Haven't touched a drop in...

tenchi-fan · 27-01-2011 6:33am #1

... 10 days

I'm abroad at the moment and try to get out as much as possible so I'll have a good group of friends away from home. I'm only working part-time in a temp job so drinking every day meant I was spending a lot more than I was earning, and my weight was hovering around the .. well i don't know the weight but my waist size is 36" compared to 32" when I was on a healthy streak 2 years ago.

So I've decided to quit. Last week I went to the pub with friends three times without drinking anything other than soft drinks.

My main motivation though is because I want to kick-start my life... I'm also trying to eat healthier and I intend on applying for a few more jobs this week

I know it's only been 10 days but I think i may be on to something

Sunnyisland · 27-01-2011 12:39pm

Good luck techie-fan,
One of the best ways of helping yourself is to get yourself a plan,as in restarting old hobbies or new interests,I dont no how much you were drinking so i cant really say much about whether going to pubs at the start is a good idea,But well done in going for it,and dont forget give yourself a chance.

tenchi-fan · 17-02-2011 12:43am

It's been one month.

I won't lie, my social life has taken a hit. Obviously I need to find more things to do with my time.

When I immediately quit drink I found I had very shaky feeling in the evening, somewhere between annoyed and frustrated.. so I started walking to and from work and that helped a lot.

I already lost loads of weight.. down to size 34 and shrinking. And I'm not as reluctant to buy things like groceries because I have more money left over.

Oh, and I got a new temp job with full-time hours and a lot more money.

So far so good

Wingman2010 · 22-02-2011 10:24pm

Nearly 14 months. The best new years resolution ever :-)

kjl · 10-04-2011 3:14pm

9 years

never suited me really. Still like the company of drunk people.

Sunnyisland · 10-04-2011 3:53pm

9 years alcohol free thats great, Any chance of shaing your journey with all the ups & downs that it brings.We can all learn something from each other, Thanks.

beagle001 · 10-04-2011 4:56pm

Was 100 days off it until yesterday,said I would have just a few cans but as we all know that turned into a 5am bender.
Feel dreadful today,have gone 2years before and it was probably my most productive couple if years.
I am firmly committed to remaining off it in Ireland but would someday like to say I can have a drink on holiday.
Not sure if this is possible as when I say that it never happens and I can't say no to a session.
Reckon total abstinence is what's called for and back on the wagon now it's just not worth the crap feeling the next day.

Bassfish · 10-04-2011 5:07pm

Off it five and a half weeks (day 37). Longest stretch since I was 17 and with everything else i have going on, i really haven't missed it much.

Sunnyisland · 10-04-2011 5:12pm

Keep going bassfish its so worth it,

beagle001 start again you no what you have to do,maybe for you (as it certainaly is not a maybe for me) you can drink in moderation or have social drinks later on, only you will know.

beagle001 · 10-04-2011 5:31pm

Cheers realies,
No I have tried the moderate drinking in the past but once that second pint hits I can't get enough of them.
I am just being nostalgic to the old times drinking at a teekee bar on holiday or by the pool.
It's a vicious cycle you could go 5 times moderately drinking but then the one time you overdo it it's back to square one.
I think I might just go the whole Hogg,wife is cool about it and that's a big help.
Too many great things in life to do and it's better to try and succeed with this as it's such negative feeling being hungover.

jmx009 · 10-04-2011 5:42pm

Havent had any alcohol for 25 days now.
I am thinking of staying away from alcohol till easter sunday. Its not hard for me at all,probably its because i was only a social drinker.

Econoline Van · 10-04-2011 8:21pm

28 days for me. Best thing I ever did. The amount of positive things that come from giving up regular drinking is unreal.
Going to do another month and then make some decisions.

Lapin · 11-04-2011 8:52pm

5 weeks this evening !

One more week and I'll beat my own record (set 16 years ago) ! And that was only because I was ill at the time.

Don't miss it at all tbh. Very surprised by this.

I still go to the pub so I'm not missing out on a social life.
This surprises me even more as the thought of spending an evening in the pub without having a drink was alien to me up to now.

