Starting over alcohol free

Good for you @jimwaters1016 - alcohol is a great creator of false stories. It is not the wonderful friend it would like us to think it is! You did it before, you can do it again. There is no way this should upset or offend anyone! WTG.

Keep it up! I've had a drinking problem most of my life. I have detoxed on my own. But I tapered off gradually (from 750ml or more a day). I know how it feels not being able to lift up a glass without using both hands.
In November of 2021, I woke up around midnight vomiting blood. My husband called an ambulance. I had esophageal varices and was in the hospital (ICU) for five days. That time I was detoxed medically. I guess it was good in a way that I went to the hospital. I don't remember a whole lot. But I was definitely hallucinating. Big Foot was sitting next to me on a park bench in my ICU room. When I was finally able to walk to the restroom (with assistance), upon returning to my bed, there were two old miners in my bed. The nurse reassured me there was no one in my bed. Sounds funny now. But it was very serious.
I quit drinking for 4 months and lost 30 pounds without even trying. I later fell off the wagon, but I never started drinking as much as I had before (not as much and not everyday).
It's ironic I saw this post today because I am again planning to quit drinking. I hope that today will be day 1.
I obviously log my weight on MFP and look at the reports. I also mark on my calendar the days, weeks, or months that I don't drink. And it is obvious that when I am drinking, my weight increases in almost a straight line. And when I am not drinking, my weight decreases almost in a straight line.
Anyways, to Jim, Keep Up the Good Work! And to all, not only is alcohol poison to your body, it will cause one to be overweight and unfit. Not to mention all the nutrients are bodies don't retain when drinking.

Thank you Susan. I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to reply. I'm somewhat new to this stuff. And I am still drinking. I will do my best to taper off.

That is great. I find that alcohol is a big barrier to managing weight. It's simpler for me to keep off the weight when I do not intake alcohol, because when I drink, I tend to crave things way off the grid, including chips and other salty things. Congratulations to you.

I used to be a daily drinker as well. Whisky and ice! Mind you it wasn't excessive daily, but it contributed to me gaining 30lbs and feeling like crap and the fatigue was unbearable.

I cut way back and even stopped completely for 45 days. I dropped the excess weight and feel like a new man. Now I will drink mainly on the weekends and sometimes not at all. I don't feel the need to indulge daily anymore.

Alcohol is bad news, and we definitely don't need it in our lives!

Hey everyone and most especially Jim. I totally understand and I feel with you.

I'm happy to come across this as I was looking for some community that might be trying to or have quit alcohol with a history of struggling. Today marked 7 days sober for me. I use to drink 750 ml a night. In 2021 I detoxed and went to rehab while I was in the military. They random tested me for a few months which kept me sober. I got out in 2022 and for more than the last 2 years I have drank 500 to 1000 ml almost every night. My biggest streak up until today in that time was 3 days, so YAY TO SEVEN!

I'm struggling with insomnia as I adjust to sobriety since that's the only way I was able to sleep at night which is why I'm on here browsing for friends at 1am. I need to get that under control.

Since I noticed the topic of craving I thought I'd mention when I was in rehab they recommended eating candy because sometimes it's really sugar you're craving when you quit since that's how alcohol gets processed by the body. I know that's not awesome for weight loss short term but if it helps you quit drinking it's good for you long term. It's also unlikely you'll consume as many candy calories as alcohol calories if you drink/drank anything like me.

And yes it's not safe to quit drinking cold turkey without medical surveillance if you've been a long time heavy drinker. I had some pretty serious withdrawal the first time which was coincidentally also November 2021.

I'll be checking back! Also I have 130 lbs to lose not including the 6lbs I dropped this week after putting down the bottle (Rum).


If anyone wants a friend who understands to cheer you on I'm happy to be that friend and feel comfortable knowing I have found this discussion of understanding people. It's surprisingly a rare honest conversation on MFP.

Well done Jim. And hello everyone who also shared incredible stories - your candour is humbling and inspiring.

This is day 4 alcohol free for me. I'm coping far better than I expected which is a relief and also quite illuminating. I'd drifted into a habit of quietly drinking a bottle of wine+ per evening, alone. That sounds so awful written down!

I'm really pleased I found this app, I know it's going to enable me to keep focused. I hope we can all find the strength and motivation to achieve whatever it is we need. Best wishes

I say well done because I’ve lived with someone who was deep in and has come through it all. I know how difficult it can be. My advise is too stop counting days and replace with I don’t drink. Instead of I gave up, say I don’t drink. It applies to everything.

Don’t identify as someone who is giving up or gave up. Identify as what you are now. Not what you were. It’s already in the past.

Good luck too you all.

I'm still at it. Almost to 10 days! I totally feel those who mentioned drinking and health toll. I gained 130 lbs (which is why I'm at MFP to begin with) and recently learned I have (re)damaged my liver, but not beyond repair. I'm not taking super drastic measures as of right now, just quitting drinking and eating mindfully to include watching my cholesterol as my liver damage raised my cholesterol, so while it heals I'm trying to handle that manually. Despite it only being just over a week my weight is down about 7 lbs (without being dehydrated like usual). I'm pretty stoked and it's motivating.

I'm hear with you guys. Let's keep pushing. If you stumble, get back up and check back in. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Small update from me. I slipped and had an IPA on Sunday. I had to nurse my wounds after the Lions crashed and burned in the second half on Sunday. I regret it. I felt instant guilt because I know people are cheering me on. I have a stupid high tolerance so I never felt anything from it, but it is what it is. Still quitting drinking.

Quit 1/17, one beer 1/28, back to pushing forward.

I've made huge changes to my life to support my sobriety and have thus far lost almost 30 pounds. I'm still working on sleep issues but that will come with time. My skin is clear, I'm not sick, I'm not ashamed, I'm not spending hundreds of dollars on alcohol every month. If I can do it, you all can do it. One freaking day at a time, whatever if takes, because you are absolutely worth it. The worst day sober is better than the best day drunk. I do not do meetings, but totally recommend you find a support system, either in person or online (although a lot of online programs are quite ridiculously expensive so be careful what you sign up for). I am 115 days sober and I will not drink today.