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I gave up drink for lent and now I am hanging for a drink

  • 26-02-2015 9:30am
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭


    Anyone else done this?
    I was horrified to discover that the Sundays in Lent are not part of the 40 days.
    Thing is I thought it would be very easy because I don't drink much but 9:30 AM and I want a drink!


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,098 ✭✭✭MonkeyTennis


    Have a fizzy drink. Its possible you are just thirsty and your brain told you 'beer'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,127 ✭✭✭kjl


    I gave up drink in 2002 all I drink now is water.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    kidneyfan wrote: »
    Anyone else done this?
    I was horrified to discover that the Sundays in Lent are not part of the 40 days.
    Thing is I thought it would be very easy because I don't drink much but 9:30 AM and I want a drink!

    Two things.

    People usally use Paddies Day as an excuse to break lent, not every sunday during it.

    Its only been a week!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,022 ✭✭✭jamesbere


    Why do people give up stuff just for lent, can't they do it any other time of the year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    This whole giving up for lent thing is an awful load of nonsense, it's up their with new years resolutions. Have a drink when you want a drink. If you are giving up drink for lent, then you must think you have some issues with how much you drink. Lent is only a few months, what happens after it is over? Just deal with the issue properly before it gets worse. Lent won't miraculously fix things.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,737 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    The problem with 'giving stuff up' is that you then focus on it which makes you want it more. Go make a cuppa and try to put booze, either the drinking of or the giving up of, out of your mind.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,753 ✭✭✭✭Timberrrrrrrr


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    So you don't drink water or soft drinks?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,554 ✭✭✭bjork


    Have you considered counselling for alcoholism?


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,945 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    Yeah. Every single great piece of art, music, literature - all done by sober people.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,098 ✭✭✭MonkeyTennis


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations


    You're getting a prize for this


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,127 ✭✭✭kjl


    Have a fizzy drink. Its possible you are just thirsty and your brain told you 'beer'

    You know that fizzy drinks are just as bad as beer. They have way too much sugar. I really don't know how they are so popular.

    A few years back I didn't like drinking water and was always buying some sort of cordial to mix with it. But then one day I said I am going to try and force myself to like water. So I gave up everything else and just focused on drinking water. I drink about 4 liters a day and I absolutely LOVE it. I think it's the most refreshing thing you can do.

    I know that it's hard to make the switch but honestly after 2-3 weeks you will be glad you did.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,554 ✭✭✭valoren


    Craving alcohol?
    You'll take the drink and the drink will take you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,098 ✭✭✭MonkeyTennis


    Have I stepped into an alternate universe?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,153 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    bjork wrote: »
    Have you considered counselling for alcoholism?
    Feck that, it'll cost a fortune. Spend the money on d'beer !


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,554 ✭✭✭bjork


    The whole pint of lent is penance and hardship. It can be hard. Give it another shot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,295 ✭✭✭✭Duggy747


    This thread is making me thirsty.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Two weeks.

    The easiest time to stay away from the beer is when you've got your head in the toilet the next day.

    The hardest time is seven days later when that morning is a forgotten memory and you're back in party mood.

    And the seven days again after that you'll find yourself eating a huge takeaway to take your mind off the beer.

    After that though, it becomes remarkably easy to stay off the beer. I've done it for a month once; pretty inadvertant, sickness, training etc meant I had to keep away from it. Once the two week period was done, the cravings pretty much went away and I felt like I could carry on for ages without a beer.

    So keep going, push on through. The hardest part is the weekend. Arrange to go to the cinema on Friday and Saturday. Choose 10pm viewings and pre-pay for your tickets. That way you have to go, and by the time you come out of the cinema it'll be too late to go to the pub.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 430 ✭✭scream


    I did this for the last 3 years running and it got progressively more difficult each year. Not doing it anymore. I've done my time. Life's too short and too stressful. I know it's supposed to be hard but I was ready to kill last year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    Balls.

    The most wild and vivid stories I've ever had retold to me have come out of the mouths of drunks or those with sever hangovers.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭kidneyfan


    I haven't had a drink or anything. I am just surprised that I want one at all. I gave up crisps last year and it was very easy. It makes me realise how often I do drink.


  • Posts: 24,714 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I wanted to try give it up for lent but I would just fail within a few days so what was the point. Too much stuff on every weekend that involves drinking. Gave up chocolate, sweets and desserts instead which is easier but not easy either.

    Its a long long time since I went more than about 10 days without drinking.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,263 ✭✭✭Gongoozler


    I'm off drink too, not for the lent ****e, but because it and my emotions don't mix well.

    Been off it since new years, minus one weekend for my birthday. I do miss it. I miss having a glass of wine in the evening of a weekend, I miss having southern comfort, and the odd pint of cider. it's hard to not just have one, but one, I think, is the same as a bunch. When I read the op, I thought jaysus I'd love a southern comfort.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    seamus wrote: »
    Two weeks.