I buy my own drink (coffee/Ballygowan) and no longer get involved in rounds. If I was boozin, a night out meant kissing goodbye to €50 at the very least.

Last Friday I had a great night out for less than a tenner. AND remembered it all the following day.

There's also a great feeling of freedom, knowing that I can leave whenever I want. Knowing that I'm not going to be there till closing time and getting two or three in just before last orders. Then hoping we'll get one for the road or even better still - a lock in !

Of course I could have left the pub when I was drinking too - Nobody was forcing me to stay only myself. But it never happened, unless I left to go to another pub.

It can be amusing watching my friends get progressively more drunk as the evening passes - but only up to a point. When their normal conversation turns into gibberish, I usually reach for my coat. Nothing against what they might be saying - I'm just not tuned in.
It also serves as a reminder of the kind of gibberish I must have been talking when I was drinking. And that in itself is an incentive to stay on the dry.

Some of my friends drink far more than they should as well but thats their business. Alcoholics are often said to be very selfish. Putting drink before family and friends etc... I was certainly very selfish in this regard. Ironically I'm now putting myself first for different reasons. My friends are still my friends and always will be, but I have to watch out for myself.

I would have liked if one or two of them joined me in giving it up, even for a couple of weeks. Not just for back up and support (probably selfish too), but because I am genuinely concerned about one of them in particular.
But in the last 5 weeks I've come to appreciate how true it is when people say "You have to want to do it for yourself".

There have been moments when I get a feeling of smugness about being in control of myself while others around me are stumbling and slurring their words. I don't do smug and it isn't my intention to feel that way - But I don't feel the least bit guilty about it either.

Sorry for the long post but its good to be able to say this to someone.

Wingman2010 · 02-05-2011 1:41pm

15 months today :-)

I couldn't be happier!

Sunnyisland · 02-05-2011 5:24pm

Well done wingman, its a great feeling isn't it.

Wingman2010 · 02-05-2011 5:49pm

It's a great feeling.

I'd love to encourage more young people to knock it on the head if they really want to do it! I still go out and all my mates respect my decision not to drink now though it took time for them to come around.

The major thing for me is I took up a new hobbie which I love; cycling. The last week alone I have cycled over 200k's. So basically my point is anyone can do it; just try and find a new hobbie that works for you and keep the faith!

Im Only 71Kg · 02-05-2011 5:56pm

3 years 4 months. dont miss it at all..saved nearly 10K too.

Forest Fire · 04-05-2011 2:21pm

My social life revolves around drink and I'm getting really tired of it. I've befriended drinkers as that's what I was into. Coming off it is tough as who do you talk to? where do you go to wind down and relax? Everyone goes to the pub in this country. Giving up is like looking down the barrel of loneliness and social exclusion, turning my back on life-long pals, staying in with the wife and kids and
being 'good'.
I don't think I am an alcoholic...yet...but don't particularly want to end up as one. Continuing on drinking 4/5 nights a week and contiually rising will only lead to one unhappy ending!
Any tips out there?
FF

Kojak · 04-05-2011 2:23pm

Haven't touched drink in nearly 4 and a half years.

Just stopped one day for no reason, and then never started again.

Forest Fire · 04-05-2011 2:33pm

Lucky you Kojak.
I really admire that.
I have watched close family members try and try again.
At least they are trying.
Why should I criticise them for failure when I'm at it myself.
Well done.

Forest Fire · 12-05-2011 10:59am

It's funny, I had a few drinks at the weekend, at home but really didn't enjoy them much. I just think about the nervous stressed feeling I get the next day before drinking a drop and this puts me off starting. I just hope to remember this feeling all the time. After 2 weeks going very light, I'm feeling great, looking much better(vain as I am), and appreciating the rest of my life more. Avoiding my life long pals is tough though but family is more important eh?

Crystalset · 12-05-2011 7:48pm

I'm not being critical but time and again I read of people having a 'few drinks'.
Does this mean 3 bottles of beer or 3 pints of premium lager or maybe 3x3 pints? I suspect most drinkers have have a more precise idea of their intake.

