Alcohol - Gave Up

[anonymous-user]

i gave up alcohol for a few months and didn't notice much difference in waking up etc, but not as heavy a drinker as it seems to ones on here.

I drink weekends and stick to beer. I'm slowly drinking less a year but i enjoy it so don't want to rid totally as enjoy it.

[Carrot]

funinhounslow said:

I would advise against telling friends who still indulge how wonderful it is though. It is hard not to come across as “smug” and you will only wind them up. If they ask you about your experience that’s different of course...

Best of luck and enjoy!

Oh 100% this. I used to enjoy drinking so I really don't want to end up as the not drinking equivalent of a vegan activist . Ultimately I understand that I as an individual have a problem with alcohol and moderating it, so will stay away from it.

I gave up smoking 10 years ago and I don't care if other people smoke. I just won't allow it in my car or house.

Live and let live

[anonymous-user]

Carrot said:

funinhounslow said:

I would advise against telling friends who still indulge how wonderful it is though. It is hard not to come across as “smug” and you will only wind them up. If they ask you about your experience that’s different of course...

Best of luck and enjoy!

Oh 100% this. I used to enjoy drinking so I really don't want to end up as the not drinking equivalent of a vegan activist . Ultimately I understand that I as an individual have a problem with alcohol and moderating it, so will stay away from it.

I gave up smoking 10 years ago and I don't care if other people smoke. I just won't allow it in my car or house.

Live and let live

I absolutely love pubs I just don’t need to drink alcohol in them. Been there and got the medals, I’m more than happy without now.

[SpeckledJim]

What if anything did you all substitute as your end-of-day cue to relax?

I'm drinking too much, mainly because I'm using it as a treat for another day down.

I'd be happy enough to quit, for many reasons, but I'd badly want something to mark the end of 'duties' for the day.

[anonymous-user]

SpeckledJim said:

What if anything did you all substitute as your end-of-day cue to relax?

I'm drinking too much, mainly because I'm using it as a treat for another day down.

I'd be happy enough to quit, for many reasons, but I'd badly want something to mark the end of 'duties' for the day.

Very good point!

Not a lot here. A daily wind down is not needed so much as the relaxation is there all the time

[Drew106]

Doing dry Jan at the moment and have contributed to the other Alcohol threads.

It's going OK. Less difficult than I was expecting.

It does at times feel a little "meh'" though.

My mood is more stable, workouts are easier, waking up/getting up easier, getting more done at the weekends, saving a fare bit of cash.

Yet with all the loooong list of positives, it just feels a little boring. I don't think I'm done for good.

Moderation is definitely the key... Easier said than done.

[Kenny Powers]

SpeckledJim said:

What if anything did you all substitute as your end-of-day cue to relax?

I'm drinking too much, mainly because I'm using it as a treat for another day down.

I'd be happy enough to quit, for many reasons, but I'd badly want something to mark the end of 'duties' for the day.

I just drink coffee or water. Humans don't need treats. Treats are for training dogs to fetch the paper

Seriously, though, you don't need treats or something to relax. You only think you do because you currently have a relationship with alcohol (if I may be so bold) and thus you are afraid that abstinence will leave a hole in your life. It will, initially, but that's the whole point.

I will add that I was never a massive drinker anyway, but you'd be surprised how many people are dependent on alcohol. Nearly everyone apparently 'needs' a glass of wine in the evening in order to unwind. Once you break that habit you won't think about it.

Best of luck!

[lampchair]

FocusRS3 said:

Carrot said:

Brutally honest - average week.

Monday - bottle of wine
Tuesday - half a bottle of wine, few shorts
Wednesday - share half a bottle with missus
Thursday - bottle of wine few shorts
Friday - half a large bottle of vodka, some wine and a whiskey to finish
Saturday - usually same as Friday
Sunday - at least a couple of glasses of wine

I didn't get hangovers any more in the traditional sense, just feeling st and out of energy all the time. It was rare that I had a day with no alcohol.

Yeah that's worrying amounts

That’s a lot to come off of!

Well done!

[anonymous-user]

lampchair said:

FocusRS3 said:

Carrot said:

Brutally honest - average week.

Monday - bottle of wine
Tuesday - half a bottle of wine, few shorts
Wednesday - share half a bottle with missus
Thursday - bottle of wine few shorts
Friday - half a large bottle of vodka, some wine and a whiskey to finish
Saturday - usually same as Friday
Sunday - at least a couple of glasses of wine

I didn't get hangovers any more in the traditional sense, just feeling st and out of energy all the time. It was rare that I had a day with no alcohol.

