It is strange, every time I quit drinking I actually gain weight.Still going well. down ~10lbs and feel great.
Taking a 48hr hiatus for a Bach party in Atlanta for a wedding I'm standing in. Then back on the wagon.
May keep it going to Fri March 6th as makeup. May not. Will see
Me too. I replace beer with chips.It is strange, every time I quit drinking I actually gain weight.
Yeah, I generally replace the lost calories with sweets, which I avoid normally. I've probably had 7 cookies that my wife made since Friday.It is strange, every time I quit drinking I actually gain weight.
Yeah, I'll be drinking come March 3rd. Beers and opening rounds of March Madness are one of life's greatest joys!made it through valentines weekend. which was difficult! worst weekend of the year in the restaurant biz. smooth sailing now.
@General Malaise i might be in for some sort of month on/off thing. i'm going skiing in jackson hole on 3/1. i know i'll have a few beers then. but when i come back, i might just start up again.
I can drink without watching March Madness, but I can`t watch March Madness without drinking.Yeah, I'll be drinking come March 3rd. Beers and opening rounds of March Madness are one of life's greatest joys!
I'd be up for Abstinence April, tho....
I've done this in years past and was doing a good job this year until 2/14 when I was given a bunch of really good gourmet chocolates. I ATE THEM ALL. I figure this way they're gone and I won't be tempted again.General Malaise said:Yeah, I generally replace the lost calories with sweets, which I avoid normally. I've probably had 7 cookies that my wife made since Friday.
One thing I have noticed is the bags under my eyes are almost gone completely.
2 weekends in the books. Taking the kids to the zoo today. Holding strong. No cravings at all.
Giving serious thought to month-on, month-off this year.
I hear you.I haven't had a drink since early January but tomorrow may be rolling up to Russian river brewery and drinking some pliny the younger. I also have my sister's 40th bday party Saturday but then I'll probably stop drinking again until the next big event. I love waking up so refreshed and only being bloated from too many tacos.
I'm hoping that it's better than that, SWCer. And at first it may seem that way. I don't know; I'm still new to this whole thing, so I can't give you much to go on, but I think the clarity as the months go by gets better. I think just remembering that helps.i sort of like waking up early and knowing that i dont have to worry about anything i said or did wrong the night before like my main man colin hay from men at work down under says in his song called beautiful world and still this emptyness persists perhaps this is as good as it gets when you give up the drink and the nasty cigarettes you leave the party early but at least with no regrets i watch the sun come up and watch it as she sets yeah this is as good as it gets take that to the bank brohans
i dont know i think there is something about human condition that makes us feel empty from time to time and i think the best way for me at least to fill it is to go out and do service for others through church or community projects or whatever and if i am being honest i am disappointed in myself when instead of doing that i try to fill it up with beer yeah it makes it go away but that aint no reason to drink and this here sober february has helped me figure some stuff out i think not the least of which is just pure self control take that to the bank bromigorockaction said:I'm hoping that it's better than that, SWCer. And at first it may seem that way. I don't know; I'm still new to this whole thing, so I can't give you much to go on, but I think the clarity as the months go by gets better. I think just remembering that helps.
I tried some "craft" non-alcoholic beers last month... an ipa, stout, and red, I believe. They were horrific. I'm glad you found an alternative you can tolerate!I saw some “Brewdog Stout AF non-alcoholic near beer” at the liquor store and bought a six pack. It’s not the greatest tasting, but the look and smell are really authentic. It seems like a real stout.
After googling a bit, I stumbled upon this article. https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/sightlines/2020/1/17/brewdog-eyes-alcohol-free-domination-with-new-bar-and-range-of-af-beers
I only tried them because they were available as singles. Had I been forced to buy a pack... no way. But I'm glad I did because now I know if it comes down to it, I'd rather just drink water or milk.This is my third month on the last calendar year that I've gone "sober" and I have yet to attempt a NA beer. Sounds like I'm not missing out.
I've tried NA beers in the past, but they were awful. I can't imagine they've improved, even in the craft beer world.I only tried them because they were available as singles. Had I been forced to buy a pack... no way. But I'm glad I did because now I know if it comes down to it, I'd rather just drink water or milk.
Yup, as far as I'm concerned, no master brewer in the world could make these NA beers enjoyable.I've tried NA beers in the past, but they were awful. I can't imagine they've improved, even in the craft beer world.
