Quitting alcohol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I really don’t care if people define my daily drink as heavy. I disagree but it doesn’t matter. I also want to clarify that it’s not a struggle to quit - I’m just surprised that I have to think about it! Though with any habit you start and/break, willpower must go into it.

This is the thing that the uninformed judgemental puritans are too small minded to understand: habits are hard to break. In OP's case, she does not sound like she is an alcoholic at all. Having a glass of wine or two at night is lovely for many people, so it becomes a habit, just like you prudes may enjoy having a nice chamomille tea every night. I know I do, and if I had to break the habit, it would be difficult. For some reason, when people hear that a glass of wine is the habit, they feel free to judge. They have no idea what they're talking about.

[Anonymous]

If there is anything good that comes from the consumption of alcohol, I have yet to hear of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. Try to go for a month. You'll be amazed at how great you feel.

I go for weeks and a month or two at a time and literally feel absolutely zero difference. I drink a few nights a week, a glass of wine or two or a bourbon and soda. Honestly, I don't feel any different when I'm off for weeks or months--which I try to do every so often because I'd love to lose about 7 pounds--I'm not overweight, just hit menopause and don't feel whispy like I used to. This BS about feeling great when moderate drinkers just stop is just that, BS.

Everybody’s experience is different.

My suspicion is that many people replace the alcohol with some other refined sugar so they don’t necessarily see a dramatic improvement in anything. But, like I stated above, all bodies are not the same and all experiences are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. Try to go for a month. You'll be amazed at how great you feel.

I go for weeks and a month or two at a time and literally feel absolutely zero difference. I drink a few nights a week, a glass of wine or two or a bourbon and soda. Honestly, I don't feel any different when I'm off for weeks or months--which I try to do every so often because I'd love to lose about 7 pounds--I'm not overweight, just hit menopause and don't feel whispy like I used to. This BS about feeling great when moderate drinkers just stop is just that, BS.

Do you lose the 7lbs? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there is anything good that comes from the consumption of alcohol, I have yet to hear of it.

^^^ This right here is what it all boils down to. Yeah, you might have felt great in the moment but you wake up the next day bloated and feeling like sh*t. Outside of birthdays/special occasions, it's just not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there is anything good that comes from the consumption of alcohol, I have yet to hear of it.

^^^ This right here is what it all boils down to. Yeah, you might have felt great in the moment but you wake up the next day bloated and feeling like sh*t. Outside of birthdays/special occasions, it's just not worth it.

My husband and I just had this conversation. On a logical, scientific level most people realize alcohol is terrible. But it’s a temptation like anything else and also a huge cultural thing in America. I am trying to just moderate it. Enjoy good wine with a good dinner. But not drink just to drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there is anything good that comes from the consumption of alcohol, I have yet to hear of it.

^^^ This right here is what it all boils down to. Yeah, you might have felt great in the moment but you wake up the next day bloated and feeling like sh*t. Outside of birthdays/special occasions, it's just not worth it.

But this is true with so many things in life. People don't come on here judging people and jumping to conclusions about their substance dependency when they have a habit of eating dessert every day or not exercising every day. There's just such judginess about drinking and I don't think anybody who has jumped on this band wagon realize how much of this new against alcohol is being driven by the cannabis industry. Who do you think came up with the phrase "California sober?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. Try to go for a month. You'll be amazed at how great you feel.

I go for weeks and a month or two at a time and literally feel absolutely zero difference. I drink a few nights a week, a glass of wine or two or a bourbon and soda. Honestly, I don't feel any different when I'm off for weeks or months--which I try to do every so often because I'd love to lose about 7 pounds--I'm not overweight, just hit menopause and don't feel whispy like I used to. This BS about feeling great when moderate drinkers just stop is just that, BS.

