Cutting down booze - physical benefits?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

OK during lockdown like many I used alcohol too much.

I've noticed I continued drinking after I was on my own, not in a social setting and to get pissed. Not during the day, just at night say 7pm. My rest days went from no booze days for 3 or 4 days to 2 or even 1.

I feel fat, out of shape. Slothlike. Possibly not related entirely. I also look older, I.e permanently hungover.

Also moobs and a stomach.

Who has drastically cut back and what did you notice?

I'm aiming to go back to 4 days rest and not mixing drinks.

I just need help motivating.

[stargazer30]

I quit 20 may this year. I wasn’t a daily heavy drinker but I did binge drink once or twice a week.

No major weight loss but so far the advantages;
Sleep better
Think clearer, no brain fog
A bit more energy
I enjoy social stuff more now as I’m not smashed half way through and don’t wake up feeling like crap
No day after driving worries
Saved money

Edited by stargazer30 on Tuesday 6th July 14:56

[JeffreyD]

There are no downsides to cutting back on the booze.

See if you can kick start with a couple of weeks off then stick to a couple of nights a week with a drink maximum.

It's the quickest way of losing weight and generally feeling better in yourself

[swanseaboydan]

I’ve been where you are - my experience is to quit completely for at least 2 weeks then go back to light social drinking , you’ll have loads of relapses into binge drinking ( if you are anything like me) but you need a complete detox first - try and tie it in with cutting down on sugar and crappy foods and you will feel better after a week and amazing after 2 - it is tough though, the first week is awful. Go for it though and get out of this rut . Get in control of booze before it controls you

[Badda]

swanseaboydan said:

I’ve been where you are - my experience is to quit completely for at least 2 weeks then go back to light social drinking , you’ll have loads of relapses into binge drinking ( if you are anything like me) but you need a complete detox first - try and tie it in with cutting down on sugar and crappy foods and you will feel better after a week and amazing after 2 - it is tough though, the first week is awful. Go for it though and get out of this rut . Get in control of booze before it controls you

What do you mean ‘complete detox’? You’re aware your liver detoxes you daily I assume? I wonder what a complete one is.

[JeffreyD]

Badda said:

What do you mean ‘complete detox’? You’re aware your liver detoxes you daily I assume? I wonder what a complete one is.

I'd say it's used as shorthand.

If you regularly drink even a bit too much then stopping the booze will make you feel crap for a few days, maybe a couple of weeks.

[Louis Balfour]

JeffreyD said:

There are no downsides to cutting back on the booze.

I don't agree.

Having been teetotal, an occasional drinker, regular drinker and lager enthusiast I think occasional drinking can be quite good for the mind. I gave up last year for a while and weekdays just merged with the weekends. For want of a better description it was boring and I didn't feel fully relaxed after a weekend.

[JeffreyD]

Louis Balfour said:

I don't agree.

Having been teetotal, an occasional drinker, regular drinker and lager enthusiast I think occasional drinking can be quite good for the mind. I gave up last year for a while and weekdays just merged with the weekends. For want of a better description it was boring and I didn't feel fully relaxed after a weekend.

Which is why I said cutting back, not giving up.

Which in the context of the OP is a reasonable answer.

He's drinking enough to feel st every day.

[Louis Balfour]

JeffreyD said:

Louis Balfour said:

I don't agree.

Having been teetotal, an occasional drinker, regular drinker and lager enthusiast I think occasional drinking can be quite good for the mind. I gave up last year for a while and weekdays just merged with the weekends. For want of a better description it was boring and I didn't feel fully relaxed after a weekend.

Which is why I said cutting back, not giving up.

Which in the context of the OP is a reasonable answer.

He's drinking enough to feel st every day.

Fair comment. (just the one mind)

[J4CKO]

Am doing "Dry July", its not a thing, just me deciding to cut it out for a month like I do in January.

Started running and wanted to give it the best chance, doing a fundraising thing for Prostate Cancer and it involves running.

Its too easy to just launch into a few drinks most nights, I like to be able to just stop, once I have decided its happening its not a problem, its the deciding to do it as I love booze. I am lucky I guess being able to stop with no ill effects or even missing it.

I like to have some nice soft drinks in, Diet Fanta Grape is nice, and some Becks Blue.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

That's one thing I've noticed....cut out booze start with tue other sugars.

I don't normally eat pudding or drink coke but no booze and bingo!

[Vasco]

I find that many people change their views on alcohol as they get a bit older. Being smashed out of your mind is only amusing when you're too young to know any different.

[272BHP]

I don't think a drink every night is particularly harmful, it just depends how it fits in with everything else you do.

I have a drink every night and a few more at the weekend but crucially I exercise very hard as well. Having a large glass of wine with my evening meal is a wonderfully relaxing thing for me to do and I wouldn't want to deny myself such a simple pleasure.

[thainy77]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's one thing I've noticed....cut out booze start with tue other sugars.

I don't normally eat pudding or drink coke but no booze and bingo!

I was the same as you, I stopped on May 1st, i've lost 25lbs in that period but that was combined with exercise but I have developed a sweet tooth that wasn't there before. It's obviously the body craving the sugar missed from alcohol.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

thainy77 said:

I was the same as you, I stopped on May 1st, i've lost 25lbs in that period but that was combined with exercise but I have developed a sweet tooth that wasn't there before. It's obviously the body craving the sugar missed from alcohol.

25lb?!

How tall are you, what weight were you before

[Nemophilist]

272BHP said:

I don't think a drink every night is particularly harmful, it just depends how it fits in with everything else you do.

I have a drink every night and a few more at the weekend but crucially I exercise very hard as well. Having a large glass of wine with my evening meal is a wonderfully relaxing thing for me to do and I wouldn't want to deny myself such a simple pleasure.

This is my stance too

I like good wine and enjoy it with dinner each evening.
It’s as you say a simple pleasure that is not worth denying. And I run/work out most days of the week.

I don’t remember the last time I was drunk or hung over. That kind of drinking doesn’t interest me.

[sevensfun]

Louis Balfour said:

I don't agree.

Having been teetotal, an occasional drinker, regular drinker and lager enthusiast I think occasional drinking can be quite good for the mind. I gave up last year for a while and weekdays just merged with the weekends. For want of a better description it was boring and I didn't feel fully relaxed after a weekend.

This is what I was thinking. It can be great to let off steam, after exercise, with friends and very enjoyable.

[JeffreyD]

sevensfun said:

This is what I was thinking. It can be great to let off steam, after exercise, with friends and very enjoyable.

The OP says he is permanently hungover with moobs and a stomach.

That's a totally different type of drinking

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Yup and often it'll get so late tea would be skipped so just empty calories.

[thainy77]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

25lb?!

How tall are you, what weight were you before

5' 10" and 222lbs.