MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I needed a drink yesterday after a particularly tough customer meeting but stayed strong and had a can of Nanny State in the Brew Dog bar.
I looked again at the seedlip spirit and it has mixed reviews on the Tesco website with 2x5 star and 2x1 star reviews:
"Bought this for Christmas for my daughter, it is disgusting we poured it down the sink."
"Don't buy a whole bottle without trying it first! Tastes like dirty pea water"
I think i'll pass!
We’re over the hump, woot (i.e. just over half way).
Penultimate Friday of the month, well done to those of you still with the programme. I'm thinking about carrying on into the next month to make it a Sober Autumn.
I'm coming up to 2 months alcohol free. Not sure If I want to drink ever again. It is a lot easier than I expected.
Bit concerned about the company Christmas party.
Looking forward to an ice cold ginger beer tonight!
My taste has changed a lot now, I no longer crave crisps and am developing a sweet tooth! I think I'm eating more and am losing about 200g a week.
Mick
I find when I am not drinking I tend to fancy dessert after my dinner. When I have a beer with my meal I don't. I might pick up a cheesecake on the way home.
Wee done fella, echo the 'How easy it is' sentiment.
Bit concerned about the company Christmas party.
I wouldn't worry, it'll just make you realise how incrediby dull and repetitive drunk folk are! 🤣
I've not had a drink since August 27th. Wasn't planning on a long break, but was sick for a few days and I'd had a nagging feeling that it was becoming just the default choice everyday, so seemed like a good enough kickstart to taking a break. It's been easier than I thought to keep it going after the initial few days, but thinking about packing it in now as I haven't really seen any noticeable upside. Weight hasn't changed as I'm just eating more crap to compensate and generally I feel a bit more uptight. Got a lot on my mind at the moment, and I know alcohol isn't the answer, but I do miss relaxing in the evening with a couple of Duvel after the kids have gone to bed!
I no longer crave crisps
I'm quite staggered at how its affected my crisp habit. In all honesty, alcohol was probably doing me less damage than the crisps. I could eat crisps until I burst, and then I'd still keep going. Haven't even thought about them since cutting out the booze.
Well I had a skinful last night (always planned, so not exactly falling off the wagon).
Really good night out, but not enjoyed the hangover today.
No worries about lasting the rest of the month, and probably a bit longer.
I am still managing to put away plenty of crisps, for my sins.
Possibly as I've been hitting the non-alc beers every night.
I’ve been drinking my body weight in erdinger blue which probably explains why I’ve lost no weight whatsoever.
I managed a second pub visit last night without caving in, despite my mate slurping multiple many and varied lovely ales.
I’m not finding it as hard as I imagined but I do still really fancy some lovely booze...
Possibly as I’ve been hitting the non-alc beers every night.
Aye, even though it's AF, ye still reach for the snacks.
I'm kinda binning the AF stuff now as well, as I notice a lethargy, kinda mini hangover next day, even though it's never more than 3 or 4 330ml bottles.
I'm not sure folk are realistic in their weight loss expectations.
I've been dry since last day of our holiday, 5th July 2018. I still lose weight every week, but it's been steady, no massive drop after 2 weeks, even a month, but it just keeps coming off.
I'm 6'2" and was around 115kg, 15 odd months later I'm 91kg, 36" waist down to 32" and no more man boobs. 🤣
Lighter than I was when I got married 18 years ago, probably lighter than I was as a first year apprentice 27 years ago!.
For the first time tonight I really fancied a drink but held off and just had tonic water. Just building up to my nightly almond milk chai which also seems to help me sleep better.
Almond milk, 4 crushed cardamom pods, sprinkle of nutmeg and ginger. Heat up in the microwave and throw in a chai teabag for a few minutes. Add sugar to taste.
Managed well for the first 2 weeks but failing now :(. Not back up to the levels was at before but still got to give it another go now before the end of the month. Friday's are my downfall really
Leffeboy - maybe change your name to tonicwaterboy?
Yep, I find Fridays hardest too. Still, if you’ve drunk a lot less over the last few weeks then that’s good innit.
I’ve survived two pub visits, and a couple of weekend social events where everyone else was drinking.
However, I’ll be at a family Halloween gathering where I know two brothers in law will try to get me to crumble.. it’ll be soo close to the end though 🤔
Managed a work trip to Dublin without breaking. There's literally nothing to do in Dublin apart from drink, so this was tough!
So..who’s hanging on in there with me?!
Not too long to go. It would have been nice if I’d lost some weight but I think I’ve been snacking in the evening to compensate for lack of lovely booze 😐
Still with you RRR! Managed to shed 6 pounds along the way, but could afford to!
