Life without alcohol

[chesterbells]

I don't drink Monday to Thursday due to work. What's weird is, I don’t miss the drink during the week. I may be tempted on a Thursday especially if it's a nice evening but I avoid temptation and hit the gym or go for a run.

Come the weekend I'm really smashing through the beer. I find lager delicious and goes down so easily, I'm not into spirits or wine.

I'm trying to cut down but a lot of family events involve booze.

Work isn't as stressful so the weekend aren't feeling as much of a relief so I need to stop cracking open a beer on Friday night.

I generally do parkrun Saturday morning, so it keeps me honest on a Friday, so I will drink only Thursday and Saturday. Two days a week is enough for me.

The thing for me is the amount once you start. I think it was your post on here from 2 years back that struck me - about things going downhill after 5 or 6, and chasing the moment, or the feeling. 3 to 6 is the golden period for me, so I try/am trying not to go beyond that. But once you’ve reached 5 or 6, making yourself stop, that’s what I find a real challenge.

 

[BlueHammer85]

3 to 6 is the golden period for me, so I try/am trying not to go beyond that.

I find it almost impossible to stop at 4/5 pints, when i do i generally feel shit, blurry, headache and tired.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

in 9 hours I officially hit 6 years no booze. :-)

 

[mexico1970]

in 9 hours I officially hit 6 years no booze. :-)

Every sympathy for anyone who struggles with the stuff and congratulations, I however am way too much of a lightweight for it to have ever taken hold so I was/am very fortunate.

 

[chesterbells]

I find it almost impossible to stop at 4/5 pints, when i do i generally feel shit, blurry, headache and tired.

Is that from afternoon drinking or in the evening/before bed? If it’s the former, I agree.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I’ve switched to Guinness zero unless there is no other choice but have a normal one. I still feel like I’m out rather than when I just drank Diet Coke or J2o. I have the odd glass of wine at home but nowhere near what I did about 9 months ago. I like that I can feel brilliant the next day and still have had a good night before. There are the odd occasions like when me and the wife go out on a very rare date night but they are few and far between. This Saturday will be a bit of a test going to oasis, we are going out at 1pm I’m just hoping there are a few non alcoholic alternatives.

 

[Ilovehappyendings]

Can go days, weeks, months without. Not arsed
But if I'm on it, it's all or nothing.
I agree about the buzz of 2-3, but I can never stop then. I do try and stay on beer now. Hardly ever drink spirits and have learned the hard way that opening a bottle of wine after beers really hurts the next day.
I've just had a clean weekend and am thinking exactly what is the point of drinking, I feel great, slept better, trained harder, didn't get fat, made better food choices, didn't take 3 days to feel well, spent less.
I find the weather is also a factor. I find it easier to stay off it in the winter. But I checked the forecast for this weekend and despite planning to stay off it. It's screaming BBQ and beer.....ffs

 

[remember arthur mann]

 

[dave_blue12]

18 months without a drink. Don't miss it, feel great, after around 12 months sleep much improved.

 

[Marklr]

I’ve switched to Guinness zero unless there is no other choice but have a normal one. I still feel like I’m out rather than when I just drank Diet Coke or J2o. I have the odd glass of wine at home but nowhere near what I did about 9 months ago. I like that I can feel brilliant the next day and still have had a good night before. There are the odd occasions like when me and the wife go out on a very rare date night but they are few and far between. This Saturday will be a bit of a test going to oasis, we are going out at 1pm I’m just hoping there are a few non alcoholic alternatives.

Guinness 0.0 is a game changer for me. Love it. Those first few swigs get the endorphins buzzing around my head....like it's alcohol. Although I can only drink about one and half pints of it before my brain and body realise it's basically water, and I've had enough of it.

 

[fulabeer]

I think the right balance is to have a drink and have a great time with friends/family. The positives are then fantastic.
Having a little drink on your own is also ok. Getting smashed on your own not so much.

The tipping point is when you want/need to have a drink, and just hope to meet people and hope you have a good time as well. You are probably still ok, but pay attention if somebody who cares about you mentions your drinking.

When you get to the point that having a drink is the only thing, and you cannot remember if you had a good time or not. Then it is a negative thing that needs sorting. No matter how much you convince yourself, you will be hurting/affecting somebody in your life.

Personally, i rarely drink. Love it when i do. That's because it is usually involves mates/family i've not seen in a while!

 

[xmusampa]

Probably one definition of an alcoholic or for a more modern wokey definition alcohol dependence