Is it time to quit drinking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's this

I went through a period of drinking 1-2 drinks frequently (3-4 days a week) and I still got hangovers every time.

[Anonymous]

drink and do a lot of sex and that is helpful.

[Anonymous]

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

Not pp but glp has had no effect on my drinking

[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.

I doubt they have an easier time handling their alcohol, but they're probably addicted enough to it they feel compelled to keep going. I don't think daily drinking is going to help much if you're already suffering with the amount you're drinking now. I had a ton of fun in my 20s and 30s and was a regular drinker. Now in my 50s I find the price I pay isn't worth it...I will be achy and have my sleep disrupted for days. It truly sucks. I've just faced the fact that it's not so much fun anymore and will have 1-2 drinks maybe one day a week. Any more than that and it just disrupts everything. Welcome to aging!

[Anonymous]

I drink socially on a regular basis and yeah, I can handle my alcohol. I almost never get drunk but I also tend to avoid liquor in favor of wine, cider or seltzer. If I'm making a few stops (not driving), I'll drink slowly so I dint really get drunk, just buzzed. Hangovers aren't much fun though so I want to cut back.

[Anonymous]

I used to drink esp wine and can’t /dont anymore. I will occasionally day drink when I can nap / walk it off before real bed time (esp for something like a thanksgiving day feast which someone like me is going to plan for early in the day). I also found a few decent non alcoholic beers, even though beer was never much my thing, and I’ll take them to picnics and such where I think people will expect me to drink and it scratches the itch.

Honestly, I think drinking tends to look bad on a lot of Middle Aged and older people. Like older moms trying to wear their teenage kids clothes. It just kinda rubs the wrong way at a certain point.

[Anonymous]

You should really stop drinking.

[Anonymous]

I can't drink wine, period.

I can have a cocktail or 2 with VERY top shelf liquor and that is about it.

No beer either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I am 51 and know many people on GLPs. Yes, they seem to feel the booze much differently now.

I don't personally. I was never a HUGE drinker though. I'll have 2 - at most 3 - glasses of wine over the course of an evening with food (which I always did) and I'm fine.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is different. Alcohol affects me more than my friends. To minimize a hangover I need to drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink that I have and then two big glasses of water before bed. I also have to take a multivitamin and vitamin C tab before bed. that all helps minimize a hangover for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to drink esp wine and can’t /dont anymore. I will occasionally day drink when I can nap / walk it off before real bed time (esp for something like a thanksgiving day feast which someone like me is going to plan for early in the day). I also found a few decent non alcoholic beers, even though beer was never much my thing, and I’ll take them to picnics and such where I think people will expect me to drink and it scratches the itch.

Honestly, I think drinking tends to look bad on a lot of Middle Aged and older people. Like older moms trying to wear their teenage kids clothes. It just kinda rubs the wrong way at a certain point.

This is ridiculous. Younger people don’t own drinking. And in fact, they’re not even drinking much these days. Middle aged drinkers rule!

[Anonymous]

are you vain at all? Because this is what stopped me -- once you hit middle age, people who don't drink look dramatically younger than people who do drink.

It's a nice upside.

[Anonymous]

While on Wegovy I didn’t want any alcohol
Now on Zep and I can tolerate it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to drink esp wine and can’t /dont anymore. I will occasionally day drink when I can nap / walk it off before real bed time (esp for something like a thanksgiving day feast which someone like me is going to plan for early in the day). I also found a few decent non alcoholic beers, even though beer was never much my thing, and I’ll take them to picnics and such where I think people will expect me to drink and it scratches the itch.

Honestly, I think drinking tends to look bad on a lot of Middle Aged and older people. Like older moms trying to wear their teenage kids clothes. It just kinda rubs the wrong way at a certain point. p

🙄

[Anonymous]

Yes. It's time to quit drinking.

How do I know? Because you're asking the question and laying out the reasons in a convincing way. This is something you want to do, but you're nervous.

Just do it as an experiment. Give yourself three weeks with no drinking. Notice how you feel. Do you miss it or not? If so, when and in what situations? Notice your energy levels, mindset, and overall feelings of presence and positivity. Do they improve when you stop drinking? Or do you still feel the same way, physically?

Again, treat it as an experiment, not a permanent choice. See how it goes.

One thing to consider: For some people, GLP makes drinking alcohol more difficult. For some it's less desire to drink, for others, it's a less enjoyable experience when they do, and for others it's a more extreme hangover or general malaise the next day.

If your body is not responding positively the next day, do yourself a favor and take a three week break. See if you feel better, and decide from there.