Autosport · 26-05-2011 11:53pm

Havent had a drink in over 7 years, dont miss and doubt i'll ever touch a drop again.

boogeyman · 27-05-2011 5:15pm

I'm toying with the idea of giving up the drink for good. It's 4 weeks now since I drank (albeit only 2 beers) and before that it could have been another month...

When I was in college I could have a few beers most nights and a good session twice a week but bit by bit, little by little I started to rethink things. I would get very bad hangovers and most of the next day would be a write-off. I basically thought about what I was giving up in order to get drunk...which was a day of my time recovering not to mind all the cash!:(

So I started reducing the amount I drank. When in a bar I would enjoy a few pints but when we moved onto a club I stopped drinking. No shots, no bottles...I would switch to diet coke etc. What I found was by the time I was going home after the club I was completely sober and could get up the next morning without any fuss and go off and enjoy the day!

I did this for 6 months or more and now I find I drink very little. I basically have a pint for the sake of not feeling left out. Or I might have 2 or 3 bottles and sup them slowly all night.

Not only does this save lots of money but it gives me more time, cos I'm not wasting a day of my life to a hangover. Perhaps I'll stay off the drink for good or I may have a beer Saturday night - but I definitely won't be going back to that crazy sort of drinking which had me killed the next day.

The feeling of waking up fresh and being able to get up and enjoy life is too good to give up for that.:cool:

DoubleBogey · 30-05-2011 10:15am

2 years. Overall it's been very positive. Has had its downside too. Social life has taken a knock but at the same time it made me realize my "friends" were not real friends. They were just drinking buddies. When I look back now my life was so pathetic. Everything, absolutely everything was connected to drink. Sad.

MonkeyTennis · 30-05-2011 10:22am

Just a month but Ive done more in one month than in the last 2 years. My social life has improved cos I go out a lot more knowing I can drive home

derealbadger · 06-06-2011 4:06pm

just gone 2 years on the 20th of may

crimsonfire · 16-06-2011 1:00am

Just over a year now. After a few months you hardly miss it. Once in a while you get the yearning to have a few but the benefits far outweigh the downsides. The best thing is it forces you to go out and find new stuff to do. I'm worried sometimes that I come across a bit pretentious though with all the unusual interests and arty farty stuff I find myself attracted to now so gotta watch out for that too

four18 · 18-06-2011 8:56am

18 weeks and 2 days. I was off it for 7 years before and spent the next 5 years trying to stop again.

oranbhoy67 · 19-06-2011 2:04am

16 months .. i still go out quite often but find it boring now tbh..had my wild teens & twenties & have to laugh when someone tells me to have a beer & not be boring.. i tell them i wish they had some CCTV to watch of me when i was drinking they would be glad i was sober..usually shuts them up... i cant & i dont regret the good & bad times i had drinking,, just knew when the bad days were far outnumbering the good that it was time to give it up..common sense really though it was still very hard..... my live has improved in so many ways since..its not perfect or as close to perfect as id like it to be... but its getting there

k4kate · 15-08-2011 4:01pm

18 days. Surprising myself. Have been off it for longer (6 weeks) but never been off it for as long while still going out at the weekend. 3 weekends now have been to pub and still had no drink. Know it's not as long as a lot of you guys but am feeling really pleased with myself.:)

L.Jenkins · 15-08-2011 8:47pm

Been off the beer since the 20th of December 2008

Much happier without it.

Sunnyisland · 16-08-2011 8:16am

Since January 13th 2009 I haven't had a drink :-)

Sunnyisland · 16-08-2011 8:18am

Autosport wrote: »

Haven't had a drink in over 7 years, don't miss and doubt i'll ever touch a drop again.

