Giving up /reducing booze ....

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

19 hours ago, Midlands hobo said:

I retried Guinness zero. Better than first time had 3 sadly woke up feeling like itld drank a bottle of rum. 

Christ knows what is in it.

I've had 'phantom' hangovers after low alcohol beer....think it psychological (and maybe the taste of beer in the mouth during a morning!)

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

19 hours ago, metallithrax said:

Me and the girlfriend have been drinking maybe 8 beers a day since mid November when her father was taken ill (he died 25th November).  First day off was Saturday 30th.  Large session on new year and now for dry January again.

Not easy is it? Especially when it's paired with coping with other things 

I have no answers but two tips I'm finding reduce my drinking at least are 

1. Non alcohol beer first before real stuff or instead 

2. Start drinking late as possible on your 'drinking' days ..I aim for 8pm start on Saturdays! 

 

[metallithrax]

4 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Not easy is it? Especially when it's paired with coping with other things 

I have no answers but two tips I'm finding reduce my drinking at least are 

1. Non alcohol beer first before real stuff or instead 

2. Start drinking late as possible on your 'drinking' days ..I aim for 8pm start on Saturdays! 

 

Actually, last year we had been drinking the same sort of amounts for a lot longer ( 5 times a week for over 12 months).

 

Dry January wasn't a problem and after that we continued with drinking a couple of times a week.  We don't depend on drink, we just like a drink.  It helps that we are also dieting to lose weight.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 04/01/2024 at 18:37, metallithrax said:

Actually, last year we had been drinking the same sort of amounts for a lot longer ( 5 times a week for over 12 months).

 

Dry January wasn't a problem and after that we continued with drinking a couple of times a week.  We don't depend on drink, we just like a drink.  It helps that we are also dieting to lose weight.

Good on you then if you find it easy 

[metallithrax]

56 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Good on you then if you find it easy 

I do, but it probably helps that I don't have kids or other stuff to ###### me off too much.

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 minutes ago, metallithrax said:

I do, but it probably helps that I don't have kids or other stuff to ###### me off too much.

 

Never say never 

[metallithrax]

6 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Never say never 

Well, at 55yo and girlfriend at 50yo, I can guarantee they're will be no kids.

 

Most people where I work like a drink, some see it as a bad night out if they didn't get wasted.  Personally I don't drink to get drunk, I just like a drink.

One lad has been on and off (very heavy) drinking for over a year.  It sucks because he will go for two to three weeks and be fine, then something sets him off again.

 

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 hours ago, metallithrax said:

 

One lad has been on and off (very heavy) drinking for over a year.  It sucks because he will go for two to three weeks and be fine, then something sets him off again.

Sad situation 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

7 days with no booze

Eating a lot more sweets

I'll be as fat as Jordan Abdull soon

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 31/03/2024 at 16:50, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

7 days with no booze

Eating a lot more sweets

I'll be as fat as Jordan Abdull soon

16 days no booze 

Still eating a tonne but have lost weight...weird 

 

[Lowdesert]

On 31/03/2024 at 16:50, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

7 days with no booze

Eating a lot more sweets

I'll be as fat as Jordan Abdull soon

Out of interest, what are you sleeping like?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

13 minutes ago, Lowdesert said:

Out of interest, what are you sleeping like?

Much better 

I am loathe to say it but after 17 days now ( my new record) ...everything is better - everything 

- less anxiety / irritability 

- better sleep 

-lost 5 pounds with absolutely no effort 

- I look a LOT better, skin so much better already 

-enjoying watching sport on TV and live a lot more - I can concentrate more

-enjoying music and telly more 

- saved loads of money 

- drank red bull / no alcohol beers and seen two live matches (one rugby one soccer)...done a mini break away with missus now a 3 day family break

****Ing annoying to admit it but I think I just need to try and be tee total ...I can't be a moderate drinker just like i cant be a nice be a moderate smoker or sports gambler (gave those up 9 and 15 years respectively) 

 

[Lowdesert]

13 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Much better 

I am loathe to say it but after 17 days now ( my new record) ...everything is better - everything 

- less anxiety / irritability 

- better sleep 

-lost 5 pounds with absolutely no effort 

- I look a LOT better, skin so much better already 

-enjoying watching sport on TV and live a lot more - I can concentrate more

-enjoying music and telly more 

- saved loads of money 

- drank red bull / no alcohol beers and seen two live matches (one rugby one soccer)...done a mini break away with missus now a 3 day family break

****Ing annoying to admit it but I think I just need to try and be tee total ...I can't be a moderate drinker just like i cant be a nice be a moderate smoker or sports gambler (gave those up 9 and 15 years respectively) 

 

Fantastic to hear that.  Keep going now.