Do you lose the 7lbs? LOL

I can do 3 or 4 easy, then I can do about a pound every two weeks or so, so it just doesn't feel worth it. I'm sure if I dropped my four glasses of wine a week the pounds would just slip away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not a heavy drinker by any stretch, but over the years I have become a daily drinker. One drink a night usually (beer or wine), sometimes two. Three gives me a hangover. I realized recently that alcohol isn’t serving me at all - weight gain, poor sleep, etc. I decided to quit for a while. It’s been four days and I am sleeping so much better already, but wow, it’s taken more willpower than I expected. Each night I think of how great a glass of wine would be. Made me realize I’m more addicted than I realized. Hoping to see weight loss and skin improvements to help keep me going.

Congratulations!!! Keep it up. Take care of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drinking every day or most days would make you a heavy drinker in my book. It's not just quantity, it's frequency. Especially if going just 4 days is a struggle for you, or no notice a difference. Your body has become dependent, and that's pretty bad.

Keep it up OP - it's hard, but check those days off and relish in the positives.

This is unhelpful and nobody cares what you think.

I've never met someone with an alcohol problem that wasn't defensive, just as you are.

This is so true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I really don’t care if people define my daily drink as heavy. I disagree but it doesn’t matter. I also want to clarify that it’s not a struggle to quit - I’m just surprised that I have to think about it! Though with any habit you start and/break, willpower must go into it.

I was the same as you OP. I realized i loved the ritual of pouring a glass of wine and relaxing. I now make the same ritual with tea and it satisfies me. My problem was that one glass of wine was never enough. I always wanted 2 so I’m better with none. The tea ritual helps and I feel so much better not drinking. I lost weight and my skin looks great. Keep on!

This is a d Elle t. I am the same way. I can’t have just one so I don’t have any. I’ve been living without alcohol for almost 15 years now and don’t miss it AT ALL. I don’t miss the hangovers, the embarrassment, the expense…I could go on.

[Anonymous]

Omg, I LOOK drunk in that post above! Lol! Should read “this is an excellent post. “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I really don’t care if people define my daily drink as heavy. I disagree but it doesn’t matter. I also want to clarify that it’s not a struggle to quit - I’m just surprised that I have to think about it! Though with any habit you start and/break, willpower must go into it.

This is the thing that the uninformed judgemental puritans are too small minded to understand: habits are hard to break. In OP's case, she does not sound like she is an alcoholic at all. Having a glass of wine or two at night is lovely for many people, so it becomes a habit, just like you prudes may enjoy having a nice chamomille tea every night. I know I do, and if I had to break the habit, it would be difficult. For some reason, when people hear that a glass of wine is the habit, they feel free to judge. They have no idea what they're talking about.

Yes this right here. Habits are hard to break and hard to add. I wanted to start each day drinking a big glass of water and it took me weeks to remember to do this instead of make a cup of coffee first thing which has been my habit for years. Your brain becomes accustomed to something and its hard to change the autopilot.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. I'm a pretty moderate drinker. Even so, I'm often surprised by how I THINK about drinking well before I do it. I'll be thinking about what to make for dinner, and I'll wonder if beer or wine would go better with it.

Seltzer helps me avoid alcohol when I feel like avoiding it.

I'm also amazed by how much more time it gives me. If I have a glass of wine with dinner, I don't do much for the rest of the night. If I don't, I'm more likely to go for a nice walk, do a couple of errands, clean a room, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there is anything good that comes from the consumption of alcohol, I have yet to hear of it.

^^^ This right here is what it all boils down to. Yeah, you might have felt great in the moment but you wake up the next day bloated and feeling like sh*t. Outside of birthdays/special occasions, it's just not worth it.

But this is true with so many things in life. People don't come on here judging people and jumping to conclusions about their substance dependency when they have a habit of eating dessert every day or not exercising every day. There's just such judginess about drinking and I don't think anybody who has jumped on this band wagon realize how much of this new against alcohol is being driven by the cannabis industry. Who do you think came up with the phrase "California sober?"

If you do judge about daily dessert or lack of exercise it gets censored. Fascinating how that works and the mindset of the one censoring.