Alcohol, hints, tips, advice etc.

blue44 said:
17 days for me and soon 18.
finish work on thursday for my 2 days off and gagging for a beer.
i dont feel any different/ better,just saved a bit of money.
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Feeling better is a mindset. And the money saved adds up rapidly. Think of all the away trips you can do without worrying about money. Keep it up. Waking up with a clear head and a positive outlook on the upcoming day is a great feeling.
 
Not had a drink since I wished the lads a happy new year in The Britons Protection after the Everton home game and got the train home.

It has been tempting - a mate of mine who lives in Florida came home this last month and every weekend is a boozy night out. I went for a meal with them but then went home whilst they went on to the bars and clubs. I don't regret it for a moment, but it's hard at the time seeing 7 mates staggering off to a bar whilst you walk alone back to the car.

Had a short break in Germany two weeks ago and didn't touch it. I was in bed early and thus awake early enough to make full use of the rail pass I had. I feel like I am making a better fist of it this time. In 2021 and 2022, I had two 10-week spells of complete sobriety which cracked at the Norwich home game (first with fans at the Etihad for 18 months) and the Liverpool FA Cup semi-final last season. On those occasions, I did feel like I was marking off time and I could feel the weight of expectation. This time feels different - I feel a lot stronger and have already surpassed the 10-week mark.

The FA Cup semi-final this time will be about driving there and back on the day. Whilst the lads are staying over, I will be removing any and all temptations. I'll also be removing peer pressure from the equation. Alcohol before a game leaves me restless and distracted during it.

I just want to take my hat off to everyone on this thread who has shared a story. Alcohol issues are surprisingly more common than many people would think, and the world of City/football support is synonymous with drink. In fact, it's glorified through some of the songs we sing. Looking back, the songs about George Best were quite shameful but if I mentally keep telling myself that there's nothing macho about alcohol then it all goes away. It really is a mental adjustment.

Keep up the good fight, everyone.
 
I’ve not started going out until 9:30pm or so. As I never have alcohol at home then it stops me pre-drinking and also not having too much in the pub as it’s kicking out time at Midnight.

Last time I did this, I did chores at home, shopping, haircut and food by Midday. I’m normally still in bed after a session. Cutting down slowly but surely.
 
Deep into my second week now and sleep has improved without a doubt. However it seems my body is still even at this stage undergoing some changes because cold sweats have woke me up for the last two nights running which surprised me.

Watching lots of videos online as and when I can though and they help. Although the temptation physically was never the problem it was more the boredom in the evening so I must continue to find more and more solutions to keep it varied. Only so much telly/internet and reading one can do.

Joining a gym is one answer and I'll probably look into that but any other ideas welcome also.

Good luck everyone.
 
blue44 said:
17 days for me and soon 18.
finish work on thursday for my 2 days off and gagging for a beer.
i dont feel any different/ better,just saved a bit of money.
Click to expand...
It can take a while for the physical benefits to show. Especially if you've been drinking quite a bit for quite a while.
Can I ask, would you be trying to cut out alcohol if you hadn't been given an ultimation? Is this something that you're doing for you or because someone else wants this?
I only ask as the prospects of you commiting to it, having the mindset to recognise the positives, and ultimately succeeding, are far better if you're doing this because you recognise that its the right thing at the right time for you.
 
Blue Streak said:
Deep into my second week now and sleep has improved without a doubt. However it seems my body is still even at this stage undergoing some changes because cold sweats have woke me up for the last two nights running which surprised me.

Watching lots of videos online as and when I can though and they help. Although the temptation physically was never the problem it was more the boredom in the evening so I must continue to find more and more solutions to keep it varied. Only so much telly/internet and reading one can do.

Joining a gym is one answer and I'll probably look into that but any other ideas welcome also.

Good luck everyone.
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You're doing brilliantly.

While the time which is created by not drinking is quite novel at first, I know exactly what you mean about there sometimes being a bit too much of it.

Is there something that you always wanted to do but never thought that you'd have time to do?

I don't have any answers btw, I'm asking you the questions in the hope that it will prompt me to think about how I'd answer the same question. I don't seem to have the appetite to absorb myself in social media or crap TV the way I did when I drank.
 
About 12 years ago I had to wait for an op and couldn't drink whilst waiting, had the op and couldn't drink for a couple of months till I healed inside. I was off it for about 10 months and when I was told it was ok to drink I thought why bother, I enjoyed the bright mornings, the extra energy being able to get in the car anytime. I stayed off it until a couple of months into covid. Now I enjoy a drink but in moderation. Since I started after covid I have probably being drunk about 3 times and after always wonder why I got drunk as the next day is wasted and one I wont get back. So my message is stick with it, avoid temptation, avoid mates who won't respect your decision and you will come to realise you dont have to drink to have a good time. Then when your ready, and you will know the time, you can enjoy the occasional tipple and be able to walk away when and for how long you decide. Break the habit, avoid temptation, keep the willpower strong and you will be ok. Good luck to everybody who jumps on the wagon.
 
bluemanchester said:
About 12 years ago I had to wait for an op and couldn't drink whilst waiting, had the op and couldn't drink for a couple of months till I healed inside. I was off it for about 10 months and when I was told it was ok to drink I thought why bother, I enjoyed the bright mornings, the extra energy being able to get in the car anytime. I stayed off it until a couple of months into covid. Now I enjoy a drink but in moderation. Since I started after covid I have probably being drunk about 3 times and after always wonder why I got drunk as the next day is wasted and one I wont get back. So my message is stick with it, avoid temptation, avoid mates who won't respect your decision and you will come to realise you dont have to drink to have a good time. Then when your ready, and you will know the time, you can enjoy the occasional tipple and be able to walk away when and for how long you decide. Break the habit, avoid temptation, keep the willpower strong and you will be ok. Good luck to everybody who jumps on the wagon.
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Great, inspiring post and well done to you, but I will take issue with one aspect of.

