Stop drinking alcohol success stories

I was a 6/7 nights per week drinker, polishing off 1-2 bottles of wine in a sitting. Stopped drinking completely on 4th Jan and haven't had one since. 32lbs down which is partly due to not drinking huge amounts of empty calories and largely due to actually having the motivation to exercise and do stuff now I'm not drinking. I don't intend to stop drinking for ever but I'm going to limit it to special occasions from now on (and, no, Wednesday is not a special occasion for me anymore!)

Bro-in-law gave me the nickname Siphon one Christmas Eve due to the amount of beer I could suck down. No one would order pitchers with me because they would get 2 glasses if they were lucky. Then, about 6 years ago when I started this life style, I cut liquid calories cold turkey. The only thing I miss is the smell of an ice cold beer. Everyone in Wisconsin drinks, but these days, no one says anything anymore at parties when all you have is water.

This is very motivational. I struggle with drinking my calories.

I drank heavily for 20+ years, and most of it was drinking to medicate anxiety and stress. What I didn't know was there's a rebound effect: after the alcohol wears off you rebound to a higher level of anxiety. Instant panic attack for me. Alcohol also didn't help with my weight, or with eating sensibly.

I quit drinking 24+ years ago because it was slowly killing me. For a year or so, I ate more and had an especial craving for ice cream: I'd polish off a pint a day, every day. That eventually went away, and now it's all good. I still like ice cream but don't feel a compulsion to eat it. Although I have no problems with cooking with alcohol, I don't drink at all these days because I've grown to know myself: I can't trust 100% that I'll stop at the one drink or two, and not end up where I was 24+ years ago. Yeah, I'd get away with it for a while ... but for how long?

Here, by the way, is an article explaining why RR did away with meetings:

http://www.rational.org/index.php?id=51

7 months sober here.

I used alcohol to cope with anxiety and depression. I'd always been a heavy drinker, but then I hit an exceptionally rough patch...got to the point where if I wasn't at work, I was drunk. Had a breakdown, ended up in the hospital, and that was the point where I realized I couldn't live my life like that any more.

After that I was sober for 4 months and figured that, since I quit, I'd be okay to drink in moderation. I wasn't. So I've accepted I just need to quit it for good.

I haven't had a drink in about a month. I'm a weekend warrior type drinker, all or nothing. I can easily go weeks without drinking but once I start it's not over until I've closed the bar down. It has definitely stood in the way of my weight loss and overall health (I also struggle with anxiety and would love to get off some low dose medication I can't seem to break with). The thought of quitting has sort of danced in and out of my mind for quite a while, but I kept putting it off. Over the last several months with a very stressful move things kind of started going out of control. It has become apparent that I need to let go of alcohol to attain my goals and live the life I want to live. There are more and more people realizing that our Western drinking culture is not what should be considered normal. In just this short amount of time I feel a million times better. Congrats on 3 months, and I love reading all the other stories on this thread as well. You are all amazing!

Good stories here. I started a weight loss contest January 4 and lost 22 pounds as of Friday. Won the contest too. I cut out drinking 100% -- didn't touch it once during competition time. I felt good, dropped weight, won money and saved money. I let loose on Saturday and got to that feeling super great and awesome stage. In the past I saved it for weekends and holidays. But now, after recent months, I am thinking maybe to scale it back to a few times a year.

I gave up alcohol 3 years ago this May and have never regretted the decision. I like knowing that I'm completely in control of what I do and what I say, I was not fun to be around when I'd had a drink

I have enjoyed reading everyone's stories. Very inspiring.

I fell off the MFP wagon hard in May 2015, after pulling my hamstring in March, and then losing by bestfriend, and nextdoor neighbor to a heart attack on an already crappy 30th birthday. (yes, it as day of my birthday and I still look at his empty drive way every day, he was 50). Anyways - I spent the summer drinking heavy strong beers to make myself feel the same dopamine high I would get from his delicious meals and hilarious jokes, and overall company. Beer and my dog became my bestfriend. But I realized I was only ignoring what I should be doing - exercising.

After I think about 20lbs crept on my 5'4" frame and pain set in worse then ever I finally made the choice I WILL NOT drink like I used to. That was last Monday. I had half a beer on Saturday night. Most afternoons I want to drink. Most of the day I still want to drink. But I am feeling better, inflammation is decreasing and the drinking fog is starting to clear. I am lucky I have a close friend (drinking buddy) who stopped drinking 6 weeks ago it helps to have people to encourage you against the drink. If anyone is looking for friends and support on here let me know

I am looking forward to reading more stories on this thread.

Haven't had a drink in three years.

I got tired of spending half my weekend nursing a hangover and having this feeling of embarrassment because I couldn't remember everything I did the night before. Or just having something like that alter my personality... Or using it as a crutch for anxiety and depression.

I use to drink wine nightly, but I found I snacked more and really just found it hard to control my eating. That and alcohol definitely impedes fat burning. I have cut but to drinking once in a while, every couple of weeks or so and my weight loss really kicked into high gear.

I'm an alcoholic and am 8 months sober.

I lost 50 pounds the first time I quit alcohol and counted calories. I gained some back when I relapsed. Now that I've quit again (and for permanent) I've lost another 30 and counting.

I sometimes miss the social aspect of drinking but I remember the horrible hangovers(I still get them from a night of dancing) and the embarrassing situations I'd get myself into.

I don't really crave or want alcohol anymore, I really really enjoy my life now more so then when I was a mess (drinking everyday 10 am, 5th of vodka every two days).

When I quit this time it was different because I realized I could never moderately drink and I had to say goodbye to it forever if I wanted to live. Before I always thought I could quit and become a normal person who drank occasionally.

I'd get drunk and then binge on chinese food. Or when I was in uni I'd have a night at the pub then get kebabs on the way home. I liked to combine my addictions to make them both better.

I just wanted to stop by this post and wish you all the best of luck! My Father was addicted to alcohol, and lost his battle for sobriety in 2014 due to health complications directly related to drinking. So please, take care of yourselves!

HeyMissNya wrote: »

bezza666 wrote: »

It's been 3 and a half months now since I had a alcoholic drink. Anyone else a non drinker. I don't get any anxiety anymore!!! But I eat a whole lot more!!

I've been COMPLETELY straight edge for a month now! I quit smoking and drinking cold turkey lol. It wad hard at first, but now I find other ways to unwind and deal with problems. Smoking used to be my "take five" to get out of a stressful situation and take a moment to think. Now I feel strong because I actually have to it while interacting with whatever triggered me. Its really hard sometimes, but God is teaching me patience and selfcontrol. I used to drink EVERY DAY. I had a bar in my house until I gave all the bottles to one of my my boyfriend's friends who did us a lot of favors. He was excited, and I was relieved. I didnt realize my eyes and teeth were turning yellow until they started looking better. My skin is clearing up. I walk easier. I breathe easier. I can't wait to get back to exercising. Before, I honestly couldn't because I was so out of shape - not from food either, from poison!
Im so grateful today. Im saving money on top of saving my life. I would recommend anyone to at least TRY. Every time you wait five more minutes, or one more day, or tell yourself no is progress. Just test yourself! You're stronger than you think.

This has really inspired me! I have been struggling with alcohol for the past few years, I drink everyday but never feel drunk, I just function on it. It has made me gain so much weight.. over the past 2 years I have gained nearly 100 lbs, which has only added to my other health problems. I know I want and need to quit drinking but I can never find it in me to stay strong when I get the unbearable urge.. which is pretty much every evening.