I've lost a couple of pounds from not drinking, but I'm not sure it's the lack of booze calories that's done it. More the increase in motivation to ride my bike because I'm not in the pub or sat on the sofa with a beer to fill the evening.
Still hanging in here, though I've really fancied a beer a couple of evenings this week - as it's been a stressful one.
Still going.
Down 9 lbs this month but I've been training like a beast and eating very well so it's not (only) alcohol related.
Brewdog Nanny State has satisfied the urge on a couple of occasions. I've noticed with a few of the no alcohol beers that they are very sweet. The Erdinger one was really sweet tasting and a quick scan with My Fitness Pal showed 25g of carbs per bottle. Not sure if they're adding sugar or it's just more noticeable with the alcohol missing. The Brewdog stuff is nowhere near as sweet. Punk AF and Nanny State only have a couple of grams of carbs per can.
Might be why the Erdinger tastes better than most yeah.
My fave is still the Brooklyn Special Effects, no idea of the carb content though.
Adnam's Ghost Ship was the best I tried, but only resorted to it on a night out to avoid the "why aren't you drinking?" blx.
Hanging on in with grim determination. Actually thought that I was home and dry then got reminded this morning there's still a week left to go!!! I can't wait till Friday. I have a new bottle of single malt I got given last week which will be cracked open straight after work along with some craft ales from our local hipster pub.
It's been a long week and tonight I really could do with a wee nip or two just to blot it all out but I guess it's more of that wretched tea for me.
I had no idea sober October was a thing until I saw this thread!
I haven't had any alcohol this month. I definitely haven't had any alcohol free substitutes either. If I'm not drinking alcohol I'll just have water, squash or Coke.
I got charged a brutal €5.90 for a Heineken Zero in Dublin on Monday night! Literally robbing bar stewards!
I'm still in it.
Earlier today I was thinking that a couple of pints would be nice tonight, but I'll stick it out for another week.
Might get shit-faced then, though. 😊
There's a joke about alcohol free beer that I shall not post on here as it would result in a banning. Probably permanently.
DM it to me please Mister P, I could do with a laugh.
Assuming it's not racist or something.
Not long now.
Must stay strong
So, I can drink at 00:01 Friday morning?🧐
I know it shouldn’t be such an issue blah blah give me all the lovely booze now want booze now booze now please 2016 Christian patat montepulciano in my face now booze lovely booze literally anything booze please
The end is in sight.
I'd have a drink at 00:01 on Friday but I'm at the gym at 06:00 so not the best prep. May have a post work beer on Friday night but I genuinely have no inclination to drink at all.
Mrs Binners is still hanging in there, bless her. She's had the day from hell today so I'm being a supportive husband and having a glass of wine for her.
We're off to Keswick on Friday, so if you see someone staggering out of the Dog and Gun at about 6pm swigging from a bottle of Prosecco, that'll be her 😀
Stick with it RRR, that first drink Friday will taste all the sweeter for waiting!
Away riding this weekend, so likely to just have a pint or two - if anything.
So what are our key learnings from the past month?
Personally I'm planning fewer habitual "winding down" beers at home on midweek evenings and to get out and do more social boozing, less frequently. If that makes sense?
My key learning is I've found something worse than Budweiser
I’ve found something worse than Budweiser
Now that's what I call hitting rock bottom.
Undrinkable pig swill. Took 2 sips and I've left the rest
Regarding what I've actually learned,
I don't need a beer with dinner
A good alcohol free beer from Brewdog is a far more refreshing post ride drink
Alcohol costs a fortune. I've saved so much money this month (my hipster craft beers tend to be £4 - £5 a can and I rarely drink a bottle of wine under £20) I've saved a fortune this month
I'm still hanging in there.. not long now. On 2nd October I went on a leadership course with work for 3 days in Barcelona.. and there was free drink from 6pm EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. to the point where there were about 10 pumps with different lagers and beers dotted around the place and a pile of glasses to help yourself. Once I had abstained from alcohol for those three days the rest of the month was a doddle!
I really do think I'll cut back in the long-term. As a few have noted above, the mid-week pick 4 bottles/cans up after a busy day are going to stop and I'm going to try and cut down drinking in the house generally. I've lost a couple of pounds but at 15 stone that could just be normal fluctuations.. I do feel much better in myself though - took maybe a fortnight but definitely easier getting up and not as tired during the day etc.
I'm not even that bothered about having a few beers tomorrow.. what have I become?!
I’m not even that bothered about having a few beers tomorrow.. what have I become?!
lol!