Seven years that's brilliant, maybe you could share how you achieved it

Wingman2010 · 17-08-2011 6:56pm

k4kate wrote: »

18 days. Surprising myself. Have been off it for longer (6 weeks) but never been off it for as long while still going out at the weekend. 3 weekends now have been to pub and still had no drink. Know it's not as long as a lot of you guys but am feeling really pleased with myself.:)

Well done. I love hearing these stories. I gave it up around 20 months ago. Best decision I ever mad! Even though some people think there is some big reason I don't drink! I guess its because I'm 26 year old in Ireland and don't drink. Would recommend it to everyone. I love sobriety :-)

k4kate · 17-08-2011 9:29pm

Wingman2010 wrote: »

Well done. I love hearing these stories. I gave it up around 20 months ago. Best decision I ever mad! Even though some people think there is some big reason I don't drink! I guess its because I'm 26 year old in Ireland and don't drink. Would recommend it to everyone. I love sobriety :-)

The reaction I am getting from people when I say I am not drinking is to ask am I ok and is there a health reason. As if feeling better is not health reason enough. Does it get harder or easier. I had a shaky time tonight when I had dinner in a pub and found I really wanted the drink. Took me by surprise and made me nervous of weekend approaching

Autosport · 17-08-2011 11:55pm

realies wrote: »

Seven years that's brilliant, maybe you could share how you achieved it

For me the main reason I gave it up was I live in the countryside and it cost too much on a nite out between taxi's, drink, food etc. I decided I wasnt paying 50euro for a taxi home when I could just drive myself.

Now people especially Irish think it's strange that I dont drink and i've had people try and force me to drink and I just tell them I dont drink and sometimes i've had to say i'm a recovering alcoholic which i dont like to use but felt i had no choice

Sunnyisland · 18-08-2011 9:00pm

k4kate wrote: »

The reaction I am getting from people when I say I am not drinking is to ask am I ok and is there a health reason. As if feeling better is not health reason enough. Does it get harder or easier. I had a shaky time tonight when I had dinner in a pub and found I really wanted the drink. Took me by surprise and made me nervous of weekend approaching

Hi k4kate As its still early in your journey cravings will be popping out at the most unusual times & places Try not to make such catastrophic predictions about your cravings, like “there’s no way I can stand this, so I might as well just drink and get it over with”, “I keep having cravings, so I must be an alcoholic, I can’t beat this…” etc. Cravings usually subside fairly quickly anyway, so just ride it out if need be also if i may be so bold to say,Putting temptation right in your face as in eating your dinner in pubs is imo a bit risky,would you not try some nice restaurants that are around you as i am sure there are many.:)

k4kate · 18-08-2011 9:11pm

realies wrote: »

Hi k4kate As its still early in your journey cravings will be popping out at the most unusual times & places Try not to make such catastrophic predictions about your cravings, like “there’s no way I can stand this, so I might as well just drink and get it over with”, “I keep having cravings, so I must be an alcoholic, I can’t beat this…” etc. Cravings usually subside fairly quickly anyway, so just ride it out if need be also if i may be so bold to say,Putting temptation right in your face as in eating your dinner in pubs is imo a bit risky,would you not try some nice restaurants that are around you as i am sure there are many.:)

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to answer that. Be so bold as to say anything you like, I need all the suggestions and hints I can get.

Marcus_Crassus · 18-08-2011 9:16pm

Been off the drink since April 1st 2011.

I know that's not a long time, but I honestly couldn't be happier. I have heard it mentioned in this thread, but I, too, have seen a drop in my social life. It seems like most things in this country revolve around drink, but I have definitely broadened my horizons and have looked outside my usual comfortable zone, which is great.

I am only 22 years old so I feel like my social life should be taking this sort of hit, because most young people are mad for their nights out etc. But it really never was for me, and I am glad I finally gave up. I am being true to who I really am now, I suppose.

As I said, I couldn't be happier.

k4kate · 19-08-2011 8:37am

Marcus_Crassus wrote: »

Been off the drink since April 1st 2011.

I know that's not a long time, but I honestly couldn't be happier. I have heard it mentioned in this thread, but I, too, have seen a drop in my social life. It seems like most things in this country revolve around drink, but I have definitely broadened my horizons and have looked outside my usual comfortable zone, which is great.

I am only 22 years old so I feel like my social life should be taking this sort of hit, because most young people are mad for their nights out etc. But it really never was for me, and I am glad I finally gave up. I am being true to who I really am now, I suppose.

