Quitting drinking

I have a craving for a cold one, similar to chips or sweets, so enjoy one maybe two. None taste as good as the first one. Not sure if I have a drinking problem, since don’t see myself as ever being able to go without. Maybe same reason, I could never be vegetarian or vegan. I just don’t like absolutes, since that would stress me out.

I have a friend that only puts a beer or two in the fridge, so all he can drink is what is cold. Guess maybe whiskey is the answer to that for some.

I have followed this thread loosely over the years when it pops up. I just hit 1000 days sober today. The funny thing is I doubt I would have noticed if it wasn't for this app I pledge to each morning out of habit. It is crazy how time flies and how much can change without booze dominating your life. To those of you out there that are struggling know that it does get easier with time and quitting is possible even for the most degenerate boozers (like me!)

Good luck, stay strong

I’m just shy of 11 months no booze. I still miss the social aspect of it and being more extroverted after 2-3 drinks, but don’t miss anything else.

I still have dreams that I fall back into drinking almost once a week. I don’t go to AA, but I know it helps many.

Nothing wrong with moderate drinking, but I can’t do that.

Good luck to those that want to stop. It really isn’t that hard once you get a couple months in. The first 2 days are the worst, so make it 48 hours and it gets easier every day.

Day 1 again here. Hoping to keep it going. Pandemic, minimal racing & working from home made it way too easy to drink 5 nights a week.

I don't drink outside of social occasions and even then infrequently. Had a moment in Milwaukee at Brothers (huge bar, packed always) where I was absolutely blasted and I looked around at the probably 500 people who were also plastered and realized all of us were dumping poison down our throats.

Struck me as really weird, a little disturbing, and entirely out of the blue. I felt off the rest of the night and still can't shake that feeling whenever I drink. It was almost an out of body experience that I can't quite put into words.

Best of luck in your sobriety, one day at a time

What's the best way to detox outside of medical intervention?

I'm not too bad but the sickness scares me after the bingeing

I don't want medics cause theres insurance implications

I'm thinking just sip alcohol for a few days ?

this is a serious medical problem that requires medical intervention. go to a detox unit at a hospital or clinic and do it right. the insurance implications are minor compared to the seriousness of doing this right and the need to actually stop drinking. this is absolutely 100% required if you are taking Xanax or any other Benzos (and opiates I'd include here also).

or, if you feel like you're not going into medical crisis mode by stopping and you just feel like sh*t, go to local AA meetings a few times a day and ask around for what they think you should do. they'll know how to handle the situation.

If you’re not too bad, you should be able to wind it down in 48 hours. Cut your drinks in half day 1 and then a quarter day 2. Maybe take some NyQuil or THC if you have it to help you sleep.

Day 3, do one of those IV places, they have some good vitamin mixes and also things to help the stomach. Day 4 do some sauna or sweating of some kind followed by plenty of hydration. Then get back to light exercise on day 5 if not sooner.

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical expert, and you should go see one, but I kind of went through a similar episode the last time I drank (15 months ago). What worked for me may not work for you.

Sorry ya to clarify I'm a binge drinker so used to stopping suddenly

The sickness is hard though lately after quitting it's unbearable

So I might wind it down slowly this time with a few beers rather than cold turkey

Absolute legendary LR thread. Found it at the beginning of November and it inspired me to quit drinking entirely. Haven't had a drop since Halloween and feel incredible - down 5 lbs, no hangovers, and a few extra bucks in my wallet. Nearly five weeks of beautiful peaceful sleep. Wouldn't be shocked if my 5k PR is now down 20-30sec as well. If the sidewalks and streets weren't frozen I'd be doing one tomorrow.

I wasn't a stereotypical blackout binge drinker, but was still drinking more than I should have been (4-5 strong 8-10% ABV beers, twice a week). That's thousands of empty calories and two sh*tty nights of sleep.

Whoever says LR is trash can get bent. This post changed my life.

Giving it another go. Not easy.

You posted this 8 years ago. Still sober?

I stopped drinking on February 8th 2024, 56 days ago. I have since run 507 miles, and my Runallyse VO2max estimated fitness (for whatever that may be worth) has increased by 6 points. When I first quit, I had trouble running 2 miles at barely under 10 min/mile. Now my easy pace (128 - 135 bpm) is between 8:20 and 8:40 / mile.

Best damn thing I have ever done was quitting that stuff. I'm signed up for the Mesa marathon on February 8, 2025, and I'm very curious to see what my fitness looks like by then. Oh yeah, I also no longer think about killing myself, so that is a nice side effect...

Awesome stories here! Very uplifting to read about the positive changes people have made. For those still struggling hang in there and keep pushing forward.

I am not a totally sober person, however I have had a change in my views on my personal drinking this year. My drinking was usually maybe once or twice a week, nothing crazy, however this year I have started focusing on my fitness as a top priority. By doing this, I have found my mindset prioritizes things that will help me improve my fitness: going to the gym more often, running, stretching/recovering, eating better, not drinking, and sleeping more.

My only advice to those seeking a way to stop would be to find something you can fill the time with instead of drinking. I know people get used to drinking after work or going to a bar regularly. Find a new place and activity to fill the time. Join a running club, go to the gym, and in general explore new hobbies. Also, be sure to keep alcohol out of the house if it will be a problem for you.

Great thread, good to see it bumped, although it's usually not for great reasons. Update on my post from above from 8+ years ago. I lasted about 30 days. Back in 2016 is also about when I stopped running with any regularity. So the drinking only worsened, but I at least was stable with it. Meaning still no serious repercussions with relationships, career wise or legally. Just continued damage to my health.

Then COVID hit, and that pushed me from a every night drinker, to an every day and night drinker. And within a few months without completely realizing it, I became physically addicted. When I say without realizing it, I mean it. I had no idea how bad it got. I took one morning off drinking to drive the family to the cabin and spent the afternoon working outside. I got a bit lightheaded and told them I wanted to lay down for a minute. Apparently I got up, walked outside, and down a gravel road. Luckily I turned right on the road, towards town a few miles away. Had I turned left I would have entered a 40,000 acre wildlife refuge. So they were able to find me in the ditch unconscious about an hour later.

I then spent 8 days in two hospitals with multiple grand mal seizures from withdrawal. That sobered me up for about 30 days but the depression was too much from all I'd put myself through and I was back at it. Eventually I stopped eating and could only drink. So I admitted myself to rehab and spent a month there in May of '21. I stayed sober after that for about 4 months but couldn't hack it. And was back in rehab for another 3 weeks last April.

The good news? On April 26th this month I'll be sober for a whole goddamn year. I've got my first race since 2015 in a couple of weeks and a marathon next month. I could give everyone reading this thread a novel on the whole process, but these are at least the cliffs notes. But I'll just say that the process is an individual journey, no body can tell you how it's going to go for you. So be skeptical of taking advice from anyone that thinks they have all the answers. But the one commonality between everyone, and I mean everyone, that has at least gotten to where I have with sobriety is they haven't given up. And whatever you do, don't do that.

Sorry to hear about all the down times, but this is great news.

I am 3+ months sober at this point and I'm not really feeling more energetic or less tired. Anyone else experience not feeling better? Apparently your skin is supposed to look better too and mine has not improved.

I'm sure there are long term benefits to this and no hangovers ever are nice but my day to day life honestly has not improved.