It's purely habitual for me, always a couple after a nightride to help me sleep, friday beers, the drouth from which caused saturday beers and generally the same on a sunday. I never really liked the feeling that alcohol gives after the 2nd beer, but the will power has gone by then, took me a while to realise that, I'm a slow learner! 🙂
I do still like a cold fizzy drink, soda water does it for me now, as AF beer still seems to give me kinda lethargy next day, strangely. Mibbe a placebo effect after all those years drinking!.
Ha! Aye, will power tends to fall by the wayside once I'm a few deep too.. I haven't really replaced lager with anything fizzy and I've even started drinking lemon and ginger tea FFS! I need to have a good long look in the mirror
I prefer the alcohol-free me. I’m wealthier, better rested, not a lot lighter (the noticeable weight loss seems to come in months two or three for me - I compensate with cheese and chocolate), and am cheerier and more upbeat (up to a point, I still loathe Brexiters). I’ll continue through November until a blokes MTB trip in Tassie next month.
My key learning is I’ve found something worse than Budweiser
Why, in the name of God, were you looking for it in the first place? 😉
Why, in the name of God, were you looking for it in the first place?
It was the only non alcoholic beer they had in the place I was for dinner. 25g of sugar per can as well. Absolutely disgusting. I can't understand how it even got past a taste test panel at Budweiser but judging by their usual output I shouldn't be surprised.
Just stick to orange and lemonade next time, or soda and lime if you're watching the calories.
Generally alcohol-free beers are sooo much better than they used to be though. Anyone remember Kaliber? Do they still sell that filthy stuff?
I'm sticking with it for November, to see if it can help shift a bit more lard, or at least prevent regaining any.
Not making any promises for December though!
Well, I’ve managed it. It’s my 40th on Saturday so will probably have a pint then, but being honest I’ve not missed it at all.
I’ve also lost no weight and I’m no better off - maybe I wasn’t drinking enough to start with!
Stick with it RRR, that first drink Friday will taste all the sweeter for waiting
I’m wondering whether it really is desperate to stay up until midnight to have a beer?
It’s not helped by the fact that we’re currently “on holiday” with wife’s parents and brother and sister (and their offspring) and literally everyone has been drinking pretty much all the time. Mrs RRRs dad has been helpfully wafting beer across my nose 🙄.
I don’t think I’d be that fussed if I was at home tbh.
I’ve learnt erm, that some of the alcohol want is actually fizzy habitual something to drink want and alcohol free stuff is usually fine. That’s it. Oh , and I miss wine more than beer.
I’ve also lost no weight and I’m no better off – maybe I wasn’t drinking enough to start with!
I like your thinking. Maybe the best plan is to increase your alcohol intake for the next 11 months so you feel the benefit next October.
Made it through apart from a particularly stressful day so I've just donated £20 to MacMillan for my Golden Ticket for that day.
As a few have mentioned Soda Water has been my go to refreshing drink with either Robinson's crushed lime & mint (think non-alcoholic mohito) or elderflower and pear. They both sound a bit girly but work for me and are not as sickly as lime or orange cordial.
Well done to everyone who made it to the end.
Started another thread before I saw this, mods have now closed
I generally do a month each year (as I drink far too much for the other 11) - just happens to be October this year, not because others are doing it.
I'm generally pretty resolute with it when I do it and have been even more so this time. I've decided to do another month, might even do until Christmas, might stop altogether. I'm really not missing it, I think I'd got to drinking as a necessity and not even enjoying it. I've been to the pub a few times each week and been fine also a christening, where all my mates were drinking - although I left when they started being loud, as they were annoying me! Only had the odd craving here and there, but it's soon passed
I've also kicked the fags (was vaping and smoking!!!!) and totally transformed my diet - had no processed meat, fried food, chip/crisps, pizza or any junk whatsoever for a month now. Also joined the gym again.
I've had a stinking cold for every single day of it though. When I've not felt rubbish, I've felt much better if that makes sense?
My substitutions have been Heineken 0% and when I can get it, my favourite is Bavaria, a slightly sweet lager. The Co-Op Chardonnay grape juice is a nice substitute for white wine too, although Mrs STR says it's too sweet.
I seem to be shifting some weight eventually and reckon I'm saving £100-150/week. Worst bit is mates after work on a Friday, giving me grief, rather than encouragement - and telling me I'm being grumpy, when I'm really not. By-product of that, is they actually make me grumpy by giving me grief!
Just 30 mins to go and it's all over. It's been ok TBF but i am looking forward to a few after work tomorrow and there's a gig on at the local so Im off out with the boys for a sesh. Normal service resumed.