As I said, I couldn't be happier.

I think you are great to not drink for so long. It must be a lot harder being male and at such a young age.

Marcus_Crassus · 19-08-2011 4:52pm

Thanks very much k4kate!

Yeah, it's tough sometimes, but I am happy so that's what matters

.

Good luck with your journey!

cue · 19-08-2011 6:39pm

Last drink or mood altering substance was in Feb 1998. Like the man said, if I knew that was going to be my last drink I would have had two

Can't believe it myself sometimes.

DanTheMan91 · 19-08-2011 7:56pm

I haven't touched a drink in about 2 weeks, I only drink maybe once a month, I think that is good for a 19 year old considering my friends drink twice a week! I have no major reason as to not drink, but I hate hangovers, and my father does not drink at all, so maybe that has something to do with it.

It's great waking up without a hangover, logging on to facebook and seeing all the "I'm dying" comments. And it helps in soccer too, not having a "beer belly"

.

Blondie919 · 19-08-2011 10:17pm

I haven't had a drink in two and a half years. It was the best decision I ever made to stop drinking. Life is so much better without alcohol. I spent 21 years of my life drinking and it wasn't very nice for most of that time. But I have learned a lot about myself in the last 30 months and I know now for a fact that I am a better man. I have made a lot of changes to my life but they are all changes for the better. I have only one regret, and that is I wish I had quit drinking earlier.

alcomoholic · 19-08-2011 10:26pm

fair play to each and every one of you you have a strength that many people cannot find. i myself have been trying to give up for a long time but alas the temptation is too much, ive been reliant on alcohol for two long, six cans at least every day for the last 5 years. unfortunately i just am too far gone to come back at this stage, but fair play to the rest of you all, i hope someday i can find that strength.

Sunnyisland · 19-08-2011 10:53pm

alcomoholic wrote: »

fair play to each and every one of you you have a strength that many people cannot find. i myself have been trying to give up for a long time but alas the temptation is too much, ive been reliant on alcohol for two long, six cans at least every day for the last 5 years. unfortunately i just am too far gone to come back at this stage, but fair play to the rest of you all, i hope someday i can find that strength.

alcomoholic For years I struggled with alcohol and denied my addiction. I did that all by myself. I was SHOCKED when I got to when i stopped, and discovered that all of us seem to have exactly those same thoughts!!! Who knew!!!,sure i cant stop,its to late for me, Remembering that experience serves to remind me that I am NOT different. I am NOT alone. If other people can manage to stay sober despite that mind chatter and all the other triggers to drink, then I can do it too.

So so can you

its always our choice.

dylbert · 20-08-2011 4:13pm

.... nearly 3 months, stopped drinking cause I'm training for the marathon and to be honest I don't really miss it, I feel allot healthier (body and mind), my bank account is allot healthier and no more hangovers. You really notice how much of a grip drink has on this country when your not drinking.

seanrose · 02-09-2011 9:48am

thought id drop a reply as things seem to have gone quiet in this forum.

after doing a 26 day stint and having one weekend im currently on 26 days again.i know il do 30 days but my birthday is coming up in the middle of the month so i may take a drink then,hopefully in modernation because if i dont its time to give it up

I feel so much in control of my life now for the first time in a long time and feel stronger now to be able to cope with anything thrown at me.friends have started to accept that i can go into a pub and sit with them and have a mineral and chat,but its just not the same anymore,even if i was drinking i dont think i feel the same,theres just no craic anymore,i have a lot of friends on short weeks work and dole etc and they have no money

i have never felt as fit and healthy and feel that i am more outgoing now that i hardly drink.

Sunnyisland · 02-09-2011 6:45pm

Well done seanrose, good for you.

The reason its so quite here now is that your not allowed post what we just posted :-)

k4kate · 03-09-2011 9:33am

Lasted 29 days and then got an awful toothache and drank to help with the pain. Am annoyed with myself now cos i know the toothache (though true) was just an excuse. Will have to try again

Haven't touched a drop in...

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