On the Wagon

[MrBump]

So, the wife and I have given up the booze.

Been about 2 months now, gave up just after Christmas.  We realised that we were just drinking so much, by stealth mostly - you know, the odd glass of whisky here, the odd bottle of red there.  I think that we were putting away a LOT of units a week.

Feeling better in general now - sleeping better, working better, losing a little girth around the ol' belly.

Don't think that this is a long term thing, 'cos I'm still in love with Irish Whisky, and I love a good red.  But for now, all good.

Mark.

[hamfist]

Well done Mark, for doing something before it really became a problem.

I drink too much myself, in quite an compulsive way.  :(

Its always a battle to keep my units down to a sane level (which I consider to be about 40 a week - which is only 4 bottles of red after all). I often end up drinking way over that, but it's something I aim for.

[Matt77]

I'm not a drinker anymore and on reflection it's an opportunity to do more with my life
I find if you go out with good friends you won't have any less fun and driving for a night out makes it so much easier getting home

[Fourth Feline]

So, the wife and I have given up the booze.

Been about 2 months now, gave up just after Christmas.  We realised that we were just drinking so much, by stealth mostly - you know, the odd glass of whisky here, the odd bottle of red there.  I think that we were putting away a LOT of units a week.

Feeling better in general now - sleeping better, working better, losing a little girth around the ol' belly.

Don't think that this is a long term thing, 'cos I'm still in love with Irish Whisky, and I love a good red.  But for now, all good.

Mark.

Well done Mark ( and wife )  :)

I initially decided / was directed to cut it out,  or reduce to one beer consumed very rarely - as it's effects clashed with certain medications I have to take.  As you said - even though I was never one for going down to the pub, even the tipple(s)  before supper seemed to get a bit bigger over months.  When I just 'cleaned out' and left the stuff alone - my quality of life improved.  If that effect can happen to a ( relatively ) light drinker like I was - it just shows how the majority of social drinkers must be unknowingly carrying a ships anchor round their neck. 

Not a moral judgement, just a health observation.

Keep up the good work !  :D   

[Philly Q]

It sounds a sensible move - doesn't really matter if it's a "problem" or not, it's how you feel that's important.  And when you do start drinking again, you'll be unused to it so you probably won't drink as much as before.

Yeah, it's funny how it can creep up on you.  I hardly ever drink at home, but I have some friends who'll have a bottle of wine (or two) most nights at home.  When I stay over at their place I frequently end up being sick in the night and wake up with a hangover  :oops: .  And the next morning they say "It doesn't make sense, you only had about a bottle of wine....".  Which is more than I drink in the average month....

But anyway, my problem is FOOD.  How do you give that up?

 

[Johnny Mac]

My take on everything in life is balance. Except smoking. I gave that up 14 months ago and have no intention of ever inhaling tobacco smoke or any other kind as that is a real head$%&#, ever again.

I love a drink. I'm also out of bed at 5:00am each working day and have to drive a 32 tonne truck around London. So self discipline is required. I have never drank every day except on holidays. I only need a dram of whisky a few times a week and thats just to take the tension out of me as I firmly believe that is much better for you than any happy pill the Dr can give you. Its all about self control. If that fails me and I do end up slaughtered on a school night like the recent Spurs v Arsenal Derby, I take a days holiday.

We're all different and deal with things in different ways that work best for us.

Mind you I'm drinking more while I'm signed off work but this is purely medicinal! It works though. A wee dram and it takes all the tension out of my back muscles and I can sleep for a few hours.

[hunter]

But anyway, my problem is FOOD.  How do you give that up?

 

start smoking :O)

[Philly Q]

But anyway, my problem is FOOD.  How do you give that up?

 

start smoking :O)

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

[MrBump]

Not sure about the food thing, PQ - I'm kinda like Homer (the American one, not the ancient Greek one) in that I have a weakness for saturated fats...

I'm not sure that I had a problem with drink, it's just that it became very much a habit - a stress relief, much like Jonny said above.  Working in banking over the last year gave much opportunity to indulge in stress!!!

The thing is, it's absolutely no problem whatsoever cutting it out; I thought it would be, I thought I'd really miss the couple of glasses of Jamesons after work, but it's really no big deal.

Not yet anyway!

 :drink:

Mark.

[Johnny Mac]

Not sure about the food thing, PQ - I'm kinda like Homer (the American one, not the ancient Greek one) in that I have a weakness for saturated fats...

I'm not sure that I had a problem with drink, it's just that it became very much a habit - a stress relief, much like Jonny said above.  Working in banking over the last year gave much opportunity to indulge in stress!!!

The thing is, it's absolutely no problem whatsoever cutting it out; I thought it would be, I thought I'd really miss the couple of glasses of Jamesons after work, but it's really no big deal.

Not yet anyway!

 :drink:

Mark.

Jamesons?  :? No wonder you gave it up!  :lol:

I'll bring a hip flask of an Islay Single Malt to our gathering. I've got a Laphroaig Quarter Cask at the moment  :twisted:

Sorry I shouldn't discourage you.

[Philly Q]

Not sure about the food thing, PQ - I'm kinda like Homer (the American one, not the ancient Greek one) in that I have a weakness for saturated fats...

To quote Dr Nick Riviera:

And remember, if you're not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper.  If the paper turns clear, it's your window to weight gain.

[Johnny Mac]

Not sure about the food thing, PQ - I'm kinda like Homer (the American one, not the ancient Greek one) in that I have a weakness for saturated fats...

To quote Dr Nick Riviera:

And remember, if you're not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper.  If the paper turns clear, it's your window to weight gain.

Well you could eat that, but you need some alcohol to break it down a bit.

[Dmoney]

i aint drank beers in 7 years. gave up because of the way people really close to me drank, and because it just made me feel down. ironically im now on happy pills hahaha! yeah, they sucks. but it was or go back to beer which wouldnt have been moderate and it wouldnt have brought out the best in me. one of the last times i drank i did half a bottle of southern comfort a friend had, and smashed up a friends kitchen because i got in an argument, and in my drunken head, smashing the kitchen was a better idea than fighting my friend (not the person that owned the kitchen).

I used to love a bodingtons, or various pendle related ales, like wobbly bob, or pendle witch. i am from lancashire after all. ive never lost my belly. it goes up and down by 4 inches pretty quickly on the regs. but thats no good thing.

[nfe]

'cos I'm still in love with Irish Whisky

Irish Whiskey. [/pet hate] :lol:

[dave_mc]

And remember, if you're not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper.  If the paper turns clear, it's your window to weight gain.

Well you could eat that, but you need some alcohol to break it down a bit.

industrial alcohol, maybe o_O :lol: