op here wrote:
I don't know why "Trying again" with a capital T stole my handle but I wish him all the best. :)
I am totally fvcked.
Trying to start again tomorrow.
My legs are shot, running uphill is a nightmare, I lost a race two weeks ago because I was too hungover.
I am tired of this. Seriously TIRED of this life.
I will stop tomorrow.
I didn't realize I did that. I was probably drunk when I picked the handle. I will change it to something else. Sorry about that.
Bump.
New to this thread. 5th day on the wagon. 3-6 beers or 3-4 glasses of wine EVERY night for as long as I can remember. Never drank before dinner, and usually never before 9pm. I haven't had any issues so far, aside from struggling to fall asleep. Feeling much better when my alarm clock goes off in the morning. I'm much more productive throughout the day, and most importantly, my self esteem is skyrocketing. Best decision I've ever made. No desire to go back.
Good for you--good luck and keep it up!
Still hanging in since 07.27.2014
OP here. Haven't had a dry day in about 7 weeks.
Family visit tonight so I can't drink. I am already freaking out (it's early evening here in Europe) and I would like to stop but then the weekend...
Help...
trying again wrote:
OP here. Haven't had a dry day in about 7 weeks.
Family visit tonight so I can't drink. I am already freaking out (it's early evening here in Europe) and I would like to stop but then the weekend...
Help...
Try not to worry about the weekend bro. Gotta take it bit by bit.
I made it past 12 months at the end of February. Still the best choice I’ve made in a long time. It’s sad to see you relapsed. If your trolling it’s sad your making a joke.
I made it 18 days without a drink and have just relapsed for 2
Gonna try again today
It's very difficult to escape from binge drinking habits
I started drinking in college. Joined a fraternity--you do the math. Continued drinking steadily through my 20's and mid 30's. The older I got, the more getting wasted messed me up, e.g. worse hangovers, more blackouts, erratic behavior, forgetting the stupid things I did, etc. I drank every night, either 10-12 beers, a half a fifth of vodka, a couple bottles of wine, or some equivalent. I'd turn things up on the weekends and when camping, on vacation, etc. Toward the end I found myself increasingly drinking higher % beers so I could get drunk more quickly. I'd pour my mixed drinks ridiculously stiff to accomplish the same.
I never got a DUI (deserved one, on a number of occasions) or did anything outrageously stupid, other than beat down my liver and body for the better part of 15 years. It definitely affected my relationship with my wife, who grew tired of my steady (and increasing) drinking and sometimes obnoxious drunk behavior. We had more than a few arguments about it. I'd slow down for a few days and then ramp right back up. Then we had kids, which understandably caused her to double down on her concerns.
A little over three years ago I woke up on Christmas morning with a horrible hangover. My kids got up and were doing the typical excited Christmas morning stuff. My wife went to take a shower. I stood in the kitchen and threw up in the sink--a bunch. I remember thinking "this is f#$%ing stupid." I should have been enjoying the moment with my family. Instead I was trying to keep it together. I was tired of being hungover all the time and being fat and lazy. I grew up pretty active and had always been svelte until I started drinking heavy and subsequently eating like crap. Most importantly, I was letting my wife down and I did not want to model this type of behavior for my kids. Thankfully I quit while they were still pretty little. And I definitely didn't want to have drinking and some related disease take me to an early grave.
I drew a line in the sand and never looked back. I worried if I would find out that I was addicted. I wondered what might happen transitioning from drinking being the centerpiece of every social occasion to not drinking at all. I have never once craved a drink or missed drinking. That was a relief. My friends don't care that I don't drink any more. If they did, they wouldn't be friends. We still have non-drinking stuff in common. I still occasionally go out to a bar with friends or family. It's pretty easy to just drink water or club soda or whatever.
The only slightly awkward part of it all was perhaps turning down drinks when I first dried up. But anyone with half a brain will understand the words "no thanks" and not question it, especially if they know you were a big drinker. Plus its not really any of their business unless you want it to be. Of course I told my buddies that I quit drinking. It was interesting to find out some of them were questioning their own drinking habits. Most have slowed down themselves.
Best of all is that I got active again and started running for the first time. Three years and appx. 5000 miles later, I'm loving life, setting PRs, and having a lot of fun. I still have my old friends and we have fun together, but I also have running buddies who I've shared some great experiences and road trips with. I dropped 70 lbs and am within 5 lbs of what I weighed in high school. 5% body fat. I've never been in this great of shape, even when I was a relatively fit teenager doing a lot of outdoor stuff.
I'll end with one piece of advice. You have to figure out what compels you drink in the first place, especially if you feel like it is a problem. For me--into my 30's when things were getting problematic--I realized it was my way of detaching, relieving stress, and not giving a f#$% about whatever was bothering me. Get drunk and don't give a rip! Perfect, but actually not. Running is now an outlet for that. When I'm stressed or worked up about something, I find that after a run I have cleared my mind and feel better.
Here's wishing the best to any of you who are struggling with drinking. If you want to make a change, do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Thank you guys.
redux, not trolling at all.
Managed to stay dry on Friday, drank on Saturday and started drinking now.
yousername - thank you.
Drunkard. - I hope you make it again! I haven't gone 18 days in two years...
Another anonymous poster - I am not in a state to write much (nor well). But your post has given me a few important things to think about.
"You have to figure out what compels you drink in the first place, especially if you feel like it is a problem." - I know what it is but I don't know how to deal with it... It has to do with the loss of a very close person.
Again, thank you all.
Another anonymous poster wrote:
I started drinking in college. Joined a fraternity--you do the math. Continued drinking steadily through my 20's and mid 30's. The older I got, the more getting wasted messed me up, e.g. worse hangovers, more blackouts, erratic behavior, forgetting the stupid things I did, etc. I drank every night, either 10-12 beers, a half a fifth of vodka, a couple bottles of wine, or some equivalent. I'd turn things up on the weekends and when camping, on vacation, etc. Toward the end I found myself increasingly drinking higher % beers so I could get drunk more quickly. I'd pour my mixed drinks ridiculously stiff to accomplish the same.
I never got a DUI (deserved one, on a number of occasions) or did anything outrageously stupid, other than beat down my liver and body for the better part of 15 years. It definitely affected my relationship with my wife, who grew tired of my steady (and increasing) drinking and sometimes obnoxious drunk behavior. We had more than a few arguments about it. I'd slow down for a few days and then ramp right back up. Then we had kids, which understandably caused her to double down on her concerns.
A little over three years ago I woke up on Christmas morning with a horrible hangover. My kids got up and were doing the typical excited Christmas morning stuff. My wife went to take a shower. I stood in the kitchen and threw up in the sink--a bunch. I remember thinking "this is f#$%ing stupid." I should have been enjoying the moment with my family. Instead I was trying to keep it together. I was tired of being hungover all the time and being fat and lazy. I grew up pretty active and had always been svelte until I started drinking heavy and subsequently eating like crap. Most importantly, I was letting my wife down and I did not want to model this type of behavior for my kids. Thankfully I quit while they were still pretty little. And I definitely didn't want to have drinking and some related disease take me to an early grave.
I drew a line in the sand and never looked back. I worried if I would find out that I was addicted. I wondered what might happen transitioning from drinking being the centerpiece of every social occasion to not drinking at all. I have never once craved a drink or missed drinking. That was a relief. My friends don't care that I don't drink any more. If they did, they wouldn't be friends. We still have non-drinking stuff in common. I still occasionally go out to a bar with friends or family. It's pretty easy to just drink water or club soda or whatever.
The only slightly awkward part of it all was perhaps turning down drinks when I first dried up. But anyone with half a brain will understand the words "no thanks" and not question it, especially if they know you were a big drinker. Plus its not really any of their business unless you want it to be. Of course I told my buddies that I quit drinking. It was interesting to find out some of them were questioning their own drinking habits. Most have slowed down themselves.
Best of all is that I got active again and started running for the first time. Three years and appx. 5000 miles later, I'm loving life, setting PRs, and having a lot of fun. I still have my old friends and we have fun together, but I also have running buddies who I've shared some great experiences and road trips with. I dropped 70 lbs and am within 5 lbs of what I weighed in high school. 5% body fat. I've never been in this great of shape, even when I was a relatively fit teenager doing a lot of outdoor stuff.
I'll end with one piece of advice. You have to figure out what compels you drink in the first place, especially if you feel like it is a problem. For me--into my 30's when things were getting problematic--I realized it was my way of detaching, relieving stress, and not giving a f#$% about whatever was bothering me. Get drunk and don't give a rip! Perfect, but actually not. Running is now an outlet for that. When I'm stressed or worked up about something, I find that after a run I have cleared my mind and feel better.
Here's wishing the best to any of you who are struggling with drinking. If you want to make a change, do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Great post. Thank you for sharing your story. Under the influence of alcohol as I'm typing this. But I appreciate your words.
trying again wrote:
Thank you guys.
redux, not trolling at all.
Managed to stay dry on Friday, drank on Saturday and started drinking now.
yousername - thank you.
Drunkard. - I hope you make it again! I haven't gone 18 days in two years...
Another anonymous poster - I am not in a state to write much (nor well). But your post has given me a few important things to think about.
"You have to figure out what compels you drink in the first place, especially if you feel like it is a problem." - I know what it is but I don't know how to deal with it... It has to do with the loss of a very close person.
Again, thank you all.
Helpful posts, thanks. Went six months then relapsed beginning of month, now starting over with 8 days behind me, including sober St Pats.. Sux.
Another aspect is located on http://livecustomwriting.com/blog/guide-to-the-most-beautiful-places-in-europe, so please mention them next time.
Gave it up for Lent and I’m sure I posted it before on LR.
Now that Lent is over my reason for not drinking is a big race this Spring. After that? I’ll find another excuse. I have family who seem to have a difficult relationship with alcohol. Thinking that will be my motivation...
I was in the 2-3 a weeknight category, and cracking open a few on weekend afternoons. Always chasing that buzz but I could never catch it after the first drink.
I’m done chasing.
Great thread.
how's everyone doing?
stick man wrote:
how's everyone doing?
Hi Jamin
stick man wrote:
how's everyone doing?
How are you doing?
stick man wrote:
how's everyone doing?
I'm at day 30. Previous record was 44. My motivation is breaking my streak and an important race in July. Have lost 10lbs. The first week is the hardest but it gets better after that. Also sleeping better...
Figuring it out wrote:
Gave it up for Lent and I’m sure I posted it before on LR.
Now that Lent is over my reason for not drinking is a big race this Spring. After that? I’ll find another excuse. I have family who seem to have a difficult relationship with alcohol. Thinking that will be my motivation...
I was in the 2-3 a weeknight category, and cracking open a few on weekend afternoons. Always chasing that buzz but I could never catch it after the first drink.
I’m done chasing.
Great thread.
Wtf is the point of drinking 3 beers on a weeknight and catching a baby buzz for an hoir or less? Sounds like a stupid way to get an upset stomach and not be able to run in the morning.
Trying again, the 2nd one wrote:
stick man wrote:
how's everyone doing?
I'm at day 30. Previous record was 44. My motivation is breaking my streak and an important race in July. Have lost 10lbs. The first week is the hardest but it gets better after that. Also sleeping better...
This is my 45th day. I broke my record! Feel lots better, running feels easier and should get to 60 days no problem. My blood pressure is back to normal as well.