Give up alcohol with me?

ladylemoncurd
ladylemoncurd Posts: 72
in Motivation and Support
For lots of reasons (though mostly as I was becoming far too fond of wine) I'm trying to give up the stuff. Wine o clock for me is when I am cooking the kids tea at about 6pm and I can easily drink a bottle or night. It makes me feel crappy, means my calories are extremely limited, disturbs my sleep, is massively bad for me and has become a habit. Trouble is, I love wine!

So yesterday was my first alcohol free day for ages , I didn't struggle at all with not having a glass or 2 and what I want to do is pack in completely drinking at home. Anyone else love the drink a little too much?
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Replies

  • TheKeithEllis
    TheKeithEllis Posts: 155 Member
    I'm sorry, that's asking a little too much of me! :O)
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    Wow, I was going to post something about why you shouldn't give up something you love but honestly I see your point. Best of luck to you. You can do it.
  • missdaisy79
    missdaisy79 Posts: 566 Member
    Good for you! I've pretty much given up drinking since taking up running as an activity, as hangover and run is a bad combination for me. I still have the occasional one (special occasions), but nothing like I used to.
  • nope31
    nope31 Posts: 174
    You may not know this, but you can go into withdrawals since you have been consuming it for so long.
    I would say if you start to experience unusual side effects consult your physician.
    Its good that you have stopped, but if you need outside support there is AA. Its anonymous.
    You don't have to do it alone.

    also, your brain isn't gonna let you get away w/it that easily.
    Its used to it now, It craves it. Alcoholism is a serious and deadly disease. It takes prisoners.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    who doesn't love some wine/beer/spirits?? i mean, i used to not understand wine bottle stoppers; you open a bottle, you finish a bottle!!

    but little by little i learned to hold back. if i drink while i cook i'll go through at least two glasses. and gulping them down, not enjoying them. then i can be buzzed at dinner and not enjoy that!! and like you said, the calories!!

    now i enjoy a glass or two with my meal. it enhances my food, especially with pasta or steak.
  • Lalasharni
    Lalasharni Posts: 353 Member
    I did - like you I had a bottle a night - GOOD red stuff.
    It started giving me acid re-flux and I was in denial as to the cause.
    I now occasionally drink expensive single malt whisky.
    The only way to quit wine is NOT to drink it - AT ALL
    Find something else and have it occasionally. It's tough, but alcohol can become addictive without you even knowing it.
    I am not teetotal now, but I can happily choose NOT to drink.
    Its a control thing and you have to be in control.
    If you have serious concerns, see your medic and get some Antabuse. It will make you throw up if you even sniff alcohol.
  • joolywooly33
    joolywooly33 Posts: 421 Member
    Hi, I have pmd you, I am in the same boat!
  • Insathius
    Insathius Posts: 24 Member
    Good luck!

    I gave up Alcohol about a year ago, and I never looked back!

    Stay strong!
  • kuntry_navy
    kuntry_navy Posts: 677 Member
    I used to drink between half a fifth and a full bottle of whiskey a day. I didn't give it up, I only drink every couple of weeks or so. Find something to fill the void. I love doing deadlifts and squats at 5am. Can't really do either of those still drunk. Good luck! So you know, if you have a strong willpower you shouldn't have to quit completely
  • allylbrown
    allylbrown Posts: 71
    I love redwine too...Usually Friday nights for me I drink a bottle. I have given it up 4 up to 3 months last year while trying to lose weight. It seems that if I start, I will drink the entire bottle. Wine is very much part of our social life too. I am trying to train 4 my first marathon in April 2014. I would like to quit till then. Again, I understand the love of red wine. We r wine club members and so forth. I am an RN, I know I don't have a drinking problem but it becomes very social. I will try and do this with u...Good luck
  • LTGPSA
    LTGPSA Posts: 633 Member
    I gave it up for good almost 6 years ago. Very rarely I may still have an urge but I no longer struggle with realizing that drinking has never been in my best interest. Personally, I wish I'd never taken the 1st drink - but that's just me. It is my opinion that this choice is similar to choosing to change your lifestyle in regard to good health - meaning, you have to be ready in your mind - or you will not be successful. Anyway, good luck to you! :flowerforyou:
  • ladylemoncurd
    ladylemoncurd Posts: 72
    Thanks all - I'm going to use this thread to see how I do and anyone else wanting to shake Uncle Alcohol off is welcome to take a seat on the bus. - glad there are some of us trying to do the same so we can help each other maybe? I don't think I have a problem, but could absolutely see I was on the way to having one. So adios to vino, and bienvenido to elderflower cordial.
  • freemystery
    freemystery Posts: 184 Member
    Ah being in my 20s, the idea of no alcohol pains me!

    However I know it's good ssense. No alcohol on weekdays and weekends before 7pm. Yeah I know it's easy to get mashed even then but everything in moderation. Including moderation.
  • ladylemoncurd
    ladylemoncurd Posts: 72
    It pains me too - the thought of being miserable at parties while everyone else is mashed. But then again, a crap party is a crap party with or without alcohol and at least I can drive home and wake up rather than coming round :o)
  • battyg13
    battyg13 Posts: 508 Member
    I have given up alcohol except for special occassions.

    I think i have only drunk about 4 or 5 times this year despite the usual peer pressure from friends.

