No alcohol for 8 days now

I dont feel that much diffrent(yet), I wasn’t drinking that much one or two beers a night maybe a shot whisky some wine at weekend not to get drunk just to enjoy, but I felt like needed to stop. Anyone else?

You might not feel the benefit coming off it, but once you have been off it a while and go back on you will notice the adverse effects which must have been there previously but you just got used to it.

This bloke seemed to do quite well on it…

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/jan/05/alcohol-abstain-dryathlon-dry-january-health-science-spoof

<h2>Day 21</h2>
Decided to count all the atoms in the house. My wife told me that this was a ridiculous endeavour as you can’t know both the position and velocity of an elementary particle due to the uncertainty principle. I told her this was just a misconception by people who weren’t focused enough.

ive been caning it for a few weeks on the lager. I’m now coming up to 2 weeks of soft drinks. My resting heart rate has dropped 10bpm and I’m sleeping better, plus 5 or 6 pints of water a day at the moment seems to have refreshed my skin a bit.

Its a win win situation in my eyes.

If you were only drinking a relatively small amount, not getting drunk and enjoying it – why do you feel like you need to stop? I’ve been hammering it recently – way, way over the top. I haven’t drunk since last Friday, think it will be a few weeks until I start seeing any benefit. But I think you should stick with it a while and see how you feel next week at least.

RM.

Last drink; half a glass of champagne on New Years Eve.

This is not some formidable act of will power however – I just stopped enjoying it, took me quite a while to come to terms with this as I have previously been a significant social drinker. I think it all stems from something I read about the effects of all drugs being, in short, what you are socially conditioned to think they are. I don’t think this is meant in the physiological sense (clearly alcohol poisoning is not all in the mind), but more the effect on your emotions.

Rather took the shine off it for me – now I just go out and decide I am happy and suffering from lowered inhibitions and bang – I am right back up there for the cost of a glass of water.

If you were only drinking a relatively small amount, not getting drunk and enjoying it – why do you feel like you need to stop?

Exactly !!

I like a moderate drink it’s a part of a lifestyle I very much enjoy. Along with my cycling I could imagine giving it up unless there was a real health issue involved.

Obviously do what you feel is right for you. But bringing it up on a forum will attract opinion.

I did 6 weeks off in prep for an event earlier this year and agree that the effects are more subtle than one might expect – you think you’ll be springing out of bed at 6am to seize the day but it’s nothing like that [in fact I sleep heavier]. It’s a long term play.

I feel more resilient when I’m off the ale, like I’m unlikely to get a cold / ill. When I’m bevvying and trying to train on top of everything else I get run down easier. I also had the experience of going to an airport without a hangover for an early morning flight after a conference, which was a new perspective.

It’s a psychological re-set more than anything else – easy to get on the pop too much these days, so a mental re-equilibration is always good.

I’d struggle to remember when I last had a drink this year, maybe a glass of wine or the last of my bottle of Baileys in a coffee around Easter.

I lost the habit of a glass or two after work most nights over ten years back, then had some meds for a few months which should not be mixed with booze and consequently lost the habit.

Other than my stag do the weekend before last, I haven’t had a drink this year.

Dont miss it in the slightest, and after aforementioned stag do, I’ve very little inclination to start again

Thanks for your insights guys, Yes I dont drink loads compared to some people but Ive been drinking more or less every day since Christmas and this summer more drinking in the afternoon, more a bad habit than addiction. I want to improve my mental and physical health and I hope to continue not drinking.

This video was helpful

I used to hammer the booze, in the pub Fri, Sat and Sun and worked away with beer paid for, so a few pints most nights too.

Nowadays I sometimes go 6 weeks without a drop. I’m not deliberately not drinking, but as the negatives (can’t be arsed cycling the next day, on low carb diet so beer counts towards carb count) outweigh the benefits (I become wittier and more handsome) I just leave the booze alone.

I’m up too 20.5 pints since last friday! I blame 4 on the MNPR!!

Stopped drinking on 30/12/17 as lots of people said I couldn’t do 12 months without a beer. Still going strong 💪

I stopped at the start of this year too..

The Erdinger alcohol free beers are always in the fridge these days. Theyre my favourite 👍

2nd year of nae booze. This wasn’t a planned thing, just sat with a drink in my hand over the xmas/new year period, completely scunnered and not enjoying it. So in the bin it went.

