Alcohol Free

[fontduroy]

It's been a while since I've posted anything here, but I feel this deserves it. As of yesterday, I have sworn to never drink alcohol again. I even typed out my intention, signed, and dated it to make it more concrete. My wife completely supports my decision, and since she rarely drinks it really won't affect us all that much.

I won't go into any details, since a large percentage of us have had problems with self-control in this regard and most of the stories sound the same. I will be quitting cold turkey, as I have never drank on a daily basis and won't be going through any withdrawal symptoms. Also, I quit smoking almost five years by going cold turkey, and it wasn't very hard for me.

I have to say, this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Booya.

[Mr. Punch]

Good work, man! Stick with it.

This coming Sunday I have been sober 5 years. The best decision I ever made was to stop drinking. True freedom awaits.

[Create]

Great to hear that - I had quit drinking for a few months ( I have a drug addiction and decied it would be safer for me to let go of drinking for at least a while too) and not only did I lose weight but I felt much better about myself. It also triggers you to be ressourceful in party situations or bars; and you create a hole new way of having fun and socialising.

I can also bring up some insecurities or voids in your life and makes everything that much clearer.

It's a great thing to do, congratulations.

[Erock]

Sounds like a good reason not to start drinking. As a 17 year old male, a lot of guys I know seem to think it's the coolest thing in the world.

Erock

[dor]

Originally Posted by Create

Great to hear that - I had quit drinking for a few months ( I have a drug addiction and decied it would be safer for me to let go of drinking for at least a while too) and not only did I lose weight but I felt much better about myself. It also triggers you to be ressourceful in party situations or bars; and you create a hole new way of having fun and socialising.

I can also bring up some insecurities or voids in your life and makes everything that much clearer.

It's a great thing to do, congratulations.

i still drink occasionally but as i have gotten older i find the idea of intoxication just stupid - it's literally poisoning your system and numbing your senses to reality...how can that be rewarding?

The 'slight' buzz of 'taking the edge off' can be nice, but its hard to really moderate to that level if you're used to binging - its easier just to not start in the first place.

[Isabelle]

I feel better too since i'm not drinking on weekdays. And on weekends, I drink moderately or I don't drink at all.

I am loosing weight ! I drink much more water, vegetable juice, green tea. Someone on this forum suggested to drink a coke sometimes, and I think it is a good idea. I put ice and a slice of lime in it. I also make drinks as cosmopolitain without alcohol, virgin caesar, virgin daiquiris or margaritas ! I use a nice glass and add some fruits.

I found a lot of alcohol free cocktails recipes on the net. When I was pregnant, I did not have a hard time at all not drinking. Smoothies and healthy juices are good, pregnant or not.

But I don't want to turn cold turkey. I also like having a glass of good red wine with a nice dinner. But I think this is personal to each person.

I am very proud of not drinking everyday as I used to.

And I am very proud of you too !

[dor]

Originally Posted by Isabelle

I feel better too since i'm not drinking on weekdays. And on weekends, I drink moderately or I don't drink at all.
I drink much more water,!

vicious trick about alcohol that makes people over-drink: you think you're quenching your thirst but you're really dehydrating yourself (that's people wake up thirsty as hell after a night of drinking alcohol). I have found just drinking lots of water before and after a drink of alcohol cuts on the 'urge' to want to drink more.

[Isabelle]

I know... I remember clearly waking up in the middle of the night and drink a complete bottle of water after having too much alcohol.

You can drink 6 beers in a row, but what about the same quantity of water ?

[Create]

^^ Yup, dehydration is a key trick here.

i still drink occasionally but as i have gotten older i find the idea of intoxication just stupid - it's literally poisoning your system and numbing your senses to reality...how can that be rewarding?

The 'slight' buzz of 'taking the edge off' can be nice, but its hard to really moderate to that level if you're used to binging - its easier just to not start in the first place.

Exactly - that's why if you're self-aware, you can quickly realise when you are drinking to fill a void / binging to forget. I enjoy the little buzz but I can easily live without it - it's a question of habit and conditionning yourself to "not" doing such an activity, and to replase it with others.

That makes me think - when you folks stop drinking, do you feel it's essential or at least helpful to "replace" drinking with another activity? I look at it like dieting a bit - telling yourself that you "just can't eat/drink" is barely efficient. I find I need a proactive statement, like, "you will exercise / socialise / have a really consentrated conversation /or be the most absurd party animal while sober" inorder to suceed and NOT feel like "somethings missing"

[dor]

Originally Posted by Create

That makes me think - when you folks stop drinking, do you feel it's essential or at least helpful to "replace" drinking with another activity?

definately. much of drinking is just habit. - all the sudden when its thursday and you're used to going out an tying a few on to blow off steam - that expectation of tension relief is still going to be there -

If you want to stop, analyze when and why you drink - and do things to break the cycle. for example, if its after you come home from work and throw on the TV, plan an after work work out - or some event that will be fun but not involve alcohol .

Also its sounds so basic, but just drinking water and also having little snacks keeps urges down -a lot of them are 'false triggers'. I found that when i quit completely, that simply having some water and food helped when i had a craving -

if you're north European descent and quit drinking you may notice a spike in desire for sugar - there's still a lot of conflicting research on the matter but for me there was definitely a correlation.

[Shaden]

Sounds like a good reason not to start drinking. As a 17 year old male, a lot of guys I know seem to think it's the coolest thing in the world.

Erock

Tell me about it. The amount of stick I get from people because I'm completely Tee total is ridiculous. Fortunately I have a great sense of conviction in this particular area of my life.

[dor]

Originally Posted by Shaden

Tell me about it. The amount of stick I get from people because I'm completely Tee total is ridiculous. Fortunately I have a great sense of conviction in this particular area of my life.

yeah, looking back its incredible how stupid it sounds to me now - calling people a 'two beer' because they couldn't drink more, somehow equating drinking more and 'holding your liquor' as some sort of accomplishment.

Particularly in America and the British Isles (and probably other English speaking countries) i wish we'd learn younger to drink socially, or for taste (as in wine with food) almost all exposure (except communion) is over-drinking - its only made worse by having a high drinking age.

[mmmtbig]

If you've quit drinking, you feel some support from this video of a Craig Ferguson monologue.
Myke's Weblog: Inside Craig Ferguson