There is a lot of mileage in having your evening meal at 1700 and not then eating again until 0900ish the following day, together with cutting out as much sugar as possible. You might think this is difficult but it isn’t and it virtually guarantees a good sleep.  
I never wake up hungry but unfortunately booze sends my body out of kilter with it.  I love a drink but rarely go OTT.
 

 

[graveyard johnny]

6 days without booze and I'm sleeping like a baby - waking up screaming and crying 3 times during the night and soiling myself twice!

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

55 days no booze 

The main advantages have been less stressed and feel healthier

Been tricky at normal booze times recently like weekends but planning on keeping it up

CBD jellies have been good for relaxing and Gingko / sugary caffeine drinks on nights out

So far so good

[gingerjon]

15 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

55 days no booze 

Superb. Well done.

[JohnM]

Trust me, it's easy to give up drinking. Just get really ill and get the doc to prescribe medication that mandates no alcohol.

Well, that's what I did in 2018/2019 and still no alcohol.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

14 hours ago, JohnM said:

Trust me, it's easy to give up drinking. Just get really ill and get the doc to prescribe medication that mandates no alcohol.

Well, that's what I did in 2018/2019 and still no alcohol.

The question is....does the medication give you any kind of buzz?

[JohnM]

Yes, in that I'm still alive and here to cause trouble on here.

[Phil]

I posted on here quite a while ago that I was drinking too much and sometimes making a bit of a fool of myself.

I’ve since managed to cut down drastically, I’m not tee total and I do like a nice real ale now and again but I can have a couple of beers and then go onto soft drinks without any problem.

I’ve yet to find a non alcoholic beer I like though

[gazza77]

On 26/05/2024 at 20:05, Phil said:

I posted on here quite a while ago that I was drinking too much and sometimes making a bit of a fool of myself.

I’ve since managed to cut down drastically, I’m not tee total and I do like a nice real ale now and again but I can have a couple of beers and then go onto soft drinks without any problem.

I’ve yet to find a non alcoholic beer I like though

I can't promise you or anyone else will like this, but this is the best alcohol free beer I've discovered to date.

https://www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk/products/nowt-mary-bottles

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

7 hours ago, gazza77 said:

I can't promise you or anyone else will like this, but this is the best alcohol free beer I've discovered to date.

https://www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk/products/nowt-mary-bottles

 

Looks very good...Guinness stout 0% is superb....I'd assume this is great too 

Buying some later 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

Several months in now

Occasional hard bits (Saturday day time and Sunday evenings the worst)

The initial 2 months felt great 

Last 2 months a bit meh 

Main danger now is that the novelty has worn off ....

 

[Lowdesert]

3 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Several months in now

Occasional hard bits (Saturday day time and Sunday evenings the worst)

The initial 2 months felt great 

Last 2 months a bit meh 

Main danger now is that the novelty has worn off ....

 

Set yourself a challenge you can work towards.  Nothing extreme.  Walking, running, new hobby.  Include the kids.

Need to a) get out of the door and b) find other enjoyments.

Download the Ordnance Survey app - gives you all the public rights of way near you.  Free.

Download Strava - gives you a means to measure how far you’ve walked/ran, also cumulative distances.  Free.

Edited Sunday at 09:30 by Lowdesert

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

7 hours ago, Lowdesert said:

Set yourself a challenge you can work towards.  Nothing extreme.  Walking, running, new hobby.  Include the kids.

Need to a) get out of the door and b) find other enjoyments.

Download the Ordnance Survey app - gives you all the public rights of way near you.  Free.

Download Strava - gives you a means to measure how far you’ve walked/ran, also cumulative distances.  Free.

I appreciate that mate - I  doloads already (always done gym, sport and kids sports teams etc)

It's not lack of stuff to do or challenge needed ....it's just that realization that I won't have that 'euphoria' of drinking again.....that sounds dramatic but it feels real 

It feels like everything is better with a drink

Someone said something weird when I first stopped like 'if it's not as fun without alcohol then it can't have been that much fun anyway '......I don't agree with that....e.g.  I watched the games yesterday and enjoyed them (especially the Saints loss) but it's not 'as' good 

Don't think there is an answer.....I guess it's a trade off....I feel maybe 25% better for 90% of the week now....but that other 10% (Saturdays and Sunday night)  is probably 75% less fun 

I guess not dying early of liver disease will be more fun than dying of liver disease 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 14:00 by Bedfordshire Bronco