I’ve drank all the booze that’s needed to be drunk.

Keep going for a week or so more OP and see if you find any difference then.

I’ve reduced my booze intake very recently from around 30 units a week to single digits. I’ve found the zero-zero beers handy during these hot summer evenings where you crave a frosty beer or two.

Overall I feel better, and without any other change in lifestyle I’ve dropped a few kilo’s too.

As some have said above, I don’t deliberately not drink, just don’t feel the need to drink just because everyone else is. Last drink was about 2 weeks ago, and this year maybe had 5/6 drinks (a drink maybe a few pints/glasses).

If you were only drinking a relatively small amount, not getting drunk and enjoying it – why do you feel like you need to stop?

I’m in this camp.   I don’t have any other vices and life would be very dull if you can’t have a little of what you enjoy.  Just be aware of being drunk, or using it as a crutch for other issues.

I frequently abstain for bike racing – I have drunk any alcohol since Saturday due to a big event next Saturday for example to mainly ensure I go in hydrated, with a good amount of sleep in the bank this week and that my liver has as less (self healing) to do as possible before I need to process 12hrs of energy drinks.  Sometimes I go dry for a month or two, because I just don’t feel like drinking.

I will enjoy a nice glass of Malbec or two next Monday. 🙂

I’ve been down the pub (it has air-con) but only drinking soda waters and non-alcoholic beer. It’s too hot to drink alcohol and deal with any hangovers.

IME you have to abstain for around 2 weeks before you see any results. If I need to lose a stone then I just pack in the booze for a month.

Soda water here too, seems to gimme that same quenching feeling that a beer does, soft drinks and water just don’t cut the mustard.

I’m in the camp of not being a big drinker but really enjoy it when I do.

I tend to try and limit myself to no more than 4 pints per week. That’s a personal limit set for weight and health reasons.

I see it that I ride/train 5 days per week. Eat healthily, so a few beers is well deserved. In this glorious summer I’m really enjoying a bottle of cider while I’m cleaning and fettling with the bike.

I’ve only ever abstained during January. While I don’t think I’m addicted, I just couldn’t see myself being able to give it up completely.

Downside to not being a big drinker and being 67kgs….I have to be careful when I go out with my non cycling buddies, 3 pints and I’m pretty drunk.

As some have said above, I don’t deliberately not drink, just don’t feel the need to drink just because everyone else is. Last drink was about 2 weeks ago, and this year maybe had 5/6 drinks (a drink maybe a few pints/glasses).

This is pretty much me – don’t drink from one month to the next sometimes. I had a couple whilst working away last month, will probably have a few on holiday end of next month.

haven’t been ‘drunk’ for a couple of years.. doesn’t bother me.

I’ve also massively reduced my intake lately. I recently witnessed a really good mate struggling hugely with the booze and it made me re-evaluate how I was drinking. I’d not often drink huge amounts, as I hated wasting a day to a hangover, but I’d regularly be able to feel the impact of a drink the night before. Just a bit of lethargy etc and a lack of motivation to exercise first thing.

I’m drinking a lot more alcohol free beers these days and reduced the wine intake and feel loads better – not directly, but as a consequence of being able to get up and exercise. I’m often out of the house by 7am on Saturday mornings and running 10k in the countryside with dashed jnr in the offroad pushchair!

If you are still thinking about alcohol and posting about it – then your problem is still there.

When you have gone a year without even thinking about alchol – then you can claim bragging rights.

study this:

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/local-alcohol-profiles

The interactive map is my favourite – hospital admission – alcohol specific – under 18’s is 27 per 100K so that 100 kids per year presenting with throat/mouth/stomach cancer !!! (in my town)

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/local-alcohol-profiles/data#page/8/gid/1938132984/pat/6/par/E12000004/ati/102/are/E06000015

I had 10 years alcohol free. Only drank again last year as my oldest daughter got married. Felt it was the right time. I’ll have a few bottles of beer now from time to time.

The sober yesrs years were a revelation !!

i drink way too much with my mates, luckily i rarely see them these days and not fussed for drinking at home.

on another addiction, i gave up on facebook last Thursday, logged out and deleted the app on phone and ipad.

my concentration has improved considerably, and dont feel the need to go back to it.

although I was a bit gutted the other morning when a car was on its roof around the corner.. missed out on the gossip of the local village facebook group..