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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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GregP Jan 2019 12:27pm, 31 Jan 2019 110,566 posts	Quote Pin GregP Joopso might have a different take, but I believe 'officially' (Tradition 10) there's no opinion. I know a lot - a lot of people that believe that anything that isn't the official literature (which in extreme cases can just mean the first 164 pages of the big book and possibly the 12&12) should be viewed with the utmost suspicion. Personally I'm wary of a 'celebrity reboot' of the 12 steps, but if it works for others then there is absolutely nothing for me to criticise.
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2019 8:18am, 5 Feb 2019 30,341 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) St Peters Without last night. Think I have bought it before, but it's really nice. A proper rich, stouty flavour to it. But not as syrupy as a "proper" one. A nice, savoury soft drink. How are all TBOGUAers doing? If you were a Dry January person, how is no alcohol for a Fabulous February feeling?! I had a nice weekend of not drinking. Saturday night we drove over 1 hour to friend's 40th. Stayed 2.5 hours and back. I did drink about 5 litres of lemonade which probably isn't very good, but way better than taxis and other such inconvenient and expensive hells if one were drinking. Had already done a lovely parkrun, plus an extra run from my house, in the snow for a 10 mile Saturday. Then Sunday, with no hangover obv!, I had a right adventure up local hills in blizzards with _andy, then added another loop after to make 19 miles. Try doing that with a belly full of beer! Hope everyone is well. G
Derby Tup Feb 2019 8:22am, 5 Feb 2019 28,978 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup Day 175 for me and no drinks planned
Bazoaxe Feb 2019 8:28am, 5 Feb 2019 14,034 posts	Quote Pin Bazoaxe I am still hanging in there HG. 35 days done out of the 117 until VLM. I have so far found this to be the easiest time, but it is my 11th time of Dry Jan through to VLM and I maybe did 4 or 5 dry January's before that. I have been most surprised by the way I seemed to flick a switch having been drinking most days, not much, but a glass or two of wine to just completely stopping and not having a think about it. I even negotiated my daughters 21st on Saturday with no issue. I am not one for the alcohol free drinks option, but when out for lunch I did get a 'mocktail' but was horrified at the cost, albeit it was cheaper than the real deal that my daughter had. Biggest benefit is improved sleeping. Not perfect but I would say I get 5/7 good nights sleep as opposed to 5/7 bad nights sleep.
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2019 8:35am, 5 Feb 2019 30,342 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Improved sleeping is often cited by those who have given up as a real benefit Bazo. You are clearly able to control your drinking really well if you can stop and then start again without difficulty. Why restart is the only question I'd ask! Soft drinks are crazy pricey in a pub - even coke can be a couple of quid. But then smoothies in a café can be 4 or 5 quid too. But no matter how expensive a soft drink is, in any one place, it's never more than an alcoholic one! I've had to remind myself that 2 or 3 quid for a nice natural soft drink (Elderflower or something, no added sugar etc.) is still cheaper than a 5, 6, 7 quid bottle of wine. So even if it's a bit of a premium for a soft drink it's still way cheaper than alcohol! DT, top work, 175 is a great achievement. G
Sigh Feb 2019 9:02am, 5 Feb 2019 3,173 posts	Quote Pin Sigh Day 219 for me. Just dealing with my first head cold in goodness knows how long. In the past, I'd have been straight onto the hot toddies without a second thought. I honestly don't know how I'd cope now with a head cold and alcohol together! I just googled 'hot toddies' for a laugh, and the top hit was from an unreliable site (https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/drunk-aunt-right-hot-toddy-cure-common-cold/ ) who clearly are not impartial on the subject!!
Bazoaxe Feb 2019 9:08am, 5 Feb 2019 14,035 posts	Quote Pin Bazoaxe All very good points HG and I wish I could answer the question. I don't think I will ever be in the 100% camp as there are times when I appreciate a cold beer or a nice glass of wine. What I do want to control is the needless opening a bottle of wine as bedtime approaches and having a glass or two almost every night of the week and then more at the weekends. Sometimes the glass or two becomes more, almost always results in poor sleep and sometimes being a bit sluggish in the morning. I also want to stop the occasional binges which are generally work related nights out, mostly at Christmas. But hey, Ive said that in here for many a year and as soon as VLM is over, I go back to normal. On Friday my boss was saying its your daughters 21st, you can relax the rules for one night, but I know that if I break the sequence then I wont go back. That's just the way I am
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2019 9:11am, 5 Feb 2019 30,345 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) I could imagine there being some benefit - but mostly not the alcohol! Honey and hot drink are soothing for throat, might free up nose and sinuses for breathing etc. Enough alcohol might leave you in a stupor so you can't feel the cold any more. But that's like suggesting that you cut off your foot so you don't notice the pain of your stubbed toe! (Imho!) I love a hot lemon drink - fresh lemon, as much as you like, boiling water, honey. That can be very soothing. Some people suggest ginger too, which is antiseptic (astringent?) so can help with infections. And I'm happy with drugs - paracetamol, ibuprofen, caffeine to give you some energy/alertness which can help you to function and possibly to fight it. But none of these go well with alcohol! Just say "No!" kids! G
Derby Tup Feb 2019 9:15am, 5 Feb 2019 28,982 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup I cannot imagine ever having another drink - not just in my current situation but not ever never (especially if I had a cold!)
Goofee Feb 2019 9:25am, 5 Feb 2019 2,374 posts	Quote Pin Goofee I've got the day counting app now and I'm on 638 days. I had been sober for a while leading up to that point but can't remember how long it was now. It was a major fall off the wagon - I went from nothing at all straight back into old habits because I was on holiday. I can confirm that wasting a day laying in bed with a thumping headache trying not to vomit is not the best way to enjoy Madeira! Out of interest I have one for smoking too, I only ever had a cigarette if I was drinking with mates who smoked but it needed dealing with; 2613 days for that one! Stay strong everyone!!

