365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
7 5 7 said:
These are very good, have these alot at home or at the pub (if I am ever in a pub these days...) Edinger Alkoholfrei
£1.75 from Morrison's or Asda I've had them from, apparently they give these to the cyclists after tour's - they are very good 0.5%.
I really enjoy those. £1.75 from Morrison's or Asda I've had them from, apparently they give these to the cyclists after tour's - they are very good 0.5%.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 21st April 15:01
y2blade said:
113 days for me now. With £1760 sat in the “alcohol free” account.
Really enjoying the Guinness 0.0 when out at the moment tbh.
Is that money actually saved or an estimate ? like £15 a day, seemed like a lot but if its pub prices, its not even three pints a day.Really enjoying the Guinness 0.0 when out at the moment tbh.
I haven't added it up, probably average, if I am honest £40 a week, quite difficult to work out really, few cans of the more expensive beers at home £10/12 a couple of times a week, few in the pub, odd bit of wine, few whiskies, adds up, might be more than £40 actually based on that and varies week to week.
Its harder to track as sometimes use cash in the pub, booze bought in the supermarket is part of the shopping cost, whisky is an occasional purchase but £20/30 a bottle.
Plus, need to take some as the difference between the booze and a non alcoholic alternative.
J4CKO said:
y2blade said:
113 days for me now. With £1760 sat in the “alcohol free” account.
Really enjoying the Guinness 0.0 when out at the moment tbh.
Is that money actually saved or an estimate ? like £15 a day, seemed like a lot but if its pub prices, its not even three pints a day.Really enjoying the Guinness 0.0 when out at the moment tbh.
I haven't added it up, probably average, if I am honest £40 a week, quite difficult to work out really, few cans of the more expensive beers at home £10/12 a couple of times a week, few in the pub, odd bit of wine, few whiskies, adds up, might be more than £40 actually based on that and varies week to week.
Its harder to track as sometimes use cash in the pub, booze bought in the supermarket is part of the shopping cost, whisky is an occasional purchase but £20/30 a bottle.
Plus, need to take some as the difference between the booze and a non alcoholic alternative.
I set up a standing order putting the money I was spending into a new account each week.
So yeah it’s real money saved. Money that I’d have literally pissed up the wall.
mattuk89 said:
20 days for me today, the longest I have done since dry Jan in 2021, managed 19 days this year for dry Jan..
Have attempted 30 days many many times and always fail but I’m confident I’ll do it this time
28 days tomorrow when I wake up fresh!Have attempted 30 days many many times and always fail but I’m confident I’ll do it this time
Am busy all this weekend so will be waking up Monday fresh as a daisy for my 30th day..
Didn’t plan on doing more than 30 days at the start but with how I’m feeling now I’m going to see how long I can go, have no urge to drink or sniff at the moment, finished work earlier and took my 5 year old out for dinner, Fridays would usually consist of suggesting my partner to take the kids to go and see her parents so I got an excuse to get on the sesh.. followed by waking up feeling like rubbish tomrorow not being fully with it, and trying to pretend I’m not hungover whilst doing family stuff.
Only negative I’ve found which I’ve turned into a positive, is waking up at silly o’clock, handy In the week as I take the dog out and goto the gym before work, last weekend I was wide away at 4:30 and 5am respectively, and went for a walk with the dog both mornings, seeing people walking home still pissed up makes me glad the shoe is on the other foot, never going to judge as it’s been me many times, but would he happy if it’s never me again..
Just over four weeks now, down by four pounds so reckon its making a pound a week difference which kind of makes sense, as not changed my diet much.
If a pint is 225 calories, and a pound of weight lost requires 3500 calories, kind of works out to 15 pints in a week, which is probably more than I was drinking but it does add up, plus less snacking.
Suppose it adds up, half a bottle of wine a couple of times a week is 300 odd calories, usually have 3 or 4 pints if we go to the pub, plus the higher ABV beers like the Brewdog ones are 300 to 400 per 500 ml can.
If a pint is 225 calories, and a pound of weight lost requires 3500 calories, kind of works out to 15 pints in a week, which is probably more than I was drinking but it does add up, plus less snacking.
Suppose it adds up, half a bottle of wine a couple of times a week is 300 odd calories, usually have 3 or 4 pints if we go to the pub, plus the higher ABV beers like the Brewdog ones are 300 to 400 per 500 ml can.
tim jb said:
The AF Stellas are great. £3.5 x 4 bottles from Tesco
Its weird how intially you think they are the wooden spoon, which they are to an extent, then you think they arent that bad, then you actually quite relish having one.Im on the Becks Blue at the moment, have one or two a couple of nights a week and really enjoy them, best not to have them every night as its not a treat then, oh how the mighty have fallen etc but am happy with my new regime.
Its nice to realise you really dont need alcohol and can do without it, world doesnt end.
J4CKO said:
Its weird how intially you think they are the wooden spoon, which they are to an extent, then you think they arent that bad, then you actually quite relish having one.
Totally. One of my former rituals was to get a pint after a run, which served as motivation initially but became a negative habit. Now I've replaced that with an AF cider or lager which I look forward to just as much. They're surprisingly good though. For those who have read more literature than me, or maybe have experienced life differently, does the "comedown" from alcohol (7-8 British strength pints - first drink in 3 weeks) simply elevate your existing mood and/or your subconscious mood and thoughts, or change it completely?
Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Edited by Throwaway4743 on Friday 3rd May 07:20
That is exactly where I was before I quit - alcohol will put a turbo on any anxiety. Quitting will really help - it takes a couple of months to get used to it but living without hangovers and alcohol induced anxiety is awesome.
This is my experience anyway . 7 months since my last drink and loving it .
This is my experience anyway . 7 months since my last drink and loving it .
@ Throwaway4743
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Blib said:
@ Throwaway4743
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
I think Throwaway4743's post although brief is a fantastically detailed and accurate description of the effects and risks of alcohol especially for people with vulnerabilities.Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Has a few problems in his life. Has a drink. Feels better for a bit.
Because of the predisposition to anxiety and his life difficulties he experienced more severe and prolonged withdrawal effects from alcohol than most.
The lesson he takes is keep off it and get back on an even keel. Good choice.
It's so easy to take the lesson 'That felt good let's do it again' from the experience. Alcohol is very good, in the short term, at alleviating the come down, negative feelings and anxiety and that's how dependence arises.
I had three pints when out for a meal last night (wifes birthday) then a whisky when I got home. Woke up and felt a bit ropey, kind of did it as an experiment and surprising I dont feel like I failed or copped out. I am away next week in Tenerife so will be drinking but have to say the enthusiasm for getting hammered is not what it was.
Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
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