Is it time to quit drinking?

[Anonymous]

I'm not on a GLP-1 but I am on HRT. I was never a big drinker but now even 1 glass of wine or one can of those canned cocktails gives me a headache. I had 2 glasses of wine when my husband and I went out for our anniversary and I was up sweating and tossing and turning all night.

The interesting thing for me is that I really don't miss it much. I still go out to socialize, but now I just drink something non-alcoholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's time to quit or just drink on infrequent special occasions. That's what your body is telling you.

It will start to affect you more and will age you. I see people in their 50s that I know drink and even smoke and they look haggard. They are upper middle class and active (like golfers) but there's a look. Kind of red, tired, kind of defeated looking--they probably have hangovers. It definitely affects moods. If drinking a lot, bloated.

Well, people in their 50s are not young so its not surprising they look old. I'm OP and I don't drink nearly that much, but on the other hand, if that's what they enjoy, I'm not sure why you notice or care.

[Anonymous]

OP, I could have written your post! I am 53 on both HRT and GLP-1. I had too much Friday night as a way to cope with DH's company holiday party. I didn't really feel all that drunk or even very buzzed but I could barely get off the couch on Saturday. It wasn't so much a headache and no nausea, I was just exhausted.

This was really the first time this has happened on the year I have been on Zepbound. Usually I just can't tolerate more than 2 drinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You still love alcohol even though you’re on a GLP?

Yep! I didn’t at first but now I do.

Yeah I would think the GLP would eliminate those cravings completely, like food noise.

Not OP and 5 years younger but in the same boat--if anything I like to drink even more on my GLP-1. Op, I'm trying to limit my drinking to one night a week, I may stop entirely- it wreaks havoc on my sleep, I can't exercise the next few days, etc. But, drinking can be so fun, especially after 5 days in office, a million things going on with my 4 kids etc. And, I have no desire to do any drug of any sort, including edibles so makes giving up alcohol that much harder. A year ago, I wrapped up 18 months of sobriety. I felt and looked better until the stress of my new job caught up with me and I started gaining weight rapidly--thus the micro-dosing, low dose Gl-1 6 months ago which has been a God send.

Good luck OP--if you figure it out, please share it with the rest of us. You are not alone in your struggle,

Yes, exactly. I am not ready to say I will never drink again. I only drink occasionally now- probably once a month or so if I had to average it out, but I would like to find a way to do it without losing a day (or more) afterwards. And to all the people who want to run here and say 'you're an addict!!!', that's fine but also a little hyperbolic, so move on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In late stage peri at 52 and on HRT and a GLP, and I’ll admit that I still love alcohol, feeling more relaxed, socializing with drinks, etc (if this offends you, move on)… but the after effects are really rough for me. I don’t have headaches as much as I’m just completely exhausted the next day, and it’s a lost day. In fact, I’m often still tired on day 2. This happens if I drink more than a glass of wine, even if I eat, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc.

I look around me and others my age seem to be able to handle drinking. What am I doing wrong?

Op- also, no one has answered my question... do people who drink habitually have an easier time handling their alcohol? Not that I'm saying I'm going to do that, but it is curious to me how some of my friends seem better the next day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written your post! I am 53 on both HRT and GLP-1. I had too much Friday night as a way to cope with DH's company holiday party. I didn't really feel all that drunk or even very buzzed but I could barely get off the couch on Saturday. It wasn't so much a headache and no nausea, I was just exhausted.

This was really the first time this has happened on the year I have been on Zepbound. Usually I just can't tolerate more than 2 drinks.

What did you drink? I had wine, which I think was a mistake. Everyone was ordering bottles at the table and so I joined and had some, but then switched to water and iced tea. Everyone else seemed fine the next day- lots of people popping up at 8am to write good morning texts, but I was exhausted ALL DAY. NO headache, just a fog.

[Anonymous]

Drinking massively slows down in your 50s for this reason. I have for sure - can only do one or two drinks at best or I am up at 2 am and sick to my stomach/exhausted the next day. I have noticed drinking slowing down in spaces that previously were heavy drinking spaces - our community pool has a lot of older members now and the drinking culture has decreased so much in the last couple of years; same with neighborhood block parties full of families that bought at the same time and now are mostly in their early 50s. I have a set of friends in their 40s, and drinking hasn't abated yet, but I imagine it will within a decade.

Those that can keep it up in their 50s have rare genetics or have built tolerance by likely drink every night - my parents drank every night and didn't slow down till their late 60s But us social drinkers without super human liver genes are stuck with one glass of wine when we are out and about. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written your post! I am 53 on both HRT and GLP-1. I had too much Friday night as a way to cope with DH's company holiday party. I didn't really feel all that drunk or even very buzzed but I could barely get off the couch on Saturday. It wasn't so much a headache and no nausea, I was just exhausted.

This was really the first time this has happened on the year I have been on Zepbound. Usually I just can't tolerate more than 2 drinks.