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)

Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2024, and it started in 2008, so I think "ever popular" might be more apt! :-)

G )

Good Luck everyone.

A recent plea for those struggling to "reach out" as they say in US of A!

"Anyone not feeling strong and confident, please shout out. Or fmail. Or any other comms that works. Don't drink alcohol when you don't want to, for lack of someone to talk to. Pick up the phone, not the bottle."

Some acronyms, in case people use them:
JFT - Just for today
ODAAT - One day at a time
KIS - Keep it simple
TBOGUA - The Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol (the title of this thread!)

New feature: article/blog of the month (period may change randomly!) Swittle's wonderful 14,611 days blog: (see links below)

Linking Joopsy's 17 year blog too, cos it's awesome!

There is a GREAT article summarising some of the benefits, to save you having to trawl through the thread (includes links to helpful apps and other resources).

And a great list of Alternative Drinks started by the lovely LindsD:

Please add to these articles and make them as valuable as possible! Thanks! :-)

G

And one from way back when...
Dirt Monkey's brilliant blog on TBOGUA too - go try this...

Rebel has recommended a couple of good books:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Catherine Gray

The Alcohol Experiment: 30 Days to Take Control, Cut Down or Give Up For Good
by Annie Grace

A great response from a health professional in Ireland responding to a question from a Guardian reader about why the warnings on alcoholic drinks that are coming in:

theguardian.com

"Alcohol is responsible for at least 1,000 cancer cases every year in Ireland, with one in eight breast cancer cases arising from alcohol use. Even one to two drinks per day increases the risk of developing cancer, and that risk is the same whether those drinks are wine, spirits or beer. Unfortunately, there is a very low level of public awareness that alcohol has been classed as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. That is why Ireland has passed legislation that provides for health information labels on alcohol products, including warnings about cancer, liver disease and the danger of drinking in pregnancy. It is unsurprising that the alcohol industry, which promotes its products with carefully crafted myths of good times for all, is objecting to the mandatory provision of facts (Anger brews in Italy over Ireland’s plans for alcohol health warnings, 12 January).
Dr Sheila Gilheany
CEO, Alcohol Action Ireland
"

And the all important fabulous services:
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline (FREE) 0800 9177 650
help@aamail.org

Al Anon
020 7403 0888

medal

Contact TBOGUA medal

We're adding in our own Fetch offer of one to one contact too, for anyone who doesn't want to post in the thread for whatever reason. Please feel free to fmail ANY of the names listed below.

- - - -
HappyG(rrr)
( Oscar the grouch RIP )
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP

Joopsy

Note: we're none of us experts, but we're happy to listen, to answer any questions and to offer support if you think it would help you. Except

marked above. Who are experts! :-)

(Note II: at Christmas some names may change a bit, but I'm sure you can still find us to fmail!)

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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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