Question for those of you who have given up drink

[KevinTodd]

It's your choice ultimately. I've known many people who needed to stop completely or die.

Moderation is the key, I believe, but again, to each his own.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Last time my wife went out of town I bought a cigar (gone without for months)... I kid you not by the time I finished I was dizzy!

If I smoked a full cigar today, I'd probably puke.

[ckelly78z]

I have alot of friends who live for today and don't have a thought towards the future, I just can't understand that mentality, I plan on retiring comfortably 10 years from now at 60 years old with no debt and a big 401K and pension. I drink more now than I ever have, but it's still only maybe 6-8 a week. Some friends have that many drinks by early afternoon, and then go riding thier Harley and can't seem to grasp why thier life is in shambles (huge debt, bad health, multiple divorces, depression).

I like the advice given above.....slow down, limit yourself to a drink or two a day, and remember that YOU are in control, not the alcohol.

[Evans, Marv]

I don't get the heavy drinking year after year for most of a lifetime. I drank and partied when I was young and smoked. I quit smoking in my 20's and had lost my interest (never was a desire) for drinking by my early 30's. I drink very seldom and have done that for decades. I occasionally have a beer (my last box of 24 beers lasted over a year and a half) or wine and more rarely a class of scotch with ice. I just developed interests in other directions and think that should be the natural progression and really don't understand the tendency/dependency to drink alcoholic beverages as an integral part of daily life. It doesn't seem like a natural/normal thing to do. But then the reason I quit smoking was it seemed like it wasn't a normal/natural thing to do. Not trying to be holier than thou and maybe I have a hang up about doing things that keep introducing unnatural things into your body on a regular (compulsive?) basis. I guess different people just have different interests and priorities which include regular consumption/overconsumption of food/alcohol/drugs, whatever.

[aigel]

The issue I see is your family history. You have to clean it up, otherwise you probably will be in trouble. The booze is only a small part of the issue. IMHO you have to get an exercise regiment going. Nothing crazy, but you live in one of the best climates in the world, so off to an evening walk 5 days a week, for starters. Get a dog if you need motivation. Take the wife - go to a cafe as part of the routine. (And drink a non alcoholic beverage there!)

As far as the booze goes, if you think it is an issue, just don't drink for at least a month. Cold turkey. If bored, go on said walk. If you miss beer, try Clausthaler non alcoholic. That will re-set the clock and you can go down to less drinking when you come back to it. I suggest a rule of Fri-Sun drinking only. Dry the rest of the week.

G

[Rick V]

Just stop, the amount you are drinking makes any kind of dependance a mental one and not a physical one, so just tell yourself your done and make it so.
Next weekend will be 11 years sober for me, but I HAD to quit before me or someone else died but my story has been told too many times here and this isn't about me.
Like Mike says, "just do it"
There is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation, a cold beer on a hot day, glass of wine with dinner, etc.

[ckelly78z]

I think some people are born with an addictive personality that follows them thier entire life. I have smoked some weed, drank a bunch, drove fast and wild, even smoked a few packs of cigs, but I have a very strong will, and when I decide to either do something or conversely, stop doing something, that's it....i'm done, i've never had that "URGE" to keep doing it.

If this is truly a problem, there are plenty of help groups out there that have members who have kicked the habit and can help you.

[widgeon13]

Stopped 33 years ago, no big deal. I think peer pressure was the biggest obstacle.

If your friends can't handle it, then they aren't friends.

[targa911S]

i was bad. killin myself with booze, in the record biz, in the 70's, real mad men kinda stuff. quit cold turkey, did AA for the first two years. been sober since 1982. looking back it was pretty easy. just don't drink. the rest takes care of itself.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Going cold turkey isn't the worst thing in the world for a month. This will help you to start to reorganize your life around something other than alcohol.....

I went from drinking like a fish and doing much chemicals to nothing, nada, nill, back in 1982. Not one drop, puff, etc since. ....

Can't say I went to that extreme, but after 35 years of "work hard, play hard" and a few thousand rock 'n roll shows etc. I just decided to leave it all behind when I turned 50, but not all at once. Cigs (w/ a beer....ALWAYS)...cold turkey, still a few beers every now & again, but I can't (and don't want to) pound 'em like I used to. Just find a way that works for you Scott, and best of luck! Haven't read this whole thread, but you've got a LOT of help here....but you already know that

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

And my Dr. is after me to watch my blood sugar, loose some pounds, blah, blah, blah...

Since you have a whole range of behaviors you want to change, you might try Myfitness Pal. It helps you keep track of the stuff you eat and drink. It is amazingly effective to record and measure everything you eat and drink. It makes you think about everything you ingest and consciously make decisions about it, like, "OK, do I want a glass of wine right now, or a cookie, or do I want to skip them both and lose more weight?" It also has a social media function that lets you connect with other people who are using it that is a helpful motivator. I use it periodically and would probably use it more consistently if I took advantage of the social thing.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com

[vash]

I can stop anytime.

