping completely to be much easier than cutting back.
I have not read the book however I can honestly say that something has changed in my head, and I know now that I really want to do this; and if I was on the fence about it, I've just read some of my posts since I first started posting in this thread, and it makes for uncomfortable reading seeing all of those days when I was feeling crap and hungover. In some respects, I am surprised I am still here today. I've lived most of my life from hangover to hangover. How I have not ended up with a more serious illness I do not know (I know there's time yet but still you can't think that way or you would just give up hope).I'd also recommend giving up for a month, I've done dry January this year, something I never thought I'd be able to do. It's been a real eye opener. I've been trying to cut down for years, with no real success, but I've found stopping completely to be much easier than cutting back.
One thing I am proud of though, and I may or may not have mentioned it before, is that I have completely given up all forms of tobacco smoking - I have not even had my e-cig this year at all, whereas before it was not uncommon for me to puff away all night on a maximum strength e-cig, or, if I didn't have that, real cigarettes. I only mention it here because it was something I used to do all the time when I had a drink, but only when I had a drink.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Tuesday 30th January 10:57
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