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Anyone here quit drinking? (1 Viewer)

Otis said:
I'll admit, I used to think people who didn't drink were weird.
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Most of them are but then again most people who do drink are weird.  Basically, a lot of weird ####### people out there.

Derby is very soon, so much better to watch with a buzz on.

 
Quit almost 5 years ago.  It was either that or lose my son.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it a bit.  But I did right by my son and I know it has changed his life for the better.  You only get one childhood.  And as for me, mostly every aspect of my life has improved - better relationships, better performance at work, finances a LOT better, and my health is incredible.  It's nice going to bed every night with a clean conscious.  That wasn't always the case.

 
Haven't had a drink for 13 years.  I was drinking pretty heavily after my divorce and after my seizures flared up again after 15 years.  I was in the hospital trying to find a treatment for my seizures after a major car accident that should have killed me (not alcohol but seizure related).  They gave me 2 cans of Budweiser from the pharmacy to see if drinking was a trigger point for my seizures.  It wasn't the cause, but they did say it could have been a contributing factor.  After I had my 2nd brain surgery I decided not to take a chance and haven't had a drop since.  

Some days I miss it (after a hard day of work or a very hot day)  but for the most part I don't miss it at all.

 
May have had 1 drink in the last 12-13 years.  I am 38.  One day I decided to calculate how much I was spending on booze and bars.  I was shocked to say the least and quit cold turkey.

 
Its tough.  It has always been my social lubricant.  I have not been one to sit at home and drink by myself until I found that I was not handling booze well in social situations.  

So I would drink by myself at home a lot.  As you can imagine, that isn't a good thing.  

I ended up having liver/pancreas problems and get my blood tested quarterly.  I have cut way down though I do have times where I go off track.  

I can see quitting some day, but moving to mostly beer and only having a few (usually less than 6) once a week or so is helping a lot - though I ended up having 5 or 6 big vodka tonics yesterday (had a great time but pretty smhammered).  I started at the golf course and we ended up having friends over.

I felt so bad this morning, I know I cannot do that too often, its not worth it.   

 
Almost 3 years with 0 drinks here. I drink n/a beer and it does the trick.  All things considered I don't miss it too much.  The first month or two were really difficult.  I quit because I started having major sleep issues any time I drank, and alcoholism is in my genes.

 
I had to quit for a few months because of some liver damage due to a gallstone that got stuck in the line to the stomach (painful btw) when trying to pass.  I can drink again and do, but I'm under 5-10 drinks a week now instead of the 3+ a night I was normally.  I'll tie one on every now and then (Parties/Holidays etc.) but I can go many days without drinking and without thinking about it.

 
We were similar. I'm 36 and the hangover was worse than the fun was worth. I drink casually (1-4) drinks, on special occasions. I'm just as social sober, but I know it bothers some that I drink much anymore. 

 
Higgs said:
Quit almost 5 years ago.  It was either that or lose my son.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it a bit.  But I did right by my son and I know it has changed his life for the better.  You only get one childhood.  And as for me, mostly every aspect of my life has improved - better relationships, better performance at work, finances a LOT better, and my health is incredible.  It's nice going to bed every night with a clean conscious.  That wasn't always the case.
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We disagree a lot in the Trump threads but that is something I greatly respect.  :thumbup:

 
I developed an allergy to alcohol at age 22.  I did some testing to make sure it was all alcohol, not just hops or something.  In the past 19 years, I've had a couple of glasses of wine that I couldn't reasonably refuse while working in France, and probably 6 oz of beer in a brewhouse in Hamburg because I thought it was worth it.

It's probably for the best - my dad was a massive alcoholic when I was growing up (12+ beers every night), and this made it pretty easy to avoid going down that route.

 
As soon as you "quit" something, you admit it has power over you. 

When you cut something back, You are taking control of something. 

Are you a ##### or a master of your domain?

 
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Or you know, within moderation. 

Same with diet and exercise.

Full Bale, all out P90X, no drinking... None of that will ever happen :shrug:  

Maybe some realistic goals accompanied by baby steps and things will snowball a little.

