How much do you drink, honestly?

[WarnieV6GT]

TameRacingDriver said:

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).

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

Get an audible account on your phone. You get 1 book free so pick the Allen Carr book obviously, put it on when your driving, relaxing etc.

Yes you said you feel different now about alcohol, but the book genuinely makes you excited about what the future will hold when your free from the alcohol trap. It covers every possible eventuality you will encounter including social occasions which I sometimes needed a drink sometimes before I went to any of them. Now I look forward to going to pubs, party's etc where the majority will be drinking as I have no fear anymore and I don't feel like I'm missing out, in fact I feel absolutely fantastic as I can really enjoy the occasion more and know that I will not be suffering the next day or do anything I shouldn't be doing.

I couldn't feel this way without having read the book. Just download it now you have nothing to lose and by the sounds of it the rest of your life to gain.

[e30m3Mark]

TameRacingDriver said:

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.

Yes, private hire as opposed to just picking people off the street. Most times it's an OK job but dealing with drunks can be a chore. As you say, when you're sober tolerance can be hard to muster. It does remind you how much of a tt drink can make you behave though.

[FreeLitres]

Tobias Funke said:

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.

Amen brother.

Not having any booze is easier than cutting down by regularly "just having one". Why regularly put yourself into that tempting situation?

It's about 3.5 years off for me now. Reading the accounts on here saying how people have given up for a month then got straight back into a bottle of wine a night further strengthens my resolve to stay off it.

[dojo]

vsonix said:

Has anyone tried that 'Seedlip' stuff that has appeared in shops recently? Seems to be some kind of distilled alcohol free cordial designed to replace gin etc.
Looks interesting but like all these things maybe a little too close to actual alcohol in price?

Yes - Its not bad but it doesn't taste like gin (not sure if its meant to) it gives a nice flavour and extra edge to tonic - is it worth £20+ a bottle??? Not sure!

[Drew106]

TooMany2cvs said:

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%...

My drink of choice at the moment. I try and limit it to just the 3 - 3 for £5 in the local Co-op.

Maybe not in the cutting down nature of this thread at the moment, but Aldi do a nice vintage cider, £1.69 for a 750ml bottle! Tastes quite similar to the Westons stuff, 7% or so if I remember correctly.

Also, started to enjoy red wine again recently. I tell myself it's basically a health food

As for the January cutting down, it's actually went quite well. I stay dry Mon-Thurs then try not to go too nuts at the weekend. Maybe 1 bottle of red or 3 strong ciders in a night. Which is considerably less than before Xmas.

I did have a rather bad Saturday night last week when the OH was away. 4 beers, 3 strong ciders and a bottle of wine! I honestly did enjoy it though. Felt like st the next day mind. But maybe because I'm not doing it constantly, I didn't have the same guilt.

[anonymous-user]

I enjoy a drink and definitely indulged over the festive period but now back to maintaining a strict 2 consecutive days dry during any given week to give the body a rest. I also tend to eat very healthy and drink lots of water and hit the steam room to counter my booze days.

But in truth I am actually 6 months dry per year due to my work, so I don't tend to worry to much. It's when in between jobs and lots of time on your hands that the demon can rear it's ugly head. I do find it alarming how easy it is to build up a tolerance to booze when you drink every night. That's not a good thing and can definitely lead to problems in relationships with friends and family etc.

[227bhp]

I think having Alan Carr piped directly to my ears would drive me to drink even more, especially if that stupid Melanie Sykes is butting in too.

[HappyMidget]

227bhp said:

I think having Alan Carr piped directly to my ears would drive me to drink even more, especially if that stupid Melanie Sykes is butting in too.

Different Alan Carr, not the annoying camp dude

[Robertj21a]

ALLEN Carr

[magooagain]

I have cut drinking right down since November. It's been ok but I have also not gone out to any social functions or just down to my local bar.
Everyone thinks I've gone a bit weird .

I have a big birthday coming up on Monday and I'm dreading it! Hopefully the mrs has not got any surprises lined up.

My last weeks consumption was about 6 small beers and maybe 4 glasses of red wine.

Last year a weeks consumption would be about 21 small beers and a couple of bottles of red wine. That's without going out.
Going out I would need to add another 10 beers.