I have one beer a week. Okay. Maybe three on crazy weeks. It's just a drink for me.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[scottmandue]

I know I can walk away from drinking (see my above post about stopping drugs)... it is more a matter of the little boy in me resisting "being told" (by doctor and wife... who are suggesting I give up drinking).
Childish I know, but my family history is of bullheaded stubborn men who do not like to be told what to do. And I get the "cutting off my nose to spite my face" thing.

The other thing is the AA meetings, I like the people, really I do... great bunch of guys and gals... and I know it works for some people and has saved a lot of lives, but the whole thing seems dreadfully repetitive... 12 steps, over and over, pretty much they go over the first five chapters of the "big book" over and over (165 pages I think) repeating the serenity prayer (that I say several times a week, a great thought if you are a drunk or sober).
But people talking about doing that every day, some people doing multiple meeting a day 5 or 7 times a week. Just seems a little odd to me.

And don't want to be negative... but it was just three guys (two who were doctors I think) that got together in the 1930's and made this whole program up... not a lot of science behind it.

[pavulon]

Other than not hanging out with the drinking crowd, what is your downside to stopping?

AA can't be for everyone--some would argue that it is a cult. But many people need a substitute for their drinking and many just need support. Some may not need others help or a substitute. Only you can know what will work for you.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by aigel

The issue I see is your family history. You have to clean it up, otherwise you probably will be in trouble.

This. Diet and exercise are a big deal (though genetics can trump things). Moderate to heavy drinking typically is not good for you. Even light drinking can be problematic - depends on the person. Smoking is never good and is probably the biggest detriment to your health. While there are exceptions (Keith Richards comes to mind), the statistics are what they are.

I'm lucky that I have good genes, but even with that committing to regular exercise (swimming) has made a significant difference. As for the alcohol, I have a sip of wine about once a month. About 5 or 6 years ago I used to have a glass of wine a day but that's faded away.

You really don't need to drink booze. I'm in clubs/bars regularly playing gigs and have a soda (that's about the only time I drink soda - something else you should avoid). Works fine...

[vash]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I know I can walk away from drinking (see my above post about stopping drugs)... it is more a matter of the little boy in me resisting "being told" (by doctor and wife... who are suggesting I give up drinking).

Childish I know, but my family history is of bullheaded stubborn men who do not like to be told what to do. And I get the "cutting off my nose to spite my face" thing.



The other thing is the AA meetings, I like the people, really I do... great bunch of guys and gals... and I know it works for some people and has saved a lot of lives, but the whole thing seems dreadfully repetitive... 12 steps, over and over, pretty much they go over the first five chapters of the "big book" over and over (165 pages I think) repeating the serenity prayer (that I say several times a week, a great thought if you are a drunk or sober).

But people talking about doing that every day, some people doing multiple meeting a day 5 or 7 times a week. Just seems a little odd to me.



And don't want to be negative... but it was just three guys (two who were doctors I think) that got together in the 1930's and made this whole program up... not a lot of science behind it.

Understood.

What cut me back. Well it stopped me cold was my liver enzymes. My liver was sending out an SOS. I had to stop.

Now I drink occasionally. I drink so
Little it is funny what gets me drunk. Two beers will be a hangover.

My college days. Whoa. I was beer's BFF


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[1990C4S]

If you are focusing solely on alcohol then I think you are headed down the wrong path, presuming that the death of two close friends at an early age is what has caused you to examine your 'lifestyle'.

A non-sedentary lifestyle and 'all things in moderation' might be more appropriate than just giving up alcohol.

If there is a deeper issue you are skirting around, then perhaps both of the above would be in order.

[Evans, Marv]

If you can walk away from the drinking, do it. Prove to yourself you can and understand you will have a better life health wise and possibly emotionally. Rather than concentrate or dwell on your perceived stubbornness connected to what your wife & doctor are telling you, the important thing is to admit to yourself it's the best thing for you to do. I'm also a stubborn person though it has moderated with age. I found out I could give that up by not just thinking about being told what I should do by someone else, but to internalize the realization something is best for me and accept it on my own personal terms. Being stubborn and resistant to something you know is the course you should take because you feel you are being dictated to by other people is irrational when you really think about it.

[Don Ro]

I spent 3 days & 2 nights in the hospital back in April...congestive heart failure.
Could not get my breath when lying down...sat up for two sleepless nights in order to breath.
Went to the ER.
Left ventricle operating at 30%.
One of the first things they asked was, "How much alcohol do you consume?"
My lover was Vodka/Tonic...3 - 4 per night.
Now I rarely have one.
.
Cut down or die...your choice. Good luck!
PS I'm 69.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I found out I could give that up by not just thinking about being told what I should do by someone else, but to internalize the realization something is best for me and accept it on my own personal terms. Being stubborn and resistant to something you know is the course you should take because you feel you are being dictated to by other people is irrational when you really think about it.

Absolutely true! I think this is more annoying to me than anything else... the irrational "shoot myself in the foot" {just because I can} mentality I need to get over.
Perhaps being the last born of three boys and feeling that I have been ordered about by my family my whole life may have something to do with it. (Also irrational to be controlled by feelings of a family life I left over 30 years ago, however are we all not a product of our upbringing... perhaps that is another thread.)

For multiple examples of irrational behavior feel free to visit PARF