Giving up the booze/drugs

[Hendon Mad Frog]

Knocked the drink on the head years ago, most of my marrows understand it as they’ve got bairns themselves or demanding jobs or careers where turning up at 25% on a Monday and 50% on a Tuesday isn’t going to cut it.

A couple though just reckon it’s a case of “manning up” but they’re also the ones on low pay whose missus does all the childcare.

Tried the whole I’ll just have a few thing but even 4-5 pints has an impact the next day. Not one for hanging around pissed people sober either.

 

[Shady Lane]

Knocked the drink on the head years ago, most of my marrows understand it as they’ve got bairns themselves or demanding jobs or careers where turning up at 25% on a Monday and 50% on a Tuesday isn’t going to cut it.

A couple though just reckon it’s a case of “manning up” but they’re also the ones on low pay whose missus does all the childcare.

Tried the whole I’ll just have a few thing but even 4-5 pints has an impact the next day. Not one for hanging around pissed people sober either.

I’ve got one of them Fitbit things and the difference a few drinks makes to heart rate, sleep quality, recovery etc is quite the eye-opener.

Booze makes you feel great for a couple of hours but leaves you under par for the next 24.

 

[Charlestonian]

I’ve got one of them Fitbit things and the difference a few drinks makes to heart rate, sleep quality, recovery etc is quite the eye-opener.

Booze makes you feel great for a couple of hours but leaves you under par for the next 24.

The hangover that stopped me had me rough for nearly a week, it’s been almost 1000 days since I touched a drop.

 

[Shady Lane]

The hangover that stopped me had me rough for nearly a week, it’s been almost 1000 days since I touched a drop.

Some going that brother.

 

[xmfd]

The hangover that stopped me had me rough for nearly a week, it’s been almost 1000 days since I touched a drop.

How do you feel looking back at the 1,000 days of sobriety?
Do you feel like you missed out on anything?
Have you changed much as a person?

Well done by the way, I know it’s not easy.

 

[Charlestonian]

How do you feel looking back at the 1,000 days of sobriety?
Do you feel like you missed out on anything?
Have you changed much as a person?

Well done by the way, I know it’s not easy.

I’m a very different person now, I’ve shed some mates, and I haven’t really bothered with new ones, I’ve got a core of 5 that I tend to do my socialising with and just got rid of the rest basically, I’ve never really been one for sentiment.

I still go to gigs/comedy nights etc but I don’t go out now unless I’ve got a reason for it.

After the first year I stopped checking how many days but milestones like that are nice to hit in a very alcohol focused country.

 

[Ned Land]

I’m a very different person now, I’ve shed some mates, and I haven’t really bothered with new ones, I’ve got a core of 5 that I tend to do my socialising with and just got rid of the rest basically, I’ve never really been one for sentiment.

I still go to gigs/comedy nights etc but I don’t go out now unless I’ve got a reason for it.

After the first year I stopped checking how many days but milestones like that are nice to hit in a very alcohol focused country.

It’s 102 days of low/no alcohol for me so 1000 is some going.

I’ve changed my habits/routine so that I avoid the usual 3-4 pint session that defined a weekend.

I have arranged a few gigs with people who I’ve always felt comfortable with and binned off most ‘drinking partners’ over the past 10 years. Most weren’t even close to being reliable mates.

 

[Charlestonian]

It’s 102 days of low/no alcohol for me so 1000 is some going.

I’ve changed my habits/routine so that I avoid the usual 3-4 pint session that defined a weekend.

I have arranged a few gigs with people who I’ve always felt comfortable with and binned off most ‘drinking partners’ over the past 10 years. Most weren’t even close to being reliable mates.

I’ve just signed for my own allotment in time for my 40th, fully embracing a more gentle way of living, I wish I’d stopped years before I did.

 

[xmfd]

I’m a very different person now, I’ve shed some mates, and I haven’t really bothered with new ones, I’ve got a core of 5 that I tend to do my socialising with and just got rid of the rest basically, I’ve never really been one for sentiment.

I still go to gigs/comedy nights etc but I don’t go out now unless I’ve got a reason for it.

After the first year I stopped checking how many days but milestones like that are nice to hit in a very alcohol focused country.

163 days for me now (as I have an app counting for me) and I am basically the same as you - I’ve been out, but only to places I want to go, and I’ve left when I want to, even when on holiday, at weddings, etc. it’s a very calm, yet powerful feeling.

I learned pretty quickly that I couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks, I’ve just prioritised myself and my mental health. Anybody who is worth caring about will support you anyway. I haven’t lost anything.

I feel like I have gained so much, in contrast. If you typed out the pros and cons for drinking, it’s not even close.

And that’s mad because I absolutely loved a pint.

 

[chrismisterx]

@Ned Land @xmfd @Charlestonian

fantastic going, hope to one day match your efforts, gives me hope that I can do better.

in a cycle of getting to around 30/40 days and then slipping up, its better than before but not great. Had some crap news this week, followed by having to go to the doctors, so ended up having 9 pints to cope, hit me like a brick 2 days later. biggest binge for quite sometime if I am honest.

Talking about pros and cons, my biggest issue atm is replacing the booze with food, being stuck in the house and not moving as much as I should my weight has ballooned, have a "beer belly" from giving up the booze. Kind of stress eating, half the time not even noticing I am doing it.

Thats the next thing to tackle removing food as my crutch because i give up booze as a crutch!

At least with food its only me I am self harming and not my loved ones like what happens with the booze.

being mental sucks

 

[Charlestonian]

@Ned Land @xmfd @Charlestonian

fantastic going, hope to one day match your efforts, gives me hope that I can do better.

in a cycle of getting to around 30/40 days and then slipping up, its better than before but not great. Had some crap news this week, followed by having to go to the doctors, so ended up having 9 pints to cope, hit me like a brick 2 days later. biggest binge for quite sometime if I am honest.

Talking about pros and cons, my biggest issue atm is replacing the booze with food, being stuck in the house and not moving as much as I should my weight has ballooned, have a "beer belly" from giving up the booze. Kind of stress eating, half the time not even noticing I am doing it.

Thats the next thing to tackle removing food as my crutch because i give up booze as a crutch!

At least with food its only me I am self harming and not my loved ones like what happens with the booze.

being mental sucks

I did put weight on initially. I was reading something at the time about how your body behaves and heals in that first 100 days, I was regularly sleeping for 12 hours at a time, having mental dreams, night sweats, it was enough in that period just to stay sober, I started adding the gym and swimming after that.

Often I think people think theyve got to do it all at once, similar to January dieters, 2-3 weeks of eating what they perceive to be good and they are fed up and back they go to old habits.

 

[xmfd]

@Ned Land @xmfd @Charlestonian

fantastic going, hope to one day match your efforts, gives me hope that I can do better.

in a cycle of getting to around 30/40 days and then slipping up, its better than before but not great. Had some crap news this week, followed by having to go to the doctors, so ended up having 9 pints to cope, hit me like a brick 2 days later. biggest binge for quite sometime if I am honest.

Talking about pros and cons, my biggest issue atm is replacing the booze with food, being stuck in the house and not moving as much as I should my weight has ballooned, have a "beer belly" from giving up the booze. Kind of stress eating, half the time not even noticing I am doing it.

Thats the next thing to tackle removing food as my crutch because i give up booze as a crutch!

At least with food its only me I am self harming and not my loved ones like what happens with the booze.

being mental sucks

Thanks mate, I had done 30-60 days a few times before falling back off the wagon. Then would always up upsetting people, and letting myself down in spectacular ways.

You will get there. 30-40 days takes some doing, in fact I’d say thats the hardest part.

I think when I got to two months or so, it got easier. You learn how to deal with things without drinking, people stop harassing you to go for a pint, you start to look and feel better, more money, etc. the list goes on.

Then you get to 5/6 months and just think for the sake of a few pints why would I put myself through all of that again.

Hopefully it lasts.

 

[connolly_31]

How we all doing? Well I hope, reading through some spectacular achievements on here. Inspirational stuff - well done to all on your own journey.

 

[lucky]

So sorry my notifications have not been coming through, hope everyone OK

 

[FishburnMackem]

Anyone find after a particularly stressful day that drink can help bring their BP down?

Clocked mine at 190/110 earlier today whilst working (a pretty standard day too ffs).

Had a few glasses of wine over the last hour and its creeped back down to 140/95, headache / migraines gone aswell.

 

[Charlestonian]

How we all doing? Well I hope, reading through some spectacular achievements on here. Inspirational stuff - well done to all on your own journey.

I feel like January is new school year and a new batch of recruits come a knocking, I’m very much alone in that everyone around me still has a drink, but threads like this are excellent ways of finding people curious about stopping, experimenting with stopping or full on giving it up, I’ve really appreciated it.

So sorry my notifications have not been coming through, hope everyone OK

And here’s the main man, hope your well mate.

EDIT - on that theme, I haven’t seen @Idlewild Mackem kicking about for a little while, hope your well too mate.