    The easiest time to stay away from the beer is when you've got your head in the toilet the next day.

    The hardest time is seven days later when that morning is a forgotten memory and you're back in party mood.

    And the seven days again after that you'll find yourself eating a huge takeaway to take your mind off the beer.

    After that though, it becomes remarkably easy to stay off the beer. I've done it for a month once; pretty inadvertant, sickness, training etc meant I had to keep away from it. Once the two week period was done, the cravings pretty much went away and I felt like I could carry on for ages without a beer.

    So keep going, push on through. The hardest part is the weekend. Arrange to go to the cinema on Friday and Saturday. Choose 10pm viewings and pre-pay for your tickets. That way you have to go, and by the time you come out of the cinema it'll be too late to go to the pub.

    Absolutely. When I'm training for a fight I go off it for 12 weeks. As you said, the first two weeks you get the cravings and as much of it is readjusting your conditioned social habits. Afterward you start to fill up the time with other, more rewarding stuff and you barely miss it at all. I always end up getting demented on fight night and afterward regret the fact I'm back to the same stupid routine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,554 ✭✭✭valoren


    I never experience a craving to drink. I can go weeks or months without it.
    It's more so that when I do have a drink, then it's never a case of having "Just the one".

    It's drink, drink, drink until all the drink is gone. Or drink until the money on me is gone.
    For example, if I bought a bottle of wine, I know I won't be satisifed with one glass, I'll drink the whole thing eventually consequences be damned. I would consider getting help for drinking, if for example, I drank the bottle of wine, just had to have more, and went out of my way to get more. That for me would be the line in the sand.

    The same can be said for me though of sweets, chocolate, crisps etc, anything which produces a burst of happy chemicals in my brain. I'll eat them when offered but I don't buy them because I want/crave them so to speak.

    The cravings you feel is your body/brain telling you that you need the booze as it is conditioned to it. Give it time and your body will right itself naturally.

    I quit the coffee for Lent and went through the brain fog/mild headache withdrawal. My kidneys were in pain last Friday and my lower back was aching badly, now I'm fine and caffeine free. The chemistry of my brain has righted itself is my best guess. The next time I have coffee, then it will have the effect it is supposed to have and not some habitual conditioned response from my daily intake.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    I had many years drinking and had a great time. Then it all went bad and I had a lot of bad times before realising I was an alcoholic. I managed to kick it a few years ago and am now happily sober and would not pick up a drink now if you offered me the winning Euromillions numbers. So I have a wide variety of experience of drinking and not drinking.

    Therefore I know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that this is one of the most inane statements I have ever heard anybody make.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    I had many years drinking and had a great time. Then it all went bad and I had a lot of bad times before realising I was an alcoholic. I managed to kick it a few years ago and am now happily sober and would not pick up a drink now if you offered me the winning Euromillions numbers. So I have a wide variety of experience of drinking and not drinking.

    Therefore I know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that this is one of the most inane statements I have ever heard anybody make.

    It wasn't an inane statement, I stand by it because it's completely correct


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    You've a face like a hamster. If people didn't drink you'd never get laid:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭crybaby


    kjl wrote: »
    You know that fizzy drinks are just as bad as beer. They have way too much sugar. I really don't know how they are so popular.
    .

    Yep just as bad as beer although I haven't heard of many people kill others due to the effects of a coke zero.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,687 ✭✭✭✭Penny Tration


    I had many years drinking and had a great time. Then it all went bad and I had a lot of bad times before realising I was an alcoholic. I managed to kick it a few years ago and am now happily sober and would not pick up a drink now if you offered me the winning Euromillions numbers. So I have a wide variety of experience of drinking and not drinking.

    Therefore I know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that this is one of the most inane statements I have ever heard anybody make.

    Fair play on the recovery :) hope it stays that way for you :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,598 ✭✭✭emeldc


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    One would have to assume you're a complete pisshead so :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    It wasn't an inane statement, I stand by it because it's completely correct

    Prove it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    Prove it.

    Better things to be doing friend. Living my life. You'll know that split second before death.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,098 ✭✭✭MonkeyTennis


    I call twaddle


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    Better things to be doing friend. Living my life. You'll know that split second before death.

    So in other words you made a ridiculous statement that shouldn't take more than five minutes to back up and now that you CAN'T back it up, you're using the old "oh I have a life, I'm not gonna spend it posting online" cop out.

    Good contribution.


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  • Posts: 24,714 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Better things to be doing friend. Living my life. You'll know that split second before death.