[TameRacingDriver]

I've not had a drink at all week this week, and I've not missed it one bit. I've also managed to not smoke any weed which I've also been doing daily for about 20 years. This is a big deal for me. I haven't really missed that either.

So far I don't feel any better, but that's because I've had a cold. That said, I do believe it's helping me recover more quickly from it - in the past, I'd carry on regardless and the cold would drag on for weeks.

Main problem is sleeping. It's been taking me an age to fall asleep. Last night, for the first night this week, I dropped off quite quickly and got a full nights sleep. Unfortunately, for some reason, I feel more tired today than I did yesterday despite having 3 crap nights sleep before that.

I'm going out on Saturday for a mates birthday, but I'm going to try not to drink tomorrow night as I normally would, and on Sunday I'm also going to stay dry (I probably wont be in the mood to drink anyway).

I'm doing slimming world to try and lose weight, and also exercising so it's pointless to try and do that while drinking as I'm just shooting myself in the foot.

I am going to try and stick to drinking only when I go out with friends, and even then, I recognise my tolerance will drop significantly, so I'm going to have to have strategically placed soft drinks, swap doubles for singles, that sort of thing.

I am very optimistic about the future right now. If only I could get rid of this damn cold.

[Robertj21a]

Sounds like you're doing really well. Even without having a cold I reckon you'd feel fairly lousy for a while as your body is reallocating resources to cope with the 'new you' - give it a chance, it's fairly new territory for it to cope with !!

[RRLover]

Everything in moderation is fine.
Well done.

[TameRacingDriver]

Thanks chaps.

I feel pretty grim today to be honest. Yesterday I felt like I was on the up from this cold but today I feel pretty awful. It could be, as you say, withdrawal. Either way, not very pleasant.

[Robertj21a]

TameRacingDriver said:

Thanks chaps.

I feel pretty grim today to be honest. Yesterday I felt like I was on the up from this cold but today I feel pretty awful. It could be, as you say, withdrawal. Either way, not very pleasant.

We all have difficult hurdles thrown at us, it needs a real man to overcome them and see the light on the other side !!

[FiF]

Those recommending an Allen Carr book, which one would you recommend? It's not for me, sis in law who constantly makes excuses, e.g. I'll stop Feb 1, yet pissed again today. Got shocked by being breathalysed by counsellor, was mortified, made to hand keys over, yet still not stopped

These are the ones I can see.

Easy way for women to stop drinking.

The illustrated Easy way to stop drinking.

The Easy way to control alcohol

Stop drinking now.

Advice appreciated.

[TameRacingDriver]

Robertj21a said:

We all have difficult hurdles thrown at us, it needs a real man to overcome them and see the light on the other side !!

Oh don't worry. I'm not giving in. In fact, I'm busy doing deadlifts as we speak in the home gym!!

Tomorrow will be harder but if I manage it'll be the first time in over a decade I've gone more than 4 days without a drink (seriously)

[e30m3Mark]

RRLover said:

Everything in moderation is fine.

Unfortunately moderation isn't something some folk can stick to. I would always suggest abstinence as it's much easier to not drink at all, than try and drink in moderation. Have one beer and it'll weaken any resolve not to have another.

[TameRacingDriver]

OO Beckton said:

Push it with the weights - go for intense 12 minute run to finish - the workout should give you greater high than any alcohol can. Well done making it to four on the trot.

Thanks mate, I took my time, but I do feel better for it.

e30m3Mark said:

Unfortunately moderation isn't something some folk can stick to. I would always suggest abstinence as it's much easier to not drink at all, than try and drink in moderation. Have one beer and it'll weaken any resolve not to have another.

Yeah I do agree with that. It wouldn’t be a good idea for me just to have a can as it would almost certainly lead to a lot more.

[WarnieV6GT]

FiF said:

Those recommending an Allen Carr book, which one would you recommend? It's not for me, sis in law who constantly makes excuses, e.g. I'll stop Feb 1, yet pissed again today. Got shocked by being breathalysed by counsellor, was mortified, made to hand keys over, yet still not stopped

These are the ones I can see.

Easy way for women to stop drinking.

The illustrated Easy way to stop drinking.

The Easy way to control alcohol

Stop drinking now.

Advice appreciated.

The easy way to control alcohol