 

[Ned Land]

How we all doing? Well I hope, reading through some spectacular achievements on here. Inspirational stuff - well done to all on your own journey.

I’m not missing it (at the moment). I was at a gig last night, it was nice not to miss anything due to the usual frequent toilet visits!

I’ve been realising how even moderate/social drinking had an effect on my behaviour.

It’s perhaps a cliche but it’s good to have a sense of control.

 

[connolly_31]

I feel like January is new school year and a new batch of recruits come a knocking, I’m very much alone in that everyone around me still has a drink, but threads like this are excellent ways of finding people curious about stopping, experimenting with stopping or full on giving it up, I’ve really appreciated it.


And here’s the main man, hope your well mate.

EDIT - on that theme, I haven’t seen @Idlewild Mackem kicking about for a little while, hope your well too mate.

Good to read/hear!

I’m not missing it (at the moment). I was at a gig last night, it was nice not to miss anything due to the usual frequent toilet visits!

I’ve been realising how even moderate/social drinking had an effect on my behaviour.

It’s perhaps a cliche but it’s good to have a sense of control.

I’ve done a couple of gigs sober and completely agree. Remembering the full gig rather than snippets is genuinely so much better. I spent over £1k seeing Oasis last year, missed Richard Ashcroft as the Sunderland game was on and then queues were madness for the toilet. Then genuinely can’t remember much of the Oasis set and my mate wanted to leave before the encore to get the fkin tube. Waste if time and money.

I did have a few drinks at the Ashcroft gig recently on Easter Monday but that’s been it. I am sorely tempted to go out tomorrow to catch up with some old friends who dragged me through some shite in the past - I could do that sober or it would be a few pints max in a nice surrounding - not a session at all.

I’ve learned from the experience about who I am and how I change. My relationship is much stronger (both with my wife and drink) because I feel I can go long periods without it and without actually wanting it. The run from Jan 1st to 22nd March was challenging for a few weeks, then quickly became just normal.

I might have a drink Thursday. I never said I’d abstain completely, I wanted to gain control and I feel I’m almost there. If I do have a beer tomorrow, that would be it until at least the end of May as I’ve a few races lined up and keep thinking of the pride and euphoria of crossing the line to that HM pb with my family stood cheering me on in Spain. Can’t bottle that feeling.

Keep fighting the good fight all - best thread on the forum this.

 

[Ned Land]

Good to read/hear!

I’ve done a couple of gigs sober and completely agree. Remembering the full gig rather than snippets is genuinely so much better. I spent over £1k seeing Oasis last year, missed Richard Ashcroft as the Sunderland game was on and then queues were madness for the toilet. Then genuinely can’t remember much of the Oasis set and my mate wanted to leave before the encore to get the fkin tube. Waste if time and money.

I did have a few drinks at the Ashcroft gig recently on Easter Monday but that’s been it. I am sorely tempted to go out tomorrow to catch up with some old friends who dragged me through some shite in the past - I could do that sober or it would be a few pints max in a nice surrounding - not a session at all.

I’ve learned from the experience about who I am and how I change. My relationship is much stronger (both with my wife and drink) because I feel I can go long periods without it and without actually wanting it. The run from Jan 1st to 22nd March was challenging for a few weeks, then quickly became just normal.

I might have a drink Thursday. I never said I’d abstain completely, I wanted to gain control and I feel I’m almost there. If I do have a beer tomorrow, that would be it until at least the end of May as I’ve a few races lined up and keep thinking of the pride and euphoria of crossing the line to that HM pb with my family stood cheering me on in Spain. Can’t bottle that feeling.

Keep fighting the good fight all - best thread on the forum this.

Did you watch oasis abroad? I saw them in NY in 1996, I asked my mate who was the lad singing a few songs for them during an interval, and it was Ashcroft before the verve went mainstream! I’d never heard of him at that point.

I have some holidays lined up, including a cruise with drink tokens so I’ll be tempted to have a few bevvies, but I plan to drink mocktails and protein shakes

 

[connolly_31]

Did you watch oasis abroad? I saw them in NY in 1996, I asked my mate who was the lad singing a few songs for them during an interval, and it was Ashcroft before the verve went mainstream! I’d never heard of him at that point.

I have some holidays lined up, including a cruise with drink tokens so I’ll be tempted to have a few bevvies, but I plan to drink mocktails and protein shakes

Almost…. London. Trains, tickets, hotel, food, drink. All adds up to an expensive singalong.

You’re doing amazingly well pal, good job!