Giving up alcohol

[paoloh]

I usually drink a bottle of Merlot a night but have decided to give up. First night was last night, OMG, this is NOT going to be easy.
First off, kept reaching for my glass, no glass there.
Secondly, could I sleep, like hell I could. Lay awake for about an hour just thinking about rubbish.
Let's hope it's better tonight.

Any of you guys experienced anything similar?

[trumpet600]

Why are you punishing yourself?

[shadowninja]

A night? Wow.

Do something else to occupy yourself. I would also try to understand why you are addicted. Emotional Freedom Techniques is good for killing cravings. Since you're not far (I'm near Kingston), feel free to pop over tomorrow and I'll show you how FOC. Email me through my profile for details.

Edited by shadowninja on Friday 17th October 08:59

[MilnerR]

It gets easier but it takes about 3-4 weeks to really break the habit of having a drink. Stick with it, you'll feel a lot better once you're used to it. I haven't drunk for about 3 months and I'm sleeping better than ever. It's not easy though.

[Hoppy2008]

I gave up for a month once.
For no ther reason than just to see if I could.
I just about managed to do it.
I found the hardest times were the obvious ones, e.g. going to the pub, going out with mates, etc....
But if it helps you, I DID feel better for it. And although you find it hard to sleep now, in a week or two you will be sleeping much better, trust me.
Why ar eyou giving up, btw?

Hoppy

[trumpet600]

Hoppy2008 said:

I gave up for a month once.
For no ther reason than just to see if I could.
I just about managed to do it.
I found the hardest times were the obvious ones, e.g. going to the pub, going out with mates, etc....
But if it helps you, I DID feel better for it. And although you find it hard to sleep now, in a week or two you will be sleeping much better, trust me.
Why ar eyou giving up, btw?

Hoppy

I did the same thing for 7 weeks. It didn't take long to catch back up though.

[paoloh]

I feel I am relying on drink to get to sleep at night.

[ALawson]

Try doing some exercise in the afternoon and don't watch TV as is stops the brain going into sleep mode. You are just going to have to me mentally strong, 1 week and you should be fine, unless you are an alcoholic

You must be saving yourself about £1.5k a year anyway, thats a lot of petrol and tyres!

[trumpet600]

paoloh said:

I feel I am relying on drink to get to sleep at night.

Replace it with exercise........it has the same effect only it's better for you

[paoloh]

I used to be a gym freak, I then tore my shoulder and haven't been in about a year....
You are right about the money, £10 a bottle, oh crap, that's over £3500 a year.

[ALawson]

paoloh said:

I used to be a gym freak, I then tore my shoulder and haven't been in about a year....
You are right about the money, £10 a bottle, oh crap, that's over £3500 a year.

Well for £3.5k you could see a physio for 100 half slots which would probably sort your shoulder out or if it needs surgey get it sorted either on the NHS or Private depending upon how bad the tear is.

[RLK500]

So what else would you spend it on ? If you like wine, and you enjoy wine, buy it, drink it, enjoy. It's no good being the richest man in the graveyard...........

[paoloh]

RLK500 said:

So what else would you spend it on ? If you like wine, and you enjoy wine, buy it, drink it, enjoy. It's no good being the richest man in the graveyard...........

The money is not the issue, it's the dependancy on the Vino to get to sleep.

[paoloh]

ALawson said:

paoloh said:

I used to be a gym freak, I then tore my shoulder and haven't been in about a year....
You are right about the money, £10 a bottle, oh crap, that's over £3500 a year.

Well for £3.5k you could see a physio for 100 half slots which would probably sort your shoulder out or if it needs surgey get it sorted either on the NHS or Private depending upon how bad the tear is.

Shoulder is all good now but when you've fallen out of a gym for a while, it's seems so hard to get motivated again. Loss of body size etc

[ALawson]

Have you tried spirits?

[paoloh]

ALawson said:

Have you tried spirits?

LOL

[Big Rod]

Became conscious of my beer usage a little while ago.

So I made a pact with a few on here to keep the beer to the weekends.

Aside from falling off 'the wagon' a couple of times when it'd have been 'churlish' to exclude myself from goings on, I've noticed a marked difference in my physical and mental wellbeing and it's very noticeable how much less money I'm spending!!

This is a good thing that you'll do.

I mean jeez man!?!?!? £70 a week on sauce!?!?!

(Having said that, I probably wasn't far behind myself!!)

What has been strange is that those, (mainly SWMBO!), who couldn't help themselves from commenting on my drinking habits then started ridiculing me for ordering a fresh orange and lemonade at the bar!!

Edited by Big Rod on Friday 17th October 09:17

[The Tea Boy]

I gave up drinking when i was 20 as was geting a little out of hand (about 15pints a night!!) was living the life of a student but working full time without actually being a student if you know what i mean!!! what made me give up was on new years eve i had spent £100+ and still wasnt p1553d and i had been on the beer since 3pm it was now 2am and i just thought fk this ive had enough its getting silly i quit, i was so difficult going to the pub and saying im not drinking i want a coke, esp as all the bar staff knew me and would start pouring a beer as soon as i walked into the pub, anyway 4.5yrs on i have started drinking again but not alot because a) im now a light weight and b) i just find it borning, been there done that. so sometimes giving up can be hard to start with its not allways about addiction its about habbit, and habbits can be changed far easier than addictions its all in the mind and the best thing to do as mentioned before is find something to take you mind off it!!

HTH

Matt

[ALawson]

paoloh said:

ALawson said:

paoloh said:

I used to be a gym freak, I then tore my shoulder and haven't been in about a year....
You are right about the money, £10 a bottle, oh crap, that's over £3500 a year.

Well for £3.5k you could see a physio for 100 half slots which would probably sort your shoulder out or if it needs surgey get it sorted either on the NHS or Private depending upon how bad the tear is.

Shoulder is all good now but when you've fallen out of a gym for a while, it's seems so hard to get motivated again. Loss of body size etc

Had the same problem after leaving Uni where I could go when ever I wanted, it came to a point earlier this year when I ruptured my medial lig and partially ruptured my ACL skiing, I thought that I was fit but wasn't. It was a good wake up call and am now back in the gym twice a week just ticking over, not bulk rather substance.

[Mc Lovin]

Instead of grabbing a glass, grab yer missus. I had to go a full month of not drinking any beer, just to prove i didn't have a problem, i knew i didn't but the wife was worried as i'd drink a few every night.

Early nights with the wife untill you get out of the routine, thats all it is, its not dependancy.

After the month was up, i didn't drink for a few weeks after, then the first pint i did have was heaven





and since then i haven't stopped