Yeah that's worrying amounts

That’s a lot to come off of!

Well done!

You’d be surprised how many people are way over that regularly. He’s on about 4 bottles of wine and 2 of spirits a week which is VERY easily done.

Well done if he can give it up, and use the £2,500 + annual bonus somewhere else!

[Carrot]

V6 Pushfit said:

lampchair said:

FocusRS3 said:

Carrot said:

Brutally honest - average week.

Monday - bottle of wine
Tuesday - half a bottle of wine, few shorts
Wednesday - share half a bottle with missus
Thursday - bottle of wine few shorts
Friday - half a large bottle of vodka, some wine and a whiskey to finish
Saturday - usually same as Friday
Sunday - at least a couple of glasses of wine

I didn't get hangovers any more in the traditional sense, just feeling st and out of energy all the time. It was rare that I had a day with no alcohol.

Yeah that's worrying amounts

That’s a lot to come off of!

Well done!

You’d be surprised how many people are way over that regularly. He’s on about 4 bottles of wine and 2 of spirits a week which is VERY easily done.

Well done if he can give it up, and use the £2,500 + annual bonus somewhere else!

I'm considering offsetting with a meth habit...

[TameRacingDriver]

Thesprucegoose said:

i gave up alcohol for a few months and didn't notice much difference in waking up etc, but not as heavy a drinker as it seems to ones on here.

I drink weekends and stick to beer. I'm slowly drinking less a year but i enjoy it so don't want to rid totally as enjoy it.

This more or less describes my habit now.

I’ve been through a few stages with booze, from not really liking it much at all, through to caning best part of a 3/4 bottle of vodka a night, along with serious binge drinking, before eventually settling into a routine of wine and weekends much like the OP.

I recently started to find that I became depressed and unable to cope with lifes ups and downs, and the hangovers are horrible, just like being permanently ill, so lately I don’t drink at all on a work night.

I look forward a few beers and a *little* red wine on a weekend admittedly (this became a big problem so I drink it in moderation), but I am much more mindful than I used to be, and have cut down my weekly units from circa 150/week down to current levels, maybe 35-40/week, and always trying to look for ways to reduce it further.

I already feel a bit better, I have more energy, mornings are still hard but much easier, am performing much better at work, the depression is far less severe, if not virtually gone, and I’m sleeping way better. but have this nagging feeling I’ve done permanent damage, as I have a lot of weird pains and a cold after a boozy festive xmas has knocked me on my arse.

I dare say life would have been easier if I never started but genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. Good luck OP, you’re a better man than I.

[J4CKO]

Not as much as some on here but could put it away when I felt like it, been doing dry January and the wife pulled me up on having a zero alcohol beer every night, jokingly, its great, guilt and agro free !

I really enjoy it, look forward to having one, maybe two and not missed alcohol one bit, carrying on into January and going to New York mid Feb so will relent then, but other than that happy without it. Its the thought of not having a drink for most rather than any physical dependency I think.

Will have a few drinks whilst away and then back to the zero stuff, or just a pint of water.

[anonymous-user]

TameRacingDriver said:

This more or less describes my habit now.

I’ve been through a few stages with booze, from not really liking it much at all, through to caning best part of a 3/4 bottle of vodka a night, along with serious binge drinking, before eventually settling into a routine of wine and weekends much like the OP.

I recently started to find that I became depressed and unable to cope with lifes ups and downs, and the hangovers are horrible, just like being permanently ill, so lately I don’t drink at all on a work night.

I look forward a few beers and a *little* red wine on a weekend admittedly (this became a big problem so I drink it in moderation), but I am much more mindful than I used to be, and have cut down my weekly units from circa 150/week down to current levels, maybe 35-40/week, and always trying to look for ways to reduce it further.

I already feel a bit better, I have more energy, mornings are still hard but much easier, am performing much better at work, the depression is far less severe, if not virtually gone, and I’m sleeping way better. but have this nagging feeling I’ve done permanent damage, as I have a lot of weird pains and a cold after a boozy festive xmas has knocked me on my arse.

I dare say life would have been easier if I never started but genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. Good luck OP, you’re a better man than I.

Your best bet would be to cut it out altogether, reset to zero so to speak, and see if the pains are still there after a while.
Toxins get released for a few days when you stop, so you might have got into a cycle.

[Joscal]

I’ve been off it for nigh on 3 years and as others have said it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I was a weekend binger (I’m Irish it’s what we do)

I’m far fitter, less lazy, calmer, depression and anxiety has pretty much gone and most importantly a better role model for my teenage son. I was hiding behind alcohol as I’m an introvert but I now realise that’s it’s ok to not want to be a social animal.

