re: Dry 2023

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but know total abstinence won’t work

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Why?

I quit for months at a time when working turnaround. To be honest it has never made me feel any better.
After reading this thread it’s obvious it help folks to quit. It just never really makes a difference to me. I’m 52 years old.

I wear a Garmin Fenix 6 watch almost always. It tracks my movements and heart rate. I stopped drinking January 1st this year. I was not a heavy drinker, 2-4 drinks on Friday and Saturday was about it. I am an extremely active 49 yr old male.

Here is what it has done for my sleep. It assigns a sleep score based on heart rate and movement.


Here is what it has done for my stress which is measured by heart rate variability.



All real data, not feelings. I look at this and tell myself I may just be done with drinking.

I think this is what a lot of people need to see to be convinced. People think they are fine the next day after 1-2 drinks, and maybe they can function and even perform at an above average level, but there are little things that slip through for anyone that is not in an extremely small minority. Little off balance in the kitchen. Drop a pen when you go to pick it up. A little more irritable in the evening, Very small things that may not even register for some people.

Made it to March still dry. I still get a craving once every 10 days or so.

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I still get cravings too, and I have several nice bottles of bourbon in the house that were given to me as Christmas gifts. It was fairly easy to break the habit of having some during the week, it is still the Friday nights where I have to put my mind somewhere else. I've been doing an exercise program on my Peloton that has one longer endurance ride each week, and I try to save that for Friday night or Saturday morning. It keeps me honest. If I know I'm going to be on there for 75-90 minutes, the only thing I'm drinking is water or adding some electrolyte tabs. Whether or not I do it on Friday night or Saturday morning. The last thing I want is to get started on that not feeling 100%.

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That's a great strategy. I do something similar. Instead of going to the grocery store on Saturday night, I always go 6 AM Sunday morning. It works twofold. I know if I drink on Saturday, I'm not going to the grocery store so it keeps me from drinking, and it also keeps me from messing up my sleep schedule.

I am similar, on weekend mornings I do a big run or bike ride or go snowboarding. I know it will be less than ideal if I didnt sleep well the night before.

I don't get cravings for booze. I still have all my bourbons and cellar beers in the house. Wife and friends still drink. When i want to indulge in something I just get high which leads to the munchies at worst but no hangover.

I thought the hardest part was going to be abstaining when I am bored and home. I love a beer while grilling, a glass of wine on the porch, wine with dinner, a bourbon drink while walking the dog (usually all of the above in an evening). But I can devise distractions to get through not drinking at home. It is the social drinking I am having more difficulty with. Just since the beginning of Lent, I've been to a family funeral, a birthday party, a birthday dinner, 4 lunches or dinners at restaurants, and being out of town and staying with friends who drink every night and love to share craft beers with me. I have not drunken any alcohol, but it wears on me to constantly be in situations where I am saying no. Makes me realize how much of my social life is lubricated by alcohol.

The last day I drank was Jan. 2, the LSU bowl game when Brian Kelly sucked Drew Brees’ soul straight from his body.

I’ve really made a conscious effort to get healthy this year and haven’t looked back since. I don’t miss drinking and I honestly don’t know when’s the next time I’m going to have a drink. My wife and I had our 3rd daughter last year on November 30, and I needed to get my act together to be the best dad I could for my three girls. I have a rediscovered verve and unbound energy now. Probably dropped about 40 or so pounds in two months so far.

Nice work! Keep going.

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Got a feeling it was like throwing a chair off the titanic but it's a great start.

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Not exactly, but when you make as big of drastic changes as I did, it’s gonna happen.