The benefits of giving up alcohol

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Finders
Finders
Aug 2008
4:01pm, 16 Aug 2008
1,357 posts
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Finders
Hi there everybody. I hope you're all having a great Saturday in the sun!

As the title suggests, i've made a decision to stop drinking alcohol...not just to reduce consumption but to actually GIVE IT UP, much like when you stop smoking.
I drink most evenings. Its usually 2 or 3 glasses of wine but at weekends this can easily become a whole bottle per evening.
Please don't get me wrong...im not a falling-about-totally paraletic - girl. I actually 'never' get drunk, i just use alcohol to relax me in the evenings. Its become a bit of a habit...again, much like smoking or snacking in between meals.

Im aware of the countless health implications and so i know that this will be a benefit to me that way, but does anybody have any knowledge as to how this will benefit my training or weight maintenance?
I would be interested to know of anybody who has abstained from alcohol after having previously 'enjoyed' it too much and any BIG tips on staying away from alcohol in the future without feeling deprived?

Lots of thanks in advance :-)
Haddi :-)
Haddi :-)
Aug 2008
4:05pm, 16 Aug 2008
709 posts
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Haddi :-)
i gave up when i donated bone marrow in 2006, and have only drunk 2 cans since(only because they were going out of date). i think my running has improved and my health :)
Belper Bear
Belper Bear
Aug 2008
4:09pm, 16 Aug 2008
810 posts
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Belper Bear
I can't say that I've given up totally but, Ive drunk more in a single day than I now drink in a year so near enough. I think the biggest thing I've noticed is that alcohol is, indeed, a depressant and I find the world looks a much brighter place without it!
Max71
Max71
Aug 2008
4:15pm, 16 Aug 2008
19,889 posts
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Max71
Kinky S drinks pints....go look at her stats.
santababy
santababy
Aug 2008
4:16pm, 16 Aug 2008
37,080 posts
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santababy
lol Max, i think i'll stick to my bubbly and stay a bit slower ;)
The Jogger
The Jogger
Aug 2008
4:23pm, 16 Aug 2008
410 posts
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The Jogger
Hi Finders, well done. i gave it up Sept 11 1989 after doing about a bottle a day. Never really was totally polaxed but kept topping up throughout the day. Lets just say, I was a very relaxed person :-)
My tip would be to do it a day at a time, the thought of giving it up for good makes it seem like a big deal, but giving it up for the day is easy. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.
Good Luck TJ
Shin-Twigs
Shin-Twigs
Aug 2008
4:40pm, 16 Aug 2008
988 posts
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Shin-Twigs
I have often thought about this, but I really like wine !
I do find now though that anything approaching a bottle on a fri or sat night leaves me feeling REALLY shit the next day, so I am thinking about it quite hard at the momebnt
HarryB
HarryB
Aug 2008
4:44pm, 16 Aug 2008
4,317 posts
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HarryB
I'm packing it in on Tuesday...
Aug 2008
4:45pm, 16 Aug 2008
3,528 posts
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Red wine is a good source of IRON so after donating blood a couple of glass(es?) is in order

Could always substitute alcohol for Cakes! ;)

Seriously though, well done, I drink very little alcohol probs 1 pint a month or something ...
Finders
Finders
Aug 2008
4:49pm, 16 Aug 2008
1,358 posts
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Finders
LOL Santababy - i have been thinking like that for far too many years now.

TJ -thanks alot - that's really helpful. Last night was my 1st for years that i haven't looked forward to popping a cork in the evening. It went well i think, but it didn't feel any diff when i woke this morning. We've been in the garden all day and i've missed my cold glass of rose. Im going to do as you suggest and take it a day at a time.

I've worked out that my calorie consumption will be about 3000 less a week, will it result in weight loss?

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 medal Contact TBOGUA medal 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
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP star
Joopsy star

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 star 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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FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.

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