This is something I have been contemplating for a while and it seems like lately I have been giving it more thought than usual. I thinking of giving up the booze.
Just to get things straight right off the bat, I am not an alcoholic, and I don’t have any chemical dependancy issues with the booze. But the problem seems, well, psychological?
The reason this choice has come along is that I am in dire need of a lifestyle change. I am no longer satisfied with the way my life is headed and I need to move in a new direction. When Shugart was describing the, “Strong-Fat Guy” in one of his articles I immediately realized that’s what i was (strong, relatively speaking…i realize there are may unbeliveable strong people on the T-Mag forums)and that I needed to get my shit together.
It seems like booze is everywhere in my life, even when I don’t partake in it. Family visits, barbeques, weddings. fishing, hanging out with your buds, etc. It would mean being the designated driver for the rest of my life. Would that make me some kind of outsider?
I guess what it would take is an experiment - a certain amount of time away from the drink, and gauge how much or how little my life revolves around it. 2-3 months?
I would be interested to know how many people don’t drink or have given up the drink on here and tell me thier stories. I’m thinkin’ It’s gonna have to happen.
Hey man, I think that it is a good choice, I drink, but only since recently. It’s an odd story that I won’t get into. But in my experience, nobody treated me differently when I didn’t drink, I was always accepted and many people respected my choice greatly.
The only people who tried to pressure me were the ones who thought I was being uppity, and they just aren’t people who I care to be around anyways.
I quit last December. I wouldn’t say that I was an alcoholic either but I did have 4-5 beers every day (more on the weekends). I thought for awhile it was a problem although I almost never got drunk, so last December I quit (I have to admit that God had alot to do with it because I had almost no urges to pick it back up again).
Anyway, it does seem like drinking is everywhere and actually I’m glad to not be a part of it, I suspect that the reason I’m glad not to be a part of it is the same reason most of the people here at T-nation are here, we don’t want to be like the average shmuck (not that drinking makes you average or a shmuck but it does seem like you are in the minority if you don’t drink).
Well best of luck sir, I will pray for your success in giving it up.
I quit over 20 years ago, in grad school, when the morning after 2-3 drinks with friends I realized that my workout was “off” by enough that it bothered me. I decided: “Hey! I need all the focus I can get; why mess it up with something that has no significant benefit?” Or words to that effect. And this was after friends had commented on how grad school had “improved Tim’s tolerance for alcohol.” Yeah, I was a pretty decent social drinker. But something about that morning’s workout made me think.
At a wedding toast, I sip the champagne (it’s bad luck not to drink after the toast), but that’s been about it for 20+ years. I don’t preach to anyone else about alcohol. I just don’t feel it helps me in any way.
I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. I gave up cigs about 2 years ago. My body and mind feel so much better since I quit smoking that I wonder how much better I would feel if I didn’t drink.
But as is with many people drinking is all around me.
It would be nice to cut out all those empty calories.
I did just have the worst hangover I’ve had in 2 or more years yesterday though.
[quote]HumanAnvil wrote:
Yea, I think that the fact that I am having difficulty letting go of the drink should be one of the main reasons that it might be important to quit.[/quote]
It could be a sign that you like to drink a bit too much.
I quit over two years ago - best decision I ever made. I still have fun at social events - watching drunk people make fools of themselves is hilarious, and there’s no hangover the next day. Do I miss it? I don’t miss the drunkeness. I was a big fan of microbrew beer so I do miss the taste of beer, but I could care less about mixed drinks, and I never really liked wine. I’ve replaced the taste enjoyment of beer with other foods.
I have yet to experience any problems or ostracism as a result of my choice to quit. I think most people realize that the decision to quit drinking can get into personal issues of alcoholism and “emotional problems” so they won’t ask you why you quit. If they do, the response is easy - just say that you’re taking cholesterol lowering medication, and since your doctor told you that these drugs can be hard on the liver, you’d rather add alcohol to the mix.
Don’t quit all by yourself or else the probability of a hardcore relapse will show it’s ugly ugly head. I know, it’s not the manly thing to do, to seek help, but don’t try and quit by yourself. Have someone you can talk to, go to meetings, seek religion or a higher power to communicate with. Which-ever you decide, please do yourself that favour and have a web of support ready and available before you begin the abstinence/controlled drinking process.
A few more things…
Allow yourself to fail, don’t beat yourself up if you decide to drink or you let your guard down and get plowed. Obviously you want to achieve your goal, but beating yourself up over a relapse is incredibly counterproductive.
If you drink, have a plan and stick to it. It’s not an easy thing to do initially, especially if the craving for the drink is strong. Allow yourself a three drink maximum, or alternate drinks with and withought alcohol, or set a time limit on when you choose to leave a function, bar, etc…
Take a “day by day” approach, looking at just one day isn’t as overwhelming as looking at a week, month, or a year of sobriety.
Realize it takes some time for your body to adjust to not having alcohol in your system and cravings might be evident. Know your cravings and realize your triggers that make you drink so you can plan for “high risk” times of your day/week.
Once again, don’t quit on your own, have a web support available, and not just a designated driver. You are the one who ultimately has to quit, it’s not the responsibility of anyone else. There is no magic wand that keeps the drink from your lips, it’s your own heart and mind that does. Use the tools provided, do some more research, and apply them. I hope and pray that you’ll be successful.
I used to drink an OBSCENE quantity of alcohol, but I “quit” about fifteen years ago. I put “quit” in quotes because I don’t really avoid alcohol; sometimes I like to have wine with dinner, sometimes I like to have a little Scotch before dinner, and I do enjoy the occasional brandy. It’s just that now, I do these things about every six weeks instead of every night.