    Part of living your life is enjoying yourself and socialising and for me drinking is a vital part of that. The amount enjoyment I would have missed out on without drinking is frightening.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    So in other words you made a ridiculous statement that shouldn't take more than five minutes to back up and now that you CAN'T back it up, you're using the old "oh I have a life, I'm not gonna spend it posting online" cop out.

    Good contribution.

    Not can't, won't because you wouldn't be willing to listen.

    No point getting annoyed with me either, that certainly is less smart that the boozing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    Not can't, won't because you wouldn't be willing to listen.

    No point getting annoyed with me either, that certainly is less smart that the boozing

    Of course I'd be willing to listen. It's a discussion board, that's the whole point of it. I've challenged your statement, it's down to you to back it up, unless you're unable to, as seems to be the case.

    But the very fact that you've already (wrongly) concluded that I'm unreasonable ("wouldn't be willing to listen") and that I'm annoyed with you (which I'm not even slightly), not to mention the incredibly inappropriate "less smart than the boozing" comment - these things all seem to indicate that you're less interested in discussion than you are in throwing out unfounded statements and refusing to back them up when somebody calls you on them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    Of course I'd be willing to listen. It's a discussion board, that's the whole point of it. I've challenged your statement, it's down to you to back it up, unless you're unable to, as seems to be the case.

    But the very fact that you've already (wrongly) concluded that I'm unreasonable ("wouldn't be willing to listen") and that I'm annoyed with you (which I'm not even slightly), not to mention the incredibly inappropriate "less smart than the boozing" comment - these things all seem to indicate that you're less interested in discussion than you are in throwing out unfounded statements and refusing to back them up when somebody calls you on them.

    You are correct in that I am unwilling to discuss, I'm merely passing some knowledge I have.

    I don't think you are unreasonable but you are unwilling to accept this knowledge yet, most people aren't, but you will some day that I can promise you.

    Anyone can have water brought to them but they must drink themselves.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    You are correct in that I am unwilling to discuss

    Not really much point in being here then, is there?

    I don't think you are unreasonable

    You thought I was less than an hour ago. Are you backing down from that assertion too?
    I'm merely passing some knowledge I have.

    No. You're stating an opinion. Unless you can give a source for this knowledge? If you can't, it's not knowledge. It's an opinion.
    ...you are unwilling to accept this knowledge yet, most people aren't...

    And yet, there seems to be an awful lot more people disagreeing with you on this thread than agreeing with you.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    It wasn't an inane statement, I stand by it because it's completely correct

    then you yourself are inane.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,944 ✭✭✭fedor.2.


    Part of living your life is enjoying yourself and socialising and for me drinking is a vital part of that. The amount enjoyment I would have missed out on without drinking is frightening.



    Man, that's pretty sad. I'd bring in prohibition, if I could, until a time when people could actually handle what they consume. It's pathetic, the states some people get in.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,182 ✭✭✭Genghiz Cohen


    People who drink are incredibly stupid and have no imaginations

    I can't believe people reacted to this. It's the most poorly framed bait I've seen in some time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    I can thoroughly recommend a subscription to Modern Drunkard Magazine. It' bi-monthly periodical promoting the functional alcoholic's lifestyle.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    I can't believe people reacted to this. It's the most poorly framed bait I've seen in some time.

    Yeah I'm kinda surprised myself, just picked up a bottle of red cos it's Thursday.

    Am a big fan of the wolfblass range though should probably cut out midweek sauce.

    Sorry Steve carrell but you were getting a bit annoyed at least


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,514 ✭✭✭Cody montana


    I'm still off it since new years.

    *Smug face*


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭Steve_Carella


    Sorry Steve carrell but you were getting a bit annoyed at least

    Not even slightly. I come onto websites like this to discuss. And I take people at face value (unless it's really obviously a wind up), which I will continue to do. There's no shortage of people who WOULD agree with your original post as you phrased it.

    And I'm not still not convinced you didn't mean it. It seems far more likely that you meant it and you're just backing down.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,598 ✭✭✭emeldc


    Not even slightly. I come onto websites like this to discuss. And I take people at face value (unless it's really obviously a wind up), which I will continue to do. There's no shortage of people who WOULD agree with your original post as you phrased it.

    And I'm not still not convinced you didn't mean it. It seems far more likely that you meant it and you're just backing down.

    I'm with you there, I think "Ghengiz Cohen" did him a favour with a convenient get out clause.

    Anywho, I relax two or three evenings a week in my local and consume eight or ten pints in total for the week. Having said that I'm also off it for lent and TBH I'm enjoying the break! It becomes a bit habitual. I'm thinking I may stay off it a bit longer, maybe until my holidays in June.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    OK, guess I can't save face so


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,328 ✭✭✭conorh91


    I'm about to open a nice Rioja here OP.

    Taste the supple vanillas, the complex strawberry, the fleeting memories of a warm July in Pamplona ... not bad for eight quid.


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