What did you drink? I had wine, which I think was a mistake. Everyone was ordering bottles at the table and so I joined and had some, but then switched to water and iced tea. Everyone else seemed fine the next day- lots of people popping up at 8am to write good morning texts, but I was exhausted ALL DAY. NO headache, just a fog.

Started with a vodka gimlet then had 2.5 glasses of wine - all over a 3.5 hour period, with food

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In late stage peri at 52 and on HRT and a GLP, and I’ll admit that I still love alcohol, feeling more relaxed, socializing with drinks, etc (if this offends you, move on)… but the after effects are really rough for me. I don’t have headaches as much as I’m just completely exhausted the next day, and it’s a lost day. In fact, I’m often still tired on day 2. This happens if I drink more than a glass of wine, even if I eat, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc.

I look around me and others my age seem to be able to handle drinking. What am I doing wrong?

NP. Also in late stage perimenopause. I find with alcohol I can pick one: a single glass of wine or night’s sleep. They are exclusive choices.

Sometimes I elect the wine, because I still enjoy a glass of wine, but it comes with the price of a night’s sleep.

I elect the wine maybe six times a year now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In late stage peri at 52 and on HRT and a GLP, and I’ll admit that I still love alcohol, feeling more relaxed, socializing with drinks, etc (if this offends you, move on)… but the after effects are really rough for me. I don’t have headaches as much as I’m just completely exhausted the next day, and it’s a lost day. In fact, I’m often still tired on day 2. This happens if I drink more than a glass of wine, even if I eat, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc.

I look around me and others my age seem to be able to handle drinking. What am I doing wrong?

Op- also, no one has answered my question... do people who drink habitually have an easier time handling their alcohol? Not that I'm saying I'm going to do that, but it is curious to me how some of my friends seem better the next day.

The people I know who seem able to handle it also seem to have serious drinking problems to me.

I feel like in your 40s-60s people either force their body to accept alcohol because they have a major drinking problem or accept that they can’t, and cut back hugely. But what used to be someone who could party all night and go merrily to work the next day at 25 turns into someone who can’t get through their day without a bottle of wine at 50 but knows they need to hide it.

[Anonymous]

I'm only 42. Since about 10 years ago even one drink would do number on me the next day. About 3 months ago alcohol started making me feel sick immediately, so I quit drinking completely. I consider it a blessing - my cholesterol numbers have gone down and not having the urge to drink means I have eliminated hangovers from my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drinking massively slows down in your 50s for this reason. I have for sure - can only do one or two drinks at best or I am up at 2 am and sick to my stomach/exhausted the next day. I have noticed drinking slowing down in spaces that previously were heavy drinking spaces - our community pool has a lot of older members now and the drinking culture has decreased so much in the last couple of years; same with neighborhood block parties full of families that bought at the same time and now are mostly in their early 50s. I have a set of friends in their 40s, and drinking hasn't abated yet, but I imagine it will within a decade.

Those that can keep it up in their 50s have rare genetics or have built tolerance by likely drink every night - my parents drank every night and didn't slow down till their late 60s But us social drinkers without super human liver genes are stuck with one glass of wine when we are out and about. Sorry!

I think this is all spot on. And you’re probably right, the people who seem ok with it are likely habitual drinkers.

I’m only a social drinker.

[Anonymous]

Some of this might be age and perimenopause but the GLP thing could be a huge factor. My friends on GLPs have had to cut back.

I'm 53 and not on a GLP and definitely feeling the downsides of booze more than I used to. I plan to cut back after the holiday parties and hopefully feel less tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In late stage peri at 52 and on HRT and a GLP, and I’ll admit that I still love alcohol, feeling more relaxed, socializing with drinks, etc (if this offends you, move on)… but the after effects are really rough for me. I don’t have headaches as much as I’m just completely exhausted the next day, and it’s a lost day. In fact, I’m often still tired on day 2. This happens if I drink more than a glass of wine, even if I eat, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc.

I look around me and others my age seem to be able to handle drinking. What am I doing wrong?

Op- also, no one has answered my question... do people who drink habitually have an easier time handling their alcohol? Not that I'm saying I'm going to do that, but it is curious to me how some of my friends seem better the next day.

This has been my observation. Those who drink more and more often build up a tolerance. It’s also quite possible that those who aren’t as affected by alcohol tend to drink more, so I don’t know if drinking more is a cause or effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In late stage peri at 52 and on HRT and a GLP, and I’ll admit that I still love alcohol, feeling more relaxed, socializing with drinks, etc (if this offends you, move on)… but the after effects are really rough for me. I don’t have headaches as much as I’m just completely exhausted the next day, and it’s a lost day. In fact, I’m often still tired on day 2. This happens if I drink more than a glass of wine, even if I eat, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc.

I look around me and others my age seem to be able to handle drinking. What am I doing wrong?

NP. Also in late stage perimenopause. I find with alcohol I can pick one: a single glass of wine or night’s sleep. They are exclusive choices.

Sometimes I elect the wine, because I still enjoy a glass of wine, but it comes with the price of a night’s sleep.

I elect the wine maybe six times a year now.

+ 1 to all of this