I’ve never really had problems with it. The whole thing is just to be okay with not having a drink; realise that it doesn’t make you less of a man, and it doesn’t mean you’re not having fun, and you can have drinks when you want them instead of when you NEED them.
Other people don’t do well with this and have to go the all-or-nothing route. YMMV.
You don’t have to quit for life, you can drink more occasionally instead. I stop drinking in the winter while i’m bulking up. In the summer however, it’s nice to relax and have a few beers. Just don’t feel obligated to quit altogether.
I drank daily for years – all through college and beyond. Some days 2 or 3 beers, other days we’d close the bar after 5 or 6 pitchers. Gave it up 6 years ago, haven’t had more than 2 or 3 beers a year since.
I had to adjust my social life at first. Tried to avoid being in bars or parties where I might not know so many people and would to drink to feel more comfortable. After about 2 or 3 months it was cool. I quit wanting to drink.
Really helped my body fat to give up beer. Now, having a beer is a treat. And I won’t drink any old beer, it has to be a good microbrew like a Rogue Ale.
If it feels like it will be hard to do, you need to do it.
I think BradTGIF gave you some great advice. I’m only twenty years old but I now know that I’m an alcoholic. I have been sober for about 10 weeks.
Like most people, I had no idea what an alcoholic is. I’ve gotten into all kinds of legal trouble becaues of my drinking (DUIs, DIPs, Underage Possession of Alcohol). However, I always thought I had control. It was only after I educated myself about what an alcoholic is, that I realized I have a problem.
I could never have gotten sober on my own. It is tough man, and thats not just an excuse. If youre around it alot, youre gonna drink. Alot of people recognize alcoholism as a disease. I think you need to find ways to avoid anything that keeps you from being totally content with life. I’m not saying you should quit, because, if you can handle drinking, physically and psychologically, then drink. It’s boils down to knowing yourself.
You gotta find out what alcoholism is. You could just be a social drinker or you could be an alcoholic in denial. But it’s guaranteed that you’ll feel much better after staying away from the booze for a while.
I decided to cut back because of my diet. To me, I see it as a first step to being in really great shape…You know? Some day lookin like CT, is not gonna come by plowin beers at the bar with my boys! I actually found it pretty easy to stop. So I would say give it a shot! It can’t hurt anything, except your gut!
Another plus: I have alittle edge over the guys at the bar. While there slobbering and spittin’ beer breath into the faces of all the women. I swoop in lookin like a champ with all the right words! HEHE!
Whether or not you are an alchoholic is something that you need to decide for yourself, noone can tell you. The number of beers you drink has nothing to do with it. A much better sign is drinking at a time when sobriety was required. If you have ever done that it would be a sign. Alchoholism is a progressive incurable fatal disease. Just because you haven’t crossd that line today doesn’t mean you won’t tomorrow. I would emphatically suggest you check out some Open meetings of Alchoholics Anonymous. Open meetings Vs Closed meetings are for those who aren’t sure or those who meerly want to learn about the fellowship. One thing you’ll gain there is a circle of freinds who don’t drink, are supportive of your sobriety and don’t expose you to the temptation, which is something you won’t get being the designated driver for your drinking buddies. You’ll also learn that meerly staying sober is only the first step in recovery. There are more sober alchoholics than there are recovering alchoholics. The easiest way to stay sober is to take it “one day at a time”. Make it a daily goal,then try to string the days together. It’s not as overwelming as “I’ve got to do this for the rest of my life”. Above all else be Honest with yourself, Open minded and Willing to change.
I can see by the replies on this thread that there are some who might not be honest with us. You know who you are. I hope you give some thought to what I have written and are at least honest with yourselves.
I’ve been thinking about this myself lately. Whereas I don’t have a drinking problem in the traditional sense, nor do I NEED to have a drink, I drink more often than I would like to which I guess means it is an issue. I’ve decided that I won’t quit completely, but I’ll have the occasional wine with dinner if I’m out and occasionally a few beers (just every few weeks rather than every few days). I feel that often moderation is the best way to go rather then complete abstinence. That way you feel OK if you have a drink (or donut or whatever else you are cutting back on). Otherwise if you lapse you often think “Ok I’ve blown it!” and go on a full out binge. You also appreciate it more when you have a cold beer rather than it just being another part of breakfast
[quote]CoachMorris wrote:
fatsensei wrote:
I quit last December. I wouldn’t say that I was an alcoholic either but I did have 4-5 beers every day (more on the weekends).
4-5 beers a day + more on the weekends is, in my opinion, an alcoholic.[/quote]
it really depends on how big the guy is. if he’s huge, then 4-5 beers isn’t really much.
i think the best way to go is to quit. if you can do that, that just shows you how strong-willed you are. quitting something that so many people, including your friends, do is really hard to do. i doubt it will hinder your social life unless you have a lot of superficial friends. quitting drinking will also help you a lot physically because your liver doesn’t have to worry about all the toxins, and you don’t need to worry about all the fat you might gain from drinking too much
There is a real easy way to figure out if you have a drinking problem or not. Quit for 30 days. Do something else, go to the gym intead of the bar. Find something to do that doesn’t involve drinking. If you go 30 days no problem, then you probaby don’t have a problem (other than choices and priorities). If you can only go a couple of days or a week and you can’t take it any longer, then you probably have a problem. Check out a meeting or two, you may like it.