Good work all those that made it through!
I don’t have an overwhelming sense of achievement, fitness nor inner peace.
I kind of half fancy a beer tonight but am not as bothered as I expected to be (despite my wine cravings the other night).
Hmmm, it feels odd but I hope the routine has at least been disrupted a bit.
Wot about you lot?
Well done STR, bravo mate, that's a fair old chunk of lifestyle change!
And we're done!
I was flying back from London last night, and contemplated buying a bottle of whisky from duty free to break the fast this weekend, but I really don't want, or more importantly, feel the need to drink.
I made it 🙂 Haven't really posted on here as it ended up being a bit of a non-event. Much easier than I expected it to be (my OH doesn't really drink and I only ever really have a couple over the weekend). No real need to search out non-alcoholic alternatives, just breaking the routine that Friday night is wine night. it's coincided with a month of focussing a bit more on healthy eating and training, so although I've lost a couple of kg I'm not really blaming the alcohol. Mid month I did start feeling much better but since then I've picked up a bit of a bug and it hasn't been as noticeable.
Might give alcohol a miss tonight too - I'm leading a ride at 9am tomorrow morning, but I'm going on holiday next weekend so I'm sure some wine will be consumed while I'm there.
I'm going to continue on a much reduced alcohol intake until at least Christmas. Over the past 9 weeks I've saved quite a lot of cash and my bike fitness has improved noticeably. I've booked a week's surfing trip in Morocco at the start of December so not drinking in November will help with that both physically and financially.
That first sip after a month off was deeee-lightful! Cheers all
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That first sip after a month off was deeee-lightful! Cheers all
I never really enjoy the first one after abstaining
I thought I’d break the fast with Lidl’s Barolo (on offer) and a couple of ales.
I’m a little disconcerted about how easily I’ve consumed alcohol tonight. It feels like the ability to resist is higher but once I’ve started I’m back to old habits 🤔
I had a sip last night. Making a risotto so got a single serve bottle of white, put about 2/3 of it in the pan and drank the rest. That actually felt enough for me to my surprise.
Lidl’s Barolo
Very nice stuff that is. A worthy choice to end the ordeal.
I made do with a few pints of ale in the fine pubs of Innerleithen on Friday night. Then some whiskies.
Just a couple to be social on the Saturday and I'll leave it for a bit again now.
Making a risotto so got a single serve bottle of white, put about 2/3 of it in the pan and drank the rest. That actually felt enough for me to my surprise.
I expect you can get tipsy putting that much in the risotto though?
I have a bottle of Bud in the fridge, checked the date this morning, best before 2015, terrible thing being in the grip of alcohol 😶
I expect you can get tipsy putting that much in the risotto though
Only about 30 to 40% is left after 15 mins simmering, so of 2/3 bottled, it'd be about a small glass, and as I'm guessing he didn't make risotto for one, sure it'll be fine!
I have a bottle of Bud in the fridge, checked the date this morning, best before 2015, terrible thing being in the grip of alcohol
6 weeks now - not even wanting a drink and actually preferring being sober
Good stuff, well done mate.
November done and dusted (day 63 now). Won't be a problem going through till Christmas, then we'll see. If I do Christmas, then I'll carry on - the next test will be summer beer gardens!
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Well done sir!
Done my 3 months now. Hit the bottle again last night (not too hard), quite surprised that I still had some tolerance leftover from August, and didn't feel rough this morning. Bon chance! to those of you staying with the programme long-term, can certainly feel the benefit and may be back onboard in the New Year.
I've done 104 days sober. No real intention behind it but I am currently thinking that the pros of not drinking outweight the cons.
I'm just not sure the company xmas party will be enjoyable without a drink.
I've been back on the sauce, but a bit less often and more mindfully - which I suppose was the idea for me.
Will certainly be on it at the works do next week, but turning down other drinks invites in meantime.
Soooooooo
It’s that (miserable) time of year again.
The dwindling malt whisky supplies have been exiled to the back of the garage and I’ll be exploring Aldi’s new range of fun-free beer and cider over the next month.
Anyone else joining me 🍺?
I'm joining in, although I think I'll be leaving the 0% beer alone this year.
4 pints this afternoon - for that reason I'm out. Well done everyone who makes it through this miserable month
Just had a pint of Pedigree, so that's a no from me
😜
I'm in.
I've just completed a dry September.
Carried on my normal exercise routine, continued my healthy eating but with slightly reduced portion sizes, weight is down 4.5KG
Wedding Anniversary this weekend so there will be wine but other than that will carry on through October
Well so far this October I haven't consumed any alcohol. I'm not making any rash promises though.