[a fat guy]

Just before you stopped, was every night that you went out completely crap?

I've been thinking about giving up since St. Patrick's day since the drinking just isn't as fun as it used to be.

If I may be blatant for just a moment, I'm in a bit of a rut right now and hoping that not drinking will shake me out of it.

Honestly, everything is just crap and nothing seems to help. So I figure that doing something about it should improve things.

So to those who used to drink, did it get much better after you quit?

Edit: I've just read a few posts about some of you who gave it up and they've really inspired me into action already!

[realies]

Slowly for me every time I went drinking it was purely for the alcohol and not the social part or craic you can have in a pub,My hangovers got much worse and gradually my drinking was controlling me instead of me controlling it,when I stopped,never forget the day when I made the final decision.It was like a heavy burden being lifted from my shoulders as I knew for a long time my drinking was being reckless to me and my family & friends,For me my whole life changed dramatically and 100% positively,It was hard at the start but well worth it,My whole life financially,romantically,and loads of other positive aspects all came in to my life, and for the first time in a long time I could see things ina much clearer way,Best decision I ever made and am sorry I didn't make it earlier.Haven't had a drink in over three years now and I feel great ;-)

[hubba]

Before I stopped, drinking was no longer doing it for me at all. I was unhappy with the weekly amount I drank. And the times during the day/week I wasn't drinking, I wasn't happy yet the times I was in the act of drinking, I was tortured trying to control the amount and dreading hangovers (which had become unpredictable) so life was just one long miserable pre-occupation with alcohol. Boring, self absorbing and just a total waste of time, not to mention the physical and mental damage it was doing to me.

Since quitting, I have freed up my time and focus and and my life has changed a lot. I now have actual real hobbies, which progress, ie. I don't just do them some times and drop them for months - I am building on each day's experience, building ability and generally just enjoying life and my new skills which never really happened before. A certain mental strength and courage has appeared and life just seems a helluva lot easier. Possibilities have opened up, I feel I CAN do anything and WANT to try new stuff and embrace changes (change was a BIG no no back in the dark days, something which was feared and to be avoided at all costs).

I have confidence and consistency in my life now. Life is exciting, sweet, interesting, manageable and ENJOYING. And not something to be feared. I still encounter difficulties and have moods from time to time but they are surmountable and I don't panic when life throws me a curve ball.

My friends and family think I've lost the plot, of course, since they wouldn't have considered me a 'falling around the place drunk' so don't see why I felt the need or desire to quit but I just try to ignore the quizzical looks and comments. I'm loving life now and ain't changing it back to the old exhausting, anxiety/depression inducing, torturous (and expensive) way for anyone.

Go for it, fat guy!

[seanrose]

good luck fat boy

as hubba said life can be hard at times without alcohol however problems seem far more manageable and can be dealt with far better without the effects of alcohol on the mind,

i would be lying in my bed after a weekend drinking and even the fact that the house was untidy would play on my mind as i hadnt the energy or will to tidy it,would rather stay in bed and snooze all day,small things like that were hard to deal with

itl take a few months to notice the change in your body and mind and the important thing is find things to do and i found getting myself fit a great way to deal with staying away from alcohol.i found myself not even wanting to drink because of how fit i felt

[a fat guy]

Well guys, the last time I drank was Saturday night. Myself and a few friends were out to see the match (which turned out to be a whitewash anyway) and I drank some fizzy stuff as I hadn't plans to drink that night.

After 9 I started to drink and had 5 pints in total, but this was mainly due to me being a bit pissed off and the fact that everyone else was being much more talkative than myself.

Since then, I started this topic and I vow to give up drinking. Then I watched the following video (Do not worry about the title, it's all safe for work and is just about the psychological effects of online porn and instant gratification) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zif0_60b3WU

Which prompted me to give that up too and majorly cut down on playing video games. Now I feel absolutely amazing already and can't wait to go out on Saturday, purely because I won't be drinking. It's a strange feeling!

[kjl]

I never really liked who I was on alcohol, I was just this lanky bumbling moron. Towards the end of my drinking career I just stopped enjoying it.

Now 10 years later I have the best time when I go out. There was an adjustment period no doubt, but most of my friends would say I am the life of the party now.

I think 99% of people in this country have forgotten that it's possible to have fun with out being intoxicated.

[a fat guy]

Ended up heading over to a fiends house and playing with video omegle instead of going out, but it was still hilarious! Had to go home early to study for a test too.

I think it's as if people begin to associate alcohol with fun, hence why they drink so much on nights out.

I certainly know that I'd begin to think that more beer = more fun after a few pints myself...