For some people (me included) moderation just isn't a possibility. I'm all or nothing. I was exceptionally good at drinking when I used to do it, and now it turns out that I'm pretty good at not drinking.

But I was never (and suspect I won't ever) be very good at having one or two now and then.

The constant decision making and bargaining and justification from trying to moderate intake is simply more difficult that just saying no to the first drink could ever be.
 
bluemanchester said:
About 12 years ago I had to wait for an op and couldn't drink whilst waiting, had the op and couldn't drink for a couple of months till I healed inside. I was off it for about 10 months and when I was told it was ok to drink I thought why bother, I enjoyed the bright mornings, the extra energy being able to get in the car anytime. I stayed off it until a couple of months into covid. Now I enjoy a drink but in moderation. Since I started after covid I have probably being drunk about 3 times and after always wonder why I got drunk as the next day is wasted and one I wont get back. So my message is stick with it, avoid temptation, avoid mates who won't respect your decision and you will come to realise you dont have to drink to have a good time. Then when your ready, and you will know the time, you can enjoy the occasional tipple and be able to walk away when and for how long you decide. Break the habit, avoid temptation, keep the willpower strong and you will be ok. Good luck to everybody who jumps on the wagon.
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Avoid mates who won’t respect your decision is so true. They’d love to be able to do it but haven’t the mindset. Keep up the good work everyone .
 
bluegirl74 said:
It can take a while for the physical benefits to show. Especially if you've been drinking quite a bit for quite a while.
Can I ask, would you be trying to cut out alcohol if you hadn't been given an ultimation? Is this something that you're doing for you or because someone else wants this?
I only ask as the prospects of you commiting to it, having the mindset to recognise the positives, and ultimately succeeding, are far better if you're doing this because you recognise that its the right thing at the right time for you.
Click to expand...
Its for those reasons you cite and more actually.
The ultimatum from my mrs was the ultimate reason to stop,something I'v been thinking about for years,especially with my age ,late 50's.
Iv said to myself i would stop completely one day but Iv never comitted 100%,so its just dragged on and continued,I'm starting to realise how daft its all been,even though i knew that all along,if that makes sense !
Its just been a ridiculous habit that I'v fallen into and I'm starting to see breaking the habit isn't that bad,I can get by without drinking myself into a drunken zombiefied state.
I miss it so much even though its stupid and achieves nothing.
Iv just got home from work now and my natural instinct is to drink,through force of habit I guess.
 
blue44 said:
Its for those reasons you cite and more actually.
The ultimatum from my mrs was the ultimate reason to stop,something I'v been thinking about for years,especially with my age ,late 50's.
Iv said to myself i would stop completely one day but Iv never comitted 100%,so its just dragged on and continued,I'm starting to realise how daft its all been,even though i knew that all along,if that makes sense !
Its just been a ridiculous habit that I'v fallen into and I'm starting to see breaking the habit isn't that bad,I can get by without drinking myself into a drunken zombiefied state.
I miss it so much even though its stupid and achieves nothing.
Iv just got home from work now and my natural instinct is to drink,through force of habit I guess.
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I get it completely.

I'd wanted to stop, and knew that I needed to stop for a few years before I did. But when I did stop it, the timing of the decision was primarily down to wanting to show someone else that they too could stop, and would have my absolute support if they really wanted to and put their mind to it.

I think it's natural to miss it, and think about what you're "missing out on" so I try to remember to think about all the good things I've gained through not drinking than what I'm "missing".
 
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I reached a point where I wasn't really enjoying drinking and my bodys' demand for it had ebbed away.
So in June '22, on my 64th birthday, I stopped.
In September I went on a pre- arranged jolly to Europe for a week and had a few drinks during my time there. I have had just 2 pints (on seperate occasions) since my return.
There are certain beers which I do enjoy and if the opportunity presents itself, I will certainly partake. I will not, however, actively seek them out.
The position I have taken, assuring myself that somewhere along the line I will have a couple of pints, has definitely helped me resist temptation.
 
bluegirl74 said:
Great, inspiring post and well done to you, but I will take issue with one aspect of.

For some people (me included) moderation just isn't a possibility. I'm all or nothing. I was exceptionally good at drinking when I used to do it, and now it turns out that I'm pretty good at not drinking.

But I was never (and suspect I won't ever) be very good at having one or two now and then.

The constant decision making and bargaining and justification from trying to moderate intake is simply more difficult that just saying no to the first drink could ever be.
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All or nothing
That was me to a tee
Me and my mrs both working through covid made me worse the last few years.
I know it will be " nothing " from now on for me.
 
blue44 said:
All or nothing
That was me to a tee
Me and my mrs both working through covid made me worse the last few years.
I know it will be " nothing " from now on for me.
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If you do still yearn for a drink then is professional help a route you could take?

We’ll have 1800 in Split on Saturday for Croatia v Wales. Knowing the Welsh, there’ll be some sights but most of us are pretty conservative characters so it’ll be good and drink somewhere away from the party.
 
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