My only regret is I didn’t quit 20 years ago as I wasted so many weekends in a blur and towards the end made a tt of myself too many times, although all my drinking friends told me I didn’t have a problem and was a funny drunk, I didn’t think it was funny that I couldn’t remember half the night or getting home! Some of them still can’t understand my decision which is cool.

I’ve had a few wobbles over the 3 years but each time it’s cemented my decision as I really haven’t enjoyed it.

Good luck to any of you thinking about quitting as it took me a long time to realise alcohol really wasn’t doing me any good.

[Carrot]

Joscal said:

I’ve been off it for nigh on 3 years and as others have said it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I was a weekend binger (I’m Irish it’s what we do)

I’m far fitter, less lazy, calmer, depression and anxiety has pretty much gone and most importantly a better role model for my teenage son. I was hiding behind alcohol as I’m an introvert but I now realise that’s it’s ok to not want to be a social animal.

My only regret is I didn’t quit 20 years ago as I wasted so many weekends in a blur and towards the end made a tt of myself too many times, although all my drinking friends told me I didn’t have a problem and was a funny drunk, I didn’t think it was funny that I couldn’t remember half the night or getting home! Some of them still can’t understand my decision which is cool.

I’ve had a few wobbles over the 3 years but each time it’s cemented my decision as I really haven’t enjoyed it.

Good luck to any of you thinking about quitting as it took me a long time to realise alcohol really wasn’t doing me any good.

Great post! Especially the social expectation part. I have never been a party animal and have hated clubs since I was not old enough to go into them

[jdw100]

Stopped nearly two years ago.

Developed epilepsy and my initial medication was strongly contra- indicated for alcohol.

Changed medication twice since then (plus destroyed a shoulder in accident caused by seizure).

Haven't restarted drinking.

My current medication should be okay for alcohol but alcohol and epilepsy probably not a great combo.

Last year had two beers and a glass of whisky.

Stopping drinking has made no difference at all, don't feel any different; which is bit disappointing.

[EddieSteadyGo]

SpeckledJim said:

What if anything did you all substitute as your end-of-day cue to relax?

I'm drinking too much, mainly because I'm using it as a treat for another day down.

I'd be happy enough to quit, for many reasons, but I'd badly want something to mark the end of 'duties' for the day.

I do think this is a very important question.

Many people including myself sometimes use alcohol as a release to help relieve the stress and strain caused by modern life.

I've made a deliberate decision to try and proactively manage the stress levels in my life down to a lower level, and so reduce the tendency to drink to 'unwind'.

And in might sound mundane, but I've also started doing a brisk 2.5 mile walk each evening. It doesn't take long, and I've found it really helps to clear my mind, and makes me feel more relaxed and naturally more ready to go to sleep.

[anonymous-user]

Eating better and exercise can take sone of the stress out. And treat yourself to something in place.

[SpeckledJim]

Kenny Powers said:

SpeckledJim said:

What if anything did you all substitute as your end-of-day cue to relax?

I'm drinking too much, mainly because I'm using it as a treat for another day down.

I'd be happy enough to quit, for many reasons, but I'd badly want something to mark the end of 'duties' for the day.

I just drink coffee or water. Humans don't need treats. Treats are for training dogs to fetch the paper

Seriously, though, you don't need treats or something to relax. You only think you do because you currently have a relationship with alcohol (if I may be so bold) and thus you are afraid that abstinence will leave a hole in your life. It will, initially, but that's the whole point.

I will add that I was never a massive drinker anyway, but you'd be surprised how many people are dependent on alcohol. Nearly everyone apparently 'needs' a glass of wine in the evening in order to unwind. Once you break that habit you won't think about it.

Best of luck!

This is insightful. Thank you.

[unident]

Interesting stuff. I started last year with dry Jan and carried it on for the best part of the year. I didn’t completely quite and probably had 5 nights where I had a drink or two, but that was it. I was definitely a binge drinker previously. Never drank at home, ever, but come the weekend or midweek down the pub I’d be throwing it back like there was no tomorrow. I’m going to carry on with this approach this year and see what happens. Not had a drop this year, ignoring NYE I don’t think I’ve had a drink since August.

The gains were the freedom from hangovers which have got progressively worse and longer as I’ve got older.

Weight loss is a weird one. I’m not exactly small built at c15 stone but simply haven’t shifted a pound. This is despite eating healthily, exercising daily via MTBing (3-6 hours day 5 times a week). I’m definitely the fittest I’ve ever been, just can’t shift that bloody belly