I do really enjoy the Lagunitas Dry Hopped Refreshers. New Season's has them for $6.99 a four pack, which is a bit high for NA drinks, but I like them and a nice alternative to other NA beverages. No carbs, no sugars, no calories, but very...well....refreshing.
They are worth trying to see what you think. Buffalo Wild Wings carries them because they are used in a few of their new signature cocktails.Yup, as far as I'm concerned, no master brewer in the world could make these NA beers enjoyable.
So, these refreshers are... sort of a slightly bitter seltzer, if I understand correctly?
Nothing hits the spot for a carb-conscious hophead like myself like a good carbonated hop water. I was intrigued by this one because one of the ingredients is brewer's yeast. I found this explanation on the Lagunitas website:
An IPA-inspired refreshment that's zero-alcohol, zero-carbohydrate, and zero-calorie, made using everything we know about hops. It's chock-full of Citra, Equinox, and Centennial hops, as well as some natural flavors and a pinch brewer's yeast to biotransform-ate the hops to just the right flavor.
"What is biotransformation? Brewmonster Jeremy Marshall put it best: “Yeast biotransforms the existing hop terpenes into more desirable terpenes. You need yeast to liberate the hop flavors, and that’s the most important thing that we know from making IPAs, and we leveraged it in making Hoppy Refresher.” "
Their technique seems to do the trick! This hoppy refresher has a nice, balanced hoppy flavor without much bitterness, and really "pops" a lot more than other hop waters. Yum.
Picked up a 4pk of these yesterday based on your recommendation. Big fan! Will be picking up a case today.I do really enjoy the Lagunitas Dry Hopped Refreshers. New Season's has them for $6.99 a four pack, which is a bit high for NA drinks, but I like them and a nice alternative to other NA beverages. No carbs, no sugars, no calories, but very...well....refreshing.
Lol. Love it.'ola! from the other side!
had a few/six Whiskey Sours last night during a call to the coast ... head is throbbing, pulse bpm is rockin' at 120 (normally 65), a few hellacious dumps that woulda drowned a hippo ... and 2 hours late for my first client sit this morning (they bailed).
so, one question for you all ...
MISS IT YET?
Nice job, Broseephus.SWC said:amen brohans i made it through now on friday it will only be the 28th but i am going fishing and will have a beer so that will have to be close enough for the old swcer but after this weekend i think i am probably going to do a mostly sober march too this is good stuff take that to the bank bromigos
excellent work my friend! it's been a breeze for me as well. which, has not always been the case. see ya in april.Nice job, Broseephus.
Have a 50th birthday dinner on Saturday with friends and will circle that as my end to Sober February this year. However, I plan on taking it very easy and waiting until we are seated Sat. night for my first drink since Super Bowl. Pleasantly surprised how easy it was to go without and while I know that opens myself up to scrutiny and criticism from our recovering alcoholics, I was just personally satisfied that I had ZERO desire to drink at all the last 21 days.
That Fresh Squeeze is a good one, GB. Have enjoyed many of those over the years. Great job!SWC said:ok brohans i am probably not going to check in here tomorrow but i made it until tomorrow night when i will meet up with my bromigos after fishing and will have a few barleycorns i have some deshoots fresh squeeze ipa that i am going to have and brohans i am going to like it and i will for sure have some more on samstag evening but i will go back to the old sober ways come church day take that to the bank brochachos
sorry to hear that, GB. I meant to reach out by text, but....no excuse. Here if you ever need me. :(I'm calling it a month tonight. Coronavirus has been dumb and my Mom might be sick.
sorry about your mom bobI'm calling it a month tonight. Coronavirus has been dumb and my Mom might be sick.
i am doing intermittint drinking too i drank friday and saturday with my fishing guys but now i am going right back on the wagon and for lent i am giving up salt and going to try to cut out carbs to so basically i am going to give this whole live like i care about living thing a try take that to the bank bromigosThat Fresh Squeeze is a good one, GB. Have enjoyed many of those over the years. Great job!ok brohans i am probably not going to check in here tomorrow but i made it until tomorrow night when i will meet up with my bromigos after fishing and will have a few barleycorns i have some deshoots fresh squeeze ipa that i am going to have and brohans i am going to like it and i will for sure have some more on samstag evening but i will go back to the old sober ways come church day take that to the bank brochachos
I cracked yesterday at the bar with a buddy I hadn't seen in a while. 25 days without a drop prior, so not even a full month. Blah.
I am going to give 'intermittent drinking' a shot this year. Month on, month off. Maybe. We'll see how I feel at the end of March, but I think it might be something worth trying.