Alcohol. How can you resist?!

Thankyou for the advice given but I'm realising that seeking advice about alcohol alternatives from mostly super healthy, clean living dieters was the wrong place to look. I dont mean to offend anyone, far from it. I think most people here are wonderful & so supportive but I'm obviously not ready to join you....just yet!

The difference between "super healthy clean living dieters" and you, then, is what? It looks to me like there's people who drink because they choose to, and people who don't drink because they choose not to. Then you've got a variety of people who WANT to not drink, but find themselves doing it anyways. That sounds like how you described yourself, and my advice stands. If you really want to drink less, then drink less. If you want to quit but believe you can't, then you've got a problem. Maybe you're not ready to hear that. But if you don't want to quit, then, what do you want to know?

What did you want to hear? if you don't want to quit, don't quit. What's the problem?

And why on earth are you daring someone to stop exercising? As if it's equal to quitting drinking... That is just wierd.

Though to get rid of an unnatrual high, does that mean there are natural highs? (bearing in mind I dont seem to produce endorphins from things like exercise, sport etc.)

Alcohol is a depressant or "downer". Alcohol gives you the opposite of a "high." The "buzz" is from the depressant slowing down your reflexes and lowering your inhibitions and your core body temperature. You feel warm on an alcohol buzz because your blood vessels open wider and more blood goes to your extremities or your skin and away from your core.

There are many things that can give you a natural high, including exercise (like the classic "runner's high"), love, roller coasters, etc. Lots of things have been mentioned here.

But since alcohol gives you the opposite of a "high" you'll never feel the full natural high while the alcohol is in your system.

Alcohol's buzz counteracts the natural "highs". Your use of alcohol is what is lowering the number of endorphin you produce.

Excellent explanation!

Perhaps you should consider smoking pot...no calories there! (hehe j/k...but seriously lol0

Do you have funny friends who don't drink? When I stopped drinking, I hung out with hilarious sober folks. Laughing till my belly hurt gave me a great "high". I call it "fun you can remember." Once I learned that I didn't NEED to drink and could have more fun, I stopped craving it. Might sound silly, but just try 100% sober fun. Go roller skating, go to your nephew's (for example) elementary talent show, just do something whacky fun and see how you feel afterwards. PLAN it so there won't be alcohol involved, meaning don't go to a comedy club! Exercise and sex aren't the only things that release endorphins. Even try google searching for sober, natural, non-medicinal endorphin releasers.

I do drink at least 2 litres of water a day, but theres no buzz from that. Its just to keep my belly full so I dont have to eat.

The thing with exercise though, it doesn't make me feel good. I do it out of necessity not for fun. Not for a buzz. I'm one of these people who don't get this so called release of endorphins which is why I struggle with motivation.

I know that the body uses alcohol calories first & food calories last - which is why I dont eat much. Alcohol DOES make me less bored, thats the beauty of it. But there must be something else that can give you a buzz? (exercise doesn't, no matter how hard I workout).

I've always been dead against drugs but I'm starting to consider getting some legal (prescription) drugs as an alcohol substitute. I would never take illegal drugs, not that legal drugs can be any less addictive.

Why are you afraid to eat?

I would imagine that a terribly malnourished person would feel absolutely horrible while exercising, so I'm not shocked that you find exercise very unpleasant. How could you not when you don't give your body any real nutrition?

Have you considered seeing your doctor and explaining what you've been doing? I would imagine that a general physical with blood tests would show numerous nutritional deficiencies (and possibly some organ problems) that might help to motivate you to try something different. You could also get a referral to a specialist to discuss your issues around alcohol and food.

Yes, I've had tests & I have a slightly fatty liver & so me elevated something or other that is an indication of too much booze. One doctor said I had high blood pressure & another said it was fine. My doctor is aware of these results. I'm not scared of eating but I dont consider it a social event & I eat if I'm hungry but I could happily not eat dinner or lunch because it seems like more calories that I dont need. Plus, I get vitamins, fibre etc from supplements so I tend to function ok.

I realise that most of you reading this are fully converted to a hardcore healthy way of life but maybe there are others that need some stimulation other than exercise? Yes, I admit that I drink too much (than recommended guidelines) & I need help, why else would I be here.

I'm confused at your scenario. You drink, don't eat, have shrugged off the possible medical conditions, and don't like to work out. Why are you here again? Part of this journey is making yourself accountable for your actions. Accepting that what you are doing and have done in the past is not productive for your goal. Whether you believe it or not, your body needs calories to burn and function and cannot get them effectively from booze. I would suggest consulting with your doctor and be honest at what you are doing to your body. You seem to have this lackadaisical attitude about life and the possibility that your actions could end it prematurely. Surely you have friends and family that care for you. I doubt they would want to lose you....so if you cant do this for yourself, do it for your loved ones. There are so many positive and effective suggestions and help on this site. Do yourself a favor and take it. It will save you.