    Alcohol contains a lot of empty calories which are not good for anyone.
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    I wish I could give up alcohol, but I enjoy my social life and gin too much. Although, I gave up pints and red wine for gin and slim, so that's one small step for man.
  • darkestdayz
    darkestdayz Posts: 117 Member
    67 days sober today. You got this~
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I only drink on special occasions.

    Being alive is pretty special, right? ;)

    Good luck with whatever path you choose :)
  • nope31
    nope31 Posts: 174
    67 days sober today. You got this~

    Awe! Congrats.
    *hands you a 60 day Chip*
  • ladylemoncurd
    ladylemoncurd Posts: 72
    67 days sober today. You got this~

    Awe! Congrats.
    *hands you a 60 day Chip*

    And here's a bunch of flowers from me too. Well done
  • kyricus
    kyricus Posts: 69 Member
    63 days alcohol free for me. It's what really kicked my weight loss into gear. I've lost nearly 15lbs in two months just by quitting my beer habit. I used to home brew, but found I was becoming way to fond of the stuff.

    In addition to the weight loss, I'm sleeping better and feeling much better. So right there with ya.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    It pains me too - the thought of being miserable at parties while everyone else is mashed. But then again, a crap party is a crap party with or without alcohol and at least I can drive home and wake up rather than coming round :o)
    i'm not in the same boat because i just don't like booze that much.
    but... watching all the drunk people make tits of themselves is even funnier when you're straight!
  • battyg13
    battyg13 Posts: 508 Member
    i went 2 years 2 months and 6 days without alcohol when i was younger. like most things its a case of mind over matter.
  • Mdcgc
    Mdcgc Posts: 28
    I only drnk on weekends.. but a lot! like to party.. if I have something during the week that invovles alcohol I will drink.. love a happy hour with margaritas.. dont think I can leave it..
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    who doesn't love some wine/beer/spirits?? i mean, i used to not understand wine bottle stoppers; you open a bottle, you finish a bottle!!

    but little by little i learned to hold back. if i drink while i cook i'll go through at least two glasses. and gulping them down, not enjoying them. then i can be buzzed at dinner and not enjoy that!! and like you said, the calories!!

    now i enjoy a glass or two with my meal. it enhances my food, especially with pasta or steak.

    ^^ what he said.

    One or two comments have lept to the conclusion that drinking a bottle of wine means you're an alcoholic. It doesn't (necessarily) - but you do lack (a little) restraint. Most of us have issues with not consuming too much of something yummy or we wouldn't be on here! But to assume because you enjoy a drink, you are an alcoholic is the same illogical jump as assuming everyone restricting their calories on here is anorexic.

    My husband is a terrible wine for "pre-match drinkies" so we can do a bottle between us while cooking if we're not careful. I now won't touch wine til dinner is ready - I will have a G&T (slimline tonic) which has the advantage of only being 56 calories, and I can spin that out through the whole cooking much more easily than a glass of wine. Or even a diet soda if I'm really short on calories. If I know we're likley to be drinking more heavily (we had a BBQ last Saturday and once my sister and BIL turn up that's pretty much it :ohwell: ) I make sure I do extra exercise in the lead-up to have some spare calories on hand.

    But if you feel you need to quit it altogether then do it - only you can know your own limits.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Too many actual health benefits for moderate consumption for me to consider giving it up completely, but then, I have a glass a day, not an entire bottle.

    Your problem was more about portion size, then about the alcohol itself.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Your problem was more about portion size, then about the alcohol itself.

    That's what I was trying to say! You're mch more succinct than me.:smile:
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    I used to give up alcohol for 3 months each year – either Sept-Dec or Dec-Easter. Last time I gave up for the latter we didn’t go away, so decided to wait until our summer holiday….by which time I thought I would go for the year. 18 months later and still not drinking
  • ladylemoncurd
    ladylemoncurd Posts: 72
    Moderation - that's the word I need to have tattooed on my right hand. Once I open a bottle of wine, I'll drink a bottle but if I don't open it, I cant honestly say i miss it that much. So my plan is to ditch the vino and when i go out I might drink lager as I can only physically drink a couple of halves as it blows me up.

    I like the idea of not drinking a couple of months a year too. a colleague does dry November in preparation for the silly season and that's not a bad idea too.

    I went to the greengrocer just now and instead of apples or cherries, I veered towards the grapes :o)
  • esme1983
    esme1983 Posts: 60
    I am definitely in this boat and pleased to have seen this. I have added you as a friend - hope that's okay.

    I drink/ drunk a lot and it never affected my weightloss (I didn't think) because I always counted the calories in. *But* I have just started a 12 week training plan and I'm not able to drink AT ALL. My coach says it has an adverse effect on metabolism and so after years of denying it, I'm finally coming around to the idea that drinking isn't good for me. After the 12 weeks I hope to reintroduce the odd glass of wine and more on a special night, but I feel like I owe it to my body to see what it can do without it - if that makes sense.

    But it is so hard, particularly with peer pressure and when you are known as a party girl. I have my best friend';s 30th this weekend and a friend's divorce party on Thursday - these will be my first "real" challenges.

    My biggest concern is being bored! Most situations are fun if you're pissed but it's going to be strange not to fall back on drink.

    Good luck to all of us!!!

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