 
Johnnymac said:
Well said.  Good for you.
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I'm a big fan of Otisshtick.  That said I recognize it for what it is.  I'm glad he makes the effort to keep us entertained, just as I am thankful for Evilgrin, GM, and others.  All that said, he is a successful and accomplished man equipped with the intellectual tools to have achieved great success. I have no doubt that having identified a real issue, not one as inconsequential as a few extra pounds, that he will address the situation correctly and expeditiously.  He obviously is a concerned and loving father, and if there is any infinitesimal chance this could adversely effect his girls I am confident he will handle the matter and we would all be saying good for him as well.  Knowing Otisshtick he may offer up exaggerated stories of backsliding, but he has this, I'm confident. 

 
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rabidfireweasel said:
Quit drinking 25 years ago. Still think about drinking fairly frequently.
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Seriously?  That's mind blowing to me.  Do you have a desire to drink?  Or is it just "well, I'm at the super bowl party again this year, and everyone is drinking and talking about craft beer again."

 
Otis said:
Seriously?  That's mind blowing to me.  Do you have a desire to drink?  Or is it just "well, I'm at the super bowl party again this year, and everyone is drinking and talking about craft beer again."
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Come on you little tease, don't post and not provide whether you held strong yesterday or not.

 
Baloney Sandwich said:
Come on you little tease, don't post and not provide whether you held strong yesterday or not.
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Held strong.  Didn't want to have to explain myself when I was challenged on what I was drinking, so I opened a Coors light, poured a bunch in the sink, and then fake sipped it and held it throughout.  Even went so far as to dump the first one out and grab a second one and do the same thing.  I actually didn't even like the taste to be honest when I ended up swallowing a couple of very small sips.  Kind of nasty.  Everyone else was drinking tons of good beer and then scotch.  I didn't really miss it, but was sort of wimpy about the social stigma.  Next time I'm just going to say "nah, none for me, on a strict diet!" or somesuch nonsense.

Anyway, the fact that I went through lunch at the mexican restaurant with my family on cinco de mayo and didn't guzzle my usual beloved coronaritas and drank only seltzer, and then went through a party with the wife's friends and their families at our house without drinking, means I pretty much got this.  Today we have mother's day with family, and I'd normally be boozing at this too.  Not sweating it.

 
Otis said:
Held strong.  Didn't want to have to explain myself when I was challenged on what I was drinking, so I opened a Coors light, poured a bunch in the sink, and then fake sipped it and held it throughout.  Even went so far as to dump the first one out and grab a second one and do the same thing.  I actually didn't even like the taste to be honest when I ended up swallowing a couple of very small sips.  Kind of nasty.  Everyone else was drinking tons of good beer and then scotch.  I didn't really miss it, but was sort of wimpy about the social stigma.  Next time I'm just going to say "nah, none for me, on a strict diet!" or somesuch nonsense.

Anyway, the fact that I went through lunch at the mexican restaurant with my family on cinco de mayo and didn't guzzle my usual beloved coronaritas and drank only seltzer, and then went through a party with the wife's friends and their families at our house without drinking, means I pretty much got this.  Today we have mother's day with family, and I'd normally be boozing at this too.  Not sweating it.
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Wow, my dad used to tell me to pour out my beer and pretend drink like you did yesterday but I was in high school at the time.  I suspect that until the social stigma is out of your head you are ripe for falling off the wagon.

 
Otis said:
 Next time I'm just going to say "nah, none for me, on a strict diet!" or somesuch nonsense.
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we all know that this "quit drinking" thing won't last. see it for what it is. you're taking a break.

there's nothing wrong with taking a break from drinking. saying "i'm on a sabbatical" or "i'm not drinking today" is totally reasonable.

when i take a few weeks off from drinking, i appreciate it when i have a few cocktails. you'll likely find that it's easier to drink less/less frequently after you've completed a drinking vacation.

 
ShaqAttaq said:
we all know that this "quit drinking" thing won't last. see it for what it is. you're taking a break.

there's nothing wrong with taking a break from drinking. saying "i'm on a sabbatical" or "i'm not drinking today" is totally reasonable.

when i take a few weeks off from drinking, i appreciate it when i have a few cocktails. you'll likely find that it's easier to drink less/less frequently after you've completed a drinking vacation.
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This makes sense to me.  I suspect a few weeks off will help me get some better perspective on all this. 

 
Dude, are you 15. Man up and tell them you dont want to drink. I did that when I was 15 and no one gave a ####. Everyone knows I dont drink now but even when offered and declined, they say cool. 

 
Otis said:
Held strong.  Didn't want to have to explain myself when I was challenged on what I was drinking, so I opened a Coors light, poured a bunch in the sink, and then fake sipped it and held it throughout.  Even went so far as to dump the first one out and grab a second one and do the same thing.  I actually didn't even like the taste to be honest when I ended up swallowing a couple of very small sips.  Kind of nasty.  Everyone else was drinking tons of good beer and then scotch.  I didn't really miss it, but was sort of wimpy about the social stigma.  Next time I'm just going to say "nah, none for me, on a strict diet!" or somesuch nonsense.
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Wow, that's ridiculous.  What a wiener.  "I'm quitting drinking, #### off."

 
serious answer for once from me is that the hangover or lower energy the morning after < extra fun from drinking (most the time). 

I get up before the house in order to have some me chill time to excercise or do nothing.  Not disciplined enough to get up early if beers or scotch the night before.  

I still reserve the right to let the dogs out (yes, it was me) when appropriate but strangely that is seemingly less and less.

 
I gave up all booze and wine 5-6 years ago but I love drinking beer.   4 years ago I made my go to drink Miller Lite..I know the craft beer snobs here will turn up their noses but I used to drink 8-10 craft beers at 180+ calories a bottle and be quite hungover the next day .  Then the hangover would keep me from my workouts. Miller Lite is 97 a bottle. I can go out and have 6-8 Lites and get a nice little buzz and never be hungover and keep the calories down. When I first started drinking it I really did not care for it and it took awhile to get used to.  Now when I have a heavy craft beer it is like drinking a milkshake in terms of fullness and I dislike the strong flavor now.

I have worked out 5-6 days a week forever.  At 6-1 I was 225 for 15 years but now am down to the 208-210 area for 4 years.

What I quit doing is nite caps... on nights we would be out I would then come home and pour a Makers Mark or two on the rocks as a night cap.  Pure booze Nite caps=hangover.

 
Da Guru said:
I gave up all booze and wine 5-6 years ago but I love drinking beer.   4 years ago I made my go to drink Miller Lite..I know the craft beer snobs here will turn up their noses but I used to drink 8-10 craft beers at 180+ calories a bottle and be quite hungover the next day .  Then the hangover would keep me from my workouts. Miller Lite is 97 a bottle. I can go out and have 6-8 Lites and get a nice little buzz and never be hungover and keep the calories down. When I first started drinking it I really did not care for it and it took awhile to get used to.  Now when I have a heavy craft beer it is like drinking a milkshake in terms of fullness and I dislike the strong flavor now.

I have worked out 5-6 days a week forever.  At 6-1 I was 225 for 15 years but now am down to the 208-210 area for 4 years.

What I quit doing is nite caps... on nights we would be out I would then come home and pour a Makers Mark or two on the rocks as a night cap.  Pure booze Nite caps=hangover.
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Almost the same I do. I drink Coors lite though and still have my night caps during the week.

I drink every day. The difference is I don't get drunk. I'm sure most would say I have a problem.

 
Otis said:
This makes sense to me.  I suspect a few weeks off will help me get some better perspective on all this. 
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They key is to enjoy one or two drinks (and go ahead and make them a strong IPA if you want), and leaving it at that.

 
Christo said:
I don't want to quit drinking entirely. But I've decided to cut back precipitously. So what I've done is identify events where I know I want to drink and stay on the wagon between them. After New Years I committed to staying on until the GF's birthday. After that I committed to staying on until I went to Kentucky for the Bourbon Trail. Now I'm on until Memorial Day weekend. After that it will be 4th of July.

It really hasn't been that hard. I feel great in between. And if anything, I think I actually enjoy drinking on those occasions more since I wasn't ####-faced the weekends in between.
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This has what I've been doing too.  Our recent trip to Italy changed me some as well.  Don't feel like getting stupid drunk so much any longer.  A couple of glasses of wine and I'm good.

Of course I spent all day yesterday at the track and casino drinking beer.  I heard the waitress at the casino refer to me as "the really drunk guy" which was factually inaccurate.  I was really drunk AND stoned.

 
I do agree that stopping the nightcap is a great call. That's made all the difference in the world with how I feel the next morning.

 
From AA's Big Book, Chapter 3:http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_bigbook_chapt3.pdf

Here are some of the methods we have tried:  Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums - we could increase the list ad infinitum. 
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Switch to weed.  I get high pretty much every night and I'm in the best shape of my life.  Just need to make sure to have healthy snacks for the munchies.  I drink when I'm out socially but not that much or that often, and I never really drink at home.

I know this might sound like shtick but it's not intended that way.

 
jwb said:
They key is to enjoy one or two drinks (and go ahead and make them a strong IPA if you want), and leaving it at that.
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Yep, that's pretty much what I do.  I rarely drink anymore, but when I do, it is one, maybe two drinks. 

If you are someone that cannot stop at one or two, then you probably have a problem and should get help for that, for real. 

 
fatguyinalittlecoat said:
Switch to weed.  I get high pretty much every night and I'm in the best shape of my life.  Just need to make sure to have healthy snacks for the munchies.  I drink when I'm out socially but not that much or that often, and I never really drink at home.

I know this might sound like shtick but it's not intended that way.
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I agree with this guy. Also not shtick.

 
Otis said:
Seriously?  That's mind blowing to me.  Do you have a desire to drink?  Or is it just "well, I'm at the super bowl party again this year, and everyone is drinking and talking about craft beer again."
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Well, my deal isn't very interesting on teh interwebs. It sometimes sounds preachy or melodramatic. I started drinking seriously when I was 14. I was really small, insecure, and I guess, trying to establish my masculinity. By the time I was 16, I started drinking every day- even at school. I flew under the radar because I have a great memory and test well, I graduated as valedictorian of my high school and headed out to college at 17. 3 months later I went through the windshield of a car going 75 that hit a tree. I have had a headache ever since- unfixable. I started drinking even more to self medicate. Between habits, consuming mass amounts of depressants and damaging the frontal lobes of my brain- I was incredibly depressed. I was a working class kid from southeastern Massachusetts struggling with the affluence of Stanford and I hated my engineering major.

Fast forward to age 20. For some self destructive reason, I decided that I was going drink 1 more drink every day than I had the day before, without puking. Puking seemed like cheating. I got up to 42 shots. Then I puked after that. Some people were trying to reach out to me, saying - Dude, you have a drinking problem. Most didn't- I was a pretty fun drunk except to spoiled frat boys- and most people liked having someone around who drank a lot more than them. I tried to make little rules for myself- I won't drink this week, or before noon, or whatever- but it was always someone's birthday, or Arbor Day, or I decided I wasn't going to let a clock rule my life.

finally, I told myself that I would just go 1 day without drinking. 1 day. I had an incredible day. A stunning woman who I was awestruck by told me she loved me for the first time and we had an unbelievable day of sex and euphoria. She had plans that night. Inexplicably, I drank 44 shots in the Rodin sculpture garden in front of the gates of hell and barfed. And then, I knew I had a problem...

more later if folks are interested

 
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Otis said:
Yeah, that's kind of impossible is the problem. 
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If it's really impossible, then not drinking at all is probably best.

When i decided to cut back, I thought a little along those lines ("how can I possibly limit it?"), so I do understand. I even got some non-alcoholic beer to help. Turns out, I didn't need it. It was very easy to simply stop at 2. Two differences: 1) I never gave a @#$% what other people thought I was drinking. I didn't/don't need to fake them out. You don't either. 2) I honestly started disliking the heavy buzz, and how long it lasted.

If you care about what others think is in your glass, and/or you do like being drunk, then no, limiting yourself is torture, and won't work.    

+1 on the weed thing, too.  

 
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